The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines addiction as “a complex condition, a brain disease manifested by compulsive substance use despite harm consequence.” By definition, addiction is a relationship formed between an individual and a substance rather than a human being with another human. When individuals...
More so than St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving is the holiday when most arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) are made. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 40% of traffic-related deaths between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are attributed to drunk driving, compared...
The emergence of the opioid epidemic has made it challenging for patients who legitimately struggle with chronic pain stemming from nerve damage, unhealed injuries, multiple surgeries, weight problems and other health ailments. As doctors prescribe less opioids, patients who need pain killers are left in...
[blockquote text="“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates" show_quote_icon="no" border_color="#f9d97a"] The concept of “food is medicine” has been linked with fewer visits to the emergency room as more individuals received nutrition support from federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
Handle Fentanyl with Care: Fatal upon Contact Even the slightest physical contact with fentanyl can send people to the hospital for unintentional overdoses. When first responders and law enforcement officials engage in emergency and life-saving activities, they may accidentally inhale fentanyl and other fentanyl-related substances, or...
It’s hard to get close to people who keep you at arm’s length. They may seem intimidating to approach at first because of their hard exterior, but you might find that if you try hard enough, you can break down those walls and discover a...
Halloween is around the corner. As friends and neighbors prepare for the upcoming ghost and goblin holiday, ‘tis also the season for many to get wasted. Volunteering to be the designated driver may sound like the “best” excuse to stay sober, but if you are...
The Pursuit of Pleasure in American Society Drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t always stem from anguish and painful experiences. We just want to be happy. In fact, the pursuit of happiness is one of our unalienable rights as human beings, as is oft quoted from the...
Based on a 2014 study published in JAMA, the US News & World Report cites that 40% to 60% of individuals who graduate from treatment programs relapse within a year. Even if someone has been sober for years, there is still a chance of relapse...
You’ve had a rough day and you’re ready to let out some steam with the next person who asks, “How are you doing?” Instead of getting a reassuring, validating response that acknowledges how you’re feeling in the moment, you receive a response like, “You’re not...