As one of the oldest drug and alcohol treatment agencies in the Bay Area, we hear it all the time: “There’s nothing fun to do if you’re sober” or “I’m bored – there’s nothing to do if you don’t (drink, smoke pot, put drug of choice here).” For people getting sober in the Bay Area…
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According to the National Retail Federation, about 157 million people will celebrate Halloween this year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost half of all traffic fatalities during Halloween involve a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher. With these kinds of statistics, it’s certainly…
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Marijuana use among college students is at the highest rate it’s been since 1980. According to the 2014 Monitoring the Future Study, 5.9% of college students report daily or near-daily marijuana use. Basically, one in every 17 college students is smoking marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis (defined as use on 20 or more…
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Now in its 26th year, National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans about the people affected by mental and/or substance use disorders and to remind them that these people can live healthy and rewarding lives when they receive appropriate care. Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in…
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A common thing we tell clients in drug and alcohol treatment centers is to stay away from “people, places and things.” What we mean by this is that clients (especially in early recovery) shouldn’t hang around with people they used to use drugs and alcohol with, go to places where they used or partied or…
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In a previous blog we discussed the top five health risks of alcohol which include liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, and immune system issues. Today we’ll discuss items six through ten. 6. Brain damage Alcohol alters brain receptors and neurotransmitters and interferes with cognitive function, mood, emotions and reactions on multiple levels. Because…
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Despite the fact that it’s legal, alcohol is one of the most lethal drugs available in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of preventable death and, as a central nervous system depressant, you can die from alcohol withdrawal. Despite this, most people don’t die of alcoholism, and the harm caused by drinking…
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In a study published earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the CDC says in last month alone, 4 million have gotten behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. In this study they found that close to 2% of adults admitted to driving while intoxicated at least once over the prior month, which translates…
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This is the second installment of a two-part series on drugs to treat drug and alcohol addiction. Currently, there are three categories of drugs used to treat drug dependencies. Methadone Used for opiate withdrawal and replacement since the mid-1960s, methadone has been prescribed to thousands of opiate addicts. While methadone can be used to lessen withdrawal…
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Ironically, a common request in drug and alcohol treatment centers is for drugs to treat addiction. In this two-part post, we’re going to discuss the medications approved for alcohol abuse and those approved for drug abuse. Currently, there are three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcohol abuse. None of these…
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