When a person suffers from substance abuse and addiction, the actions of the addict place immense strain on personal relationships. Eventually, it starts to take a serious toll not only on the addict, but on family members, too. While relationship and communication problems within a family are sometimes the root of addiction, eventually, the addict…
For decades, scientists have studied the link between genetics and addiction. They were searching for a simple answer to one question: Is addiction genetic or not? This is often referred to as the “nurture vs nature” debate. The question seems simple, but the answers they found were anything but simple. Some of this ambiguity stems…
What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking? Although there isn’t much in the way of research as to what happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol, recent studies showed surprising results. In a study performed by Professor Moore and the Royal Free team, the team looked at the effects of a…
We Explore the Most Commonly Abused Medications and Examine Treatment Since addiction often begins with a legitimate prescription, we look at the most commonly abused medications and how to find treatment. We’ve all heard the term “gateway drugs,” but what we’re really talking about here is more of the path toward addiction. Each of these…
The Effectiveness of Drug Education Programs Over the years, we’ve been led to believe that drug education programs are good for young people, but are they? We look at the effectiveness of this practice. D.A.R.E. As far back as many of us can remember, the DARE program was at the forefront of drug education programs.…
The Stages of Addiction The use of alcohol and other drugs is a topic that has been studied by many experts over many, many decades in an effort to identify the stages of addiction. Over the years, some clear patterns have emerged and while the individual’s level of use and the dysfunction experienced as a…
How To Support a Friend During Recovery One of the most asked questions we get from friends of addicts is how to support a friend during recovery. It’s only natural to want to be helpful and supportive, but you may feel at a loss as to what can be done. Here are a few different options…
It’s always a challenge to talk to someone you love about getting treatment for their addiction. Here are some things to help ensure the greatest chance of success. When someone you love has a drug problem and there are clear signs and symptoms of an addiction, the next step is talking to them about treatment.…
You want to graduate, but don’t feel motivated to go to school. After all, you’re still in recovery and you want to focus on that. There’s all sorts of excuses a person can come up with, but the truth of the matter is that part of your recovery means changing yourself for the better. Getting…
Advice for Families of Drug Addicts When a child becomes addicted to alcohol or drugs, parents often feel helpless. The pain is profound and the frustration mounts over time. Parents worry about the consequences to their child’s health, the impact on their personal relationships, their schooling or their jobs. As the addiction escalates, addiction can…