The abuse of and eventual dependency on drugs and alcohol is merely a mechanism to cope with physical, mental, or emotional pain. To stop your addiction, you must first find the underlying causes of your behaviors and why you are choosing to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol in the firstContinue Reading

Effects of Cocaine Addiction and Brain Chemistry | Passages Rehab

Repeated use of dangerous and addictive stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, often causes a powerful physical and mental dependency. It is rarely easy to overcome without attending an inpatient rehab program. A new study has recently found that stimulant drugs change and manipulate the brain’s circuitry, making a recovery followingContinue Reading

Food addiction is a condition that many people find difficult to understand.  Many people have unhealthy eating habits and difficulties with food. Still, it can be tricky to determine whether an individual merely struggles with eating or whether they are addicted to food.  Food addiction is a pathological disorder characterizedContinue Reading

Many of the articles we read and the studies we observe discuss drug and alcohol abuse in the United States.  However, drug and alcohol abuse is a worldwide problem and has been an issue in numerous countries for centuries. Research studies show that specific drugs used vary from country toContinue Reading

The Importance of Exercise in Addiction Recovery

Exercise is a very crucial component for an individual recovering from any alcohol or drug abuse.  Years of dependency on drugs and alcohol severely diminish your physical state and health, often leading to gaining of fat, loss of muscle tone, and deterioration of the bones and joints. Physical fitness andContinue Reading

What to Know About Plastic Surgery Addiction

Plastic surgery addiction is a term that is fairly new in the treatment world’s vocabulary.  Plastic surgery has only been around for a small number of decades. The number of people getting cosmetic procedures has rapidly spiked in the short amount of time it has been available.  Many people, especiallyContinue Reading

Many people often hear the term “denial” or the phrase “being in denial” when discussing an individual with a substance abuse issue. Unfortunately, many individuals who have been abusing drugs or alcohol for an extended time get very good at hiding and covering up their actions and have a hardContinue Reading

Non-AA Rehabs for All Religious Backgrounds and Cultures

Many people seeking drug or alcohol treatment find themselves looking for a rehab center where they will be able to feel comfortable and accepted.  Often, individuals feel uncomfortable with AA and 12-step programs heavily Christian-based.  Luckily, many rehab centers have been created to fill this void and to treat peopleContinue Reading

Although it may seem like just an added perk and not necessary for complete healing, attending a luxury rehab center does have numerous therapeutic advantages.  Although there are thousands of drug rehab centers throughout the country, not many of them emphasize the treatment center atmosphere. Commonly, especially in 12-step rehab programs,Continue 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

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