Many people who struggle with addictions to drugs or alcohol are also diagnosed with mental health disorders — and vice versa. While mental illness and addiction are two very different diagnoses, they can impact the same person at the same time. This is called co-occuring disorders or comorbidity. Because substance abuse and mental health have such a strong link, many…
Gone are the days when addiction was considered a moral failing or a lack of self-discipline on the part of the individual. Today, comprehensive research studies show that an addiction to drugs or alcohol is both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness. Substance use disorders lead to hundreds of billions of dollars of addiction-related healthcare every…
What Are Barbiturates? Barbiturates are central nervous symptom depressants used as a treatment for sleep-related disorders, anxiety and seizure disorders. These drugs were commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s but were superseded by benzodiazepines, which is a safer option, due to increased cases of overdose and dependency issues. Barbiturates are harmless when taken in…
If you are in recovery, having a pet may not seem like a priority. However, pets in recovery can be an important source of comfort and support. In fact, pets can help you in several ways: Companionship in Recovery Recovery does not have to be lonely. If you are still working on strengthening human relationships…
Save the date for Gateway’s Illuminating Recovery Gala About the Event On September 23rd, 2020, join us for our annual “Illuminating Recovery” dinner at Venue West in West Town, Chicago. The evening commemorates Gateway’s 50+ years in addiction recovery and celebrates the work of the various centers across the nation. Reception begins at 6:00 P.M., followed…
While alcoholism and addiction are struggles faced by many, some careers are more affected. A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report shows that blue-collar workers have the highest rates of substance abuse. Some affected industries include construction, mining and manufacturing. Employees in blue-collar jobs often struggle with alcohol, cocaine, heroin and prescription…
Watching a friend or loved one struggle with substance abuse and addiction is painful. You may feel helpless and wonder how you can be supportive to the person in a genuinely helpful manner. Sober friends and family are crucial in helping people maintain recovery, so learning to be a sober ally is the best way…
Drug addiction is a chronic disease of the brain that must be managed over a lifetime. However, developing an addiction is a much quicker process than treating one. Most people know that drugs and even other substances or activities can be addictive, but they may not know how addiction develops. Understanding how quickly drugs become…
A “speedball,” not to be confused with the speedball drink, is a combination of drugs that people use to achieve a specific, extremely intense type of high. In general, a speedball combines a stimulant and a depressant drug. The most common speedball composition includes cocaine and heroin, two incredibly powerful drugs on their own. Other…
Every year, more than 1,760,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. This devastating disease comes with a host of debilitating symptoms including severe pain, which is often treated using powerfully addictive opioid painkillers. People with cancer are more vulnerable to opioid misuse than the general population, and it can quickly lead to addiction. Prevalence of Opioid Addiction in…