When it comes to alcohol detoxing, many challenges present themselves. One of the most important and common challenges stems from self-detoxification. Many of those suffering from alcohol addiction make a cut-and-thrust decision to give up. That is very much a wise choice, but when the decision is made, it is essential that supervision is sought out. Why? Put simply, alcohol detoxification without medical supervision can be quite dangerous. Many times, this can lead to some pretty challenging ‘horror stories' due to the unknown of what can occur here. As described in this article, detoxification can bring issues as wide-reaching as hallucinations. While the example in the story linked is a positive one – the individual, Lowell Cauffel, gave up drinking [...]

Guilt and shame in addiction - The two of the most commonly experienced emotions for anyone suffering from addiction. Those in active addiction often behave in ways or take actions that they feel guilty about and shameful for, which then compels them to use drugs and alcohol to numb those difficult feelings, ultimately recreating similar behaviors and actions, using substances to numb the same feelings, and creating a vicious cycle of guilt, shame, and drug and alcohol misuse. Guilt and shame feed active addiction. For people that find recovery or sobriety, they also often feel intense feelings of guilt and shame based on their past behaviors and actions in active addiction. Not having drugs or alcohol to numb the feelings [...]

Addiction is a family disease,  meaning that the negative impact of substance use disorder and addiction is devastating not only for the individual in active addiction but also their family members and loved ones. Watching a child, a parent, or a spouse that you love and care about battle addiction can be incredibly difficult and painful. Family members are heartbroken watching their loved one struggle with drugs and alcohol, especially if that family member in active addiction refuses to accept that they have a problem or seek help. Convincing a loved one to seek help through addiction treatment and rehab can be a very challenging and  emotional process, but it is often an essential step towards finding recovery. Most people [...]

Substance use disorder, addiction, and alcoholism are serious problems that affect people from all walks of life. However, one segment of the population that is highly impacted by substance misuse and substance use disorder are veterans of the United States Military. A high percentage of U.S. veterans suffer from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making them extremely susceptible to also suffering from addiction and alcoholism. While results from numerous studies of veterans vary, on average between 10% and 30% of veterans report dealing with a substance use disorder. Military veterans are particularly vulnerable to drug addiction and alcoholism due to the unique challenges they face during and after their service, including working for years in high stress environments and [...]

Most patients in detox or going through addiction treatment receive medication. Whether it is specific FDA-approved medication to help with drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms while in detox, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) medication like Suboxone or Vivitrol for opioid use disorder, or psychotropic medications for mental health conditions taken while in a short-term residential or long-term extended care addiction treatment program, most patients have some form of medication that they take regularly while in rehab. Under the watchful eye and management of a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, medication prescribed by a professional can be a vital piece of the recovery puzzle for many patients. Unfortunately, medication non-compliance is a regular patient issue that happens while in drug treatment or rehab. [...]

Most of the time, individuals suffering from addiction and in need of a drug and alcohol detox are looking for one primary thing: Getting through withdrawals. Their primary goal is to not have to feel uncomfortable when withdrawing from drugs or alcohol. Fortunately, with the help of professional medical and clinical staff, and the use of approved FDA medications, it is certainly possible for a person to feel comfortable going through detox and dealing with withdrawals. That being said, any detox or rehab that tells a potential patient that they will never feel uncomfortable during a detox is lying to that patient. Drugs and alcohol do a number on the body, both physically and psychologically, and after months or years [...]

Penn Quarter is a booming area of Washington D.C. filled with numerous entertainment, educational, historical and cultural centers. It is common to find residents and tourists alike, visiting the well-known famer’s market, in addition to a wide variety of cultural parades and festivals. Sitting east of downtown Washington, D.C. and just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, the Penn Quarter district is brimming with restaurants, art museums and galleries, large and boutique retail shops, bars, cinemas, theaters and a number of different museums. The Capital One Arena opened in 1997 and is nestled in an easily accessible area of the Penn Quarter. It is now one of the most prevalent and well-known additions to the area that acts as a concert and event venue, [...]

As part of the Southern District of Baltimore, the neighborhood of South Baltimore borders the Middle Branch Patapsco River on the southwest. Nicknamed SoBo, South Baltimore is one of the nicest neighborhoods to live in the Baltimore area. The streets of South Baltimore are lined with townhomes with alternating brick and stone facades. While the neighborhood has a very city-like feel, it is surrounded by numerous parks that are blooming with beautiful, lush greenery. Swann Park is located on the west side of town and offers residents walking trails, a playground for kids, as well as various athletic fields that can be used for baseball, softball and kickball. On the southernmost tip of South Baltimore sits West Covington Park. This park [...]

Many types of drugs can be dangerous, cause withdrawal symptoms, or even be fatal. Many more substances can make a person feel like they are dying, or at minimum, suffering from one of the worst physical illnesses ever. However, the withdrawal symptoms of few drugs (either legal or illicit) are as dangerous, uncomfortable, or potentially fatal to deal with or experience than are alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Because alcohol is both legal and also so widely socially accepted, many people do not realize how dangerous it can be. This also makes recognizing or admitting having a problem with alcohol, suffering from alcoholism, alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder that much more difficult. Many people actually deal with alcohol withdrawal symptoms more [...]

As one of the most historic neighborhoods in the country, Georgetown is also a major commercial and entertainment district in Washington, D.C. Georgetown is also home to the infamous Georgetown University which was founded in 1789. The Potomac River is a large body of water that surrounds the west side of Georgetown. One of the most famous landmarks in the town, Healy Hall, is located on Washington Harbour which sits on the Potomac River. As a huge entertainment hub, one of the most famous horror movies ever made, The Exorcist, shot a number of its scenes in the Georgetown area. The famous steps from The Exorcist in Georgetown, were built in 1895 and are a set of narrow, steep stairs where [...]

Known for being one of the largest residential neighborhoods in the Washington D.C. area, Capitol Hill has a population of around 35,000 people. It houses one of the most historic neighborhoods in Washington D.C. as well. The Capitol Hill Historic District is where a number of landmark buildings reside, most notably the Capitol building. Capitol Hill received its name from Thomas Jefferson in 1793 when he was working as George Washington’s Secretary of State. He named it and later designed Capitol Hill after the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus which sits on the Roman Capitoline Hill on the seven hills of Rome. The federal government is the biggest employer in the Capitol Hill area. Some of the biggest landmarks in the [...]