Opioids are potent drugs that alleviate pain and provide a euphoric sensation. Both legal, prescribed medications and illicit drugs are classified as opioids. Some of the most common are: Heroin Fentanyl Oxycodone (OxyContin) Morphine Hydrocodone (Vicodin) According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 90 people die from an opioid overdose each day. In […]
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Pain is just a part of the aging experience. As we age, things just hurt – sometimes for no apparent reason. Younger people also experience pain, but it is most commonly after an injury or surgical procedure. Nonetheless, the occasional headache or muscle ache is a common experience for almost everyone. American society has become
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Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of harmful use of any substance. This can include alcohol, drugs, and even some legal substances. People who abuse substances often do so because they feel that they need the substance to cope with things like mental health concerns or past trauma, or because long-term use of the
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Spend just a little bit of time with the realities of our world today and, if you’re like me, you’ll find yourself brimming with tension. It may your anxiety skyrocket. And it may make you want to turn to substance use. I’m talking about the tension between yourself and another person, the weight of important decisions,
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When your friend in recovery is going through addiction therapy, there’s no doubt your heartaches with a desire to help—to ease burdens, soothe the mind and comfort the soul. And in your best of intentions, you’re probably looking for just the right words to say. So let’s talk for a moment about how the words
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Are Our First Responders at Risk for Addiction? Firefighters, police officers and paramedics share two major job components: each is a hero of the community, and all face inherent danger on a daily basis. These pressures can make first their careers high risk for addiction. You can imagine those dangers, right? Burns, smoke inhalation, gun
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A Few Simple Things to Know About Setting Boundaries in Addiction Recovery Before we get started on setting boundaries in addiction recovery, take a moment to gather a few supplies: A blank sheet of paper A pencil A toddler A few crayons (If you don’t have a toddler handy, your imagination should do the
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Diabetes, a broken arm, a heart attack—these are all widely recognized as medical conditions. But what about a chronic brain disorder? How does it relate to addiction? In some cases, the patient may have even contributed to the onset. Right? And yet . . . A sedentary woman diagnosed with type 2 diabetes receives understanding,
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Recovery offers a beautiful opportunity to view each day for all of the potentials it holds. And yet. Sober individuals live the same ol’ adulting life as the rest of the world: We have to work and keep a job. Have to prioritize relationships. We must take care of your body. And it’s that last
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If you work as a first responder, I’d like to start by saying thank you. Secondly, if you are one of the millions of first responders battling addiction, I want to tell you, there is hope. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to our local emergency medical technicians, firefighters and police officers. You
To Our First Responders Battling Addiction: There’s Hope for You Read More »