If your teen or another adolescent loved one lacks focus, seems disoriented, has lost interest in usual activities, seems more inhibited than usual, and has more trouble in school, it might be time for a face-to-face conversation. These are just a few potential symptoms of a drinking problem. When Is Behavior “Just a Phase” vs....
There are a few times in your life when a particular moment is crystal clear, and the answers you’re searching for are right in front of you. If the title of this article caught your eye, you might be having one of those moments. Alcohol Use Disorder The medical community has guidelines to determine whether...
Unsettling Numbers Recent research about women and increased alcohol-related deaths made the news circuit in late 2018, and the numbers were unsettling. What surprised many people about these new statistics was simply that the problem wasn’t fully identified until now—even after decades of anecdotal evidence. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), based at...
Tragically, Georgia’s opioid crisis is still a critical health issue. The Georgia Hospital Association shares January 2019 reports from the Centers for Disease Control which indicate: Synthetic opioid overdose deaths—from substances like fentanyl—increased in Georgia more than 45 percent since 2017. Opiate prescribing rates were higher in rural Georgia than metropolitan areas of the state....
Rock Bottom “Hitting rock bottom” during the throes of substance abuse means different things to people. Often, rock bottom is associated with descending to levels of financial, ethical, or moral bankruptcy. While some people may, unfortunately, encounter these circumstances, others experience a simple knowing: this simply isn’t how their lives should be. What’s more important...
Yes or No Prevalent theories regarding moderation and substance abuse are usually divided into two camps: yes, it’s possible, or no, it’s not. There are many mitigating factors. Each individual’s unique characteristics, environment, and genetic makeup contribute to the possibility of substance abuse and addiction. While the National Institutes of Health report that “genes and...
Maybe you’ve struggled to find the right words to express your concerns to someone about his or her substance abuse. Or each time you try to bring it up, there’s conflict and anger. Talking to a friend or loved one about problem behavior is never easy. He or she may be in denial. It’s twice...
For some people, one barrier to an inpatient rehabilitation program for substance abuse is the thought of turning their lives upside down, including losing their jobs. It’s critical for both employers and employees to understand in what ways the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is available for individuals needing time off work for treatment....
Okay—so you’ve suffered a lapse in your sobriety. Now you’re reading this article and wondering what to do next. Good. You’re already willing to return to your path of recovery. The first thing to do is objectively process your actions and determine if you experienced a slip or a full relapse. There are distinct differences:...
There are many types of 12-Step programs—some spiritual and others secular. If Christian faith is instrumental for your sobriety, you may be interested in Celebrate Recovery. While traditional 12-Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) refer to a higher power in their tenets and practices, Celebrate Recovery is a “Christ-centered program...
