September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to increase awareness and understanding of substance use issues and to acknowledge people in recovery. For individuals facing substance use problems, September is an ideal time to reach out for help. For those who are already on the road to recovery, National Recovery Month can be a…
If you have been looking for help for addiction for a loved one, you may feel hopeless or defeated. It is difficult to know what to do when a loved one is suffering. There are very few things in life that make you feel more powerless then sitting back and watching your loved one spiral…
It is tempting to think of the recovery journey as moving in a straight line. The fact of that matter is that somewhere around half of all people who take the critical step of getting treatment for their addiction issues will relapse at some point.1 Relapse is such a common occurrence, in fact, that at…
We witness the power of the internet in general — and of social media in particular — every day. For most of us, there are few aspects of our life that have not been affected in some way by the power of these forces. Never before has it been so easy to connect with other…
Many people are surprised when they find out that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in America. While tens of millions of Americans suffer from this group of disorders, it is a sad truth that few of them will get the help that they need. The overall causes of anxiety disorders are…
Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious health problems facing Americans. Even though our society tends to normalize it, there are many dangers of binge drinking; and particularly teenagers and young adults are at risk. If you are worried that you or someone you care about has a problem, it is worth exploring the…
Very few people in today’s American culture see the real risks of alcohol abuse. Not only is alcohol available and advertised everywhere we look, but alcohol use — and abuse — are normalized by both media and film industries. The result is that when people inevitably do have problems with alcohol consumption, they often do…
When it comes to treating people with addiction issues, there are several misconceptions. One of the most common ones is that substance use problems are simply a matter of determination and will power. In reality, the medical establishment has known for years that addiction is a disease that affects brain chemistry. Like other conditions, it…
Researchers studying addiction have known for decades that when it comes to women and alcoholism, women’s needs are different from men’s needs. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has demonstrated, for instance, that women are far less likely to seek professional help than men are. They also point out that even though more…
It is a well-known fact that when a crisis hits, addiction numbers go up. In the U.S. — and around the world — as we quarantine ourselves and maintain a safe social distance from each other, individuals struggling with substance abuse are more likely than ever to put themselves into harm’s way or to relapse.…