People often use the terms opiate vs opioid interchangeably. However, there are some differences between the two classifications of drugs. Regardless of the difference, both drugs can be highly addictive after repeated use. People who take prescription medications may develop a dependency on opiates or opioids due to their potency. Opiate vs opioid withdrawal symptoms… Continue Reading Opiate vs Opioid
When you first start addiction treatment, you may hear a great deal about different treatment options, including recreation therapy. People will tell you about the advantages and benefits of this treatment, but you still have one question: what is recreation therapy? Recreation therapy is a type of experiential therapy for drug and alcohol addiction recovery.… Continue Reading What is Recreation Therapy?
Is marijuana a gateway drug? This question is one people have been asking for decades. While there is some truth to this assertion, the issue is much larger than just smoking marijuana. Furthermore, it can apply to almost any substance, including alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medication. Using any substance that alters brain function can potentially… Continue Reading Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?
For many people, the holidays represent a time of joy, happiness, and peace on Earth with goodwill towards men. Unfortunately, if you’re divorced, estranged from your family or friends, or just plain lonely, the holidays can be a painful time. It is easy to fall into a downward spiral of depression and return to past… Continue Reading Depression and the Holidays
Most Americans are no strangers to the Opioid Epidemic, in fact – as we noted previously – President Trump declared it a public health emergency in 2017. Large numbers of deaths caused by opioid overdose characterize what we refer to as an opioid epidemic. While misuse of opioids in the United States dates back to the Civil… Continue Reading The Evolution of the Opioid Crisis
Drug addiction is no longer confined to certain stereotypes. Research related to America’s twenty-first century opioid epidemic suggests that those suffering could be your neighbor, cousin, or best friend. In fact, addiction to opioids, a leading substance linked to death by drug overdose, is considered an equal opportunity health problem that can afflict people from… Continue Reading The Real Face of Addiction
If you follow media coverage of addiction at all, you may have noticed a change in language over the past several years. Terms like “junkie,” “clean,” “drug abuser,” and others have gradually fallen out of use. You may still see “addict” from time to time, but even the use of that word is discouraged in… Continue Reading Does it Really Matter How We Talk About Addiction?
Anxiety, depression, and addiction have all become increasingly common in recent decades. Mental health and addiction are closely linked as well. Mental illness can lead to addiction and vice versa. For people recovering from addiction, stress and anxiety are common relapse triggers. Staying mentally healthy requires a holistic approach that involves positive social connection, healthy… Continue Reading How Nature Can Improve Your Mental Health
Most of us are familiar with anti-drug ads on TV. From the “brain on drugs” commercials of the 1980s to more recent commercials like the “above the influence” campaign, the federal government and nonprofits have spent millions of dollars on ads trying to convince kids to stay away from drugs. Last year, when President Trump… Continue Reading Do Anti-drug Commercials Work?
Identity plays a complicated role in addiction. Studies have found that younger people with no clear sense of identity, especially social identity, are at greater risk of associating with people who use drugs and alcohol. These groups are an easy way to find social acceptance and form a social identity. Being part of such a… Continue Reading Finding a New Identity After Addiction
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