Drug or alcohol addiction, also known as a substance use disorder, is a chronic brain disease. Overcoming addiction requires not only breaking physical dependence on the substance but also addressing the mental and emotional components of addiction. Therapy is an effective, evidence-based approach to dealing with underlying thoughts and emotions that drive addiction, and cognitive-behavioral...Read More

Addiction to drugs or alcohol is a complicated chronic brain disease. It changes the brain’s chemistry, affecting the brain’s systems of reward/pleasure, decision-making, learning, self-control, and stress. Substance use disorder (SUD) affects millions of people in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these people are afraid to seek treatment because they fear losing their job....Read More

Anyone recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction knows recovery is hard work. You have to stay focused and safeguard your sobriety every day. Learning about pink cloud syndrome and its emotional rollercoaster is key to preventing relapse.What Is the Pink Cloud Syndrome?The term “pink cloud” was coined in Alcoholics Anonymous by members who were...Read More

It’s not uncommon to have people in your life who are difficult to get along with. Often, we can minimize contact with these people and tolerate them when necessary. But sometimes we can get stuck in a difficult relationship that is not so easy to avoid. Toxic relationships can lead to emotional damage, exhaustion, and...Read More

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the drug epidemic in the United States continues to worsen. More than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses from April 2020 to April 2021. Nearly two-thirds of those deaths (64 percent) were due to using synthetic opioids, in most cases fentanyl.What Are Opioids?Opioids are a...Read More

Scientists once thought the human brain was a static organ when fully developed. They believed if it suffered an injury, accident, or other types of damage, it would not completely recover. They now know that the brain can heal itself when damaged. Although individual neurons may be unrepairable, the brain can forge new neural pathways...Read More

Valentine’s Day in RecoveryValentine’s Day is a day when many people show their significant other they love and appreciate them. Chocolates, flowers, and romantic dinners with wine or champagne are often part of the celebration. But if you or your loved one is in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction, especially if newly sober,...Read More

Recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction is a lifelong process that requires making healthy choices every day. Achieving lasting sobriety takes vigilance, commitment, and motivation. In times of discouragement, it can feel especially helpful to hear the stories of others who are in recovery. Reading books on addiction recovery can offer numerous benefits, both...Read More

In the United States, millions of people struggle each day with alcohol use disorders. The signs of alcohol addiction are often easy to recognize in many people. However, for someone who is high-functioning, the signs of alcoholism are not always so clear.Defining “High-Functioning”The term “functional alcoholic” was used in a 2007 report by the National...Read More

What Is a Functional Addict?The term functional addict is often used to describe a person who uses drugs or alcohol but continues to work and engage in life. While the term describes an important concept in addiction–the ability to be addicted to a substance while seeming “okay” or even successful to others–we prefer to avoid...Read More