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
Prescription drug abuse may not be the first thing on your mind when you go to your doctor; prescription drugs start off as a benefit. Whether recovering from surgery, battling depression, or experiencing other mental and physical pains in your life, prescription drugs can make dealing with certain situations easier. However, there is a reason […]
Aug 09, 2017
Combating substance abuse is more than just entering a treatment program; drugs, alcohol and other substances affect your life in different ways.
Aug 02, 2017
Combating substance abuse is more than just entering a treatment program; drugs, alcohol and other substances affect your life in different ways.
Jul 29, 2017
Addiction can strike anyone at any time, and overcoming addiction can be difficult. It doesn’t discriminate against gender, income, or class. Anyone can fall victim to the grasp of addition. Once it has hold of you it may seem impossible to move past it. However, if you’re here, you’ve already taken the first step. Admitting […]
Jul 15, 2017
Opioid dependence is the stage of addiction when the drug rules your life. How do you know if you or someone you care about is really in opioid dependence, or if you or that person can still manage themselves? Addiction is a disease. There’s no cure, but it is manageable. The following are the stages […]
Jul 10, 2017
A Suboxone treatment plan may be a step closer for those who want treatment for opioid addiction in Texas. The Department of Health and Human Services announced on April 20, 2017 that Texas will receive a $27 million grant to fight opioid addiction. U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) made the following statement about opioid addiction: […]
Jun 22, 2017
Heroin addiction side effects are devastating, not just physically, but also emotionally. But today, it’s not just the side effects that people hooked on heroin have to think about; it’s death. Fentanyl is a frequent mix with heroin that increases the high. It also makes an overdose more likely. A recent article on California Healthline.org […]
Jun 11, 2017
Morphine withdrawal treatment – did you ever think that you would need to look for such a resource? Morphine is regularly given in hospitals to ease pain after surgery, and quite often, people go home with a prescription. Yes, morphine eases pain, but it’s a highly addictive opioid. If you feel like you are dependent […]
Jun 07, 2017
When you take the step to get heroin treatment, you want to be successful. Relapse is always a possibility, so creating systems of care that work together improve the opportunity for success. According to an article published on Science Daily.com, “Recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) offer a promising approach to improving care for the millions of […]
May 30, 2017
One of the first heroin addiction symptoms is noticing that you spend increasing amounts of energy in getting and using the drug. Heroin starts to take priority over other things in your life like family or work. Even if using causes problems for you, you want it anyway. Heroin addiction symptoms cause your body to […]
May 25, 2017
The need for heroin addiction treatment is urgent for the U.S. because of the spike in overdose deaths in 2016, and Baltimore, MD has a long history as the heroin capital of the U.S. The Baltimore Sun reported on March 29, 2017 that President Donald Trump vowed to increase federal efforts to confront opioid addiction, […]
May 18, 2017
Vicodin, OxyContin®, codeine and other prescription opioids are highly addictive and may lead to opiate abuse. When you have surgery, or need the help of a painkiller, opiate abuse may be the last thing on your mind. Once you realize that your body needs the opioid to function normally, you may feel embarrassed to admit […]
Apr 30, 2017
In Westmoreland County, overdose from both prescription and illegal drugs is the leading cause of death among accidents and suicides. And this is true since 2008.1 The need for medication-assisted treatment is urgent to save lives. Medication-assisted treatment is highly successful because addicts can bypass the worst part of withdrawal. The body transitions off of […]
Apr 20, 2017
Overdose deaths are a sad indicator of opiate addiction statistics in Baltimore, MD. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore had 481 overdose deaths in the first three-quarters of 2016.1 The opiate addiction statistics on overdose deaths are dire for the entire state of Maryland. Heroin-related overdose deaths were 918, and Fentanyl-related were […]
Apr 11, 2017
When you find out you’re pregnant, and have been using opiates, it’s natural to want to stop using the drugs immediately. You want what’s best for the baby, and that’s a great thing. However, it’s vitally important that opiate withdrawal during pregnant happen in an environment of medical supervision and support. The health and possibly […]
Mar 13, 2017
Opiate withdrawal symptoms are not something that you want to have to deal with. But when you’re faced with a moment, a day, a week, when life is coming unglued because of your addiction, you start to wonder if you can handle opiate withdrawal to get to the other side. You may know someone in […]
Mar 10, 2017
You’re considering an opioid treatment program. You may say, “How did I get here?!” You aren’t alone. Millions – yes MILLIONS – of people take prescription pain killers or heroin. The fact that you’re considering an opioid treatment program in Baltimore means that you’re taking a stand and taking a step in the right direction […]
Mar 08, 2017
methadone treatment is an effective way to transition out of opiate addiction. And, you have likely heard of suboxone, the most popular brand name medication for the treatment of opioid addiction. Suboxone, Subutex, and Zubsolv are all brand name formulations of buprenorphine. The value of treatment with Suboxone has long been debated by federal, state, […]
Feb 01, 2017
You have likely heard of Suboxone, the most popular brand name medication for the treatment of opioid addiction. Suboxone, Subutex, and Zubsolv are all brand name formulations of buprenorphine. The value of treatment with Suboxone has long been debated by federal, state, and county substance abuse treatment boards, and with its use comes a degree […]
Jan 18, 2017
The language used in your opiate drug addiction treatment program should make you feel accepted and empowered. It is very difficult to admit that you need treatment for opiate drug addiction for many reasons, and the language and culture of the treatment program can help ease that difficulty and stigma you might be feeling. You’re […]
Dec 20, 2016
If you’re fairly new to opiate rehabilitation, you most likely have not yet learned about the Triangle of Self Obsession. It’s a concept embraced by Narcotics Anonymous, and it tells us that people who become addicted to prescription pain pills and heroin fall victim to a devastating emotional triangle of resentment, anger, and fear. Narcotics […]
Dec 01, 2016
