A recent study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University shows that of the $373.9 billion spent annually to fight the nation's drug problem, less than 2% actually goes toward drug treatment and prevention.  The remainder of this staggering amount of money (paid out by both federal and state government) is going to handle the societal consequences of

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There are different methods utilized in substance abuse counseling to bring about positive moral change in an addict. Probably one of the most commonly used is the Twelve Step approach practiced by the Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous groups.

In this method, steps 4 and 5 and steps 8 and 9 deal with life inventory of the wrong deeds done and who was affected by them. In addition to

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                              "Guilt": The Third Barrier to Successful Recovery

The third and final barrier to recovery from addiction is guilt. Guilt acts as another strap in the harness that keeps the addict trapped in his addiction.

An addict is filled with guilt. He feels guilty because he has lost his integrity; he has become a dishonest person and consequently loses his self-esteem. For any

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                         The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction

"Depression": The Second Barrier to Successful Recover        

Depression is another factor that keeps an addict harnessed in his addiction Depression is the source of a constant and significant amount of discomfort that prompts continued use. It is also the second major barrier to successful recovery for those seeking help

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                       The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction

"Cravings": The First Barrier to Successful Recovery

The first challenge for any addict wishing to kick his addiction is overcoming the mental and physical cravings for drugs or alcohol. Cravings are strong, uncontrollable urges to use drugs or alcohol that drive the addict to once again use addictive substances.

To get an idea of what

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The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction

                                             What is Addiction Really

Whether a person is genetically or bio-chemically predisposed to addiction or alcoholism is a controversy that has been debated for years within the scientific, medical and chemical dependency communities. One school of thought advocates the "disease concept" which embraces the notion

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If you follow stories in the traditional media about drug use in the United States, you might have heard some encouraging news recently. Perhaps you heard that teen drug use, particularly of marijuana or methamphetamine, is down. Or maybe you read somewhere that by blocking the sales of pseudoephedrine-containing products - an essential ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine - the

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While you are performing an intervention, the emphasis is on making it safe for the addict to communicate openly, not feel like you are telling him what to think or how he should feel, or saying anything that will make him feel like he is wrong for the choices he has made to do drugs or alcohol. Even if what the addict is saying to you is shocking or you don't agree with him, do not show or

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WHAT IS AN INTERVENTION?

An intervention is the process of coming between two or more people or groups to change the anticipated outcome. When a person intervenes in any life situation, he or she is coming between some elements in life so as to change the course of events that are occurring. For example, a person might intervene in an argument between two other people to keep them from coming to

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If you have been struggeling with an alcohol problem or have fallen into prescription pain killer or other prescription med abuse.  If you had a heroin problem and are now trapped with a methadone habit or your abusing methamphetamins, cocaine or any drug for that matter and you have made it through the holidays the time to get help is now.

Maybe you have never been through rehab before or maybe

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