Phases of Drug Use: From Experimentation to a Substance Use Disorder
In 2016, roughly 7.4 million people over the age of 11 were affected by substance misuse or addiction. Everyone with a substance use disorder has a unique story about how they began to get involved with drugs. While many people with addiction can relate to each other, it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is […]
Opioid Addiction in the LGBTQ+ Community
Opioid addiction has gripped the United States affecting all walks of life, including minority groups. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community are at greater risk for substance use and mental disorders compared to heterosexuals, which means that opioids are a specific risk to the community. are twice as likely to misuse drugs and alcohol, […]
How to Identify Adolescents at Risk: What Can a Parent Do?
Drug use may be on the decline among most teens, but parents should still be aware of those who are at highest risk of developing substance use disorders. The science of addiction has made great strides in the past 20 years, recognizing the factors that can lead someone to drug misuse, and coming up with […]
Disease or Choice? The Debate Surrounding the Origin of Addiction
Does an illness or bad decisions cause addiction? There is division on this issue, despite convincing scientific studies that sway the argument towards addiction being an illness. Some people argue that poor choices mainly cause addiction and that willpower is the only cure to overcome misuse of a substance. Others have looked into how addiction […]