3 Holistic Practices That Aid Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinJune 12, 2014When you have a goal in mind, understanding what will help you achieve that goal is imperative. For example, cutting down on calories is one way to lose weight. But adding exercise to the game plan can help a person reach a weight loss goal more quickly, and seeing progress is highly motivating. The more…
Are There Really Type A and Type B Alcoholics? Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinJune 11, 2014Addiction specialists and researchers know that alcoholism does not manifest in the same way in all affected individuals. In the 1990s, a researcher named Thomas F. Babor proposed a classification system that divides alcoholics into two main groups, known as Type A alcoholics and Type B alcoholics, based on several underlying criteria. In a study…
Supporting Dad’s Recovery Best Father’s Day Gift RecoveryBy Promises AustinJune 11, 2014 It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, but a partnership of two committed parents can go a long way toward smoothing out the inevitable bumps in the road. But when one parent has struggled with addiction, those bumps can seem pretty difficult to navigate and can create a legacy of…
Going to Jail to Get Sober: A Desperate Choice Staying SoberBy Promises AustinJune 9, 2014Most people who end up in court and in front of a judge for drug offenses are addicted. The disease of addiction causes many people to make choices they wouldn’t have otherwise, to commit crimes in order to get money to feed their habit. Many also end up getting into trouble simply for possessing an…
When and How to Plan an Intervention For Your Addicted Loved One Family ResourcesBy Promises AustinJune 4, 2014When someone is trapped in addiction every facet of their life is affected. It’s hard to watch the life of someone you love come unraveled piece by piece. Family members often start out by trying to ignore the problem and simply love the person back into health. When that fails, they may confront the addict…
The Risk for Children When Parents Abuse Substances Family ResourcesBy Promises AustinJune 2, 2014Ideally, every child would be born into a family with two loving and healthy parents. In less than ideal cases children are born into homes where one or both parents are abusing substances, which means these kids are at greater risk for being abused, neglected or otherwise impaired. For children to thrive and succeed a…
Chronic Meth Use Damages Brain Structures, Impairs Mental Flexibility MethBy Promises AustinMay 23, 2014Methamphetamine is a synthetically manufactured stimulant known for its ability to profoundly alter the brain’s chemical environment and foster both drug abuse and drug addiction. Some of the brain changes found in users of the drug may appear before problems with abuse and addiction begin, while others may stem from the direct impact of chronic…
Binge Drinking Reduces Impulse Control, Increases Risky Sex Behavior Binge DrinkingBy Promises AustinMay 22, 2014Binge drinking is a common form of problematic alcohol consumption in the U.S., especially among young adults. Public health officials are well aware that people who engage in this practice have significantly increased chances of participating in risky, unplanned sexual conduct. In a study published in April 2014 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental…
Who Is Most At Risk for Opioid Abuse? Prescription DrugsBy Promises AustinMay 21, 2014Opioid use disorder is the official American Psychiatric Association term for all diagnosable cases of addiction to an opioid drug or medication, as well as all diagnosable cases of a non-addicted, destructive pattern of opioid drug or medication abuse. In any given year, some of the people who legitimately hold a prescription for an opioid…
Even Sporadic Exercise Helps Reduce Meth Use MethBy Promises AustinMay 20, 2014Addiction specialists and researchers know that exercise can potentially improve the outcomes of people recovering from an addiction to a substance of abuse. However, past results have indicated that the recovery-related benefits of exercise tend to appear only in people who participate in physical activity on a regular basis. In a study presented in April…