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The Texas Substance Abuse Helpline website is designed to provide interesting and helpful information about the latest research and cutting-edge treatments available for interested readers. Check back often for new blogs.

 

Study suggests men more prone to substance use disorders and mental illnesses than women

Study suggests men more prone to substance use disorders and mental illnesses than women

It has been observed that men are more likely to use drugs and that too at a younger age as compared to women. Rate of substance dependence in men is almost twice as that in women, with them being at a higher risk of suffering an opioid overdose. According to reports, out of the 47,600 cases of overdose-related to opioids in 2017, nearly 31,700 were men. Considering such statistics, it becomes important to talk about the frequency of drug abuse and substance use disorders (SUD) in men. Continue reading →

Crush the Epidemic: Youth becomes change agent after recovery from addiction

Crush the Epidemic: Youth becomes change agent after recovery from addiction

It takes great willpower to overcome substance abuse due to the changes in the brain that trigger cravings and compulsions. Irrespective of the severity of the symptoms and situation, one can achieve sobriety through right support and treatment. The magnitude of drug abuse has magnified to an alarming level across all generations, genders and demographic groups in the United States. Continue reading →

Cocaine use lowers immunity in HIV-positive patients

Cocaine use lowers immunity in HIV-positive patients

The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) highlighted that there were approximately 36.7 million people worldwide living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the end of 2016. The treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has undergone considerable changes. The administration of intensive antiretroviral therapies  to treat HIV treatment had significantly reduced morbidity and mortality among patients. Continue reading →

Signs indicating greater risk of addiction in a loved one

Signs indicating greater risk of addiction in a loved one

The increased stigma attached to drug and alcohol addiction has been the main reason behind the lack of awareness and knowledge about this problem. As a result, people often fail to recognize the warning signs related to substance abuse. In fact, the risk of exacerbation of mental health conditions increases due to the misinterpretation of the symptoms of addiction as signs of personality flaw. This leads to the occurrence untoward incidents one after one, such as delay in treatment, development of depressive symptoms, poor performance at work and school, etc. Continue reading →

Use of different substances associated with diverse sexual side effects, finds study

Use of different substances associated with diverse sexual side effects, finds study

Alcohol, marijuana and ecstasy, three of the most abused substances by young adults, can cause different sexual side effects on users, says a recent study by researchers at the NYU Meyers College of Nursing. The study, conducted at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) of the Nursing College, focused on the specific effects of these substances on the user. Continue reading →

New series “The Trade” focuses on the ill effects of opioid crisis in America

New series “The Trade” focuses on the ill effects of opioid crisis in America

A new docu-series, “The Trade”, aired on Showtime, showcases America’s tragic opioid crisis from a completely different perspective. The opioid epidemic is the worst crisis that America has faced in so far. The devastation it has caused far exceeds the scale of the Vietnam War and the HIV/Aids crisis. What sets the series apart from others is that, instead of focusing only on the numbers and questioning how America reached this unenviable position, the documentary gives a first-hand account of the epidemic, through the lens of those who have been affected the most–the individuals struggling with addiction and their families. It also looks into the daily battles of the border patrol agents and law enforcement officials, as they struggle keep a check on the inflow of drugs from across the border. Continue reading →

Family and socio-economic status make or break addiction

Family and socio-economic status make or break addiction

Overall, the total number of people afflicted with opioid addiction in the United States is an overwhelming problem. In fact, every year the graph only shows an ascending trend. While the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose fatalities rose from 6.1 to 16.3 per 100,000 people in 2015, it climbed to 19.8 per 100,000 in 2016. A 21 percent higher rate was clocked in 2016 compared to 2015. Moreover, it was more than three times the rate in 1999. Drug overdose deaths also increased from 52,404 in 2015 to 63,600 in 2016. Continue reading →