Smoking is a dangerous habit and can cause many diseases and issues. Cigarettes can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. In fact, smoking is the number one cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Many people would like to quit, but the average person takes 5 – 10 tries to quit
Category: Recovery Skills
Taking Responsibility for Addiction
Being a parent of a teenager struggling with addiction is an extremely difficult situation to be in. While many teens simply experiment with alcohol and drugs, some of them end up with problems and addiction. We’ll explore the relationship between a teen addict and their parent(s), and discuss ways to help what might seem like
Does Your Buddy Need an Intervention?
Some researchers estimate 1 in 10 people have substance abuse problems. Chances are, someone you knows is struggling with addiction. The problem is knowing who. The biggest difficulty in treating addiction is denial that the addiction even exists. Suggesting that someone is an addict can be offensive. This is partly because addiction is thought of
There’s no Sense in Blaming Others for Your Drinking Problem
We are quick to point fingers in many situations when we make a mistake, when something goes wrong, or when someone ends up hurt. We’ve all been here. How about the time you stopped for coffee in the morning before work and turned around—not looking—and bumped right into someone, spilling a full cup of coffee
Persistent Misconceptions About MDMA
MDMA, also known as ecstasy, has many myths surrounding it. Although there are aspects of truth in these mountains of fiction, it is important to fully understand exactly what ecstasy is and what it can do. Ecstasy is a psychoactive drug that causes feelings of euphoria, warmth, and love towards others, in addition to warping
Examining the Steps: Step 2
Step 2 of the Alcoholics Anonymous program is essentially a stage of hope. It is about understanding that you are not alone, and that you don’t have to be miserable and in pain. Step 2 is about believing that a higher power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity and peace. The key point
Court Ordered Rehab for Young People
Is it possible to force teenagers into rehab for addiction treatment? Of course. But, does it actually help? The percentage of teens who are mandated to attend rehab via the court system varies, but it generally around 60-65%. There are many factors to take into consideration to answer whether it works, and we’ll explore when
When OxyContin is Abused it’s not Medicine Anymore
OxyContin is an opioid pain medication, or narcotic, which is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is meant to be used as an around-the-clock treatment of pain rather than on an as-needed basis. When used properly, the medication can relieve pain for up to 12 hours, but when used in excess it can
When You Develop a Dependence on Crack Cocaine
Crack cocaine abuse has become a worldwide problem, and over 8.5 million people have admitted to using the drug at least once during their lives. The reason crack abuse is so problematic is because if its dependence liabilities and its ability to cause cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, and respiratory problems. We’ll explore how crack cocaine dependence
Healing the Wounds of Addiction in the Family
Addiction causes so much more pain than many people realize, as it affects not only the addict but everyone they’re directly involved with, including family and friends. Growing up with parents who struggle with addiction can cause major damage in children, especially when left untreated. Emotional pain can wreak havoc on our lives, and it