The consequences of drug abuse are far-reaching and devastating to everyone involved, especially those who work in professional fields. Substance use disorder causes the deterioration of relationships, financial crises, physical illness, and anxiety. It affects people of most ages and from all social standings. It destroys families, reputations, and careers without discrimination, and it can make…
Sometimes the signs of alcoholism or alcohol addiction are obvious. For example, when someone is constantly drinking or intoxicated, it’s clear that they are abusing alcohol, but do they have an alcohol use disorder? There are different stages of addiction, and dependency can look different for different people. When it comes to alcohol use disorder,…
When choosing a drug and alcohol treatment program, it’s necessary to make sure individuals find the right program. Broadly speaking, addiction treatment programs fall into two categories: inpatient and outpatient. Both focus on rehabilitation, but each type offers different benefits. Within each category, there are varieties of programs that can meet the unique needs of…
You’ve decided that it’s time to get your life back, and you’re ready to enter treatment for alcohol or substance abuse. Like most people, you probably find yourself wondering, “What is rehab like?” It’s normal to be a little apprehensive when you’re trying something new. Even if you’ve been in drug and alcohol rehab before,…
Addiction is a challenging disease to identify in others. While many may think it’s easy to see when someone is struggling with a substance use disorder (an addiction to drugs or alcohol), the reality is often very different. Individuals can become inadvertently addicted, as in the case of many prescription drug addictions. Often the individual…
If your loved one is using drugs, you know that they’re putting their life in danger. It can be hard to step back and watch as someone you care about moves through a downward spiral. One of the most important things that you can do for their health is to be on the lookout for…
Alcohol affects the body and mind in many ways. One of the most confusing aspects for many when they consider the negative effects of alcohol is its categorization as a depressant. Many people struggle to understand this because they conflate the term with the mental health condition. Simply put, alcohol depresses or relaxes certain physical…
Meth is an intense drug that can severely impact the user’s life. Because of the complex chemical makeup of the drug, it doesn’t take many uses of meth to cross over into full-blown addiction. Recognizing the signs of addiction is vital in finding the right support for friends or loved ones who may be struggling…
Physical dependence, or addiction, happens when an individual needs one or more drugs to function in everyday life. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) used to differentiate between abuse and dependence. Experts considered abuse to be the early phase of drug use that led to physical dependence. Many people view dependency as a more severe problem…
The first year of recovery and life after addiction can be hard to manage. There are triggers everywhere, and applying the skills you learned during your time in rehab isn’t always that easy. It’s possible to discover a void from a past life. Whether the void is low self-esteem, avoiding bad feelings, or past experiences,…