• Profile view of a young homeless male - in his late 20s or early 30s - sitting in a dark, damp subway tunnel, his knees drawn up and his hands covering his face in desperation and despair. He is hungry, lonely and desperate addicted to fentanyl and xylazine. The man has short cropped hair and an unkempt beard. There is a look of sadness, loneliness and desperation in his eyes. He is sitting on a piece of old cardboard Horizontal image with room for copy space.

    What Pennsylvania Families Should Know About Fentanyl Mixtures, Xylazine, and New Drug Trends as We Near the End of 2025

    633 words|3.2 min read|

    The drug landscape in Pennsylvania is changing quickly. Substances are becoming more potent, more unpredictable, and more frequently contaminated with dangerous additives. These changes affect [...]

  • Vodka and redbull energy drinks in a can on a table

    The Risky Mix: Energy Drinks and Alcohol 

    531 words|2.7 min read|

    Energy drinks are designed to wake you up. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant that slows you down. On their own, each can [...]

  • Man holding and breaking cigarette with sherm

    Sherm: The Dangerous Street Drug You Need to Know About 

    533 words|2.7 min read|

    In the world of illicit drugs, slang terms often mask the true dangers of a substance. One such example is Sherm—a street name for cigarettes [...]

  • Prescription Medication Medicine Pill Tablets quaaludes

    The History and Lasting Impact of Quaaludes on Drug Use 

    511 words|2.6 min read|

    Quaaludes, once known as the “disco drug” of the 1970s, were originally developed as a sedative and sleep aid. The brand name for the substance [...]

  • Substance Use Around the World vs. the U.S.: What Can We Learn? 

    778 words|3.9 min read|

    Substance use is a global issue—but how countries handle it varies dramatically. While the United States has long taken a tough-on-drugs approach, many other nations [...]

  • From Herbal Tonic to Trendy Threat: The Story Behind Feel Free 

    458 words|2.3 min read|

    Not long ago, the name Feel Free might have sounded like a vague motivational slogan. Today, it’s the label on one of the most talked-about [...]

  • Fioricet: A Prescription Drug with a Risk for Abuse 

    461 words|2.3 min read|

    Fioricet is a prescription medication commonly used to treat tension headaches and migraines. While it can be effective when taken as prescribed, Fioricet carries a [...]

  • Mature psychologist working with group of people at psycho session in office

    Fish Scale Cocaine: Why Its High Purity Makes It So Dangerous 

    845 words|4.2 min read|

    Cocaine is a powerful and dangerous stimulant, and fish scale cocaine, known for its high purity, is among the most hazardous forms. Fish scale cocaine, [...]

  • Will Methadone Get You High? 

    633 words|3.2 min read|

    Methadone is a widely used medication in the treatment of opioid addiction. At Silvermist Recovery in western PA, we incorporate medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which includes [...]

  • What Do Hallucinations and Hallucinogens Do To The Brain?

    857 words|4.3 min read|

    Most people are familiar with the concept of a hallucination – it is when the brain presents a reality to you that is not there. [...]

  • Should I Be Concerned About Soma’s Abuse Potential?

    778 words|3.9 min read|

    Muscle pain is undeniably debilitating, especially if it is chronic and severe enough to interrupt your regular daily routines and habits. Thankfully, countless medications and [...]

  • Preventing Mental Health Issues From Turning Into Substance Misuse

    982 words|4.9 min read|

    The second week of May we celebrate Substance Use Prevention Week. There has been much attention devoted to substance use treatment and recovery, but prevention [...]