45. Highs and Lows: Substance Use in the Modern Era

In Highs & Lows: Substance Use in the Modern Era 🎙️✨, we’re taking a clear-eyed, non-judgmental look at what “substance use” really means today. From the 1990s prescription opioid boom 💊 to the 2020s rise of synthetic drugs like fentanyl ⚠️, we trace how the landscape has shifted and why the risks can look so different now. We also dig into the generational changes: why Gen Z is drinking less 🍷⬇️, why vaping is up 🚬⬆️, and how mental health awareness 🧠 and digital life 📱 are reshaping choices and behaviors. Along the way, we cover: Definitions: use vs misuse vs substance use disorder (SUD) ✅ What’s changing in legal, prescription, illicit, and emerging substances 🌍 The real physical, psychological, and social risks 🧩 Cultural shifts like “sober curious” 🥤, wellness alternatives 🌿, and new therapy research 🔬 If you or someone you know needs support, we’ve included resources below  Resources ❤️ If in immediate danger call your local emergency number: EU 112; Austria Ö3 Kummernummer 116 123, Rat auf Draht (for young people) 147, Suchthilfe Wien https://suchthilfe.wien, Gesundheit Österreich: Suchtberatung directory https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/leben/sucht/suchtberatung; International SAMHSA National Helpline (US) 1-800-662-HELP https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline, FindTreatment.gov https://findtreatment.gov, UK FRANK https://www.talktofrank.com and NHS services https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support, Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use.html, Narcotics Anonymous https://www.na.org, Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org, SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org. 🔗 References American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5 criteria for SUD) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – overdose statistics Monitoring the Future Study (University of Michigan) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) World Health Organization (WHO) reports on substance use Volkow, N. et al. (2021–2024). Trends in opioid and stimulant use Twenge, J. (2017–2023). Generational behavioral research Patrick, M. E., & Schulenberg, J. (2020). Adolescent substance trends Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Unit publications