“Society has long recognized the physical demands of first responders; however, what is less formally acknowledged are the negative psychological outcomes,” wrote Bowers, Beidel, and Marks in Mental Health Intervention and Treatment of First Responders and Emergency Workers (2019). “Most notable among these negative mental health consequences is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The hallmark of…
“The human brain is the most complex organ in our body and is characterized by a unique ability called neuroplasticity,” writes Maria Mavrikaki, Ph.D., on the Harvard Health Blog. “Neuroplasticity refers to our brain’s ability to change and adapt in its structural and functional levels in response to experience. Neuroplasticity makes it possible for us…
Addiction is often referred to as a family disease because addiction not only impacts the person who is misusing drugs and/or alcohol, it impacts the entire family. According to a 2019 Gallup poll, 46 percent of American adults have experienced substance misuse problems in their family. Active addiction typically prompts families to make slow, incremental…
Every day, almost 200 Americans die of a drug overdose, often involving opioids. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “more than 30 percent of overdoses involving opioids also involve benzodiazepines, a type of prescription sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety or to help with insomnia.” Benzodiazepines (also called “benzos”) include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam…
There is a strong correlation between mental illness and substance misuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Multiple national population surveys have found that about half of those who experience a mental illness during their lives will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa.” Schizophrenia is a severe and debilitating…
The last day of August was International Overdose Awareness Day a day of raising awareness about overdose and helping to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. It also acknowledged the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died and those whose overdoses resulted in permanent injury. September is Recovery Month. Recovery Month is all…
Adults over forty who reported a history of repetitive head trauma through contact sports, physical abuse, or military service had increased symptoms of depression and difficulty with cognitive functioning, as compared to those without such a history, according to a study published online in the journal, Neurology. Scientists from the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and…
Historically, people addicted to drugs and alcohol were looked at as having something wrong with them; they were considered a moral failure with a character flaw. For that reason, many people with a substance use disorder (SUD) still choose not to seek the help they need—often internalizing the stigma that they are somehow defective. Too…
Both legal and illicit substances carry the potential for abuse, as do many prescription medications. The prevalence of addiction may make you wonder how to stop drug abuse. The only way to prevent an addiction is to avoid all psychoactive substances. When you do begin exhibiting signs of dependency, early treatment is the best way…
With nearly half of all Americans having a family member or close friend with a substance abuse disorder, it’s common to wonder how to help an addict. Because addiction is a chronic condition, you must learn how to cope with and manage your symptoms throughout your lifetime to maintain sobriety. Since addiction is a progressive…
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