Substance Abuse and Addiction Medical Reference

Learn why it may be necessary for your loved one and how to prepare, along with the dos and don’ts.

Do you have an unhealthy relationship with food? Are you considering joining Overeaters Anonymous? Read on to find out all you need to know.

Ayahuasca is a plant-based psychedelic drug that users believe has spiritual and healing properties. Learn how it works and what its effects are like.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting in some heavy marijuana users. Learn more about it.

THC edibles can make children very sick. Find out how to keep kids safe.

These once-popular party drugs are making a comeback. Learn more about how they work and what the risks are.

Clinical trials are testing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for people with hard-to-treat substance use disorders. What’s known about how it works.

What is fentanyl, why is it so addictive, and how can you manage withdrawal from it?

If you’re thinking about asking for help with drug or alcohol addiction, that’s great news. Here are some of the people you can reach out to.

This screening checks for traces of opioids in your urine, blood, or saliva. Learn more about how it works.

Learn the best ways to help a loved one with opioid use disorder.

If you have opioid use disorder, you may wonder if vitamins or supplements could help you feel better or stop. Find out what the evidence says and what to make of the claims.

NAD therapy is considered a dietary supplement and isn’t proven or approved to treat addiction. While there’s some evidence it might help, here’s what you should know before you decide to try it.

When it’s time to taper your opioids, it’s a good idea to take it slow. Learn more about how to do it safely.

Clinical trials could help prevent opioid misuse and develop effective treatments for those struggling with opioid misuse or addiction.

Naloxone and naltrexone are both opioid antagonists, but they’re not the same drug and they aren’t used for the same reasons.

Opioids are among the most addictive drugs, and beating that addiction isn’t easy. Learn how to avoid accidental opioid overdose if you relapse.

To avoid a relapse into opioid use disorder, it helps to know your triggers and how to avoid them.

Early intervention can help to prevent a substance use disorder from getting worse. Learn where to find these services and get help before specialty care is needed.

If you have an opioid use disorder, you’ll keep using opioids even if they are causing you harm. Learn more about treatment and where to find help.

Over 21 million Americans have at least one addiction. But only 10% get treatment. Here are some reasons why.

If you’re in treatment for opioid use disorder, your doctor may prescribe Suboxone. Learn how this medication can help you stay in therapy and recover.

What happens at a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous? Find out how this program can fit into your substance abuse recovery plan.

Mixing opioids and benzodiazepines can be a dangerous combination. Here’s what to know if you take both of these drugs.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is when a baby goes through withdrawal from drugs they were exposed to in the womb. Learn about possible complications.

Those who are transgender or nonbinary are at higher risk of substance misuse. Discrimination can lead to mental health challenges that play a role.

Learn about how often opioid addiction affects different groups and why.

Buprenorphine as part of medication-assisted therapy (MAT) may help you avoid overdose and prevent relapse. Here’s what you need to know about this drug.

What is the difference between tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction? Learn about these levels of drug use.

If you have an addiction disorder but are uninsured, there are ways to get help getting clean without breaking the bank.

Street drugs are often laced with fentanyl. Learn how test strips can help you prevent an overdose.

When you stop using opioid, it’s common to have cravings. Here are some tips to help you stay on track with your recovery.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) happens when you stop using opioids. Here’s what to expect and how to best handle it.

How do your genes and your environment interact to influence your likelihood of drug addiction? Here’s what researchers are learning.

If you have OUD and aren’t using illegal drugs, you have civil rights across federal, state, and local levels. Learn which laws protect you, and how.

Health care providers have many tools to help assess whether your use of alcohol or drugs is risky or has crossed the line into harm. Here’s what to expect.

Do you use drugs? Here’s why it’s important to tell your ER doctor and why it won’t get you in trouble with the law.

People who have used or still use opioids, and even those in treatment, often feel judged. Learn more about stigma and how to decrease it.

Doctors use methadone to treat opioid use disorders and pain. But it can be misused. Learn more about the risks of addiction.

Alcohol-related deaths are a leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Here’s why.

Hexahydrocannabinol, or HHC, is a cannabinoid that creates heady effects. Find out more about the research and the risks.

Substance misuse has adverse effects on our overall health, especially on the eyes. Learn about this condition today.

Find out what you need to know about alcoholic myopathy, and discover the symptoms and treatments, and how it may affect health.

Find out what you need to know about congeners in alcohol, their role in hangovers, and discover how they may affect health.

Find out the differences between methadone and Suboxone, and discover the pros, cons, risks, and benefits, and how it may affect health.

Get the facts on what harm reduction is and how it could help people with substance abuse disorders.

Fentanyl is a painkiller that's 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Find out how doctors prescribe it, how it can be abused, and what to do if you suspect an overdose.

There are many ways to manage your addiction recovery. These methods bring the power of your mind and body together to help you on your journey to sobriety.

Delta-8 is the latest craze in the cannabinoid world. It’s made from hemp and is claimed to give you a milder high than THC. It’s easily available and considered legal. But is safe? WebMD finds out.