Relapse rates after treatment can be very high. Depending on the drug, how long you’ve used it, and which studies you consult, the relapse rate might be as low as 40 percent to as high as 90 percent in the first year. What’s more, relapse is much more likely if you’re a man. One study…
Generally speaking, extroverts are people who get energy from being around other people, while introverts are people who get energy from being alone. While few people are completely extroverted or introverted, generally falling somewhere in the middle, most people tip at least a little towards extraversion. This can be a major advantage in addiction recovery…
If you’ve decided to enter treatment for addiction, you’ve made an excellent choice for your yourself and your family. Before you go, though, it’s time to make sure everything is in order. You want to be able to focus on your treatment without worrying that things are falling apart at home. It’s inevitable that you…
Safe injection sites, or supervised injection sites, are a harm reduction strategy that’s gaining attention in many US cities. Right now there are at least 100 safe injection sites worldwide. Most of those are in Europe, Canada, and Australia. The idea of safe injection sites and other harm reduction strategies is to minimize the damage…
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. They are typically prescribed to treat acute anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia related to stressful events. They work well when used for very short periods. Unfortunately, benzodiazepines are also extremely addictive. Even two weeks of regular use can lead…
Rumination is when you keep thinking about something negative. It could be something you did in the past and maybe you keep ruminating on what you could have done differently. Or you may be worried about something that might happen and you keep rehearsing that possible scenario. Whatever the case, rumination contributes to anxiety and…
Entering therapy is a great opportunity to grow and overcome past challenges. Many conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and even schizophrenia can be improved or even eliminated with the help of a skilled therapist. However, therapy also has its challenges. Many people are not quite sure what to expect from therapy. A good therapist…
Most people entering treatment share one overarching goal: to stop using drugs and alcohol. That can be a daunting prospect and most people will tell you that’s too big of a goal to think about all at once. A better approach is one day at a time. This is a small example of breaking up…
There are several factors that determine how addictive a substance is. These factors include how much the drug affects your brain’s reward system, how fast-acting the substance is, how hard it is to get, how quickly you become dependent, and how hard it is to quit. Intense or protracted withdrawal symptoms are among the biggest…
If you’re relatively new to recovery and don’t yet feel quite steady, you may not feel like you’re the best person to be helping others. However, volunteering can be a great way to strengthen your recovery. 12-step groups like AA have always recognized this and made volunteering an integral part of their program. Of course,…
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