Addiction Blog. Insight and Advice from our expert team.

Xanax (generic name alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, some men take it without a prescription, just to get a quick relaxation effect. Over 100,000 people a year wind up in emergency rooms due to nonmedical use of Xanax, often in combination with alcohol or another depressant drug. Even when taken as a legitimate prescription, Xanax carries risks—notably the risk of addiction. Avoiding Xanax Addiction Benzodiazepines are particularly addictive drugs, largely because physical tolerance develops quickly. So if your doctor recommends a Xanax prescription, plan on taking it for a limited time (ideally no more than three …

Situational depression is a short-term change in mood related to a specific traumatic or stressful incident. This issue may affect you if you have trouble adjusting to an unexpected life change or circumstances beyond your control. While situational depression is usually less severe than clinical depression, it can still impact your quality of life and leave you feeling bereft and joyless. Here’s what you need to know.  What Causes Situational Depression? One critical difference between situational depression and major depressive disorder is that the former condition has a specific, identifiable trigger. Examples of events that might cause situational depression include:  …

Depression is a complex condition affecting more than 260 million people worldwide. It can be brought on by life events, like the loss of a loved one, or suddenly appear as one ages. Men experiencing depression tend to lash out, become reckless, and misuse drugs or alcohol. Often, they do not realize that they need to seek treatment. We hope to change that. Today, we’d like to explore the various types of depression documented by psychologists. If you recognize your symptoms below, we ask that you reach out for professional help. A Note About Mood Disorders The Diagnostic and Statistical …

For many busy professionals, the day is almost fully occupied by work. Even when you’re not in the office, you’re probably thinking about looming deadlines, pending sales, and important meetings. Unfortunately, these thought patterns can contribute to chronic stress, which leads to its own host of consequences. Learn the facts about sleep procrastination and burnout among professionals. Sleep Procrastination: A Growing Health Concern When you finally finish your work, you feel like there aren’t enough hours left in the day. As a result, you make the decision to stay up later at night. Putting off your bedtime in favor of …

When COVID-19 became a public health issue in 2020, it had the side effect of aggravating other health problems. With hospitals overloaded, human contact limited, and nearly everyone under chronic stress, even people never exposed to COVID were at higher risk of mental and behavioral disorders. Even as the COVID pandemic continues to abate, higher levels of mental illness and drug use remain as an unpleasant legacy. Sad to say, illegal drug trafficking was one industry that saw a major increase in business during the pandemic—and, given drugs’ addictive nature, there was no automatic reduction in that business as society …

Substance abuse takes a toll on people’s physical and mental health, inflicting multifaceted damage on organs and tissues. Maintaining a drug habit can be costly in more ways than one, including the loss of your health and well-being. When you finally decide to start recovery, you may be surprised to learn that nutrition counseling plays a central role in the process. The reasons for this are twofold: Most people who enroll in treatment are malnourished, and the foods you eat can help your body heal. Addiction and Malnutrition Long-term drug use causes malnutrition by preventing your body from absorbing essential …

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs designed to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Introduced in the mid-1950s, “benzos” were originally intended to take the place of highly addictive barbiturates. However, decades of research have revealed that benzodiazepines can be just as habit-forming as the drugs they were meant to replace. The addictive potential of benzos lies in their method of action. Like opioids, cannabinoids, and other drugs, this medication can wreak havoc on a person’s dopamine levels. The outcome? A severe substance use disorder. Dopamine Explained No discussion of addiction is complete without mention of dopamine. It’s the “feel-good” neurotransmitter responsible …

When researching addiction treatment programs, you may be surprised to see that nearly all centers offer group therapy services. Why are groups so popular? The research speaks for itself. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) calls this approach “a source of powerful curative forces that are not always experienced by the client in individual therapy.” This is especially true for men seeking freedom from addiction. Today, we’ll discuss the benefits of group therapy for lasting recovery. The Importance of Support in Recovery Addiction is a lonely experience. While some men may begin by drinking or using drugs with …

As America’s opioid epidemic continues, new concerns come to light. While researchers recommend that those with depression and chronic pain avoid long-term use of painkillers, these drugs are still widely prescribed to those within this population. Over time, this results in adverse outcomes, including addiction and rapidly declining mental health. Today, we’d like to explore the relationship between depression and long-term opioid use. Understanding Long-Term Opioid Use Among Depressed Individuals In an article for The Clinical Journal of Pain, Dr. Mark D. Sullivan conducted a thorough review of the relation between opioid use, addiction, and depression. He found that depressed …