When learning that someone is ready to sober up from drugs or alcohol, following cheers of delight the assumption is that this simply involves discontinuing substance use. A general lack of understanding about the science of addiction is at the center of this very common naiveté. In fact, addiction and chemical dependence dictate thought and […]
The symptoms of bipolar disorder, namely the extreme mood swings that characterize the mood disorder, can actually be induced by certain drugs or alcohol. While bipolar disorder remains a mysterious mental illness, as science has not definitively agreed as to the cause of its onset, substances are thought to play a role. It is still […]
One hundred and twenty-seven million prescriptions. That is how many prescriptions have been filled in the U.S. for the wildly popular drug class, benzodiazepine—commonly referred to as “benzos”—according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Benzos are a class of Schedule IV controlled substances that include fifteen approved medications, including such brands as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, and Librium, to […]
Identifying Warnings Signs and The Stages of Relapse When it comes to addiction recovery, no matter how committed to sobriety a person is, there is always, always the risk that they may return to using or drinking—especially during the first year of recovery. Contrary to what many might assume, however, relapse is not an impulsive act. In fact, […]
Let’s face it, beer is delicious. The thought of an ice-cold brew on a hot summer’s day is enticing, for sure. Beer is woven into our social pastimes, like baseball games and picnics, backyard barbecues, Superbowl parties, and music festivals. But what happens when you overindulge—when one beer after a long day at work morphs […]
So you have some trouble getting to sleep. Maybe a glass of wine before bed will help you relax enough to nod off, or maybe you will try out the prescription for Ambien that your doctor recently gave you. Better yet, you ponder, maybe just take the Ambien with the glass of wine. Not so fast! Mixing […]
Alcohol abuse can have some very disconcerting and unpredictable effects. One of these might manifest in angry outbursts, violent behavior, or rage, and another is the phenomenon called blackouts. Sometimes these two effects can happen simultaneously, resulting in a drunk rage blackout. Because alcoholism is a complex disease that impacts brain structures and chemistry, it […]
Rehabilitation. The word invokes images of restoration, new beginnings, and wellness. When it comes to addiction rehabilitation those terms are especially meaningful, and should include the addition of one more: life. For addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that, if left unchecked to progress, will eventually cost a person their life. Rehab offers a chance […]
Who would ever think that the partying so common in young adulthood could possibly result in end stage alcoholism and death, but in reality it actually can. Most people become acquainted with alcohol in the college years, where booze-saturated parties are the weekend norm. Most college kids will cycle through this phase unscathed, reining in […]
The term “dope sick” refers to the condition of experiencing withdrawal symptoms due to opiate addiction. The person may initially discover they are addicted to prescription painkillers when they stop taking the pills and begin to feel intense flu-like symptoms. More commonly, those addicted to heroin will refer to this condition as being dope sick, […]
