Drug Addiction

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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Lasting Effects of Addiction on Family Members

In the United States, there are an estimated 30-million people affected by addiction, including family members. Research suggests that Substance Use Disorder can permanently impact the nature and quality of family communications. The communication dynamics identified in families where an addiction is present are described as aggressive, protective, adaptive, and inconsistent. The aggressive communication style found in families …

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What Does it Mean to Have Co-Occurring Disorders?

People with Substance Use Disorders, as well as mental health disorders, are diagnosed as having co-occurring disorders. In the past, this was called dual diagnosis. Substance Use Disorder is diagnosed when substance use interferes with functioning at work, school, and in social relationships. It is also diagnosed when substance use creates or worsens a medical condition …

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