When people do drugs or drink, their bodies are in a state of malnutrition. They often don’t get proper nutrients and may be dehydrated as well. There are also mental health issues to focus on that will be key to figuring out how to deal with staying healthy in recovery. Common medical issues including heart, lungs, and liver, along with the…
Alcohol poisoning can be fatal. You should take care to know what the symptoms of alcohol poisoning are if you spend time drinking or around people that do drink. This way you can identify alcohol poisoning before it becomes deadly. Anyone can get alcohol poisoning. Being aware of the dangers of heavy drinking can save a life. If you or a…
BuSpar, also known as buspirone, is an anti-anxiety medication. Many consider this a low-risk medication, but other people are struggling with addiction. Prescription medications can be abused by people, which makes it important to be educated. Knowing how the drug works can lower the chance of addiction. Why Was BuSpar Taken Off The Market? While the drug BuSpar was not taken…
Clonidine is a medication people take that may be habit-forming if taken too long or in too high of doses for a long period of time. The drug is an antihypertensive. The proper uses of the drug include symptoms of ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, or withdrawal symptoms relating to alcohol or opioid use. The drug has been used in the medical field…
Fentanyl is a controlled substance that is similar to the opiate morphine. However, it is much stronger than morphine by around 90 times. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate prescribed to manage pain from terminal illness and cancer. Much of the illegal fentanyl sold on the street comes from Mexico and China. It looks like heroin, and often it is mistaken for…
Leaving rehab is a time of great challenge for people in recovery. After completion of a program, you may feel ready to return to life but life has other plans. Executives especially may find it daunting to return to the previous pace of life and stay sober. Executive sober living programs can be a good way to meet those demands. Before…
You may wonder whether alcohol is a depressant or stimulant because it can create both types of intoxicating effects. If you drink, you may experience both stimulating effects and depressant ones. It can be either of these effects that attracts you to alcohol and traps you in the cycle of addiction. Understanding the effect alcohol has on your brain is an…
Working hard in substance abuse recovery can put things into perspective. Humility is one of the traits that are helpful to have when looking to build a successful recovery. Shaping your journey around humility helps you see things differently. It may not come naturally to you, but you can work towards this goal if you put in some effort early on….
While many times addictions involve physical dependency, the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction must be considered as well. Addictive behavior is just as difficult to treat than physical addictions. Addictive behaviors, like physical addictions, result in changes to your brain chemistry. You can even experience psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal when you stop engaging in addictive behavior. Addictive behavior…
Some of the bigger obstacles in recovery can feel like huge stumbling blocks on the road to feeling successful. Whenever you are faced with obstacles, there is also opportunity. You now have a chance to find your way back to a healthier way of looking at things rather than focusing on what isn’t working any longer. To embrace the obstacles in…
Opiates are some of the most commonly abused drugs. Despite their many medical uses, opiates are highly addictive. Opiates include illicit drugs like heroin, as well as prescription opiates like Oxycontin, morphine, and Codeine. Unfortunately, taking opiates regularly, even as prescribed, can lead to physical and psychological addiction. When prescription opiates are diverted to black markets, drugs like lean become highly…
Nearly half of all Americans take at least one prescription medication regularly, with more than 23% taking three or more different prescriptions at a time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 3 billion medications are either prescribed or ordered each year. Additionally, the CDC found that the vast majority of emergency room encounters and doctor visits result…
Alcohol is one of the most widely abused psychoactive substances worldwide. Alcohol is a fixture at many culturally significant events, like weddings and major sports events. Also, alcohol is a type of central nervous system depressant, which results in calming effects. Additionally, alcohol also can cause severe liver disease, memory loss, and cardiovascular problems. But, does alcohol kill brain cells? Central…
The path of recovery is different for everyone. Some people love to look at different recovery programs and find the right one, while others step into 12 steps and realize this is the way they will navigate recovery best. Until you want recovery from addiction, you are not likely to succeed at it. You have to be able to let go…
When people think about hitting ‘pause,’ it typically means they think of stopping altogether. Not just pausing to reflect on why sobriety is a powerful substance abuse recovery tool, but how to stop doing what they are doing altogether in favor of a different way of life. While there are bigger pauses in life, there is also an element of hitting…
Oxycontin, a powerful prescription opiate that is stronger than morphine, is highly addictive. The drug has become a well-known gateway to heroin and the face of the opiate crisis. Oxycontin side effects are extensive, with the most serious of which is its addictive qualities. The drug has led to changes in policies that restrict the ability of doctors to over-prescribe it…
Benzodiazepines are a prescription medication that commonly treat conditions such as anxiety disorders. Roughly 5% of Americans are prescribed benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Valium and Ativan and nearly 10% of Americans have abused or become addicted to benzos. Benzodiazepine abuse is increasing and can pose serious risks for users. Emergency rooms are seeing a significant rise in patients experiencing a benzodiazepine…
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can sneak up on you. One day, you wake up to the shakes and never really thought of yourself as having a drinking problem. Now, you want to quit using. How long does alcohol detox last? Is It Safe to Quit Drinking Cold Turkey? It’s not safe to do it alone. Alcohol is one of the drugs that…
Cocaine is a stimulant that hooks its users by causing a dopamine glut in the brain. Abuse of the substance results in a variety of physical signs. For you, these changes might be gradual. For others, the shocking signs of cocaine abuse can worry them enough to ask you to seek help. How Common is Cocaine Use Among Americans? Most people…
Every single day and year of your life is different. You progress through tracks in school, you work your way up the ladder at work, and hit milestone after milestone throughout your life. Whether you like it or not, life continues moving forward. When life stops becoming about hitting milestones, you begin to feel like it is a broken record. Suddenly,…
One of the best things you can do in recovery is to take care of your health. Intermittent fasting may sound intense but it is something to consider if you are sober and ready for a challenge. Daily fasting takes place while we sleep. By taking control of periods of ‘fasting,’ we are better able to manage our cravings, see benefits…