With an estimated 40 million Americans suffering from an anxiety disorder and over 20 million diagnosed with substance use disorder, both anxiety and addiction are widespread. The conditions are also inextricably linked. ADDA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) data shows that 20% of Americans with an anxiety disorder or mood disorder also have a…
The 12 Step Recovery Program List of Steps One cannot talk about recovery without discussion about the 12 Step Program. Even casual observers are familiar with the term. In essence, it is a set of tenets and guidelines to help move people through the process of recovery. In case you’re curious, here are the 12…
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…
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 have gone on to suffer from an…
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 York Times, seems like good news. A 5 percent…
Questions to Ask Your Treatment Provider If you’re thinking about going to or sending someone into treatment, you need to know what questions to ask your treatment provider. This is the minimum amount of due diligence that must be done to ensure any reasonable chance of success. There are many reasons that getting it right…
A gateway drug is a substance believed to promote progression to the use of more harmful substances. Per the gateway drug definition, softer substances like alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana are believed to open the door to harder substance abuse like with meth, cocaine, and heroin. Researchers have been exploring the gateway hypothesis since the 1970s.…
Addiction recovery stories are always encouraging to hear. They all share one common trait – no two are alike. Everyone has a different path to recovery. Addiction is a disease – that’s a fact that’s no longer disputed, but taking that first dose, that first hit, was a choice – and that’s all people seem…
The latest developments in addiction treatment It’s no surprise that an enormous amount of time and money continues to flow into research on addiction treatment. With the growing opioid epidemic, the rise in use of fentanyl, everyone understands what’s at stake. While clinical and behavioral studies are important, recovery centers are laser-focused on learning about…
Working While in Recovery: Can it be done? The short answer is – it depends. Since there are different stages of recovery, let’s focus on which stage of recovery is most conducive to working while in recovery. First, let’s quickly cover the stages of recovery: Rehab/Detox – The first step on the recovery journey is…