One of the age-old debates in various branches of science is nature versus nurture. This debate is no different in the world of addiction science and treatment. And it pertains to the question “Is addiction hereditary?” in a big way. In 2016 the federal government released a report called “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s…
“Addiction doesn’t discriminate.” You may have heard something along these lines before, and it is so true. Drug use and drug addiction happen among groups of all ages, ethnicities, socio-economic status, etc. Although some drugs are more prevalent in certain areas than others, most drugs are found pretty much everywhere. Across the United States, there…
Amethyst Recovery Center continues to provide essential substance use disorder services for individuals impacted by addiction during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are currently accepting patients for our Detoxification and Residential Treatment Programs. Our team is focused on the health of our community while reducing barriers for individuals seeking treatment. Highlights of Amethyst’s response to…
Using illicit substances is a dangerous game to play. Substance abuse is no joke, and it impacts a vast amount of individuals throughout the world. What’s even worse and more frightening is that some of those who abuse illicit drugs or alcohol are abusing multiple illicit drugs. What is Polysubstance Abuse? Polysubstance abuse is a…
A court-ordered drug or alcohol assessment is used to determine whether or not addiction is present. The assessment is either mandated through court or a concerned individual. In this case, we’ll be getting into the details of a court-related drug or alcohol assessment. This is a method with the purpose of giving help to those…
Thousands of troops become military veterans within their communities every year. These military personnel return to their day-to-day lives. As stated by the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1.5 million veterans aged 17 or older (6.6 percent of this population) had a substance use disorder in the past year. Addiction and PTSD…
Many veterans are struggling with substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States. Traumatic events such as combat exposure and multiple deployments can trigger drug or alcohol use. It can also damage one’s mental health after returning home. As a result, PTSD and addiction can occur. PTSD and addiction should not be taken…
A Guide for Any Child of an Addict “25% of American children live with a parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. These children may have more responsibilities or may have different priorities in life due to the toxic environment that they are in.” Addiction affects many Americans. It’s no surprise that many children…
“Over 72,000 Americans died from a drug-related overdose in 2017. Overdoses caused by illicit drugs and prescription drugs increased two-folds within the last decade.” Overdose rates are continuing to climb in America. More and more Americans are losing their lives to both prescription drugs and illicit drugs. To raise awareness for this issue,…
What is Fentanyl? To put it simply, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug. What that means is that, like morphine, it is produced in labs, considered a “downer,” and works by affecting the pain receptors in the brain so as to reduce feelings and perception of pain. Also like morphine, fentanyl was produced as a…