When it comes to addictions, prescription dependencies can be difficult to classify. Often times, they start innocently (and for a legitimate purpose) if a person is recovering from surgery or intense pain. And these types of drugs are often thought of differently, since they come from accredited doctors and pharmacies. For those reasons and more, […]
Though it may be hard to believe, recovery options aren’t quite as widespread as people realize. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened that situation, particularly when you consider rural areas across the U.S. With clinics forced to shut down because of quarantines and people stuck at home, the concept of getting to a treatment […]
According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, almost 50% of all people age 12 or older in the US have tried illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime. Close to 20% had tried them in the past month. While not everyone who experiments with drugs becomes addicted, millions of people do. […]
In the era of COVD-19 and quarantining, it is much harder to pick up on addiction cues happening within our networking circles. When you’re in person, there can be easy-to-read signs that someone may be struggling (perhaps in their appearance or behavior). But with Zoom chats and social distancing, recognizing these indicators may require more scrutiny. CNBC recently […]
In the United States in 2018, around 20.3 million people over the age of 12 were struggling with addiction. Of those, 14.8 million had an alcohol use disorder, while 8.1 million were diagnosed with an illicit drug use disorder. NIDA, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Medical Association and the National Institute on […]
The 12-step philosophy was written almost a century ago, and yet it remains the most effective method of treating addiction. This is true whether the individual accepts the traditional view of God or has their own perception of a higher power. In this post, we’ll explore the question “What are the 12 steps of AA/NA […]
The benefits of trauma therapy for addiction are multiple. During childhood, while your brain is developing, trauma can lead to internalized negative self-beliefs. On an intellectual level, you might have processed these events — but that doesn’t mean the underlying belief isn’t wreaking havoc in your life. Lots of people who abuse drugs and alcohol […]
People sometimes use the terms inpatient and residential rehab interchangeably — however, the two forms of addiction treatment are quite distinct. Inpatient treatment describes voluntary or involuntary hospitalization for an acute substance use disorder. Residential rehab is a more intimate and specialized environment where you get access to the latest therapy and resources. The similarity […]
Drug addiction causes physical effects in the brain as well as psychological effects. Different types of drugs cause different reactions in the brain. The question “How does drug addiction affect the brain?” has been studied by scientists for decades, but some of the deepest effects are only becoming clear in recent years. Drugs as Neurotransmitter […]