Risks of Using Marijuana and Spice
As you can tell from the title, the purpose of this article is to outline the very serious risks people take when they use synthetic cannabinoids. If you don’t know this already, there are real and immediate risks to an individual’s mental as well as physical health from the use/abuse of fake weed, also known […]
What to Look for in a Drug Rehab Center
If you, or a loved one, are struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse or an eating disorder, and need help to untangle the mess that life has become, drug and alcohol rehab centers can offer a way out. If this is the case for you, it is very important to do some research first, because the […]
Alternative Treatments for Depression
The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that approximately 17.3 million adults in the U.S. aged 18 and over had experienced one or more major depressive episodes in the previous year. It is thought that depression impacts the mental health of approximately 10 to 15 percent of the population of the […]
What is the Baker Act Meaning?
The Baker Act is a law in Florida that was created in 1972 to establish legal procedures for the involuntary examination and treatment of individuals with mental illness. This law was put in place to prevent the indiscriminate admission of individuals to mental health institutions and to ensure that people are only admitted to such […]
Managing Depression and Anxiety
Each year, up to 20 percent of the population in the U.S., or more than 115 million people, present to their doctor with symptoms of anxiety disorder, depression, or both. Approximately 45 percent of these (52 million people), also suffer from an additional mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD). While anxiety and depression often […]
A Better Understanding by Aaron M.
In my active addiction I thought I knew everything. I had all the right answers, I knew what everyone was thinking, I knew how everyone was feeling and most importantly I knew best. I would never take anyone’s advice or heed any warning signs that my life was unmanageable. Any outsider looking in at my […]
What is an Intervention?
An intervention is a pre-planned meeting between concerned individuals, often family members or close friends, and a loved one or friend struggling with addiction. The goal of an intervention is to motivate the loved one to seek help in overcoming addictive behavior. This article will go over what is an intervention and additional aspects around […]
How to Do an Intervention
Addiction to drugs and alcohol affect family members as well as the person afflicted with alcohol or drug addiction. It is usually best to have an outside party do the actual intervention but on rare occasions a family member approaches their loved one’s addiction and the ties of a family first intervention becomes a successful […]
Pink Cocaine: What Is It and Why Is It Harmful?
Pink cocaine is a novel synthetic drug most popularly known and used in rave culture. Also known as phenylethylamine 2C-B, pink cocaine has increased public health concerns in recent years and has obtained a high-risk reputation, often negatively impacting the health of the user. What Is Pink Cocaine? In essence, pink cocaine is a man-made […]
Relationship With an Addict
Knowing someone with a substance abuse problem or addiction is common, considering how approximately 21 million Americans have been addicted to a substance at least once. Out of these individuals, only 10% get professional treatment. Living with a substance abuser can be challenging — and even more so when addicts do not seek professional help. […]
Finding Purpose by Evelyn T.
Looking back on my drinking days, there are several things that I was missing that kept me where I was. In my self-reliance I was missing God, true connectivity with others, the ability to follow through, self-love and respect, and ultimately my purpose for being. Without purpose, what was the point following through? Without purpose, […]
12 Step Programs
The Basic Concept of 12 Step Programs The basic concepts of all 12 step programs are the same – to help individuals recover from addiction, and rehabilitate their lives. There are currently a variety of 12 step programs, all of which owe their existence to Alcoholics Anonymous, which was originally developed in 1935 by Bill […]
Codependent Behaviors
Codependent behaviors can lead to dysfunctional coping methods such as substance abuse, and other negative behaviors that deplete our self worth. These behaviors can be inherited, learned, or developed. This article is about codependency and the behaviors of those who are in codependent relationships. What is Functional Dependency vs Codependency? As a species, we have […]
Alcoholism Treatments
Alcohol Use Disorder: A Common Problem Alcoholism is one of the most common forms of substance abuse in America, and worldwide. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that 6.2% of adults over the age of 18 have what is known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), also referred to as alcohol addiction, […]
Attitude of Gratitude by Mark F.
I’ve worked at Turning Point of Tampa for 16 years as a behavioral health tech. I have spent probably ten or more holidays with our clients. It truly is amazing to be around people who not only are newly clean and sober, but grateful to be where they are. We normally have a big Thanksgiving […]
Alcohol Recovery and Depression
Major depression is one of America’s most common mental health disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 21 million adults in the U.S. experienced at least one depressive episode in 2020. Yet, among these individuals, only 66% sought effective treatments. Meanwhile, research suggests that up to 1/3 of people with depression […]
Where It All Started by Ashley N.
I moved back to the area where I grew up at the beginning of the pandemic. I got clean in Tampa and my homegroup had been in Tampa for the last 15 years, so moving away from my support network was a bit scary. I had attended meetings in my hometown’s area many times in […]
Fentanyl Detox
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, a prescription drug that has been approved for the treatment of chronic and severe pain. Prescription Fentanyl is a strong opioid medication that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl, like other opioid drugs, is highly addictive and dangerous, and anyone who uses it […]
Gabapentin Abuse
Gabapentin is a medication typically used to treat seizures and neuropathic pain. It is also sometimes used as an off-label treatment for anxiety, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and even hot flashes. Gabapentin misuse and gabapentin addiction are a potential risk associated with the use of this prescription medication, especially when it is taken other than […]
What is an Enabler?
An enabler, or codependent is an individual that has become enmeshed in the life of a loved one who has an addiction. It may be a member of the family, or a close friend, who has developed an addiction of some type, such as substance abuse, or a compulsive disorder, such as gaming, for instance. […]
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
The Diverse Array of Mental Health Modalities People with limited experience with mental health often talk about “therapy” as a very broad concept, failing to differentiate between the many different modes of treatment that mental health professionals rely on to treat mental health conditions. In actuality, there are myriad different types of therapy, and it’s […]
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers: How They Can Help You Get Better
People who suffer from dual diagnoses can find it difficult to get help. This is because most people are not familiar with what a dual diagnosis is and what the symptoms are that come with it. A dual diagnosis means a person has a mental health disorder and a substance abuse problem. It can be […]
Life’s Balancing Act by Landon L.
Balance is defined as a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. If you would have told me 5 years ago, that some of my closet friends would say my life is well balanced, I would’ve laughed in your face. In my addiction my life thrived on extremes. It was […]
Definition of Addiction
Addiction is not something one should take lightly. The definition of addiction can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, and can involve anything from gambling and drug abuse to alcohol abuse or substance abuse. Everyone’s journey is different and very personal. It doesn’t matter how a person suffers from addiction, what […]
