The Cycle of Addiction: Stages and Treatment – According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction is a chronic brain disease that impacts the brain’s reward, pleasure, memory, and motivation centers. Like most chronic diseases, it does not just come out of nowhere. Often, it takes a set of unfortunate circumstances that, over […]
Opioid Addiction Treatment
Opioid Addiction Treatment – Opioids are a class of drugs that includes both prescription and illegal painkillers. Heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and codeine are a few examples of opioids. Opioid addiction treatment is designed to help the person wean off the drug while working on overcoming the psychological effects of addiction. Signs of Opioid Addiction The signs […]
Most Common Mental Health Disorders and Addiction
Most Common Mental Health Disorders and Addiction – When someone has a co-occurring disorder, this means that they are experiencing both an addiction or substance abuse problem and a mental health condition simultaneously. In many instances, an individual will suffer from a psychiatric disorder and try to self-medicate this disorder through the abuse of substances. […]
Drug Abuse Facts: Signs, Causes, and Treatment
Drug Abuse Facts: Signs, Causes, and Treatment – The terms drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of drugs or alcohol to induce pleasurable feelings or as a means of “self-medication.” Drug abuse can be very dangerous, however, and cause many immediate adverse effects on one’s health, mental and emotional state, and overall […]
The Difference Between Crack and Cocaine
The Difference Between Crack and Cocaine – Cocaine is an oft-abused drug and found in both powder and rock forms. The powdered form of cocaine is usually referred to as cocaine or coke, and the rock-like form is more often referred to as crack cocaine or just “crack.” What’s the Difference Between Crack and Cocaine? […]
Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Residential drug and alcohol rehab is an intensive form of treatment for addiction that often follows detox. It is characterized by an extended treatment period, which typically lasts 30–45 days or longer, depending on individual client needs. Clients are required to reside at the facility 24/7 throughout the program’s entirety, including overnight. Benefits of Residential […]
Suicidal Depression
How Substance Abuse Increases the Risk of Suicidal Depression – It is not uncommon to encounter feelings of depression while in recovery from addiction, but at what point do those feelings become dangerous and require professional help? And how can you tell if someone you care about is experiencing suicidal depression? Suicide is the tenth […]
How To Detox Your Body From Drugs: Medical Vs. At-Home Detox
How To Detox Your Body From Drugs: Medical Vs. At-Home Detox – For most people, detox is the first critical step to sobriety. It’s an essential component of becoming clean and building the foundation for the entire recovery process. Unfortunately, detox and the accompanying drug withdrawal symptoms are the most challenging part for many, but […]
Drug Withdrawal Symptoms: Prescription, Illicit, and Alcohol
Withdrawal Symptoms: Prescription, Illicit, and Alcohol – People who abruptly stop or dramatically cut back their use of addictive substances often encounter withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be physically and psychologically unpleasant and sometimes painful. Withdrawals are the result of the body struggling to regain equilibrium without the substance to which the brain and body […]
How to Reduce Anxiety Without Substance Abuse
How to Reduce Anxiety Without Substance Abuse – Anxiety, although it is an entirely normal human experience, is also an emotional response that can cause us to over-analyze situations and paralyze us when we encounter critical decisions. An anxiety disorder may develop when anxiety continues for a prolonged period and begins to interfere with daily […]