The Gap Between What Families Imagine and What Rehabs Actually Do Most families only encounter the world of addiction treatment when they are already exhausted, frightened, and desperate for answers. By the time they reach out to a rehab, they have usually tried everything they can think of at home [...]

For decades, “gateway drugs” were easy to identify. The message was simple, start with weed, end with heroin. Schools, parents, and prevention campaigns drilled it in like gospel. Weed was the door to disaster. But the world has changed, and so have the drugs. The modern gateway doesn’t smell like [...]

For years, the story of nicotine addiction was predictable, smoke, cough, quit, repeat. Cigarettes were the enemy, and health campaigns made that clear. But while we were celebrating fewer smokers, the nicotine industry was busy reinventing itself. It traded ashtrays for USB ports, tar for tech, and suddenly “quitting smoking” [...]

Every addict has two voices. The first is the craving, the desperate whisper that says, just one more time. The second is the critic, the voice that follows, cruel and relentless, saying, you’re worthless. One feeds the other. The craving leads to using, the critic leads to shame, and the [...]

People often think recovery is about willpower, about saying no to the next drink, the next fix, the next escape. But for many who struggle with addiction, relapse doesn’t come from temptation. It comes from memory. Not the kind of memory you can recall, the kind your body holds. The [...]

Emotional regulation, the ability to manage and respond to our emotional experiences in healthy ways, is a skill that can be learned and honed. This skill is particularly vital for individuals dealing with substance use disorders, as the inability to cope with difficult emotions often drives the use of alcohol [...]

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)? Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that uses electrodes to deliver a controlled electrical pulse to the brain, inducing a brief seizure. This procedure has been found to be highly effective in treating certain severe mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and [...]

One of the lowest points in a marriage may come when one spouse is battling an addiction to alcohol or drugs. The challenges throughout the process of addiction recovery are significant, from the feelings of powerlessness a spouse feels while their partner is actively abusing substances to the odd combination [...]

When you first realize that your loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s a whirlwind of emotions. The South African backdrop, with its intricate tapestry of cultures, traditions, and socio-economic challenges, adds another layer to this complexity. Many families often opt for the most famous or generalized treatment options, thinking [...]

Understanding addiction is a complex process, but it’s essential when striving to help your loved ones find a path to recovery. Terence T. Gorski’s perspective on addiction emphasizes the importance of comprehensive care that addresses not only the addict but also the people surrounding them, often the family. If someone [...]