Drug addiction treatment reduces drug use and its associated health and social costs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which has estimated that addiction costs the U.S.
The cost burden of a drug or alcohol addiction is often measured in societal terms. Thanks to statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, we know, for example, that
Although two-adult households where both partners have addictions are in the minority, just one parent’s being chemically dependent multiplies eightfold each child’s risk of developing a similar problem. Everyone has
Whether it’s for you or a loved one, getting help for an addiction often begins with a simple phone call to a drug or alcohol treatment provider. After that, depending
Could genetic testing help reduce the opiate epidemic? The question is more than academic. Eradicating the opiate scourge has proven difficult since the epidemic began in 1999 with the explosion
Things might have begun to change in the way your parents, older spouse or other loved one go about their daily lives. With advancing age often comes the onset of
Having a loved one finally agree to professional addiction treatment is a relief—and also a source of new anxieties. Will they manage to stick it out? Will withdrawal do them
When you’re dealing with chronic or acute pain as the result of an injury or illness, taking a doctor-prescribed pain medication may be unavoidable. This is where understanding what doctors
At first glance, it might seem like an addiction to substances like alcohol, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs has nothing in common with process addiction. However, there is increasing scientific
If you or your loved one has begun treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, or a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health issue, or a process addiction,
Drug addiction is a major albatross around the neck—as much for the stigma surrounding it as for the direct physical, relational and functional problems it causes. Everybody makes mistakes, but
It can be agonizingly painful to watch a loved one or family member struggle with addiction to illicit drugs or prescription drugs used nonmedically. The fact that chronic pain is
What’s next for you after treatment for drug and alcohol abuse? Whether you’re now about to complete residential or inpatient treatment to overcome your addiction or are going to transition
Social isolation and loneliness may be a bigger threat to public health and wellness than even obesity, according to a 2017 press release from the American Psychological Association (APA). As
Benzodiazepines, called “benzos” for short, besides their therapeutic effects, have another notable effect that quickly captured public fancy among some demographic groups and facilitated a deep dive toward abuse: euphoria.
Lacking follow-up treatment or post-discharge aftercare services contributes to a high rate of relapse in the first year after treatment. Yet, as research has found, enhanced post-treatment care, such as
The best addiction-recovery journey is one that involves, not just the person struggling with the actual addiction, but his or her entire family. Whatever the specific details of the situation,
Upon first thought, a consideration of personal lifestyle preferences may not seem that relevant in the process of choosing a treatment center that is right for you. When you’re suffering
Mindfulness-based therapies are behavioral interventions for addiction and other health conditions that apply elements of mindfulness meditation to help make healthy habits stick and improve overall wellness. Often, mindfulness-based therapies
The growing consensus in the field of substance abuse treatment is that addiction is a disease of alienation, and that love and connection are central to successful recovery. With Valentine’s
Embarking on the journey to sobriety and the end goal of living in effective recovery requires ongoing commitment, detoxing from addictive substances and following up with a comprehensive, integrated treatment
If you’re beginning to think that you might need treatment for a problem that’s gotten out of control with alcohol or drugs, your instincts are on target. On the other
True addiction recovery means more than losing immediate physical cravings: it implies a long-term healthy life. The typical recovery path has four stages: Acute detox or withdrawal: the physical process
There’s a lot to think about and put into practice when you start on the path to recovery from addiction. If you’ve gone through professional treatment, you’ve likely gotten quite
In the case of any chemical dependency, whatever the substance, there are physical and/or psychological symptoms of withdrawal that can occur upon quitting the drug. “Detox” is the term that