You, or someone you love, is using drugs or alcohol. You’ve become very worried, and you’re wondering: what are the symptoms of addiction? It’s important knowledge to have because recognizing the onset of addiction is the most important step in seeking treatment. Yet the symptoms of addiction can be maddening. Initially, they may be easy…
Drinking alcohol is part of our society. While most people can drink with no major consequences, others aren’t so fortunate. Drinking can become a problem, sometimes with life-threatening consequences. In those moments, it’s important to know the signs of alcohol overdose. The signs of alcohol overdose are decidedly not pretty and require medical assistance. The…
In our mass media-driven society, we are bombarded by messages about drugs and alcohol, including tobacco. Frighteningly, this leads to enormous challenges with misinformation. We are surrounded, quite simply, by endless myths about drugs. And while we also live at a time when accurate information can be found at the click of the mouse, that…
The factors involved in substance abuse are complex. Trauma, peer pressure, stress and anxiety, genetics, and even poverty can play a role. Believe it or not, your gender also comes into play — which prompts a good question: What is gender-specific treatment? Many rehab facilities maintain addiction treatment programs allowing clients who desire it separate…
Trauma is a horrific thing to deal with in any life. In fact, if this is the case with your life, then you may think you don’t have anywhere to turn for a remedy. Processing trauma is quite difficult unless you have a trauma therapy program to guide you through the experience. Consequently, it’s common…
Childhood trauma and addiction are closely connected, leading to many adults with substance abuse disorders. These substance abuse disorders are harmful to people’s lives, their families, and to their physical well-being. When children face trauma, they often bury it at the moment but then deal with the trauma of it later. They struggle to cope…
Mental health and substance use disorders often intersect. One of the mental health conditions that are often connected with substance abuse is codependency. When someone is in this situation/relationship, it makes it difficult to break free from the cycle. It’s critical to find a treatment that focuses on overcoming codependency so that if substance abuse…
When someone has struggled with a drug addiction issue, there are certain steps they go through as they take the path to healing. Along the journey, one of the most important things they will need to make it through is solid coping skills. Coping is not always easy when it comes to dealing with withdrawals…
Mental illness is a challenging problem for many people. It makes life complicated and results in coping issues for those who are afflicted. Not only does it bring stress to people’s lives, but it can also lead to substance abuse. As people attempt to cope with untreated mental illness, they sometimes turn to drugs or…
As you begin your journey to a drug-free life, you may need to learn a few lessons along the way. One such lesson is how to practice patience. This may seem like an odd thing to learn considering all the other things you’ll be learning along the way, but patience is just as important as…