Category: For Clients

PTSD and Substance Abuse in Military Veterans

Combat is stressful and involves trauma. For military personnel, war can worsen existing substance abuse issues. They can also create new substance use disorders (SUDs). This is the case when potentially addictive pain medication is prescribed for injuries. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken steps to reduce substance abuse. Unfortunately, the rate of…

5 Ugly Truths About Stimulant Psychosis

Stimulant psychosis is a side effect of stimulant use that can make you have delusions, hallucinate, and be agitated. The symptoms can be severe and it might seem like you’ve lost touch with reality. The symptoms of stimulant psychosis include: Agitation, or behaving aggressively Hallucinations, or sensing things that aren’t real Delusions, or having beliefs…

How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

There are many reasons why someone might decide they want to stop drinking. The most obvious case would be a person who is addicted to alcohol whose life has been ruined by the amount that they drink. But alcoholics are not the only ones who may decide to curb their drinking habit. Alcohol is one…

Learn the Truth About Physical vs. Psychological Addiction

Learn the Truth About Physical Dependence vs. Psychological Addiction

Do you know the difference between physical dependence and psychological addiction? It’s common for people to use the term “addiction” when they’re talking about dependence and addiction, but they aren’t the same. Physical dependence is a condition that happens when your body gets used to having a drug in its system. When you stop using…

7 Facts Nobody Told You About Drug Abuse and Skin Problems

There are countless ways that drug abuse can damage your health, but did you know that your skin is one of them? From methamphetamine abuse to binge drinking, nearly any drug that you abuse can give you skin problems. You may have heard of meth skin or crack hands, but they aren’t the only skin…

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a short-term form of talk therapy. It is suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds. CBT is based on the idea that how we think affects what we do. Many studies have shown that the mind is a powerful part of recovery. In a substance abuse context, CBT was…

Depression and Addiction

Depression is a form of mental illness that affects how you think, act, feel, and engage with your life. When depression exists alongside a substance use disorder, this is called a dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder. These conditions are difficult to diagnose and treat, because the symptoms of each tend to overlap with one…

What Are the Dangers of Taking Lorazepam and Xanax?

Lorazepam and Xanax are similar drugs. They’re both benzodiazepines. These are drugs that treat conditions including: Anxiety Alcohol withdrawal Chronic pain Insomnia Panic disorders Seizures Benzodiazepines work by affecting the way your brain cells respond to stress. There’s a chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. This chemical slows down the brain’s response…

How to Get Ecstasy Out of Your System

Are you trying to get ecstasy out of your system? Long-term ecstasy use can cause problems. But getting the drug out of your system can be hard on your own. Ecstasy is also called MDMA or molly. It’s a popular party drug because it causes a strong feeling of euphoria. It doesn’t have any medical…

How Long Does Ecstasy Stay in Your System?

Ecstasy is a drug that has properties of both stimulant drugs and hallucinogenic drugs. Some common stimulant drugs are cocaine and methamphetamine. Common hallucinogens include LSD and ‘magic mushrooms’. Ecstasy’s effects include certain attributes of these drugs’ effects. The primary active ingredient in ecstasy is MDMA. However, ecstasy is often found in a pressed pill…