Sometimes life just sucks. I was desperate for something different. I grew up in a broken home, with a schizophrenic mom. As far as I can remember I was always asking myself why can’t I be like others. By others, I mean having both parents in the home and a mother that either didn’t have […]

The assessment of the stages of withdrawal from opiates requires a clinician to administer a test with an 11-item measurement tool. The clinical opiate withdrawal scale rates the severity of symptoms that patients typically present. Taking the Test Clinicians can assess a client in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting. The combined scores provide […]

Substance abuse can affect anyone, but the individual circumstances surrounding addiction and recovery can vary significantly between individuals and groups. Gender is one factor that can make a big difference in addiction and recovery. Because women and men process substances differently, use drugs for different reasons and encounter different problems during recovery, gender specific treatment […]

People who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction have a way of getting themselves in overwhelming situations, i.e. without a home, needing a job or in jail. Losing friendships and relationships can also be overwhelming experiences. Whether you are experiencing these things or feeling overwhelmed by someone that is, there is one thing you can […]

The initial treatment for drug and alcohol addiction traditionally includes medication. The individual symptoms a person is experiencing will determine the type of pharmaceutical and/or supplement prescribed. Here are a few of the most popular types of medications that treat addictions and their co-occurring disorders: Antidepressants Many who struggle with addiction also battle depression. Antidepressants […]

Characteristics of autism are difficulties with social interactions, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors. People who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction tend to also struggle with social anxiety, mood disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. Some researchers are asking if those with autism use drugs and alcohol in order to help relieve […]

Drugs and alcohol are not the source of the problem for an addict. The inability to feel and weather the pains of human emotion are. An addict runs from these emotions by numbing through drugs, alcohol, food and disassociation. Recovery is a process of incorporating many tools in order to help an individual get through […]

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been used to treat those struggling with addictions, self-harm and borderline personality disorder. Many clients in addiction rehabs battle all three. One common denominator in them is the struggle in handling intense emotions. Someone with borderline personality disorder may become angry and in the effort to calm themselves use drugs […]

You have probably heard the expression, “Trust your gut.” At one time or another, we have all had the experience of not trusting and having things go south. What explains this phenomena? Part of it can be understood through vagus nerve which connects the gut lining to the brain. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) lives […]

Many people who complete addiction rehab programs continue their recovery process in therapy. Working with a therapist post-treatment allows one the opportunity to continue combing through triggers and build upon strengths. One benefit of rehab is that a therapist that specializes in chemical addiction and co-occurring disorders is assigned to you. When you return home […]