Welcoming Lea Harrison as Executive Director of Shadow Mountain Recovery

Welcoming Lea Harrison as Executive Director of Shadow Mountain Recovery

Shadow Mountain recovery is proud to announce the appointment of Lea Harrison as the new Executive Director of our leading in-network treatment center for substance use disorder. Lea brings over 15 years of leadership experience in behavioral health and advocacy, making her an instrumental addition to our organization’s commitment to whole-person healing. About Lea Harrison…

Alcohol And Cocaine
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Alcohol And Cocaine

Mixing substances – how common is it? When you picture a raging party, let’s say a college party, it’s not uncommon for the media to spotlight substance use. While alcohol is the most common substance at parties like this, jokes about “doing lines in the bathroom” are not unheard of. How many people actually participate…

Signs of Benzo Addiction

Noticing a change in your loved one isn’t always alarming. If this continues over time, or the changes you notice are a bit more drastic, you might start to wonder about why. If you’re theorizing that potential substance use might be the cause or even misuse of a prescription they take, how can you know?…

How Long Do Benzodiazepines Stay in Your System

How Long Do Benzodiazepines Stay in Your System

Benzodiazepines are primarily prescribed to help those managing anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizures. Occasionally they might be used to help treat alcohol withdrawal as well. Over 43% of New Mexico adults reported symptoms of anxiety within the past year. Benzodiazepines, otherwise known as benzos, are sometimes used outside medical advice. Many times they’re taken in…

Benzo Withdrawals

Benzo Withdrawals

Benzodiazepines are a versatile medication that can help with a few different conditions. They’re  primarily used to assist those who are managing anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizure disorders, but they can also be used to assist people going through alcohol withdrawal and recovery. Unfortunately, they are known for their generally short half-life, which is how…

Meth Identification

Meth Identification

Over 2.6 million people have reported using methamphetamines in the past 12 months. Methamphetamine, or meth, is a stimulant that impacts the central nervous system. It can come in a few different forms, so how can you identify it if you think you’ve found it? With the use of meth continuing to be prevalent, especially…

Cocaine Nose

Cocaine Nose

About 13% of New Mexico residents have used cocaine within the year. While many people might know that long-term substance use can come with a variety of side effects, not everyone realizes exactly how detrimental the side effects can be. With long-term cocaine use, one of the many parts of your body that it can…

Benzo Side Effects

Benzo Side Effects

When people hear about benzodiazepines, they might not immediately recognize or understand the word. However, if you mention Xanax or Valium to someone, they have a higher chance of knowing what it is. These two are the same thing. Benzodiazepines are a category/type of medication and pharmaceuticals like Xanax are a form of benzodiazepines (otherwise…

Mixing Adderall and Weed

Mixing Adderall and Weed

In 2021, over 41 million people were prescribed Adderall, which is a common substance used to assist those with ADHD. With over 22 states, New Mexico included, legalizing recreational marijuana usage, there’s a good chance that there is some overlap to be found between those who take Adderall and those who smoke weed. But is…

What Are Meth Mites

What Are Meth Mites

Growing up in a rural town, talk of meth usage was not uncommon. I don’t remember where I learned it, but early on I knew that some people with methamphetamine use disorder had scabs on their bodies. The reason behind the scabs is usually a hallucinatory symptom known as “meth mites.” “Meth mites” has become…

Meth Overdose

Meth Overdose

In New Mexico, 36 percent of the total number of overdoses in 2018 were related to meth use. Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that creates euphoric effects and a significant energy boost in the short term but contributes to mental health conditions, organ failure, and dependency. Overdosing on meth can be fatal, but treatment for…

Heroin Identification

Heroin Identification

The majority of heroin overdose deaths in New Mexico result from opioids like heroin. For individuals using illicit substances, it can be challenging to know what’s in the substances they’re taking. Even dealers who have experience can’t tell when heroin has been mixed with something else because it’s undetectable to human senses. If you suspected…