Addiction damages relationships. From the relationship someone has with a spouse or significant other, their children, colleagues, friends, and extended family, no personal connection is spared the fallout of someone’s substance use disorder (SUD). For numerous reasons, an SUD gets in the way of trust, communication, and respect. A person with an SUD is, by […]
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There is strong evidence that engaging in a robust alumni program after discharge from a drug and alcohol treatment program improves long-term recovery outcomes. Life after rehab can be stressful and intimidating for many people who have not lived without substances for a while. Suddenly, facing sober living beyond the supportive circle of rehab can
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In a world where addictive drugs are increasingly available, both on the street and via prescription, it is essential to be well informed. Many people are unsure about what the party drug known as ecstasy is and if it is the same thing as 3,4-methyl enedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA). They are, in fact, the same drug.
Ecstasy vs. MDMA: What’s the Difference? Read More »
Xanax, also known by its generic name alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine. People widely use it as a sedative and to treat anxiety-related disorders. The challenge with this psychoactive drug, which doctors frequently prescribe, is that people can easily abuse it, and many consider it one of the most addictive benzos. If you are concerned that
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Mixing medications that are considered safe on their own can lead to trouble. That is why your physician tracks your medications and understands what medications other specialists might have prescribed. This is true when you are meticulously following instructions about dosages and timing. If you are not following prescription guidelines when you take a painkiller
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Peer support groups have been considered a standard within recovery circles since the advent of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The benefits of having peers supporting one another in a sober network of mutually accountable adults are often highlighted by professionals and lay people involved in and committed to therapeutic, community, or personal support around recovery. In
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Colloquially known as benzos, benzodiazepines are sedatives that slow down the central nervous system (CNS), often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia. In the U.S., they’re prescription-only and illegal to buy or sell without one due to their addictive nature and serious risks, requiring doctor supervision. If you suspect that your benzo use has become benzo
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It has been more than 150 years since humans first extracted heroin from opium. Today, the steep rise in the manufacture of synthetic opioids has led to more than 80,000 deaths per year from opioid overdoses. Opioid abuse and overdose, in fact, are responsible for the vast majority of drug-related deaths in the U.S. annually.
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Methamphetamine (meth) abuse is rising in the United States among both teens and adults. Though scientists initially synthesized this stimulant for medical reasons, it is one of the most damaging and addictive substances there is. Most people, however, misuse a street version of meth that is illicitly created in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and numerous other
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For people with an anxiety disorder, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, it is common to try to reduce that anxiety with a drink. After all, alcohol is a sedative and can take the edge off severe anxiety in certain cases. At least, at first. In fact, alcohol misuse can worsen anxiety in the long run. Someone
Can Alcohol Worsen Anxiety? Read More »