Substance Abuse and Addiction Medical Reference
- What to Know About Opioid Addiction and Pregnancy
Opioids can be risky to your unborn baby. Learn about treatments to protect both of you.
- Talking to a Doctor About Substance Abuse
It can be intimidating to get professional help for drugs or alcohol. Take the first step and consult with your doctor.
- Addiction and Your Job
Are you worried about the impact that addiction to alcohol or drugs can have on your job? Many people drink or use drugs to deal with work stress or long hours, and office parties can be sources of temptation. Find out what rights you have if you’re applying for new jobs or worried about your current one.
- Opioid Addiction: When Do You Need Emergency Care?
Opioid addiction: When to seek emergency care for yourself or others, including symptoms of withdrawal and addiction, and what to do about infection, mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, and injuries.
- What Is Substance Abuse?
It’s not just about illegal drugs. Using pain meds, alcohol, and other legal substances the wrong way can also harm your health.
- What Is Drug Addiction?
Learn how addiction affects your brain and behavior.
- Prescription Addiction: Who's at Risk?
Abusing prescription drugs can lead to addiction. Learn who’s at risk for this problem.
- Should You Worry About Your Back Pain Meds?
Opioid drugs are a common treatment for back pain, but they come with risks and can be addictive. Learn the risks of these drugs and how to use them safely.
- What Is a Breath Alcohol Test?
A police officer may ask you to take a breath alcohol test if he believes you have been drinking and driving. But how does it work, and what do the results mean?
- Methadone
This powerful drug is used for pain relief and drug addiction. But it comes with some negative side effects and risks.
- What Are the Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder?
Find out more about the options for treating alcohol abuse, including detox, therapy, and medication.
- What Is Marijuana Misuse?
Learn more about the signs of this issue and how it’s treated.
- Tips to Help You Stay Sober
Starting your new sober life can be tough, but a plan and the help of supportive friends and family can make it easier.
- Worried About a Loved One’s Drinking? What to Do
If you've got a friend or loved one who drinks heavily, it can be hard to figure out what to do. Start here.
- Alcohol Use Disorder
Just because you drink doesn't mean you have alcohol use disorder. Find out how to know if you have it.
- What Is a Blood Alcohol Test?
From a traffic stop to a health emergency, you might get your blood alcohol level tested for any number of reasons. Find out when you might get one, what to expect, what the results mean, and when you can drive safely and legally.
- Stages of Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It’s usually a gradual process that happens after repeated use of opioids.
- What Is Alcoholic Gastritis?
Alcoholic gastritis might feel like indigestion, but it can be much more serious than that. Here’s what to know to feel better.
- Addiction: Know Your Health Care Team
Learn more about the health care professionals and support team members who will be part of your drug or alcohol treatment team.
- How to Avoid a High Tolerance to Cannabis
Step-by-step tips on how to avoid or reduce a high tolerance to cannabis and information on why it can be helpful for frequent cannabis users.
- Addiction and Other Mental Health Concerns
What to do if you have a mental illness like depression or anxiety, and you can't stop using drugs or alcohol.
- Do You Really Have to Stop Drinking?
There may be more than one way to manage a drinking problem. With the help of your doctor, you can explore whether stopping or cutting back is the right choice for you.
- Addiction and Nutrition
Substance use robs the body of critical nutrients. You’ll need to replenish those vitamins and minerals to help your body heal.
- What to Know About Addiction and Suicide
If you’re addicted to alcohol or drugs like opioids, you’re at higher risk to think about or even attempt suicide. Depression, chronic pain, or stressful life events like divorce or job loss could drive both addiction and suicide risk. Find out the warning signs of suicide and what you can do to prevent it.
- Alcohol Use Disorder: What Is Recovery?
Recovery from alcohol use disorder is possible, but success depends on more than saying no to drinking. Self-awareness and personal growth make the difference.
- Alcohol Withdrawal: How to Get Through It
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs when someone who drinks alcohol heavily suddenly stops drinking. WebMD explains the symptoms and how to get through alcohol withdrawal at home.
- Opioid Addiction and Complications
WebMD explores what can happen when you misuse opioids, both legal and illegal.
- How Exercise Can Help With Addiction Recovery
There’s growing evidence that exercise can be a powerful tool in your recovery if you deal with addiction. Learn how getting active can boost your chances of success.
- Alcohol Use Disorder: After You Quit Drinking
WebMD explores how your body changes when you give up drinking.
- Addiction: What to Know About Relapse
Relapse can sometimes be part of the recovery process. But if you identify your triggers and seek out support, you may avoid it.
- What Is a Toxicology Test?
Need to be drug tested? Here’s what’s involved.
- What's Risky Drinking?
If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s important to drink in moderation. Understand how heavy drinking can affect your health and when drinking is “risky.”
- Recreational Marijuana FAQ
Learn how recreational marijuana use can affect your health. And find out if it's addictive.
- Opioid Addiction and Your Heart
Opioid addiction can increase risks for a variety of heart problems, including atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. Learn why this happens and what you can do about it.
- Street Drugs: Know the Facts and Risks
Popular street drugs, how they impact your body and mind, and how they can affect your health. Learn about newer drugs such as bath salts and flakka as well as those that have been around for decades.
- The Cost of Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol abuse has many hidden costs that you may not realize. Alcohol addiction recovery has many costs as well. Learn what those financial costs may be and how you can plan ahead to eliminate any surprises.
- The Dangers of Crystal Methamphetamine
What you need to know about the dangerous and addictive drug crystal meth.
- Signs of Drug Addiction
Bloodshot eyes and mood changes are just two of several signs that someone may be abusing drugs. Learn to spot the telltale symptoms.
- Treating a Drug Overdose With Naloxone
Naloxone can reverse overdoses from heroin and other painkillers. WebMD explains how this drug works and how it is used to save lives.
- Heroin
Heroin use is on the rise in the U.S. - and so are deaths from heroin overdoses. Here's what you need to know if you think a family member or friend is using it.
- Addiction: What Is Denial?
Denial can keep you from treating an addiction. Learn more about what it is and how to move past it.
- Alcohol and Medication Interactions
WebMD explains which medications are likely to interact poorly with alcohol - and the special vulnerability of older adults who mix drinking and prescription drugs.
- What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
If you drink heavily for a long time, you might have problems when you stop or cut back how much alcohol you drink. This is called alcohol withdrawal, and symptoms can range from mild to serious.
- Alcohol Detox and Rehab Programs: What to Know
If you drink heavily and want to get under control, detox is usually the first step. Learn how to know if you need it, what the process is like, and your choices for detox and rehab programs.
- What to Know About Hypnosis for Alcoholism
What is hypnotherapy, and how is it related to alcoholism? Read on to learn about hypnosis for alcoholism and other substance abuse issues.
- Painkillers and Opioid Use Disorder
How does painkiller addiction happen and what can be done about it?
- Maintaining Hope and Health During Addiction Recovery
Staying in recovery after prescription drug abuse means coping with psychological addiction and craving. Find out what's needed to stay clean.
- Opioid Addiction Treatment
Breaking free from an addiction to prescription drugs takes more than willpower. Learn more from WebMD about the medications and types of counseling that can help get someone on the road to recovery.
- Counseling and Substance Use Disorders
Being addicted to opioid drugs goes beyond physical dependence. Counseling helps addicts stay clean and cope with life. Which type of therapy is right for someone with an addiction?
- What to Know About Cocaine
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that can have serious effects on your health and well-being. Learn what it does to your body.