Alcohol Detox Helps Brain Recover Quickly

Alcohol Detox Helps Brain Recover Quickly

While studies have shown the brain is impaired by abuse of alcohol—e.g., the volume of brain matter shrinks or atrophies[1]—research has also demonstrated alcohol detox can reverse this process in a relatively short time. Indeed, the head of one study, Gabriele Ende, a professor of medical physics at the Central Institute of Mental Health in…

Rehab 101 – Those Who Accomplish Recovery Practice “Sticking and Staying”

Rehab 101 – Those Who Accomplish Recovery Practice “Sticking and Staying”

A commonly heard phrase in the rooms of recovery is, “Stick with the ‘winners’!” Early on I recall asking the question, “Well, who are the ‘winners’?” Funnily enough, what I’ve come to find over the 22 years I’ve been drug-free and actively involved in recovery is this:  The word “stick” (as in “Stick with the…

It’s Double-Trouble When Anesthesiologists Get Addicted to Painkillers

It’s Double-Trouble When Anesthesiologists Get Addicted to Painkillers

During the past few years, much has been said about the opioid epidemic in the U.S. One specific segment of society—doctors who specialize in anesthesiology—have been shown to be particularly prone to the devastating effects of prescription painkillers. The fact is, there’s a significant element of “double-trouble” in the life of an addicted anesthesiologist. That’s…

Nurses with a Substance Use Disorder Face Unique Challenges

Nurses with a Substance Use Disorder Face Unique Challenges

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the percentage of nurses in the U.S. who have a substance use disorder (i.e., dependence on alcohol and/or drugs) is about 10%, similar to the percentage of the general population.[1] Given the large number of nurses working in the field—approximately 4 million[2]—this rate of addiction…

Reflections on Marijuana Addiction, Detoxing and Therapy Options

Reflections on Marijuana Addiction, Detoxing and Therapy Options

The legalization of marijuana in many states has made its use more common, thereby increasing the value of understanding the symptoms of marijuana addiction, what can happen when one stops its use (“detoxes”) and the treatment options that can help those who find they can’t stop without experiencing undesirable symptoms. The National Institute of on…

Rehab 101 — If You Could Recover on Your Own, You Already Would Have?

Rehab 101 — If You Could Recover on Your Own, You Already Would Have?

Typically, people who find their way into recovery—whether it be through a treatment center/rehab facility, a 12 Steps program or some combination of both—come in with some measure of humility. That is, having “reached the end of their rope” with their dependency on alcohol and/or drugs, they’ve likely faced a devastating array of problems:  …

Healthcare Professionals Who Engage in a Quality Aftercare Program Can Strengthen Recovery

Healthcare Professionals Who Engage in a Quality Aftercare Program Can Strengthen Recovery

If you’re a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional in the process of completing (or have just completed) treatment for a substance use disorder (i.e., alcohol and/or drug dependence), you’ve very likely heard a trumpet blaring in your ear about the importance of… aftercare! Indeed, given the medical establishment does not currently have a cure…