“We may think there is willpower involved, but more likely… change is due to want power. Wanting the new addiction more than the old one. Wanting the new me in preference to the person I am now.” ~ George A. Sheehan One of the unfortunate side effects of the rise of mental health issues in…
What are opiates? One of the most addictive drugs, opiates are actually used to treat pain. They are also used to suppress coughs in severe lung conditions. They are derived from the opium poppy and include: Opium Morphine Codeine Fentanyl Hydromorphone Are opiates and opioids the same? What is an opioid? No they are not…
What are the most abused drugs in Colorado? They may not be what you think. Before you start guessing, let’s look at what we do know. Colorado has a serious drug and alcohol abuse problem. How bad is it you ask? A 2013 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) on…
In 2016, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health entitled “Facing Addiction in America.” This first ever report of its kind reviews what the Office of the Surgeon General knows about substance misuse and gives suggestions for how to address this American epidemic as well as the related consequences. This…
Whether you are self-diagnosed or have sought professional help for your dual diagnosis, figuring out what disorders you may be suffering from is a huge step toward finding the help you need. Learning about yourself, your co-occurring disorder and how it to treat them together is imperative to a full recovery. So here are seven…
The definition of sobriety is often misused or used to mean many different things. To some, it means abstinence from all substances. To others, it means avoiding their substance of choice, such as alcohol. By definition, however, it means “[…] the state of being sober, which can mean either not intoxicated or being solemn.” As…
Denver, Colorado passed Initiative 300 during the November election, allowing businesses to apply for permits for bring-your-own-marijuana consumption on their premises. The four-year pilot program will enable individuals 21 and older to smoke or vape marijuana in outdoor areas at approved bars, restaurants, coffee shops and more. The initiative also allows adults to consume edibles…
Addiction and alcoholism rates in the United States are shocking and encourage a vicious cycle of shame and addiction. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted each year by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 9.4% of the population ages 12 and up (24.6 million people) have used…
The very first and perhaps most difficult to overcome obstacle to getting help for a drinking problem is denial. The mind of someone who has developed a dependence on the substance will generate all kinds of excuses; since the brain has been tricked into believing that it needs alcohol, this habit of rationalization develops as…
It may surprise some, but, in clinical terms, there is a difference between substance abuse and addiction. That this distinction exists is a consequence of the fact that not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted to them. Because it is a disease, addiction has a specific medical definition, and that definition goes beyond simply using…