It’s a question that anyone struggling with substance abuse — and anyone who loves a person fighting addictive behaviors — has asked themselves: what is the root cause of addiction? Scientific research has not identified a single cause, life event, or family history factor that will “always” lead to addiction. However, many people battling addiction share several risk factors in common, and understanding these risk factors can be helpful whether you’re seeking addiction treatment for yourself or want to help your friends or family members.  Several risk factors that may cause a person to ..read more

Is someone in your family struggling with addiction? Talking to a family member about substance use disorders can be a difficult conversation to have. But hoping that the problem will resolve itself is not enough — seeking professional help is the only way your loved one can begin their journey toward the recovery process. And often, the best place for recovery is an addiction treatment center. Suggesting that your family member might benefit from a substance abuse treatment center can be done in a productive and meaningful way — if you keep an open mind. Here are some tips that can help guide ..read more

Making the decision to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addictions is a significant step. When the time comes, you want to find a treatment center that helps you better understand your goals and provides various entry points and treatment methods as a continuum of care. Sorting through the different options can feel overwhelming, but having an understanding of your needs goes a long way in your search. As you and your family conduct research, use these tips to know you’re asking the right questions and checking the right boxes on your road to recovery.  Start With an Understanding of Yo ..read more

Recovering from a drug addiction can lead to a wide range of complex and conflicting emotions. These feelings can profoundly impact one’s recovery process, making sustainable sobriety more challenging.  Learning how to overcome shame associated with drug rehabilitation can vary from person to person and having some helpful strategies is important. In addition, understanding the inner workings of shame can help you navigate these complicated feelings and ensure sustained recovery.  Defining Shame To avoid shame associated with drug rehabilitation, it’s important to understand what sha ..read more

When you or a loved one decides to begin their alcohol addiction recovery journey, the first significant physical hurdle is alcohol withdrawal. The next step includes flushing alcohol out of your system so you can start the journey to sobriety. However, depending on how accustomed your body has become to the presence of alcohol in your system, the withdrawal effects can be debilitating.  Although withdrawal can be excruciating, can it be fatal? Read on to learn more about the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and how getting the right medical treatment can help.   What Are the Init ..read more

Whether it’s alcohol, opioids, or other narcotics, detoxification is critical to your recovery. Without flushing your system of harmful toxins, you cannot begin your recovery journey in earnest. However, detoxing is more complicated than it seems on the surface. An array of factors are considered to determine how well you respond to the process.  For people looking to begin their recovery journey, choosing where they undergo their detox can make or break their initial efforts. As you or a loved one decide to take this vital first step, one of the biggest questions becomes — is it possible ..read more

When someone is recovering from an addiction, knowing what to expect during their recovery and life after treatment remains an essential factor for their long-term prognosis. Every recovery journey is different, presenting people with unique challenges that aren’t cookie-cutter or entirely predictable. For many, the biggest question relates to their addiction cravings — how long will they last? Is this something they must deal with for the rest of their lives?  Defining Addiction Cravings Knowing what drug and alcohol addiction cravings consist of can help you better prepare yourself for ..read more

For people suffering from different forms of addiction, getting the help they need to begin their recovery represents the first step in a life-long process. Often, the hardest part of the process resides in making the decision every day to maintain their sobriety and make the conscious choice to move forward with their life. However, keeping their newfound lifestyle can often prove more difficult than they imagined.  Regardless of their stage of recovery, knowing how to keep a continued commitment to their recovery remains an essential phase of the process. It represents one of the most c ..read more

Pennsylvania winters can quickly become unbearably cold, with temperatures dropping and sudden severe winter weather rolling through areas at a moment’s notice. While most people will warm up in their cozy homes, start their fireplace, and make a cup of hot cocoa, some may resort to overindulging in their vices. People suffering from substance use disorders such as opioid addiction can fall into their self-destructive habits in these situations, but is the colder weather to blame? Does colder weather affect the risk of opioid misuse?  Defining Opioid Misuse and Addiction When it comes to ..read more

Whether you’re talking about suffering from alcohol use or a substance use disorder, deciding to get the help and support you need is only half the battle. The road to a lasting recovery looks different for everyone; risk factors, life circumstances, and more can affect their progress. Understanding that this type of undertaking is rarely ever a straight line and that there are peaks and valleys throughout can make it more manageable, but there are still steps you or a loved one can take to ensure a lasting recovery.  Everyone entering a substance abuse treatment program wants to enjoy a ..read more