THERAPY AND COUNSELING
One of the most important factors in addiction recovery is the help of counselors and therapists. Although the words are used interchangeably, counseling and therapy do have differences. Counseling focuses on solving or coping with a specific issue, such as addiction, while therapy is more long-term and looks at changing a person’s behavior or way […]
DRUG LAWS AROUND THE WORLD
Laws concerning the possession, use, manufacture, and distribution of drugs vary across the globe. Some countries have extremely harsh penalties, while others are liberal in allowing drug use. Here are some of the more lenient countries when it comes to drug offenses. Canada is legalizing the non-medical use of marijuana in 2018. The consumption of […]
BATTLE OF THE SEXES WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLING ADDICTION
We live in an era when now more than ever there is a focus on lessening the wage gap between men and women and encouraging women and girls to become active in the areas of science, technology, and math – fields predominantly led by men. In a push to recognize equality, we speak often about […]
DRUGS AND CRIME
It is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse. With the rising number of people abusing drugs and alcohol, so too rises the number of people being arrested and incarcerated. Data collected in 24 cities showed that the percentage of arrested males testing positive for any […]
ADDICTION AND INCARCERATION
While spending time in prison is no one’s idea of the ideal way to deal with drug or alcohol addiction, it can be a good opportunity to get clean. Sixty-five percent of all incarcerated people meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. In the case of opiates, medications such as buprenorphine and methadone can […]
THE EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND ADDICTION
According to a study done by researchers at the IRCCS (Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare) accredited Santa Lucia Foundation and the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, exposure to stress early in life can alter the structure of immune cells and inflammatory signals, which leads to increased drug-seeking behavior. The study was conducted on […]
ADDICTION- DISEASE OR CHOICE?
Though in recent decades most doctors and scientists have come to accept the view of addiction as a disease, there are still those who argue that it is really a choice. Critics say that addiction is mainly considered a disease because of the changes in brain structure and function, but this can be true of […]
GENE EDITING COULD BE THE FUTURE OF ADDICTION TREATMENT
If you’ve followed the debate about addiction being a disease versus a choice, you’ve probably heard that scientists believe there is a genetic component involved. Some people are simply born predisposed to addictive behavior or are particularly vulnerable to certain types of drugs. Previously, all this meant was that if you were aware of a […]
TYPES OF ALCOHOL TREATMENT
If you’ve never been through the process of recovery from alcohol abuse, you might think that treatment programs are one size fits all. You detox, have a bit of therapy, maybe attend some meetings – it’s all the same, right? Actually, different people can have vastly different needs, and some treatment facilities might not be […]
ALCOHOL AND ORAL BACTERIA
We all know the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, whether we choose to heed the warnings or not. Apart from the potential for car accidents or other injuries, alcohol abuse can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast. It can cause heart disease, leading to heart attack or stroke. It […]