Researchers have found that about half of the variation in how likely we are to become addicted is based on our genetics. For those who have never experienced addiction first hand, it can be easy to blame it on a lack of willpower. If addicts can see the damage they are doing to themselves and
The old one-armed bandit style slot machines live on in our collective memories. But it is the electronic versions of these sly heist-meisters that have been taking the gambling industry to new and unprecedented heights. These modern contraptions are really more video game than mechanical device, and they can eat away bank accounts at a
Prescription drug abuse always has the potential to cause physical and emotional harm to an addict and his or her loved ones. This type of substance abuse is serious enough that it often requires professional addiction treatment in order to recover. However, when the addict is a pregnant woman, the risk of harm extends to
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the Surgeon General’s landmark Report on Smoking and Health, credited with helping to cut the number of U.S. smokers in half. But will the battle ever reach an endgame?
The process of recovery from addiction presents many challenges, but one of the most significant is overcoming the psychological grasp of “triggers” or “cues” to use drugs. Relapse is a daily reality in treatment centers, and one of the main reasons it’s so common is that triggers and cues to use exert a very real
Breaking the Cycle of Triggers, Relapse and Addiction Read More »
Getting sober can be a life’s work—it may seem like a monumental effort, sometimes overwhelming. Right when you think you’ve got a foothold, something always goes wrong—something outside of you, beyond your control, that sucks you in and demands that you face and deal with situations and people that push you to your absolute limit.
Don’t Let Family Dynamics Threaten Your Recovery Read More »
By now, the tinsel and streamers from New Year’s Eve celebrations have been swept away, party attire carefully put back into garment bags and closets, and it’s back to work and time to get serious about recovery goals. Faced with 12 months ahead and a list of resolutions you have no idea how to tackle,
Heroin is a dangerous drug that wreaks havocs on the lives of those who use it. It is highly addictive, easy to overdose on, increases the risk of contracting contagious diseases like HIV, and, like other types of drugs, can destroy relationships and lives.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) is a medication designed to treat the symptoms of psychosis in people affected by schizophrenia, as well as the symptoms associated with depression and bipolar disorder. Previous studies have also indicated that the medication may have usefulness in the treatment of certain disorders related to substance abuse, including a condition called cannabis withdrawal.
Can the Antipsychotic Quetiapine Ease the Effects of Cannabis Withdrawal? Read More »
Binge drinking is a dangerous, damaging pattern of short-term alcohol consumption that occurs frequently among people above and below the legal age for alcohol intake. Individuals who follow this pattern of consumption significantly increase their risks for a whole host of serious health problems. According to the results of two recent studies conducted on both