Drug and Alcohol Facts, Substance Abuse Resources

The goal of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, is to provide resources and information about drug and alcohol use. 

Drug and Alcohol Facts 

Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drug use affects Americans. According to American Addiction Centers, 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. In that same year, 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously. You can learn more about drug facts blog and statistics on their website. 

Narcan can now be picked up anonymously! MCAVHN is onsite at LVHC the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 11-4pm for harm reduction, including syringe exchange.

Drug and Alcohol Information 

DrugAbuse.gov is a website that provides information about specific drugs and addiction. They have a drug facts blog with information about both drugs and the brain that is geared towards adolescents and teens.  The same website also has sections where you can test your knowledge of drugs and their effects on the brain, learn scientific facts about drug addiction, and engage in activities to learn about drug risk. 

Why Do Our Brains Get Addicted to Drugs and Alcohol? 

Why do our brains get addicted? According to Dr. Nora Volkow, a world leader in neurobiology, dopamine signals reward in our brains. Addiction is not a matter of poor self control. “I’ve never met an addicted person who wanted to be an addict,” she says in her TedTalk video. Learn more about parts of the brain that regulate behaviors and our brain’s role in addiction.  

Drug and Alcohol Help in Laytonville

Long Valley Health Center has resources to support patients with drug and alcohol use. We provide behavioral health services for conditions like substance use disorder to support patients with substance use and substance recovery. Additionally, you can make an appointment with your primary care doctor for any health concerns.