A woman talks with her therapist about how 12 step alternatives can be just as effective

12-step Alternatives Can Be Just as Effective

AA is probably the best known way to quit drinking. It is 80 years old and has millions of members worldwide. Most people are familiar with the basic ideas behind 12-step programs, including the higher power, the moral inventory, making amends, sharing, and sponsorship. If you need help for addiction and aren’t sure what to… Continue Reading 12-step Alternatives Can Be Just as Effective

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Two puzzle pieces are held up to the sky, as the people holding them discuss how the SUPPORT act protects people seeking addiction treatment

How the SUPPORT Act Protects People Seeking Addiction Treatment

In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, Congress recently passed the SUPPORT Act, which combines policies from more than 60 pieces of legislation already passed by the House. The SUPPORT Act comes in response to the opioid crisis that gets worse every year and killed nearly 60,000 people in the US in 2017. The act… Continue Reading How the SUPPORT Act Protects People Seeking Addiction Treatment

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Sisters talk through 9 ways to improve self-esteem in addiction recovery

9 Ways to Improve Self-esteem in Addiction Recovery

A substance use disorder can demolish your self-esteem. It can impair your career, possibly leading to unemployment, it can damage your relationships and alienate you from the people who care about you, and, perhaps most importantly, it can make you feel like you have no control over your life. Recovering your self-esteem is an important… Continue Reading 9 Ways to Improve Self-esteem in Addiction Recovery

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A patient talks to her therapist about future medications for treating stimulant addiction

Future Medications for Treating Stimulant Addiction

While the opioid epidemic has been getting all the attention in recent years, the rapidly growing problem of stimulant addiction has gone mostly unnoticed. While opioids are certainly a bigger problem at the moment, having caused nearly 50,000 deaths in the US in 2017, at the current rate of growth, stimulants will soon catch up.… Continue Reading Future Medications for Treating Stimulant Addiction

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A young man sits in a dilapidated chair and wonders what are the most dangerous drug combinations

What are the Most Dangerous Drug Combinations?

From reading the headlines, it’s easy to get the impression that fatal overdoses are almost always caused by opioids, especially heroin and potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil. While opioids are responsible for a large share of opioid deaths, they are rarely the only drug involved and a significant number of fatal overdoses don’t… Continue Reading What are the Most Dangerous Drug Combinations?

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A mother hugs her son after they talk about 3 ways her PTSD can affect her child

3 Ways Your PTSD Can Affect Your Child

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a condition caused by some traumatic event. Although it’s typically associated with combat veterans, it’s actually far more common among civilians. Common causes of PTSD include accidents, assault, robbery, natural disasters, or the unexpected death of a loved one. While it’s normal to experience symptoms for a few weeks… Continue Reading 3 Ways Your PTSD Can Affect Your Child

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A woman talks to her therapist and learns 8 ways to deal with a breakup in addiction recovery

8 Ways to Deal with a Breakup in Addiction Recovery

A breakup, or worse, a divorce is one of the most stressful challenges you can face in addiction recovery. A breakup might entail feelings of rejection, disappointment, bitterness, resentment, animosity, and grief. You may have to make significant changes in your life, such as finding somewhere else to live or reorganizing your social life. The… Continue Reading 8 Ways to Deal with a Breakup in Addiction Recovery

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