At Arizona Drug Addiction Helpline, our goal is to keep you abreast of new developments in medication, therapy and addiction-related research. We contribute informative and educational blogs for our website visitors to peruse. Check frequently to see what's new.
To fight the prevalent opioid epidemic in Arizona, the doctors must “have the training and expertise necessary to identify and treat addiction,” Governor Doug Ducey said during his State of the State speech recently. To push the cause, Gov. Ducey sent a letter to the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners and the Arizona Medical Board requesting all physicians in Arizona to complete continuing training in drug addiction. Continue reading
Drug addiction is a serious issue and friends and family of the addicted person can do a lot to provide help to the user to prevent further drug use. The substance user may be unable to choose the right path and often cannot judge the pros and cons. It is the duty of family and friends to show their loved one who has become addicted the right way. Family and friends must make serious decisions to save their loved one a from dire consequences. Continue reading
An addiction, whether to drugs or drinks, is easy to acquire but difficult get rid of. Apart from enough motivation, a lot of other things are required to stay sober. In such a scenario, self-help becomes crucial to help people get rid of drugs. Continue reading
One of the biggest topics regarding addiction and family is the question whether addiction can be passed down to children. Years of study and countless research have proven that addiction does in fact run in families and can be passed down through generations (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, “Family history and genetics”). Knowing one’s family history of substance abuse should be a major factor in determining what substances people choose to put in their bodies. Continue reading
Addiction is widely recognized for the disease it is, but it’s also unlike most diseases. While addiction comes with many of the symptoms as other chronic diseases – decreased productivity, a shorter life span and a greater risk of infections and conditions like hepatitis – there’s an additional symptom that is largely unique to addiction: imprisonment. Continue reading
Before beginning a treatment program for adolescent addicts, it is important to select a level of care that will prevent a relapse. A relapse may result in lowered faith in treatment from parents and the justice system, which can present major barriers in a teen’s road to ultimate recovery. To prevent this occurrence, clinicians must first determine which treatment setting is most appropriate for the patient’s unique needs. Based on criteria including level of intoxication, presence of mental illness, readiness to change and risk of relapse, clinicians will select the treatment setting that offers the best chance of recovery. Treatment settings are generally divided into three broad categories:
Americans tend to view marijuana in a different light than most other narcotics. Due to the prevalence of the “stoner” subculture and a growing push for marijuana legalization, people tend to see marijuana as a drug that has few, if any, negative consequences. In reality, marijuana can cause addiction as well as a number of health problems, particularly when use starts in adolescence. It thus becomes troubling to hear a recent study showing that most adolescents perceive marijuana as harmless, making them more likely to give it a try without a full understanding of the consequences. Before any young person tries marijuana, they should get all of the facts.
