Addiction can develop in stages as drug or alcohol use becomes more problematic and dysfunctional. The stages of addiction listed below are a roadmap, but like with any disease, an individual’s personal experience will be unique. Experimentation and Initial Use The first steps toward addiction generally involve an initial use of alcohol or drugs and…
Stimulants and depressants are the two major categories of addictive drugs. While depressants slow down the central nervous system, stimulants speed it up. Understanding the effects of depressants vs stimulants enables you to recognize signs of an overdose, addiction, and abuse. Recreational drug use has become common especially among men. Some of the commonly abused…
Depression and Drug Addiction Substance abuse intensifies the symptoms of depression and leads to other conditions like brain damage. Most elements of depression go hand in hand with the signs of drug addiction. This is why one should seek proper treatment and care for both disorders. Depression and drug addiction can cause individuals to isolate…
Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, depression is a contributing factor in suicides. In 2017, the CDC reported 47,173 suicide deaths in the United States. Although some people turn to alcohol to soothe the pain caused by depression, alcohol…
A person who can function while addicted to drugs presents a special and unique kind of risk because they often can mask their addiction. Friends and family might have little idea of the turmoil that their loved one faces. Recognizing the signs of a high functioning drug addict is essential to get them help and address the…
Heroin is a drug that leads to many deaths in the United States. The number of people who’ve died because of taking heroin has increased drastically in the last two decades. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be tapering off; however, there is hope for those stuck in the grip of heroin addiction. If you or…
Faith-Based Addiction Recovery If you’re considering entering an addiction treatment program, you’re probably already at least somewhat familiar with the 12-step program. The 12-step program looks like this: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.…
Top 10 Famous Addiction Recovery Stories There are millions of addiction recovery stories, but not enough are covered in the media – except when it involves a celebrity. Here are some of our favorite famous addiction recovery stories. Celebrities are humans, just like us, and despite their fame, money and cool occupation, many celebrities…
Opioid Deaths Have Fallen – Or Have They? Preliminary data shows that opioid deaths have fallen (maybe) by 5 percent in 2018 — the first drop in overdose deaths since the country’s opioid epidemic began in the 1990s. The statistics about opioid abuse in general are shocking. The data, first reported by the New…
The Dangers of Fentanyl As the opioid crisis continues to grow across the nation, authorities in Orange County reported last week that they seized 18 pounds of fentanyl with a street value of $1.25 million in a single bust. The results of an Oct. 16, 2019, fentanyl bust in Orange County. (O.C. Sheriff’s Department) The…