AT Magazine Contributor
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed how people lived, worked, and coped with stress. One major shift involved alcohol consumption. From social drinking at home to self-medicating for anxiety and depression, alcohol use increased significantly during and after the...
When people think about the dangers of alcohol, liver disease often comes to mind first. But did you know alcohol is also a carcinogen? According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen—the same category...
Korsakoff Syndrome is a serious memory disorder often caused by chronic alcohol abuse. It is commonly associated with a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1) and is part of a broader condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Here’s an in-depth look at its causes,...
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant with profound effects on the brain and nervous system. While its short-lived euphoria attracts users, cocaine can have severe and sometimes fatal consequences. One such danger is cocaine-induced seizures, a medical emergency that...
End-stage alcoholism is the most severe and life-threatening phase of alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), where the body and mind are profoundly affected by years of excessive alcohol consumption. At this stage, individuals face significant physical...
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a highly addictive drug that can have deeply negative consequences on people and communities. Its popularity as a drug of abuse has led to many street names for meth, used to refer to it colloquially or in secret....
Interventions can be a critical moment in helping someone struggling with addiction. They provide a structured opportunity for loved ones to express their concerns and guide the individual toward accepting help. However, staging an intervention involves careful...
Every year, millions of people are prescribed medications they never fully use. Left unchecked, these medications often find their way into the wrong hands, contributing to the growing crisis of misuse, abuse, and addiction. Donating unused prescription drugs could be...
It’s astonishing just how much we change during recovery, and a big part of that transformation is due to allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and getting out of our comfort zone -- a combination that can have us doing things we never ever thought we would do. Many...
Alcohol’s effects on the brain go beyond short-term relaxation; it actively alters brain chemistry, especially by interacting with dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to reward and pleasure. This interaction is key to understanding addiction and dependence on alcohol....