Understanding The 5 Stages Of The Addiction Recovery Process
Posted by Dr Terry Spokes
on
04 Mar 2022
All addictions go through stages, from experimentation to regular use, on to high-risk use and eventually, dependence. It’s no surprise then that unravelling uncontrollable behaviour is also not instantaneous. The addiction recovery process isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a set of learned coping mechanisms that need to be implemented over a lifetime for a…
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Fentanyl Addiction: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Posted by Alex Molyneux
on
02 Mar 2022
Up to one hundred times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is a strong narcotic opioid that is frequently abused (1). Often prescribed for chronic pain due to an accident, surgery or cancer, fentanyl is widely considered safe and effective when prescribed by medical professionals. It was originally used as an anaesthetic as it offers fast-acting…
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Psychedelic-assisted Therapy: Help or Hindrance?
Posted by Alex Molyneux
on
07 Feb 2022
Psychedelic therapy is a technique that involves the use of psychedelic substances to aid the therapeutic process. Hallucinogenic substances have been used in holistic medicine and for spiritual practices by various cultures for thousands of years, yet their efficacy is still somewhat inconsistent and relatively unknown. In the ’50s and ’60s, research on psychedelics began…
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Drugs In The Media: How Addiction Is Portrayed
Posted by Martin Preston
on
24 Jan 2022
Glamorised, demonised and often exaggerated, drug addiction is portrayed in many ways in the media but rarely is it accurate or helpful. Most representations of people who abuse drugs and alcohol are overly negative or so far-fetched they create a skewed image of what drug addiction is actually like. These inaccurate portrayals mean substance abusers…
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Codeine Withdrawal: Signs, Symptoms And Treatment
Posted by Alex Molyneux
on
26 Dec 2021
Codeine withdrawal symptoms - like withdrawal symptoms from most drugs - can be a pretty nasty experience. Withdrawal symptoms are the effects felt by a substance-dependent individual after a prolonged period without the substance in their system. It’s their body’s response to not getting what it needs to function as a result of the dependency…
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Alcohol Shakes: Are They A Sign Of Alcoholism?
Posted by Alex Molyneux
on
22 Dec 2021
We all have a different relationship with alcohol. For some, it’s a means of loosening up after a hard week’s work or celebrating big life events. For others, alcohol can become something much more destructive. Some people are more susceptible to becoming substance dependent than others and people can build a dependency on alcohol for…
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Am I Addicted To My Phone?
Posted by Martin Preston
on
16 Dec 2021
Most of us are guilty of spending too much time on our mobile phones. In our ‘always-on’ society phones have become a lifeline for work, leisure and social activities. But when does a bit of harmless scrolling become a phone addiction? Google Trends report that 95% of android users pick up their phones every six minutes and are alerted every seven. Over the past…
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A Guide To Christmas In Recovery
Posted by Mike Delaney
on
14 Dec 2021
Christmas time can be a daunting period in recovery. Especially if it’s your first. A time full of celebrations, parties and festive fun can offer various challenges for your recovery and can feel like a minefield of opportunities for relapse. Although you may feel like avoiding Christmas altogether, it’s important for you to socialise, spend…
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What Is Dry Drunk Syndrome?
Posted by Mandy Donnison
on
12 Dec 2021
What is Dry Drunk Syndrome? Dry Drunk Syndrome is described by members of Alcoholics Anonymous as “the presence of actions and attitudes that characterised the alcoholic prior to recovery”. A ‘dry drunk’ will typically start turning back to destructive habits and ignoring the positive mantras they have developed to aid their sobriety. Dry drunk syndrome is…
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The Effects Of Substance Misuse
Posted by Alex Molyneux
on
07 Dec 2021
Substance misuse affects millions of people around the world every year and can be extremely harmful to our health. Misusing substances can quickly lead to dependency and addiction, where cognitive, behavioural and physiological problems develop. Being on substances to get you through the day can make you feel lost and powerless. Like your life is…
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