Drugs can significantly affect the way in which your brain chemistry functions, which is directly related to how you process thoughts and emotions. The mentality of someone who is attempting to overcome an addiction or habitual drug misuse is complex and not always easy to understand. If you have found yourself at a crossroads where […]
Aug 15, 2018
Every person who has a substance use disorder has a unique experience and path that lead them to their addiction. Some people are dealing with unresolved mental health issues or trauma, while others have genetic and environmental factors that have lead them to drug use. Another interesting factor that can sometimes contribute to someone’s addiction […]
Aug 08, 2018
Watching a loved one deal with addiction is one of the hardest things anyone can go through. When you love someone so sincerely, you feel their pain, you struggle with them and you want, more than anything, for them to find a way to get out of the dark place they’re in. When two people […]
Aug 01, 2018
Science has shown us that there are hereditary links that pass the disease of addiction down from parents, to children, and even grandchildren. We’ve also learned a lot about the effects of drugs on children who grow up with parents with untreated addiction and the mental, physical, psychological toll that kind of exposure can take […]
Jul 26, 2018
Addiction is a disease that can affect people from every walk of life, but research has shown that there are slight discrepancies between men and women who enter recovery. Different genders have specific barriers that may prevent them from seeking treatment. Some obstacles are psychological while others are issues of practicality and logistics. By looking […]
Jul 18, 2018
Addiction is a family disease. When someone in your family has an addiction to drugs, everyone is affected. The issues surrounding a loved one with addiction can be difficult to navigate. Even though you want to help, you don’t want to say or do the wrong thing that may push them away from you. Sometimes […]
Jul 12, 2018
There is a point between casual drug usage and troubling drug misuse that happens before addiction fully sets in that needs to be addressed. Recreational drug use has been a facet of society for as long as history has existed. Drugs of all kinds, from opioids to alcohol, have always found their way into the […]
Jul 03, 2018
So you’ve successfully remained drug-free for 365 revolutions around the sun! That’s quite an accomplishment considering the first year of recovery can often be the most challenging. This year has been full of many “firsts” for you and has pushed you to learn new things about who you are and who you want to become. […]
Jun 27, 2018
Addiction can unapologetically take control and destroy everything in someone’s life, including the relationships they have with friends, loved ones, and simple everyday encounters with people. For some people dealing with addiction, specific relationships can be more dynamic, where people play cause-and-effect roles. This makes breaking the cycle of addiction exceptionally hard, as it changes […]
Jun 20, 2018
There are many approaches to educate your children about substance use disorders and addiction, but all experts will agree that prevention is the first and best way. It’s far better to start this conversation with your child early on rather than wait for them to discover drugs in their teenage years when many other factors […]
Jun 13, 2018
People who have never experienced addiction often wonder why someone would want to become addicted to a substance. They ask themselves why anyone would use a substance that could potentially lead them down that path. Many of these questions don’t have simple answers, and the questions that do have answers, are not easy to understand. […]
Jun 06, 2018
Opioid medications are typically used to treat and relieve pain. They reduce the number of pain signals sent from your body, typically a particular area, to your brain. Opioids also change the way your brain reacts to pain. They look and act like chemicals that your body produces and attach to opioid receptors on your […]
May 31, 2018
The ever-growing research of the science behind addiction and highly addictive drugs like opioids has helped us understand much more about the way the human brain works. Current addiction studies have determined that it is a chronic and progressive brain disease that is caused by the alteration of brain function, causing people to seek out […]
May 29, 2018
It’s no secret that the start of the new millennium was one of the main turning points of opioid addiction in America. The 2000s sparked what is now considered to be one of the worst drug epidemics in history with millions of lives affected, and thousands more being added to that number every day. The […]
May 24, 2018
The chemistry of addictive drugs can help give details as to why our bodies can become dependent on them so quickly, causing damage to health, relationships, and entire communities. For some time now, we’ve been aware that drugs can effectively change the structure of the brain, especially with prolonged use. This is why we must […]
May 22, 2018
When people involved with illicit drugs have their first run-in with the law, they enter the “system” that involves policemen, jails, courts, and correctional and probation officers. However, the people they usually don’t encounter are drug counselors and doctors who specialize in addiction. Considering these individuals are dealing with drug-related charges, one would think that […]
May 17, 2018
The staggering rates of opiate addiction and cases of overdose across America have reached epidemic levels of tragedy. Millions of people are dealing with prescription drug misuse, as well as illicit opioid use like heroin and fentanyl. There are over a dozen different kinds of synthesized opiates that have powerfully addicting qualities leading users to […]
May 15, 2018
If you or someone you love is dealing with addiction and considering getting help, it’s important to know what options are available for outpatient treatment. It’s vital to choose the right kind of treatment for yourself in order to set you up on a successful path to recovery. Learn about the different kinds of programs […]
May 11, 2018
A greatly discussed topic in both medicine and psychology is the concept of control and whether or not the loss of it is at the core of addiction. However, it’s difficult to come up with simple answers considering the many aspects of addiction. It’s important to first understand the concept of control and human will, […]
May 09, 2018
Addiction is a complex disease that doesn’t discriminate who it affects. Because of the way chemical dependency can affect the brain, the mind begins to work and function on a level that can lead to a life-threatening condition. Due to the gripping nature of addiction, it’s important to acknowledge the not-so-obvious ways it can become […]
May 07, 2018
Addiction is sometimes deemed a “family disease” because of the way it impacts those who misuse substances as well as their loved ones. Once a person struggling with addiction has taken the steps to enroll in treatment, their families become very hopeful that the nightmare addiction has brought into their lives is over. However, recovery […]
May 04, 2018
The negative misconceptions that surround addiction, drug misuse, and the struggles of those who are dealing with it are all too common in modern day society. The stigma is so prevalent that it carries many negative consequences, especially for those who are too afraid to ask for help for fear of being damagingly labeled. What […]
May 02, 2018
According to SAMHSA, in 2016, 28.6 million people aged 12 or older used an illicit drug in the past 30 days, which corresponds to about 1 in 10 Americans overall (10.6%) but ranges as high as 1 in 4 for young adults aged 18 to 25. An estimated 11.8 million people misused opioids in the […]
Apr 30, 2018
Friendships are vital to human life and, often times, many of us feel that our friends are the family we’ve chosen for ourselves. Having the right kind of friends in life can make everything better; they improve our outlook on life, they extend opportunities to feel love and happiness, and most of all, they lend […]
Apr 27, 2018
Loving someone who is afflicted with substance use disorder can turn into a life of pleading, bargaining, and sorrow. It’s difficult to see someone you love dearly get taken over by a disease that turns them into someone you no longer recognize. Addiction is greedy, and it wants to take everything you love away from […]
Apr 25, 2018
The road to recovery is different for everyone affected by substance use disorder; it can be a long and winding path with many potential obstacles along the way. Regaining mental and physical health after the damage caused by substance abuse requires a lot of support, bravery, and patience. Committing to a treatment facility is just […]
Apr 24, 2018
Opiates come in many forms. Some are more familiar and are prescribed by doctors, including OxyContin, Vicodin, and codeine, while others are illegal street drugs such as heroin. While the variations of these drugs is wide, many of the signs of opiate addiction are similar. So if you suspect someone you love is using or […]
Oct 12, 2017
I loved using drugs from the first time I tried them. Beginning with marijuana, pills and alcohol when I was 12, I escalated to IV drug use by the time I was 16 years old. I was living in a rough neighborhood in El Paso, TX and had already become immune to the fear of […]
Sep 19, 2017
Much like developing an addiction to opioids, recovering from that addiction and reclaiming a healthy, happy life takes time. I learned that the hard way, facing a problem I should have seen coming from a mile away yet somehow didn’t realize until it was too late. The first time I ever drank was at 15 […]
Sep 11, 2017
Recovery and work don't seem like they can go hand-in-hand. One of the biggest concerns people have when considering recovery treatment for addiction is their work schedule. Taking time off from work often is not an option, making the ability to work extremely important
Aug 22, 2017
