Non-Health Related Consequences of Drug & Alcohol Abuse
It cannot be denied that drug and alcohol addiction presents a number of health complications to those battling addiction. This includes liver and heart problems, gastrointestinal complications and changes in appearance related to weight, skin and hair health, to name a few. But what many people often forget is that addiction has a number of negative consequences on less anticipated areas of one's life, including finances, work and social interactions. Not to mention the impact addiction has on your mental health. When you're struggling with substances, your mental health will take just as severe a hit as your physical wellness. [...]
6 Common Causes of Substance Use in Men
Substance use is something many people suffer from in their own lives or in the life of a family member or friend. It can be a difficult subject, especially because the causes of substance use are complex and often different between men and women. For example, statistics show that men typically begin using drugs at a younger age, but women are more prone to relapsing. Additionally, there may be emotional and/or mental health aspects that play a role in substance use. Here are some of the most common causes of drug or alcohol addiction in men and associated signals to [...]
6 Myths About Substance Use to Stop Believing
Substance abuse and addiction are topics that are often taboo, difficult to discuss or just downright misunderstood. Over the years, as research has emerged and new ways of addressing addiction have developed, the reality of this disorder has been brought to light. However, many of the preconceived notions and taboo images still keep a determined grip on the topic. In order to better understand addiction, and provide help to those experiencing its challenges, it's crucial to be able to tell the difference between what is an addiction myth, and what is a fact. The myths and facts of addiction Increasing [...]
What to Expect When Detoxing from Opioids
Choosing to undergo detox from opioids is a huge step in the journey of recovery. Not only does it take a great amount of mental stamina and determination, it takes courage. The detoxing process is a grueling one on the body. Because of the way opioids hijack the reward system in the brain, suddenly depriving the brain of those chemicals causes the body to undergo a form of shock. And while it's completely possible for the brain and body to recover, it is this recovery process that takes time and patience to undergo. Detoxing from opioids When detoxing from opioids, [...]
The Effects of Substance Abuse on Family Members
Millions of people in United States suffer from substance abuse. In 2017, the United States Surgeon General reported that an American adult dies every 19 minutes due to a heroin or opioid overdose, and the economic impact of drug addiction amounts to $442 billion annually. However, the impact extends far beyond the individually suffering with substance abuse. The effects of drug or alcohol addiction also impacts family members, and it can lead to similarly devastating consequences. Get Help Today Isolation There are many emotions family members experience when a loved one has succumbed to addiction. Fear, hate, resentment and anger [...]
Recovering From Substance Abuse and Recovering Your Identity as a Parent
Substance abuse is known to break apart families because of the emotional distress and lack of dependability that an addiction brings into the household. Taking steps towards recovery can help you heal as both an individual and as a parent. Allow the process of recovery to help you regain your life and relationships with the people who matter most. Substance Abuse Puts Children at Risk The children of drug and alcohol addicts face challenges even though they may not be actively engaged in substance abuse themselves. The shift of a parent’s attention from children to a substance such as alcohol [...]
Repairing Relationships Damaged by Substance Abuse
For many, getting treatment for addiction isn’t what scares clients the most — it is the daunting thought of rebuilding one's life. Recovery does not end when you leave the doors of the treatment center; it continues for the majority of your life as you work to navigate and repair any damage done during the time spent struggling with addiction. One such area that will likely need attention post-recovery (and even during recovery) is that of friends, family and/or a significant other. These people, like some of the ones closest to you, likely felt a lot of the ripple effects [...]
Starting the Conversation About Rehab for Addiction
Many often subscribe to the idea that there are certain things you just don’t talk about. A friend’s personal problems might be one of them. Like most, you might assume that if your friend wants help, he or she will ask for it. Unfortunately – statistically – conversations where that friend actually reaches out for help are unlikely to happen. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports as many as 95 percent of those who need specialty treatment for addiction don’t believe they need it. What this means is if you believe a friend is struggling with an [...]
How to Identify Signs of Drug Use in Young Adults
College is a wildly important time in your development as a person. You're now responsible for your own schedule, you have to ensure you're getting three meals a day and no one but yourself is keeping you accountable to a healthy routine of sleeping, eating and exercising. So much responsibility for a young adult, however, can be truly overwhelming, not to mention the addition of the ever-constant pressure of one's peers. In an environment that usually has less structure than one's home, college can lead to unhealthy choices as a result of unhealthy routines, peers and an overabundance of freedom. [...]
How to Help a Coworker Struggling with Substance Abuse
Addiction is a topic that comes with many different stereotypes and taboos, including expectations of what someone abusing substances is most likely to look like. But the truth is, anyone – regardless of race, gender or career – can become a victim of substance abuse. While there are specific careers that are more susceptible to abuse, even coworkers in your corporate office building may struggle with substances. While it is not your responsibility to fix them, you can be better equipped to help them by knowing the signs of substance abuse. What careers are susceptible to substance abuse? There are [...]
6 Ways To Avoid Relapse Post-Detox
When you are fighting addiction, seeking recovery is one of the bravest, possibly most life-changing decisions you can make. Not only are you rejecting an unhealthy lifestyle, you are opening yourself up to help and healing in a beautiful way. But anyone who has struggled through recovery before will tell you the same thing – it is not easy. Once you have successfully gone through detox, the process of rewiring your brain and habits begins. In order to avoid relapse and maintain sobriety, it is important to put certain practices in place in your life once you have finished detox. [...]
What to Do If You’re Concerned About a Friend Using Substances
Our friendships can add immense value to our lives. Sometimes, though, we find ourselves concerned about a friend and his or her well-being. If you have a loved one who you suspect may have developed a problem with drug or alcohol use, it can be difficult to know what to do and how to go about it. The good news is that your friend already has an advantage in recovery, and that's you. Social support can be critical in mitigating the issues that arise with a substance use disorder, and intervention from loved ones could be the thing that tips [...]
