In recent years, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. We use it to connect with friends and family, stay up to date on the latest trends, share our thoughts and experiences with the people we care about, and consume information on virtually any topic, ranging from news and current events […]
How is Social Media Impacting Substance Misuse and Addiction? Read More »
Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful and addictive opioid drug. It is so powerful that it is estimated to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.[1] The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognizes two primary types of fentanyl: Pharmaceutical fentanyl – Fentanyl that is manufactured by regulated pharmaceutical companies and is used
What Is Rainbow Fentanyl And Why Is It So Dangerous? Read More »
From 2020 to 2021, the U.S. surpassed 100,000 drug overdose deaths annually–a grim milestone that reflects the severity of the opioid epidemic.[1] The vast majority of drug overdose deaths are attributed to opioids, and the majority of opioid overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Fentanyl can be lethal in small amounts. As much fentanyl
The Never Use Alone Hotline Is Helping Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths Read More »
In 2022 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a proposal to end menthol cigarette sales due to the fact that the ban could save millions of lives, many of which belong to already disproportionately affected groups. Menthol is a chemical that is found naturally in peppermint and other plants of a similar variety, but
5 Ways The U.S. Can Benefit From A Ban On Menthol Cigarettes Read More »
When federal restrictions were enacted in early 2020 to limit the flavors that closed-pod e-cigarette devices, such as JUUL, could sell, the use of disposable e-cigarettes increased dramatically. From 2019 to 2020, disposable e-cigarette use among high schoolers increased by 1,000% from 2.4% to 26.5%. Among middle school e-cigarette users, disposable vape use increased by
The Dangers of Disposable E-Cigarettes and Why They are So Popular Among Youth Read More »
Vaping is extremely common today and youth vaping has reached epidemic levels. As quickly as public health officials have begun encouraging steps to reduce teen vaping, new substances are created that are able to slip past FDA oversight and land directly in the hands of youth. These new substances are known as synthetic nicotine. Developing
What is Synthetic Nicotine? Read More »
Over the last 20 years, the majority of states have passed sweeping legislation to legalize medicinal marijuana. While marijuana remains illegal on a federal level, some states have even taken steps to decriminalize it or legalize it for recreational use.[1] Before waves of marijuana legalization spread across the U.S., cannabis advocates used marijuana illegally and
Are Magic Mushrooms the Next Medical Marijuana? Read More »
Red Ribbon Week is the United States’ largest and longest-running drug abuse prevention campaign. It is sponsored by the National Family Partnership (NFP), formerly known as the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth. The NFP is a leader in substance abuse prevention, education, and advocacy, and its mission is to promote healthy, drug-free youth.
The History Behind Red Ribbon Week Read More »
Between glamorizing smoking in pop culture, getting celebrity endorsements, and using cartoon characters in advertising and packaging, it’s clear that Big Tobacco markets its products toward youth. After all, if you can get a person hooked on tobacco in their youth, you likely have a customer for life. Big Tobacco has been called out in
4 Strategies Big Tobacco Uses to Target Children and Teens at the Point-of-Sale Read More »
Alcohol is the most widely abused substance in the United States. Approximately 55% of men and 51% of women drink at some point each month.[1] While some people are able to drink safely in moderation, others engage in dangerous drinking patterns that can cause harm to themselves and the people around them. One of the
Understanding Binge Drinking and How it Affects You and Others Around You Read More »
