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 […]
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 […]
Withdrawal from drugs can be dangerous and should be managed by a medical professional. Learn when to get help for the symptoms of withdrawal and you might just save a life.
Crystal meth, known as tik in South Africa, is a highly addictive stimulant that causes severe damage to your brain, body, and relationships. This page covers how the drug works, its short and long-term effects, withdrawal symptoms, and how Changes Rehab in Johannesburg can help you or a loved one recover. “When you can stop, […]
Marijuana addiction is more common than you think, in this post, we break down what it is, how it’s used, the side effects of short-term and long-term use, withdrawal, and treatment. What is marijuana? Marijuana refers to the dried material harvested from the Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Sativa plant. The main psychoactive (mind altering) chemical […]
Heroin addiction, an overview Heroin is an illicit and powerful drug that comes from the pod of the opium poppy which is grown and harvested in parts of Asia, India, the Middle East, parts of South America, Afghanistan, Columbia, and Mexico, and more often than not the use of this substance is more than just […]
Cocaine addiction may not look the same in each person, that’s because there are key differences in the substance, how it’s used, and how it’s refined. Understanding how cocaine and crack cocaine work, and how they affect the user, will help in knowing how to address the problem What is it? Cocaine is an addictive […]