A disturbing statistic about modern American society is that we incarcerate a greater percentage of our population than any other country in the world. About 2.3 million Americans are in prison, and yet the rate of crime in the U.S. has dropped. What is happening? Many experts would say it is the war on drugs …
No one, it seems, wants to go to rehab. It is a necessity for many addicts, but not a choice that is easy to make. And it isn’t easy to follow through with that choice and go. One of the most important factors holding many people back from going to rehab is fear. Not all …
It’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 …
Computer-Based Behavioral Therapy Shows Promise for Addiction Treatment Read More »
By Edie Weinstein, MSW If you or someone you know is considering treatment for addiction, it may be because you or the person is faced with the undeniable evidence that, as a result of substance abuse or another behavioral addiction, your life or theirs has become unmanageable in one or more ways. Or you or …
Twelve-step programs are support or mutual-help groups designed, in part, to help people recovering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol achieve and maintain substance abstinence. For Americans affected by alcoholism and alcohol abuse (alcohol use disorder), participation in these programs is the most common step taken toward outside assistance. Some health professionals worry that …
When patients fill out an information sheet at a doctor’s office, they are typically asked if they ever had a problem with drugs or alcohol. If you answer “yes,” you probably hope or expect that the doctor will be knowledgeable about the disease of addiction.
Health-related quality of life is a measurement that doctors and public health officials use to define each person’s ability to enjoy a productive, satisfying day-to-day lifestyle. People affected by alcoholism, one of two related conditions known together as alcohol use disorder, typically experience a substantial decline in this measurement. In a study published in May/June …
Study Calculates Life Improvement After Alcoholism Treatment Read More »
It can be a painful journey to the moment when a person is ready to seek help in overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction. Usually there has been a time when the person attempted to hide the addiction. Then there is often a period when substance abuse causes great turmoil within the family. By the …
Why Holistic Treatment Should be Considered When Choosing a Rehab Facility Read More »
It is often said that admitting there’s a problem and seeking help are the first and most difficult steps on the journey toward addiction recovery. Getting past denial and asking for help certainly are challenging, and no addict will get better without taking these steps. However, studies and surveys show that additional challenges are in …
Job loss is stressful, and the recent recession has caused a substantial increase in unemployment across the country. Anyone who has been fired or laid off understands how the strain and uncertainty can throw a wrench into one’s emotional well-being. Periods of unemployment – particularly lengthy ones – often elicit feelings of anxiety, frustration and …