Young People May Be More Vulnerable to Nicotine Addiction Than the Middle Aged
Cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence “causes significant health problems among young people, including an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, and potential effects on lung growth and function,” warns the American Lung Association. “Most importantly, this is when an addiction to smoking takes hold, often lasting into and sometimes throughout adulthood. Among adults who have ever smoked daily, 87 percent had tried their first cigarette by the time they were 18 years of age, and 95 percent had by age 21.” A new study from the Penn State Department of Biobehavioral Health suggests that young adults may actually be more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than middle-aged people. The results provide evidence that the effects of drugs on the body—both medication and misused substances—change over the lifespan in ways that clinicians and researchers need to consider when developing and prescribing treatments, the researchers said. The researchers demonstrated that nicotine lowers the body temperature of young-adult mice more quickly and reduces their movement more significantly than it does in middle-aged mice. According to the researchers, the results indicate how nicotine’s effects change as people age. Doctoral student Carlos Novoa and his adviser, Thomas Gould, Jean Phillips Shibley Professor of Biobehavioral Health and head of the department, led the study. According to a PSU press release, “Gould’s prior research has illustrated the differential effects of nicotine in children, adolescents, and young adults. The current study demonstrated that those effects differ even among those considered adults: young adult mice—aged two months—respond more acutely to a nicotine dose of the same strength relative to their body size than middle-aged mice—aged eight months.” Adolescence is a time of growing independence, exploration, and risk-taking. “Teens may experiment with nicotine via cigarettes or vaping, alcohol, and marijuana, at a time when exposure to these substances can have a significant impact on brain development,” warns the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Early use of alcohol and other substances can increase the likelihood of going on to use other drugs and of developing a substance use disorder.” “Sometimes, people think of development as something that occurs until we reach a certain age—like 18 or 25—and then stops,” Professor Gould said. “But people continue to develop and change across their entire lifespan, and this affects how our bodies respond to medications and other chemicals, including nicotine. This research adds one piece to the puzzle of all the factors — age, biological sex, genetics and many others—needed to create effective medical treatments and policies for all people.” In this study, both young adult and middle-aged study subjects displayed decreased movement after receiving nicotine, but young adults reduced their movements more than middle-aged subjects. This indicates that the young adult subjects experienced the effects of nicotine more intensely, according to the researchers. “Since we know that young adults are more likely to smoke or vape for the hedonic sensation—as opposed to older nicotine users who are more likely to use because they are addicted or to manage stress—this larger response matters,” said Novoa, the first author of the study. “The younger you are, the more acute your response to nicotine. This has implications both for prevention messages and for supporting young nicotine users who want to quit.” The PSU study and others like it may help design interventions that make quitting more successful. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of attempts to quit smoking succeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The results demonstrate that young adults are more susceptible to the impact of nicotine,” Novoa said. “This puts them at greater risk for developing addiction to the drug, which has implications for both prevention programs and treatments. The legal age to buy tobacco products is 21, but the risk for a 21-year-old individual is higher than it is for a 45-year-old. We need to understand how nicotine affects people based on their individual characteristics so that we can better prevent smoking and help people quit.” GET THE HELP YOUR CHILD NEEDS BasePoint Academy is a mental health care provider based in Forney, TX, with additional locations in Arlington, TX, and McKinney, TX. BasePoint operates as a clinical center focusing on youth mental health conditions. We specialize in outpatient treatment for teenagers aged 11–18 who are struggling with mental health and substance misuse issues. To improve mental healthcare in Texas, BasePoint is adding another facility in Frisco, TX, this year. BreakThrough is BasePoint’s outpatient treatment option for 18 to 35-year-olds struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. The program offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) options for young adults. BasePoint’s expert team of therapists is here to help. Explore BasePoint services to find teen and young adult treatment near you and take the first step toward healing. Call to schedule a complimentary same-day assessment at 469-629-6355 or complete our inquiry form.
BasePoint Expands Access to Mental Healthcare With New Location in Frisco, TX
This article mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. BasePoint is a leading mental health treatment provider for adolescents and young adults in Texas. BasePoint is based in Forney, TX, with additional locations in Arlington, TX, McKinney, TX, and now in Frisco, TX as well. It is the fourth in-person clinic providing partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for young clients. The new Frisco location strengthens BasePoint’s mission to provide best-in-class mental health treatment while continuing its statewide virtual IOP programming to ensure accessible care across the state of Texas. For BasePoint Founders Roy and Blake Serpa, this expansion is deeply personal. “Frisco is home. I grew up in Frisco,” explains Blake Serpa. “My sister’s mental health struggles started here at age ten. By 18, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and shortly after, we lost her to suicide,” says Serpa. “BasePoint was built for families who don’t know where to turn but want the best possible care for their loved ones. Every decision we make is guided by one simple question: ‘What would you want for your own family?’” The opening of BasePoint Frisco is a significant step toward the organization’s long-term vision of improving mental health access across Texas. “This clinic opening drives us toward our BHAG—our ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goal’—of moving Texas from last place to the top five in mental healthcare access by 2030,” Serpa adds. EXPANDING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE IN TEXAS Texas ranks among the lowest in the country for mental healthcare access, and BasePoint is tackling the crisis head-on by investing in high-quality treatment in one of the state’s fastest-growing communities. Mental health issues are among the leading public health challenges in the Lone Star State and a main contributor to disability and death, especially among adolescent Texans. “Compounded by historic underservice, Texas has faced an uphill battle when it comes to providing sufficient mental health resources to its growing population, but state leaders …are committed to turning the tide,” wrote UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs John Zerwas, MD, and UT System Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer David Lakey, MD in an op-ed published in the Dallas Morning News last year. Committed to strategic and thoughtful growth, BasePoint ensures that each of its expansions is supported by a strong corporate infrastructure, designed to maintain the highest standard of clinical excellence and operational efficiency. With plans to launch 2–3 new clinics in Texan metro areas by 2026-2027, this deliberate approach allows BasePoint to expand access to compassionate, evidence-based mental health treatment for teens and young adults. “BasePoint is addressing the current mental health crisis in Texas head-on by investing in quality PHP and IOP treatment options now conveniently located in Frisco, one of Texas’s fastest growing areas,” says Shara McClure, BasePoint board member, and former divisional vice president of Texas Health Care Delivery for BlueCross BlueShield. “The thriving Frisco business community should have peace of mind knowing that BasePoint is there, expanding access to treatment for their families when they need it. BasePoint Frisco is now open and accepts new clients for its PHP and IOP options. For more information or to schedule a complimentary same-day assessment, visit www.basepointacademy.com.
BreakThrough by BasePoint Empowerment Curriculum
BreakThrough by BasePoint’s empowerment curriculum is a novel approach developed with the program’s young adult clients in mind. It is an integral part of the BreakThrough “Resiliency Program,” a clinical/medical approach to treatment providing an immersive experience where young adults are taught how to bounce back from life’s biggest challenges. BreakThrough by BasePoint is equipping young adults with the capacity to prepare for adversity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our country began to see a significant uptick in the general awareness of behavioral healthcare needs. At the same time, the BasePoint team recognized that there was a disparity between awareness and access to effective care. The mental health sector was flooded with young Americans seeking treatment for the first time after developing maladaptive coping mechanisms while experiencing untreated behavioral healthcare needs. Resiliency And Trauma BasePoint understood that this population had a deep need for training around resiliency and trauma. The BreakThrough by BasePoint’s empowerment curriculum addresses those needs. BasePoint therapist India Bradley, LCSW, was the chief architect of the innovative curriculum. “India Bradley developed most of this,” says BasePoint’s Bryan Gray, LPC-A, supervised by Rochelle Schutte, LPC-S. “I helped out with the section on interpersonal effectiveness, but she had the idea of splitting it up into five different sections.” Depression A typical week begins Mondays with a focus on depression. The curriculum emphasizes that depression is more than just stress. Therapist and client discuss experiences with depression and stress. Recognizing the signs and sources can help clients manage episodes of depression. “The empowerment curriculum encourages clients to identify the difference between stress and depression,” explains Gray. Interpersonal Effectiveness On Tuesdays, the theme is interpersonal effectiveness. The therapist encouraged clients to complete a worksheet on values. “The values worksheet explores a variety of core values,” explains Gray. “Clients identify values that resonate the most with them. Therapists ask clients to examine past conflicts and consider how the argument stemmed from a violation of their core values.” Emotional Awareness On Wednesdays, the focus is on emotional awareness. “Clients look at how they’re communicating with others in their life,” says Gray. “We’re helping them become aware of the things that they’re feeling. A BasePoint therapist also provides psychoeducation on the difference between guilt and shame and ways to address both.” Anxiety Thursday’s topic is anxiety. “This condition is presented as all-consuming stress,” says Gray. “Something that takes over your thoughts and emotions and influences your choices. Clients are encouraged to engage in an activity that is meant to help them identify the difference between anxiety and stress.” Self-Esteem And Self-Compassion Finally, Friday is dedicated to help clients improve their self-esteem and self-compassion. “The therapist asks clients to participate in an identity exploration exercise,” says Gray. “The exercise encourages them to explore parts of their identity and what each component means to them.” As people experience trauma, triggers, stressors, or even uncomfortable situations, they begin to develop ways to cope with the experience, whether healthy or unhealthy. The empowerment curriculum is designed to provide insights into common mental health issues and how to cope with them. “India was very strategic with the curriculum,” says Gray. She started off with the basics—what is depression, what is anxiety? How is depression different from just being sad? How is anxiety different from stress? And then we’re looking at core values, which is my favorite because the values play a huge role in the rest of treatment.” BreakThrough by BasePoint offers a complimentary mental health assessment with a licensed clinician to guide you toward the appropriate level of care for young adults, whether needing intensive outpatient services, depression treatment, or trauma care. Getting Started BreakThorugh by BasePoint’s expert team of therapists is here to help. They ensure transparency about costs, including how much therapy and outpatient mental health services may cost, as well as the partial hospitalization program cost. Additionally, they provide clarity on the cost of intensive outpatient program (IOP) with insurance in Texas and assist in navigating insurance coverage, including UMR, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, for services such as ADHD testing. Explore BasePoint services to find young adult group therapy near you and take the first step toward healing. Call to schedule a complimentary same-day assessment at 469-629-6355 or complete our inquiry form.
Teenage Cannabis Use Correlated With Worse Academic Outcomes
Unintended Consequences: The Rise of High-Potency Cannabis Users across all ages and experience levels are noticing that a drug they once turned to for fun and relaxation now triggers existential dread and paranoia,” wrote Malcolm Ferguson in August in The Atlantic. Like other observers, Ferguson has started to realize what many mental health professionals have known for many years. Cannabis products in the United States have been weaponized on an industrial scale. “In 2022, the federal government reported that, in samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, average levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC—the psychoactive compound in weed that makes you feel high—had more than tripled compared with 25 years earlier, from 5 to 16 percent,” Ferguson reported. “That may understate how strong weed has gotten.” The “fun and relaxation” was never meant for minors: the legal sale and use of cannabis has been limited to adults over 21 in all states and territories but as before legalization, marijuana products frequently find their way into the hands of teenagers—and it’s popular. Changing Perceptions on Cannabis “Cannabis is in and alcohol is out”—a preference change likely driven by Gen Z, Nikki Battiste reported for CBS News in May. The cannabis industry has managed to convince large numbers of Americans—particularly young people—that their potent products are harmless if not beneficial for their well-being. As a consequence, millennials and Gen Z tend to think of alcohol as harmful and marijuana as healthy. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “there are real risks for people who use marijuana, especially youth and young adults… Today’s marijuana is stronger than ever before. People can and do become addicted to marijuana. Approximately one in ten people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to one in six.” Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction. A new systematic review and meta-analysis of collected data on marijuana use by teenagers found that it can put their academic performance on a downward trajectory. Cannabis and Brain Architecture Data from almost 440,000 youths found higher rates of school absenteeism, lower grades, and other poor outcomes. “Chronic use among adolescents has been linked to long-term changes in brain architecture,” the study authors say, “resulting in impaired information processing and decreased cognitive, memory, and attentive capacity in adulthood.” Around 18 million Americans now report using marijuana daily or near daily, more than the number of people who drink alcohol that often. At the same time, cannabis products have become much more potent than in decades past, and more kids are using it Teenage substance misuse is not an isolated phenomenon but is strongly correlated with the mental health crisis among young people. New research confirms that teens who use cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, and other substances often attempt to self-medicate mental health issues. Cannabis and Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions The term dual diagnosis is used to describe co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma. BasePoint Academy is a trusted leader in specialized treatment for dual-diagnosis teens and adolescents. Our evidence-based treatment plans determine the most effective methods for developing a personalized roadmap that guides clients toward healing, recovery, and a fulfilling life. Getting Teen Mental Health Treatment with BasePoint Academy We proudly serve the vibrant communities of Dallas, TX, including surrounding areas such as Arlington, Forney, and McKinney. Our specialized partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Dallas, Texas, are carefully crafted to address the unique mental health challenges faced by today’s teens. These dynamic programs tackle the multifaceted and complex teen experience, setting a new standard for care. We offer a complimentary mental health assessment with a licensed clinician to guide you toward the appropriate level of care for your teen, whether they need IOP for teens, depression treatment for teens, or teen trauma treatment. In Dallas, TX, therapy for teens is made accessible, with additional services including anger management for teens near you and teen counseling throughout Texas. Our expert team of teen therapists in Dallas is here to help. We ensure transparency about costs, including how much teenage therapy and outpatient mental health services may cost, as well as the partial hospitalization program cost. Additionally, we provide clarity on the cost of IOP with insurance in Texas and assist in navigating insurance coverage, including UMR, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, for services like ADHD testing. Explore our offerings to find teen group therapy near you and take the first step toward healing today. Call us to schedule a complimentary same-day assessment at tel:4696296355 or complete our inquiry form. Related Articles Is Weed a Depressant? | Marijuana Facts, Risks, & Addiction Help Teenage Cannabis Use Correlated With Worse Academic Outcomes Individual Therapy For Teens In Dallas, Texas What Depression In Teen Girls Looks Like What Depression In Teen Boys Looks Like Mental Health Therapy & Treatment Programs for Teens and Young Adults in Dallas, Texas
Does Alcohol Thin Your Blood?
Understanding Alcohol’s Impact on Blood Thinning When you ask, “Does alcohol thin your blood?” the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Alcohol, including beer and wine, can indeed thin your blood by affecting how your red blood cells function. This effect, while not immediate, can potentially reduce your blood’s ability to clot, posing risks especially if you’re mixing alcohol with blood thinners. It’s essential to understand these interactions to make informed decisions, whether you’re enjoying a casual drink or managing a health condition. Many people wonder how much alcohol it takes to thin the blood or if just one beer can have this effect. While moderate drinking might offer some heart health benefits, excessive consumption can increase the risk of bleeding, particularly if you’re taking medications like blood thinners. By exploring the nuances of how alcohol impacts blood clotting, you can better manage your health and make choices that align with your well-being. Alcohol is a major part of our culture, and a lot of people drink regularly, either on their own or at events. The fact that alcohol is used so often makes it especially important for everyone to understand how alcohol affects your brain and body [1], including how it interacts with your circulatory system and if alcohol thins your blood. If you’ve heard that alcohol can thin your blood and are wondering if it’s true, you’re in the right place. We’re going to talk about how alcohol affects users, including the answer to the question: does alcohol thin your blood. We’ll also talk about the addiction risk that comes with using alcohol, how you can manage your risk, and how you can spot a possible addiction before it becomes a problem. Remember, everyone can use this information, whether you’re worried about an addiction yourself, worried about a friend or family member who might be dealing with an addiction, or simply have friends and family who drink. Does Alcohol Thin Your Blood? If you’re wondering does alcohol thin your blood, the answer is sort of. Alcohol causes a thinning effect in your blood because it reduces your red blood cells’ ability to stick together [2]. That sticking action is how your blood cells form scabs, and can also be involved in blood clotting which can cause heart attacks and strokes [3]. The fact that alcohol temporarily and moderately thins your blood is one reason that having a single drink a day, like a glass of wine or a beer, can work to help reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke. However, despite the potential benefits of mild to moderate drinking, heavy drinking increases your risk of the same diseases that moderate drinking can protect against. Regardless of the potential benefits, people with certain health conditions, or who are taking certain medications, should not drink at the same time or should be sure to drink significantly less than they otherwise would if they continue drinking. While the blood thinning effect of alcohol can be beneficial, there are a lot of other symptoms and side effects of alcohol use that are not beneficial. Plus, so long as you continue drinking you are also at risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. Dangers Of Substances That Thin Your Blood There are a lot of different considerations when you’re using a substance that thins your blood the way alcohol can. In this section, we’ll talk about the specific dangers that come with alcohol being a blood thinner, as well as some of the more general risks of alcohol use. Excessive Bleeding One of the first and most important risks of using alcohol is that it can make you more prone to excessive bleeding while you’re intoxicated. This risk normally isn’t a big deal, but it can be depending on your health status and how much you drink. One of the problems with alcohol being a blood thinner is that drinking also increases your risk of falling or being in an accident. If you fall and injure yourself while drinking, you’re likely to bleed more than you would have if you were sober. That includes internal injuries as well as external ones. If you’ve ever noticed that you get more serious bruises when you bump into things while drinking compared to when you aren’t drinking, this is probably why. When your blood doesn’t clot as well, it also can’t create as good of a seal, which means that you’ll bleed a little more and a little longer when you’re drinking. The more you drink, the more this effect increases. Alcohol Should Not Be Mixed With Blood Thinners There are two main reasons why alcohol should not be mixed with blood thinners. First, alcohol and blood thinners can have similar effects, so you might get too much of an effect, which can be just as harmful as not taking your medication. Additionally, alcohol can also affect the normal function of your kidneys and liver, which means that it might take longer for blood thinners to leave your system than normal, increasing your risk of an accidental overdose when you take the medication. There can also be additional side effects and problems we aren’t going to mention here depending on why you’re taking blood thinners, which medication you take, your dose, and how much and how often you drink. Talk to your doctor if you’re on blood thinners and still want to drink to find out if it’s safe, and how much you can safely drink while you’re taking your medication. Risk Of Developing An Addiction Alcohol use always comes with some risk of developing an addiction. People are more likely to develop an addiction if you have a previous addiction if they’re undergoing a lot of stress, have had a recent loss, are dealing with a mental health disorder, or have a history of trauma. The more you drink in a single sitting, and the more often you drink, the greater your risk of developing an addiction. Mild
Blue Adderall® Pill: Risks, Withdrawal Symptoms, & Signs You May Be Addicted
Understanding the Blue Adderall Pill The blue Adderall pill is a commonly prescribed medication aimed at managing symptoms of ADHD. Known for its ability to enhance focus and concentration, this blue pill, available in various dosages like 10 mg, has become a go-to solution for many. However, with its benefits come significant risks. The potential for abuse is high, as individuals may misuse it for its performance-enhancing effects rather than its therapeutic purpose. Despite its legitimate uses, the blue Adderall pill can lead to dependency. It’s crucial to recognize the signs of misuse and addiction. Understanding the risks associated with this medication, such as heightened blood pressure and potential heart issues, is essential. Awareness and education are key to using Adderall safely and effectively, ensuring it serves as a helpful tool rather than a harmful crutch. Adderall® is one of the most common medications prescribed to help with the symptoms of ADHD. Unfortunately, this means it’s also one of the medications that’s most widely available for people who are looking to abuse drugs, boost their school or work performance, or who are looking for an affordable high. This also means that the blue Adderall® pill [1], and other preparations of Adderall®, are common targets for abuse, especially among teenagers. One of the hardest things to deal with when it comes to Adderall® and drugs like it is that addiction, and using the medication properly for it intended purpose, can often look similar. Also, some of the people most likely to develop an addiction, are also the people who could probably benefit from the medication if it were used and prescribed properly. Adderall® is also a little different from other drugs that are commonly targeted for abuse. Most of the time, when people are addicted to Adderall®, they see performance increases instead of decreases. The enhanced energy and ability to concentrate that come with Adderall® use can also mean that a different population is more likely to abuse this drug compared with other substances of abuse. People who are high performers, who excel in high-stress situations, who take on a lot of extracurricular activities, and who are under a lot of pressure to succeed may be more likely to choose Adderall® as a drug of abuse compared with other population groups. This can be especially true when speaking of teenagers. Among teenagers, Adderall® is one of the easiest drugs to get, the easiest to hide the possible signs of addiction, and one of the hardest addictions to manage. Below, we’ll discuss what you need to know about the blue Adderall® pill, why it’s so often targeted for abuse among high-achievers, and how you can get help for yourself or a loved one if you’re worried about an addiction. What Are the Risks & Side Effects Of Taking the Blue Adderall® Pill? There are two types of Adderall® that come in blue pills, one is the 7.5mg dose, and the other is the 10mg dose. There are also shape differences between the two. The 10mg pill is round, while the 7.5mg pill is an oval. Knowing what dose of Adderall® you’re taking is important not just for taking the prescription properly, but also for preventing overdose. If you are addicted to Adderall®, knowing what dose you were taking, and how often you were taking it, can help you and your medical care providers create a plan for how you can safely overcome that addiction. While Adderall® can be safely used to manage the symptoms of ADHD and Narcolepsy, it’s also a schedule 2 drug, which means that there is a high potential for abuse among users. This brings us to the first risk of taking Adderall®, there is a high potential that you will become addicted to the drug. Addiction can happen even when Adderall® is taken as prescribed, but it’s much less likely. Most of the time people who become addicted take more Adderall® than was prescribed, take it more often that was prescribed, or take Adderall® without any prescription at all. Since Adderall® is known as a ‘study drug’ among both high school and college students, high achievers and students who are under a lot of pressure to succeed in school may be especially vulnerable to Adderall® addiction. Unfortunately, since Adderall® is a stimulant, it doesn’t just magically increase your ability to concentrate. This drug, and other drugs like it, have widespread effects on your brain and body and come with a range of side effects, some of which can be dangerous. Short-term side effects of Adderall® can include: Racing heart High blood pressure Anger Restlessness Irritability Dry mouth Sleep problems Diarrhea Constipation Weight loss Hair loss Muscle twitching Changes in sex drive or erectile dysfunction More serious side effects that require medical help can include: Heart problems Aggressive behavior Seizures Blurred vision Sudden death is also possible, especially with high doses of Adderall®, or in people who have a pre-existing heart condition who use the drug. In addition to these Adderall®-term or acute side effects, Adderall® also comes with a range of long-term side effects [2] that are serious and concerning, including but not limited to: Stunted growth Heart problems Mental health disorders Liver and Kidney problems Addiction Additionally, there are some less well-studied, but still concerning reports that long-term Adderall® use may be linked with sexual dysfunction and developing dementia in some patients. Withdrawal Symptoms & Timeline There are a lot of reasons why you might have to stop taking blue Adderall® pills, including if your doctor wants to try a different medication or wants to change the dose or preparation of Adderall® you’re currently taking to see if you get better results from something else. If you’re addicted to Adderall®, the only way to overcome that addiction is to go through withdrawal. That said, no matter how uncomfortable the withdrawal turns out to be, it can help to be prepared and to know what to expect ahead of time. Having withdrawal supplies, like easy-to-eat and make
Is Weed A Depressant? What Marijuana Does To the Brain And Body
Exploring Marijuana’s Role as a Depressant or Stimulant The question of whether marijuana is a depressant or stimulant is a common one, and the answer is not as straightforward as it might seem. While some people classify cannabis as a depressant due to its calming effects, others argue it exhibits stimulating properties, depending on the compound and the individual. This dual nature makes understanding marijuana’s role in the body and brain both intriguing and essential for users and researchers alike. Cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, play a pivotal role in how marijuana affects us. THC can act like a stimulant, increasing alertness and energy in some users, while simultaneously creating a soothing, depressant effect for others. On the other hand, CBD is often recognized for its relaxing characteristics, contributing to the perception of marijuana as a depressant. By exploring these effects, we can better understand how marijuana interacts with our bodies, helping us make informed decisions about its use. One of the most important things you can do is understand how different drugs affect your body, especially if you’re currently using or considering using those drugs. Knowing how a drug is likely to affect you can make it easier to spot potential problems, and also helps you gauge risk more effectively. Of course, understanding drugs aren’t enough to make them safe or to make it a good idea to use them. But, since weed is being legalized or partially legalized in a lot of places, it’s one of the most important drugs to understand. A lot of people think that weed is a depressant, like alcohol, but the truth is a little more complicated. Let’s talk about how weed works in your body, what it does, and the effects and side effects you can expect from the drug. Is Weed A Depressant, Stimulant, Or Hallucinogen? Calling weed a depressant is a bit of an oversimplification. Some of the active chemicals in weed can act as depressants, while other chemicals can be stimulating or have other effects on your body. One of the things you need to understand about weed, to understand how it works and the different effects it can have on your body, is that weed is a natural plant full of many different chemicals. The most important of those chemicals, at least to us, is in a class called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemicals that are found in weed and some related plants. They have a wide range of effects because cannabinoids are very similar to naturally occurring endocannabinoids found in our bodies. Not all cannabinoids are well understood, there are still a lot of studies needed to fully understand which cannabinoids are most important, how they interact with the endocannabinoid system, and the full range of effects that weed and weed products can have. That said, the two most important cannabinoids that we’ve identified and studied so far are THC and CBD. Before we keep going, it’s important to have a working definition of depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens: Depressants Depressants are drugs that work to slow your central nervous system, which can result in a feeling of relaxation, calmness, or fatigue. High doses can be dangerous and may lead to breathing complications. Stimulants Stimulants work on the central nervous system like depressants, but instead of slowing the system down they speed things up. Can lead to feelings of alertness, improved concentration, jitters, and anxiety. Stimulants can also be dangerous and may increase your heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels when used to excess. Hallucinogens Hallucinogens can create heightened senses that may lead to visual, auditory, and physical hallucinations. Hallucinations can vary in severity and nature. Some hallucinations may be easy to ignore or even pleasant, while other hallucinations can be upsetting and difficult to ignore. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid in weed and weed products. It’s the one that makes you feel high and may be responsible for a range of other effects, including the sometimes stimulating or hallucinogenic effects [1] of weed. But, even when it comes to THC, we’re still figuring out how to classify the chemical and how to anticipate its effects because they can vary widely from person to person, and from one dose to another. CBD The other cannabinoid that’s generally considered the most important is CBD, which is widely considered responsible for the relaxation and pain-relieving properties of weed. CBD likely acts [2] as a depressant at high doses, and more like a stimulant at low doses. How Cannabinoids Work Chemicals that work differently at different concentrations are called biphasic. Put simply, biphasic drugs are dependent on dosage and a few other factors to determine how they work. It’s important to understand that at least some if not all, cannabinoids are biphasic in your brain because that means that taking more weed isn’t necessarily going to give you the same effects as the previous dose. The higher the concentration of each cannabinoid in your system the more likely it is that you’ll reach the threshold required to change the way the drug works in your system. While cannabinoids primarily work on the endocannabinoid system, one of the effects of using weed is also a change in the concentration of important neurotransmitters in your brain. These effects are like other drugs like opioids and party drugs, though the exact concentrations of neurotransmitters and how weed affects you varies from person to person and also changes depending on the variety and potency of the weed or weed product you’re consuming. What Marijuana’s Effects Have On The Brain And Body Now that you know a little bit about how weed works, and why it’s so hard to classify weed into a single category, or even to categorize individual cannabinoids, let’s talk more about the effects of weed on your brain and body. Remember, the effects you experience depend in part on your body’s natural chemistry, the type of weed you’re consuming, how much you consume, and even how you
Xanax® and Alcohol: A Potentially Fatal Combination
Risks of Using Xanax with Alcohol Mixing Xanax and alcohol can be very harmful. Both are depressants, meaning they slow down the brain. When taken together, they can make you feel extremely sleepy and dizzy, and may even lead to serious breathing problems. This combination can also make it hard to think clearly or remember things, increasing the chance of accidents or injuries. Using Xanax with alcohol can also lead to severe side effects like confusion and poor coordination, which can be dangerous. It’s important to talk to a doctor before considering drinking alcohol while taking Xanax. This can help you avoid risks and keep you safe. Most people understand that mixing drugs can be dangerous, but it’s relatively rare for people to understand how dangerous mixing certain drugs can be, or which drugs are more dangerous to mix than others. For instance, the cultural perception that alcohol is a relatively safe and acceptable drug to use can lead a lot of people to think it’s safer to mix with other drugs, both prescription and recreational than it is. Those misperceptions can’t just cause serious complications for users, they can also be deadly. Even if you’re taking one or more of the drugs you’re mixing legally, like in the case of combining prescription Xanax® and alcohol, it can still be extremely dangerous. Xanax® and alcohol are actually a perfect example because of how serious the effects can be when these drugs are mixed together, and how dangerous it can be when you don’t get medical help quickly enough. Unfortunately, studies on Twitter [1] and other social spaces show that there are still a lot of people polymixing drugs (taking 2 or more drugs simultaneously on purpose) and these people often don’t understand the risks involved. So, to help people better understand why mixing drugs like Xanax® and alcohol isn’t a good idea, and what you should do if you’re having serious side effects or want to mix Xanax® and alcohol, let’s take a closer look at this common problem, why it happens, and what it can do to you. What Are the Side-Effects Of Xanax® and Alcohol? One of the first things you need to know about mixing drugs is that when you mix them you’re still risking all of the normal side effects from each drug. That means that you need to know what the side effects are, individually, so that you can look for shared side effects and side effects that, on their own, are risky together. At the same time, you should also know that mixing drugs can cause drug interactions where one or both drugs acts differently than they normally would. Often, as is the case with Xanax® and alcohol, the drug interactions from mixing two substances are dangerous. We’ll talk about what happens when you mix Xanax® and alcohol in the next section. For now, let’s look at the possible side effects when you take these drugs individually. Common side effects [2] from Xanax® include: Drowsiness Fatigue Falling asleep Blurred vision Insomnia Memory problems Irritability Diarrhea Weight changes Constipation Trouble concentrating Headache Sweating Nausea Vomiting Muscle weakness Swollen hands and feet Congestion Lowered libido It’s important to remember that not everyone will get side effects from Xanax®, and not all people who get side effects will get the same side effects every time they take Xanax®. People who use Xanax® recreationally may be more likely to get side effects than people who are using Xanax® as prescribed. Higher doses or longer use of Xanax® may increase the risk of side effects as well as increase the severity of side effects when you get them. You should also know that even with as many side effects as we listed there, there is always a possibility that you may have a rare or unexpected side effect, even when you aren’t mixing Xanax® and alcohol. If you have a severe side effect and are worried about your symptoms, call poison control, a nurse helpline, or 911 for more help. Now that we’ve talked a bit about Xanax®, let’s talk about the side effects of alcohol use. Remember, like the side effects of most drugs, the longer you use alcohol, the more often you use it, and the more you drink when you use alcohol, the worse your side effects are likely to be. Long-term chronic alcohol users may have more side effects and will generally have more severe versions of the side effects, compared with people who only drink occasionally or who haven’t had alcohol before. Drinking smaller amounts of alcohol at once reduces your risk of side effects, including alcohol poisoning, and will generally mean that the side effects you get from drinking will be less severe than if you drank more. With all that out of the way, here are some of the common side effects [3] of alcohol use: Euphoria Headache Impaired vision Impaired movement Impaired speech Changes in cognition Impaired memory High blood pressure Increased risk of heart disease Increase risk of cancer Stroke Weakened immune system Agitation Aggression Lowered inhibitions Drowsiness Inability to stay conscious Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Sweating You might notice that there are quite a few shared side effects between Xanax® and alcohol. That’s one of the first indicators that two drugs might work in similar ways, or be dangerous when taken together. Of course, there’s another big reason that mixing Xanax® and alcohol isn’t a good idea. More in the next section. What Happens When You Mix Xanax® and Alcohol? Before we talk more about what happens when you mix Xanax® and alcohol, you need to know that Xanax® is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are typically prescribed to help manage anxiety and work in part by slowing your central nervous system and giving your brain and body a chance to catch up and use coping mechanisms to intervene in anxiety. This is important because, like other downers or depressants, benzodiazepines aren’t safe to mix with alcohol. No drug in this
Should You Mix Antidepressants And Alcohol?
Understanding the Risks of Antidepressants and Alcohol Combining antidepressants and alcohol can be harmful, and understanding the reasons is crucial. Both substances impact the brain and can amplify effects like drowsiness, mood swings, and dizziness when used together. These interactions not only make daily tasks unsafe but may also reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants, preventing them from supporting your mental health. For teens or adults, drinking while on antidepressants could also increase feelings of sadness, heighten anxiety, or lead to other serious side effects. It’s critical to know the risks and make informed decisions. Keep reading to learn more about why you can’t drink on antidepressants and how alcohol affects mental health treatments. Balancing Antidepressant Benefits and Lifestyle Challenges It’s pretty common for teenagers who are dealing with mental health challenges to get a prescription for antidepressant medications. These medications are generally safe, can be highly effective, and often help teenagers succeed in school and in their personal lives as well as just generally feel better. But should you mix antidepressants and alcohol [1]? While antidepressants aren’t necessarily something that everyone needs to take forever after they get a prescription, they are most effective when you take them every day over an extended timeframe. Most antidepressants don’t even reach full effectiveness until you’ve been on your full maintenance dose of the medication for at least one month. Taking any long-term medication like that can sometimes be challenging, especially for teens who may struggle to remember long-term medications, may not want to take medications – especially if there is social stigma about that medication. Taking certain medications may also feel restrictive to teens. For example, most antidepressants come with a warning about drinking alcohol [2]. That can feel like a huge restriction to a lot of teens, especially if they think that they are likely to still be using the medication by the time they turn 21 and alcohol becomes legal. Not to mention that drinking is incredibly common for many teens, despite being illegal. Taking a medication that makes drinking alcohol even more dangerous can feel like an unfair restriction to some teens, especially if they have friends who are already drinking, or had been drinking themselves before taking the medication. So, while teen drinking is never something we would encourage, it’s important to be realistic about the possibility, the risks, and how teens can feel about not having the option. With that in mind, let’s talk about why that warning exists on many antidepressants, what the risks and side effects of combining antidepressants and alcohol really are, and if the combination is more dangerous for the teens in your life than it would be for the adults. Is It Safe To Mix Antidepressants And Alcohol? The first thing we need to address for the combination of alcohol and antidepressants is if it’s even safe to mix them. After all, if there are serious dangers associated with the combination of these two drugs, that should be all the information we need. That said, the safety of combining antidepressants and alcohol can be highly variable, not just in terms of how much you’re taking, but also how often you drink, how much you drink, which drugs you’re taking, and your individual metabolism and health status. For instance, people taking a specific class of antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can have a dangerous spike in blood pressure when combined with alcohol, or even certain foods. It’s important for people who take these medications, regardless of their age, to understand what beverages and foods they need to avoid and to be careful about avoiding those substances while they take that medication. But other more common types of antidepressants, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, generally come with less risk when combined with other drugs or alcohol. There are still risks, of course, and you should avoid certain foods and beverages while taking them, like grapefruit or grapefruit juice [3], but the risks are generally lower. That said, drinking alcohol while taking any medication, including over-the-counter medications you can get without a prescription, can increase your risk and especially may increase your risk of having what’s called an adverse medication reaction. Basically, adverse medication reactions are negative consequences of taking a medication more severe than your typical side effect. Most often, these reactions happen when you’re taking more than one medication or drug at the same time, or when medications are mixed with certain foods or health conditions. For example, some medications may cause an adverse medication reaction if you get too dehydrated while taking them. Or you may not be able to take over-the-counter pain or sleep medications while using certain prescriptions, because there may be an adverse medication reaction when you combine them. That happens with alcohol as well. Alcohol is actually highly reactive to other medications, and can also change how quickly your body can process and eliminate a medication because your liver and kidneys are busy dealing with the alcohol. Common Side Effects of Combining Antidepressants and Alcohol: Why Teens Face Greater Risks Here are some of the more common side effects, though this list is still far from complete and doesn’t include all of the possible side effects or reactions to combining antidepressants and alcohol. Remember that there are many different antidepressants, and each antidepressant will respond a little differently to alcohol. Your dose, body weight, and how much you drink can all lead to different reactions. The more of a medication you take, the higher your dose, the more likely you are to have severe reactions or just more reactions when you combine antidepressants with alcohol. Blood pressure changes Dizziness More extreme mood changes Nausea Vomiting Loss of coordination Headaches Fatigue Increased sleepiness Lowered inhibitions. Increased risk of both overdose and alcohol poisoning While these side effects are side effects of alcohol, antidepressants, or both, they will generally be much stronger side effects when the two types of drugs are combined. Because teenagers often have a stronger