Addiction Blog. Insight and Advice
from Our Austin Area Addiction Recovery Experts.

Doctor shopping is a growing problem in the United States. It is a fairly common, yet illegal way for addicts to get prescription drugs for use that is not related to medical injury or pain. Doctor shopping is when an addict decides to visit several different doctors or facilities for the same medication. From there,…

Many active and recovering alcoholics live by the edict that “revenge is a dish best served cold.” They develop anger or resentment toward a person or situation and deal with that anger by exacting revenge against them, yet that revenge often rebounds to leave the alcoholic with a cold and empty feeling. Alcohol then becomes…

Our addiction isolates us. Most of us come into recovery feeling very much alone. Hiding from the world has become a way of life for many suffering addicts and alcoholics. The shame we feel prevents us from having any real connection with others. We feel safer being alone than letting others see our behavior for…

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, one of the brain’s many messengers. A neurotransmitter is a chemical that delivers nerve impulses and electrical signals across the gaps between nerve cells. When it comes to dopamine in addiction, the relationship is extremely complicated. Dopamine and the Brain The main function of dopamine is generating motivation through behavior and…

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the nerve cells in your brain, as well as between nerve pathways and muscle tissue. The largest concentrations of serotonin in your body will be in your brain, your blood platelets and your digestive tract. For many years, physicians and biochemists have believed that serotonin plays a…

Percocet is a prescription opiate-based painkiller that combines oxycodone and acetaminophen. The generally-accepted philosophy in the medical community is that patients who are experiencing post-surgical or trauma-induced pain will heal and recover better without pain. This is a sound philosophy, but like all opiate products, Percocet is very addictive. Physicians and pharmacists may counsel their…

When something goes wrong — horribly wrong — it makes us feel horrible. When we feel horrible, we desperately want to channel those emotions somewhere. All of us, especially addicts, do this. The Vicious Cycle Even if you know, deep down, that your disease is nobody’s fault, the temptation to blame someone is strong, and…

I spent the majority of my life running away from the truth; Putting on a smile, smooth talking my way out of each problem that presented itself acting however I needed to for the approval of others, or to fulfill my own selfish motives. I had no clue who I was or who I was…

A report that was recently published by JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that 68 percent of visits to the ER for overdose concerns were caused by prescription pills in the last ten years. This means that pills and medicines being prescribed by doctors to combat pain are actually causing people to become addicted which might result…

Serotonin and depression are inextricably intertwined. Neuroscientists have long known that individuals who suffer from depression also have low serotonin levels, and that this neurotransmitter is critical in regulating moods. They do not know if depression causes serotonin level reductions, or if low serotonin levels cause depression. Boosting serotonin levels is a common strategy to…

The physical effects of alcoholism are often apparent to a casual observer. Over time, an alcoholic will lose weight, have a sallow appearance, and appear tired or confused. The internal, long-term effects of alcoholism, however, are not as easy to identify, yet they are often more dangerous to an alcoholic’s health and well-being even after…

Watching Tiger sinking an incredible putt that placed him 1 behind the tournament leader at the Valspar Championship two weekends ago was one of those moments where you felt goosebumps run up your arms. At least, that’s what seeing my childhood hero’s comeback felt like to me.Next to my father and grandfathers, Tiger Woods undoubtedly…

Alcoholism and drug abuse have a direct effect on both the addict and on his family members and loved ones. An addict might refuse to acknowledge his problems until someone he loves is able to connect with him. This will make him realize the extent of those problems and how that are harming his relationships….

The recovering alcoholic who falls off the wagon is a common character in popular culture. Depictions of this character show him succumbing to some stressful event with an alcohol binge. Afterward, he cleans himself up and never has another drop of alcohol. This simplistic depiction ignores the challenges that recovering alcoholics face after they have…

With one of the biggest “party” holidays approaching, many find themselves at events across the nation fueled by copious amounts of alcohol. This can be a risky time and place for those who have committed to themselves to abstain from drinking. Statistically, many relapses are triggered by such events. Everyone could use some quick tips…

Legal Drug Addiction Millions of Americans use tobacco and alcohol on a regular, and sometimes excessive, basis. It’s easy to fall into drug abuse when the drug is legal, readily available, and use is actually socially and culturally encouraged. Add up all the addicts of illegal drugs in the US, and the figure doesn’t even…

If you know someone who is struggling with addiction you may want to try to help them but feel unable to do so. Often people don’t know exactly how they can help and what to do. Talking to them and offering your support is a good first step but this alone will not help them…

Where can I go for drug rehab that fits my needs? If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering from drug addiction, it can be hard to know what your best options are from drug addiction rehab. After all, there are many many factors to consider. But have you thought about how important the…

Why should I choose rehab as a college student to overcome drug addiction or alcoholism? When you’re a college student struggling with drug addiction substance abuse, it can be difficult to know how to tackle this problem. After all, your friends and peers are probably only encouraging you to do drugs. College is well known…

Am I addicted to drugs? If you’re asking this question, there might be a good chance that you are struggling with drug addiction to some extent. But what if you’re just dabbling in minor drug use? Even the use of small amounts of drugs can be extremely dangerous. Most drugs are highly addictive substances, and…

What happens to my family if I’m struggling with drug addiction? If your someone’s son, father, brother, uncle, or grandfather, your drug addiction can be harming your family in more ways than you know. Though some people may think of drug addiction as a “victimless crime,” the fact is that all addiction has impacts beyond…