When a person combines heroin and cocaine it is known as a ‘speedball’. The combination can be extremely dangerous or lethal because it mixes together a very strong depressant with a very strong stimulant. Heroin depresses respiration while cocaine stimulates the heart, which can lead to simultaneous cardiac and respiratory arrest. Dr. Adam Winstock, founder…
Many of us had painful experiences during our time in addiction that we would prefer to forget about. It can be difficult not to become agitated or upset when we are reminded of these experiences. However, through recovery we can gain a new perspective on what occurred in our past and begin to use our…
The disease of addiction arises from a complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors. A person’s environment may be a factor in influencing whether or not they experiment with drugs at a young age, and environmental factors can influence one’s ease or difficulty with recovering from addiction. Addiction is characterized by a lack of control…
It can be surprising what we can accomplish when we simply change the way we think about things. For example, we may enter into a challenging situation full of fear of failure and find that we perform poorly. However, if we enter into the same situation full of confidence, we find that we do much…
Leaving treatment and entering back into our previous environment can be difficult. We are reintroduced to certain stressors and problems that may have previously exacerbated our addiction. Our home and community life may have been a factor in our drug and alcohol use, and it is necessary to overcome these environmental stressors if we are…
The words “happy, joyous, and free” are said quite frequently in the rooms of recovery meetings. However, what are they referring to? It seems simple enough– we find happiness in sobriety, our lives become filled with joy, and we are free from the chains of addiction. However, the happiness, joyousness, and freedom that we experience…
Recovery is about mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. Drugs and alcohol were a way for us to stay within our comfort zones. We self-medicated to cope with any and all external stressors and found solace in the immediate comfort provided by intoxication. Sobriety gives us a chance to take on new challenges and gain confidence…
It is easy to fall into unhealthy thought patterns of internal shame and external blame. We never wanted to find ourselves caught so tightly in the grips of addiction that it was impossible to live the lives we expected to have before drugs and alcohol. Our pasts, however dark and full of suffering they may…
Many people are unwilling to go to treatment for drug and alcohol detoxification. They believe that they would be more comfortable detoxifying at home without assistance. There is also the factor of social stigma and people may fear that entering into treatment would lead to a loss of respect from others. While it is important…
Kudzu is a perennial vine native to Japan and Southeast Asia. It was originally introduced to the United States in 1876 during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, then it began being promoted as a great ornamental plant in the 1930’s through the 1950’s. The problem with kudzu is that it is an invasive species with vines…