The FDA recently approved a new drug to treat the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Lucemyra, or lofexidine hydrochloride, is the first drug to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms that’s not derived from opioids. Most importantly, Lucemyra is believed to be non-addictive. There are currently three ways to minimize opioid withdrawal for people trying to quit. One…
Most people are familiar with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, but fewer people know about SMART Recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training and was founded in 1994. SMART is a non-profit created to help people struggling with addiction by teaching them strategies shown by research to help control addictive…
Many people who find themselves in treatment or at 12-step meetings are there because they have no choice. They may have pleaded guilty or been convicted of DUI or drug-related charges and been sent to treatment as part of sentencing. It certainly seems like a better sentence than prison, but does sending someone to treatment…
Xanax is one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world. It is a powerful, fast-acting benzodiazepine that is typically prescribed for panic disorders and insomnia. Unfortunately, Xanax is also extremely addictive. You can develop a physical dependence in two weeks of daily use. People often find they soon have to take a higher…
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, and dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT are both common models of psychotherapy used to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and addiction. Each has its uses and they may be used together or separately. In fact, DBT is a specific form of DBT, so in a sense, they…
Some occupations have higher rates of addiction than others. Among the most vulnerable are lawyers, food service workers, manual laborers, and medical professionals. It’s strange to think medical professionals, including doctors, surgeons, EMT workers, and nurses, would be more likely to struggle with addiction. Many of them see first-hand the damage addiction can do to…
The idea behind neurofeedback is simple and powerful: When you can actually see what your brain is doing you have much more control over your mental states. Learning new skills requires immediate feedback. When you learn to write your name it’s much easier when you can see where the pencil is going and make corrections.…
Perhaps the biggest predictors of addiction is whether you have a close relative, especially a parent, who has struggled with addiction. Nearly all parents want their children to grow up to be happy, healthy people. If you have struggled with addiction, you might wonder if your children are fated to the same struggle. There is,…
“There is no feeling in a human heart which exists in that heart alone—which is not, in some form or degree, in every heart.” –GEORGE MACDONALD There is a new paradigm of healthcare and wellness that is qualitatively different in the approach to the interaction of the mind, body, spirit, and environment. When it…
Dual diagnosis is also referred to as co-occurring disorders. This refers to individuals who are struggling with both a mental illness as well as a substance addiction. Dual diagnosis can be a challenge and will take time to overcome. Treatment can be harder for patients with mental illnesses, because it can become a struggle to…
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