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
Opiate abuse and addiction remain a dangerous and real epidemic in the United States. Taking health, social and financial tolls on opiate dependent individuals and society as a whole, opiate addiction can come in many forms, from heroin and morphine addiction to dependency upon prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, Oxycontin,Continue Reading
As a strong dissociative drug, ketamine (also known as “Special K”) can cause severe mental impairment in chemically dependent individuals. Affecting clarity of cognition, memory formation and even severe delusions, ketamine clouds the mind during both the period of intoxication and beyond. Unless ketamine addiction is properly treated in anContinue Reading
Medical detox can be a powerful first step in eliminating drug and alcohol addiction from your life. However, the physical component of addiction is almost always accompanied by psychological addiction—also known as the “psychic need”—that causes dependent individuals to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place. As youContinue Reading
The body’s nervous system becomes intensely compromised during crystal meth addiction. Shortly after crystal meth is introduced into the system, natural brain chemistry becomes altered, upsetting the user’s balance of important neurotransmitters. As drug dependency develops over time, crystal meth can cause a host of neurological changes in the bodyContinue 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
When amphetamine withdrawal sets in, the brain and body go through a series of unpleasurable reactions. Because amphetamines share a similar structure to the brain’s pleasurable and positive natural hormones—known as neurotransmitters—amphetamine abuse causes the body to initially spike and then eventually lower its production of these important chemicals. AsContinue Reading
A treatment approach with its roots in integrative medicine can make the difference in any addiction rehab program. Integrative medicine focuses on causes—not symptoms—of any ailment in the body, including chemical dependency. With an end goal of returning the chemically dependent individual’s body to a natural state of balance knownContinue 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
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