Anyone can develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. However, two main factors increase someone’s likelihood of having a problem with substance abuse: a person’s genetics and their environment. We don’t have much control over the inherited genetic traits that can contribute to the development of an addiction. Our environment, however, can also play a significant role in whether we can reach — and maintain — sobriety. Environmental factors that contribute to addiction include: connections to peers who regularly use or encourage the use of substances the thoughts and beliefs of our loved ones ..read more

Just under 2% of the U.S. population ages 12 and up (or 5.2 million people) acknowledge using cocaine in 2020, per the 2020 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Additionally, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) found that cocaine was the third most trafficked drug in the U.S. in 2020, according to evidence collected by the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS). While the opioid crisis has garnered a great deal of attention due to its negative impact, other illegal drugs, including cocaine, . While withdrawal from cocaine doesn’t always include many of ..read more

Did you know that there is a strong connection between disability and addiction? Each condition increases the likelihood of having the other, and each also adds even more difficulties to the other. In other words, a person with a serious disability is more likely to abuse and/or become addicted to alcohol and drugs, and someone with a Substance Use Disorder is at greater risk of developing a permanent disability. Daily Difficulties A person with a disability may face numerous challenges: Physical Emotional Mental Having a disability often has a significant impact on a person’s life, and can ..read more

“(The HIV spikes) are fueled by undiminished drug tourism – people in the United States traveling to Mexico, often for extended periods, to buy and use cheaper, more accessible drugs.” ~ Steffanie Strathdee, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Diego School of Medicine According to brand-new research just announced by the UC San Diego School of Medicine, drug tourism may be behind an HIV outbreak in nearby Tijuana, Mexico. Specifically, the HIV rate among Tijuana drug users has climbed to a record 11/100 person-years, about 11%, or 1 in 9 people. Among San Die ..read more

“A common theme of all drugs of abuse is that they increase dopamine release in the brain, which helped feed the notion of dopamine as a reward molecule. This work clearly demonstrates a much more sophisticated role for this neurotransmitter, and it means we need to rethink models of addiction that depend on the dopamine/drug reward mentality.“ ~ Dr. Danny Winder, Ph.D., Director, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research In what may prove to be pioneering research, scientists have discovered that levels of dopamine – the so-called “reward hormone“ – also increase in response to stressful stimu ..read more

“There are high rates of childhood trauma in people with addictions. Our findings show that these sorts of experiences can actually change how certain drugs feel.“ ~ Dr. Molly Carlyle, the University of Queensland A recent small study suggests that individuals who have suffered childhood trauma may get a more pleasurable “high“ from opioids such as morphine. Scientists at the University of Exeter compared how morphine affects individuals with a history of childhood neglect and abuse with those who had no such history. Those participants with childhood trauma liked opioids more, experienced mor ..read more

“As many as one in two people in our study underestimated how drunk they were – and this can have devastating consequences.“ ~ Dr. Kai Hensel, the University of Cambridge According to recent research just published in December 2021 in The Harm Reduction Journal, up to half of all drinkers seriously underestimate how drunk they are, leading them to believe that they are still safe to drive. This has major implications for the worldwide problem of impaired driving. How Bad is the Problem? The World Health Organization reports that alcohol-related automobile accidents are the leading killer of pe ..read more

“I went back into denial, after all those years of sobriety and self-knowledge. I fooled myself.” ~ Jane Lynch While her public persona is that of a strong and confident woman with an acerbic wit so sharp it could cut stone, Jayne Lynch has faced more than her fair share of private struggles. As a teenager, the star of Glee and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel felt deeply ashamed about her sexuality, and that alienation and loneliness plagued her well into her 30s. While she was always a working actress, her career didn’t really take off until she was in her 40s. All the while, she battled crippling ..read more

“Whether a family member, neighbor, or friend – far too many of us know someone whose life has been upended or tragically cut short because of opioid addiction.“ ~ Rob Bonta, California Attorney General According to a new report released by the National Center for Health Statistics, drug overdoses have killed more than 1 million people during the ongoing opioid epidemic. Data shows that 932,364 Americans died from fatal drug overdoses between 1999 and 2020. Separate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that another 100,000-plus drug deaths occurred in 2021. Who is Hit ..read more

No one ever wants to tell their family that they are struggling with alcohol or drugs. It can be the most difficult conversation that you will ever have, leaving both sides feeling exposed, vulnerable, hurt, and angry. But if you are battling a Substance Use Disorder, it is absolutely vital that you let your loved ones know exactly what you are going through, so that the necessary steps can be taken to get you the help and support that you so desperately need. In fact, admitting that there is a problem and asking for help are literally the first steps on your own personal sober journey. To hel ..read more