Addiction & Recovery Articles

Are you still smoking? You already know why you shouldn't be, but here's a pep talk to help you get on the path to quitting, anyway. Motivation to stop is, after all, one of the most important predictors of quitting success.

Growing numbers of senior citizens are addicted to alcohol and drugs. Why, what are the signs, and what help is available?

You can't stop a loved one's addiction in its tracks or even help an addict into treatment unless they, too, are ready, but you can stop engaging in behaviors that perpetuate the addiction or make it worse. What do you need to know?

Alcoholism is plenty dangerous on its own, but abusing alcohol as well as other drugs can lead to some especially dangerous side effects. What do you need to know?

While committing to an alcohol-free life offers numerous physical and mental benefits, the initial withdrawal process can be medically risky. Medications can be prescribed to help addicts through withdrawal, in outpatient as well as inpatient settings.

Stopping drinking has countless mental and physical benefits — but if you are an extremely heavy drinker, or you have been drinking daily for a long time, detoxing on your own may not be safe.

The diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder apply across the board, but research has recently identified five radically different subtypes of alcohol addicts. What do you need to know?

Opioid painkillers can offer relief from severe pain where nothing else will do the trick. They're also, however, highly addictive. What should patients be aware of before they start taking an opioid painkiller?

OxyContin is an effective opioid painkiller that can help people manage moderate to severe pain. It can also, however, be highly addictive. What do you need to know?

Hydrocodone, a semi-synthetic opioid, is rather addictive — yet millions of people are prescribed it each year. How can you recognize the signs of addiction, and what treatment is available?