According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, over $600 billion is spent each year in the United States due to substance abuse. The abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs incur costs related to decreased work productivity, crime, and subsequent court costs and health care. Consequently, substance abuse treatment may help reduce these…
Details
Opioids are physically, mentally, and psychologically damaging to the user. Problematically, as opioid use and addiction are steadily increasing, the use of opioids during pregnancy is also on the rise. Unfortunately, the use of these harmful drugs can result in a drug withdrawal syndrome in newborns known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid…
Details
Adversity is a state of hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that one deals with in life. There are six types of adversity that one can face, and facing adversities in life can break or make a person. It may lead one person to improve their life by finding ways around their challenges, or it may lead…
Details
During treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol, there are stages characterized by the early, middle, and late stages. Since addiction is an individualistic experience, each stage differs due to the condition of the person suffering from substance use disorder (SUD), the therapeutic strategies that are effective for them, and the characteristics of guidance from…
Details
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, excessive drinking can severely impact health in a multitude of ways. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, alcoholic beverages are human carcinogens or substances that can cause cancer in living tissue. From the brain to the liver, to the immune…
Details
Mindfulness is the reflective practice of concentrating on the present moment and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, with no judgment. According to a study recently published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, mindfulness may help people suffering from addiction to opioids. Furthermore, it may lead to less pain and fewer cravings for…
Details
Addiction and anger are closely connected. The American Psychological Association defines anger as an emotion categorized by tension and aggression resulting from frustration. This frustration can arise from real or perceived injury or injustice from another person or external force. Things that may lead to anger include situations at work, at home, with friends, or…
Details
Drugged driving is considered driving a vehicle while being under the influence of illegal or legal substances. Illegal substances include cocaine, heroin, marijuana, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, or inhalants. Legal substances include prescription medications and alcohol. It is risky behavior that puts everyone on the roadways in danger: the driver, their passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. It…
Details
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) varies among people across different life stages. Symptoms of AUD include, but are not limited to, drinking more and for longer than intended, building up a tolerance, or experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information revealed that there are five types of…
Details
We know our loved one has a problem. Maybe it is even our child. We want to help them, we want them to be happy and healthy. Perhaps the problem has gone on long enough that we are also running out of patience. But how do we show love for them without enabling? What is…
Details