In 2019, the Albuquerque Journal reported that meth was “pure, potent, cheap, and available” in New Mexico. Due to its ease of production with easy-to-get items, Methamphetamine is a common substance misused in New Mexico and the United States. Unfortunately, meth has several undesirable side effects. Meth has an adverse impact on a person’s appearance…
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, around 3,000 New Mexico citizens use heroin every year. Heroin is an opioid manufactured using morphine. Morphine is a naturally occurring substance found in the seeds of the poppy plant. It is possible to overdose on heroin when enough of the substance is taken to…
The side effects of fentanyl use make it one of the most addictive and deadly drugs on the market. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. The effects of fentanyl use are wide-ranging, affecting the body and mind. Understanding the…
In recent years, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are reportedly the most common cause of overdose-related deaths. In the US alone, over 150 people die from synthetic opioid overdoses daily, and fentanyl is largely responsible for the uptick in overdose deaths reported in recent years. Fentanyl addiction can be difficult to pinpoint because, many times,…
Would you know fentanyl if you saw it? In 2021, New Mexico had 304 Fentanyl-related overdoses. Contributing to this number is the fact that fentanyl is often mixed with other substances to increase the effects. This means people are taking fentanyl without knowing it. Understanding the characteristics of fentanyl and how to test for it…
Are you regularly drinking more than you plan to when you go out for drinks with friends? Do you experience memory loss after a night of drinking? Do you start to feel anxiety, shakiness, or flu-like symptoms if you have gone too long without a drink? These are signs that you, or a person you…
We are all familiar with a drunk person trying, and failing miserably, to walk into a straight line. Drunken antics, a lack of inhibition, slurred speech, poor motor control, and glassy eyes are all common side effects of alcohol use and typically end with a hangover the next morning. Beyond the immediate effects, when alcohol…
Around 2 out of 3 overdose deaths in New Mexico involve an opioid such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful medication designed to treat people who are in extreme pain but is increasingly taken as an illicit substance due to its euphoric effects. A fentanyl overdose can be deadly, but life-saving treatments are available. Individuals…
Many see alcohol use disorder, the clinical term for alcoholism, as a binary issue. A person is either an alcoholic or they are not. According to experts, this is not an accurate representation of the spectrum of alcohol use. In the early 60’s researchers started to notice discernable stages of alcoholism. Over time, due to…
Alcohol withdrawal happens when a person that regularly consumes a significant amount of alcohol stops drinking. Chronic alcohol use causes the body’s nervous system to be constantly on high alert. This doesn’t change overnight when a person stops drinking, causing the experience known as alcohol withdrawal as the body readjusts to the “new” normal. How…
Something that most people have observed in their lives is that not everyone who chooses to drink alcohol reacts to that alcohol in the same way. Similarly, people who choose to drink often drink different amounts of alcohol with differing frequency. Maybe your friend’s dad would drink a few beers in the evening after he…
The average person may not be as familiar with the drug fentanyl as they are heroin or morphine, but fentanyl is much more potent than either. The drug was developed as a way to reduce the pain of terminally ill cancer patients, and it reduces pain by targeting receptors in the brain and spinal cord….
You have come to the conclusion that you need to make a change regarding your alcohol use. Like many New Mexico residents, your drinking has become a problem and you are ready to make positive change. However, like with all change, this one brings some anxiety. It might be that you find a lot of…
Binge drinking may be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Lots of people smoke too, but we know how dangerous that is for your health. According to a 2019 report, 1 in 7 adults in New Mexico binge drinks an average of five times a month, which has a number of negative…
Certain people get a flushed face after drinking a few too many. Why is that, and why only certain people? Perhaps after a football game with one too many beers or after a brunch with bottomless mimosas, you look at yourself in the mirror and think, “Why does my face look red?” We will explore…
