Tag: substance use
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Stressed Rats Seek Cannabis to Cope: New Study Finds
Introduction: A glimpse into coping mechanisms across species When humans feel overwhelmed, they sometimes turn to substances in hopes of relief. A newly reported study on rats offers a striking parallel: under stress, these animals appear to seek cannabis as a way to cope. While the finding is early and not a direct blueprint for…
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Kratom and 7-OH: The Rising US Trend and FDA’s Addiction Concerns
Understanding the Kratom Surge Across the United States, Kratom and its derivative products containing 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are increasingly available in smoke shops, head shops, and online retailers. Proponents argue that these botanical products offer a natural alternative for managing pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Critics, however, point to a growing body of evidence that…
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Cannabis, psychosis, and hope: how a clinic is helping street users find stability
Two years after a rooftop crisis, a clinic offers a lifeline Isiah’s story began with ordinary days that spiraled into a night he describes as almost unreal. “I’d run down the road thinking I was God,” he says, recalling a headlong descent into paranoia and fear that left him standing on a rooftop in south…
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Sudbury Drug Alert: Heavier Sedation in Overdoses Prompts Public Health Warning
Public Health Sudbury Issues Urgent Drug Safety Warning Public Health Sudbury & Districts, in collaboration with Sudbury’s Community Drug Strategy, has issued a warning about an alarming trend in recent drug poisonings. In multiple overdose events, responders have observed heavier sedation than typically seen with known substances. At this time, health officials say there is…
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Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, New Study Finds
Overview: Cannabis and the Epigenome Recent scientific work has opened a window into how cannabis use may affect the body beyond the immediate effects of cannabinoids like THC. A large study involving more than 1,000 adults, published in 2023, found evidence that cannabis use is associated with changes in the epigenome—the system that regulates when,…
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When Cannabis Went Wrong: A Student’s Journey Through a Breakpoint and Mental Health Risks
Introduction: A normalising of cannabis among young adults Like many middle-class London teens, the author began smoking cannabis at 15, drawn by the idea of a natural, safe buzz and the social perks of drug-using circles. Cannabis was increasingly seen as a harmless rite of passage rather than a potential risk, especially when compared with…
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Cannabis and Mental Health: A Personal Story of Breakdowns, Anxiety, and the Oxford Experience
From casual use to a mental health crisis Like many young people, I started using cannabis as a safer, more accessible alternative to alcohol. It wasn’t about rebellion or heavy experimentation; it was about fitting in, social ease, and the belief that weed was “natural” and harmless. I was a university student, a Londoner away…
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Heart Disease Returns as Global Killer: A Wake-Up Call on Chronic Conditions
Global killer reasserts itself: heart disease, stroke reclaim top spots A new global picture of mortality released in The Lancet highlights a sobering shift: chronic, non-communicable diseases — led by heart disease and stroke — are reclaiming the title of the world’s leading causes of death. COVID-19, once the dominant narrative, has fallen from the…
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Dropout in Digital Psychosocial Interventions for Substance Use: A Systematic Review
Understanding Dropout in Digital Psychosocial Interventions for Substance Use The global burden of illicit drug use remains high, and digital psychosocial interventions have emerged as a flexible alternative to traditional therapy. This article distills evidence from a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis examining dropout rates and the factors that influence retention among adults with illicit…
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From Burning Man to Coachella: The Festival Sex Secrets Revealed
The Big Picture: Festival Sex by the Numbers Music festivals promise unforgettable moments, and a new ZipHealth study sheds light on how intimate experiences unfold beyond the main stages. Surveying more than 1,000 attendees from the United States and the United Kingdom, the research explores sexual encounters, preferences, and risk perceptions in the festival environment.…