Eating disorders and substance use disorders often come hand in hand. Studies show that anywhere from 8% to 41% of drug abusers struggle with bulimia nervosa (BN). Another 2% to 10% of drug addicts struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN). Eating disorders are particularly common with alcoholism. These mental health disorders are also prevalent in drug…
It’s never easy to watch addiction or alcoholism take a life on the public stage. Celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Heath Ledger pass away due to drinking or drug abuse, leaving tragedy in their wake. Fans wonder what untold wonders might have awaited us in the future if their beloved celebrity had lived. Grieving…
Many recovering opiate users claim that they would not be alive for today if not for Suboxone. But numerous detractors make it difficult to reach an objective conclusion. If there is one thing that medication-assisted therapy (MAT) and step-based programs have in common, it’s that you can likely find as many sources espousing their usefulness…
It’s no secret that life expectancy is a lot higher these days than it used to be. And while we usually compare the expected longevity of today’s populace to what it looked like centuries ago, we are still increasing at a slow yet steady rate. In fact, between 2000 and 2014, we added another two…
Those who are self-employed or who work in certain fields may be familiar with the concept of branding. A logo must be representative of a company and everything for which it stands. Sometimes a company’s logo may be representative of the company’s name itself. For instance, you don’t have to work too hard to identify…
Everyone is guilty of self-medicating at one time or another. After all, to self-medicate is simply to take one’s problems into one’s own hands. If you are feeling down and you decide to eat a few pints of ice cream, you are self-medicating. If you are in pain and you decide to numb yourself with…
Like many treatment centers, Amethyst has treated patients who were addicted to a wide variety of illicit substances. From barflies to heroin addicts, we have seen it all. But one of the more troubling developments in the addiction world over recent years has been a rise in the abuse of Schedule II medicinal drugs. We…
The first article in our series on the Seven Heavenly Virtues was focused upon diligence, which we greatly associated with such qualities as faith and courage. Temperance is more aligned with prudence, and actually complements diligence quite well for those who are attempting to fully embrace the concept of virtuous living. While diligence is all…
The final stage of the Alpha Series, having already discussed biblical self-awareness and developing our true identity, is relational empowerment. This is the stage at which we begin assessing the teachings that have brought us to a new understanding of ourselves, and then ministering these teachings to others who are in need of an identity…
Addicts and alcoholics aren’t generally accustomed to living a life of routine. We may have certain rituals, getting high in the morning or drunk at certain events. We may be used to taking a swig when we first wake up to try and cure our hangovers. But in general, any kind of healthy routine is…