The Double Demons of Depression and Addiction
It is estimated that upwards of six in every 10 individuals with a drug abuse problem also have an associated mental health condition. This is known as dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder. There’s always a reason people start using drugs, and oftentimes it’s a pre-existing mental condition. It may be something as simple as […]
Should You Return to Drug Rehab?
Knowing if it was a Slip or Relapse Making the decision to use alcohol or drugs again is always a dangerous choice for a person in recovery. The severity of the damage which this will lead to for the recovering addict and the people around them is usually determined by the time it takes that […]
Group Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Talk therapy is an essential component of any high-quality addiction treatment program, and it’s proven to be a highly effective technique. Whether you opt for inpatient or outpatient treatment, your program will likely contain some form of group therapy. Support groups are crucial in many people’s aftercare plans even after treatment ends. In this article, […]
What to Expect During Residential Treatment
Addiction is a complex brain disease requiring intensive professional treatment to undo the physical, psychological, and social effects. Patients suffering from substance abuse can choose from various treatment options. Still, residential therapy over an extended period is needed for some individuals to provide long-term recovery. Residential treatment is composed of several therapy options in a […]
Why Heroin Addiction is So Deadly
Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive drug that’s processed from morphine, which naturally occurs in certain varieties of the poppy plant. Heroin works in the brain to stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. The effects of heroin include a surge of pleasure, followed by several hours of drowsiness, slowed mental […]
Cross-Tolerance and Heroin Addiction – Understanding Both
Drug addiction is a complex disease with many physical and psychological consequences. If someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, one consequence they’ve experienced is an increased tolerance to their substance of abuse; in other words, they need more and more of the substance to achieve the same effects. They may even […]
Reasons to Choose a Florida Model Treatment Facility
If your loved one has a severe drug or alcohol addiction, chances are you’re looking into long-term residential treatment for him or her. This type of treatment involves 24-hour care during a 6- to 12-month stay in what’s known as a therapeutic community. In addition to treating the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of addiction, […]
How Addiction Affects Children
The amount of research available on addiction is staggering, so much so that we now know how addiction affects children. If you’re a parent who is struggling with addiction, one of the most difficult aspects of recovery may be facing the effects of your substance abuse on your children. Addiction impacts the whole family, and […]
Aftercare: The Key to Successful Recovery
Seeking professional treatment for substance addiction dramatically increases your chances of long-term recovery, largely due to the various therapies that are employed to help you work through the issues that led to substance abuse in the first place. But what happens after treatment? Are you tossed out into the street, expected to pick up your […]
The Effects of Addiction on the Brain
The key to any well-organized system is communication, and the human body is no exception. The body’s systems rely on good communication to function properly, and the brain is in charge of this process. Addiction can cause powerful changes in brain chemistry that disrupt the communication process and alter the brain’s functioning. Before exploring the […]