Alcoholism is a progressive and fatal disease. Without recovery, an individual’s alcoholism will inevitably worsen and they will face a slew of neurological consequences. The legal status of alcohol may influence some people to think of it as a “safe” form of intoxication, but alcohol abuse and addiction carry devastating neurological symptoms. Alcohol may take…
It can be difficult to find the motivation to do anything when we start feeling stressed. Everything seems to pile up until we are feeling too overwhelmed and anxious to do anything productive. Managing stress can be difficult, but there are several hobbies that we can pick up to start feeling a little more relaxed…
Stimulants, like amphetamine and methamphetamine, are often used for their energizing effects. Students, in particular, often abuse stimulants as study aid, but there are growing rates of stimulant abuse among the general population. No amount of stimulant use is safe—there is always some risk when taking the drug. When an individual begins abusing the drugs,…
There is a saying in the rooms of 12-Step recovery fellowships: “Whatever you put before your sobriety, you will lose.” When we entered into the beginning stages of our recovery, we made the decision that we were willing to go to any lengths to achieve victory over alcohol and drugs. Sometimes, however, we begin to…
Taking the time to meditate in the morning can mean the difference between a good and a bad day. When we meditate, we can tap into our higher power or our inner-selves and find a sense of peace and serenity before engaging in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It may be difficult to…
The goal of the Twelve Step recovery model is for an individual to have a spiritual experience and entire psychic change as a means of maintaining permanent sobriety. The mental obsession with alcohol and drugs is removed and we successfully recover from a hopeless state of body and mind by working the Twelve Steps and…
Many men and women begin using drugs as a way to cope with life. They were restless, irritable, and discontent, and found relief from their psychological and emotional suffering in drugs and alcohol. For a time, self-medicating with substances may have provided a sense of comfort, but addiction is a chronic and progressive disease—eventually, our…
Thinking about or committing suicide are very real dangers that strike those suffering from the disease of addiction and alcoholism more than the general population. People often assume that early death from addiction will be the result of overdose or health complications directly resulting from substance abuse, but don’t consider the increased risk of suicide…
Synthetic marijuana, known as Spice or K2, is much more toxic than cannabis. Synthetic marijuana is a combination of dried plant material and herbs that are sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids that are often toxic and dangerous. Over 700 different research chemicals fall under the umbrella of synthetic cannabinoids—many of which are unregulated and extremely dangerous.…
Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. This is no more apparent than in the tragic death that befell one of surfing’s greatest figures, Andy Irons. Irons, famed rival of Kelly Slater and the only surfer to ever have won a title at every venue on the Association of Surfing Professionals’ event calendar, passed…