According to a study conducted by the British Medical Journal, the number of deaths caused by liver diseases in the United States has risen sharply in the past two decades. Researchers found that cirrhosis-related deaths went up 65 percent between 1999 and 2016; the same period saw the number of deaths resulting from liver cancer double. Significantly, the report attributes this...
All Posts By William Smith
The nationwide opioid crisis continues to batter the Lone Star State, with both rural and urban parts of Texas experiencing record numbers of opioid-related overdoses. In 2016, nearly 3,000 Texans died of drug overdoses, with 1,375 of these deaths directly attributable to opioids. As part of a multifaceted response to this problem, Texas public health officials have recently launched a...
It’s not new news that the country is in the midst of an opioid crisis—but one of the most alarming bits of information to be recently revealed is that the drug overdose rate for women has skyrocketed far more rapidly than average. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases a weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report. In one...
Around six percent of the U.S. population struggles with some sort of substance abuse disorder—but despite these high addiction rates, seeking treatment and maintaining sobriety can be tough. There are thousands of reasons that a substance abuse treatment center may not work for one person, but many who have tried to achieve lasting sobriety cite some common obstacles. Detox Is...
One of the biggest fears people have when considering whether or not to seek treatment for addiction is whether or not they will be able to return to their job. "Can I get my job back?" could be the biggest question when someone is considering a recovery program. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that more...
As hundreds of municipalities target opioid-pushing drug companies through mass civil litigation, one Harris County prosecutor has made it personal. Assistant county attorney Pegi Block has declined to join the grand-scale efforts to turn the tide on the Opioid Crisis that has plagued the nation. To her, harm has been done to everyday families in the greater Houston area and...
Fatal overdoses caused by fentanyl are growing problem across the country as research shows that accidental fentanyl use is increasing. According to a report issued by the Partnership for Safe Medicines, Texas has joined a list of 40 states that are facing a proliferation of counterfeit painkillers manufactured using illegal fentanyl. With a potency 50 to 100 times greater than morphine, fentanyl...
Drug and alcohol addiction can affect anyone, but it's often difficult to face if it's a loved one that is caught in the grips of addiction. Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction can be the first step in helping a loved one achieve sobriety much sooner than later. But you have to keep in...
Going through alcohol withdrawal is one of the most challenging steps when you want to get sober. As difficult as the symptoms of physical withdrawal are, they do pass, but can take a couple of weeks. With the help of professionals that specialize in treating alcohol addiction, the process can be much safer, less uncomfortable, and more manageable. What is...
The rate of addiction to alcohol, prescription drugs and illicit substances has grown rapidly in recent years among Americans of all ages and races. Whether or not you or a loved one has already experienced negative consequences resulting from recreational drug or alcohol use, addiction can cause serious and life-altering issues when left unchecked. If you are concerned that a loved...