Alcohol Awareness Month in April was founded by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in 1987. Its aim is to promote public awareness about alcoholism, educate, and help reduce the stigma surrounding alcoholism that often acts as a barrier for people and families needing help.
The theme for this year is “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow,” which speaks to all those who are effected by alcoholism including our youth, families and communities. Read more →
The dramatic rise in prescription painkiller abuse in recent years is nothing short of epidemic. And the CDC recently reported that many high-risk opioid users get their painkillers with legal prescriptions from their doctors. In observance of last week’s National Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22), the National Safety Council released a list of seven alarming facts about prescription painkillers that many people might not know, but should: Read more →
When it comes to teens and drugs, how can you make sure that your home is a safe haven? Talking to your kids about drugs is important at any age, but teens are especially susceptible to drug use because of peer pressure and high stress levels. Teens look to their parents to set a good example for how they should conduct their lives. They count on their parents to be their support system and to help them create a positive home environment that encourages an open dialogue about drugs. Read more →
As the pain pill Zohydro hits the market, the opioid epidemic continues with veterans remaining high at-risk. A recent report provided by the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAOM) found that half of veterans prescribed medical opioids for pain continue to chronically use (more than 90 days) the drugs.
According to research drawn from national Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) data, of 959,226 veterans who received opioid prescriptions, 502,634 (52%) chronically used opioids. Some factors that were most likely to be present in veterans who chronically used opioids were PTSD, tobacco use, being married, having multiple pain conditions, the use of more than one type of opioid medication, and using an opioid dose above 100 mg per day. (Science Daily) Read more →
Although they can share some of the same physical symptoms, there is a difference between stress and anxiety. Not only is the root cause of each different, but how these emotions affect the body can be different. In order to help prevent or avoid anxiety and stress, we’ll take a closer look at what defines each of them.
Some of the similar physical symptoms the two can share are racing heartbeat, rapid breathing, headaches, chest pains, dizziness and muscle tension. However, anxiety can yield to a panic attack that could include more severe symptoms. Read more →
Knowing some of the stumbling blocks of recovery will help prepare you for some of the obstacles that may be ahead. You can never be too prepared, especially when first entering recovery. Here are a few of the stumbling blocks you might encounter in recovery and ways to overcome them.
