DANGERS OF SHARING NEEDLES
39,782 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States in 2016, only two years ago. Of those individuals, 3,425 of them contracted HIV from sharing unsterile needles. Most people already know that sharing needles runs the risk of infecting others with HIV, but when people experience intense drug cravings, they momentarily do not care […]
RESET – THE APP FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
Although the majority of the population of the United States lives in urban areas, rural Americans are more vulnerable to prescription painkiller abuse and overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in rural counties is 45 percent higher than in urban counties. There are several explanations […]
BEST TYPES OF JOBS FOR ADDICTS IN RECOVERY
I’m sure you have heard it said that looking for a job is the hardest job you will ever have and for the most part that seems to be true. Your only argument will probably come from those guys on Deadliest Catch. Seeking employment comes with its own set of obstacles for anyone trying to […]
DSM-5
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re really addicted to drugs or alcohol, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or DSM-5, can not only answer that question but tell you whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe. It’s a handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the […]
AMPHETAMINES AND THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
Many children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can benefit from taking prescription amphetamines, such as Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are safe enough when used properly and closely supervised by parents and physicians, but they are also easy to abuse. In particular, adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, a period when […]
APPS FOR RECOVERY
While the best possible outcome of substance abuse treatment comes from a treatment plan including detox and inpatient and/or outpatient therapy, the fact is that some people simply can’t do it. It might be a money issue, for someone without insurance who has no disposable income. It might just be a personal preference not to […]
DOES TECHNOLOGY HARM RECOVERY?
Substance abuse recovery requires an active participant. You can’t just sit back and let others talk or pop into an office for the occasional procedure; it requires real effort. If you’ve ever found yourself so focused on your phone that you completely tune out what people around you say, you might see the problems that […]
ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGNS
Anyone who watched television in the 1990s remembers the ads: “This is your brain on drugs,” followed by an egg splattering into a frying pan, and some dialogue that was trying too hard to fit with the “cool” lingo of the times. Everyone may remember them, but how effective were they? Anti-drug campaigns actually started […]
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR BLOCKS BILL PERMITTING MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN SCHOOLS
California is definitely ahead in the marijuana debate. With promises of commercial artisan marijuana production in wine country, the Golden State seems to be spearheading new trends. However, a recent turn of events showcases that California is not ready to lift potentially life-saving regulations on this addictive substance. Recent reports confirmed Governor Jerry Brown blocked […]
BREAKING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF ADDICTION
To say that addiction is genetic is a bit of a misnomer that is further convoluted when terms like “addictive personality” and “addiction runs in the family” are used. While it is true that addiction (and the impacts of addiction, financial and otherwise) can be passed down within families from generation to generation, it is […]