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How Addiction Affects Relationships Perhaps the most devastating toll exacted by addiction is the lasting damage to one’s interpersonal relationships. Lifelong bonds can be strained by ongoing substance use, and
When weighing out the various options for the treatment of addiction to alcohol, and even when deciding whether or not to try to quit, it’s common that a person will
Withdrawal is an inescapable part of overcoming dependence or addiction to alcohol or drugs. This incontrovertible fact likely deters many individuals struggling with addiction who might otherwise enter treatment. Yet,
There is an in inextricable link between mental illness and substance abuse—particularly schizophrenia and substance abuse. Although schizophrenia is generally classified under the umbrella of mental illness, it is actually
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate analgesic considered 50-100 times more potent than morphine. The drug was first synthesized in the early 1960s by Belgian chemist Paul Janssen, later exploding on
“Alcoholic” is a term used to describe someone suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD)— a medical and psychiatric condition defined by a compulsion and inability to control excessive drinking. In
Hydrocodone (trade names include Vicodin, Lortab and Vicoprofin) belongs to the class of long-acting opiate painkillers. Like other opiates, it is responsible for many addiction disorders. This article offers tips
Fentanyl is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule II substance, meaning it has “a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or
Suboxone (buprenorphine) has been a life-saving medication for many people addicted to opiate prescription drugs, as well as illicit opiates such as heroin and synthetic opiates including fentanyl. Yet, in
The fact that you’re asking this question suggests you may already be experiencing negative life consequences from using cocaine. These problems may have convinced you that you need to get
If you can’t get through the day without lighting up, inhaling from a bong, pipe, water pipe, dabbing or other forms of marijuana use, and are experiencing difficulties at home,
Methamphetamine addiction and dependence on crystal meth may not be as headline-grabbing today as it was a few years ago, overshadowed by the deadly opiate epidemic that continues to rage.
The short-acting benzodiazepine Xanax (generic name alprazolam) has been prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders since 1981. While many find it helpful for short-term relief, it is highly addictive and
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease defined by dangerous irresponsibility and impulsivity. Convincing a substance-dependent individual to voluntarily seek treatment is difficult at best. Many live in chronic denial about
Heroin is a dangerous, unpredictable opiate that continues to claim lives and wreck families despite its illicit, Schedule 1 status. The black-market drug, once sold almost exclusively in inner cities
No longer a pure derivative of the opium poppy plant, modern-day heroin is a killer of epidemic proportions, resulting in 8,260 deaths in 2013 and continuing its deadly ascent into
In the U.S., alcohol poisoning is responsible for 2,200 deaths a year, or six a day. (The majority of victims are men between the ages of 35 and 65, and
Alcohol is America’s ever-present recreational drug of choice. With the backing of a powerful, billion-dollar advertising industry that ensures that alcoholic beverages are available almost everywhere, alcohol is an integral
Heroin is a derivative of morphine naturally found in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) plant but considered approximately three times more potent. Classified as a Schedule 1 illicit narcotic by
“Medical detox” is the first step to recovery for anyone serious about kicking a drinking habit once and for all. Medical detox from alcohol refers to a supervised, inpatient passage
Families desperate to find help for a loved one with a drug or alcohol addiction who refuses treatment may turn to an intervention as a last resort. The truth is
What is wet brain? “Wet brain,” officially known as “Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome” (WKS), is a serious neurological disorder caused by habitual, long-term alcohol abuse. The disorder was named after Russian physician
Treatment of opiate addiction, or “opioid use disorder” (OUD), is a complex and comprehensive process that involves assessment, diagnosis, medication, psychosocial support, planning a treatment program, monitoring and numerous other
You’ve decided to seek treatment for your substance abuse problem. No doubt, you made this decision in part after watching your addiction taint the most important areas of your life,
Naloxone vs Naltrexone. They are two must-have tools in the fight against today’s opiate epidemic but what’s the difference? Learn all about them here: The scourge of opiate addiction and
Although they may make up half the general population (official estimates range from 26 to 50 percent), introverts often feel like a second-class minority. The American ideal is the gregarious,
Whether they are active duty or retired, returning military personnel experience significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse than the general U.S. population. Men and women in the military also have
The popular image of a soldier (depending on whether you believe in the cause they’re fighting for) is either “fearless, tough, unyielding” or “brutal, insensitive, ruthless.” In either case, the
The teenage years present an often-tumultuous period of growth and development. Learning how to effectively cope with raging hormones, conflicting emotions, rapid or delayed physical and emotional growth, peer pressure,
Despite the decline in fixed ideas of “man’s job” and “women’s work,” despite increasing acceptance of gender-atypical and even gender-neutral individuals, most experts agree that, as a rule, there really
When it comes to addiction, pride makes you your own worst enemy. Pride leads people to numb emotional and physical pains with drugs rather than heed their bodies’ “You aren’t
If problems with drug and alcohol abuse have begun to wreak havoc with your life and you’ve decided that treatment is your best option, it’s not as simple as walking
If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties due to drug and alcohol abuse, you may be eligible for addiction treatment. In fact, millions of Americans are eligible for
Initially, it may seem like a stretch to consider how treatment for a drug or alcohol problem could actually benefit your future career. After all, deliberations about how 30-plus days
As a firefighter, you have an extraordinarily demanding, dangerous and stress-filled occupation. Not only do you put yourself in harm’s way every time you respond to an emergency call, you
Families considering treatment for a loved one with addiction can benefit from knowing that the gold standard for treating substance use disorders (SUDs) involving alcohol or drugs is dual diagnosis
When you or a loved one enters treatment to overcome addiction, you want the best treatment available, one that’s evidence-based to be effective, and that offers the best prospects for
You or your loved one has taken the all-important first step to recovery by making the initial call to a drug or alcohol treatment center. Maybe it was to begin
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
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
Intervention—a formally arranged group confrontation to convince someone to get addiction treatment—can be the spur needed to stop chemical dependence before it does irreversible damage. Or it can be the
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
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
When you’re struggling to overcome addiction, you need to get the best possible treatment to meet your needs. Unfortunately, too many who desperately want and need addiction treatment fail to
The concept of drug rehab treatment has some people seriously nervous these days, as the public becomes increasingly informed about unscrupulous treatment centers that bribe doctors for patient referrals, bill
Over roughly the last decade, the science of behavior change has become a hot topic of research in the medical field— and it is easy to see why. The more
According to estimates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 25 million Americans live with chronic pain daily, and more than 40 million adults experience severe pain levels.
Quality of life is something everyone wants, but few find easy to describe. Even professional researchers agree only that it touches most life circumstances and is based on personal perceptions
Most people naturally love music in one form or another. And many doctors consider music a useful tool in treating various illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, depression—and substance use disorder.
You’ve got a lot invested in yourself by going into treatment for addiction. Give yourself credit for making the tough decision to do so and to stick it out despite
Not every therapist is good for your recovery. A good therapeutic fit and strong rapport is key to progress. Learn what to look for and key considerations when vetting prospective
What’s one community solution to tackling the addiction epidemic that’s enjoying tremendous success at reducing rates of relapse? Explore what it is and how it’s making a difference in a
Staging an intervention for an addicted loved one can be scary and stressful. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. Breathe more easily with this much-needed advice for how
What are the advantages to intervening early when you spot a potential substance abuse problem, and what might “early intervention” look like? Get the life-saving answers that everybody needs to
Choosing where to go for addiction treatment often involves considerations about health insurance coverage. Do you know how to get the answers you’ll need? Learn what to ask your health
When can I expect to recover? For those considering treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, the answer may be “sooner than you think.” Discover why based on the latest
Drug and alcohol detox is easier and more manageable when you’re eating a well-balanced diet with the right, nutritious foods. Learn how based on what the experts say: If you’re
Why is Medication-Assisted Treatment important for opiate addicts in early treatment? Discover the reasons here: The gold standard for treating heroin and opiate addiction is Medication-Assisted Treatment, which refers to
At-home drug or alcohol treatment has its advocates—but if you’re referring a patient to substance abuse treatment, you may be doing them more of a service by encouraging them to
Getting help for a loved one or family member who’s struggling with addiction can seem overwhelming, confusing and difficult. Not only are there myriad treatment options in terms of treatment
Alternative therapies for addiction improve treatment outcomes, according to experts — and it turns out there are many. Explore what they are here: Whether the addiction is to alcohol or
Getting out from under the oppressive, debilitating and often quick downward spiral of opiate addiction is never easy. It’s understandable that a great deal of medical research and attention centers
Poor family communications are a frequent contributing factor in addiction and relapse. A household including one or more people who abuse drugs or alcohol is typically saturated in untruthfulness, secrecy,
The idea of popping a pill or taking a vaccine to eliminate addiction forever has a certain appeal. There’s only one problem: it won’t work. There’s much more to overcoming
Making the decision to go into treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is both highly personal and incredibly life-affirming. Still, it’s often difficult to navigate the different options and settle
“Spirituality” is a term that has been defined in various ways and as a phenomenon can differ from one person to another. In its most basic sense, spirituality refers to
January 2017 marks the start of another memorable year in the life of our drug and alcohol treatment programs. The New Year is also a rare opportunity to stop for
Alternative therapies include various natural and holistic treatments that have been scientifically proven to support recovery from drugs and alcohol, as part of an integrated plan of substance abuse care.
Cocaine addiction is a serious public health problem in this country, having accounted for more than one in three (40 percent) of all drug abuse-related emergency room visits, in data
The decision regarding which drug or alcohol rehab setting will be right for you—inpatient vs. outpatient—can be a difficult one. Clients and their families can feel insufficiently equipped to choose
A “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring disorder” (COD) denotes the coexistence of another diagnosable mental condition in those with a substance use disorder (SUD). The 2014 “National Survey on Drug Use
The broad consensus, in both the drug treatment and treatment research communities, is that drug abuse treatment works, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy in a study
In late May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first buprenorphine (a.k.a. Suboxone) implant for treating addiction to heroin and opiate painkillers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl.,
Family therapy is a well-established treatment intervention for drugs and alcohol. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy that focus on the individual, the family-based approach addresses substance abuse and its causes
“Is there a cure for addiction?” The answer to that question is a nuanced once, but it is also hope-filled. The ultimate takeaway, as this article will show, is that
For those in the throes of substance abuse, and for their family and loved ones, here is the good news: Just because addiction is a chronic disease does not mean
Smart nutrition—eating foods that nourish brain cells and boost cell repair and the production of neurotransmitters—can help reverse brain damage from drug and alcohol abuse. That’s the conclusion of respected
What if there was a single food that could repair your brain, liver and nervous system from alcohol abuse? What if there was a food that could regenerate and restore
When a person struggling with drug or alcohol addiction decides to enter treatment, one of the first questions is whether he or she needs to detox. And if the answer
