Drug abuse and addiction affects many more people than only the ones using drugs. Friends, family, co-workers and other bystanders are significantly impacted by the substance abuse of others. This web of dependency and codependency can cause great emotional pain, fear, and the fracturing of important relationships. Even the employer/employee relationship can be greatly affected [...]

The cost of doing business as a medical professional has skyrocketed and is coupled with the more stringent regulatory mandates that you are presented with. Being a physician with a viable and thriving practice requires that you are a medical professional, a business person, and a marketing person. Your patients are more mobile than ever, [...]

To prevent irreversible damage from drug addiction, early identification of drug abuse is required. It can be hard to imagine some students getting involved in drugs, but often small signs are visible for those watching for them. Physical Signs of Drug Abuse Different drugs create different physical symptoms such as the following: Dilated (enlarged) pupils [...]

Professional drug screening involves a technical analysis of one’s biological specimen to determine if remnants of drugs or alcohol are in the body. In laymen’s terms, a drug screening involves the examination of one’s hair, urine, blood, salvia or sweat in order to find any traces of drugs. People are often screened before and during [...]

While the most significant changes drug use causes are typically psychological, emotional and behavioral, there are changes in physical appearance that indicate drug use and addiction. Recognizing Physical Symptoms of Substance Abuse Various addictive substances cause different changes in a person’s appearance. Some changes may involve the following: Pinpoint or dilated pupils Droopy or bloodshot [...]

Whether you want to admit it or not, your family is involved in your addiction. Addiction has a tremendous impact on the family unit. If a parent, child or spouse suffers from addiction, everyone else in the family also pays a price. Some of the fallout from addiction within a family includes the following: Loss [...]

The process of addiction recovery is challenging even for someone who is motivated to attain long-lasting sobriety. Addiction rehab programs that offer an inpatient recovery program are often the best choice for those who are starting their journey of sobriety. However full-time inpatient hospitalization is not the best choice for every person and life situation. [...]

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) the idea of a therapeutic community (TC) began about 40 years ago and was intended to treat drug abuse and addiction. A TC is a drug-free residential setting that aligns treatment with increased levels of personal and social responsibility. A variety of group processes are employed [...]

Addiction controls a person’s life. It influences their health, their ability to work and financially support themselves, their social interactions, their appearance, their ability to contribute to the community and their interpersonal relationships. Addiction puts users and their loved ones at risk. How Addiction Impacts Children of Addicts Children of addicts struggle with many emotional [...]

A large part of any successful addiction recovery is receiving addiction recovery support from others who have experienced similar situations to what you are currently going through. Finding support groups that make you feel comfortable can provide you with long-term support as you face the stressors and triggers that may have otherwise led to a [...]