is a prescription benzodiazepine most commonly used to treat muscle spasms, anxiety disorders, seizures, panic attacks, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It is also one of the top 10 most addictive prescription medications. It works by replacing cerebral chemicals and slowing down brain activity. As a depressant, it specifically targets and boosts the neurotransmitter called…
Is addiction in the head or is it an inescapable condition of the body? Experts have raved about this question for years with no definitive, all-encompassing answer. There is merit to both opinions. Addiction to a substance causes chemical imbalances that physically change the brain, much like other diseases such as cancer or HIV that…
Valium is a prescription sedative that affects the body and various chemicals in the central nervous system. Its calming effects on the brain are used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, muscle spasms, and can even manage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. As a benzodiazepine, Valium activates a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system called GABA. The result…
In the last decade, addiction treatment has changed in leaps and bounds. Everything—from how addiction is viewed to how it’s treated—has come under close scrutiny as years of data culminate in what has been an unprecedented change. Major steps toward tearing down the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction have been taken. It’s time to…