a person goes through heroin addiction recovery

Understanding Heroin Addiction Recovery

Even after years of synthetic opioids and dangerous new designer drugs, heroin remains one of the most addictive substances known to modern medical science. This highly potent painkiller is derived from the same opium poppy that gave us morphine and other medically useful compounds. But heroin works quickly to hijack the chemical reward system in…

a woman displays alcohol addiction signs

3 Signs of Alcohol Addiction in a Loved One

Drinking, like smoking, is a common and deeply entrenched part of our culture today. It can be impossible for people who struggle with addiction to ignore something that is everywhere, cheap, and socially acceptable. Even though alcohol-related deaths like car accidents and domestic violence continue to climb in the United States, it can still be…

Anxiety, Depression and Addiction

Substance abuse can sometimes be an attempt to self-medicate an issue such as anxiety or depression. Often, they occur so closely together it is hard to distinguish which came first. Like the chicken or the egg, did the substance abuse cause anxiety or depression or did the depression and anxiety lead to substance abuse?

Children Who Suffer Trauma, and Addiction as Adults

The impacts of trauma during childhood often linger on into adulthood and can lead to the development of psychological problems and/or addictions. Indeed, research has established such a firm link between childhood trauma and substance abuse that some treatment facilities now offer concurrent treatment of addiction and any underlying trauma.

The Importance of Addressing the Role of Personal Trauma in Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Numerous studies over the past 30 years have established that there is a definite link between trauma and alcoholism and/or drug addiction. In fact, many substance abuse treatment facilities treat trauma and addiction as co-occurring disorders.

Have a Drinking Problem? Here’s How to Tell.

Having a drink, or a few to unwind or socialize is legal and completely acceptable in today’s world. But when does social drinking or drinking in general become a problem? Many people don’t recognize that their drinking might be a medically diagnosed disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM).

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September is National Recovery Month.

Families often struggle to get a loved one into treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction. It is not easy to start a conversation about addiction, and many times the person struggling with addiction responds with excuses, anger, denial or minimization. A conversation can easily escalate to an argument where nothing is accomplished.