What Is the Law Regarding Alprazolam and Why?

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) that regulates neuronal excitability. The benzodiazepine medication alprazolam, which is chemically similar to the neurotransmitter, binds to GABA receptor sites increasing their efficiency. The tranquilizing effects of alprazolam make the drug effective in treating anxiety disorders and panic attacks, but the drug […]

How America Is Fighting the Drug Crisis and Why It Isn’t Working

By Wesley H. Gallagher In 1971, President Richard Nixon officially declared war on drugs. This war would be fought with law and order, as the government dramatically increased resources devoted to criminal prohibition of drug use and sales. Between 1980 and 2003, the population of drug offenders in the state prison system grew twelvefold.1 Despite […]

New Hydrocodone Restrictions to Impact Prescription Painkiller Users

A crackdown on narcotic painkillers is on the way, and it can’t come too soon for those impacted by the prescription drug epidemic in the US. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on August 21, 2014 that it is moving hydrocodone combination products (also known as HCPs) from Schedule III to the more restrictive […]

The Purpose of Drug Testing in Treatment     

It’s no secret that a substance abuse problem can be insidious and unfathomably difficult to kick. Treatment can be a long, difficult, and sometimes slow process. Months can be spent in therapeutic facilities and support groups, sometimes with seemingly little improvement. For some patients, the temptation to relapse – to just take one more hit […]