Treatment

All medications have side‐effects and these need to be balanced against potential benefits from their unknown efficacy in this population. The first days and weeks after quitting marijuana can be a rollercoaster of thoughts, physical symptoms, and emotions. Though we provide a general timeline of typical withdrawal symptoms, everyone is different. Your experience with withdrawal […]

Start by talking to your doctor about how much alcohol you’ve been using and your plan to quit. It’s important that you work with your doctor when you’re ready to stop drinking rather than trying to do it alone. One study found that around 70% of participants had sleep problems when they were admitted for […]

People return to using alcohol or drugs in this final stage. At this stage, people experience an internal struggle to resume substance use and the desire to remain sober. Many health professionals view relapse as a process instead of a sudden event. It is hoped that more severely mentally ill people will obtain life-saving treatment […]

Find information about salary ranges and earning potential for substance abuse counselors. It was originally developed to address borderline personality disorder. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and observe experienced professionals within the field. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about a more specific career path. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment […]

Crack is a crystallized, free base form of cocaine that is incredibly potent and addictive. Affecting the central nervous system, crack smoking triggers an immediate dopamine response in the brain and produces an intense, euphoric high. While undergoing this treatment process, the patient can avoid situational crack cravings and those cravings for other substances. Often, […]

The Twelve Steps themselves are the essence of Alcoholics Anonymous. They are the directions meant to provide members a path to lasting sobriety and a substance-free lifestyle. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute […]

Dual diagnosis treatment programs for substance abuse and eating disorders focus on addressing both conditions and their common roots, rather than trying to treat one after the other. These programs are unique to the individual and the complex interplay between the conditions but typically involve individual and group therapy designed to heal the patient from […]

Women for Sobriety focuses on the needs of women with any type of substance use problem. They also value having role models of recovery and someone to call on when the recovering self is an unsteady newborn. Data show that the programs are helpful for some but not for everyone. Shame is an especially powerful […]

Some studies indicate that inpatient treatment leads to better short-term abstinence rates than outpatient, but that advantage may reduce over time. People in inpatient programs may also be more likely to complete treatment. With that said, inpatient programs tend to be more expensive and aren’t necessarily for everyone. The Navigator helps adults find alcohol treatment […]

If you think you could use the extra help, talk to your doctor about which medication is right for you. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I finally managed to get and stay sober. When I look back on the millions of times I tried (and failed) to quit, I have a very good […]