As defined by The Mayo Clinic, Cirrhosis is the late-stage scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.
Making the decision to get sober and change your life is never easy for someone who has developed an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or both. Many who have used substances to deal with childhood trauma, depression, or an overall apathy toward life feel a life without substances is not achievable.
Alcoholism is a disease that doesn’t just affect the drinker; kids, parents, siblings, partners, co-workers, and friends all take on the fallout from an alcoholic’s selfish and dangerous lifestyle. In most cases, next to a significant other, an alcoholic’s children are the ones who are the most affected by their parent’s addiction.
Drinking and enjoying the effects of alcohol at social gatherings, such as sporting events, a holiday party, or a concert are part of a normal social life that many people participate in.
Drug addiction, especially opioid addiction, is a national health crisis. According to The Edge, a treatment center, 22 million people suffer from active substance use disorders, and 43 million people are directly impacted by addiction.
Kratom: a plant native to Thailand and Southeastern Asia, usually crushed and made into a powder form. When consumed in large enough quantities, Kratom can make the user feel intoxicated in a similar way to opiates, alcohol, and other depressant drugs.
Xanax is a prescription drug often used as part of a treatment program for anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines or “benzos.” When used as prescribed by a medical or mental health provider, Xanax and other drugs of the same class are highly effective in reducing the severity of specific symptoms.
When people think about addiction, they quickly think about opioid drugs. Opioids have been linked to thousands of drug overdose deaths in recent years. Another often unfamiliar term used when discussing addiction and overdose is opiate. Although the terms opioid and opiate are often used interchangeably, it is essential to note they mean different things.
In the last decade, another opioid drug has become a familiar source of struggle for millions of American’s. In the last few years, a synthetic opioid called Fentanyl has become a familiar headline in news reports from all corners of the country. Fentanyl is widely used in medical settings and a highly effective pain reliever.
Significant research connects trauma and addiction (also referred to as a substance use disorder). Data from most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggests as many as 22 million Americans met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder in 2018.
