The Associated Press Updates Its Stylebook to Address Addiction as a Disease Addiction will soon be discussed in a new way in newspapers, magazines and other publications, thanks to key updates the Associated Press made in June 2017 to the latest edition of its influential “AP Stylebook” — the reference guide used by news reporting …
AP Gives Important New Guidelines for Discussing Addiction Read More »
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug that can be snorted, smoked or injected. It causes an intense high that doesn’t last very long, triggering an intense compulsion to obtain another dose. If you use cocaine habitually, you will find that as time passes it takes a higher dose to attain the same effect. This …
What Happens to Your Body When You Overdose on Cocaine? Read More »
Denial and resistance to change is one of the insidious hallmarks of addiction. It’s not uncommon for addicted individuals to resist getting help and to reject the notion that they need help. You may have heard the phrase, “I’m not going to rehab,” countless times because your loved one truly believes they do not have …
5 Common Objections to Rehab: Excuses for Not Going Read More »
By Kenneth England, MFT, Primary Therapist, Malibu Promises Many people grow up with underlying pain, fear, or shame that becomes a looming influence in their lives. It hurts and makes them behave in a certain way, but they may not even know what is eating them up inside. If left unresolved, these feelings can become …
The concept of codependency was initially used to define behaviors and relationships in family members of drug abusers and alcoholics. Similar patterns have been seen in family relationships involving chronically or mentally ill individuals. At one time, debates ignited about whether codependency was a dysfunctional relationship or a personality problem. Eventually, some studies contradicted the …
Drinking too much alcohol can take a serious toll on your health. There are widely documented side effects on the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system. There’s also an increased risk of cancer throughout the body.1 Multiple studies have investigated the long-term effects of alcohol on the digestive system. However, this topic has not …
9 Chilling Effects of Alcohol on the Digestive System Read More »
When you think about the mental after-effects of alcohol, most likely you think of drowsiness, headaches and a general sense of regret. In other words, you think of a hangover. If you’ve ever experienced a wicked hangover, you’re not alone. No doubt, the first hangover occurred soon after prehistoric humans discovered the delightful nectar of …
The Mental Effects of Alcohol: A Hangover Worse Than Imagined Read More »
You’ve made the important decision to enter inpatient rehab and understandably have questions and concerns. Addiction has been a long road full of angst, bouts of depression, health problems and a host of personal problems, but it’s familiar. For first-time clients, rehab represents uncharted territory, so it’s natural to feel some trepidation, not to mention …
By Nathan Falde The practice of dabbing, which involves the inhalation of marijuana vapors in a highly concentrated form, is revolutionizing the concept of marijuana intoxication. While smoking pot in the traditional way delivers a relatively mild high, dabbing is catching on because it does precisely the opposite. The ABCs of Dabbing When marijuana plants …
Dabbing Is Here and Marijuana Culture May Never Be the Same Read More »
By Jody Trager, PhD, Program Director at Promises Malibu Vista One of the greatest gifts of this world is nature. But with so much focus on working indoors and living in cities, there is a disconnection from this great source of beauty and grounding. Humans were meant to dwell in natural environments and separations from …
4 Ways Greenery and Nature Can Ease Anxiety and Depression Read More »