Harm reduction is a technique used to treat drug addiction that is aptly described by its name. The philosophy of harm reduction is to provide addicts with a safe environment in which to use, in the name of reducing the amount of harm associated with using that drug. The focus is on preventing harm to [...]
It has happened to every addict in recovery. You join a fellowship and begin to make friends among the members. You find the people whom you really respect and seek to emulate their Twelve Step lifestyle. You begin walking through life together. You develop deep, life-changing bonds. You experience authentic relationships unencumbered by food, alcohol, [...]
By Suzanne Kane This is not the usual addiction book review. Why is that? For one thing, the engrossing book written by Tom Bleakley, Serenity, is a work of fiction. This fact, however, takes nothing away from the story – or its potential impact on the reading public. The novel is a fascinating look into [...]
Acamprosate is a drug used to maintain abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients sold under the brand Campral. Many of the people who take acamprosate experience a significant reduction in their urge to drink alcohol, as well as a reduction in symptoms associated with a form of alcohol withdrawal called post-acute withdrawal syndrome. Doctors caution that the [...]
No, he’s not that Steve Martin, but this Steven Martin is certainly a world-class storyteller in his own right. The beauty of this book with the unique and instantly captivating title Opium Fiend: A 21st Century Slave to a 19th Century Addiction is that it is written with such style and attention to words that [...]
Anyone know how to make buck? Not how to make a buck, but buck, as in jailhouse booze. Richard Broom does, although he’d be the first to say it’s not something he’s proud of.
Admitting you have a problem with substance abuse is the first and most critical step in working through your addiction and towards recovery. Moving from admission to help is next. You may be receiving assistance in an inpatient rehab setting, or seeking help through outpatient counseling and support groups. No matter where you are getting [...]
While time spent in prison can be a traumatic experience, for addicts and alcoholics it can represent an opportunity to start again and build a whole new life. Substance abuse steals hopes and dreams, and incarceration can be the final result for those who fall so far down the well of despair they finally hit [...]
It is common for those in recovery to inadvertently substitute one addiction for another. Even healthy behaviors such as working or exercising become a problem when they are driven by a compulsion. If you are in recovery, you should have a broad goal of not only gaining control over a substance, but gaining control over [...]
As self-help workbooks go, this is a highly engaging and easy-to-understand one that should surely be on the bookshelf of anyone serious about moving beyond addiction.