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Are You Enabling Your Addicted Loved One?

Everyone wants to help their loved ones, especially if they’re struggling and suffering. It could be your sibling, significant other, parent, child, cousin, or decades-long friend—the relationship itself doesn’t matter because the desire to help is the same. This love

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The Dangerous Link Between Addiction and Suicide

Since World War II, it is estimated by the World Health Organization that the rate of suicide globally has risen 60 percent. In 2010, suicides claimed more lives than murder, war, and natural disasters combined. While there are many reasons

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Sober Date Ideas, couple getting coffee outside during winter

10 Hot Sober Date Ideas for Cold Winter Days

Iowa is a beautiful place, but let’s face it: winter here can be brutal. Ice, snow, and 30-below windchills are not for the faint of heart! It can be tempting to just hibernate until spring. However, for people in recovery

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The Importance of Family Therapy for Substance Abuse Recovery

Family Therapy for Substance Abuse Recovery When someone is suffering from a substance use disorder, everyone around them feels the pain. Parents, children, spouses, siblings, and grandparents alike will struggle with the effects of their loved one’s addiction. Attending therapy

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Avoid These 4 Common Relapse Triggers

Completing the residential treatment program at St. Gregory Recovery Center provides you with the skills you need to build a sober future for yourself, but it’s important to understand that relapse is always a possibility. Relapses can happen for a

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Seniors Using Opioids, senior citizen man taking pill

6 Issues for Seniors Using Opioids

While most people assume substance abuse and addiction are problems only young people deal with, that is not actually the case. Substance use disorders and dependencies can develop and be harmful at any age. Adults of advanced age have unique

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lovely senior woman drinking coffee or cocoa outside during the winter

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Your Sobriety

The “winter blahs” can hit any time the days start getting noticeably shorter and our weather turns cold. If your feelings of recluse this time of year are severe, however, you may be suffering from a form of depression known

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How to Help a Loved One With a Prescription Drug Problem, colorful variety of pills on pharmacy counter

The Dangers of Prescription Stimulant Misuse

Sharing is caring, they say. Our parents and teachers implore us to share with those around us, especially with those we see are in need. When our friends need help, we want to lend a hand. These are great qualities,

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Mindfulness Meditation in Recovery, content blonde woman outside - eyes closed

5 Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation in Recovery

Meditation is a practice for quieting the mind and bolstering self-control. When you shut off the outside world and pay closer attention to your own thoughts and reactions, you can grow exponentially in these areas. Adding mindfulness to your meditation

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The Wide Variety of Recovery Journaling Options

Keeping a diary or journal is something many people in recovery for substance use are asked to do. Whether you’ve done this previously for leisure or not, doing so in rehabilitation settings can feel a bit daunting. You may ask

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Can You Believe in God and Be Addicted to Drugs?, young brunette woman praying in a church pew

Can You Believe in God and Be Addicted to Drugs?

Can You Believe in God and Be Addicted to Drugs? One of the saddest consequences of drug addiction is isolation. When people realize that recreational drug use or dependence on painkillers is getting the best of them, they withdraw from

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What Happens During an Opioid Overdose?

What Happens During an Opioid Overdose? Opioids are a type of drug that includes heroin, synthetic opioids and pain relievers prescribed by doctors. [1] Common prescription opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl, codeine and many others including milder formulations like

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Does FMLA Cover Addiction Treatment?

Does FMLA Cover Addiction Treatment? Our society is battling an addiction epidemic. Drug or alcohol usage is a destructive habit that affects the person who is abusing the substances and the loved ones who surround him or her. When a

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How to Forgive a Loved One Addicted to Drugs

How to Forgive a Loved One Addicted to Drugs When someone you care about is addicted to drugs, one of the hardest things to endure is how much it affects that individual’s family and loved ones. This can be especially

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Finding Reputable Iowa Heroin Addiction Treatment

Finding Reputable Iowa Heroin Addiction Treatment Admitting to yourself that you have an addiction to heroin is a big step, but it’s merely the first on the road to long-term recovery. The next step, finding reputable Iowa heroin addiction treatment,

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Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS), doctor's desk - clinical opiate withdrawal scale

Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)

Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale or COWS is just that. It is a scale that a clinician uses to measure opiate withdrawal symptoms. A trained clinician will use this scale in an inpatient setting or

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Relapse Prevention after Iowa Drug Rehab

Relapse Prevention after Iowa Drug Rehab When a person enters an Iowa drug rehab facility, he or she looks for help with an addiction problem. A rehab facility is a useful tool achieve long-term sobriety. It offers a safe haven

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Letting Go: Forgiveness in Addiction Recovery, woman dropping leaves onto ground - orgiveness in addiction recovery

Letting Go: Forgiveness in Addiction Recovery

Forgiveness in Addiction Recovery Through the process of healing from a substance abuse process, you may discover that you hold onto feelings of resentment, anger, and disappointment in yourself. While these feelings are very common for people in your situation,

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Should We Pursue Death Penalty For Drug Dealers?

Should Drug Dealers Face the Death Penalty? Since 2000, more than 500,000 Americans have lost their lives due to drug abuse. The toll from the ongoing opioid crisis continues to rise; in 2016, more than 64,000 Americans fell victim. If

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metal and neon 'HELP' sign hanging between brick buildingsreverse an overdose with naloxone

Reverse an Overdose with Naloxone

Reverse an Overdose with Naloxone Opioid overdoses are becoming increasingly common. Fortunately, the counteractive drug naloxone has been available since the 1970’s and has become available in a non-needle form, through nasal spray in 2014. Considered by many as the

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Drug Withdrawal Management & Why It’s Necessary

Drug Withdrawal Management Drug withdrawal management, commonly referred to as “detox,” is a vital first step toward combating drug addiction. Substances like prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, heroin and alcohol can all cause severe withdrawal symptoms in the initial period after cessation.

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man sitting at work office facing large glass windows - back to work after rehab

Going Back to Work After Rehab

Going Back to Work After Rehab If you are facing a drug or alcohol addiction and have decided to go to a rehabilitation center, you will need to know how to go back to work after rehab. Switching back to

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Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Addiction Treatment Admitting that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol is the hard part. Now, it’s just a matter of reaching out to caring professionals who are committed to your recovery. Addiction treatment is

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Alcohol Abuse in the Elderly

Alcohol Abuse in the Elderly If you have an elderly loved one and want the best for her, you likely take every step to ensure that your loved one is as safe and comfortable as possible. As your friend or

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Drawing Closer to God in Addiction Recovery, words: drawing closer to god in addiction recovery next to cross hanging on wall - black and white

Drawing Closer to God in Addiction Recovery

Drawing Closer to God in Recovery If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol and want to recover as soon as possible, you have likely tried many things without much success. Addicts take different steps to reach their goal but

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Staying Healthy After Addiction Rehab

Getting Healthy After Addiction Rehab If you’ve gone through rehab, the hardest work is behind you. However, depending on the severity and duration of your addiction, there’s still much to do. Recovery is a lifelong journey of physical, mental and emotional

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person facing ocean with arms held wide open - overcome guilt in addiction recovery

How to Overcome Guilt in Addiction Recovery

Overcome Guilt in Addiction Recovery You may or may not have felt guilt when you were in the depths of your addiction. Perhaps you did while you continued to take the substances that were ruining many aspects of your life.

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Problems With 12 Step Programs - Why 12 Step Programs Aren't the Best Choice, closeup of feet going up stairs - problems with 12-step programs

Problems With 12 Step Programs

Not Another Checklist – Why 12 Step Programs Aren’t the Best Choice Thanks to the popularity of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other similar addiction treatments, 12-step programs have become practically synonymous with addiction recovery. A majority of addiction treatments

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crowd of people on busy downtown street - Opioid Crisis and Drug Manufacturers

The Opioid Crisis and Drug Manufacturers

Drug Manufacturers Blamed for the Opioid Crisis The risks of opioid addiction to society cannot be overstated. An estimated 55,000 Americans die annually as a result of drug overdose. This figure has increased threefold over the past 15 years, and

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Addiction Treatment or Jail, view from behind bars - black and white - addiction treatment or jail

Addiction Treatment or Jail

Giving a Choice – Addiction Treatment or Jail Katherine is 34 years old and lives in Dallas. She’s never been fond of school, but she’s always loved working. When she was just 17, she landed a coveted position of leadership

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Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act With the opioid epidemic overtaking the country, there are new laws and regulations in place to help those who are trying to help the people who are using drugs as well as the person addicted.

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couple sitting and drinking tea outside in winter wearrebuilding trust after addiction

Rebuilding Trust After Addiction

Rebuilding Trust After Addiction After you’ve started the recovery process from addiction, you might find that it’s hard to rebuild trust with family and friends. This is a process that will take faith on your part as well as faith

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Codependency in Addiction

What Is Codependency in Addiction, and Why Is It Harmful? Codependency in addiction is almost as serious as addiction itself, and therapists believe that it has many of the same contributing factors. Chemical imbalances in the brain, traumatic experiences in

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Iowa Addiction Treatment, Christ-Centered Addiction Treatment, brilliant sunset with person silhouetted on a sand bar at sea - Christ centered addiction treatment

Christ-Centered Addiction Treatment

Christ-Centered Addiction Treatment Nobody expects or plans to become addicted to drugs or other harmful substances, but it can happen before you know it. If you or someone you love is facing problems with addiction, finding a viable solution is

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woman's hand wrapped around prescription bottle - prescription pain pill addiction

Prescription Pain Pill Addiction

Prescription Pain Pill Addiction Rates Rising Every day, ordinary people gratefully accept prescribed painkillers following surgery or a serious accident. People with chronic back problems or other ongoing issues have little choice but to stay on painkillers. The alternative is

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shadow of family seen on cinder block wall - alcoholism in the family

Alcoholism in the Family

Alcoholism in Family Alcoholism is a terrible disease that has already harmed many people and will continue to do so until we find a solution. When learning the factors that contribute to alcoholism, it’s important to consider the role a

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Effects of Opioid Use on the Brain

How Opioid Use Impacts the Brain The opioid problem is becoming increasingly severe and is impacting lives around the world in profoundly negative ways. Although police and mental health professionals have been searching for an answer that could put an

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