When you think of your stereotypical “good kid,” you probably picture him playing soccer, tap-dancing, singing along with their church choir, learning the trumpet—anything but drugs and alcohol.And in this case, the cliché is warranted: researchers at Dartmouth found that adolescents who participate in group activities are less likely to use drugs. There are several proposed reasons for this.Unsurprisingly, authority figures…

If you’re new to recovery and the family of 12 step communities, you may not know what to look for when it comes to a sponsor. A sponsor is not a requirement for recovery, but they are a helpful tool to support and guide you on your journey of sobriety, while taking you through the 12 steps of the program.Alcoholics Anonymous…

In his book, House, the sociologist/author, Tracy Kidder follows a team of carpenters as they build and create a new house from scratch. An anecdote in the book describes what the carpenters do when they make a mistake, specifically, they sign their name on the wood or structure that shows the mistake, they correct it, and then move forward with building…

Believe it or not, running and jalapeños may hold the key to recovery for some of you. This is about addiction running, and the way that my brain, the addict’s brain, uniquely over-responds to pleasurable experiences, and jalapeños.I had never been much of an athlete when I first started running. Yet, through some strange insidious progression I found myself running a…

Given that it is part of the organization’s name, it should be no surprise to anyone that anonymity is a critical element of the recovery programs fostered by Alcoholics Anonymous. Since its founding in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous has provided its participants with a safe environment to share their personal stories and to receive support from other recovering alcoholics without exposing them…

If you’re thinking about holding an intervention for someone in your life who’s struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, there are some things you should know before you begin. You may already know how difficult it can be for an addict to accept treatment, so it’s important to run the intervention as smoothly as possible. What is a Drug Intervention? When…

Individuals who suffer from alcoholism often latch onto excuses for not seeking treatment for the problem. A common excuse is that alcohol rehabilitation therapy takes too much time, and time spent in rehab and away from family, friends and careers will cause more harm than continuing to feed an alcohol addiction. The truth is that alcohol rehabilitation will often require a…

Crack cocaine affects the body in a number of ways, but it’s most known for maximizing the feelings of pleasure and alertness. While you may be familiar with these effects, you may not understand exactly how crack works once ingested into the body.Being a stimulant, crack cocaine ramps up your body and mind. Under the influence, a user may think and…

We are all familiar with the marriage vows “for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health”. A person who expresses these vows rarely considers that the “better or worse” might include living with a partner who is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction. While some marriage partners might prefer to terminate the marriage relationship, others will stay…

“Buprenorphine” is the generic name for the active ingredient in the pharmaceutical products, Subutex and Suboxone. Physicians and opiate addiction treatment counselors are increasingly relying upon Buprenorphine therapy over more traditional addiction therapies such as methadone to overcome and defeat heroin and other opiate addictions. Buprenorphine for Opiate Addiction Opioids create intense pleasurable sensations by causing a flood of the neurotransmitter,…

Cocaine addiction can be very difficult to treat. Having a solid plan in preparation to help someone is crucial. There are three major areas associated with a strong plan for recovery: medical assistance, psychosocial support, and a promising aftercare plan. Understanding Addiction and Dependence Before figuring out how to help the addict, it’s important to understand whether the person is seriously…

Locating a treatment center that is oriented around specialized alcohol and drug addiction treatment for men can prove to be quite complicated in a number of ways. Sometimes, it’s easier for men to truly focus on recovery if they are surrounded by other men that are in the same struggle. Sometimes, this makes a man feel more comfortable to share what…

You’re sober. You should be proud of yourself. But today is New Year’s Eve. You want to go out and have a good time but you’ve never had a sober New Year’s before. This can be stressful but there is no need to stay home and watch Carson Daly or Pitbull count backwards from ten while a sparkly ball slowly slides…

Prescription drug addiction is a fast growing problem in the United States. Opiate addiction signs include doctor shopping (visiting various doctors to get multiple prescriptions for drugs) or taking more medication than prescribed. Addiction can be treated several different ways, usually through opiate substitution prescribing or through behavioral changes. Opiate substitution prescribing is typically more favored, as behavioral change is generally…

Caffeine is a common psychoactive drug. It has a regular place in many people’s everyday lives. However, people sometimes overlook the negative, life-threatening consequences of coffee if it is used long term. Similar to other drug addictions, it can cause serious health problems.Caffeine causes an increase in the stress hormone cortisol. Excessive use can even lead to clogged arteries and other…

How often do we hear So, what do you do in a social setting? A seemingly harmless question, often used as a social ice breaker, but that holds so much weight in how we are defined, both personally and socially. I used to struggle with this question, because If you asked me 6 years ago, my answer would be different every…

Alcohol and tobacco are two of the most deadly drugs in the United States of America. In the past few years, the number of people who smoke regularly has been decreasing, while the number of those who only smoke in social situations has been increasing. The question is, why?The Washington University School of Medicine believes it’s because smoking and drinking are…

The number of young people recovering from addiction is rising, and no one knows why. Some believe it’s because addiction is just becoming more common, and others think it’s because more people feel like they can come forward because it is more accepted to talk about addiction these days. Whatever the reason, the addiction is the same, but young people have…

There are several options for people looking to detox from percocets (also known as oxycodone). Rapid opiate detox at a medical facility includes being put under anesthesia, being monitored by the doctors, and being given medication to cleanse the brain of percocets. This takes about 48 hours. Home detox can take a week or two to fully detox, and is slightly…

There are four main medications for methamphetamine withdrawal that clinics offer and can be available through prescription from a medical doctor. These medications are Paxil, Bupropion, Modafinil, and Mirtazapine. When a person undergoes meth withdrawal, they experience severe detox symptoms that require medication to alleviate. The First Step of Recovery The first phase of an addiction treatment program is detoxification. Detoxification,…

Trying to decide if your teen is using drugs can be difficult and stressful. Realizing that your child may be going through this struggle can be hard to cope with or understand. Support and guidance is important to provide during this time, even if you feel frustrated or angry.There are six main signs that your child may be abusing drugs, and…