The opium poppy plant is where morphine starts. A painkiller that is highly potent, morphine can come in many forms, but it scheduled as highly addictive because it has serious implications for people who use it. People abuse the drug because they get addicted to the way it brings pleasure, then tolerance builds to the…
The body needs to get rid of drugs and other things from the system. Detoxing is key for individuals battling substance use disorder. To try and begin counseling people with substance abuse while the toxins are in the system is not going to work. That is basically setting them up for relapse. Drug detox is…
Heroin and other drugs do not directly cause a high for people. It is the effect of these substances on neurotransmitters that cause feelings of pleasure or euphoria. The chemical substances the body uses to send signals and get things done suddenly are lighting up in the brain. Manipulating these is dangerous. It is essential…
It is easy to fall into the trap of emotional eating in recovery. It is a tough time to be focusing on anything but healing, and it can feel like all of life is throwing lemons at you. When you start thinking about it, there is a lot to work on all at once and…
Drug and alcohol abuse are known to increase risk factors for many things. One of those is HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. when people misuse substances, their lifestyle choices shift and they make choices that put them at higher risk for contracting different things like HIV. A direct HIV risk factor may come from…
One addiction people may not consider is nasal spray. It is something people use quite often to spray their noses for congestion and enable them to breathe easier. It is only supposed to be used for up to three days. Any longer than that, it may cause rebound congestion. It means congestion caused by medication…
Alcohol impacts cholesterol in ways that people may not realize. Moderate levels of alcohol consumption can help good cholesterol levels, but drinking too much may cause a buildup of plaque. The blood is not supposed to have a lot of plaque as that can impact the heart over time. Alcohol may also increase HDL, which…
When people drink a lot of alcohol, they tend to have issues with their intestines and digestive systems. This is due to the processing of toxins in the alcohol that filter through the organs and, eventually, make their way through to the end. From beginning to end, mouth to the gut, the organs in between…
It is hard to take criticism, plain and simple. It is even more difficult to take constructive criticism, even if it is well-meaning. Sometimes people see shortcomings in others they want to point out, but don’t always do it effectively. When people are in recovery, it feels like everything lands under a microscope and others…
Social phobia is not something to be taken lightly for the many people who suffer from an official diagnosis of the condition. Many people never get diagnosed. More than simple shyness, there is a level of discomfort and unfamiliarity around people that leads an individual to stay away from others, isolate themselves, and fear social…