The abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other substances presents one of life’s biggest challenges. In learning about the impact of substance abuse, you have probably come across the term “dual diagnosis.” But what is dual diagnosis, anyway? This term is used by medical professional and treatment experts to refer to the kind of treatment necessary…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The course of our lives sometimes leads to dark clouds, where very bad things happen. It might involve becoming a crime victim, losing a loved one suddenly, or some other painful experience. The different types of trauma one can experience, unfortunately, are seemingly never-ending. Not everyone can simply shake off a horrible experience. Sometimes traumas…
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The popular portrayal of addiction is someone whose life has turned into a mess and is rejecting all efforts to help. It’s a false portrayal. The stages of addiction, while predictable, are varied from individual to individual. Sometimes addiction does cause severe effects, but other times it doesn’t, and that’s what makes treatment a challenge.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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