An Introduction to a Traditional 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program

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Traditional 12-step addiction recovery programs have been endorsed by numerous public health organizations, including the U.S. National Institute of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the American Psychiatric Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, as a cost effective approach to addiction treatment and recovery. They have been proven effective to

What Does Crack Cocaine Do To Your Body?

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Crack cocaine is the same chemical product as powdered cocaine, but with a different delivery system. Powder cocaine is a water-soluble “salt” form of the chemical, while crack cocaine is a fat-soluble form that is absorbed more readily and more quickly into a user’s body when it is smoked. Crack’s effects are felt more quickly

What Is Going Through An Addict’s Mind?

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Individuals who are fortunate not to suffer from drug addiction or alcoholism will have a difficult time in understanding the mind and thought processes of a drug addict or alcoholic. It will seem apparent to everyone, including a substance abuser, that drugs and alcohol are harming every aspect of the addict’s or alcoholic’s life, including

How Marijuana Use Has Changed Through History

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Marijuana has been used for almost five thousand years. Early Chinese medical texts include records of marijuana’s psychoactive and medicinal properties. Trade and cultural cross-breeding took marijuana from China and into North Africa and Europe, where it continued to have medicinal and occasional recreational uses. Spanish settlers brought marijuana to the North American continent in

How Does Your Brain’s Dopamine System Work?

Long before man developed a capacity for logic and reason, his brain developed a dopamine reward system that gave him an intuitive and instinctive capacity to distinguish good from bad. When intuitive man experienced what we now recognize as pleasure, his brain released a dopamine neurotransmitter that attached to certain receptors in his brain to

Elements Of a Drug Detox

Drug detox is step #1 to recovering from a drug addiction. It’s a relatively short period of intense withdrawal (made easier by medical assistance) following a long bout of drug use. After the addict is stabilized, the body can rid itself of whichever drug they’ve been using, and withdrawal symptoms can be managed.   The

Why Cocaine Overdose Is a Real Danger

Cocaine, a stimulant manufactured from the coca plant, causes increased feelings of alertness, euphoria, and well-being. This is not without consequence. Cocaine use also carries with it intense side-effects that can cause death if the user ingests too much of the drug. Fortunately, cocaine overdose is preceded by a variety of symptoms that can be

Am I a Failure For Relapsing?

It may feel like it. After all, the objective was not to relapse—right?   Actually, no, not exactly: the objective was—and still is—to recover. Relapse is just a bump in the road, so long as you don’t let it stop you from continuing your journey. If relapse meant failure, then the world wouldn’t be full

Staying Positive In the Midst of Chaos

Stress happens, quickly and unpredictably.   We can’t always prepare ourselves for overwhelming feelings of stress, of feeling trapped and pressured. Many times, we react by becoming highly emotional, to the point of overreaction. We all lose our temper sometimes—most of us, at least.   Addicts can become stressed just like anyone else, but their

What Is OxyContin and Why Do People Overdose?

OxyContin, a semi synthetic opioid analgesic, is prescribed in tablet form for the management of chronic or severe pain. It’s effective when it comes to this purpose. Unfortunately, it’s a commonly abused and illicitly traded drug that accounts for a lot of addictions and overdoses. OxyContin delivers a powerful euphoria when taken in large amounts,