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Addiction

Finding Support for Families of Addicts

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Finding support for families of addicts

Addiction is far from an individual disease. It affects every relationship, including friends, spouses, children, parents, coworkers, and extended family members. Developing a substance use disorder can take months or years. During this time, relationships change, and each person takes on a new role. Not all roles are healthy. For example, some become enablers and think they are helping, even when they see their loved one spiral out of control. However, learning about and finding support for families of addicts can be one way to alleviate many of these changes and the stress that might be taking place. Other friends and family may choose to end the relationship with the addict, and some may even develop their addiction. Their intentions are good, but as circumstances worsen, they are left feeling exhausted, hurt, angry, and confused. Without support, things will only get worse. Therefore, finding support for families of addicts is a must. …

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Embracing National Recovery Month in September

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Embracing National Recovery Month in September

Did you know that September is National Recovery Month? When you think about recovery from alcohol or drugs, your initial thoughts may be of millions of people and their families struggling with addiction’s physical and mental effects. Most conversations revolve around the signs, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The Recovery Research Institute states there are tens of millions of people in recovery. They used results from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSHA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health results to determine the exact numbers. What they found is remarkable. The representative sample who reported having a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetime was 11% or more than 27 million people. Nearly 75% or 20.5 million reported being in recovery during the survey. Another 30% of people with a substance use disorder were in recovery from a mental health disorder. What is the Meaning of Recovery? Debates …

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10 Sober Activities for Addiction Recovery

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10 sober activities for addiction recovery

Sober living is not always easy. It can be difficult to transition from a lifestyle of misusing drugs and alcohol to complete abstinence after completing an addiction treatment program. When you enter recovery, you need structure, routine, positive support, and even things such as sober activities to partake in–all of which have not been a part of your previous life. Why Finding Sober Activities Are Important Early recovery can make you feel like you are on a roller coaster of emotions. Boredom and free time can be dangerous during this time when you may feel overwhelmed by obsessive thoughts, triggers, and cravings. Sober activities can help you navigate addiction recovery. They consist of individual or group activities that distract you from recovery stressors and simultaneously provide the support you need to stay sober. Sober activities are things you do or participate in that offer you some reward. In recovery, the …

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Effective Treatments for Addiction That Work

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Effective treatments for addiction that work

Treatments for addiction and substance use disorder that works for you may not work for anyone else. The reason is that every person has a different reason for having an addiction, or misusing drugs or alcohol. They also have a different drug of choice, method, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and motivation for recovery. When you enter treatment, you will receive a customized treatment plan of action that includes various activities and techniques that give you the best chance of maintaining recovery for the rest of your life. The programs and therapies you receive have been proven effective through multiple research studies. The most common treatments for addiction are discussed below. Detoxification How long you have been dependent on a substance and the severity of your withdrawal symptoms will influence where you begin the recovery process. For many, detoxification is the first step because medical supervision or medication-assisted treatment can ease withdrawal symptoms and curb …

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7 Uses for Ketamine Therapy

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7 uses for Ketamine therapy

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ketamine for limited use as a general anesthetic, initially used in the 1960s and 1970s. Ketamine was the go-to anesthesia for treating wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Around this same time, researchers were discovering other uses for Ketamine. However, as the drug became popular among recreational users, President Nixon banned it and classified it as a schedule III narcotic. Uses for Ketamine in Mental Health In recent years, Ketamine has been making a comeback in the mental health industry. Psychiatrists can administer Ketamine as an off-label prescription in their clinic. No take-home prescriptions are allowed, however. Esketamine, a nasal spray, and an intravenous drip are the two most common treatment methods. The more time that passes and the more data gathered, the uses for Ketamine are expanding. Below are seven examples. 1. Severe Depression Ketamine is currently an effective treatment for severe depression. If …

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