When a mother-to-be drinks, her baby drinks. Alcohol in the mother’s blood is passed directly to the fetus through the umbilical cord. At present, physicians cannot determine the precise moment when a specific biological system such as the nervous system is most affected by alcohol consumption. That’s why the medical profession recommends no alcohol consumption […]
Substance abuse disorders are quiet, careful killers. They are disorders that force our way of living to center solely around the addictive substance and nothing else. In the United States, 20.2 million adults aged 18 or older suffered from a substance abuse disorder in 2014, accounting for billions of dollars exacted from health care, loss […]
When Is it Too Early or Too Late to Have the Drug Talk? Children are sponges. They absorb information better than any of us. If you think your problem is going over their head, think again. Although your child doesn’t understand the gravity of a chronic substance use disorder, the disease’s effects will long remain: […]
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to examine the effects alcohol may be having on your life and the myriad options of treatment at your disposal. In 2016, an estimated 81.6 million people in the US were binge or heavy alcohol users according to the National Survey on Drug Use...
April is Stress Awareness Month, designated in 1992 to educate the public about the effects of stress on one’s mental and physical health as well as remedies for daily stress. Because addiction often has roots in one’s mental health, understanding and learning to identify stress and stress triggers is important...
Recognizing the roots of addiction in the brain is key to understanding and addressing the substance abuse crisis affecting the United States. A recent study by scientists at Scripps Research may have located the source of alcohol cravings in the brain, further supporting addiction as a disease. But where does...
Two weeks after returning to her nationally syndicated talk show, Wendy Williams is finally sharing her truth. Teary eyed and emotional, the 54 year old talk show host admitted that her extended hiatus from ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ was due to her battle with addiction. “For some time now, and...
March is Women’s History Month! Each year we celebrate the women who have put their mark on history. Trailblazers, entrepreneurs, and civil leaders, the women we honor during Women’s History Month helped to shatter boundaries and shape the world as it is today. To celebrate, we’re honoring amazing women in...
How to Calm Anxiety Creatively Every well-being advice column is chalk full of tips on alleviating anxiety- you know the tired, rehashed advice we’ve heard our entire lives. Breathe deeply. Distract yourself. Remind yourself with positive affirmations that “everything is going to be okay.” Well, sometimes things are NOT okay....
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, romance is in the air! Flowers and chocolates and wine are abundant, but maintaining your sobriety can make celebrating Valentine’s a bit tricky. Here’s 10 romantic date ideas for sober couples! Cook at Home. Whether you make an old favorite or try out...
It often goes unnoticed. Your heartbeat has always been there, and as far as you’re concerned it will always be there. Many people take it for granted, thinking their body can handle anything they throw at it. The heart is responsible for your entire circulatory system. When it is weakened...
Anyone who has ever struggled with substance abuse knows how difficult it can be to remain sober. Positive support and expert guidance are necessary to successfully conquer drug addiction. In the most recent Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it was estimated that almost nine percent of Americans needed help with substance abuse but...
Using National Hobby Month to Fight Addiction January is National Hobby Month! Hobbies make you happy. (No really— it’s actual science, but we’ll touch on that in a bit.) I know what you’re thinking— “a made-up calendar holiday no one thinks or cares about.” Touche! But that’s only true if...
