According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse “Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted persons self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs.” Even with the stigma surrounding addiction, nearly 21...
It is never a good situation to be in when someone may have to wonder whether or not a family member is addicted to alcohol or drugs. However, if you do find yourself in this situation, just know that you are not alone, as nearly 21 million Americans struggle with an active addiction in our world every day, but more importantly, know that it is never your fault. When someone in your family abuses drugs...
Marijuana, also known by cannabis, weed, grass, shake, ganja, reefer, dope, hash, herb, chronic, and many other names, has a reputation for being a safe narcotic. In reality, there are no ‘safe’ narcotics, and the potential for addiction to ‘weed’ (as it will be henceforth referred to) has well earned its place on the DEA Schedule 1 list of dangerous, addictive drugs. Let’s read on to see just how weed can be addictive and habit...
Drug addiction can happen to anyone at any time. Luckily, there are identifiable risk factors for high-risk individuals and even yourself. There are two types of major risk factors: biological and environmental. BIOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS: FAMILY HISTORY The first and primary risk factor for addiction is family history or genetics. Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the initiation of the use of addictive agents and to the transition from use to addiction....
There is an unfortunate number of substances that can be seriously dangerous for your health and well-being should you quit taking them cold-turkey, or without the supervision of a healthcare or addiction professional. The nature of addiction means that your body or brain has a dependency and requirement on the substance you are withdrawing from. The lack of that substance in your body throws you out of whack. This can lead to reactions as simple...
While there are a great many resources to help and aid you in your recovery journey, the ultimate decision rests with you. A Scientific American article points out the following: “But some in the field point out that many if not most addicts successfully recover without professional help. A survey by Gene Heyman, a research psychologist at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, found that between 60 to 80 percent of people who were addicted in their...
You may be wondering what a typical day in a drug rehab program looks like. Today we’re going to detail every aspect of a drug rehab program, from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave, we’ll cover it all! One of the biggest reasons people struggle with addiction is a lack of support. Many people are too embarrassed to admit they have a problem, or simply don’t know who to turn to for...
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), the number of adults worldwide with a gambling disorder (including pathological gambling) is nearly 5.3% of the total population – nearly 390 million individuals. [1] In the United States, roughly 15% of Americans gamble at least once per week, with 10% of them being teenagers. [2] As gambling rates have increased in recent years, so have deaths from a drug overdose. Since 1990 drug overdoses in...
Being caught in the throes of addiction is to be caught in a state where logic, consideration, and reason are thrown out the window in exchange for the pursuit of using. Otherwise sound individuals will engage in irrational or out of character behavior, lying, stealing, cheating, and using any means possible to achieve their end. This is one of the most hurtful symptoms of addiction. Addicts will sometimes disappear. It could be for a few...
Drug rehabilitation facilities use a myriad of different strategies for the recipient to receive help. One of the most difficult challenges these facilities face is that no single person is the same. Differing strategies are required in order to meet the needs of the individual patient. For some, willpower will be enough, for others following a step-by-step program, and for others, an accountability buddy can make all the difference. It’s been proven that drug rehab...
