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

The desire to be accepted and fit in stays with us throughout our lives. It’s in our nature; humans don’t like to be alone. No matter what age you are, there are going to be people in your life who will lift you up and some who will try to bring you down. Here’s how…

The question has been asked over and over again: is work taking over your life? Many men have answered in the affirmative but have continued to work long hours, morning noon and night. As they became over-burdened and overwhelmed by a range of work-related issues that caused them to stay on late rather than make…

Relapse: the Top 3 Ways to Protect Yourself How can I avoid the threat of relapse when I’m recovering from drug addiction? When you’re someone who’s struggling with drug addiction, relapse can be a constant threat. After all, even if you complete a program of rehab a high-quality drug rehab center, that doesn’t mean that…

There is an opioid epidemic and it involves opiates too. These two terms, opioids and opiates, are often used together or interchangeably when discussing the drug addiction epidemic. However, there are some subtle differences between these related substances. Both terms relate to powerful addictive substances that are ultimately derived from the opium poppy, but here,…

There are probably as many explanations for marijuana use as there are people who use marijuana. Marijuana use has become more acceptable as the medical establishment has begun to incorporate THC into treatments for various ailments, and a few states have relaxed laws to allow for recreational use of marijuana. The fact remains, however, that…

After finally admitting to your addiction, you’re ready to find a place that can help. This is not something to delay, since your health and sometimes your life hang in the balance. When looking for a drug recovery and addiction treatment facility, keep in mind these key factors to make sure you attend the recovery…

The family of a drug addict or alcoholic typically suffers more than the addict or alcoholic himself. Addicts become so consumed by their addiction that they do not see the financial and emotional devastation they are causing their families. Families, in turn, often vacillate between enabling the addiction and getting angry over it. When families…

While addiction affects us all in devastating ways, requiring serious treatment attention and counseling to overcome, several clinics and studies are starting to notice that addiction affects men and women a bit differently. Understanding these differences is key to providing appropriate recovery support to both genders.For starters, the physiology of drug use differs from men…

What is the Role of Equine Therapy in Rehab? The benefits of equine therapy are emotional, physical, and spiritual. They include improved self-esteem and relaxation, along with enhanced concentration and a sense of spiritual grounding. Horses are key players in the mental rehabilitation of many people around the world. Equine-assisted therapy is an umbrella term…

Recovering from addiction is a journey of a lifetime requiring the support of friends, family and colleagues. Encouragement from loved ones help an individual in recovery with motivation to live free of addiction and substance abuse. The following tips can be helpful when providing support for a friend in sobriety. Acceptance Judgment can impair an…

If you or a loved one has been abusing benzodiazepines for a very long time, it is crucial to know how benzo withdrawals work. Withdrawal happens when a person who is physically dependent on benzos stops taking them. It can cause all sorts of unpleasant and potentially life-threatening symptoms if untreated. What are Common Benzo…

The easiest way to define addiction is to describe it as an intense psychological and physical craving for something and continuing its use despite severe consequences in one’s health, relationships, career, and quality of life. How does addiction take control of the brain? Substance addiction completely changes the brain and how it functions. It changes…

Until you accept a problem in its entirety, and shoo away all excuses and justifications, you cannot, and will not, overcome it. Just because you’ve accepted that your behavior is destructive doesn’t mean you’re suddenly ready to part ways with it. After all, you’re addicted because, on some level, the lifestyle serves you in some…

What is the Role of Spirituality in the 12 Steps? Addiction is challenging for people who are struggling and their loved ones. It cannot be cured and it also changes the way a person’s brain and body handle things. Addiction is still a big mystery, even with how much is known. The medical disease model…

Nearly half of all Americans take at least one prescription medication regularly, with more than 23% taking three or more different prescriptions at a time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 3 billion medications are either prescribed or ordered each year. Additionally, the CDC found that the vast majority of emergency…

Trying to decide if your teen is using drugs can be difficult and stressful. Realizing that your child may be going through this struggle can be hard to cope with or understand. Support and guidance is important to provide during this time, even if you feel frustrated or angry.There are six main signs that your…

Alcoholics and drug addicts might reject rehabilitation therapy on the premise that everyone experiences relapses and that therapy will not work. Although many individuals who are recovering from addiction problems will experience one or more relapse events, those events are not inevitable. A well-structured and organized rehabilitation program will recognize the likely triggers that will…

There are quite a few deterrents that hold people back from seeking treatment for addiction. One of the biggest is the often high monetary cost of rehab. And while that obstacle is usually not as large as it seems—there are a lot of treatment options, and not all of them cost the same—it’s important to…

Family—How Drug Addiction Impacts Everyone What does drug addiction do to harm my family? Whether you’re struggling with drug addiction yourself, or you’re concerned about your loved one (such as your husband, father, brother, or son), drug addiction impacts are serious business. This is true for addiction to illegal drugs such as meth, cocaine, heroin,…