How an App Can Help You with Your Addiction Recovery
How do you manage your recovery from drug and alcohol addiction? For many people, early recovery can feel overwhelming. You may think you need to jump back into life where you left off and “figure it out.” But going it alone is not the best approach. At Victory Addiction Recovery Center, we provide you with all of the tools and resources you need to thrive after leaving residential treatment. One of those tools is an app. Why an App Matters for Addiction Recovery One of the tools you’ll take with you when you leave drug and alcohol treatment...
read moreThe Holidays and Your Recovery: Tips for Changing Traditions to Fit Your New Life
A life in addiction recovery is different than it used to be, and that’s a good thing. Yet the holidays tend to be a trying time, a period when you’re unsure if old traditions really fit who you are now and what you want for your future. Sitting around a table while family members argue and drink does not exactly support your recovery goals. This year, make it a point to change how you celebrate the holidays. They do not have to involve the same activities, people, and experiences as they did last year. If you are religious, you can still...
read moreStarting the Conversation with a Loved One About Addiction
Drug and alcohol use is prevalent in many areas. While many people use these substances recreationally, assuming they are safe, it’s increasingly more challenging to know when and how to reach out to a loved one who has developed a problem. A person can develop an addiction to prescription medications, marijuana, and alcohol, even while the people around them do not. When you know your loved one is struggling, how do you get them to realize their substance use is putting their life on the line? It’s a difficult conversation to have because a...
read moreEven as Overdose Fatalities Increase, Concerns Over Addiction Fall
Drug addiction continues to be one of the most crushing parts of life in many cities. But in some areas, it’s almost hidden, hard to pinpoint, and easy to overlook. That may be one reason for the results of a Pew Research Center study that found that fewer Americans see addiction as a “major problem” within their community. Does this mean addiction rates are declining? Sadly, the opposite is true. Drug overdose rates in the country are on a sharp rise upward. Consider the Rates of Overdose in the U.S. The study indicates that, in 2020, 92,000...
read moreSigns Your Boss Already Knows You Have a Substance Abuse Problem
If you’re struggling with addiction and still trying to maintain your life, it can sometimes feel like you’re doing everything you can to hold on. You’re going to work, meeting your deadlines, and doing your best each day. You may think your employer doesn’t have a clue you’re struggling with addiction or substance abuse because you’re doing your job. Yet that’s likely not the case. It’s not uncommon for an employer to pick up on the signs that someone is struggling. Even in those who are high functioning, there are warning signs. Does Your...
read moreHow Does Addiction Stigma Impact People with a Substance Use Disorder?
Stigma is very common when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. The thoughts and images we have about people who suffer from substance use disorder (SUD) are often inaccurate and harmful. People with addiction often face stigma for many reasons. That stigma can impact them in many ways, often by discouraging them from getting the help they need. What Stigma Exists for People with SUDs? A person struggling with alcohol and drug use is likely to have a substance use disorder, a disease that is chronic, hard to treat, and likely to create...
read moreHighly Potent Marijuana Is Creating Addictions
It’s a question many people ask. Is marijuana addictive? The answer is yes. Some people can develop dependence on and even an addiction to the drug, making it very difficult for them to stop using it. This is due to tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the component in cannabis that creates the sense of being high. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that about 30% of people who use marijuana have a substance use disorder. Today, research indicates that a more potent form of marijuana is increasing the risk of developing...
read moreIs Your Addiction Hiding a Mental Health Disorder?
Those with a substance use disorder, such as drug or alcohol addiction, are often at risk of having a mental health disorder as well. In some situations, it’s difficult to recognize this disorder’s presence due to the symptoms of addiction itself. Could you have both? What would that mean for your chances of recovery? Close to half of people who have a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder. When mental health disorders are present, both the addiction and disorder need to be treated at the same time. Dual diagnosis...
read moreTreatment Options for Co-Occurring Disorders
A person with co-occurring disorders typically has a substance use disorder, such as drug or alcohol addiction, as well as a mental health disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Co-occurring disorders are not uncommon, since one can lead to the other. However, treatment for co-occurring disorders requires more careful support and comprehensive therapy for both components of this condition. If you are struggling with mental health disorders as well as addiction, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of...
read moreWhy Don’t People Get Help for Drug Addiction?
Why Don’t Some People Seek Treatment for Their Addiction? When a friend or loved one is using drugs, you see their suffering and want to help. You may offer them all varieties of support and resources, but they never seem willing to follow through. You may feel frustrated with them. After all, the solution seems obvious: get treatment. Why is it, then, that people with a drug or alcohol disorder don’t seek out help right away–or at all? They Don’t Want to Admit They Need Help In some situations, people with a drug or alcohol addiction...
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