Depression is America’s most common mental health disorder, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the nation’s most common serious substance abuse problem. Given these facts, it’s not surprising that depression and alcoholism frequently overlap. Unfortunately, the result can be more severe than depression or alcoholism alone when this happens. If you’re affected by both conditions,…
Millions of Americans take prescription painkillers to manage their pain. This leaves millions at risk of becoming addicted. Prescription painkillers are one of the most addictive substances out there. What begins as a treating pain often results in full-fledged painkiller addiction. If you are worried about becoming addicted to prescription painkillers, there are less addictive…
Nobody wants to experience trauma but it is a sad reality that many people go through some form of trauma in their lives. Whether it is a one-time event or something that happens over a period of time, trauma can have a lasting impact on a person’s mental and emotional health. And while some people…
Prescription drug abuse is when you take a medication prescribed for someone else or take your own prescription in a way other than what is prescribed. The prescription drugs can be anything from stimulants, sedatives, anti-anxiety medicines, or opioid painkillers. Abusing any substance can result in serious health consequences, including overdose and death. If you…
Some people addicted to alcohol show apparent signs that they have a drinking problem. However, others affected by alcoholism may be harder to recognize. That’s true because they still seem to remain generally functional in daily life. People in this second category are sometimes known as high-functioning alcoholics. But make no mistake, high-functioning or not,…
Traveling to Denver to receive addiction treatment can benefit those struggling with substance abuse issues. The city is home to several reputable addiction treatment centers. There may even be treatment programs that your local facilities do not provide. The “Mile High City” also offers a variety of activities and attractions that can help keep people…
Excessive alcohol use comes with several serious risks, including alcoholism and serious, non-addicted alcohol abuse. They also include the possibility of developing alcohol poisoning. In addition, you may drink enough to become blackout drunk. An alcohol blackout can endanger your health in multiple ways. You can black out even if you’re not affected by diagnosable…
Roughly one-quarter of all women in the U.S. will experience diagnosable mental health issues annually. A smaller but significant percentage of men are also affected. However, mental health problems in women are not always the same as those in men. And when they are the same, they often produce different symptoms. A mental health treatment…
Alcohol and depression are often linked. Depression may cause a person to drink more alcohol, and drinking alcohol can make a person’s depression worse. Alcohol may also make it more challenging to recover from depression. Alcohol and depression have a symbiotic relationship, as they feed off of each other. A person who abuses alcohol may…
Many of America’s most widely prescribed medications are classes of sleeping pills. These medications include several benzodiazepines, or benzos. Increasingly, they also include members of the “Z drug” family. Z drugs are prescriptions that specifically relieve insomnia. Long-term misuse of a benzo or Z drug can lead to addiction. It can also lead to several…