Tag Archive

How Does Drug Misuse Affect Oral Health? Substance misuse can negatively affect multiple systems of the body, including everything from the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to reproductive, digestive, and musculoskeletal systems. Not surprisingly, then, a host of oral and dental health issues are associated with substances ranging from cocaine and methamphetamine to alcohol and marijuana.1,2 […]

What is Anxiety Disorder? Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. In fact, anxiety is a normal (and a very human) response to a fearful situation or a stressor, such as the way you might feel before a doctor’s appointment or before an exam. In a perfect world, feelings of anxiety would […]

What is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a type of anxiety disorder triggered by a traumatic experience. Causes of PTSD include: Experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, whether as a child or adult Surviving a natural disaster, tragic accident, terrorist event, or violence Being part of combat, as a soldier or civilian Being […]

What Do Alcohol and Drugs Do to Your Brain? In simplest terms, the brain comprises a network of neurons to process and transmit information. Drugs and alcohol can interfere with the way these brain cells function, altering the way they send, receive, and process signals.1 Alcohol and/or drug use—including heavy and chronic use as well […]

Negative and positive emotions have an impact on the way you act and feel, which means that depression and anger can affect the choices you make and your behaviors. Depression, anger, and addiction are issues that are closely related. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people with substance abuse disorders often have co-occurring […]

What is ADHD? Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.2  Recent research indicates an increase in the diagnosis over the last few decades, with approximately 10% of children and adolescents estimated to have an ADHD […]

Personality Disorders Personality disorders represent enduring patterns of behavior and inner experiences, such as emotions that are relatively inflexible (meaning that they are prone to be expressed in situations where an individual would normally temper certain aspects of their behavior), pervasive (meaning they occur in many different situations), are significant departures from expectations of a […]

What is an Anxiety Disorder? It’s not uncommon for people to feel anxious in certain situations—before taking a test or making decisions involving finances or major life changes, for instance. For lots of people, after these stressors or situations resolve or pass, the anxiety subsides. For individuals with diagnosable anxiety disorders, these feelings of worry […]

American Addiction Centers At AAC, we strive for clinical excellence in everything we do. Our approach is holistic: we provide wraparound care to treat the whole person—not just the addiction. Patient confidentiality is a part of the culture at AAC and all of your medical records and treatment plans are kept 100% private. Treatment doesn’t […]

Effects of Drug and Alcohol Misuse on the Cardiovascular System Misusing drugs or alcohol can have a significant impact on your health and can contribute to several cardiovascular problems, including:2-7 Hypertension (high blood pressure). Some drugs, like cocaine, can generate dangerous and sudden high blood pressure. Other substances, such as alcohol, may cause chronic hypertension, […]