Drug Addiction

The Journey to Recovery: How You May Feel When Deciding to Enter Treatment for Addiction

It started one Friday night with friends, having fun and cutting loose.  Over time, the fun turns to a feeling of hopelessness, as you become devoted to feeding your addiction. Making the decision to enter treatment for addiction is an incredibly courageous and life-altering choice. It’s a momentous step on the path to recovery, one …

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The Effects of Alcohol on The Brain: What You Probably Don’t Know

Drinking alcohol is widely accepted in society today.  It is often a big part of holiday gatherings and celebrations. Over the last 40 years, scientists have begun to study the effects of alcohol on the brain and overall health. This knowledge is slowly becoming more accepted within our society and behavioral changes can be seen …

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If you knew then what you know now; when parents face their adult child’s addiction and the actions taken before it was too late

Wake up parents you may be missing the signs of substance abuse Raising children is full of both joy and challenges. They do not come with an easy-to-read manual.  As parents, we love and cherish our innocent babies and watch them change and come into their own as they grow.  They are also products of …

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Detox, what’s it like, and what to expect if your body and mind are dependent on alcohol?

Drinking is socially acceptable and readily available; it is everywhere and the first thing you’re offered when greeted by the absolute best party host. If it is a problem, alcohol’s accessibility makes abstinence a challenge. Approximately 6.2% of Americans aged 18 years old and older meet the clinical criteria for alcohol use disorder. When most …

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Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, try these 12 strategic tips to stay sober this holiday season!

The holidays are ripe with stress and unrealistic expectations;  it’s important to protect yourself from relapse during the holiday when the alcohol, excitement, and emotions flow more readily than usual. Those that have been in recovery from substance use disorder for a while, you’ve experienced the joy and inner freedom of being clean and sober. …

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Alcohol consumption has both physical benefits and drawbacks to the body.

Once alcohol enters your system, there are immediate physiological changes in your organs including the brain, heart, and liver which can lead to long-term health complications. Here are some little and well-known facts about your favorite cocktails, liquors, beers, and wines. The alcohol we consume in our beverages is ethanol, the only form of alcohol you can drink …

Alcohol consumption has both physical benefits and drawbacks to the body. Read More »

Knowing these critical facts about drugs and alcohol could be a game-changer Alcohol consumption has both physical and emotional drawbacks to the body. Once alcohol enters your system, there are immediate physiological changes among your organs including the brain, heart, and liver which can lead to long-term health complications. Here are some little and well-known …

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Op-ed: Red flags that your coworker has fallen prey to addiction during the pandemic

PUBLISHED WED, SEP 9 20209:28 AM ED Rachel Graham CEO, and John Edmonson, director of wellness, Healing Springs Ranch KEY POINTS Drug and alcohol addiction in the workplace has risen since the pandemic began. The American Medical Association reported that as of August, more than 40 states reported a rise in opioid-related deaths, along with …

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Did you know? Human Connection just might be the Opposite of Addiction

If the human connection is the opposite of addiction, can there be addiction where there is a connection? In a 2015 TED Talk entitled “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong,” British journalist Johann Hari talks about the underlying causes of addiction, concluding that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s the …

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How Do I Know if I have an Addiction?

As a clinician, I am often asked how addiction is determined. From a clinical standpoint, addiction can be diagnosed using a set of criteria. One of the most common and widely used diagnoses tools in the United States is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). The DSM is developed through the American Psychological Association (APA). …

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