While much of the U.S. media’s attention has recently been on the opioid epidemic, the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s most recent statistics on cocaine use indicate 8.4% of adults report having used cocaine in the past year.[1] (That is one out of every 12 adults in America.) Cocaine is a stimulant and controlled substance…
If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder—aka chemical dependency—and seek treatment for an addiction to alcohol or drugs, the first recommendation a rehab center poses may be to do a medically assisted detox. “What’s that?” you ask. Medical detox is a process for getting rid of toxic (including addictive) substances, carried…
Have you ever looked in the mirror and the reflection back has said something like, “Alright, already! You’ve GOT to quit drinking!” If you’re like me, you’d certainly prefer to have a switch somewhere nearby you could flick and voila! All our alcohol problems would magically disappear and we’d be able to live our lives…
For those seeking recovery from an alcohol dependency, detoxing from alcohol is typically an extremely challenging experience. Throughout the detox process—which, according to Medical News Today, initially takes about a week[1]—there is a high likelihood of experiencing negative, even dangerous symptoms of withdrawal. Even milder symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be too uncomfortable to tolerate.…
When it comes to party drugs, few of them are more well-known than cocaine. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people abuse cocaine every year. Because of its addictive nature and strong withdrawal symptoms, many of them are afraid to seek treatment. However, what cocaine withdrawal symptoms can they expect in detox? At BoardPrep Recovery…
The amount of media attention being devoted to the current COVID-19 pandemic may obscure the longevity and potential danger of another national problem: the opioid epidemic. Indeed, addiction to opioid drugs—including fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid—has continued to rise in recent years. According to the latest figures reported by the National Center for Drug Abuse…
When I first came to the doorstep of recovery, I’d convinced myself I was never going to have fun again. I had spent years and years, day after day, chasing after “the next high,” having left far behind as a distant memory the time when a game of dodgeball at the playground or looking at…
Products made with cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical in the cannabis plant, seem to be everywhere these days. But a recent Canadian study finds CBD won’t help cure a person’s cocaine addiction or benefit them during detox. Improving the treatment of cocaine addiction would be a blessing to many. According to the 2019 World Drug…
Deciding to get help for drug or alcohol addiction is a big decision. It is one that creates uncertainly. You’re not sure what it may mean for you. Detox does not have to be scary. It’s an opportunity to heal and, in many situations, it can prove to be the best decision for you. At…
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…