Thanksgiving Day is filled with many traditions. The kids come home from college, the house smells of wonderful home-cooked meals, and the family gets together to celebrate. Quite often, Thanksgiving also involves alcohol and, sometimes, drugs. But what if you want to have a sober Thanksgiving? For some in recovery, that can be a real…
For over 30 years, National Recovery Month has celebrated the gains made by individuals as they heal from substance use disorder and addiction. Every September, Recovery Month educates millions of Americans about the benefits of finding treatment. The core message is threefold–prevention works, treatment is the most effective way to heal, and recovery is not…
Now more than ever, pets are becoming a valuable part of our families. Scientific research has shown that human-animal interaction and companionship provide several benefits to individuals who are in addiction recovery. Pet therapy is becoming more and more common through all stages of recovery because they provide unique benefits to humans and can increase…
Struggling with an addiction problem can cause significant concerns in your life. From quitting and withdrawals to coping and relapse, there are so many issues with which to face. Perhaps one of the most frequent reasons individuals relapse after getting treatment is that they still feel alone in dealing with their issues. This is why…
Life brings many changes — some good and some bad. How you tackle the issues of life determines your happiness and ultimately your growth as a person. Some people struggle to deal with life’s problems and turn to drugs or alcohol instead. This amounts to pushing the problem away and not dealing it with it.…
Drug addiction is not something to take lightly. It’s also not something that happens to any particular “type” of person. In fact, studies show that drug addiction can strike any person. It matters not what your background is to become affected by the drug epidemic. People of all ages, socioeconomic statuses, and job titles have…
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 10% of adults experience some kind of substance use disorder during their lives. To make matters worse, nearly 75% of them never seek professional help. Most experts say that people don’t seek help because they’re afraid that they can’t pay for an outpatient rehab center. Instead, they…
When drug addiction strikes a family, it can bring more than heartbreak. Some families struggle to stay together. With the stress, anxiety, and pressure that come when a family member experiences addiction to drugs, it’s critical to be proactive. By implementing intervention strategies for drug addiction, you take the first critical step towards the healing…
Chemical dependency is defined as “the body’s physical and/or psychological addiction to a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, or nicotine.” People become physically dependent because they give their body the substance repeatedly, and over time, they become tolerant of it. Therefore, they need to increase their dose to get the same effects from…
When you or a loved one suffers from addiction or battles a substance abuse disorder, you may feel depressed, isolated, and hopeless. Addiction can destroy your relationships, career, and finances and cause you to lose complete control of your life. Since addiction can damage your physical, mental, and spiritual health, it can be hard to…