New research in the United Kingdom confirms a steady rise of addiction across society. As levels of substance abuse soar, it is estimated that half of Britons know someone who suffers from addiction. An even greater proportion of the public say there should be more support for all those affected by addiction, highlighting awareness of [...]
The basis of a holistic addiction treatment and rehabilitation service or the holistic approach to recovery from addiction, is to treat the suffering individual as the whole person they are. This may seem like a straight forward statement, but what does that mean in terms of treatment? First of all, those suffering with addiction of [...]
The word ‘alcoholic’ often typically invokes many stereotypes, however it is important to understand that it is a complex disorder and in truth every alcoholic is different; from their reasons for drinking, to their methods of trying to cope with life as they drink. Because of this, the treatment of alcoholics must be adjusted according [...]
It is a commonly accepted norm among rehabilitation professionals that smoking is less detrimental and dangerous to one’s health than substance abuse addiction and therefore it is often not deemed a priority during treatment. However recent studies are beginning to paint a clear picture of the danger smoking presents to addicts and the recovery process. [...]
As we know, addiction disrupts all areas of an individual’s life, and sleep is no exception. Research has shown that individuals suffering with addiction are 5 to 10 times more likely to develop sleep disorders. Long-term substance abuse physically changes an addict’s brain sleep architecture generally leading to sleep deprivation. The following are various substance [...]
Defining cognitive dissonance The social psychologist Leon Festinger first proposed the theory of ‘cognitive dissonance’ in the 1950’s. The theory centres on how people try to reach internal consistency. The term is used to describe the feelings of discomfort that result when your beliefs run counter to your behaviours and/or new information that is presented [...]
We live in an age of unlimited information, but information should not be mistaken for knowledge. Addiction and recovery is a prime example of a topic where the knowledge void is often filled with untruth, rumour, and conjecture. Society has long viewed addiction as a moral failing, however according to researchers and specialists in the [...]
In Britain, the nation’s opioid crisis is on the rise. Last year, the Office for National Statistics reported that fentanyl deaths were up by 29%. What are Opioids? Opioids are drugs generally used to help alleviate severe pain and are usually only available with a doctor's prescription. Opioids work by attaching to receptors in the [...]
There is a growing silent crisis in psychology circles regarding mental health issues leading to suicide and substance abuse predominantly in men. Research is showing that men are roughly three times more likely than women to develop destructive addictions sometimes referred to as ‘slow-motion suicide,’ given that it can often end in a premature death [...]
In the past several decades prescription stimulants have been increasingly prescribed by medical professionals to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and sometimes obesity. Some would argue that there has been an over–prescription of these ‘legal’ stimulants, endorsed by the powerful influence of ‘Big Pharma’. Due to the ubiquitous nature of these drugs and the [...]
