In recent years, opioid abuse rates in Tennessee have grown to epidemic levels. This statistic includes both users of heroin and legal prescription drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and morphine. Many people who become addicted to a prescription painkiller end up abusing both prescription drugs and illegal drugs like heroin that can be easier and … Continued
How do you know if you have developed an unhealthy habit or if you are actually suffering from addiction? Determining the difference between the two can be difficult, since both grow out of repeated behaviors. Given the difference in scope and treatment, though, it is important to distinguish between a troublesome habit and addiction. One … Continued
You may have heard the saying “addiction is a family disease,” and in many ways it is. Addiction impacts everyone who has a relationship with the addict, which can disrupt daily life and negatively impact the stability of a family. Parents, children, friends, and partners of addicts are all swept up in the pain and … Continued
Once you have made the important decision to invest in personal rehabilitation, it’s helpful to have some strategies by your side to get the most out of the experience. Going to rehab is an opportunity to focus on yourself: to put everything else on hold and pay attention to your own needs. The mindset you … Continued
Why do some people find recovery and others don’t? There are many circumstances that motivate people to admit that their drug and alcohol use has become a problem and then find the willingness to seek help. For some, however, even in the face of dire consequences, there is a tendency to remain in denial about … Continued
According to a recent study by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), 76 percent of people with substance abuse problems are employed. Unfortunately, many people avoid getting the treatment they need because of the stigma associated with alcohol and drug addiction and the fear that they may lose their job or hurt their … Continued
Most people associate trauma with harrowing events like war or a natural disaster. However, any distressing event that falls beyond the scope of normal human experience can be considered traumatic. Individuals who have experienced trauma are at a much higher risk of developing addiction and substance use disorders, so it is important to understand the … Continued
Neuroscience researcher, Melvin Conner, tells us that the human nervous system is conditioned by a subtle, but constant, state of stress. His findings indicate that the chronic internal state of the human nervous system can be best categorized as a vague mixture of anxiety and desire, best described by the phrase, “I want,” spoken with … Continued
Over the past three decades, meditation therapy has spread rapidly through the fields of medicine, mental health, and education as a way to reduce toxic stress and impulsivity and increase emotion regulation, executive function, empathy, and overall physical, emotional and cognitive well–being. In treating addiction, empirical evidence is beginning to show overwhelming evidence in support … Continued
The History and Stigma of Addiction: The Flawed Individual By 1974, the American Medical Association had officially recognized alcoholism and drug addiction as forms of chronic and progressive brain disease. This classification by the AMA helped lift much of the stigma around the medical field’s understanding of substance abuse thus lending credibility to the field … Continued
Understanding Attachment Disorder Human beings are biologically hardwired for social bonding. Infants possess a survival instinct to instinctively attach to caregivers. When babies’ physical and emotional needs are met, they develop secure attachments, learning to trust, communicate and take steps toward independence. Infants completely rely on adult caregivers for emotional regulation. When parents or other … Continued
Getting Sober Is Hard. Staying Sober Is Even Harder. Getting sober is hard. Staying sober is even harder—especially without the right clinical structure and therapeutic support. Many people find themselves cycling in and out of recovery, building periods of sobriety only to relapse when cravings, stress, trauma, or untreated mental health issues resurface. At JourneyPure … Continued
Do You Have A Problem? Determining if you have a problem with drugs or alcohol is often a difficult assessment to make. After all, self-reflection is never easy. As we wrote about previously, denial is a serious issue for those struggling with addiction. Have you promised yourself you would stop using drugs or alcohol time … Continued
Community in Recovery One of the most enduring sayings in cultures across the world is “It takes a village.” While it’s a phrase used most commonly to describe raising children, it can also be said that it takes a village to be human. Since the earliest days, humans have operated in tribes. Being part of … Continued
How To Help A Loved One Who Is Struggling With Addiction There are few experiences more painful than watching someone you love struggle with addiction. If you happen to be living with that person during his or her active substance abuse, the stress is compounded. Whether this loved one is a spouse, partner, child or parent, … Continued
Seeking help for addiction is just the first step in the recovery process. For many who struggle with addiction, some form of professional treatment is needed, but sorting through the numerous treatment center options can be overwhelming. Here are four important questions to help you work through this difficult but ultimately life-changing decision. 1. Can … Continued
Perhaps the greatest obstacle for the drug addict to overcome is denial. In this article, we hope to give some insight into what the denial process often looks like for the active drug addict and how he or she (or a loved one) can help overcome this obstacle. What Is Drug Addiction? According to the … Continued
Drug and alcohol addiction is a family affair. It’s not just one person’s struggle. When someone has a drug problem, it affects everyone in the family. It doesn’t matter if you’re the one abusing the drugs and alcohol or if you’re the parent or the sibling. The addiction has had an impact on you. Because … Continued
The number of people becoming addicted to their prescription medications is on the rise. Most notorious among the addictive prescription drugs are opioids, and that may be largely due to the somewhat lackadaisical prescribing habits of many physicians. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of patients who visit physician offices … Continued
We now have yet another synthetic opioid spreading through our states, and it’s more dangerous than many of the other drugs out there. It’s called carfentanil, and it’s been the cause of a large number of overdoses and, unfortunately, many deaths as well. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is powdery and white. It looks … Continued