Substance abuse affects more than just the person who has the addiction. It can also affect their family, friends, and others around them. There are several dangers of substance abuse that can affect genetics and the environment or lead to co-occurring disorders. Children who are exposed at an early age may also start using drugs…
Using drugs and alcohol during adolescence greatly increases your risk of developing an addiction, as 90% of people who have a substance abuse disorder started using substances before they turn 18. National Substance Abuse Prevention Month is dedicated to supporting those impacted by addiction, sharing substance abuse prevention strategies and promoting access to treatment. Substance…
When we think about taking care of ourselves, we automatically think of exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating more greens. What if it was more than that? Does social connectedness play a role in self-care?
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…
Struggling with alcoholism can be damaging to not just the alcoholic, but also to their family, friends and loved ones. Witnessing someone you care about battle alcoholism can be frustrating and painful. It can be especially hard to understand how to help an alcoholic when you have never experienced addiction. Luckily, we have a recover-safe…
As more states legalize marijuana, the only way to shift public perception is to improve education and marijuana prevention programs. These programs need to be directed at both teenagers and adults, as both groups use marijuana regularly. When it comes to learning the facts about marijuana or other drugs, there is a lot of information…
Addiction can cause fatal consequences. In fact, drug overdoses have recently become the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50. Between 2015 and 2016 alone, there was a 22% increase in the number of fatal overdoses, while fatal heroin overdoses have increased by more than 400% since 2010. During treatment, rehabs…
Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant, creating an energizing effect that improves cognition and creates euphoria. However, cocaine abuse can also cause you to experience insomnia and heart problems. One of the major reasons why cocaine is illegal is because it is highly prone to abuse and can lead to addiction, which can cause…
During substance abuse treatment, programs like individual counseling and choice theory can help you learn how to manage triggers and cravings. How does choice theory aid addiction recovery? By improving your decision-making process and helping you learn how to cope with triggers. More than 24 million Americans used illicit drugs in the past month, while…
If you have a substance use disorder and you feel like you’re struggling in other ways mentally, then you may very well have a comorbid diagnosis. Comorbidity is common among people with substance use disorder and can be treated with outpatient addiction therapy services. You may wonder what is comorbidity? This is an important question…