Existential Loneliness
Loneliness is generally associated with feelings of social or emotional isolation. Sometimes, physical separation causes a feeling of loneliness, but the emotion can overcome anyone, regardless of physical distance from loved ones. The negative impact of loneliness can lead to depression or anxiety. For some, they experience existential loneliness which results in substance misuse and abuse.
Melatonin and Alcohol - Mixing Substances and Interactions
Melatonin naturally occurs in humans as a hormone. The biological hormone and its synthetic counterpart both help induce sound sleep. The substance is potent, requiring only a small dose to be effective. However, melatonin has the potential to mix poorly with some drugs, like alcohol. Sometimes the combination can be risky, and since alcohol and melatonin are both legal substances, an individual may have a high chance of mixing them. As always, knowledge is key, and understanding how different substances react together in the body is crucial.
ETOH Abuse
ETOH stands for Ethyl alcohol, or more accurately, its chemical composition. Usually the term is interchangeable with any alcoholic drink. ETOH, or alcohol, is the number one most abused drug in the world. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported in 2019 that 85.6% of individuals in the US had consumed alcohol at some time in their life. Further, 25.8% of individuals in the US had engaged in heavy drinking in the past month. The majority of Americans have tried alcohol, and more than a quarter have engaged in binge drinking. Since alcohol is so common, the extent of ETOH abuse in the US is no surprise.
Clonidine and Alcohol
Clonidine is a prescription sedative and anti-hypertensive drug. Common brand names include Catapres and Kapvay. It is commonly in a pill or path form frequently in use to treat high blood pressure or ADHD. While the side effects are not typically severe, it is possible for negative interactions to occur in use with other drugs.
Sleeping Pill Overdose
What people think of in reference to a sleeping pill could vary widely. While it is not recommended by medical professionals, some use allergy pills as many of them cause drowsiness. There are other over-the-counter (OTC) medications like Advil PM that are non-habit forming sleep aids. Stronger sleeping pills, like Ambien for example, are often controlled substances. This is often due to the risk of developing a tolerance and dependence. For most OTC sleeping pills, overdose is unlikely without intentionally consuming too many. Similarly, a sleeping pill overdose with prescription sleeping pills is unlikely without intentionally taking too many. Often when overdose does occur, particularly with prescription pills, other substances are present which contributes to the risk of overdose, coma, and death.
Gabapentin High
Most people are familiar with the obvious drugs when they think of drug abuse and addiction: alcohol, heroin, meth, opioids, and more. These substances vary in terms of legality and how severe addiction is. There are other substances, often legal, that many do not realize carry the potential for abuse and addiction. Sometimes it is intentional, a person wanting to experiment with substances, or it is also often something a person did not intend to develop a dependence or addiction to. Gabapentin, commonly sold under the brand name Neurontin, is an anticonvulsant medication. With gabapentin there is the risk of abuse and addiction. Many misuse and abuse it due to the potential for euphoric effects and hope to experience the “gabapentin high”.
DXM and Kratom
Cultural attitudes around substances shift over time, something that often depends on our understanding of substances and how they affect people. Additionally, the way substances are shown in popular culture like music, film or television, and other forms of art has a significant impact. Alcohol, for example, is a drug that is widely socially acceptable.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Stress and anxiety can quickly surmount. When combining those elements with a tough childhood, tragic events, depression, anger, or other challenges, finding a healthy way to cope is no easy task. This is certainly the case for men struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Further, those reeling from its effects may not know where to turn for a solution.
