Cracking open a cold beer or a fresh bottle of wine has become accepted normalcy in almost any and every situation. We drink to celebrate, and we drink after a hard day at work, we drink to help us harness our inner socialite, and some days, we drink just because we can. What if you…
If any good thing has arisen from the collective trauma that we are all experiencing through the spread of COVID-19 and subsequent prevention methods, it is a spotlight on just how much we need each other especially when it comes to addiction treatment and beyond. Throughout the last six months, our ability to adapt to…
There are an estimated 18 million children of alcoholic parents in the United States. More than 10% of those children are under the age of 18. And, per the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), every second of every hour, two more babies are born to addicted parents. Read on to learn more about…
It’s no secret that exercise benefits the body and the mind. Vigorous exercise improves circulation, strengthens the heart, helps maintain weight, relieves stress, sharpens the mind, and aids in sweating toxins out of the body. Researchers are now exploring how exercise can specifically help those individuals who are enrolled in substance abuse rehabilitation programs. Here…
When we have patients come into our facility at The Ranch, we want to encourage open conversations about substance use disorders. Part of this starts with asking and answering those commonly asked questions. For instance, we often hear, why do I need alcohol abuse counseling, from patients who are entering treatment. Also, some patients may…
People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol can develop the symptoms of psychosis (hallucinations and/or delusional thinking) while intoxicated or in a state of withdrawal. They can also develop a distinct condition called alcohol-induced psychotic disorder or alcohol-induced psychotic syndrome (AIPS). The development of AIPS is a very serious occurrence that can lead to poor…
One of the biggest risk factors for suicide is substance abuse. It may seem like an addict who has gotten help, gone through rehab and is in recovery would be safe from suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, the addict in recovery still has a long and tough road ahead, and suicide is still a risk. If you…
College students out-drink other young people, often with disastrous consequences, and schools and officials are fighting back. The goal is to change the culture of college drinking, to prevent underage drinking and limit dangerous binge drinking. The issue of binge-drinking students is not new, but the recent newsworthy stories of sexual assaults and other kinds…
New findings from a team of French researchers point to a substantial increase in alcoholic hepatitis risks in alcohol-dependent people with severe vitamin D deficiencies. Significant numbers of people who routinely consume excessive amounts of alcohol will develop alcoholic hepatitis, one of three interrelated conditions jointly known as alcoholic liver disease. In a study published…
New evidence from a multinational research team points to the existence of a genetic component in the chances that any given alcohol consumer will develop a severe form of alcoholic liver disease known as alcoholic cirrhosis.