How to Choose a Treatment Plan that’s Right for You

Each of us are different and, when it comes to treating addiction, everyone has a unique set of needs and circumstances that must be taken into account when deciding on a treatment plan.  Addiction is a dependency the brain has formed on a particular substance or behavior. For things like opiate addiction, which is a

Marijuana Clocking Record Potency Worldwide

Marijuana seems to be having its time in the spotlight lately with the rolling legal reforms that continue to sweep Europe and the United States as well as the cultural obsession with glorifying it as the drug of choice for rappers, silicon valley moguls, and movie producers. But one of the more important changes regarding

Teen Marijuana Use Linked with Brain Development Issues

There is still a great deal of controversy over the long term health effects of marijuana on the brain. Growing numbers of research studies are still not sufficient enough to make a definitive conclusion on what the exact extent of the damage can be. While scientists are not yet certain how marijuana affects the brain

5 Countries with Severe Drug Problems

The epidemic of drug addiction is not confined to our boarders here at home in the U.S. Drug abuse is widespread throughout the entire globe and in some parts of the world, addiction is far more severe a problem than it is in the United States. This certainly does not excuse our abuse of controlled

3 Reasons Your Friend Isn’t Ready to Quit

There are numerous examples of people who were unwilling to get help for their addiction and, for one reason or another, forced into sobriety.  These stories are surprisingly positive, as the majority of these cases have experienced long term success in recovery. The fact is, the very nature of addiction is that you do not

Is Social Media the 13th Step?

Human beings, like many other animals, exhibit a tendency to emulate each other’s behavior. The more individuals behave in a particular way, the more powerful the tendency becomes. To a degree, we become like those we spend the most time with. This is called “herd mentality”. It is a phrase that describes how we are

How to Help a Loved One Who Refuses Treatment

The central factor to bear in mind when a loved one refuses treatment is that they are still in denial. The very first thing that you must do to fight the addiction is to help the addict come to a realization or recognition of the problem. You can help them along this process by asking

How Young People View Marijuana

The debate over Marijuana use among teens revolves around the question of whether or not it truly is the gateway drug and whether it adversely affects their development. The primary concern is it cultivates a pattern of addiction with high probabilities of worsening in adulthood. Additionally, there is growing concern over the negative effects of

How Does Ecstasy Affect the Body?

Ecstasy has several primary effects on the major systems of the body. The full extent of the impact of this drug affects the entire body, however. Of the primary effects, the most common is stimulation of the nervous system. Ecstasy increases the amounts of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the brain to generate a

The Hunger Doesn’t Care

Hunger. Thirst. Desire. Need. Craving. Jonesing. The ultimate feature of addiction is that uncontrollable and unending need for more.  It’s the whole driving force of unrestrained destructive behavior in the quest to pursue your drug. As addicts and alcoholics we can sometimes underestimate this fearsome enemy that haunts our dreams and destroys our lives. Like