Our nation is facing an opioid crisis. Or is it an opiate crisis? If you’ve been reading the news you’ve likely heard about the opioid epidemic, but you might have also heard there’s an opiate epidemic. Obviously, the words ‘opiate’ and ‘opioid’ are similar – but do they mean the same thing? There’s plenty of … Continued
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for pregnant women living with opioid use disorders might at first sound like a risky proposition, but, for many in the addiction treatment industry, it could be just what the doctor ordered. And with nearly 88 infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome every day, health care systems in Kentucky are taking measures to … Continued
Heroin is a deadly and dangerous drug. Even when users want to quit it can be difficult due to the severe detox and withdrawal symptoms that heroin users are likely to experience when they stop using. There’s no question that heroin detox can be an unpleasant experience, but a little knowledge can teach you that … Continued
The United States has an opiate problem. From heroin to codeine-infused cough syrup, opiates are a growing problem that accounts for thousands of deaths and hospital visits annually. One of the toughest opiates to get over is the powerful methadone, which has been prescribed and abused for decades. Let’s learn more about the risks of … Continued
In the U.S., the most common mental illness is anxiety, with more than 40 million people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. From obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder to generalized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders like these are conditions that can develop because of biological, genetic, and environmental factors. While millions of people live … Continued
Many people are drawn to meth because of how it makes them feel when they are high. When meth is abused, an increased sense of self-confidence and euphoria come on in a sudden rush that keeps users coming back for more. Because of its addictive properties, it does not take long for someone to go … Continued
Benzodiazepines like Xanax are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. They are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder) and sometimes to treat narcolepsy and other sleep-related disorders. Today, more than 40 million American adults have a clinical anxiety disorder, hence why … Continued
Pregnant women face a number of challenges when expecting. They give their bodies over to a growing fetus, endure physical pain and upset, and also experience psychological effects that can complicate their everyday lives. For a pregnant woman who is not an alcoholic, these and other challenges can present themselves on a daily basis. Those … Continued
If you are struggling with alcoholism during pregnancy, you are certainly not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 1 in 9 pregnant women drink alcohol while about 4% binge drink. On top of that, 3.39 babies per every 1,000 born in the United States have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or NAS. … Continued
Addiction can develop at any time in a person’s life, especially if a person has or is experiencing one or more of the most common risk factors of addiction, including: Family history of addiction Family history of mental illness Sexual/emotional/verbal abuse Sexual assault/rape Traumatic events (e.g. major car accidents, unexpected death of a loved one, … Continued
Women who are pregnant are not only sharing their bodies with their unborn children, but they are also basing their everyday lives around what is best for the health of their pregnancy. And while there are certainly moments where expecting mothers do something that is not “to code” during their pregnancy, the vast majority of … Continued
Recovering addicts and alcoholics can attest to the fact that a major part of their active addiction was rooted in certain personality traits such as poor impulse control or a negative sense of self-worth. But does that mean that all addicts and alcoholics have what is known as an “addictive personality”? There are many outlets … Continued
The vast majority of drug users do not begin their drug use by injecting drugs, rather it usually takes some time for them to reach that point (if ever). Part of this is because drug users do not need to get that high that quickly when they first start out using, or even near the … Continued
Drug addiction has become one of the most prevalent public health problems in the United States, with millions of people abusing them on a daily basis. Marijuana, prescription drugs, opioids, and cocaine are some of the most commonly abused drugs in America, causing serious problems within the lives of many, including married couples. Regardless of … Continued
There are patients who come through JourneyPure with an addiction to prescription pain medication who say it’s the one drug they couldn’t shake. Michaela S. had abused alcohol, marijuana, even meth. But it was her addiction to opioids that ultimately brought her to treatment at JourneyPure. She described herself as “beaten and broken down,” lying and … Continued
All individuals who struggle with substance use disorder share in several similarities in terms of their experiences, however, they are also different in many ways. Specifically, the signs, symptoms, and effects of one’s substance use disorder will be dependent on how much he or she is using, how often he or she uses, and if … Continued
The disease of addiction is not one that only affects a specific type of person. It is a non-discriminatory disease that can impact people from all walks of life, including pregnant women. Just because a woman becomes pregnant does not mean that the addiction she has been struggling with disappears. For many pregnant women, in … Continued
Addiction is a deadly disease that can sneak up on you when you least expect it. One minute you think you have your life under control and the next minute you realize you are lying to everyone, including yourself. You have difficulty managing your work life or even holding down a job and your relationships … Continued
Alcohol is the most widely abused mind-altering substance across the United States. More than 21 million Americans are addicted to mind-altering substances, but a startling 15 million of those Americans are addicted to alcohol. Once addicted to alcohol, stopping use can be near impossible without the help of professionals. For many, the stages of alcohol … Continued
Addiction is a tough disease — both for the person with the problem, as well as their friends and families, who may feel helpless in their ability to keep a loved one out of harm’s way. Though addictions only affect the addict themselves on a physical level, the ripple effects of drug or alcohol abuse … Continued