One of the primary issues seen in families of addicts and alcoholics is codependency. Codependency is a set of learned, dysfunctional behaviors that loved ones adopt in order to cope with the stress of living with someone in active addiction. It is an emotional and behavioral condition that impacts a person’s ability to have a healthy, fulfilling relationship. This disorder was first identified roughly ten years ago as the result of years of researching interpersonal relationships in families of alcoholics. Codependency typically affects spouses, parents, siblings, friends, or coworkers of an individual struggling with substance use disorder or mental illness. [...]

According to a 2013 study, 22.7 million people in the United States ages 12 and up needed treatment for alcohol or substance abuse addiction — only 2.5 million of those received treatment.

For firefighters, police officers, combat veterans, and EMTs, witnessing violence, abuse, and death are daily occurrences. In order to cope with the stress of their jobs, many first responders turn to drugs and alcohol. First responders have higher rates of mental illness, including substance abuse, addiction, and suicide, than the general public. For example, the rate of substance use disorders among firefighters is 10%, which is twice the rate of the general public. Why is that? Well, the constant exposure to life-threatening situations, trauma, and the physical strain from their jobs increases the vulnerability and risk of substance abuse and [...]

Hawaii has received an $8.4 million federal grant aimed at training doctors to better help patients suffering from alcohol or substance abuse.

While we all lead busy lives, it's important to pay attention to what's going on around us -- whether it is our own family members, friends, colleague

IT is now considered unusual not to use the internet every day - whether it is to check social media, reply to emails, play games, or shop online.

Chevy Chase had previously opened up about his struggles with addiction and his stay at the Betty Ford Center in the early 1980s

For 15 years, Springfielder Jody Arnold’s most constant relationship was with opioids.

According to his research at Texas A&M; University, psychology professor Brian Anderson says everybody is “wired” for addiction. In an article he wrote in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, he argues that some pathological features of addiction are a normal cognitive process. Anderson specializes in cognitive neuroscience and found that attentional bias, the tendency to direct one’s attention to something despite conflicts with their goals, such as when people abuse drugs. They know it’s bad for them but it’s difficult to ignore so they do it anyway. While such biases seem abnormal, they can still be found in healthy normal people. [...]

The opioid epidemic is not slowing down in eastern Carolina and now several agencies are coming together to find out how to stop it.