Tag Archives: Downers

After decades of uppers use, we are heading in a "downer cycle" with significant abuse and ODs being reported especially for prescription drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin, but also heroin, methadone and and even the opioid treatment drug suboxone. We look at the trend and some of the implications.

Professional athlete's high use/abuse of pain medications often continues long after they retire. Also a new study of the brain's "Stop" switch and damage to it caused by early drug use, especially nicotine, can lead to a greater susceptibility to addictions in general.

Downers especially oxycontin and vicodin are becoming the new drugs of choice for young people, and increasingly, suburbanites. Viewed as less dangerous than heroin, though they are in fact becoming the new gateway TO heroin.

Purer heroin causing significant increase in overdose deaths; doctor shopping and ways for Rx management; and the continuing issues of addictions by health care professionals