Archive: Alcohol, Drug Addiction, Mental Health
The Link Between Depression And Substance Abuse: Which Came First?
February 19th, 2015Over the course of the past few decades, researchers have been able to determine a link between depression, substance abuse, and genetics by studying family groups and comparing rates of depression and drug use within families of those suffering from mood disorders like depression or the disease of addiction, with those who were not. As […]
How To Talk With Your Children About Your Past Addiction To Drugs Or Alcohol
January 29th, 2015One of the greatest influences on me in my young adolescence wasn’t my peers, but my parents, who openly talked about their battles with addiction. Our family had been ravaged by addiction and the consequences were evident, but this alone was not enough. Children exposed to drugs and alcohol at an early age are far […]
Benefits of A Long-Term Addiction Treatment Program
January 13th, 2015Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a minimum of 90 days for the treatment of addiction to drugs and alcohol, as this period of time more accurately reflects the time required to overcome substance addiction. Long-term addiction treatment affords a more comprehensive approach to […]
The Dangers Of Two People In Recovery Starting A Relationship
January 7th, 2015It’s natural to want to share your recovery with someone else. You’re making positive strides, you’re experiencing a life outside of your addiction for the first time in months or years. It feels like a time to celebrate, but there are many threats to sobriety when two people in recovery begin a relationship. Knowing the […]
What Is The Addiction Severity Index?
December 30th, 2014The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was developed by A. Thomas McLellan, a man known for his pioneering work in the field of addiction treatment and specifically the development of two interview-based modalities to measure addiction severity and treatment needs: the ASI and the Treatment Services Review (TSR). He also served as the Deputy Director of […]
Chemical Dependency & Family Relationships
December 23rd, 2014Each year millions of families are affected by chemical dependency. Unfortunately, it’s not all that surprising. Over the course of a lifetime, 82 percent of the US population will have tried alcohol, 62 percent will have smoked, 47% will have used illicit drugs including heroin and cocaine, and 41 percent will try marijuana. These individuals […]
What Causes Drug Addiction?
December 19th, 2014Drug addiction accounts for more than $600 billion in lost revenue, legal and health care costs, and damages each year in the United States alone. More than 110 people die each day from drug-related overdoses, and death from injury relating to alcohol or drug abuse is a leading cause of death in this country. There […]
How Drug Addiction Affects Serotonin And Dopamine
December 2nd, 2014Drug and alcohol addiction are not matters of choice; they’re a matter of process. Depending on the type of drug and dose and even the person’s genetic make-up, drugs can take hold abruptly, or gradually, without warning, rendering the individual powerless to stop the addiction. How drug addiction affects serotonin and dopamine levels in the […]
What To Look For When Choosing An Inpatient Drug Rehab Center
November 19th, 2014What Makes Inpatient Drug Rehab Successful The intensity of the experience is what makes inpatient drug rehab so successful. Someone undergoing an inpatient treatment program will have access to support 24/7 for a period of 21 days or longer. A person in inpatient care will attend both individual and group counseling sessions, often on a […]
How Involved Should You Really Be With An Addict In The Family?
November 3rd, 2014When someone you love is suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it can leave you facing some tough choices about your level of involvement. Those facing addiction fair better when loved one’s aid in their recovery. They can also be instrumental in the success of an intervention. At the same time, you may […]
Lying Through Addiction: How To Tell When Someone Is On Drugs
October 29th, 2014Something to remember when considering whether or not someone you care about has a drug problem is that people whose minds are being affected by drugs often lie. Dishonesty is something you can usually count on experiencing when you’re attempting to help someone get into a treatment program or even when first asking them if […]
How To Help A Friend Or Loved One Who Is In Treatment
October 27th, 2014During the course of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, many struggling with addiction will need certain changes in their lives to help support the decision they made to become and stay sober. As a friend, support in a variety of ways is the best form of help to give someone while they take the long and […]
