Addictions Articles
Listed by most recent articles first.
- Managing Your Smoking Cravings
What can you do when you really have an urge or craving for a cigarette? One thing to keep in mind is that these urges to smoke will come and go. Try to wait ...
- Steps to Take on Your Quit Smoking Day
Today's the day you start your smoke-free life! Remind your family and friends that today is your quit date. Ask them to support you during the first few days and weeks. They can help you ...
- Medications to Help with Smoking Withdrawal
When you quit smoking, you may feel strange at first. You may feel dull, tense, and not yourself. These are signs that your body is getting used to life without nicotine. It usually only lasts ...
- Preparing to Quit Smoking
Just thinking about quitting may make you anxious. But your chances will be better if you get ready first. Quitting works best when you're prepared. Before you quit, START by taking these five important steps:...
- Why is Quitting Smoking Difficult?
Many ex-smokers say quitting was the hardest thing they ever did. Do you feel hooked? You're probably addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is in all tobacco products. It makes you feel calm and satisfied. At the ...
- Second and Third-Hand Smoke
Second-hand smoke can cause cancer in nonsmokers. It can also cause breathing problems and heart disease. People who breathe secondhand smoke get colds and flu more easily. And they often die younger than those who ...
- Why Should I Quit Smoking?
One of the most important parts of learning to quit smoking is understanding your motivations for wanting to quit. Wanting to quit for someone else is a sure indicator of likely failure -- successful quitters ...
- Overeating: It’s All In Your Head
The following is an excerpt from the book Three Minute Therapy and focuses on the topic of overeating and how cognitive-behavioral techniques can be used to help a person overcome this concern.
They say that inside ...
- Four Phases and Steps of Gambling Addiction
Four phases and four treatment steps have been identified in helping people better understand pathological gambling (also known as gambling addiction).
The Four Phases in Gambling Addiction
The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery has identified the ...
- Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Pathological Gambling
Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, may be a type of impulse-control disorder. Compulsive gamblers keep gambling whether they're up or down, broke or flush, happy or depressed. Even when they know the ...
- Online Pharmacy Use Can Have Serious Consequences
In today's communications landscape — where Internet access is readily available and advertising for prescription medication — it is no surprise that many patients are using online pharmacies.
There are many benefits to this type ...
- The Dos and Don’ts of Intervention
In his best selling book, I’ll Quit Tomorrow, the late Dr. Vernon Johnson wrote that the hallmark of alcoholism and drug dependence is denial. Accordingly, most substance abusers believe that their problems are caused by ...
- Rebuilding Relationships in Early Recovery
It is no secret that drug or alcohol addiction can damage the body and impair the mind. The good news is that with proper medical treatment, counseling and stopping use, these wounds heal over time. ...
- Why Alcohol and Depression Don’t Mix
Alcohol abuse and depression can be a deadly mix.
Often, a person with depression will also have alcoholism, and vice versa. In fact, 30 percent to 50 percent of people with alcoholism, at any given time, ...
- Celebrating Safely with Alcohol
For many families, drinking alcohol is a way to celebrate something. The good cheer of the holiday season is liberally laced with wine. We use champagne and liquor to show our happiness at weddings and ...
- What is Al-Anon and Alateen?
The Al-Anon (for adults) and Alateen (for teens) program is a Twelve Step program for the relatives and friends of alcoholics or someone who is or has been a problem drinker. It is not uncommon ...
- If Someone You Know Has a Problem with Alcohol
There are few things in life that are more difficult to cope with than a loved one who is dealing with a serious alcohol issue or alcoholism. You love the person and want to reach ...
- Facts About Cocaine
If you snort, smoke or inject cocaine or care about someone who does, you more than likely have some unanswered questions about the nature and effects of this powerful drug.
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive ...
- Levels of Treatment for Substance Abuse
There are four main levels of treatment for substance abuse:
Level I — outpatient treatment
Level II — intensive outpatient treatment
Level III — medically monitored intensive inpatient treatment
Level IV — medically managed intensive ...
- Treatment for Marijuana Abuse
The question is what can be done to help people become and remain abstinent. For those who cannot remain abstinent, an initial goal is measurable improvement. The first step for clinicians is to help the ...
- Frequently Asked Questions About Ecstasy
What Is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy (also known as XTC, X, Adam and MDMA) is a dangerous, illegal drug that has effects similar to those of amphetamines and hallucinogens.
How Is the Drug Used?
MDMA is generally sold in ...
- Treatment for Cocaine Abuse
An enormous increase has occurred in the number of people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction during the 1980s and 1990s. Treatment providers report that cocaine is the most commonly cited drug of abuse among their ...
- If Someone You Know Has a Problem with Cocaine
There are few things in life that are more difficult to cope with than a loved one who is dealing with a serious substance abuse issue. You love the person and want to reach out ...
- Frequently Asked Questions about Marijuana Use
Can I die from a marijuana overdose?
No. A lethal overdose of marijuana is virtually impossible; however, deaths from accidents and multiple drug use are not uncommon.
I smoked pot in the 1960s. I went to ...
- Facts about Marijuana Use
After a decade of decline, marijuana use has steadily increased among American youth. The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study, which assesses drug and alcohol use among American youth, reported substantial increases among eighth, ...
