There’s a saying in AA that goes, “Your best thinking is what got you here.” Studies have shown that intelligence is no protection against substance use disorders. In fact, the opposite may be true. People with above average IQs are more prone to substance use and addiction. Clearly, intelligence can’t do much for you when…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, is the practice of using FDA-approved medication as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. MAT has been shown to be most effective for treating alcohol and opioid use disorders. Typical medications include Antabuse, naltrexone, and Campral for alcohol addiction, and methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, often in the monthly, injectable form,…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications as part of a treatment plan that includes counseling and therapy. Currently, MAT is primarily used to treat alcohol addiction or opioid addiction. There aren’t yet any medications for treating addiction to stimulants or benzodiazepines, although medications such as antidepressants may be used to treat co-occurring…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications as part of an integrated treatment plan. For people with opioid addictions, this typically means taking methadone or buprenorphine, a strategy called opioid replacement therapy. Among people who study opioid addiction, MAT, along with therapy or counselling is considered the gold standard of opioid addiction treatment.…
The recovery process can be a complicated one, and it is a lifelong commitment that lasts long after we’ve completed treatment. When we’re recently finished with a treatment program, we can be presented with unique challenges that can threaten our sobriety. We’re reintegrating into our regular lives, with the old routines, lifestyles and relationships that…
It can take a lot of time and effort to convince a friend or family member to enter treatment for addiction. Many people find it difficult to accept they need help. While entering treatment is a big achievement, it’s only the beginning of recovery. There’s a lot of work left to do and studies have…
While it may feel like addiction is one person’s problem, it is really a problem for everyone around her too. Not only do the consequences of addiction radiate outward to your friends and family, but dysfunctional relationships may also contribute to the development of addiction. Treatment for addiction can’t just focus on one thing. It…
As we’re doing the important work of recovery, one thing we come to learn is that our relationships have a lot to do with our mental and emotional health. When we are in stressful relationships, our well-being suffers. Similarly, when we are not at peace within ourselves, this is reflected in our relationships and the…
Addiction relapse rates vary considerably, depending on the person and the drug. A commonly cited statistic from The Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that relapse rates are between 40 and 60 percent, while other estimates put the rate of alcohol and opioid relapse at closer to 90 percent in the first year. The…
Social media addiction has been much in the news lately. While experts agree that calling obsessive social media use an addiction is hyperbolic, especially considering the damage that substance addictions can do to your life, excessive social media use is still a cause for concern. Many studies have now found associations between social media use…
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