Who Answers?
Treatment & Detox Guide
Teen alcoholic tells of battle with the bottle
Jesse is 23-years-old and should be able to have a beer with his mates. Instead he is an alcoholic. After leaving school at 16 to take up a chef apprenticeship, he began regularly drinking with his older work mates, then slowly watched his life spiral out of control as he went on three or four….
Is Compulsive Shopping A Mental Disorder?
There is little doubt that compulsive shopping can cause severe impairment and distress, two key criteria for formal recognition as a mental disorder. But the rest remains up for grabs: Is compulsive shopping a biologically driven disease of the brain, a learned habit run amok, an addiction in its own right or a symptom of….
Alcoholism: Losing Old Friends to Stay Sober
Alcoholism, like many addictions, is a disease of reinforcement. When you take drugs or alcohol, you feel better and when you stop drinking, you miss the feeling. By this same mechanism, the people you associate with can start to reinforce your drinking behavior. Even though, for many, alcoholism ends up being a disease of solitude….
Binge Drinking Puts the Brain, and Life Itself, at Risk
Nearly half of students at four-year colleges do it regularly (and, it’s not sex). Rather, it’s binge drinking — downing five or more alcoholic drinks at a sitting. “People have a hard time identifying alcohol as a drug,” said Jenny Hwang, associate dean of students and director of the counseling center at Stony Brook University….
What Makes Drug Treatment Centers Effective?
Not all drug treatment centers are effective at treating all types of addictions. Some people require a special approach to drug treatment and will even attempt multiple drug treatment programs before finally finding one that truly works for them and their addiction. Sometimes, no matter how hard an individual ties, a drug treatment center may….