You often hear of people who are suffering from mental trauma or physical trauma that turn to substance use as a method of self-medication. If a loved one is increasingly “self-medicating” at what point have they lost control and now have a substance abuse disorder. Self-medication doesn’t always have to
Although no two people have the same journey to recovery, there are proven programs that have successfully assisted millions of people with overcoming their addictions, one of which is the 12-step program. Understanding what 12-step programs entail and how they benefit those involved will help those suffering from addiction (and
There are many different perspectives regarding the use of marijuana and its harmfulness, and some even may question its addictive ability. However, it’s very possible to become addicted to marijuana regardless of various beliefs. Studies show that marijuana is responsible for 17 percent of patients in rehabilitation centers throughout the
Alcohol affects people both as a sedative and as a stimulant. Depending on such factors as the makeup of one’s body chemistry and how much one has drunk, one’s response to alcohol can vary. Those who have an alcohol use disorder tend to experience more severe and intense reactions when
Crime directly affects the public. It exists in many forms in schools, through domestic violence, and theft. A strong majority of crime, an estimated 80 percent of those that take place in the state of Tennessee, have a drug connection. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), there are
The tremendous downside to chronic alcohol abuse includes many negative lifestyle outcomes such as the breakdown of one’s body and mind, otherwise called “wet brain.” Wet brain is a term that describes Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome which occurs when the body has a severe thiamine deficiency. Those that engage in heavy drinking
When we have been prescribed a drug for a disease or a disorder, we will likely trust our prescribing physician. After all, they have the education to support what they are prescribing to be the correct substance as well as good, honest reasons as to why they are prescribing it.
What is addiction? Is it a personal choice? Maybe a weakness? Addiction has been classified and defined as a disease. There has been plenty of research into the pathways that lead to addiction and the way that it persists in one’s life. While there is still much more to be
Often, we push away loved ones during our active addiction. Recovery is a lifelong process. Even if we were lucky enough to be able to make amends and keep our previous friends and family in our lives, we still need sober networks that can guide us throughout our recovery. The
Entering rehabilitation can be an intimidating process for many, but a commendable one for those who recognize they have a problem and need help. There are several misconceptions about rehabilitation programs that often lead those in need to believe that it may not be a place for them. These myths
