You may have heard some version of St. Augustine’s observation that “To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.” 12-step programs emphasize total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This focus on abstinence, along with [...]
While only a small percentage of people with substance use issues have antisocial personality disorder, the vast majority of people with antisocial personality disorder have substance use issues, primarily alcohol. It’s estimated that nine in [...]
Smartphones are useful for sharing pictures, texting, getting directions, checking email, listening to music, checking Facebook, and, occasionally, having a conversation with someone in another place. The downside is that most of us spend far [...]
Marijuana is the third most commonly used drug worldwide, behind tobacco and alcohol. People often don’t take marijuana addiction seriously because it is so familiar, it’s grown rather than synthesized or refined, and its effects [...]
Addiction doesn’t only affect you. It affects everyone in your life, especially your family. Family members take on surprisingly predictable roles to cope with living with someone who struggles with addiction. These roles may help [...]
Narcan, or naloxone, is an antidote to opioid overdose. It binds strongly to opioid receptors in the brain, dislodging the opioid drugs. Someone in the midst of an opioid overdose usually comes around within minutes [...]
This blog will discuss suicide. If you are having troubling thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. There are many ways addiction can kill you. We typically think [...]
You may think that when one person becomes an addict, it is only their problem. The truth is that when you have a close-knit family, your problems become their problems. The movie “Rachel’s Getting Married” [...]
Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse are just a few examples of musicians who were celebrated for their art but succumbed to their drug use. Some musicians are able to [...]
Gambling addiction can be hard to tell others as you never want others to know that you are not in control. You are afraid of the judgment you may receive from those you love and [...]
