Also known as “uppers,” stimulants refer to drugs that increase alertness and energy, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and their derivatives. Stimulants work in the body by acting upon the brain’s chemicals—known as “neurotransmitters”—such as norepinephrine and dopamine. These naturally-occurring brain chemicals are associated with the body’s “fight or flight” crisisContinue Reading
Is Nicotine Physically Addictive? Nicotine is a powerful drug resulting in physical addiction on par with that of cocaine. As with any chemical dependency, there can be both physical and psychological addictions that develop, serving to promote addiction. What Causes Nicotine Addiction? The most common forms of nicotine addiction areContinue Reading
What is Marijuana? Originating in Southeast Asia, marijuana has been cultivated around the world for thousands of years for its mild hallucinogenic and intoxicating properties. Also known as cannabis, marijuana is a dark green flowering plant that has distinctive long leaves grouped together in sets of five. Marijuana emanates aContinue Reading
Is Marijuana Physically Addictive? While marijuana isn’t inherently physically addictive, some users—especially those with prolonged and heavy marijuana use—do experience symptoms of physical withdrawal addiction. What Causes Marijuana Addiction? Much of the addictions to marijuana that occur come from psychological addiction and behavioral addiction—the repeated activating of the brain’s rewardContinue Reading
Marijuana dependency can often be difficult to detect. While no amount of marijuana use is truly healthy, not everyone who has tried marijuana ends up with a drug addiction. However, by assessing the role of marijuana in your lifestyle and health, you can gain a more accurate picture of whetherContinue Reading
Marijuana addiction remains one of the most common—and most insidious—recreational drug dependencies. Across the nation, nearly 12 million individuals suffer from marijuana addiction, including over 33 percent of teenagers in the 13 to 18-year age range. While many chronic marijuana smokers often take measures to reduce the visibility of theirContinue Reading
Sometimes, drug or alcohol dependency occurs alongside a secondary mental health condition. In these specialized situations, known as “dual diagnosis” cases, chemically dependent individuals need experienced, professional addiction recovery experts that can treat both conditions. In fact, studies have shown that dual diagnosis treatment patients benefit from holistic rehabilitation centersContinue Reading
For many years, the addiction industry has insisted on the genetic model of addiction as the only acceptable paradigm. However, while genetics can contribute to drug or alcohol addiction development, it often only offers a partial picture. Twin studies and other scientific research show that genetics only plays a smallContinue Reading
Personality changes can occur as drug dependency begins to take a physical hold on a dependent individual. Illegal drugs start to affect brain function—including the areas regulating cognition and mood—by altering chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters. While some illicit drugs create specific and predictable alterations in personality,Continue Reading
The transition period that follows drug or alcohol recovery is an important one. During this crucial intermediary phase, you embark on a life free of drugs and alcohol dependency and set the tone for the new, sober life ahead of you. By creating a transition-friendly environment, you can maximize yourContinue Reading
As human beings, we are more than simply a conglomeration of cells, electrical impulses, and organs. Unfortunately, many drug and alcohol treatment programs emphasize the importance of psychological dependency, overemphasizing the role of genetics or physical addiction. While medical detox is certainly a vital part of recovery, chemical dependency relapseContinue Reading