Reading Time: 6 Minutes When people identify as sober, they usually do so in the context of overcoming addiction to alcohol or other substances. Sobriety in the addiction world means that people refrain from all alcohol and drugs. The very loose definition of “California sober” describes people who abstain from all substances except for marijuana. The term “California sober” […]
Reading Time: 4 Minutes In the News: Hunter Biden’s Trial, His Struggle with Addiction and Its Rippling Effects on the Addiction Community Earlier this summer, Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, was convicted of 3 felony charges related to illegal gun possession that went hand in hand with addiction. Hunter Biden’s journey with addiction, rehab, and underlying […]
Reading Time: 4 Minutes The building blocks of addiction: Why addiction is a disease and not a personal choice? The term “addiction” has unfortunately become a very stigmatized word used among society and medical science. Unfortunately, society often views addiction as a lack of judgment or the inability to break out of bad habits because people lack self-control. However, […]
Reading Time: 5 Minutes Formal addiction treatment, such as inpatient rehab, is an excellent start to your recovery treatment in a safe, structured, and supportive community, but what happens after you complete this stage of addiction treatment? One of the most challenging experiences of recovery is re-learning how to “live” in the real world and stay steadfast in your […]
Reading Time: 5 Minutes 12-step meetings are community support meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and are an integral component of treatment. They provide a supportive and empowering environment for people in recovery to connect with others on their journey toward recovery. For many people in recovery, venturing into a 12-step meeting can feel intimidating at first. […]
Reading Time: 4 Minutes Group therapy is a cornerstone in addiction treatment, where a group of people meet and attempt to address distressing problems such as substance abuse. This form of psychotherapy is offered in substance abuse treatment facilities, including AKUA Mind Body, and is a necessary element of a comprehensive residential and outpatient treatment plan in addition to […]
Reading Time: 5 Minutes A variety of factors, such as genetics, an underlying co-occurring disorder, and environmental stressors cause drug and alcohol addiction. Environmental stressors can be past trauma, financial strain, divorce, or a big life change that can contribute to drug and alcohol addiction. People may use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate when dealing with these intense stressors, […]
Reading Time: 4 Minutes Social media apps such as Snapchat have a long history of being used to buy and sell drugs. However, another trend has emerged in recent years: using popular dating apps to push illegal substances. While dating apps are supposed to be a place to find love, they are no stranger to controversy. Studies published in […]
Reading Time: 4 Minutes What do drugs, alcohol, sex, social media, and food all have in common? They all create the same “instant feel good” response in our brains. Fueled by the neurotransmitter dopamine, pleasurable activities significantly impact our brains’ reward and motivation center. Dopamine is a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) released from your nucleus accumbens, a tiny structure within […]
Reading Time: 5 Minutes In the world of addiction recovery, the path often meanders rather than runs straight. There are ups and downs, progress and setbacks, and because addiction is a complicated disease, recovery is not a streamlined journey. Addiction is not only a physical dependence on substances; it intertwines with mental health, emotional well-being, and environmental triggers, forming […]
