One of the most common questions people ask is: Does rehab work? The short answer is yes! It can be a scary time when you or a loved one is lost in substance abuse and addiction. It is incredibly important that a person in this position gets help as soon as possible, before the addiction […]
When it comes to drug and alcohol rehab, what works? Learn everything you need to know about what constitutes successful substance abuse treatment. This list of 20 key elements of an addiction treatment programme that works compiled by the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction and is based on evidence as well as the […]
We’ve known for over 20 years that addiction is a brain disease. People become addicted due to genetic, developmental, and psychosocial factors, but PET scans showed how addictive substances “hijack” the brain. Once addicted, the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory pathways are changed and alcohol or drug abuse becomes obsessive and compulsive. Once addicted we […]
Official definitions of addiction describe it as a brain disease and, importantly, not a choice. It may come as relief to many people who are stuck in the terrifying cycle of addiction that they have a medical condition and are not necessarily weak or bad people. But how exactly does addiction manifest in the brain […]
Substance use disorder treatment options often leave people with the question, is abstinence or moderation better? Abstinence can be a scary concept, especially for addicts or alcoholics who have come to rely on their substance of choice and moderation may seem like a better ideal especially for those who aren’t yet able to imagine a […]
The Top 5 Relapse Triggers Understanding what causes a relapse is essential in maintaining your sobriety because getting clean and sober is the best decision an addict or alcoholic can make. But the unfortunate truth is that relapse is common. Research shows that 40 – 60% of people relapse within the first month of leaving an […]
A person doesn’t become addicted overnight. Instead, an addiction develops gradually as a result of repeated substance abuse. This process unfolds in phases. Read on to understand the four stages of addiction.
You might think you don’t have a problem because you haven’t lost your job/ family/ house… Yet! Understand why a high-functioning addict is still, by definition, an addict.
When it comes to booze, people often ask just how much alcohol is too much. In any situation, ‘drinking less is more’. Drinking less is preferable in order to avoid the negative consequences of alcohol as well as to prevent an addiction from developing in the long-run. Alcohol consumption is associated with a number of […]
South Africa ranks as the third biggest drinking nation in Africa and the 19th globally, according to the World Health Organisation. Binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks for men and four or more for women in a single sitting, is the dominant pattern of alcohol use in the country. Binge drinking practically refers […]