As the late comedian Mitch Hedburg once said, “I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.” Unfortunately, the drugs that I’m on these days aren’t any of the fun ones. I take Singulair for my allergies, Prilosec for heartburn, and Lisinopril for high-blood pressure. And as the years go on, I expect to be taking even more for all the new things that ail me. Sigh. Speaking of drugs, a few years back we put together something we called the Drug Issue. It was irresponsible, depraved, and a threat to life, liberty, and property. And so, a few weeks back when we were batting around ideas for a follow-up, we decided on a more serious and sober-minded sequel. So what you see is our Addiction Issue. In the issue, we look at the Adderall craze among college kids, creepy pro-anorexia websites, and the differences between social drinking, heavy drinking, and problem drinking. —Chris Haire
Students struggle to get Adderall
Getting Your Refill
The City Paper staff first learned there was an Adderall shortage in town last year. At the time, the whole thing was apparently causing a near-freak-out among CofC students.
One student’s story from the Adderall shortage
The Pharmacy Next Door
Like many college students, Kyle Lamb began taking Adderall as a freshman. At first, he got it from his friends who had prescriptions for the ADHD wonder drug.
A look at arguably the strangest eating disorder
Deadly Diet
Many of us think about food all the time. And in Charleston, there’s plenty of reasons to do just that.
Exploring the differences between social drinking and heavy drinking
Crossing the Lines
Whether it’s a few beers at a gathering, wine at dinner, or cocktails at a club, most folks drink responsibly — regardless of what the PSAs proclaim.
The ProAna movement finds ‘thinspiration’ in pictures of anorexics
Weighty Matters
The followers of Goddess Ana have found a safe haven on the internet, a place where they can post “thinspirational” images of waif-like starlets, ultra-slim supermodels, and women who are so emaciated that their ribs and hip bones nearly poke through their skin. On personal webpages, blogs, and Tumblr accounts, they champion anorexia and bulimia.
MM offers problem drinkers an alternative to AA
Just Say No to No
It’s Saturday morning, and you’ve woken up with a splitting headache, the kind that makes your eyes ache. And that feeling in your belly?
Two guinea pigs share their health study stories
Once Around the Hamster Wheel
The key to your fiscal and moral solvency is right in your hands, just a few pages away in this very newspaper. On 4X of the City Paper‘s Exchange section, you’ll find a number of health studies faithfully posted each week, seeking out marijuana smokers, cocaine snorters, and over-imbibers.
A look at the dumb drug-related mistakes that criminals make
Blottered
Pay attention to the drug arrests around Charleston, and you’ll start to notice patterns emerging: specific street corners where people are getting busted weekly with crack cocaine, all-too-easy hiding places for people’s weed stashes, and signature dumb moves that lead to dealers and users getting caught.
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.