Thanks to a growing body of research, addiction is now understood as an acquired disease of the brain. But it’s a finding that many still have trouble wrapping their minds around. To those on the outside of the illness, addiction seems pretty straightforward: A person indulges too much in a substance that boosts their mood and …
New research into mental health may explain why the 12-step model for treatment first developed in the 1930s by Alcoholics Anonymous still helps many people find sobriety from drug and alcohol addiction. Studies show, after all, that recovering addicts in 12-step groups are significantly less likely to relapse: those who attend 12-step groups are twice …
New Mental Health Finding May Unlock the Secret to 12-Step Success Read More »
Recent findings from a Canadian and American research group indicate that certain traits possibly linked to the onset of borderline personality disorder run within family bloodlines. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is officially defined by the presence of at least five out of nine verified symptoms. However, people with the disorder may also share traits not …
You may think that your drug abuse only affects you, and you wouldn’t be alone. Many drug abusers use this as an excuse not to stop or not to make positive changes. You claim that what you’re doing harms no one else, so it’s no big deal that you’re abusing flexeril that you were prescribed …
How Your Substance Abuse Is Affecting Your Partner Read More »
How do you get someone into rehab? You’re not the first person stumped by this question.When a loved one is in the grips of addiction, family and friends often find themselves stuck in a cycle of fear, panic, anger and despair. Desperate for the addict to change, loved ones may try a myriad of …
How NOT to Get Someone Into Rehab–Are You Doing This? Read More »
As the baby boomer generation reaches old age, their drug problems are staying with them, with substance abuse among the elderly becoming an increasingly common concern. When it comes to seniors, the focus is typically on alcohol, prescription drugs, caffeine and nicotine, missing the deceptively common problems with illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana. …
Illicit Drug Use Among the Elderly Widespread, Overlooked Read More »
Most of us know “DUI” stands for “driving under the influence.” But the acronym has another meaning, one with consequences that rival the damage done when one gets behind the wheel impaired. Although dating under the influence doesn’t cause motor vehicle accidents, it certainly can run your personal life off the road. One study suggests …
Groundbreaking research by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) scientists regarding how the brain learns quickly—a process called “one-shot learning”—has turned up insights that may help further explain addiction and dual diagnoses and how treatment can help. “One-shot learning,” as opposed to more gradual, incremental learning over time, happens when we immediately associate a specific stimulus …
Addiction May Be as Simple as ‘One-Shot Learning’ Gone Terribly Awry Read More »
Glance at the magazines in any supermarket checkout line, and it can sometimes seem as though every celebrity is struggling with drugs or alcohol. In reality, addiction is just as likely to touch the lives of the ordinary as it is the famous. The only difference is the famous are sure to have a global …
What 11 Now-Sober Celebrities Want You to Know About Addiction Read More »
Does it seem like the same thing keeps happening to you in all your relationships? Does your heart get repeatedly broken? When you are a love addict, your relationship is almost always the most important thing in your life. When it’s good, it feels really good. But frequently your relationships are unfulfilling, disappointing and maybe …
You Can Break Free From the Self-Destructive Dance of Love Addiction Read More »