More than One Way to Skin a Cat: Adventures in Creative Thinking

How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem – and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads.  No options.  No solutions. Did it [...]

Read the rest »

Approaches To Addiction And Recovery

It was in 1935 when Alcoholics Anonymous was established by doctors Bob Smith and Bill Wilson. These two doctors have changed the approach to addiction and recovery forever. Substance abuse is rampant and the doctors believed that individuals suffering from this form of addiction can’t possibly recover by themselves. Substance addiction can’t be eradicated unless [...]

Read the rest »

Many of America’s top social problems also relate to or impact drug abuse addiction

* Drugged Driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drugs are used by approximately 10 to 22 percent of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol. * Violence: At least half of the individuals arrested for major crimes including homicide, theft, and assault were under the influence of illicit drugs around [...]

Read the rest »

Drug Abuse Addiction is Costly

Drug abuse is a major public health problem that impacts society on multiple levels. Directly or indirectly, every community is affected by drug abuse and addiction, as is every family. Drugs take a tremendous toll on our society at many levels. Substance Abuse Costs Our Nation More than $484 Billion per Year The Costs of [...]

Read the rest »

Addiction is a Chronic Disease

Many Factors are Involved in Addiction Drug addiction shares many features with other chronic illnesses, including a tendency to run in families (heritability), an onset and course that is influenced by environmental conditions and behavior, and the ability to respond to appropriate treatment, which may include long-term lifestyle modification. Addiction is a chronic disease similar [...]

Read the rest »

Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?

No single factor can predict whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs. Risk for addiction is influenced by a person’s biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. For example: * Biology. The [...]

Read the rest »

What happens to your brain when you take drugs?

Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain’s communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. There are at least two ways that drugs are able to do this: (1) by imitating the brain’s natural chemical messengers, and/or (2) by overstimulating the “reward circuit” of the brain. Some drugs, [...]

Read the rest »

What is drug addiction?

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true [...]

Read the rest »

Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction

Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize those who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able [...]

Read the rest »

Neurobiological Addiction Awarness Basis

The development of addiction is thought to involve a simultaneous process of 1) increased focus on and engagement in a particular behavior and 2) the attenuation or “shutting down” of other behaviors. For example, under certain experimental circumstances such as social deprivation and boredom, animals allowed the unlimited ability to self-administer certain psychoactive drugs will [...]

Read the rest »