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Drug and Substance Abuse Articles
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- 10 Benefits of Quitting Marijuana - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Sean BurrowsI'm not at all shy to admit I was a regular pot smoker for over 7 years of my life. I smoked almost everyday because I enjoyed it. It was something that eased my mind and gave me a sense of relaxation. Over time however, I began to see that everything I thought I enjoyed about it was only an ...
Views: 37297(5 votes) - Tips to Stop Enabling - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2009 from Beverley GlazerThere are very fuzzy boundaries between helping and enabling. If you’re enabling, you think that you’re helping, but what you’re doing is anything but helpful. Here's some information so that you don't confuse the two. Helping When you help someone you are doing something that they cannot ...
Views: 15641(4 votes) - A Relapse Prevention Tool - Emotional Cues for Cravings in Relapse Worksheet - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWe experience sensory, emotional/psychological, cognitive, environmental, and physical cues on a daily basis in early recovery. These cues or triggers, if left unchecked can turn into powerful cravings for the chemical. Cravings can lead to relapse. In order to avoid relapse it is crucial that ...
Views: 13957(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Cross Addiction Worksheet - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2010 from Peggy FergusonMany recovering people who begin the process of becoming clean and sober, harbor the notion that they can continue to hang on to some remnants of an old drinking/using lifestyle. They often initially believe that specific drugs are The Problem. Initially alcoholics/addicts may not consider use ...
Views: 13551(4 votes) - What psychological and physical problems develop after stopping opiates? - by Submitted on Oct 20, 2010 from Dr. Mark AgrestiLet’s look at the opiates first. An opiate is a narcotic pain killer like Roxycodone, Oxycodone, Loratabs, Loracet, Methadone, Vicodin, Actiq, and Stadol. The action of these drugs may last varying amounts of time and has varying doses. For example, some people can be on 100mg a day of Oxycontin ...
Views: 12516(2 votes) - Purple Drink, Cough Syrup Abuse - What "Syrup" Does to Your Body - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from ChooseHelp.com Addiction TreatmentPurple Drink Promethazine and Codeine containing cough syrup abuse has become popular in certain circles, especially in Houston and the South. Mixed with soft drinks and soda, it is drank and taken in high doses creating a euphoric effect that can "slow" people down. This relatively new ...
Views: 11626(2 votes) - How to Stop Enabling Behavior - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2011 from Beverley GlazerWhere is the line between support and enabling? Support means you’re doing something because someone can’t do for themselves -- caring for a two-year-old, or preparing meals for your elderly grandmother, for instance. Enabling is giving assistance that makes it easier for someone to ...
Views: 11432(2 votes) - Addiction Recovery Worksheet For Identifying Healthy Replacements for the Alcohol and Drugs - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2010 from Peggy FergusonOne of the most important tasks of early recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction is learning to replace the chemical with health living skills. When you have taken the chemical out of your life, it leaves a big gaping hole, where something of substance was. Alcohol or other drugs have ...
Views: 11104(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Social and Environmental Triggers Worksheet - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonAssociations between particular feelings, people, places, and events becomes intertwined with the alcoholic or addicts drinking and drugging behavior. When alcoholics and addicts find their way to recovery, the old associations between the drinking and drugging and the old feeling, people, ...
Views: 10513(2 votes) - Was Freud A Depraved, Drug Addicted Deviate? - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2008 from John SmethersWas Sigmund Freud a twisted, deranged, sexual pervert with no evidence to support his theories? Or was he a competent physician, an effective theorist, and a creative professional exploring and developing new concepts? The answer to these questions is yes. He was a competent physician and ...
Views: 10233 - The Health Benefits of Giving Up Alcohol - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2011 from Mike MillerOften when I teach alcohol awareness classes clients query me , "Is drinking really that bad for me?" This article will talk about some of the main physical benefits of abstaining from alcohol, and then will discuss the mental and psychological advantages of ...
Views: 9768(4 votes) - Definition: Substance Abuse - by Submitted on Apr 25, 2008 from Shelly WalkerSubstance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health, or the welfare of others. The disorder is characterized by a pattern of continued pathological use of a medication, ...
Views: 9134 - Are there any Prescription Drugs that will Block the Cravings of Alcohol? - by Submitted on Oct 20, 2010 from Dr. Mark AgrestiIt’s the Holy Grail in the world of addiction to find drugs that will block the craving for alcohol. There are three medications on the market that have been studied and show some benefits. Pros and Cons of Drug Used for Alcohol Dependency or to Block Craving Campral, also known as ...
Views: 9069(1 vote) - Quitting Pot: 16 Steps to Help You Quit and Stay Quit - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonOk, so you have decided that your life needs a little help and to accomplish this, you have decided to quit smoking pot. You have flushed or given away your stash. You have gotten rid of the paraphernalia. It has been a couple of days since you smoked pot and you're feeling cranky. You are not ...
Views: 8206(3 votes) - Working Through Feelings in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonOne of the most important tasks necessary for maintaining abstinence and growing in recovery is learning how to appropriately work through feelings. Many people use alcohol and other drugs in place of dealing with or managing emotions. Alcoholism/drug addiction often involves skill deficits. ...
Views: 8101(1 vote) - Addiction, Self-Harm, and Eating Disorders from a Metaphysical Perspective - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2009 from Kristen FinlaysonAs a licensed therapist I worked with many individuals who presented with significant self-destructive behaviors. In therapy, depending on the presenting difficulty, we addressed the reasons why the client engaged in those behaviors. Taking uppers for Depression, downers for Anxiety, cutting to ...
Views: 7577(5 votes) - Guide to Eliminating Deception and Dishonesty - How to Get Real in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonMany people, while active in addiction, engage in deceptive, dishonest behavior, and diversionary tactics. These are part and parcel of addiction and the need to keep the extent of their problem hidden. It is difficult to juggle all the demands of being addicted with all the "normal" demands of ...
Views: 7164(2 votes) - Life Through the Eyes of a High-Functioning Addict - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2012 from Dr. David SackIt is widely understood in the treatment field that addiction is a chronic brain disease, but it takes time for the associated stereotypes and stigma to fade. A common misconception is that all addicts are tragically flawed individuals who can’t hold down a job or support their families. ...
Views: 6947(1 vote) - Two Essential Questions for Men in Recovery - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2011 from Dan GriffinIt goes without saying that choosing to enter treatment or a Twelve Step program presents a unique set of challenges. One that many people do not anticipate is the experience of entering a culture in which people communicate. For men especially, this can be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable ...
Views: 6920(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Do You Need Detox After Relapse? - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhile most people realize that relapse is a common experience for addicts in recovery, they often do not know how to get back on track after relapsing on alcohol or other mood altering drugs. Although relapse is commonplace, it is predictable, and thus preventable. For many recovering ...
Views: 6369(3 votes) - Prison - A Self-Perpetuating System Of Recidivism - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from John SmethersThe roots of the word prison comes from prisune from before 1112, which means confinement. Prisune was influence by pris, which means taken or seized. From Latin prehenso--to lay hold of, clutch at. Prysner--one kept in prison: probably 1350-75. Is prison a deterrent to crime? Judging by the ...
Views: 6332 - ***Holistic Addiction Treatment offers a healing pathway to sustainable recovery - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2015 from Dean TaraborelliExperiencing a traumatic life event can often leave us feeling both mentally and spiritually debilitated. We are often unable to clearly see the road to recovery. Instead, we may find ourselves looking inside the hole of a deep abyss of bottomless pain. Somewhere along the way, we chose to ...
Views: 5926(1 vote) - ***Non-12 Step Recovery - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2015 from Dean TaraborelliSince the 1930’s 12 step recovery programs have become the preferred method to treat alcoholism, drug abuse, co-dependence, or other addictive behaviors. 12 step recovery programs are deeply rooted within the belief that addicts are powerless over their addiction and the key to sobriety is ...
Views: 5842(1 vote) - How To Quit Drinking - Alcohol - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2008 from Peter samsCommit yourself to permanent abstinence from alcohol. You do not need alcohol to survive. The human brain is much smarter than the booze brain, which doesn't understand that you can live without alcohol. You can outsmart your booze brain by learning to think of it as something other than ...
Views: 5629 - How to Get Your Troubled Teen Back on Track - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2012 from Ken RabowWhy are so many young people willing to self-sabotage every aspect of their potential future? Not participating in class, not doing the required studying, staying up late, sleeping most of the day away and missing more and more school. For quite a few, video gaming and/or substance abuse is ...
Views: 5614(4 votes) - Heartbreak - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2010 from Margaret PaulCeline, an only child, was 7 years old, her mother died tragically in a car accident. She and her father were devastated. However, unlike so many of my clients who lost parents and no one was there for them, Celine's father was completely there for her, even while dealing with his own grief and ...
Views: 5582(4 votes) - Tactics Used by Addicted People to Avoid Accountability 1 - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2010 from Tim GrayThere are many ways people with addictions avoid accountability. Here is the first of several articles discussing these tactics. These tactics are what addicts and alcoholics use to to take the focus off them and continue doing what their addiction wants them to do. These tactics are used by ...
Views: 5516(2 votes) - The "Rock Bottom" Myth - Learn How to Raise the Bottom - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Joe HerzanekYeah, when he hits bottom he'll be ready. A user has to hit bottom before he will change. Sooner or later she will hit bottom. Then she'll be ready to get some help. Raise the Bottom. This whole idea of "hitting bottom" is out of date. Some people will wait years-even decades-for their ...
Views: 5278(4 votes) - Cross Addiction and Relapse - Examples and Relationships - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonCross addiction is one of the leading causes of relapse in early recovery. Cross-addiction involves being addicted to all mood altering drugs. The following are illustrations of cross addiction. 1. Some people become cross-addicted in their efforts to camouflage their addiction. ...
Views: 4751(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Drinking or Using Dreams as a Normal Part of Recovery - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhen you have a drinking or using dream, you may wake up not really knowing if it actually happened. Many people in early recovery find it disturbing and frightening when they experience a "using" dream. Drinking and using dreams are those dreams where the central theme or experience is about ...
Views: 4746(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Emotional Highs and Lows of Early Recovery - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhen someone makes a decision to get the help that they need to quit drinking and using other drugs, everything begins to change. As an addict’s body begins to detox and as she is consciously trying to interrupt the momentum of addicted use of a chemical (including alcohol), she goes through ...
Views: 4731(2 votes) - Life After Drug Rehab - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2008 from Christina BottoDrug abuse among teens is a growing concern. In Troubled Teenagers – Identifying and Dealing with Tough Issues we discuss the signs as well as the reasons why teens abuse drugs and alcohol. As with any disease, early detection increases the chance for a full recovery and a drug and alcohol free ...
Views: 4683 - Family Members Know You are Going to Relapse in Your Addiction Before You Do - Listen Up - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonThe family dynamics of recovery is rarely smooth sailing. Relapse, which is a process, has a tremendously negative effect on significant others. Family members who have labored and struggled to remain with the addict through all the active years of addiction, to assist them in finding their way ...
Views: 4677(1 vote) - Addiction and Recovery: Don't Let Grief Over the Loss of Alcohol Derail Your Transition Into Recovery - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Peggy FergusonOne of the common experiences of the earliest efforts toward quitting drinking and becoming sober, is grief over the loss of the chemical. For many people with an alcohol or other drug problem, the chemical, (whether it is alcohol or oxycodone) has become the addict's best friend and constant ...
Views: 4633(2 votes) - Four Ways We Justify Use - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Tim GrayI am going to share 4 defense mechanisms that are frequently used by people in addiction to justify or substantiate their drug or alcohol use. I’m sure you have heard of some of these—you might have even heard of all of them. I hope to share some insights you may not have considered ...
Views: 4554(3 votes) - ***Make An Informed Decision About the Addiction Recovery Help You Seek - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2016 from Dean TaraborelliAddiction Recovery Programs Take on Many Forms Trying to choose the right addiction recovery program these days can be really confusing. The field has exploded with options. It’s always difficult to know what to do in a time of crisis. It’s also difficult to sort through the overwhelming ...
Views: 4500 - ***Codependent Recovery – Has their addiction become your addiction? - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2015 from Dean TaraborelliMy loved one has only been sober for 1 month. Why aren’t they answering their phone? Did he/she relapse again? Oh no…not again. You call. They don’t answer. You drive by their favorite restaurant; their favorite bar. They aren’t there. You call their friends. No answer. There it ...
Views: 4495(1 vote) - ***Health and Wellness - by Submitted on Jul 07, 2011 from Erin McClellandAddiction, Nutrition And . . . You?? Getting In Touch With Your Inner Addict Addicts are known for their clichés like “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” or “one is too many and 100 is not enough.” But how often do health professionals get to the bottom of the “feeling crappy ...
Views: 4493(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Prevent Relapse By Making Good Choices - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonRelapse is a process that occurs over time, in the context of significant decisions. Many people who relapse say that drinking or using was the furthest thing from their mind just before they consumed the chemical. In reality, most of the time, relapse was in process some time before the ...
Views: 4478(2 votes) - ***Let’s talk about non-consensual sex - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2011 from Erin McClellandIf you are not aware that the topic of non-consensual sex has yet again found its way onto the front page of Pittsburgh’s local news, then perhaps you should stop re-watching the Stanley cup finals on your DVR and check out a newspaper or two. The topic is again, as always, drenched in ...
Views: 4466(2 votes) - ***Orthomolecular Addiction Treatment: A Root Cause Resolution - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2009 from Erin McClellandADDICTION 101 As anyone who has known an addict quickly realizes, no one just wakes up one day with an addiction. Addiction is a biochemical disease that is created over a period of time as one consistently uses substances resulting in increased deterioration of the body. However, once ...
Views: 4456(6 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Preventing Relapse After Surgery - by Submitted on May 19, 2009 from Peggy FergusonYou are ultimately responsible for your own addiction recovery. When you know that you have to have surgery, it is important to keep everyone treating you informed about your recovery and addiction history, including the names of the drugs, the amounts, the lengths of time that you took them, ...
Views: 4438(1 vote) - 5 Ways to Pick Up the Pieces After a DUI - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2017 from Adora CollinsBeing convicted of driving under the influence can completely derail your life. Not only could you have to empty your bank account to cover court fees, fines, legal representation and other costs, but in many states, that DUI may be a black mark on your driving record forever. It may be more ...
Views: 4427 - AT THE END OF YOUR ARM - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2010 from Keith BrayAT THE END OF YOUR ARM The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. --Swedish proverb Every now and again a quote comes to you that is just so obvious but true! There are so many looking for help, looking to others to “fix” them and take responsibility for ...
Views: 4427(1 vote) - Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Abstaining from Alcohol - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Kenneth AndersonWhether you plan to abstain from alcohol for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime, the use cognitive behavioral strategies has been proven to greatly increase your chances of success. Dr. Jeffrey Brandsma's (1980) classic study showed that people who learned cognitive behavioral strategies were ...
Views: 4427(1 vote) - Addiction Recovery: 12 Do's and Don'ts For the Family While the Alcoholic is in Rehab - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2009 from Peggy FergusonYour significant other finally went to rehab. With all the events leading up to his agreeing to go to treatment, it may feel like a let-down. You may have breathed a big sigh of relief as you drove away from the airport or the treatment center after dropping him or her off. You may feel hope. ...
Views: 4412(2 votes) - Is Depression Beating You and Nothing Seems to Help? This May Be the Answer For You... - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2011 from Thomas ReesIf absolutely nothing has been able to break your cycle of depression, and you are becoming hopeless about getting better soon, maybe there is another avenue for you to go. I have spent thousands of hours doing general research on moods and the human brain because I am completely fascinated by ...
Views: 4264(3 votes) - ***Is your brain sabotaging your weight loss? Get it in shape first. - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2011 from Erin McClellandLike so many people, I bet you have a vacation, reunion or wedding to slim up for. And just like every other year, you will map out a diet and exercise plan complete with visualizations of the many jealous onlookers noticing your toned physique as you jog down the beach in a Baywatch montage, ...
Views: 4254(5 votes) - Check List – 9 Things that Lead to Relapse - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Tim GrayRelapse prevention is an ongoing requirement to maintain recovery. Some will say that you will get to a place in recovery where you don’t need to “work at it” anymore—that it becomes automatic. I have known a few people who seemed to put down their drug or behavior of choice—what they were ...
Views: 4219(3 votes) - What Qualities to Look for in a Sponsor - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Tim GrayHere are some qualities to look for in a sponsor. I have set the standard high since this is a very important relationship for you and your recovery. You may not be able to find someone with all the qualities I suggest due to many factors including the size of your town, number of people who ...
Views: 4152(2 votes)