Mark Perlman

Back in 2010, I was a mess. I was heavily addiction to drugs & alcohol, I couldn't hold down a job, I had been arrested for selling prescription pills and I couldn't imagine that I would be alive more than a few months. I had a reached "rock-bottom" and I didn't see a way out. I reached out for help and, within 2 days, I had been sent across the country to a rehab facility where I began my journey in recovery. 10 years & thousands of AA/NA meetings later, I decided to put together this blog about addiction and withdrawal, featuring information on getting and staying sober. My hope is that the information published here can help at least one person regain their ability to live a long, happy and healthy life.

6 Signs You Might Be Ready To Get Sober

September 1, 2020March 28, 2020 by Mark Perlman

Many people believe that someone won’t get sober unless they have hit rock bottom. You don’t have to wait for your rock bottom to hit (when you might not even know what that will mean for you and your life). It is better to talk about getting ready for sobriety after you get to a level of awareness regarding your alcohol or drug addiction. There are some signs that help you to see you are ready to get sober. If you realize any of the following things, then it is time for you to reach for a life of sobriety and recovery.

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

August 22, 2020March 13, 2020 by Mark Perlman

The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) commemorates their 10th anniversary from March 30 through April 5, 2020 on educating teens about substance use and addiction. NDAFW was created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in 2010. NDAFW strives to better prepare and educate teens to make good decisions, and be aware of the risks alcohol and drug use poses to their health.

NDAFW is an opportunity for teens, scientists, and other experts to discuss science-based facts on the effects of drugs on the brain, body, and behavior. Experts help educate teens on counteracting the myths about drugs and alcohol that they may get from the internet, social media, TV, movies, music, or from friends. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, NDAFW events have been moved to virtual learning and online activities across the country. Despite these challenges, NDAFW is continuing to grow and reached 2,000 events in all 50 states and 20 countries in 2019.

What is Fentanyl: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

November 1, 2020March 3, 2020 by Mark Perlman

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a narcotic substance prescribed to treat severe pain. The synthetic opioid is very powerful. When prescribed for chronic pain, fentanyl can be administered as a shot, a transdermal patch, or a cough drop-like lozenge. However, fentanyl is also manufactured illegally. Illegal doses can lead to overdose, permanent health damage, and even death.

For pharmaceutical usage, fentanyl was created to help cancer patients with pain management. As a street drug, fentanyl is often combined with heroin to increase its potency. In some cases, people may think they are purchasing heroin when they are actually purchasing fentanyl. Keep reading to learn more about fentanyl, including how it affects your body.

The Truth About “Purple Drank”

November 1, 2020March 2, 2020 by Mark Perlman

Purple Drank, or lean, is a dangerous cocktail that blends prescription cough syrup, soda, and hard candy together in an attempt to obtain a high. The name “Purple Drank” comes from the color of the most commonly used cough syrup, promethazine. The cold medication typically contains codeine as well.

Simply put, users combine these easy to grab ingredients into a substance that gives a high similar to opioids. Jolly ranchers, which stay on the tongue for an extended period of time, are the candy of choice. The most common sodas used are Sprite, Mountain Dew, and grape Fanta.

What is Xanax (Alprazolam)?

November 1, 2020March 1, 2020 by Mark Perlman

Xanax, or alprazolam, is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. market. It belongs to the benzodiazepine class (“BZDs”, or “benzos”), which were synthesized in the late 1950s in an effort to replace barbiturates as a medication for anxiety and sedation. These drugs rapidly flooded the market from the 60s-2000s, before side effects such as high addictive potential and slow breathing rate became more well known and categorized. Xanax itself is the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the U.S., with 25 million total prescriptions in 2017.

Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Anxiousness, Agitation, and Irritability?

September 4, 2020February 24, 2020 by Mark Perlman

Alcohol Withdrawal - Anxiousness, Agitation and Irritability

As a rule, individuals drink to gain a sense of ease, reduce stress, or escape modern-day life problems. Turning to alcohol to soothe oneself might serve to help one cope, but this is only a temporary fix and repeated use can lead to other issues. With time, continued alcohol use leads to tolerance and dependence. Once individuals …

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline: What to Expect, Stages & Duration

January 6, 2021February 16, 2020 by Mark Perlman

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism labels 4 or more drinks in any day for a man and 3 or more drinks per day for a woman as constituting “heavy alcohol use” and warns that this amount of drinking can lead to an alcohol use disorder. The term “alcohol use disorder” is used to describe a clinical alcohol addiction. One of the symptoms of an alcohol use disorder is the development of alcohol dependence. This means that the body adapts to the presence of alcohol and cannot function normally without it. As researchers writing for a 2015 publication of the journal Drugs have explained, when someone who is dependent upon alcohol suddenly stops drinking, the nervous system becomes out of balance. This creates uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which can occur in various stages and levels of severity.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

November 1, 2020January 17, 2020 by Mark Perlman

According to experts from the Department of Internal Medicine within the Catholic University of Rome, alcohol withdrawal can begin as soon as 6 hours after a person stops drinking. For withdrawal to occur, a person must have first experienced chronic alcohol exposure, meaning the nervous system has adapted to its presence.

After ongoing alcohol abuse, a person who suddenly reduces or stops drinking will undergo withdrawal due to an imbalance in the nervous system. This results in a variety of unpleasant symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

January 6, 2021August 26, 2019 by Mark Perlman

While drinking in moderation can be safe and even have some health benefits, heavy alcohol use can increase the risk of an alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for an alcohol addiction. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes heavy alcohol use as over four drinks in a given day for men and over three drinks in a day for women.

Those who have been heavily abusing alcohol may develop an addiction and experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking. Withdrawal occurs because over time, the body adapts to the presence of alcohol and does not function the same without it. When a person is unable to function normally in the absence of alcohol, this is called alcohol dependence.

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