The term “withdrawal” related to drugs and alcohol is most often associated with heroin or other powerful opioid medications. The physical reactions that a person experience’s when they are unable to use a substance that causes physical dependency, such as heroin or fentanyl, or OxyContin.   Withdrawal, or drug withdrawal syndrome or substance withdrawal syndrome, is the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation or decrease in the intake of certain substances, which can be used medicinally or recreationally. As an example, if a regular user of heroin abruptly stops using heroin, they begin to have both physical and mental symptoms, such as hot and cold sweats, muscle aches, and anxiety.   Almost all drugs and [...]

For those individuals suffering from addiction, the typical first step of the recovery process is detox. Detox is the short-term medical process by which an individual physically stops using drugs and/or alcohol. Often, depending on what substances they may be using, detox also includes managing withdrawal symptoms, both physically and mentally, that may occur and reaching a place of medical stabilization so that they may continue their treatment and recovery journey.   There are many benefits of a stand-alone detox. The first is time. Depending on the types of substances being used, the amount of substances being used, and the duration of the active addiction, a detox may last anywhere from 4 days to 14 days, making sure the drugs [...]

A recent report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrates that while America has been dealing with rising rates of addiction and mental health for a while, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the drug overdose epidemic in America.   The CDC report highlights rising rates of overdoses and fatal overdoses in the 12-month period ending in May 2020. Over those 12 months (the latest available data), over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in America, which is the highest total of drug overdose fatalities ever recorded in a 12-month period.   Unsurprising for anyone that has followed America’s addiction epidemic or tracked the rising rates of overdoses and fatal overdoses throughout the country, the number one culprit substance [...]

People often ask the question why they should enter into a detox for drugs and alcohol, rather than trying to go through withdrawals on their own or detox themselves. Entering a detox facility can certainly be a scary proposition. It is frightening to think of starting a process of stopping drug and alcohol use, especially when substances have been such a normal part of their lives for so long.  It is frightening telling family, friends, and/or an employer that you are having issues with drugs and alcohol and you need to go away to detox, even for a short time. People are frightened by the stigma of addiction, worrying what others may think or say about them if they enter [...]

Everyone has plans to make their lives better whenever a new year begins. Many people make new year’s resolutions. Many people make plans for personal growth and how to better themselves. Social media is ripe with “New Year, New Me!” posts.   For those suffering from substance use disorder, who often hope for better lives that are not caught in the grips of addiction, the new year can look as bleak as the last year. Those suffering from addiction often feel hopeless, angry, and scared, believing that there is no hope in them ever overcoming addiction and living a life free of drugs and alcohol.   However, just as regular, everyday people enter the new year renewed with hope for [...]