#druguse — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #druguse, aggregated by home.social.
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CW: NSFW, sheath, weed
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Compare and contrast
https://youtube.com/shorts/xMDxRzqpbF0?si=EPC6Z1K8Vhm8i9iA
with
Strictly speaking, the one does not contradict the other, as each chiefly addresses different topics: the unhoused in public spaces on the one hand, public drug use on the other.
Yet a difference in attitude is certainly present here, as well as a difference in the understanding of freedom as a value.
I don't have a pat answer about the "correctness" of either approach. I do know that progressives should be thinking hard about these matters
and be ready for challenging discussion about public space, inclusion, and the justifiability or otherwise of paternalism with regard to housing, drug use, and mental illness.#PublicSpace #ThirdSpaces #Unhoused #Homeless #DrugUse #Freedom #PoliticalThought #PoliticalPhilosophy #Politics #MentalIllness
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«Decriminalise Our Lives!»
International Women's Day: Shared Vision for Feminism.
Statement by ESWA, EuroNPUD, S.A.F.E. and Equinox Initiative.
[I cannot agree more with it. ❤️🔥😍 💯]
-
‣ Criminalisation should NEVER be the first response to social and healthcare issues!
3 years ago, the 8 March Principles were launched - to provide a new model on how we see justice.
This International Women's Day, we're calling for care over carceralism, on issues including sex work, abortion, harm reduction, racial justice and poverty.
We advocate for a feminism that is rights-based, not punitive.
-
‣ Rights not rescue: sex work is work!
Criminalisation, including the criminalisation of clients, is a massive driver of violence against sex workers.
It drives sex work underground, into more danger and stigma, creates barriers to healthcare, housing, and justice.
The 8 March Principles emphasise that consensual sexual activity between adults should never be a matter for the criminal legal system.
Decriminalisation of sex work prioritises the safety, human and labour rights of sex workers.
-
‣ Criminalisation has never stopped abortions from happening. It only makes them less safe.
Under the 8 March Principles, reproductive and bodily autonomy are recognised as fundamental human rights.
We demand the removal of all punitive barriers to healthcare. When we treat abortion as a crime, we violate the right to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy. It is time for a legal system that trusts individuals to make decisions about their own bodies without the threat of a prison cell.
-
‣ Support, don't punish! Harm reduction saves lives. Criminalisation destroys them.
The “War on Drugs” is a war on all humans. In practice, it disproportionately impacts women, caregivers and communities already marginalised.
The 8 March Principles advocate for a shift from criminalisation to harm reduction. Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal one. By redirecting resources from policing to community-supported healthcare and safe consumption services, we can transform our societies for the better.
Lived experience is knowledge.
-
‣ Carceralism vs. Racial Justice.
The legal system isn't “neutral”.
It disproportionately targets and penalises Black, Brown and racialised communities.The 8 March Principles remind us that justice cannot be achieved through a system built on systemic bias. We must dismantle the structures of over-policing and invest in safety measures that are led by and for the communities most affected by state violence.
Anti-carceral feminism is essential to realising racial justice.
-
‣ The Shared Vision - Our Demands:
• Decriminalise abortion, sex work, drug use, and activities associated with poverty.
• Redirect resources from the carceral state to community-led safety, health, and housing.
• Adopt the 8 March Principles globally to ensure that human rights, not moral policing, guide our legal systems.
• Center lived experience as expertise: policies are stronger when shaped by the people most affected. Amplify community voices, recognise peer support, and treat people with dignity and autonomy.
-
‣ Poverty is not a crime!
In many places, being poor or homeless is effectively treated as a criminal offense.
Laws targeting activities like loitering or sleeping in public punish people for simply existing.The 8 March Principles state that the criminal law should never be used to address social and economic exclusion.
We cannot jail our way out of poverty, and should never criminalise the means by which the poorest survive.Resources belong in housing and healthcare, not policing and prisons.
-
‣ Further reading:
🌐 S.A.F.E. https://supportingabortions.eu
🌐 EuroNPUD: https://euronpud.net
➕ SisterWUD: https://euronpud.net/project/mobilising-women-who-use-drugs-and-combating-gender-based-violence-gbv/🌐 European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance: https://www.eswalliance.org
🌐 Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice: https://equinox-eu.com
🗄📄 8 March Principles: https://web.archive.org/web/20230311063011/https://icj2.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8-MARCH-Principles-FINAL-printer-version-1-MARCH-2023.pdf
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A safer world is possible when we stop using the law to punish and start using it to protect.
When we remove the threat of criminalisation, we create space for autonomy, safety, and dignity for all.
It also makes space for well-being and pleasure: safer choices, informed decisions, and self-determination.‣ LET'S BUILD A FEMINISM THAT LIBERATES EVERYONE, SPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALISED.
#8M #M8 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Europe #ESWA #SAFE #EuroNPUD #EquinoxInitiative #SexWork #HarmReduction #SRHR #Abortion #DrugUse #Decrim #DecrimNow #Decriminalization #Feminisms
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«Decriminalise Our Lives!»
International Women's Day: Shared Vision for Feminism.
Statement by ESWA, EuroNPUD, S.A.F.E. and Equinox Initiative.
[I cannot agree more with it. ❤️🔥😍 💯]
-
‣ Criminalisation should NEVER be the first response to social and healthcare issues!
3 years ago, the 8 March Principles were launched - to provide a new model on how we see justice.
This International Women's Day, we're calling for care over carceralism, on issues including sex work, abortion, harm reduction, racial justice and poverty.
We advocate for a feminism that is rights-based, not punitive.
-
‣ Rights not rescue: sex work is work!
Criminalisation, including the criminalisation of clients, is a massive driver of violence against sex workers.
It drives sex work underground, into more danger and stigma, creates barriers to healthcare, housing, and justice.
The 8 March Principles emphasise that consensual sexual activity between adults should never be a matter for the criminal legal system.
Decriminalisation of sex work prioritises the safety, human and labour rights of sex workers.
-
‣ Criminalisation has never stopped abortions from happening. It only makes them less safe.
Under the 8 March Principles, reproductive and bodily autonomy are recognised as fundamental human rights.
We demand the removal of all punitive barriers to healthcare. When we treat abortion as a crime, we violate the right to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy. It is time for a legal system that trusts individuals to make decisions about their own bodies without the threat of a prison cell.
-
‣ Support, don't punish! Harm reduction saves lives. Criminalisation destroys them.
The “War on Drugs” is a war on all humans. In practice, it disproportionately impacts women, caregivers and communities already marginalised.
The 8 March Principles advocate for a shift from criminalisation to harm reduction. Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal one. By redirecting resources from policing to community-supported healthcare and safe consumption services, we can transform our societies for the better.
Lived experience is knowledge.
-
‣ Carceralism vs. Racial Justice.
The legal system isn't “neutral”.
It disproportionately targets and penalises Black, Brown and racialised communities.The 8 March Principles remind us that justice cannot be achieved through a system built on systemic bias. We must dismantle the structures of over-policing and invest in safety measures that are led by and for the communities most affected by state violence.
Anti-carceral feminism is essential to realising racial justice.
-
‣ The Shared Vision - Our Demands:
• Decriminalise abortion, sex work, drug use, and activities associated with poverty.
• Redirect resources from the carceral state to community-led safety, health, and housing.
• Adopt the 8 March Principles globally to ensure that human rights, not moral policing, guide our legal systems.
• Center lived experience as expertise: policies are stronger when shaped by the people most affected. Amplify community voices, recognise peer support, and treat people with dignity and autonomy.
-
‣ Poverty is not a crime!
In many places, being poor or homeless is effectively treated as a criminal offense.
Laws targeting activities like loitering or sleeping in public punish people for simply existing.The 8 March Principles state that the criminal law should never be used to address social and economic exclusion.
We cannot jail our way out of poverty, and should never criminalise the means by which the poorest survive.Resources belong in housing and healthcare, not policing and prisons.
-
‣ Further reading:
🌐 S.A.F.E. https://supportingabortions.eu
🌐 EuroNPUD: https://euronpud.net
➕ SisterWUD: https://euronpud.net/project/mobilising-women-who-use-drugs-and-combating-gender-based-violence-gbv/🌐 European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance: https://www.eswalliance.org
🌐 Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice: https://equinox-eu.com
🗄📄 8 March Principles: https://web.archive.org/web/20230311063011/https://icj2.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8-MARCH-Principles-FINAL-printer-version-1-MARCH-2023.pdf
-
A safer world is possible when we stop using the law to punish and start using it to protect.
When we remove the threat of criminalisation, we create space for autonomy, safety, and dignity for all.
It also makes space for well-being and pleasure: safer choices, informed decisions, and self-determination.‣ LET'S BUILD A FEMINISM THAT LIBERATES EVERYONE, SPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALISED.
#8M #M8 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Europe #ESWA #SAFE #EuroNPUD #EquinoxInitiative #SexWork #HarmReduction #SRHR #Abortion #DrugUse #Decrim #DecrimNow #Decriminalization #Feminisms
-
«Decriminalise Our Lives!»
International Women's Day: Shared Vision for Feminism.
Statement by ESWA, EuroNPUD, S.A.F.E. and Equinox Initiative.
[I cannot agree more with it. ❤️🔥😍 💯]
-
‣ Criminalisation should NEVER be the first response to social and healthcare issues!
3 years ago, the 8 March Principles were launched - to provide a new model on how we see justice.
This International Women's Day, we're calling for care over carceralism, on issues including sex work, abortion, harm reduction, racial justice and poverty.
We advocate for a feminism that is rights-based, not punitive.
-
‣ Rights not rescue: sex work is work!
Criminalisation, including the criminalisation of clients, is a massive driver of violence against sex workers.
It drives sex work underground, into more danger and stigma, creates barriers to healthcare, housing, and justice.
The 8 March Principles emphasise that consensual sexual activity between adults should never be a matter for the criminal legal system.
Decriminalisation of sex work prioritises the safety, human and labour rights of sex workers.
-
‣ Criminalisation has never stopped abortions from happening. It only makes them less safe.
Under the 8 March Principles, reproductive and bodily autonomy are recognised as fundamental human rights.
We demand the removal of all punitive barriers to healthcare. When we treat abortion as a crime, we violate the right to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy. It is time for a legal system that trusts individuals to make decisions about their own bodies without the threat of a prison cell.
-
‣ Support, don't punish! Harm reduction saves lives. Criminalisation destroys them.
The “War on Drugs” is a war on all humans. In practice, it disproportionately impacts women, caregivers and communities already marginalised.
The 8 March Principles advocate for a shift from criminalisation to harm reduction. Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal one. By redirecting resources from policing to community-supported healthcare and safe consumption services, we can transform our societies for the better.
Lived experience is knowledge.
-
‣ Carceralism vs. Racial Justice.
The legal system isn't “neutral”.
It disproportionately targets and penalises Black, Brown and racialised communities.The 8 March Principles remind us that justice cannot be achieved through a system built on systemic bias. We must dismantle the structures of over-policing and invest in safety measures that are led by and for the communities most affected by state violence.
Anti-carceral feminism is essential to realising racial justice.
-
‣ The Shared Vision - Our Demands:
• Decriminalise abortion, sex work, drug use, and activities associated with poverty.
• Redirect resources from the carceral state to community-led safety, health, and housing.
• Adopt the 8 March Principles globally to ensure that human rights, not moral policing, guide our legal systems.
• Center lived experience as expertise: policies are stronger when shaped by the people most affected. Amplify community voices, recognise peer support, and treat people with dignity and autonomy.
-
‣ Poverty is not a crime!
In many places, being poor or homeless is effectively treated as a criminal offense.
Laws targeting activities like loitering or sleeping in public punish people for simply existing.The 8 March Principles state that the criminal law should never be used to address social and economic exclusion.
We cannot jail our way out of poverty, and should never criminalise the means by which the poorest survive.Resources belong in housing and healthcare, not policing and prisons.
-
‣ Further reading:
🌐 S.A.F.E. https://supportingabortions.eu
🌐 EuroNPUD: https://euronpud.net
➕ SisterWUD: https://euronpud.net/project/mobilising-women-who-use-drugs-and-combating-gender-based-violence-gbv/🌐 European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance: https://www.eswalliance.org
🌐 Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice: https://equinox-eu.com
🗄📄 8 March Principles: https://web.archive.org/web/20230311063011/https://icj2.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8-MARCH-Principles-FINAL-printer-version-1-MARCH-2023.pdf
-
A safer world is possible when we stop using the law to punish and start using it to protect.
When we remove the threat of criminalisation, we create space for autonomy, safety, and dignity for all.
It also makes space for well-being and pleasure: safer choices, informed decisions, and self-determination.‣ LET'S BUILD A FEMINISM THAT LIBERATES EVERYONE, SPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALISED.
#8M #M8 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Europe #ESWA #SAFE #EuroNPUD #EquinoxInitiative #SexWork #HarmReduction #SRHR #Abortion #DrugUse #Decrim #DecrimNow #Decriminalization #Feminisms
-
«Decriminalise Our Lives!»
International Women's Day: Shared Vision for Feminism.
Statement by ESWA, EuroNPUD, S.A.F.E. and Equinox Initiative.
[I cannot agree more with it. ❤️🔥😍 💯]
-
‣ Criminalisation should NEVER be the first response to social and healthcare issues!
3 years ago, the 8 March Principles were launched - to provide a new model on how we see justice.
This International Women's Day, we're calling for care over carceralism, on issues including sex work, abortion, harm reduction, racial justice and poverty.
We advocate for a feminism that is rights-based, not punitive.
-
‣ Rights not rescue: sex work is work!
Criminalisation, including the criminalisation of clients, is a massive driver of violence against sex workers.
It drives sex work underground, into more danger and stigma, creates barriers to healthcare, housing, and justice.
The 8 March Principles emphasise that consensual sexual activity between adults should never be a matter for the criminal legal system.
Decriminalisation of sex work prioritises the safety, human and labour rights of sex workers.
-
‣ Criminalisation has never stopped abortions from happening. It only makes them less safe.
Under the 8 March Principles, reproductive and bodily autonomy are recognised as fundamental human rights.
We demand the removal of all punitive barriers to healthcare. When we treat abortion as a crime, we violate the right to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy. It is time for a legal system that trusts individuals to make decisions about their own bodies without the threat of a prison cell.
-
‣ Support, don't punish! Harm reduction saves lives. Criminalisation destroys them.
The “War on Drugs” is a war on all humans. In practice, it disproportionately impacts women, caregivers and communities already marginalised.
The 8 March Principles advocate for a shift from criminalisation to harm reduction. Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal one. By redirecting resources from policing to community-supported healthcare and safe consumption services, we can transform our societies for the better.
Lived experience is knowledge.
-
‣ Carceralism vs. Racial Justice.
The legal system isn't “neutral”.
It disproportionately targets and penalises Black, Brown and racialised communities.The 8 March Principles remind us that justice cannot be achieved through a system built on systemic bias. We must dismantle the structures of over-policing and invest in safety measures that are led by and for the communities most affected by state violence.
Anti-carceral feminism is essential to realising racial justice.
-
‣ The Shared Vision - Our Demands:
• Decriminalise abortion, sex work, drug use, and activities associated with poverty.
• Redirect resources from the carceral state to community-led safety, health, and housing.
• Adopt the 8 March Principles globally to ensure that human rights, not moral policing, guide our legal systems.
• Center lived experience as expertise: policies are stronger when shaped by the people most affected. Amplify community voices, recognise peer support, and treat people with dignity and autonomy.
-
‣ Poverty is not a crime!
In many places, being poor or homeless is effectively treated as a criminal offense.
Laws targeting activities like loitering or sleeping in public punish people for simply existing.The 8 March Principles state that the criminal law should never be used to address social and economic exclusion.
We cannot jail our way out of poverty, and should never criminalise the means by which the poorest survive.Resources belong in housing and healthcare, not policing and prisons.
-
‣ Further reading:
🌐 S.A.F.E. https://supportingabortions.eu
🌐 EuroNPUD: https://euronpud.net
➕ SisterWUD: https://euronpud.net/project/mobilising-women-who-use-drugs-and-combating-gender-based-violence-gbv/🌐 European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance: https://www.eswalliance.org
🌐 Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice: https://equinox-eu.com
🗄📄 8 March Principles: https://web.archive.org/web/20230311063011/https://icj2.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8-MARCH-Principles-FINAL-printer-version-1-MARCH-2023.pdf
-
A safer world is possible when we stop using the law to punish and start using it to protect.
When we remove the threat of criminalisation, we create space for autonomy, safety, and dignity for all.
It also makes space for well-being and pleasure: safer choices, informed decisions, and self-determination.‣ LET'S BUILD A FEMINISM THAT LIBERATES EVERYONE, SPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALISED.
#8M #M8 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Europe #ESWA #SAFE #EuroNPUD #EquinoxInitiative #SexWork #HarmReduction #SRHR #Abortion #DrugUse #Decrim #DecrimNow #Decriminalization #Feminisms
-
«Decriminalise Our Lives!»
International Women's Day: Shared Vision for Feminism.
Statement by ESWA, EuroNPUD, S.A.F.E. and Equinox Initiative.
[I cannot agree more with it. ❤️🔥😍 💯]
-
‣ Criminalisation should NEVER be the first response to social and healthcare issues!
3 years ago, the 8 March Principles were launched - to provide a new model on how we see justice.
This International Women's Day, we're calling for care over carceralism, on issues including sex work, abortion, harm reduction, racial justice and poverty.
We advocate for a feminism that is rights-based, not punitive.
-
‣ Rights not rescue: sex work is work!
Criminalisation, including the criminalisation of clients, is a massive driver of violence against sex workers.
It drives sex work underground, into more danger and stigma, creates barriers to healthcare, housing, and justice.
The 8 March Principles emphasise that consensual sexual activity between adults should never be a matter for the criminal legal system.
Decriminalisation of sex work prioritises the safety, human and labour rights of sex workers.
-
‣ Criminalisation has never stopped abortions from happening. It only makes them less safe.
Under the 8 March Principles, reproductive and bodily autonomy are recognised as fundamental human rights.
We demand the removal of all punitive barriers to healthcare. When we treat abortion as a crime, we violate the right to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy. It is time for a legal system that trusts individuals to make decisions about their own bodies without the threat of a prison cell.
-
‣ Support, don't punish! Harm reduction saves lives. Criminalisation destroys them.
The “War on Drugs” is a war on all humans. In practice, it disproportionately impacts women, caregivers and communities already marginalised.
The 8 March Principles advocate for a shift from criminalisation to harm reduction. Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal one. By redirecting resources from policing to community-supported healthcare and safe consumption services, we can transform our societies for the better.
Lived experience is knowledge.
-
‣ Carceralism vs. Racial Justice.
The legal system isn't “neutral”.
It disproportionately targets and penalises Black, Brown and racialised communities.The 8 March Principles remind us that justice cannot be achieved through a system built on systemic bias. We must dismantle the structures of over-policing and invest in safety measures that are led by and for the communities most affected by state violence.
Anti-carceral feminism is essential to realising racial justice.
-
‣ The Shared Vision - Our Demands:
• Decriminalise abortion, sex work, drug use, and activities associated with poverty.
• Redirect resources from the carceral state to community-led safety, health, and housing.
• Adopt the 8 March Principles globally to ensure that human rights, not moral policing, guide our legal systems.
• Center lived experience as expertise: policies are stronger when shaped by the people most affected. Amplify community voices, recognise peer support, and treat people with dignity and autonomy.
-
‣ Poverty is not a crime!
In many places, being poor or homeless is effectively treated as a criminal offense.
Laws targeting activities like loitering or sleeping in public punish people for simply existing.The 8 March Principles state that the criminal law should never be used to address social and economic exclusion.
We cannot jail our way out of poverty, and should never criminalise the means by which the poorest survive.Resources belong in housing and healthcare, not policing and prisons.
-
‣ Further reading:
🌐 S.A.F.E. https://supportingabortions.eu
🌐 EuroNPUD: https://euronpud.net
➕ SisterWUD: https://euronpud.net/project/mobilising-women-who-use-drugs-and-combating-gender-based-violence-gbv/🌐 European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance: https://www.eswalliance.org
🌐 Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice: https://equinox-eu.com
🗄📄 8 March Principles: https://web.archive.org/web/20230311063011/https://icj2.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8-MARCH-Principles-FINAL-printer-version-1-MARCH-2023.pdf
-
A safer world is possible when we stop using the law to punish and start using it to protect.
When we remove the threat of criminalisation, we create space for autonomy, safety, and dignity for all.
It also makes space for well-being and pleasure: safer choices, informed decisions, and self-determination.‣ LET'S BUILD A FEMINISM THAT LIBERATES EVERYONE, SPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALISED.
#8M #M8 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Europe #ESWA #SAFE #EuroNPUD #EquinoxInitiative #SexWork #HarmReduction #SRHR #Abortion #DrugUse #Decrim #DecrimNow #Decriminalization #Feminisms
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From 619 Drugs to 1: Researchers Uncover Hidden Risk
Originally Published on November 18th, 2025 at 08:00 amIntroduction: Addiction Risk in Commonly Prescribed Drugs
When you think of medication side effects, your mind probably goes to the warnings listed in commercials. Drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, etc. These are common, often manageable, and generally expected side effects of drugs.
But what about far more profound ones that can alter your behavior, strain your relationships, and impact your life?
A recent study delved into this very issue, analyzing VigiBase®, the World Health Organization’s global pharmacovigilance database, containing over 36 million adverse event reports, to uncover surprising links between everyday medications and the development of behavioral addictions.
The research sought to identify drugs where these life-altering risks are not officially listed, leaving us in the dark. This post will break down the most impactful findings from that detective work.
Takeaway 1: It’s Not Just the Usual Suspects Anymore
For years, the primary link between medication and behavioral addiction centered on a specific class of drugs: dopaminergic antagonists used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
The connection was so well-established that it was considered the main, and for many, the only, example of this phenomenon. This new study dramatically broadens that scope.
By analyzing reports from healthcare professionals worldwide, researchers identified seven classes of drugs associated with behavioral addictions, even though this risk is not officially listed as a side effect for them. These include:
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics (specifically, dopamine antagonists)
- Antiepileptics
- Benzodiazepines or related drugs
- Psychostimulants
- Retinoids
- One antidiabetic drug
This finding is significant because it suggests the problem is far more widespread than previously understood. It potentially affects patients being treated for a wide range of common conditions.
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?
Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
Takeaway 2: A Widely Used Antipsychotic Emerged as a Primary Concern
From an initial pool of 619 suspect medications reported at least five times, researchers applied a rigorous filtering process to hunt for the strongest signals. Ultimately, only one drug, Olanzapine, met all of the study’s highest evidence-based criteria.
Olanzapine is a second-generation antipsychotic medication.
The study found that it had the most well-documented cases with strong evidence linking it to behavioral addiction. This evidence included reports where symptoms resolved after:
- The patient stopped taking the drug (a “positive dechallenge”)
- A significant statistical signal in the data
- Support from existing scientific publications
The study’s authors emphasized how their multi-step analysis narrowed the field to this single, compelling candidate:
Our analysis allows to narrow down the search to include only the most thoroughly documented cases… This process culminated in reducing the initial count of 619 suspect to 1: Olanzapine.
While Olanzapine was the only drug to meet every one of the study’s strictest criteria, the researchers noted that other antipsychotics also showed significant warning signs in the data. The specific behavioral addictions most strongly linked to Olanzapine included a range of behaviors such as binge eating, compulsive sexual behavior, compulsive shopping, and gambling disorder.
Takeaway 3: This Hidden Danger Isn’t Listed on the Drugs Official Label
The core purpose of the study was to identify drugs for which behavioral addiction is not listed as a known side effect in the official Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs). These are the detailed documents that guide doctors on a drug’s use and risks.
The implication of this is critical: patients and even some doctors may be completely unaware of these potential risks when prescribing or taking these medications.
An individual experiencing a sudden onset of compulsive behavior might not connect it to their prescription, leading to confusion, distress, and delayed intervention. This research underscores the importance of “pharmacovigilance,” the ongoing science of monitoring drug safety after a medication is on the market.
It is a crucial tool for uncovering hidden patterns and rare side effects that may not have appeared in initial clinical trials.
Do you have enough hours for your LPC renewal? Are you in need of continuing education, but bored with the current offerings? Check out Dr. Weeks’ course on Cannabis Use Disorder, and other unique courses on her practice website.
Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Takeaway 4: The Brain Science is More Complex Than Just Dopamine
Addiction is often explained through the lens of the brain’s reward system, which is heavily driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine.
This is why dopaminergic drugs for Parkinson’s were the first to be linked to behavioral addictions. However, the study’s findings on drugs like Olanzapine suggest a counter-intuitive possibility: the mechanism might involve a different system entirely.
Researchers theorize that for some of these medications, the effect may be caused by their interaction with the serotonergic system. Specifically, the way these drugs block certain serotonin receptors (known as 5HT2A receptors) could be responsible for inducing compulsive behaviors.
This finding deepens our scientific understanding of addiction. It demonstrates that the pathways to addictive behavior in the brain are incredibly complex and varied, and not solely reliant on the dopamine system that has long dominated the conversation.
Conclusion: A Call for Greater Awareness of Drugs Side Effects
This research serves as a powerful reminder that our understanding of medication side effects is constantly evolving. What is considered safe today may reveal hidden complexities tomorrow. Ongoing research and diligent reporting by healthcare professionals are essential tools for ensuring patient safety long after a drug has been approved.
The study’s findings highlight a potential blind spot in patient care. Life-altering behavioral changes might be mistakenly attributed to personal failings rather than a medication’s side effect.
This leads to a vital question for all of us: Knowing that these risks can go unlisted, how can we foster better conversations between patients and doctors about unexpected changes in behavior?
Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.
Are you exploring your trauma? Do you feel your childhood experiences were detrimental to your current mental or physical health? Utilize this free, validated, self-report questionnaire to find out.
Take the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
#addiction #addictiveBehaviors #antidepressants #antidiabetics #antiepileptics #antipsychotics #benzodiasepines #dopamine #dopaminergicAntagonists #drugAddiction #drugUse #drugs #hiddenDangersInMedications #highRiskMedications #olanzapine #prescriptionDrugs #psychostimulants #retinoids #who #worldHealthOrganization
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‘You are complicit’: Imee Marcos’ claim that brother Bongbong uses drugs sparks backlash
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Beyond Willpower in Addiction: 4 Powerful Lessons
Originally Published on November 11th, 2025 at 08:00 amWe often think of addiction as a private, grueling battle of willpower.
Whether it’s a dependency on a substance, a behavior like gambling, or even an unhealthy pattern in a relationship, the prevailing narrative suggests that breaking free is a matter of pure, individual strength.
If you just try hard enough, you can overcome it. If you fail, it’s a personal failing.
But what if this framework is fundamentally flawed? A recent, year-long study offers a more structured, hopeful, and evidence-based path to recovery.
Researchers applied a specific form of therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to individuals struggling with a range of addictions and discovered that the right tools can do more than just help people cope; they can fundamentally transform their lives.
It’s about building a life so full and satisfying that the addiction no longer has room to thrive.
This year-long study is particularly significant because it was conducted in Kazakhstan, a region where evidence-based psychotherapy is still emerging and social stigma can be a major barrier to recovery.
This article distills the four most impactful takeaways from this groundbreaking research. It reveals how a systematic therapeutic approach can lead to profound, measurable life changes, challenging the myth that recovery is simply a matter of gritting your teeth and pushing through.
Lesson 1: The Change to Isn’t Small, It’s Transformative
While we might expect therapy to offer some benefit, the sheer magnitude of improvement seen in this study was extraordinary.
Participants who received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy didn’t just get slightly better; they experienced a dramatic and measurable enhancement in their overall well-being.
The study used the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF), which measures well-being across four key areas. The results were staggering.
On average, the experimental groups saw their quality of life scores jump from the low 40s to the mid-70s on a 100-point scale. To put that in concrete terms, participants with alcohol use disorder went from an average score of 42.31 before therapy to 74.47 after one year.
This isn’t just a number on a chart; it represents a profound shift from a life constrained by addiction to one filled with new possibilities and well-being.
Meanwhile, the control groups, those who did not receive CBT, saw no meaningful improvement in their quality of life, with their average scores remaining essentially unchanged.
This powerful contrast repositions recovery as a genuine opportunity to build a measurably better and more satisfying life.
It’s about building a life so full and satisfying that the addiction no longer has room to thrive.
Are you exploring your trauma? Do you feel your childhood experiences were detrimental to your current mental or physical health? Utilize this free, validated, self-report questionnaire to find out.
Take the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire
Beyond Willpower Lesson 2: The Same Tools Can Fix Different Problems
One of the most compelling aspects of the study was its breadth.
Researchers applied the same core therapeutic model, CBT, to four very different challenges:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Drug addiction
- Gambling disorder
- Codependency
The key finding was that CBT was highly effective across the board.
For every single group that received therapy, there was a statistically significant reduction in the severity of their addiction. The data paints a clear picture of this versatility:
- For drug addiction, the experimental group’s average severity score dropped from 7.96 (signifying harmful use) down to 3.14 (representing low-risk or minimal use).
- For gambling disorder, the average severity score plummeted from a “severe” 39.55 to a “mild or moderate” 14.36.
This suggests that no matter the substance or behavior, the underlying challenge is often the same: learning to recognize triggers, challenge automatic negative thoughts, and develop new, healthier coping strategies.
CBT provides a toolkit for rewiring these exact processes, effectively helping people move from a place of denial or ambivalence into decisive action and long-term maintenance.
Do you have enough hours for your LPC renewal? Are you in need of continuing education, but bored with the current offerings? Check out Dr. Weeks’ course on Cannabis Use Disorder, and other unique courses on her practice website.
Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Lesson 3: Codependency Isn’t Just a “Relationship Problem.” It’s Treatable.
The study took the significant step of including codependency, an excessive emotional or psychological dependence on a partner, often linked to that partner’s addiction, alongside clinical addictions. While codependency is not formally classified as a standalone diagnosis in major manuals like the DSM-5-TR, the researchers recognized it as a clinically significant phenomenon that is actively addressed in rehabilitation.
The results were a powerful validation of this approach.
The experimental group for codependency saw their average severity scores drop from a “high level” of 69.12 to a “moderate or low level” of 31.44. The control group, in stark contrast, showed no significant change.
For anyone who has felt trapped in a dynamic of supporting someone else’s addiction at the expense of their own well-being, this finding is a beacon of hope.
This is a crucial takeaway.
It frames the struggle of codependency not as a character flaw or an intractable relationship dynamic, but as a treatable condition. It offers empowerment and a clear path toward building greater independence, self-esteem, and healthier relationship dynamics.
Beyond Willpower Lesson 4: Recovery Isn’t Just Stopping, It’s a Total Life Upgrade
The study’s design was brilliant in its simplicity: it measured success in two ways. It tracked the reduction of the negative (addiction severity) and the increase of the positive (overall quality of life). The results showed that these two things are deeply intertwined.
The “quality of life” assessment wasn’t a vague feeling of happiness; it was a concrete evaluation of four essential domains of life:
- Physical Health: Including energy and fatigue, quality of sleep, and even physical mobility.
- Psychological Health: Covering everything from positive feelings and self-esteem to the ability to concentrate and learn new things.
- Social Relationships: Examining the quality of personal relationships, the strength of social support networks, and even sexual activity.
- Environment: Looking at practical, real-world factors like financial security, physical safety, the comfort of one’s home, and access to healthcare.
The participants who underwent CBT saw significant improvements across all of these areas. This demonstrates that effective treatment doesn’t just happen in a therapist’s office. It radiates outward, improving every facet of a person’s existence.
True recovery, as this study shows, is about building a life that is so robust and fulfilling that the old addictive behaviors no longer hold the same power or appeal.
Conclusion: A New Framework for Change
The findings from this study in Kazakhstan provide a powerful, evidence-based roadmap for recovery that moves far beyond the limited concept of willpower.
It shows that addiction, in its many forms, is not a moral failing but a condition that responds remarkably well to structured, compassionate, and science-backed intervention.
By focusing on cognitive and behavioral strategies, individuals can achieve not just abstinence, but a transformative and holistic improvement in their lives. The tools exist, the evidence is clear, and the potential for change is immense.
This research leaves us with a vital question to consider:
If we can treat these complex issues so effectively, what does that change about how we should approach mental health and personal growth in our own lives?
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses? Then you should stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
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4 Surprising Ways Cannabis Use Disorder Impacts the Brain
Originally Published on October 28th, 2025 at 08:00 amMore Than a Buzz, According to a Major New Study
As cannabis continues to be legalized for recreational and medical use across North America, public debate often centers on its benefits, risks, and social implications. This has become a public health priority. It’s sparking discussions about everything from tax revenue to addiction potential. Lost in the noise, however, is a more nuanced and critical question: what are the lasting, residual effects on the brain not just from using cannabis, but from developing a Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)?
For years, research has been muddled by controversy. Some studies suggest significant cognitive decline. Others finding only minimal effects.
A major reason for this confusion is many studies lump together recreational users with those who have a clinical disorder. A new, large-scale meta-analysis published in the journal Addictive Behaviors cuts through this ambiguity by focusing specifically on individuals diagnosed with CUD.
This article distills the four most important takeaways from this major review. Here’s some clear, evidence-based answers on how Cannabis Use Disorder leaves a measurable mark on our cognitive abilities.
1. Cannabis Use Disorder Isn’t Just a Label—It’s a Critical Distinction
Much of the confusion around cannabis’s long-term cognitive effects comes from studies that don’t distinguish between recreational use and a clinical disorder. This new meta-analysis makes that distinction its central focus, and the results are revealing.
The core finding is that while recreational use may be associated with minimal or small deficits, Cannabis Use Disorder is linked to clear, moderate cognitive impairments.
The researchers draw a parallel to alcohol consumption. The cognitive impact seen in individuals with alcohol use disorder is significantly larger than what is observed in those who drink recreationally.
This distinction is the key that unlocks the rest of the study’s findings. Now that we’ve isolated the CUD population, the next question is: what exactly does this impairment look like?
Do you have enough hours for your LPC renewal? Are you in need of continuing education, but bored with the current offerings? Check out Dr. Weeks’ course on Cannabis Use Disorder, and other unique courses on her practice website.
Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
2. The Damage Is Specific, Not Widespread
The cognitive impact of CUD isn’t a blunt, uniform fog across the entire brain. Instead, the meta-analysis shows that the impairments are concentrated in specific domains. The study found “small-to-moderate” impairments across several areas, with the largest deficits observed in five key domains:
- IQ: The most significant deficit found. It reflects a moderate impairment in overall cognitive reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
- Verbal Learning: The ability to learn and absorb new information presented through words. It manifests as an impairment making it harder to retain material from a lecture or meeting.
- Verbal Memory: The capacity to recall that learned verbal information later. A deficit can manifest as struggling to remember conversations or key details from something you’ve read.
- Working Memory: The mental “scratchpad” used for holding and manipulating information for short-term tasks. Impairment here makes it harder to follow multi-step instructions or perform mental calculations.
- Speed of Processing: How quickly you can perceive, process, and respond to information. A deficit can slow down reaction times and the ability to keep up in fast-paced conversations or environments.
To emphasize this specificity, the study also identified the cognitive domains that were least affected.
Among them were attention and verbal fluency; the ability to retrieve words from your mind. This targeted impact suggests a more complex mechanism than simple, widespread damage.
3. The Impact of Cannabis Use Disorder Is Comparable to “Harder” Drugs
In a finding that challenges longstanding public perception, the study reveals how the cognitive deficits from CUD stack up against those from other substance use disorders.
The research shows that the magnitude of the impairments in verbal memory and working memory for individuals with CUD is in a similar range to the deficits seen in people with alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine use disorders.
However, a critical distinction adds another layer of complexity.
One important difference is that CUD is associated with less diffuse cognitive deficits. While the depth of impairment in those specific memory-related areas is comparable to other substance use disorders, the overall breadth of cognitive damage appears to be narrower.
This directly challenges the common perception of cannabis as a relatively benign substance. Especially when its use escalates to the level of a disorder. The researchers highlight the importance of this finding for how the scientific and medical communities view the substance.
“The similitude of findings between substances confirms the importance of paying attention to individuals with a CUD when studying the residual cognitive effects of cannabis.”
Are you exploring your trauma? Do you feel your childhood experiences were detrimental to your current mental or physical health? Utilize this free, validated, self-report questionnaire to find out.
Take the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire
4. It Presents a Surprising Scientific Mystery
The targeted nature of these cognitive deficits presents a fascinating paradox for neuroscientists.
The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, Δ9-THC, acts on the brain’s CB1 receptors. From a biological standpoint, this is significant because, as the paper notes, CB1 receptors are “among the most abundant throughout the brain.”
Based on that fact, scientists would expect that chronic, heavy cannabis use would cause diffuse, widespread cognitive effects across many domains.
Yet, as this meta-analysis confirms, the effects are actually quite specific.
This discrepancy suggests the full story is more complex than we currently understand. The authors propose this paradox “indirectly suggests that other cannabinoid receptors than CB1 receptors are mediating the cognitive effects of cannabis,” pointing toward an important new direction for future research.
Conclusion: A Sobering Reminder in the Age of Legalization
This comprehensive meta-analysis sends a clear message: Cannabis Use Disorder is not a trivial condition.
It is linked to real, measurable, and moderate cognitive deficits in crucial areas like memory, processing speed, and overall IQ.
Furthermore, these deficits are not insignificant when compared to those associated with other well-known substance use disorders.
The study’s authors point to a pressing public health concern, noting that “the perceived risk associated with regular cannabis use has been declining in youths since the legalization of the substance.”
While the policy debates will surely continue, this research provides a sobering reminder that the conversation must include a clear-eyed view of the consequences that arise when use crosses the line into a disorder.
As the perception of risk declines, the critical public health challenge becomes clear: how do we effectively communicate the line between casual use and the measurable cognitive costs of a disorder?
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses? Then you should stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
Are you looking for more reputable, data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
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CW: Drug use
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