National Institute on Drug Abuse
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![According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2 mg of fentanyl (which can fit on the tip of a pencil) can be enough to kill the average American.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/Authentic_Fentanyl_lethal_dose_pencil-sm.jpg)
Fentanyl 101
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic (lab-made) opioid. Prescription fentanyl is FDA -approved to treat severe pain related to surgery or...
Substance Use Disorder, Opioids![Like other chronic medical conditions, SUDs can be managed.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/Substance_use_disorders.jpg)
Substance use disorders: Get the facts and find support
Millions of Americans are affected by substance use disorders (SUDs). SUDs are chronic but treatable medical conditions that change the...
Substance Use Disorder![Changing the way we talk about addiction can help reduce stigma and may even improve treatment outcomes.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/Words_matter-main.jpg)
A better way to say that: Stigmatizing language affects how we treat addiction
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic, treatable conditions that people can recover from, but stigma around them makes it hard...
Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, Alcohol Use Disorder![Having multiple little talks with your teens about substance use can be more effective than one “big talk.” These talks can be short and informal.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/familymain.jpg)
8 tips for talking (and listening) to your teens about drugs and alcohol
Talking to your children about drugs and alcohol can be…well, awkward. It’s hard to know what to ask them, what...
Substance Use Disorder, Teen Health, Alcohol Use Disorder![Narcan is a brand of naloxone and is available as a nasal spray.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/52566291718_1ba61149a3_o-sm.jpg)
How naloxone reverses opioid overdoses (and why it’s important to have on hand!)
Naloxone is a powerful tool for preventing deaths from opioid overdoses. First responders and health care providers use this medication...
Substance Use Disorder, Opioids, Opioid Overdose![Addiction recovery is not always an easy climb. For some people it’s a complicated path.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/Citymain.jpg)
‘I choose to climb instead of fall’
Rachel George is in recovery for opioid use disorder (OUD). Now she’s sharing her story with NIH MedlinePlus Magazine to...
Substance Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, Opioids![Over the long term, alcohol can increase your risk of more than 200 different diseases, including in the liver and pancreas, and certain cancers.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/Alcohol_use-main.jpg)
Alcohol’s health effects: What you need to know
Drinking alcohol is so common that people may not question how even one beer, cocktail, or glass of wine could...
Alcohol Use Disorder![Researchers are studying how social influence around vaping affects teens.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/vaping-teen-research.jpg)
Under the influence: NIH research shows teen vaping, social pressure on the rise
Vapes. E-cigarettes. E-hookahs. Mods. Vaporizer devices all have the same purpose: to heat liquids containing nicotine or marijuana that people...
Vaping![Common vaping devices include tanks or mods (left) and e-cigarettes.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/vaping-vapes.jpg)
Vaping: What you need to know
Vapes are battery-operated devices that heat liquid with nicotine, marijuana, or flavorings. Some vapes contain other unknown substances or chemicals....
Vaping![Talking with your children about the dangers of vaping can help prevent long-lasting health problems.](/images/uploads/main_images/_main_article_list/vaping-talking-to-your-teen.jpg)
Tips for talking to your teen about vaping
Vaping nicotine or marijuana can cause long-lasting health problems for your child. So, it's important to talk with your...
VapingPersonal Story
Renewal and recovery after opioid dependence
For the past six years, James M. was in and out of jail, courtrooms, detox, and halfway houses. "I started...
Opioids, Personal StoryHealing and haiku: One parent’s experience with addiction and loss
Haiku is a form of poetry that can express complex emotions and ideas in a short and simple form. In...
Opioids, Personal Story