Music is a powerful influence in many people’s lives, but many do not realize the impact it can have in addiction recovery. Music can transform a person’s mood and emotional state. Happy, uplifting songs can lift spirits, while other songs can darken a person’s mood with feelings of sadness or despair. While it can be difficult to articulate feelings and emotions through words alone, music can … [Read more...]
Stages of Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
In 2014, more than 15 million people in the United States reported having used prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes, with many eventually “graduating” to heroin. Misuse of opiates can quickly lead to dependency, with many users experiencing difficult opiate withdrawal symptoms that range in severity based on the level of dependence and duration of use. For this reason, abstaining from … [Read more...]
Dirty Needles: Heroin Addiction & the Global HIV Epidemic
The human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV, is a virus that causes not only HIV infection but can also lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Beginning in the 1980’s the HIV/AIDS epidemic soon became global, and the World Health Organization and UNAIDS (the division of the United Nations dedicated to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide) now estimates that “35 million … [Read more...]
The Truth About Using Prescription Drugs to Help Addiction
There are a number of different ways to treat substance abuse. Often, the most effective means of addressing addiction is through a holistic approach that integrates multiple methods into a single treatment plan. Some of the most common methods of treating addiction include the use of 12-step programs and abstinence to achieve sobriety, but more recently, the use of medication-assisted treatment … [Read more...]
Safety Tips for The Fourth of July | Infographic
The Fourth of July is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in America. Everyone in the country takes the day off in order to pay tribute to the day that the British colonies of 1776 finally gained their independence and became the United States of America. Grills are fired up, pools are swum in, fireworks are shot off into the night sky, and family comes together. However, Fourth of July … [Read more...]
Teenage Smoking: Why are Teens Still Hooked on Cigarettes?
Despite the plethora of information published regarding the risks associated with smoking cigarettes, nearly one in five high school-aged teens are still smoking. While the overall number of teens smoking has declined in recent years, many teenagers are still buying cigarettes and using them. Approximately 440,000 Americans die every year from diseases related to smoking and about 90 percent of … [Read more...]
Bad Trip – The Dangers of Classifying LSD as an Anti-depressant
LSD stands for “lysergic acid diethylamide,” which is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. The drug goes by many names including acid, blotter, dots, and cid. Many of its street names are derived from the way the drug is sold - as little designs on pieces of paper. While the drug appears in a variety of forms including tablets and thin squares of … [Read more...]
Doctor’s Orders: Bent out of Shape on Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines are depressants, which means they slow down activity in the Central Nervous System (CNS). These drugs are often referred to as “minor tranquilizers” because they can produce sedative, hypnotic, and muscle relaxant experiences. … [Read more...]
Key Signs that you may be an Enabler
When a loved one struggles with an addiction, it can be difficult to not intervene. Substance abuse is a growing problem in the United States with more than 23 million people in need of treatment. Despite this staggering number, only 2.5 million receive treatment for their addiction—the other 19.5 million report feeling no need to seek help. While these figures highlight a serious problem with … [Read more...]