Everyone who has attempted recovery from drug or alcohol abuse knows how hard it is to stay on track. When sober, relapse triggers are not the only traps on the path of the recovery. Frequently, we replace one addiction with another, such as a new addiction to sweets, coffee, gym, energy drinks and so on. But can any of these replacement addictions actually be justified positively? Let’s take a look at a replacement addiction to energy drinks to find out the answer to this qu

When I was 21 years old in College in Chicago, I began to experiment with narcotics and alcohol for the first time in my life. I was very sheltered as a young child up to my adolescence. I had moved from Los Angeles to Chicago when I was 17 to get away from a strict life. The first time I tried Vicodin it was innocent, and I only enjoyed it until my dental prescription was gone. I began to drink beer, smoke cigarettes, and smoke marijuana only because I was peer pressured at

Are you still scrambling for a New Year’s resolution? No worries, because we’ve got one that will accomplish more than seven resolutions put together. In 2018, resolve to give up alcohol and you’ll reap the following rewards. 1. You’ll probably lose weight The recommended 8-ounce glass of water has zero calories. The recommended five-ounce glass of wine has 123. It’s obvious that alcohol (not just wine) adds empty calories, but when we dig a little deeper, we realize that the

If you’re going through recovery or know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you’ve probably learned that there are a lot of misconceptions. People have preconceived notions about who and what an addict is, and those notions are difficult to change. But, as research progresses on the topic, we are collectively learning about addiction. Now, we can easily distinguish fact from fiction. Equally important are the myths that keep people from seeking help. Here are some o

What is depression? How is it correlated with addiction? Depression is not just feeling down and moody. It is a real illness that has an impact on the brain. It affects people of every age, race and background. The factors contributing to it range from constant stress to loneliness, and from genetic predisposition to some specific medical conditions. Frequently, substance abuse appears to be an outcome of feeling depressed. Addiction is often the only way people are able to c