A “high functioning alcoholic” describes a pattern where alcohol use disorder progresses while work, family, and social roles still look stable. You can check whether your drinking fits this pattern through a short AUDIT-style self-check, a confidential medical assessment, or private outpatient or telehealth care. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a brief, […]
Opioids and prescriptions are taking over the streets and suburbs. Prescription pill dependency is at an all-time high everywhere, with suburban areas being hit hardest in recent years. Opioid overdoses are also increasing, with a high rate of deaths amongst young adults and women. These demographics were less prevalent in the past years, concerning overdoses. […]
“Marijuana (cannabis) use directly affects the brain — specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time,” warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its fact sheet. “Long-term or frequent marijuana use has been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in […]
AA and the many mutual-aid programs they’ve inspired have been helping people get sober since 1935. Working the 12 steps is a time-tested method for quitting alcohol and drugs, and millions of people are now staying sober one day at a time. The social support of mutual aid meetings like AA is especially important, which […]
Many Americans are not aware of the grave dangers cannabis use can entail. Ever since the nationwide—if not international—movement to promote marijuana as a healthy substance or even as a medication succeeded beyond its wildest expectations, the risk awareness connected to the use of THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, has been steadily […]
Enjoyment of a casual drink is no big deal for some people. They can go out with family and friends, have a few drinks, and enjoy time with loved ones. Some people go out every weekend, go to the club, or go see a band. We pop Champagne or buy rounds of drinks to celebrate. […]
Because of the opioid crisis, the public has been more well-informed in recent years about addiction. Most of us know someone who has been affected by opioids in some way, and that tends to force us to examine our assumptions about addiction and who becomes addicted. Despite this progress, there is still a long way […]
No one likes to believe their loved one has a substance use disorder. Not only that, it’s a fairly serious thing to confront someone about unless you’re pretty sure. This is bad for two reasons. First, if your loved one does have a substance use issue or other addiction, they will use your attentional blindness […]
“A strange thing has happened on the path to marijuana legalization. Users across all ages and experience levels are noticing that a drug they once turned to for fun and relaxation now triggers existential dread and paranoia,” wrote Malcolm Ferguson, an assistant editor at The Atlantic, in August. Like other journalists, Ferguson is beginning to […]
Unions and the leadership responsible for protecting the health and wellness of their members can play essential roles in addressing America’s addiction epidemic and changing public perception about the disease. Since its inception, organized labor has empowered workers to negotiate better wages, insurance benefits, paid leave, and safety standards. In recent years, unions have also […]
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