WHAT CAUSES RELAPSES?
For those struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, relapse is a breaking point within a period of sobriety. Individuals who are sober for one complete year have relapse rates below 50%, and individuals who are sober for a full five years see relapse rates below 15%. Although relapse doesn’t equate to failure, it […]
IDENTIFYING POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME
Post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) often occurs in individuals who have abused alcohol or other substances for a prolonged period of time and have discontinued. Outwardly, this syndrome may appear similar to depression and can have a profound effect on an individual’s disposition. More than the loss of happiness, individuals suffering from this withdrawal symptom […]
WHY ADDICTION CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS A DISEASE
The disease of addiction is a brain disorder characterized by its chronic and relapsing nature that causes people to compulsively seek the substance they typically use, despite knowing that using the substance will have negative consequences. Over time, the brain changes due to substance abuse and interferes with the individual’s ability to control their impulses. […]
CAN TRAVELING HELP WITH ADDICTION RECOVERY?
Dealing with the chronic disease of addiction, individuals feel stuck in a cycle of despair and hopelessness. The people they interact with on a daily basis may enable bad habits while healthy relationships with friends and family are in the past. Unlike seeking treatment for other illnesses, individuals suffering from addiction may often find that […]
HOW INTERVENTIONS CAN BE HELPFUL
Sometimes, families can arrange interventions that are effective and help their loved ones, but they also need to know how to identify the signs of addiction before it gets out of hand. If you’ve never been around a person who is suffering from addiction, it isn’t always easy to spot the signs for yourself. How […]
SIGNS OF AN ADDICTION TO STEROIDS
Anabolic steroids are prescribed or illegally obtained by people who desire a stronger physical appearance and to develop muscle mass in a short period of time, usually resulting in boosted confidence and self-esteem. There are more than 100 kinds of anabolic steroids, yet only a small portion have been cleared for medical use. Though steroids […]
THE MOST COMMONLY ABUSED TYPES OF DRUGS BY CLASS
Classifying drugs by chemical similarities is helpful because drugs that are chemically similar often have similar risks and impacts. A person who is addicted to a drug is also more likely to abuse and become addicted to other drugs if they are chemically similar. Despite these generalities, chemically similar drugs may have very different legal […]
CLONAZEPAM ADDICTION
Clonazepam (commonly known as “Klonopin”) is a powerful drug known as a benzodiazepine; some people become addicted to it in as little as a month. Many people have formed an addiction to Clonazepam by simply taking the amount prescribed by their doctor. Clonazepam blocks special receptors in the brain to reduce stress and anxiety. When […]
IDENTIFYING ALCOHOLIC SUBTYPES
There is a stereotype in America of what a typical alcoholic looks like. However, studies from the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) put that belief to rest. These organizations conducted a national, clinical study originating from […]
DEFINING DETOXIFICATION
Detox, or detoxification, is the process of allowing the body to remove drugs from itself. Defining detoxification, the purpose of detox is to manage withdrawal symptoms safely when someone stops abusing alcohol or drugs. Everyone’s experience with detox is different; the type of drug and the length of time it was used to affect what […]
