Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first 12-step therapy program, founded in 1935. Since then, 12-step programs have helped millions of people worldwide manage and maintain their sobriety. AA was created to help those suffering from alcohol addiction. Because of the approach’s effectiveness, the 12-step program philosophy has been used as the model to create programs…
Addiction is a complex disease that has a history rooted in stigma. Historically addiction has been viewed as a moral failing of people who actively chose to relinquish self-control. Thankfully, modern science and medical research have proven that addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease, which has helped to alleviate much of the stigma previously…
Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans from all walks of life. Opioids are a class of drugs that impact the central nervous system by blocking pain and creating a sense of euphoria. Unfortunately, they have the potential to become highly addictive, especially when improperly used. While most people are aware…
In addiction treatment, relapse refers to a return to the addictive behavior following a period of sobriety. Addiction is a complicated disease, and relapse is a common part of recovery. A relapse prevention therapy program is an integral part of overall addiction treatment. Creating a relapse prevention plan does not guarantee that you will not…
Much has been done to educate the public about opioid addiction, but there is still a lot of misunderstanding about heroin. If you or someone in your life is addicted to heroin, you understand how powerful it is. The safest and most effective way to recover from heroin addiction is to seek help from a…
Stimulants are a class of drugs that impact the central nervous system by speeding up the messages between the brain and the body. Stimulants increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Dopamine is the body’s natural “feel good” drug. Norepinephrine is involved in regulating the body’s cardiovascular system and breathing. There are…
Drug detox is a process during which all traces of substances are removed from the body. Detox is generally the first step toward recovery from drug addiction and should be followed by comprehensive addiction treatment. The main goal of detox is to address the physical aspects of addiction so that patients can deal with the…
In recent years, the opioid epidemic has swept through Florida and the rest of our nation at an alarming rate. Opioids are a class of drugs that affect the nervous system by blocking pain and creating intense pleasure feelings. They have the potential to become highly addictive and even deadly, especially when improperly used. There…
Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first 12 step program. Since then, 12 step programs have been effective at helping millions of people throughout the world manage and maintain their sobriety. Given that AA was designed to help those suffering from alcohol addiction, over time exclusively, the 12 step program philosophy has been…
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid pain reliever that is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl was designed to treat severe pain following surgeries, cancer treatment, or when a patient with chronic pain has developed a tolerance to other opioids. Like other opioids, fentanyl activates receptors on cells throughout the body to…