Mixing cocaine and ketamine, often called “Calvin Klein” or “CK”, carries extremely high risks; however, the combination of the two drugs, and each drug individually, is becoming ever more popular among young people and in nightlife, the Health Service Executive warns. This page explains what happens when these two drugs are combined or consumed at […]
Category: Drug addiction
Menopause and Addiction: Understanding the Link with Alcohol and Drugs
Many women in Ireland going through menopause experience emotional and physical symptoms that can be difficult to manage, from low mood and anxiety to poor sleep and brain fog. For some, these challenges can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking alcohol more frequently or using medication or drugs to get through the day. […]
6 Serious Effects of Drug Addiction on Family Members
Drug use not only affects the person from mind to body, but it also puts a strain on those closest to them. Family members may experience shame, anger, fear, or self-blame if their loved one uses drugs. The extent of the effect also depends on how long the drugs have been in their life. Drug […]
Oxycodone Addiction: Why is Oxycodone so Addictive?
Oxycodone is a strong pain medicine that doctors prescribe in Ireland and globally for moderate to severe pain. It can help people when it’s used for a short time, but it should always be closely monitored. Oxycodone also comes with a high risk of dependence. Some people find that their use slowly increases, even when […]
What Happens After Detox?
In order to beat a serious drug or alcohol addiction, it is often necessary to undergo a detox. This is usually the first step in tackling addiction and it deals with only the physical aspect of addiction. That is to remove the substance from your body, deal with any withdrawal symptoms and end up in […]
Five things I learned about my partner’s struggle with drug addiction
This is an anonymised story of a woman and her husband’s struggle with drug addiction. She shares some of her experiences as she tried to manage his illness, and how they eventually found hope for the future. “When someone you love battles addiction, the weight of it can consume everything, and you will tell yourself […]
The Number Heroin Users in Treatment in Ireland Hit Record Numbers
Heroin Users in Ireland Needing Addiction Help Reaches Record Numbers Here at Smarmore Castle, we treat huge numbers of heroin-dependent users every year. Over the last decade, our admissions department has seen substantial increases in heroin-dependent individuals seeking help, support, and recovery. See treating heroin addiction. But it’s not just our specialised addiction team that […]
The Painkiller Drug Crisis in Ireland
Tackling rural drug addiction: ‘People are buying boxes and boxes of codeine-based drugs’ As drug addiction experts in County Louth, we know all too well that the prescription drug crisis across Ireland is consistently getting worse. Smarmore Castle is a rehab facility an hour’s drive from Dublin, which has treated over 1,500 reclaim their lives […]