How Do I Choose: Individual or Group Sessions for Addiction Treatment?
How do I choose: Individual or group sessions for addiction treatment? A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP Are you searching for the “right” treatment center for you or a loved one? This article is written to suggest that pre-established “programs” (individual or group sessions for addiction treatment) of treatment are not the best approach. Rather, there are […]
What are The Advantages of Group Sessions for Addiction Recovery?
What are the advantages of group sessions for addiction recovery? A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D. There is no single correct or best way to recover from addiction. No element of the recovery process must be completed by all individuals. Although group sessions are often described as essential to recovery, they are not. In fact, most people who […]
Understanding Synaptic Plasticity in Addiction Treatment
Habitual drug users may find it beneficial to seek addiction treatment sooner rather than later because the long term effects of drugs can lead to long-term depression (LTD). LTD affects memory formation and learning and continued drug use over time will lead to a loss of control where drug users lose many defenses against drug-seeking behavior. […]
Addiction Treatment and Prevention in Middle School
Antismoking campaigns and prevention programs in middle schools may be beneficial in teaching adolescents about the harms of smoking and drinking. Students who have been smoking and drinking in middle school may continue to smoke and drink throughout high school and even be at a higher risk for alcohol abuse in their lifetime. Thus, using evidence-based […]
The Effect of MDMA (Ecstasy) on Cognitive Performance in Drug Recovery
According to previous research, MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), popularly known as Ecstasy, may negatively affect cognition among heavy users. Golding et. al. set out to investigate whether light users and ex-users of MDMA in drug recovery also exhibit deficits in cognitive performance (2007). The History of MDMA MDMA has an interesting history. It was first synthesized […]
Cannabis Use May Reinstate Alcohol-Seeking Behavior in Recovery
What are the effects of cannabis on alcohol recovery? Many alcohol dependent individuals relapse after a period of abstinence in alcohol recovery. Researchers have used the reinstatement paradigm as an animal model of relapse. Animals are exposed to certain stimuli to test whether they reinstate previously extinguished responses, such as alcohol-seeking behavior. Lab rats, for […]
Naltrexone and acamprosate combination in alcohol treatment
The use of Naltrexone and/or acamprosate can be helpful during alcohol treatment, however, to achieve the greatest success, individuals would benefit from incorporating psychological intervention. Evidence-based addiction treatment incorporates cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which enables individuals to learn ways to cope with cravings and eventually have greater success for alcohol recovery. You might also be […]
Predictors of drug addiction among individuals in alcohol rehab
Through the use of evidence-based addiction treatment, predictors of drug addiction treatment can be identified. Previous research shows that alcohol-dependent individuals have an increased risk of developing dependence on illicit drugs and prescription drugs. For instance, the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey of 42,862 households in the United States found that individuals with lifetime alcohol […]
Do Sober Living Houses Help in Addiction Recovery?
A non 12 step approach to recovery promotes individuals to continue on to a sober living home after completing inpatient drug or alcohol rehab. While living in sober living homes, individuals can participate in outpatient services where there are opportunities for individuals to receive evidence-based addiction treatment. But do sober living houses help, and just […]
Relationship Between Negative Affect and Addiction
The relationship between negative affect and addiction is an important consideration when developing a customized treatment plan. Learn more about this relationship as we explore the study below. Previous research shows that children who have a parent with a substance abuse disorder have an elevated risk of developing alcohol and drug addiction problems. Children of […]