Drug abuse and addiction are often closely tied to the justice system, as those who do drugs and are impaired by drugs experience trouble with charges such as possession, driving while under the influence, domestic violence, theft, and child endangerment. Sometimes getting in trouble with the law serves as a very real wake-up call for

Teens and pre-teens are often curious about drugs and alcohol and about the effects these substances have on the human body and mind. It is natural to want to know more about how it feels to take these substances and how dangerous they really are. Parents need to keep talking to their kids about the

Prescription painkiller overdose is one of the leading causes of death in America right now, affecting millions of lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control: In 2012, health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medication, enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills. Opioid prescriptions

When people talk about the dangers of certain substances, they often are referring to how addictive these substances are. This is not necessarily the same thing, because a substance can be extremely dangerous and have a high potential for overdose without causing much dependence. Other substances are more addicting, yet their risk for sudden overdose

There is a fine line between moderate and binge drinking, and alcohol dependence and addiction, and many people who drink have a hard time honestly determining where they stand. Many who binge drink believe they can quit drinking whenever they want, and deny they have an addiction problem. But if they seriously tried to remain