September is National Recovery Month. During the month, attention and awareness are brought to substance use and those who have completed recovery successfully are celebrated. These individuals are encouraged to share their stories through various vehicles in order to shine a light on what it is like to experience addiction and highlight what it means
Few can imagine the pressure that professional athletes face when playing on a field or court in front of thousands of fans. The desire to be better, do better and feel better propels countless athletes every year to use and misuse substances in ways that can alter their career forever. While the lifestyle and luxury
Opioids, whether it be opiates in prescription medication or recreational drugs, are highly addicting and therefore lead to difficult experiences with withdrawal. When ingested, opioids incite feelings of intense pleasure and relaxation by stimulating receptors in the brain. For those who become addicted, this dopamine slowly loses its ability to release itself in the absence
Across the globe, alcohol consumption is consistently on the rise. Research shows that the total volume of alcohol consumed each year has increased by nearly 70% between 1990 and 2017. Major beverage companies are making alcohol more accessible than it’s ever been before, marketing products to every gender, age group, and audience. With drinks like
When it comes to nutrition, many people believe that a well-balanced diet is essential in order to maintain a healthy weight, and supply the body with the nutrients it needs to perform at its best. But research shows that a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, can actually improve mental
For those living with substance use disorder, it is not uncommon for individuals to take multiple substances at once. Meth and heroin are two incredibly addictive drugs that, when used together, can bring unprecedented danger to the user. Both drugs have a range of severe mental and physical side effects that can lead to a
Opioid settlements are making a wave across the country as the manufacturers and distributors have marketed and proliferated the painkillers are being held responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic. Recent landmark rulings in Oklahoma include: Johnson & Johnson being ordered to pay $572 million by an Oklahoma state judge to fund a state
World Mental Health Day 2019 is coming up! In the United States alone, nearly 46.6 million adults—that’s 1 in 5 people—experience some type of mental illness in a given year. Some studies show that disorders like depression and anxiety are at an all time high, fueled by stressors related to family life, career, finances, and
