A relatively new drug is seeing a massive rise in popularity in the state of Colorado: kratom. Despite health warnings from the FDA about the drug, kratom is being sold in massive quantities throughout the state. What is kratom? This herbal drug, Mitragyna speciosa, originally comes from Southeast Asia and has been used for centuries. It interacts with the same … Read More

According to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General, hospitals may be putting Native American patients at increased risk for both opioid abuse and overdoses. The report sheds light on the fact that these hospitals aren’t following their own protocols for how they prescribe and dispense opioids. The federal audit was … Read More

Meth use has been a problem in Colorado and other western states for decades, but the opioid crisis has taken the main headlines in recent years. Now, another substance is beginning to gain more attention as meth addiction and abuse is rising in Colorado. It may be surprising, but methamphetamine is now more fatal in Colorado than heroin. Crystal meth … Read More

The nation’s opioid crisis is still in full effect, and many doctors are looking to explore non-opioid options for chronic pain management. As of August 2, 2019, Colorado doctors have been granted a new possibility. With the enactment of SB 19-013, doctors in the state can now recommend medical marijuana in place of opioid painkillers. The decision does have its … Read More

A new apartment complex in Colorado Springs is catered specifically toward people with nowhere else to turn. Created by the Springs Rescue Mission, Greenway Flats serves to help local people escape chronic homelessness and get back on their feet. Many people suffer from conditions that make it nearly impossible to maintain an income, which quickly leads to homelessness. For those … Read More

In 2020, a Colorado bill to reduce drug possession penalties will go into effect. According to HB 19-1263, the charge for possession of certain Schedule I or II substances will change from a felony to a misdemeanor. By effectively decriminalizing the use of many substances, fewer people in Colorado will find themselves in jail for drug-related charges. In addition, Colorado’s … Read More

Many people turn to alcohol in an attempt to ease uncomfortable feelings that stem from anxiety. Anxiety causes people to be filled with stress and tension, and alcohol’s depressant effects can calm this anxiety and the feelings associated with it. Unfortunately, this form of self-medication can backfire. A person’s tolerance builds up as they habitually drink alcohol, and anxiety can … Read More

The state of Oklahoma is piloting an opioid relapse prevention program that includes giving the drug Vivitrol to prison inmates. The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office will now allow the use of this treatment, which is a form of the drug naltrexone, for people in prison. Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors in the brain and can provide help for people in recovery … Read More