Many people who have started using addictive substances are not aware that the harmful chemicals found in drugs and alcohol may change brain chemistry. A person’s brain goes through substantial changes, especially before age 25. The brain’s neurotransmitters are capable of adapting while seeking balance in its production of dopamine, and interrupting this process with … Read more
If you or a loved one is going through treatment for substance addiction, one important life skill to learn is self-control or self-discipline. Addiction can spin your life out of control. Self-control—or the lack thereof—is not a character trait, but a skill that can be relearned and honed. There are many practical techniques to help … Read more
Just as a person’s substance addiction may impact a family’s everyday life and social relationships, recovery from addiction concerns families and communities. Lack of family support can create a gap in care for recovering individuals. In situations when a relative needs to step in as a caregiver for someone recovering from addiction, they must understand … Read more
Overwork (working for more than 40 hours a week) can increase the risk of addiction to drugs and alcohol. Work addiction does not yet have a definition with much consensus within the medical community, but it is an existing problem that can bring stress which often seeks an outlet through drugs and alcohol. Understanding how … Read more
Do you have a loved one who is suffering from substance addiction but refuses to seek help because they are ashamed of it? People in our society who struggle with substance use disorder face a lot of stigmatization around the issue. Society as a whole needs to become more recovery supportive, and each one of … Read more
Adolescence and young adulthood are times when people are more likely to begin experimenting with drugs and other substances. There are many factors at play in this experimentation, such as traumatic childhood experiences or other mental health issues. One factor is common to many instances of adolescents getting into drugs or alcohol: parental divorce. The … Read more
The seemingly endless months of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a dramatic rise in mental health issues and addiction among young people and working adults. Alongside social isolation and other public health measures, structural unemployment due to the pandemic has become a significant contributor. Raising awareness of how unemployment and addiction can be closely … Read more
When was the last time you slept through the night? Do you remember what it was like to wake up and feel refreshed after a good night’s sleep? Have you noticed that worse sleep and worsening addiction often come hand-in-hand? The loss of healthy sleep patterns might be one of the most obvious warning signs … Read more
Among the many causes that lead to addiction, bereavement and grief are not the most common, but they certainly are worth knowing about. Grief is a natural response to the pain caused by bereavement. Because grief tends to linger, people who are grieving might be tempted to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. If you are … Read more
Many people are aware that trauma can have a long-lasting negative impact on people’s physical and mental health. The effects of some traumas can linger for a lifetime. Did you know people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are three times more likely to develop substance use disorder? Yes, trauma and substance abuse can form a vicious … Read more
