If you’ve ever heard the phrase “one day at a time,” you may have wondered exactly what that means in recovery. At face value, it seems quite simple—we don’t drink or use drugs during our day, without considering whether we will or will not...
The terms “substance abuse: and “addiction” are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. Substance abuse is the act of abusing a drug (prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal) or substances like alcohol for the wrong...
Coke. Coca. Snow. Flake. Blow. These are all slang or street names for cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance due to its medicinal properties and the high likelihood for abuse. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca) native...
Benzodiazepines (aka "Benzos" and "Downers”) are a class of psychoactive drugs that enhance the effect of a chemical in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). This neurotransmitter suppresses neuron activity, slowing the brain and nervous...
In the year 2017, it was estimated that approximately 18 million people misused prescription medications at least once in the past year. Opioid overdoses from prescriptions were five times higher in 2016 than in 1999. A final shocking statistic is...
Clinical depression is a mood disorder that can affect your ability to complete daily tasks and socialize as you might typically do. It can arise in any developmental period, but it is common to see it establish itself during adulthood. For a...
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder that alters a person’s perception of themselves, the world around them, and their relationship to it. Disruptions are experienced in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and...
Sometimes, people don’t understand why it is so hard for those who use substances to simply stop using. They may assume that the individual has no will power or is apathetic. Family and friends could be struggling with conflicting feelings of care,...
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder whereby the patient experiences unusual and significant mood changes, behaviors, energy, sleep patterns, concentration, and overall ability to meet the day’s tasks. There are three types of bipolar disorder:...
Most illegal substances have unseen physical health effects. Rarely do we consider the potential health risks to our bodies if they are not externally apparent. Nearly every illegal substance negatively affects the heart in both short and long...
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