Drug abuse can take a serious toll on a person’s health and ability to function. Worldwide, the abuse of opioids is far greater than the abuse of any other drug.

Heroin use has been on the rise in the past couple of years. Using prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes may have been a gateway for some adults who started using heroin.

Of course heavy drinking is unhealthy, but is it better to have one drink per day or not drink at all? The answer may depend on other lifestyle factors, such as people's reasons for not drinking.

Smoking is linked to many more health problems than bad breath and lung cancer. The key to preventing the health issues is to prevent children and teens from starting to smoke in the first place.

Pints of beer and cocktails are full of calories, which can be a problem when watching your weight. It is possible that the alcohol may cause you to make poor diet choices, as well.

Quitting smoking at any time is tough. The extra effort to quit smoking while pregnant, however, can significantly benefit your baby.

There is no doubt about it — smoking is hard on the body. It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. Smoking cigarettes can increase anyone's risk of having a stroke. 

Some teens hoping to avoid the harmful effects of cigarette smoking may try smokeless tobacco products instead. But using these products also carries significant health risks like oral cancer.

Weight gain can be a frustrating but common side effect of quitting smoking. How much weight a person gains may depend on how attached they were to smoking in the first place.

Alcohol is involved in many accidents and injuries that send people to the emergency room (ER). In a recent study, researchers wanted to see what specific types of alcoholic beverages people were drinking before they found themselves in the ER.