Cocaine Adulteration and Risks for Dangerous Infection CocaineBy Promises AustinOctober 13, 2014Manufacturers of the illegal street drug cocaine commonly cheapen or adulterate their products with other substances in order to save money and make their drug supplies go farther. Since roughly 2003, one of the substances most frequently added to cocaine has been levamisole, a medication banned from human use in the United States. Cocaine users…
Healing Complex Trauma for Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinOctober 8, 2014A young woman with self-described ‘commitment phobia’ turns to substances to numb the pain of a troubled childhood. A young woman drives into therapy. Aamori complains to her therapist that all of her relationships end just after the one-year mark, just as things begin to get serious. The reason, she explains, is that she gets…
When Does Exercise Become an Addiction? Other AddictionsBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2014Exercise should be a part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise helps you to control your weight and reduce your risk of developing certain diseases and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It helps improve your mood, gives you energy, helps you sleep and just makes you feel good in general. One of…
Addiction, Happiness, and Retraining the Brain Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2014By Jeanene Swanson When it comes to addiction recovery, maintaining sobriety is a balancing act of grit, perseverance and hope. While these things aren’t easy to come by, they can all be achieved through a process of retraining the brain. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself. In addiction, more than one area of…
Rave Parties and the Abuse of Club Drugs Drug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinSeptember 27, 2014Once found primarily in large metropolitan areas, rave parties are making their way into more rural settings. Increasingly, parents need to understand what is meant by the term and what happens at the parties once kids get there. A rave is a techno party where the music, strobe lighting and partying last into the wee…
Family History of Bipolar Disorder May Make the Illness More Severe BipolarBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2014Parents can pass along physical characteristics and even mannerisms to their offspring. Unfortunately, they can also pass along genes for illnesses like diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Researchers recently investigated how family history impacts bipolar disorder. Through the STEP-BP (Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder) study researchers found that a family history of mania…
6 Reasons Synthetic Marijuana Is More Toxic Than Pot MarijuanaBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2014Synthetic marijuana is one of the best-known “designer drugs” on the market, and despite legal efforts to curb its use, it’s still a big public health problem. The dirty secret about synthetic marijuana (otherwise known as Spice, K2, Yucatan Fire, JWH-018 and other names) is that it’s nothing like marijuana. With symptoms ranging from agitation…
Computer-Based Behavioral Therapy Shows Promise for Addiction Treatment Addiction TreatmentBy Promises AustinSeptember 23, 2014It’s a sad fact that many people in need of substance abuse treatment do not receive it. However, the Affordable Care Act is expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of people receiving treatment for substance abuse disorders, and a new piece of research has potentially found a useful tool for meeting…
Do Addicted Parents Always Raise Addicted Children? Family ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 23, 2014Active drug addicts are compelled to continue to use drugs no matter what. That means they will sacrifice many things to their addiction, including hopes, dreams, career goals and loved ones. In most cases, anything that gets in the way of their next high has to go, and very often that includes being good parents…
Lack of Impulse Control Blamed for Many Addictions Drug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinSeptember 20, 2014Impulse control is one of core abilities of the fully developed human brain. Lack of this control in adulthood is linked to a range of mental health concerns, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), personality disorders, certain forms of bipolar disorder and diagnosable problems with substance abuse/substance addiction. In a study scheduled for publication in 2014…
