Addictions

Overeating is epidemic in the United States. For those who do not fall into the trap of food addiction, overeating can seem senseless. But walk for a day in the shoes of a person with a food addiction, and you start to get a sense of why it isn't that easy to just stop. Read More...

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Mother's Day is one of those days we are all supposed to enjoy. Stories of warm, happy memories of idyllic childhoods abound, and cards express gratitude for the most wonderful woman in the world  But for many people with addictions, Mother's Day is a painful reminder of a less-than-perfect relationship.    Read More...

Often, when talking to heavy drinkers, drug users, or other people who engage in addictive behavior, I notice they define their behavior as non-problematic if they feel they are not "addicted." This is unhelpful in (at least) two ways Read More...

Pot smokers are among the most defensive people who engage in addictive behaviors. Read More...

Living with a parent who has an addiction can be hard. Often you feel like you have to be the adult, while your parent doesn't always act like one. Read More...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a now rare but serious condition affecting the lungs, and sometimes spreading to other parts of the body. It is known that recent immigrants to the US, people with compromised immune systems, and the elderly are more at risk, but there are now higher incidences of TB among substance users than any of these other groups. Substance users may have a harder time accessing screening, diagnostic and treatment services for TB. Read More...

Few people plan to become addicted to drugs like cocaine or heroin. Even fewer plan to end up in jail, or with a criminal record that will follow them for life. But this often happens when people break the law, and are unaware of their legal rights. Read More...

Genetic scientists at the University of Virginia have shown that some people may have a physiological predisposition to addiction. Furthermore, it is well known that people with addictions often shift from one addiction to another, which has also been supported by the findings. Read More...

There's something about detox that seems off-putting to a lot of people. They may have faced the fact that they have a problem, they may even be looking for help in overcoming their alcohol or drug addiction, yet the idea of detox is the last thing they are willing to consider. But it is the first thing they need.

The road to recovery begins with detox. Detox is the process by which alcohol and other drugs are cleansed from the body, while the symptoms of withdrawal are properly managed. It can actually be dangerous to suddenly stop using alcohol or some drugs without proper medical support, if you have been using excessively for a period of time. Detox will certainly make the process of withdrawal more comfortable.

So why the reluctance to take this important step in treatment? Is it too shameful to admit you have an addiction, and to be surrounded by others with the same plight, even just for a few days? Do you feel you will be judged? Do you feel you are the best person to manage your own withdrawal?

If you do not feel you can handle detox, for whatever reason, but do want to quit alcohol or drugs, please talk to your family doctor. They may be able to give you detox support at home, or to link you up with a community-based service. At the very least, tell a friend or family member, so that they can see how you are doing, and get medical help if it is necessary.

If you have decided to go it alone, and you are experiencing alcohol or drug withdrawal, do not hesitate to call 911.

Many of us have times when we know we are working too hard, and it is stressing us out.  But that doesn't make you a workaholic.  Escaping from feelings, other activities, and real relationships through work makes you a workaholic. Read More...