Drug Relapse Signs And Triggers Overview of Addiction Recovery Drug addiction recovery is a process, not a single step. During that lifelong process, people recovering from addiction may experience the temptation to relapse or succumb to a drug relapse despite…
Drug Addiction Signs What are some Addiction Signs? Addiction, as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is a chronic disease that changes the reward centers in the brain. While this can involve behaviors like gambling, shopping, or sex,…
Health Complications of Addiction: Diseases, Side Effects & Consequences A traditional path to a drug addiction problem might sound like this: First, the person makes a choice to use a drug just one time, just for fun. Next, the person…
Overdose What Is an Overdose? Definition: An overdose represents a pathologic level of drug toxicity—at such a magnitude that it overwhelms normal physiological functioning. Depending on what drug a person has taken, symptoms of an overdose vary. It is not…
What Is Addiction?: Causes, Risk Factors & Models What Is Drug Addiction? Drug addiction, in the simplest terms is the strong compulsion to get and use substances, even though a number of undesirable and dangerous consequences are likely to occur.…
Disease of Addiction American Addiction Centers (AAC) recognizes that addiction — whether involving alcohol, prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or over-the-counter drugs — is a disease. Addiction and the Brain Just like diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, addiction is…
Editorial Staff . How to Address Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders When Drug Abuse Is Present Trauma refers to a significantly distressing or disturbing experience. Typically, trauma is a word that is reserved for experiences related to abuse, combat or war,…
Editorial Staff . PTSD and Addiction: The Connection Between Trauma and Drug Addiction About 50-66 percent of those who suffer from PTSD also battle simultaneous addiction, and the reverse is also true, TIME reports. People who suffer from PTSD are…
Editorial Staff . Treating Addiction with Severe OCD All of us have obsessive thoughts or worries on occasion, such as the fear that we’ve left the door unlocked or that a loved one is unsafe away from home. But for…
Laura CloseContributor . Depression & Substance Abuse Depression can increase the risk of chronic illness, including the disease of substance abuse. Up to a third of clinically depressed people engage in drug or alcohol abuse.1 These chemical intoxicants can become a…