Trial & Error & Error Podcast

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

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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

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