What Is MAT and How Does It Work?
There are many different types of programs for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, and many different viewpoints on what treatment approaches provide the best chance of finding long term recovery from addiction. In fact, one of the biggest challenges you may face (apart from conquering the addiction itself) is deciding which program is the best fit for your needs. While the answer may be different for everyone, recent research and best practices in the treatment field point to the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that specifically targets opioid dependency. MAT has been shown to help individuals manage withdrawal symptoms [...]
The Best Sober Activities to Maintain Recovery
Once you choose to maintain sobriety, it becomes important to seek out activities that don't involve alcohol. Especially in the early stages of recovery, it is important to avoid certain people, places and events in order to prevent relapse and keep triggers at bay. Depending on your lifestyle, sober activities may not be things you are very familiar with, or you may struggle to find creative ways of planning a good time without the consumption of alcohol. That's okay! Don't be hard on yourself if you find yourself stuck in this rut – transitioning to a whole new lifestyle [...]
What to Expect When Detoxing From Painkillers
For many, the topic of detox is frightening. Those who have struggled, or do struggle, with addiction, are most likely aware of the unpleasant withdrawal effects the brain and body undergo when they don't take more of a substance before the prior dose begins to wear off. Withdrawal signs manifest as the body adjusts to the lack of chemicals it previously learned to rely on. As those levels change in the body, the body adjusts and withdrawal signs present themselves. This is why the process of detoxing from painkiller medication can be so unpleasant; but with the right detox [...]
A Closer Look at Carfentanil
Street drugs are, unfortunately, a continuous problem in the US. Because so many of them are often crafted in illegal laboratories, they are not only unregulated but are highly dangerous. One batch of a drug may be much stronger than another batch of the same drug, or, the substance may be mixed with something else – something as harmless as baking flour or more potent like cocaine – to increase the amount of a certain batch. Ultimately, there is no consistency in what street drugs include. This is not only risky, it is highly life-threatening due to the potential presence [...]
Earning Back Trust from Loved Ones During Recovery
During active addiction, most people using drugs or alcohol are not fully aware of their actions and rarely have the ability to see the impact their actions are having on the people around them. Addiction is a highly self-focused disease, meaning it does not make room for the considerations of loved ones. The result? Friends and family members may struggle with trust, become resentful or withdraw from a relationship with the one battling addiction. The impact of addiction on relationships Because people struggling with substance use are not in a healthy mental state – certain drugs even directly impact [...]
How to Speak to Your Loved Ones About Addiction
Admitting that you are struggling with an addiction is one of the hardest things a person may need to do in their life. Not only is the topic of addiction one of many negative connotations, but it is also often emotional, confusing and downright hard. Admitting to yourself that you're struggling is hard enough — admitting to a loved one what is going on may prove to be even more difficult. But talking to a loved one — be it a sibling, parent, friend or significant other — can make a huge, positive difference in your recovery process. For this [...]
Why Knowing Your Triggers is Crucial to Recovery
Recovery is an especially vulnerable time in the life of someone overcoming an addiction. Not only is it hard to reset the lifestyle you spent so much time living in, but it's also difficult giving your brain the time and space it needs to rewire itself after the influence of substance abuse. Throughout recovery, you learn about triggers, what they are and how they can compromise your recovery. Many people relapse during the first few months – not because they don't desire recovery – but because triggers are so much more daunting when you're actively working to avoid them. Knowing [...]
Maintaining Sobriety While Making the Most of Your Summer
The summer months offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, time to catch up with friends and the joys of summer vacation. If you are newly sober, however, these activities can sound more stress-inducing than relaxing. After all, how are you supposed to have fun if you can't even have a drink? The answer is, actually, a lot of ways! By taking the time to be creative and explorative, you'll be able to make the most of your summer without ever needing a drink to enhance the time. Fun sober activities Taking the time to look around your local [...]
Anxiety and Substance Abuse: Are They Related?
Learn how anxiety and substance abuse are related and the science behind this relationship. Discover how dual diagnosis treatment helps people recover.
The Role of a Parent in Substance Use Prevention
High school years are a time of self-discovery and exploration – a reality with both a positive and a negative side. While it is important for any developing person to explore who they are, what they like and who they want to be, it can come at a costly price when said exploration includes diving into substance use. Peer pressure plays a huge role in high school culture, and often is a leading reason for why a teen begins using substances in the first place. Parents during this time play a crucial role in educating their kids about the [...]
Teen Substance Abuse: Knowing the Signs Can Prevent Consequences
Learn about the high crime incidence related to teen substance abuse. Find out more about legal consequences and why teenagers may need professional help.
Is My Loved One Abusing Drugs?
No one wants to find out that their friend or family member is struggling with substance abuse. Sadly, though, it is a reality that a number of families and loved ones have been forced to deal with. The ease with which many people are able to obtain substances, such as prescription opioids, has made substance abuse a common mental health disorder. For those struggling with substance abuse, the most important step in ensuring their health and safety is getting them the help they need – mental and physical. But in order to do that, it is important to make sure [...]
