Author Archives: Drew Powell

The Value of Leaving Town for Treatment

leaving town for treatment

A person who has taken the brave step of seeking treatment for their addiction to drugs or alcohol has an important decision to make first. Choosing where to go for detoxification can be daunting, with many people wanting to limit their choices to something in their hometown. While going out of town or even across […]

How Having a Pet Can Help When You’re in Recovery

how pets can support your recovery

If you ever had a beloved pet, you can point to the benefits of having pets in life. Whether you owned cats, dogs, fish, birds, reptiles, hamsters, or any other animals, you undoubtedly have fond memories of the pleasure they gave you. Some people do not know that pet ownership has benefits that can help […]

Detoxing From More Than Just Alcohol and Drugs

detoxing from more than just drugs

When you hear the word “detoxification,” quitting alcohol and drugs probably comes to mind. While purifying your body by ridding the toxins related to addiction is vital, many people find other opportunities to engage in a “detox” beneficial to improve their frame of mind. Other areas of your life can go through a “detox” to […]

The Benefits of Comprehensive Detox Treatment

comprehensive detox treatment

People who struggle with the disease of addiction often fear the first step of recovery, which is detoxification. Stereotypes from movies and television often portray detox as a horrible experience in isolation either at home or with an unsympathetic medical staff. Other times, people spread misinformation about the experience of detox, which can frighten others. […]

Oregon Decriminalizes Drug Use, Offers Treatment Over Prison Time

Oregon

A new law in Oregon now decriminalizes possession of illegal narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, and oxycodone. Janie Gullickson, executive director of the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, worked towards the passage of the innovative piece of legislation called Measure 110. The law went into effect on February 8, with a complete rollout […]

How Does Meditation Help Addiction?

Calm

In terms of addiction recovery, meditation is often referred to as mindfulness. This state of self-awareness is beneficial to individuals in any addiction recovery program. People who meditate can often exercise greater control over thoughts and emotions and might be more equipped to monitor their thought processes. Self-awareness plays a key role in cutting through […]

The Dopamine Link

Dopamine

We hear a lot about the benefits of dopamine and its ability to make us happy and feel good about ourselves. Low levels of dopamine may create the desire within the body to find a substitute. Often this manifests as substance abuse, leading to addiction. But what exactly is dopamine and why do we need […]

The Process of Learning New Habits

Journaling

Breaking habits can be difficult. Breaking the habit of addiction can be even more challenging, especially when we approach addiction from a disease model rather than a series of poor choices leading to habits with unhealthy consequences. Arguably, the result or symptom of that disease is the presence of an overwhelming desire followed by an […]

All Stretched Out: Why Yoga Is Good for Addiction Recovery

Yoga

Yoga may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re considering entering a detox and rehabilitation program. Yet, over the last decade, this restorative exercise technique, once the alternative therapy guru’s domain, has become more mainstream.   Although addiction requires lifelong management in much of the same way as mental health, when we […]

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Cry

A lifelong psychiatric illness, known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can develop following exposure to a sudden and life-altering event. It is estimated that military veterans comprise approximately twenty percent of the population inflicted with PTSD. Once considered self-induced, people paid little attention to PTSD. They paid even less attention to the link between substance […]

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