Scientists who study addiction and the brain have noted several reasons why people become addicted and have difficulty fighting their drug use. Addictions to drugs such as stimulants and depressants…

Chronic stress results in short- and long-term changes to your brain, which increase your risks of mental illness, addiction, and relapse. Understanding the neurological effects of stress can help you…

Media depictions have given many people an unrealistic idea of what it’s like to live with a depressive disorder. If your only idea of these mental health conditions comes from…

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can influence moods, emotions and sleeping patterns. This messenger chemical plays an essential role in your mental and behavioral health. Though it’s too simplistic to…

Paradoxically, the drugs doctors often prescribe to relieve pain can increase your sensitivity to uncomfortable stimuli. Two types of chronic pain can result from opioid use – hyperalgesia and allodynia.…

America’s drug epidemic has been a severe public health crisis for far too long. In the past decade, approximately half a million people from all walks of life have lost…

Even if you have never heard the term “benzodiazepines,” you are probably familiar with brand names like Valium and Xanax. Health professionals prescribe drugs in this class to treat a…

Drinking too much alcohol raises a person’s blood alcohol level, and a high blood alcohol content (BAC) can have legal and personal consequences. However, drinking is not the only thing…

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. You may have seen signs advertising its availability at stores near you, or read about it on social media. Proponents…

With the vast amount of information available on the internet, many people turn to these resources to make sense of the symptoms they are experiencing. Social media has only exacerbated…