The Department of Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs reported in 2016 that overdose deaths in Pennsylvania rose sharply from 2012 to 2014 with nearly 2500 Pennsylvanians dying due to overdose. A chronic disease, addiction is prone to relapse. If you’ve been struggling with addiction, seeking professional assistance is likely the best thing you can do for…
Trying to get a drug addiction under control is hard enough without a mental condition getting in the way. However, it’s pretty common for people to have an addiction and an additional mental disorder at the same time. This situation requires treatment for co-occurring disorders. First, let’s address the question, “What is dual diagnosis?” What…
Addiction is the result of a progression of phases that involve behaviors and chemical changes in the brain. It often damages people’s health, relationships, careers and financial security. Since it progresses in stages, it’s important for people to seek treatment when they see the pattern starting to develop. Treatment is available at any point during…
There are two main forms of professional addiction treatment facilities–outpatient centers and residential treatment centers. Professionals will push the idea that residential treatment is the optimal solution for all types of addiction. In actuality, this isn’t true for all patients. Both types of treatment have their own merits, and outpatient treatment is often superior for…
Our minds have an amazing capacity to realize a fact but still not accept it and take it to heart. Many individuals who struggle with addiction may know deep down that they have a problem. They may know the “addiction definition,” but this doesn’t mean that they are ready to admit it out loud to…
Addiction is a disease. But unfortunately, many people are under the misinformation that it is a moral failing—a choice that could have been prevented if only the individual had exercised their willpower more often and made better choices. This is not the case at all. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is addiction a disease?”…
Many individuals who struggle with alcohol abuse assume that it does not affect their family members. Unfortunately, this is a false sentiment. In fact, an individual’s excessive alcohol use affects their family members more than any other relationships. Furthermore, there has been significant scientific research to back the idea that dependence on alcohol may be…
While there are individuals who drink and use drugs who do not become addicted, millions of people will develop a substance abuse problem. When family and friends watch a loved one become addicted, they may not know how to help. If the addiction seems to be spiraling out of control, they may stage an intervention…
There are many different drugs that can cause side effects while they are used and during the withdrawal process. Once someone has an addiction, quitting can cause side effects. Drug side effects can be potentially dangerous, so it is important to go through detox at a professional treatment center. Are Drug Side Effects Dangerous? Drug side…
The withdrawal definition encompasses the symptoms and process of your body adjusting to the absence of an addictive substance. Signs and symptoms of this process often follow a predictable pattern, even though symptoms may vary depending on the drug. Symptoms tend to also exaggerate brain functions previously suppressed by the drug. What Is The Withdrawal…