Test strips for drugs are increasingly being used as part of harm reduction programs. These test strips in this context aren’t the same as an at-home drug test to determine if someone has been using a substance, including prescription and illegal drugs like a synthetic opioid. We’ll cover both scenarios below. Test Strips for Drugs—Drug Checking One type of drug…
Addiction treatment is a process. For many people, staying in recovery means they have to continue to work it, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In addiction treatment programs, a continuum of care is frequently ideal, including an aftercare program. Not everyone will participate in an aftercare program, but it’s an incredibly important step in recovery for some…
There are complex relationships that can occur between alcohol and ADHD; sometimes, a person might be more prone to abuse alcohol because of these coexisting conditions. In other cases, an individual might develop a polydrug substance abuse disorder because of a combination of medication and alcohol. We talk in more detail below about these relationships between ADHD and alcohol abuse.…
Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs is a relatively common occurrence with potentially serious complications. When you self-medicate with substances, it can lead to addiction, worsening mental health conditions, and physical health complications. What Is Self-Medicating? Self-medication occurs when you’re doing anything that’s outside of the recommendations of a prescription or medical professional. You can use it in the context of…
Ethanol abuse is a form of alcohol abuse. Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid in all alcoholic beverages, although amounts vary. If you drink liquor, beer, or wine, it will have some ethanol alcohol. Ethyl alcohol is another term for ethanol, and in its pure form, it’s a cleaning agent or antiseptic in products like hand sanitizer. Of course, when…
One of the hardest parts of having a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder is that they don’t admit there’s a problem, let alone think they should get help for it. Figuring out how to get someone into rehab that doesn’t want to go is tricky and can be explosive. You can do things to encourage someone to…
If you’re facing a legal situation, you may be wondering, “will rehab help my court case.” In some cases, the answer may be yes, but it can depend. Drugs and alcohol are often the primary reasons people end up in jail or deal with legal troubles. Even if you’re in court or have a legal issue unrelated to substances, you…
Naltrexone is an approved medication in the United States that can help with substance abuse and dependence. Initially, for opioid use disorders (OUD), there is also a benefit of naltrexone for alcohol dependence. The naltrexone alcohol relationship is similar to how the medication works for an OUD, and we’ll detail more below. What is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)? First, naltrexone is…
One of the cornerstones of addiction therapy is a treatment plan for substance use disorder. Most treatment programs will not allow you to spend a single day without one. Nobody can find a therapy method that works for them all simultaneously. One of the ways drug rehab is adjusted to meet your requirements is via treatment programs. Your therapy will…
Addiction and eating disorders are considered co-occurring disorders. In addition, a co-occurring disorder occurs along with the addiction. The co-occurring disorder can appear before, simultaneously, or after the addiction. We often use the term dual diagnosis interchangeably with co-occurring disorders. If someone is struggling with a diagnosis of both addiction and an eating disorder, they need specialized treatment. Dual diagnosis…
