Grief is a normal, often unpleasant emotion that is triggered by a major loss or change. We often associate grief with the loss of a loved one, but grief can be tied to any big change, even changes that we expected to happen. Grief may occur after the death of a loved one, contraction of…
For many who struggle with substance abuse, money is a powerful trigger. Just having a $20 bill is enough to send many users straight to a drug dealer. For someone with a substance abuse disorder, the use of money is connected to both getting high and to the stress that causes cravings. Because addiction chemically…
What Is DXM? Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant found in many cold medicines, often bundled with painkillers (like acetaminophen), antihistamines (like diphenhydramine), decongestants (like pseudoephedrine), and/or expectorants (like guaifenesin). Although it can be used safely as recommended by a doctor in amounts of 15-30 mg taken three to four times daily, abuse of DXM…
Not surprisingly, people who suffer from chronic pain may experience judgment regarding their condition or medication prescriptions. I’ve had some clients tell me they hate going to the emergency department because they feel like the staff assumes they are seeking drugs, rather than experiencing real, valid pain. Other clients mentioned they’ve lost friendships just because…
Each time a family bands together and holds an addiction intervention, that family is taking one small step toward a better future. They are helping their loved one, the family as a whole and the country at large. Interventions take planning and creating real change isn’t easy, but both are possible with the right professional help,…
Experts know there is a significant link between sex work and drug use. Sometimes sex traffickers use drugs to keep young girls under their control or men share drugs with sex workers as a way to enhance their encounters. Depending on the country, approximately 0.1 percent to 7 percent of an area’s population may include…
I was union for over 10 years. I lived it and I’m pretty dang proud of how far it’s got me. There was never really any question about what I was going to do; it was like the family business. I was even known as “Little Whitaker” around the factory. I was fresh out of…
Nearly 15% of the American Indian and Alaskan Native population meets the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder, compared to 4.6% for Asians, 7.4% among African Americans, and 8.4% among Caucasians. These statistics are probably shocking to the general public because the struggles of the American Indian and Alaskan Native community are usually not…
What are the leading causes to addiction? Some people say addiction can be caused by genetics, peer pressure, poverty, and mass amounts of stress. Although all of these can certainly play a role, one factor is known to have a bigger impact. You’ve probably heard stories about survivors of child abuse who become addicted to…
This is a question commonly asked by those who are considering addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one. There are so many forms of treatment out there such as detox, family therapy, medicated assisted therapy, adventure programs, 12-Step, PHP, IOP, outpatient… it’s like learning a new language! What do all of these treatments mean,…
