Archives:

Since the pandemic, harmful patterns of drug use have been on the rise with more young people using drugs than ever before. We’ve also seen an increase in the number of people using pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical reasons, 40 percent of which are women.  Despite this, the World Drug Report says around 1 in 7…

Read More

Attachment disorders are emotional or behavioural problems that affect people’s ability to form bonds with family members or caregivers. They usually begin in early childhood if an infant’s basic needs are unmet or they’re exposed to abuse, trauma or neglect. There is a strong link between attachment disorder and addiction because if these psychiatric illnesses…

Read More

When you have a recurring desire to keep taking drugs or alcohol, despite harmful consequences, it can affect relationships with partners, colleagues, family and friends. Substance addiction is a chronic disease that affects the brain and makes it impossible for the person to control their behaviour. This can have far-reaching consequences from marriage breakdowns and…

Read More

The stereotypical alcoholic portrayed in films is a jobless, homeless individual with a lack of morals and few discerning qualities. In truth, alcohol use disorders affect people from all walks of life and it’s not always easy to spot who’s suffering. Anyone who can’t control the urge to drink, consumes a large volume of alcohol…

Read More

Up to one hundred times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is a strong narcotic opioid that is frequently abused (1). Often prescribed for chronic pain due to an accident, surgery or cancer, fentanyl is widely considered safe and effective when prescribed by medical professionals. It was originally used as an anaesthetic as it offers fast-acting…

Read More

Psychedelic therapy is a technique that involves the use of psychedelic substances to aid the therapeutic process. Hallucinogenic substances have been used in holistic medicine and for spiritual practices by various cultures for thousands of years, yet their efficacy is still somewhat inconsistent and relatively unknown. In the ’50s and ’60s, research on psychedelics began…

Read More

It might be a term of endearment in Latin America, but “la flaca” means something entirely different in the international drug world. Spanish for ‘pretty, skinny girl who charms all she meets’, Flakka is a highly addictive designer drug known for its ability to make people go crazy. Horrific stories of Flakka addicts displaying bizarre behaviour including running through the streets naked, gaining superhuman strength and engaging in violent acts, have led to…

Read More

Codeine withdrawal symptoms - like withdrawal symptoms from most drugs - can be a pretty nasty experience. Withdrawal symptoms are the effects felt by a substance-dependent individual after a prolonged period without the substance in their system. It’s their body’s response to not getting what it needs to function as a result of the dependency…

Read More

We all have a different relationship with alcohol. For some, it’s a means of loosening up after a hard week’s work or celebrating big life events. For others, alcohol can become something much more destructive. Some people are more susceptible to becoming substance dependent than others and people can build a dependency on alcohol for…

Read More

Substance misuse affects millions of people around the world every year and can be extremely harmful to our health. Misusing substances can quickly lead to dependency and addiction, where cognitive, behavioural and physiological problems develop. Being on substances to get you through the day can make you feel lost and powerless. Like your life is…

Read More