Addiction is a complex and chronic condition that affects the brain, leading to compulsive behavior despite harmful consequences. It is characterized by the inability to control the use of substances or engagement in behaviors, even when they negatively impact one's health, relationships, or overall well-being. According to the World Drug Report, approximately 35 million people globally are estimated to be battling substance use disorders, with a concerning trend of increasing prevalence in behavioral addictions like excessive gambling or internet usage. Addiction is classified into two main types: substance addiction and behavioral addiction. Substance addiction includes dependencies on drugs such as alcohol, opioids, and nicotine, while behavioral addictions involve compulsive engagement in actions like gambling, internet use, or shopping. Each type [...]

One of the most asked questions by someone calling to seek help from a drug and alcohol detox facility or treatment center is regarding taking time off work in order to get the necessary help they need. Employment or work, for good reason, is often a barrier for individuals seeking help from addiction in actually accepting help and entering a detox, rehab, or treatment center. There are a number of reasons that employment or work might be a barrier. First, the individual may be in fear of losing pay. Their salary or hourly wage may be imperative for them to live. They may be the sole breadwinner of the household for the family, or they may be a single parent [...]

All too often rehabs and addiction treatment facilities promote themselves as spa like atmospheres, enticing patients and clients with fancy amenities. It is vital that when a potential patient or loved ones are searching for a detox or rehab to above all else make sure that the chosen facility is able to appropriately and effectively meet the individual’s medical and clinical needs.   Detox and rehab are not vacations. They are interventions and experiences that stop the use of drugs and alcohol and begin to delve into the underlying reasons someone is suffering from addiction or substance use disorder. They are the first steps in what is hopefully a journey of recovery. There is important, serious work that a patient [...]

Chronic pain is an issue recently at the forefront of addiction treatment. As America’s opioid epidemic increased and got worse, government and public health officials began to call for greater scrutiny on prescribing practices, especially the prescribing of dangerous opioids. Overtime, prescribing methods began to catch up with the overprescribing of opioids, with less and less opioids prescribed for patients dealing with acute medical conditions and alternative methods considered for patients that could avoid the prescribing of opioids. However, it seems that an unintended consequence of trying to get America’s arms around the opioid crisis was that chronic pain patients, having been prescribed opioids for many years, were seemingly cut off from medications they had been taking for a long [...]

Addiction is a complex, chronic illness that, in order to ensure sustainable recovery, requires a long-term continuum of care. However, while numerous studies have demonstrated high recovery outcomes are supported by long-term care, monitoring, and community recovery engagement, not every individual’s continuum of care will look the same and that continuum may not always be linear. Not every patient requires the same continuum, and supportive recovery care needs to appropriately take into account not just the clinical needs of the patient, but also the many other biopsychosocial aspects of their individual needs associated with their substance use disorder.   Therefore, one patient’s continuum of care may look very different from another patient’s continuum of care, each one obviously based on [...]

The terms “chemical dependency”, “substance use disorder”, and “addiction” are often used interchangeably. Even the term “substance abuse”, which was widely used for years but recently has fallen out of favor due to it being a term that can be stigmatizing and judgmental, is still sometimes used when describing substance misuse issues. However, each term is different and has a different meaning.   What is chemical dependency?   The term “chemical dependency” often is used when discussing substance use or substance misuse, but it is not exactly the same as substance use disorder or addiction.  Chemical dependency is “the body’s physical and/or psychological dependence to a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, or nicotine. Physical dependency on such chemicals [...]