It’s easy to think of dependence and addiction as synonymous terms. After all, they are both used to describe someone who struggles with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). But the truth of the matter is that these terms are distinctive and it’s important to know the difference. Let’s review these terms and go over some quick self-assessments to gauge where you stand.
Category: Drug Use
Generational Addiction and Epigenetics—How Family History Affects Substance Use
Genealogy and epigenetics both play a substantial role in a person’s relationship with addiction. Researchers are discovering that the age-old saying “nature versus nurture” is more accurately “nature and nurture.” The two concepts work simultaneously to create who we are as people both consciously and on a molecular level. Generational addiction and epigenetics not only account for proclivities people are born with but proclivities towards substance use that people develop in their upbringing. An individual may be predisposed to addiction at birth or it may be ingrained in them through their environment or how they were raised. Let’s discuss how these two concepts relate to addiction—sometimes in tandem.
5 Signs You’re Enabling a Loved One and Their Addiction
An enabler is someone who encourages or otherwise supports negative behavior. Some may do this willingly or unknowingly with good intentions. After all, enabling someone can look a lot like empowering them, and it can even start off that way. But empowering someone without giving them the room to build the skills for independence can quickly become a situation of enablement. Let’s discuss some of the ways unyielding support can become a problem of unhealthy enablement.
Interventions: How to Confront Someone About Their Substance Use
Being confrontational with someone you care about is never easy. But when someone you care about is risking their safety with substance use, intervention becomes necessary. But how do you approach someone about seeking help for their addiction? Where do you even start? Start here with our step-by-step guide on how to structure and conduct a successful intervention.
6 Health Risks of Prolonged Substance Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is characterized by addiction or the uncontrolled use of a substance despite its negative effects. Prolonged Substance Use Disorder can result in a host of complications ranging from behavioral issues to serious diseases. Entire books have been written about the harmful effects and damage that result from severe addiction. The list could truly be endless.
So we’ve selected a few conditions that arise from long-term substance abuse to discuss. Health risks like cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, respiratory/lung disease, and mental disorders are the most common and/or dangerous conditions that contribute to chronic addiction. In most cases, these health risks are permanent, life-long struggles that individuals must be treated for alongside addiction recovery.
Why We Need to Remove “Clean” From Our Addiction Vocabulary
It’s time for a vocabulary lesson on the word “clean” in reference to addiction. This word and many others like it often impress a negative connotation on individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders. It’s our responsibility as a community to strive to support addicted individuals. One of the ways we can accomplish this is by acknowledging harmful language in reference to addiction and work to reform the vocabulary. Let’s discuss why words like “clean” are insensitive and identify some alternative phrasing with neutral or positive connotations.
What is Addiction Medication?
Detox and withdrawal are trials that many people struggle with and addiction medication may be the key to successful addiction treatment.
5 Most Addictive Drugs
Addiction comes in many forms and levels of severity so let’s discuss the top 5 most addictive drugs, their traits, and their characteristics.
The 3 Types of Trauma and How They Rely on Addiction
A staggering 75 percent of men and women in addiction treatment report histories of abuse and trauma. But how does trauma predispose a person to substance abuse?
Meth in the LGBTQ+ Community
The abuse of crystal meth among the LGBTQ+ community has been a prominent health concern for decades. However, abuse is especially prominent among gay and bisexual men after gaining popularity in the 1990s, steadily increasing into a modern epidemic. But how did this trend begin and why has it gotten worse? Let’s explore.