Helper’s High: How Doing Good Can Make You Feel GoodPersonal ResourcesBy PromisesOctober 18, 2014By Edie Weinstein, LSW @EdieWeinstein1 “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” — Ann Herbert The term “random acts of kindness” has long been part of the vernacular. For some people, it may take the form of paying the toll for the person behind you on the turnpike. For others, it could… Details
Cocaine Adulteration and Risks for Dangerous InfectionCocaineBy PromisesOctober 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… Details
Healing Complex Trauma for Addiction RecoveryRecoveryBy PromisesOctober 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… Details
Addiction, Happiness, and Retraining the BrainPersonal ResourcesBy PromisesOctober 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… Details
Rave Parties and the Abuse of Club DrugsDrug Addiction InfoBy PromisesSeptember 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… Details
Family History of Bipolar Disorder May Make the Illness More SevereBipolarBy PromisesSeptember 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… Details
6 Reasons Synthetic Marijuana Is More Toxic Than PotMarijuanaBy PromisesSeptember 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… Details
Do Addicted Parents Always Raise Addicted Children?Family ResourcesBy PromisesSeptember 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… Details
Lack of Impulse Control Blamed for Many AddictionsDrug Addiction InfoBy PromisesSeptember 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… Details
What’s Wrong With Calling Someone an Addict?Drug Addiction InfoBy PromisesSeptember 20, 2014In recent years, the terms “addict” and “alcoholic” have been gradually falling out of favor as ways to refer to people with substance use disorders. Many people have begun to publicly advocate against these terms, including the current acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli. Those who want… Details
