Substance Abuse and Addiction Medical Reference

Learn about nutrition therapy for alcohol use disorder. What is it, why do you need it, and how can it help?

If you use a nasal spray for more than a few days, you might notice that you need more and more of the medicine to ease your congestion. Does that mean you’re addicted to nasal spray?

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering staging an intervention about someone’s alcohol use. Find out what helps and what doesn’t.

Delirium tremens is a severe, life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal. Learn the signs of DTs like shaking, confusion, or hallucinations, and its treatments.

If your loved one has a problem with substance misuse, a key first step is to help him agree to the treatment he needs. That's where an intervention can help.

If you take or use opioids for more than a few weeks, you may start to need them to feel OK. Your body can be affected in many ways if you stop them suddenly. That's known as withdrawal. Learn more about the symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, and causes of opioid withdrawal.

Alcohol affects your brain, your mood, and your digestive tract. How much, and even the type, of alcohol you drink can change your bowel movements.

Find out more about this plant that’s traditionally been used as medicine but is now being used as a recreational drug as well.

It can be hard to tell when a love of gaming has crossed into the danger zone. Learn the warning signs that can alert you to a problem.

Drinking too much alcohol regularly can damage your body and your brain. Find out what can happen, and how to get help.

Binge drinking is defined as excessive alcohol use in a short amount of time, usually more than five drinks. Learn about the signs, prevention, and adverse health effects of binge drinking.

Alcohol poisoning is when there’s too much alcohol in your blood, causing parts of your brain to shut down. Learn more about symptoms, complications, causes, risk factors, emergency action, treatment, and prevention of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol use disorder is a progressive disease. Recognizing the symptoms and the stages of the disease can help you, or someone you know, start on the road to recovery.

It’s not just about illegal drugs. Using pain meds, alcohol, and other legal substances the wrong way can also harm your health.

Learn how addiction affects your brain and behavior.

Abusing prescription drugs can lead to addiction. Learn who’s at risk for this problem.

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.

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 is a powerful drug used for pain relief and treatment of drug addiction. Learn more about what methadone is, why it’s used, side effects, risks, and how to store and dispose of it.

Starting your new sober life can be tough, but a plan and the help of supportive friends and family can make it easier.

Learn more about the signs of this issue and how it’s treated.

Find out more about the options for treating alcohol abuse, including detox, therapy, and medication.

If you've got a friend or loved one who drinks heavily, it can be hard to figure out what to do. Start here.

Risky drinking may be a sign of a medical condition called alcohol use disorder. It's a long-term condition that affects your brain. Learn more about the signs, causes and risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol abuse.

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.