We tend to think of the difficulty of recovery as happening early in the process. The first steps can be challenging both psychologically and physically. The early stages of rehab, including detox programs and the stages that immediately follow, are as demanding as they are critical. But the idea that recovery simply gets more comfortable…
As we all deal with the global health crisis, it is essential to remember that our mental health needs have not disappeared. Quite the opposite is true. As we distance ourselves from others, our mental health becomes all the more critical. And this is particularly true for people struggling with addiction. The boredom of “sheltering…
Of the roughly 21 million Americans with a substance abuse problem, only a little over 2 million have sought treatment of any kind. There are many reasons why this number is persistently low: there’s the perceived cost. Also, there can be a social stigma associated with admitting you have a problem. Plus, the idea that…
While the “war on drugs” rages on, alcohol remains perfectly legal, as it has been for most of America’s history. Not surprisingly, we do a great deal of drinking in this country. A little over 50 percent of people of drinking age are regular drinkers. That equates to about 98.5 million people. Of these, more…
Addiction does not go away in times of crisis. In fact, as large swaths of our country are practicing social distancing and isolating themselves, people with addiction issues are in a more dangerous position than ever. In quarantine, drug and alcohol consumption increases dramatically. And recent reports confirm that the current outbreak has been no…
It is always hard to confront someone when you suspect they may be abusing alcohol. How can you be sure? The signs of alcohol use disorder can be difficult to identify. And approaching someone you suspect has a problem can be complicated, especially when you care about that person. If you have been asking yourself,…
No one plans on becoming addicted. And it can be challenging to know when an individual has crossed the line from recreational use into addiction. It is especially difficult for the addicted individual to answer this question for themselves. That is why it is essential to ask yourself, “Does my loved one need addiction treatment?”…
There are several myths about rehabilitation and recovery. One of the most persistent of these is that it is an entirely solitary task. The reality, however, is that addiction does not just affect the individual who is addicted. It also affects every member of that individual’s family, their friends, and their coworkers. For this reason,…
Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from the disease of addiction. That is more than the number who suffer from cancer, diabetes, or even heart conditions. There are many myths when it comes to addiction recovery. Among the most pervasive is that there is a single effective method for “curing” addiction. In reality, there are many…
When we talk about an “epidemic,” we often think of it as something that doesn’t affect all of us. Regarding the heroin epidemic, in particular, it’s tempting to think of it as a problem relegated to specific groups. But the numbers say otherwise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin…