how substance abuse affects the family

How Substance Abuse Affects the Family

At some point, addicted people will expose their behavior and make it clear something is amiss. Rightfully, we all have great concern for the addicted individual whose life is crumbling around them. What we don’t talk much about is the collateral damage an individual’s substance addiction creates around them. To be fair, we need to…

ativan and alcohol

Problems Taking Ativan and Alcohol Together

Ativan is the brand name for lorazepam, which is a benzodiazepine. A doctor might prescribe it if you struggle with anxiety. Mixing Ativan and alcohol is exceedingly dangerous. Here’s what could happen.Who Mixes Ativan and Alcohol?Sometimes, it’s an accident. You forgot that you had a drink. Maybe you didn’t read the instructions. At other times,…

acute stress disorder vs ptsd

Comparison of Acute Stress Disorder vs PTSD

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is common in trauma survivors. The same is true for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In discussions about acute stress disorder vs PTSD, there’s frequently a mention of chemical dependence. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it?Processing Emotions and Memories Overwhelms YouTrauma may involve surviving an assault or…

klonopin and alcohol

Don’t Mix Klonopin and Alcohol

When a physician says don’t mix medications with alcohol, they are offering this information for good reasons. Simply put, it’s dangerous. The best thing anyone can do for their health is to listen to what doctors have to say about mixing medications. Of course, some people are always willing to push the envelope. You should…

falling off the wagon

What to Do After Falling Off the Wagon

You worked so hard to overcome a drug or alcohol habit. Then, something happened and you fell back into old habits. However, did you know that falling off the wagon is a valuable learning experience? Here’s how you can profit from it.What Falling off the Wagon Tells YouThere are stresses and triggers that you didn’t…

addiction help for first responders

Addiction Help for First Responders

As a first responder, you face your own trauma after putting yourself in the line of danger and the intensely stressful situations your job requires. This trauma builds up, even when you think you suffer none. For many people, substance abuse curbs some of the symptoms of this fallout, for a short period. But then,…

national impaired driving prevention month

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Impaired driving has long been a big problem in America. No matter what laws are on the books, millions of people every year ignore them and get behind the wheel either drunk or high. The end result of this drinking problem is thousands of innocent bystanders losing their lives each year in auto accidents. National…

types of mood disorders

Looking at the Types of Mood Disorders

While everyone feels sad sometimes, if you find yourself struggling with extended periods of sadness, irritability or depression, you might be suffering from one of the types of mood disorders. This might have developed as a result of your abuse of drugs or alcohol. Or, you might have started abusing substances as a way to…

mindfulness quotes bring peace

5 Mindfulness Quotes that Create Peace During Addiction Recovery

As many folks soon learn, there’s a great sense of relief when an individual successfully completes an addiction treatment program. As they head out the door of rehab, they hopefully leave with the coping skills for recovery and to avoid relapses. Mindfulness is a great coping skill. For a recovering addict, it makes sense to…

best drug addiction programs for young adults

Drug Addiction Programs for Young Adults

A lot of young adults struggle with addiction across the United States. Among those between 18 and 30 years old, the rate of drug addiction has increased for several decades. In response, the number of drug addiction programs for young adults has grown too. These programs address young adult behavioral, emotional, and physical problems and…