Addiction and Recovery Articles

The Life And Death Of Joe Rowley. The funny thing is, I didn’t know Joe that well. He was only an acquaintance really, a drinking acquaintance, not a close friend of mine by any stretch of the imagination. A ship that passed in the drink and drug soaked long dark night of my soul. So why was it that when I heard of his death, six thousand miles away, and more than a sober year or two after our last contact, that I was moved to tears?

Yes. Most experts in the medical and scientific community agree that alcoholism is a disease. The American Medical Association identified alcohol as a physical disease and condition in 1956. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcoholism is like any other disease. It is chronic, symptomatic and has a predictable pattern or course. The chances for developing alcoholism can be influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. Alcoholics experience an o

The false message that alcoholism and drug addictions are incurable diseases has been forced upo Americans for so long that most people stopped believing there is a way out. Many addiction treatment programs and traditional recovery support groups have even resorted to telling addicts they expect them to relapse. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies pay big money in marketing and lobbying to get their drugs prescribed to addicts in hopes of treating the symptoms for a lifetime. Sound grim?

That is the question. When you talk to some people they will tell you it is. Even if you only try it once or twice and don’t get addicted there are some dangers. Did you know? By 1995, less than 10% of Ecstasy that you could get your hands on was pure MDMA. When a user takes Ecstasy they are taking a mix of a wide variety of drugs and often toxic substances. Bottom line: you don’t know what is in that pill. Another danger is that if you are taking Ecstasy then to feel the

When we experience deep loss in life – whether from the death of a loved one or a “death” in some other area of our lives – grief is a natural response, and it looks different for everyone. From outpourings of sadness or anger, to feeling shut down and closed off, to the countless variations in between that we may encounter day by day and month by month, grief is an emotional farewell tour we each must navigate in our own unique way. That said, there are some tools that can help us find our way through it with more grace and ease, and one of the most powerful of these is mindfulness.

The list of illegal drugs is long and the list of people addicted to these drugs is way longer as roughly 38% of American adults battle an illicit drug use, another word for illegal drug use, disorder. Almost all illegal drugs are unregulated substances, including, but not limited to heroin, cocaine and marijuana. But illicit drugs could also encompass prescription drugs that are acquired illegally and chemically compromised, like fentanyl, which is often combined with heroin

Withdrawal is never easy, but it a necessary step on the road to recovery. Once you are sober, you must create new relationships, change your lifestyle and take on new healthy habits to stay sober. Meditation is one thing that you should make a part of your daily routine that can help you manage the constant temptations while you alleviate stress. If you are debating whether or not you would like to learn to meditate, here are some of the ways that meditation can help you sta

Desktop publishing isn't one of those career you would associate with working from home, but is certainly one worth considering, and a career which with a bit of foresight and planning could be made into a highly successful business. Desktop publishing , or DTP was one of the first real killer apps of the pc, along with word processing and spreadsheets. It enabled individuals and companies to produce documents and pamphlets and books that previously had always had to be done, by publishers and specialist companies.

TEEN GAMING ADDICTIONS ON THE RISE IN U.S.rnStudy Finds 10 Percent of Children Addicted to Online and Video Games HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- Parents often joke that their children and teens “Just can’t tear themselves away from their video games.” Studies show parents it’s not a joking matter. About one in 10 children are addicted to video and/or online games, a study from the National Institute on Media and Family found. “Video/online games stimulate the brain’s “reward

It's no secret that our health care system is broken, while insurance costs keep rising, yet a major problem that continues to be overlooked is the addiction treatment system and its deteriorization of success. Gone are the days where people are responsible for their own condition, only to be replaced with "it's not your fault, here's a pill to treat your symptoms". The notion that addiction is an incurable brain disease and that relapse is a part of recovery is driven by people who profit from not getting results, such as ineffective treatments and pharmaceutical companies.

Seduction And Romantic Loven We are seduced into relationships for many reasons, for support and approval, to overcome our feelings of loneliness, fear and insecurity, to explore our passion and sexuality, to feel power and control, to be needed, to have fun, to love and be loved, to have ...

Preparations for Launching the “Stick with the Winners!” Workshops, Meetings, Conferences, Guidebook, Video Series, and Supportive Resources Almost Completed in Readiness for May 14-21 Events in Califo ia By Dick B. International Christian Recovery Coalition A massive amount of learning and preparation have taken place in the last six months. First, we met a group of Mariners Church leaders who seemed eager to put together an "old school" A.A. regular meeting to let the r

Alcoholism and other forms of addiction were once considered to be a problem of morality or weak will. Unfortunately, much of society still holds these archaic views despite increasingly overwhelming evidence that addiction is a complex, multifactorial disease including biological, psychological and sociological elements. From a biological perspective, family, twin and adoption studies demonstrate that addiction has a biogenetic basis that is transmitted within families.

Gestalt Theory states that “Change happens when one becomes who he really is, not when he tries to become what he is not” (Beisser, p. 77, 1970). This principle of change implies that in the process of maturation an individual introjects familial and societal attitudes and beliefs about himself that may eventually interfere with healthy organismic self-regulation. Messages (Gremlins) such as: “You’ll never amount to anything,” “You are just like your father,” â€

This article will be important to remember as you gather this holiday season with the men you know and love. It is not a festive topic, which I would prefer, but it is a topic that has been filling my thoughts as of late. The Penn State scandal weighs heavy on my heart and my being having effects on those around you, or yourself.

With all the various psychological theories that have over time dissolved, the newest addition is making its way to universities and private practices country wide. This upcoming treatment uses Buddhism and yoga as a basis and according to several studies, appears to work. This type of therapy helps to keep patients focused on their bodies and breathing. They are instructed to give no consideration to their thoughts and to be alone in the moment. Stefan Hoffman, who is a psyc

Addiction is a terrible thing. I can guarantee you not one person ever begins to take a substance or drug with the hope that they become addicted. Care to argue? Would you agree that addiction to prescription medication is reaching epidemic proportions? Would you agree that addiction to prescription painkillers is rampant?r

Drug abuse vs. drug dependence. As the neurobiology of addiction has come into clearer focus over time, our ability to separate fact from fiction in the field of drug dependence has grown rapidly. Beliefs that have been common wisdom for years--that anyone who uses cocaine or heroin inevitably ...

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD

As someone who has spent the last 20 years trying to help people recover from alcoholism and other drug addictions, I whole heartedly support the 12 step programs of AA and NA. They are the best and most successful support groups out there for those in recovery. If utilized on a regular basis AA and NA can greatly decrease the chances of relapse and vastly improve the quality of life for the addicted person. In this article however I’d like to discuss some other important things that can be done as well.

How alcoholism effects your health can be quite severe. The health issues associated to alcoholism can range from anemia, to more serious problems like blood clotting, liver poisoning, and heart conditions. Alcoholism increases the risk of cancer in the esophagus, liver, mouth and pancreas. It can cause both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Alcohol can lead to liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. If the alcoholic continues to drink over long periods of time, they

Alcoholism and depression often go hand in hand and there is good reason for this as we will see later. Firstly, though we should take a look at some of the basic depression symptoms: Eating disorder Sleep disturbance Decreased interest and pleasure in one's daily activities Feelings of guilt or worthlessness Low energy, fatigue Difficulty concentrating or thinking It's amazing to see how similar the depression symptoms are when compared to those of alcoholism. When alcohol d

Suboxone Cost vs Addiction Cost Let's face it, it takes a lot of money to pay for addiction treatments. But you really have to look at the true addiction cost: all the problems drug use causes, vs. the Suboxone ® cost. The financial cost of Suboxone ® is high. Frequently the financial burden is carried by the patient alone since many insurance companies do not cover the medication. Many are providing some coverage for the doctor visit. The cost of treatment needs to be weig

Suboxone and methadone addiction is spreading among teens. These drugs are used to help teenagers overcome addictions to opiates like heroin and prescription painkillers like OxyContin, but their use has become controversial. Teens are now obtaining them illegally on the streets, as substitutes for the addictions for which they’re being treated. As with the excessive use of most drugs, it is possible to overdose and even die from methadone and Suboxone misuse. What are methadone and Suboxone?

Many of us grew up with the belief that to worry is to love. Those we love most may be in real trouble, and we realize that there is very little we can do to improve the situation. So we worry because we love. Unfortunately, worrying is really nothing more than the active practice of not taking action. Our fear may lead to depression. When we feel out of control we maintain our depressed moods by telling ourselves that by worrying at least we are doing something.

This is Sal's story.nnIt's about diseases caused by smoking, and if you start this story, read it to the end, but don't start if you're squeamish.nnSal's Dad died angry. And guess what? Most smokers die angry, and Sal said not only was her Dad eaten up by cancer, he was eaten up by vitriol against himself and the tobacco companies.nnBefore Sal's Dad got caught with one of the predictable diseases caused by smoking, his favorite saying was, "I'll give up smoking when I'm ready

Substance abuse is a very complex problem, which is characterized by uncontrolled drug craving, irrational and anti social behavior. Drug abuse for most of the time will have devastating consequences on the mental and physical health of a person. Although substance abuse begins as part of unpaid act but very soon the abuser loses his grip over the situation and becomes completely dependent on it. Since drug abuse can affect brain function, it can create havoc in one’s life.

Inpatient drug rehab facilities across the United States help thousands of addicts achieve lasting sobriety each year. However, a condition called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome – or PAWS – threatens the recoveries of most people who go through inpatient drug rehab. PAWS sets in immediately after the withdrawal of detoxification subsides, and its symptoms often keep patients from effectively engaging their therapies. Thankfully, most clinics now make PAWS mitigation a top

Depression - Your Options: Mindful Therapy: Psychotherapy for the Soul By Sherry Gaba, LCSW n n Introduction n Learning Acceptance Skills n Identifying Negative Thought Patterns and Obsessions n Acceptance and Change Introductio A middle-aged woman is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, ...

I have spent a lot of time thinking about my past. Alte ately feeling sorry for myself or being outraged at the wrongs - real or imagined - that were done to me, a constant theme in my thinking is how much different, better, happier I would be if only I hadn't had these parents, or stepparents, ...

The answer to the question in the title of this article is: “Yes, but with the need to understand the limits of online help.” Definitions The words "alcohol dependence" or "addiction" are often used without definition. So, let's first define some terms. As used in this article, alcohol or drug ...

Some of the old notions about marriage relationships, often stated as wise truths by our grandmothers, are still floating around and are still doing damage. One of my grandmother’s favorites was “Never let the sun set on an argument.” Silly idea number one: never go to bed angry. I swallowed that one at about aged five. Then in my 20s my wife and I would argue half the night rather than go to sleep without settling the issue.

Making the decision to quit drugs and alcohol and get sober was not easy, but the chances of a successful recovery will be increased when you start living a healthy lifestyle which includes not only eating healthy but exercising regularly as well. Something for Everyone! Exercise is movement. The good news is that movement comes in a variety of different forms. Whether you prefer to get your exercise in a leisure or brisk walk, dancing, biking, on skates or in a run – movin

Alcohol is one of the oldest substances to be abused by human beings. It pre-dates writing and the wheel (which we see by the fact that preliterate societies without the wheel had ways of brewing alcoholic beverages). The human fascination with alcohol is thousands of years old. It may not be possible to determine exactly how old, but we can safely assume that we're talking about several millennia (this is in no way meant to be disparaging towards those communities who do not

How come nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch and gum) only has a 7% success rate for quitting smoking? Why do people on nicotine replacement therapy still crave cigarettes? Clearly, there are reasons for smoking that go far beyond simple chemical addiction. This article, based on The ...How come nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch and gum) only has a 7% success rate for quitting smoking? Why do people on nicotine replacement therapy still crave cigarettes? C

For an addict, the process of recovering does not end after completion of treatment. Once he gets rid of the drugs, he may still be suffering from damage caused by them. Treatment also does not do up with financial problems or the legal problems as well, which often come as consequences of addiction. All recovering addicts face problems and challenges in life after the treatment. Tools and techniques learn by an addict during treatment and rehabilitation help an addict to mai

The reality of how much time and thought you give to your family is of course in many ways a unique question that can only be answered by the individual themselves. The reason it is so important is because in a significant number of cases the amount of focus that an individual puts on the family is either determined by someone else or driven by a degree of guilt or expectation that is derived from outside themselves.

Addictive Personalitiesr Part One of a Three Part Article Written by Randi G. Fine How do you envision someone with an addictive personality? Do you picture an alcoholic, someone strung out on drugs, a chain smoker, or a gambler down on his luck? Addictive behaviors are commonly thought of as behaviors that impair a person’s ability to function. Often they do but not all addictive behaviors have that effect. Some addictive behaviors do not negatively influence or impact the

Do you ask yourself the questions, 'what is alcoholism or what is drug addiction really?' because you really want to understand the nature of addiction? So if you are one of those people, hopefully I can help. Now you need to understand that alcoholism and drug addiction can be quite complex to ...

A questio I have been receiving a lot lately is: Is it a good idea for my teen to drink at home under my supervision? The short answer: No. Some parents have come to believe that their teen is better off drinking or even smoking pot at home rather then out driving around with friends.

It can be difficult to admit that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but it truly is the first step to recovery. Once you’ve taken this step, and recognize your addiction and its impact on yourself and others, your new focus should be choosing a strategy to get sober and change your life for the better. It’s likely that you’ll consider inpatient or outpatient rehab during this process.

Many people, when faced with the reality of working from home tend to approach it in quite a manic way, often with quite a high degree of burnout at some point either physical or mental. They may well be able to work with this burnout as they can adapt their home or family life accordingly.r

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD One of the secret causes of stress plaguing millions ofrnpeople is unforgiveness. ï¾Don Colbert MD The woman made her way slowly and painfully across my office and into a chair. Her name was Jaylee. Attractive, in her early forties, mahogany hair pulled back in a low ponytail, obviously in great discomfort. As she began her story, silent tears coursed down her face and fell onto hands clasped tightly in her lap, hands that were beginning to show signs of arthritic disfigurement.

For people who depend on any type of private or company insurance to cover the cost of their health needs, the question of whether or not the health insurance policy covers mental health problems is a crucial one for a number of reasons.

Healing and recovery are about cultivating joy. After all, joy is what we want to realize in our lives. Joy enables our purpose to savor life. Many in the throes of addiction and other mental illnesses never experience joy. Life is dull, flat, painful, and dreary; a wasteland of depression and hopelessness. Lack of joy can leave people feeling that there is no purpose to live for; that there is no way out. They feel trapped. There is a way out. We can cultivate and reclaim th

Today, there is no city or country that is still untainted by the plague of drug abuse and drug trafficking. The high levels of drug abuse among young people and particularly teens is a very distressing matter. There are many reasons that teens these days are starting drugs and in time becoming addicted, some of these are: curiosity, pleasure, peer influence, acceptance, improving athletic performance, and relief of stress, anxiety or depression. It is very important that par

Heroin abuse and dependency affects more tha 9 million people. There is no disputing that the consequences of heroin use can be devastating. Trying to quit can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Although you may wonder is it safe to detox from heroin use at home; it is important to know that most healthcare professionals advise against it. How Heroin Affects the Body Heroin affects the central nervous system (CNS) by blocking the opioid receptors and stimulating the ne

What’s this thing called Love? What’s this thing we call love? Where and how do we find it? Do friends lead us there? They do. But the love we find with them is not often THE one we seek. But it is love…warm and special and sweet… As comfortable as an old shoe…as warm as a terrycloth ...

We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable. --"Step One, AA 12-Steps After many years in recovery, I know that I must not forget this one principle: "I will always be an addict. --Joe Herzanek Whether you are a fan of twelve-step programs or not, the first step an attendee will hear offers a great deal of wisdom. The alcoholic/addict should never venture into the world without remembering the important bit of knowledge that Step One provides: Chemically dependent people will not ever be able to gain control over their substance use.