Opioid Deaths Rising in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has one of the highest overdose death rates in the country. Despite progress in recent years, 2020 saw a rise in overdose deaths in New England. Opioid-Related Deaths Increased Statewide in 2020 The latest report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that overdose deaths in the state rose by 5% in 2020. […]
Getting in Touch with your Inner Child
The average person considers their inner child to be someone who finds joy in eating ice cream for breakfast and watching morning cartoons, but things aren’t so simple for people with substance use disorder. Many people who grapple with addiction realize that the trauma they endured early in life impacted their drug experimentation and eventual […]
Handling Traumatic News during Treatment
Handling Traumatic News during Treatment Stress and other overwhelming emotions are common triggers for people in substance use disorder treatment and recovery. Even with comprehensive counseling and work on developing coping mechanisms, receiving traumatic and devastating news can throw even the strongest person in recovery for a loop. Things like the death of a close […]
Most Common Misconceptions about Addiction
Most Common Misconceptions about Addiction Although we know more about addiction than ever before, there are still many misconceptions about substance use disorder that are quite commonplace, even among well-meaning people. Despite the massive increase in addiction science research and innovation, many still have a hard time letting go of fallacies that can pose issues […]
How to Discuss Opioid Addiction Treatment with Children
Children of parents with substance use disorder are often exposed to trauma throughout their caretaker’s illness before they choose to enter treatment; however, it’s impossible to shield kids from all negative experiences in life. While elders may be tempted to avoid these serious conversations, talking about opioid addiction with their kids is a vital step […]
Uprooting Addiction Stemming From the Family Tree
Contributor: Theresa Styffe, Counselor at Health Care Resource Centers Woburn, MA As many of us know, the term “War on Drugs” has been circulating in our society for decades. What a number of people fail to realize, especially if one of their loved ones are suffering with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), is that the root […]
The Psychological Addiction Cycle
Addiction is a complex disease with both physical and psychological characteristics. The physical symptoms of withdrawal make it difficult to quit, but that’s not the whole picture. There are also psychological components that encourage a person with an opioid use disorder to continue using, leading them into a powerful psychological addiction cycle with eight distinct stages. […]
Becoming a New Parent in Treatment
Motherhood is an incredibly awe-inspiring, life-changing experience, while often stressful for women with substance use disorder. Pregnancy rates among women who are actively using opioids show that there is a need for support for both expecting mothers and their developing fetuses to ensure that their safety is protected through treatment. Pregnancy and Addiction It’s been […]
Methadone vs. Buprenorphine: Similarities and Differences
When you’re considering treatment options for opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) will be one of the common programs you encounter. MAT is an effective option for many individuals, and there are two primary medications used in such programs — methadone and buprenorphine. Both medications are proven effective in treating opioid use disorder. We’ll break down the similarities […]
Will Methadone or Suboxone Show in a Drug Screening?
Methadone and Suboxone help patients manage their withdrawal symptoms and cravings during medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Since they count as opioids, some patients worry that they will show up on drug tests for work or sports. These medicines infrequently appear on drug screenings, and patients have protections even if they show positive results. Learn more about […]
Maine’s Opioid Crisis & The Future
Maine’s Opioid Crisis & The Future In 2017, Maine found itself on a list that no state wants to be on. They became one of the top 10 states with the highest number of opioid overdose deaths in America. Overdose deaths in Maine had surpassed the national average of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 residents with […]
Jail Based Treatment of Addiction
Finding yourself in jail is tough. Finding yourself there while also in the grip of a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) can be overwhelming, not to mention painful both physically and mentally. More and more of America’s jail population is arriving behind bars with serious addiction problems, especially opioid addictions in recent years. The challenge facing […]