Mothers feel an immense need to protect and help their children. Watching your son or daughter disappear and spiral downwards due to mental health issues and substance abuse […]
Category Archives: Addiction
Clinically reviewed by: Gabe Dunn, LCSW
Last reviewed on:
04
May
May
Teens are at a higher risk for developing an addiction to drugs and alcohol due to brain development. The adolescent brain is still under construction and won’t be […]
30
Apr
Apr
Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease, which is characterized by drug-seeking behaviors. These compulsive behaviors continue to persist despite dangerous consequences. Furthermore, addiction leads to permanent changes […]
Addiction, Recovery
Competitive Attitudes Influence Drug Use While Apathetic Attitudes Are Protective Factors
29
Apr
Apr
A new study recognizes that competitive and hostile people are more likely to use drugs or alcohol. Engaging in substance use depends upon risk factors like past life […]
Addiction, Treatment
Treating Compulsive Drinking: Why is Moderating Drinking Difficult for Some People and Not Others?
28
Apr
Apr
A specific circuit in the brain may be able to be targeted to treat compulsive drinking habits, according to research. The journal of Biological Psychiatry reported that there […]
Addiction, Mental Health
Not All Grief Involves Death: Grieving the Loss of a Significant Relationship
28
Apr
Apr
Most studies of grief focus on dealing with loss due to death and leave out grief experienced due to the loss of significant relationships. However, divorce, breakups, and […]
27
Apr
Apr
A study done by the University of Bristol and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found a relationship between the diagnosis of a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at […]
Addiction, Treatment
Opioid Use Hospitalization Rates Higher for People With Common Musculoskeletal Diseases
24
Apr
Apr
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is ravaging the United States at epidemic levels. Increases in mortality rates related to this disease are also occurring. There is inadequate data on […]
Addiction, Mental Health
Deviating Trends: Declines in Binge Drinking Are Occurring While Rates of Depression Are Increasing
23
Apr
Apr
A study out of Columbia University found that between the years 1991 and 2018, binge drinking behaviors declined among American adolescents. Conversely, depression rates severely increased for this […]
23
Apr
Apr
When someone is dealing with a substance use disorder (SUD), they engage in activities and exhibit actions that they would not do if sober. They may hurt the […]
22
Apr
Apr
Insomnia is the inability to sleep. Sleep is extremely important to overall health and well-being, so not having enough sleep may lead to many problems. When recovering from […]
22
Apr
Apr
A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) indicates that social relationships are pathways to addiction, as well as pathways to recovery. The research found […]
Addiction, Recovery
Legalization May Lead to Declines in Use: Research Finds Marijuana Use Decreased in the Wake of Legalization
21
Apr
Apr
An analysis of federal-based survey data shows that before the United States legalized marijuana, more Americans were struggling with frequent, problematic use. The research found that there is […]
20
Apr
Apr
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recognizes the relationship between stress and substance misuse and subsequent substance use disorders (SUDs). Although everyone experiences stress in one way […]
Addiction, Treatment
While Women Without Children Drink More, Drinking Behaviors Are Increasing Across All Groups
20
Apr
Apr
Between the years of 2006 to 2010, heavy alcohol use led to almost 90,000 deaths and a combined 2.5 million years of potential life lost among American people. […]
19
Apr
Apr
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published research from Boston Children’s Hospital that proves the importance of accessing people’s alcohol-related tweets and online searches to track alcohol use […]
Addiction, Treatment
What is the Impact When Young Adults Experiencing Opioid Overdose Do Not Receive Effective Follow-Up Treatment?
18
Apr
Apr
There is a significant window of opportunity regarding treatment for adolescents and teenagers who experience non-fatal opioid overdoses. Often, most of these young adults have yet to receive […]
17
Apr
Apr
Chronic disease and illness cost the United States more than $635 billion per year due to medical costs, disability programs, and loss of productivity in the workforce. One […]
Addiction, Recovery
Dealing Effectively with the Opioid Crisis: How Can the Focus Shift From Punishment to Treatment?
16
Apr
Apr
Arresting those with opioid use disorder (OUD) is not the answer to battling the opioid epidemic enveloping our nation. The American Psychological Association (APA) strongly suggests focusing on […]
Addiction, Recovery
Methamphetamine Use Coupled With Opioid-Use Disorder Negatively Affects Treatment
15
Apr
Apr
A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found associations between methamphetamine use and dropping out of treatment for opioid-use disorder (OUD). Methamphetamines are a class […]
Addiction, Treatment
Legal and Lethal: How Alcohol and Tobacco Are Among the Highest Threats to Worldwide Health?
14
Apr
Apr
Alcohol and tobacco, although legal and highly consumed in the United States, causes more harm to individuals around the world than illegal drugs. Loss of Life Due […]
Addiction, Recovery
Other Painkillers Contributed to Opioid Crisis: The Decline of Prescribing Non-Opioid Painkillers Overlapped with an Increase of Prescribing Opioids
13
Apr
Apr
A study done by the Boston University School of Public Health showed that the decline in prescribing non-opioid painkillers (NSAIDs) in the early 2000s overlapped with an increase […]
12
Apr
Apr
The United States is within the grips of an opioid crisis, and treatment professionals actively seek alternative treatment options for chronic pain. The need for alternatives is imperative […]
11
Apr
Apr
Studies indicate that smoking tobacco can have negative effects on one’s mental health. A new study shows that people who smoke tobacco may have a higher risk of […]
10
Apr
Apr
Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” include medications such as Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax. They are a class of sedatives that are statistically the most abused, yet are commonly […]
Addiction, Treatment
The Future of Babies Exposed to Opioids: Are There Enough Resources to Support This Growing Problem?
08
Apr
Apr
The opioid epidemic is claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, impacting communities, and changing the face of our nation. In the United States, roughly one […]
06
Apr
Apr
Estimates used to be that suicide accounted for almost one-third of all opioid-related overdose deaths. However, new research found that suicide accounted for only 4% of opioid-related deaths. […]
04
Apr
Apr
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as compulsive drug-seeking regardless of harmful consequences to oneself or others. However, addiction is not a particular diagnosis included […]
03
Apr
Apr
Opioid overdoses account for over 400,000 deaths between 1999 and 2018. Current statistics indicate that over 100 Americans die every day due to an opioid overdose. Fentanyl is […]
02
Apr
Apr
Substance use disorders (SUDs) within families affect everyone. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway website, children’s needs must be met and enacted by parents. In the case […]
Addiction, Recovery
Heavy Drinking May Damage Heart Tissue: New Research Supports the Negative Effects of Drinking
01
Apr
Apr
New research published by the Journal of the American Heart Association recognizes that consistent heavy alcohol drinking leads to subsequent damage to the heart tissue. There is inadequate […]
30
Mar
Mar
You may be struggling with addiction and your friends are not helping you shake off these unhealthy habits. They make you feel like all of the poor decisions […]
28
Mar
Mar
Congress’s approach to dealing with the opioid crisis is expensive and still a struggle. While there is a reduction of opioid overdose deaths because of the introduction of […]
26
Mar
Mar
While the journey to sobriety is a rewarding one, it can also be very complex to get there. One of the obstacles you may experience during recovery is […]
25
Mar
Mar
There is a condition currently called auto-brewery syndrome when the microbes in the gastrointestinal tract convert carbs to alcohol without having a drop of the drink. Recently, after […]
25
Mar
Mar
Pink cloud syndrome is the stage during early recovery where you feel confident and excited about your recovery. The problem with the pink cloud phase is that it […]
Addiction, Treatment
How to Talk to Your Doctor About Chronic Pain to Avoid Developing Opioid Addiction
24
Mar
Mar
Chronic pain, a pain that lasts three months or longer, can be hard to accept or understand that their ailment has no cure or clear treatment. Opioids are […]
Addiction, Recovery
Former Editor of Details Magazine Tells His Story of Recovering from Vicodin Addiction
23
Mar
Mar
Dan Peres, former editor-in-chief of Details Magazine, battled Vicodin addiction for over a decade. He believes if you saw him, you would never suspect his addiction. Dan Peres […]
20
Mar
Mar
Today, opioids are being prescribed for all different types of pain. You may be coming into the hospital for an injury and walk out with a prescription that […]
19
Mar
Mar
Sarah Ziegenhorn was ambitious in doing what she could to help her community in Iowa City towards addiction recovery while she was in medical school. She started a […]
