Addiction |

This post is part one of a two-part series on alternatives to opioids. Earlier this summer, the Willingway blog released a three-part series on how the opioid crisis started, what it looks like in 2017, and where it’s headed. In those posts, one common scenario was posed about how an individual can become addicted to...

John comes home late one night, his breath reeking of liquor. His eyes are bloodshot red. He says nothing and falls into bed, passes out. Was he drunk again? Loretta’s mood is swinging drastically. One morning she’s warm and fun-loving. That same afternoon she is cold, distant, and completely disinterested in the world around her....

This is the final article in a three part series on opioids in Georgia. A patient goes to see a doctor about back pain. Or, maybe he just needs some minor surgery. The doctor wants to help him manage the pain, so a strong pain reliever is prescribed (Vicodin, Oxycontin, etc.). The patient takes the...

Part two of a three part series on opioids in Georgia. Last week we explored the history of opioids. They have been present in human communities almost since the dawn of civilization. Today, we better understand their addictive qualities and destructive powers. Unfortunately, in recent years and despite this knowledge, opioid misuse is still on...

Part one of a three part series on opioids in Georgia. Reading about drug addiction can be an emotionally draining exercise, especially when you’re researching on behalf of your own substance use disorder or a loved one’s. While we try to gather as much information as possible, it can be productive to take a step...

The signs of heroin addiction can manifest in different ways. There can be changes in the physical appearance and actions of the addicted individual. Since heroin is ingested by smoking, snorting, or injection, different usage methods may be present. Changes in Appearance: After use, the addicted individual will have flushed skin, labored breathing, and tiny...

Addiction treatment for professionals: staying discreet can be difficult. Although medical professionals have long accepted addiction as a disease, it is still seen by many as a weakness, an inability to control oneself. But when someone finds themselves at the end of that rope and seeks treatment, the last thing they need is to feel...

Heroin falls into the class of drugs called opioids and is derived from the same type of poppy plant that is used to produce similar drugs, such as morphine. More About Heroin While the drug has been around (in the United States) since the last decade of the 1800s, its impact has increased over the...

Addiction can happen not only with alcohol and drugs. You can also be addicted to sex, food, shopping, and many other activities or substances. There are reports of as many as 160 12-step programs to support people who identify as needing to fight off some type of addiction. For the purpose of our discussion, we...

Addiction specialists dedicate their careers to helping those with substance abuse and chemical dependency reclaim their lives. There are many approaches to addiction treatment, including pharmacotherapies (drug intervention) and behavioral therapies. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), behavioral approaches help engage people in treatment, provide incentives for them to remain abstinent, and...