Whether or not you know someone who is struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, or substance use disorder, chances are you’ve heard of intervention. “Intervention” is a broad term that means different things to different people. Broadly speaking, an intervention is a pre-planned attempt by one or more people to encourage an addict or alcoholic to…
From the outside, addiction seems like a simple case of cause and effect in that people use because they want to. The reality is, addiction is the result of a complex series of events, stimuli, and physical processes. The reasons for getting addicted to substances is often complex and getting clean from their use can…
Thanks to advances in medicine, science, and our collective understanding of addiction and alcoholism, individuals caught up in substance and alcohol use now have greater hope to overcome their addiction. Resources like detox, rehab and other therapies are readily available to people looking to stop or moderate their substance use. Recovery from drug addiction and…
Alcohol detoxification (or “detox”) is a safe and clinically-managed method of treatment used to help heavy drinkers and alcoholics safely stop drinking. It is achieved by slowly weaning the individual off alcohol or, more commonly, with the assistance of prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines. If you or someone you know is engaged in regular heavy…
Opiates and opioids are drugs and medications used, primarily, in the treatment of pain. There are many types of opiates and opioids, from pharmaceuticals to recreational drugs. They include oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, heroin, and others. All individuals taking opiates or opioids, both prescription and nonprescription, are at risk for overdose and for becoming addicted. This…
SMART Recovery is a science-based program of recovery designed for individuals seeking abstinence from addiction. “SMART” stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. At SMART Recovery mutual-support groups, members learn to resolve their problems of addiction by utilizing a “4-Point Program” rooted in science and research: Point 1: Building and Maintaining Motivation Point 2: Coping with…
A commitment to exercise can help you change your body for the better. But physical exercise also has benefits for your brain and overall wellness that many people are not aware of. Whether hitting the gym or taking a walk around your neighborhood, you are doing activities that support your mental health, recovery from addiction,…
Benzodiazepines (aka “benzos”) are among the most widely prescribed and the most widely misused medications in the United States. Routinely prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety and insomnia, pharmaceutical drugs like Xanax, Niravam, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan and other drugs and their generic forms are increasingly popular. Addiction to and rehabilitation from benzos are…
When a patient enters a facility for drug treatment, one might hazard a guess that his or her main problem is a substance use disorder. At New Hampshire drug rehab, we know that is not always the case. In fact, according to Process R.N., Nicole White, patients often admit to treatment misdiagnosed with the wrong…
I was listening to a podcast and the host, Nadia Bolz Weber, said, “I’m tempted to write an anti-self-help book called, ‘You Are Not Enough’. It’s okay…there is enough. But, oh my gosh, it doesn’t have to all be you. It doesn’t have to come from you – just to sort of let everyone relax”.…