# AddictionHelp.com > Helping You From Addiction to Recovery ## Pages - [AI Companion Overuse](https://www.addictionhelp.com/behavioral-addiction/ai-companion-overuse/): When AI Companionship Starts Taking Over AI companion overuse means conversations with a chatbot are getting in the way of... - [Anabolic Steroids](https://www.addictionhelp.com/anabolic-steroids/): Understanding Anabolic Steroid Use Anabolic steroids are drugs that copy the effects of testosterone, a hormone involved in muscle growth... - [Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Support](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/immigrants-and-refugees/): Finding Mental Health Support in the United States Finding someone to talk with can be harder when you are also... - [Pacific Islander Mental Health Support](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/pacific-islander-support/): Finding Mental Health and Addiction Support You can look for mental health or addiction care while also asking for help... - [Native American Addiction Treatment](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/tribal-care/): Finding Native American Addiction Treatment You can start looking for addiction treatment through an Indian Health Service facility, your Tribe’s... - [Getting Help When a Partner Monitors You](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/safe-help-seeking/): Getting Care When a Partner Monitors You You can seek support when a partner makes it difficult to get mental... - [Chronic Pain and Addiction Recovery](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/chronic-pain-and-addiction/): Getting Help for Pain While Protecting Recovery Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than three months. It can interfere... - [Addiction and Mental Health Care After Incarceration](https://www.addictionhelp.com/recovery/after-incarceration/): Getting Care After Jail or Prison Leaving jail or prison can mean finding a place to sleep, getting to appointments... - [Mental Health and Addiction Care in Rural Areas](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/rural/): Finding Care When the Nearest Service Is Far Away Finding rural mental health or addiction care involves more than finding... - [Accessing Mental Health and Addiction Care](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/): Getting Help When Care Is Hard to Reach You can ask for mental health or addiction care even when you... - [Self-Harm](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/self-harm/): Getting Help for Self-Harm Self-harm means intentionally injuring or poisoning yourself. Care should address your immediate safety and the difficulties... - [Dissociation](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/dissociation/): Fast Facts About Dissociation These distinctions can help you describe what is happening and decide where to seek help. Dissociation... - [Health Anxiety](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/health-anxiety/): Fast Facts About Health Anxiety These points can help you understand the problem and discuss care. Health anxiety means persistent... - [Specific Phobias](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/specific-phobias/): What Is a Specific Phobia? A specific phobia is an intense, lasting fear of a particular object or situation that... - [Agoraphobia](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/agoraphobia/): What Is Agoraphobia? Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of situations where leaving or getting help might be difficult... - [Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/pmdd/): What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) causes severe mood symptoms before a period that interfere with everyday... - [Body Dysmorphic Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-dysmorphic-disorder/): What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) involves persistent worries about perceived appearance flaws that other people barely... - [Hair-Pulling Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/hair-pulling/): What Is Hair-Pulling Disorder? Hair-pulling disorder, also called trichotillomania, involves repeatedly pulling out hair, trying to reduce or stop the... - [Skin-Picking Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/skin-picking/): What Is Skin-Picking Disorder? Skin-picking disorder involves repeatedly picking the skin, causing wounds, trying to stop and experiencing significant distress... - [Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/): Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, include repeated skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting that can... - [Hoarding Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/hoarding-disorder/): Understanding Hoarding Disorder Hoarding disorder makes it persistently difficult to part with possessions, even when keeping them makes daily life... - [Parents of an Adult Child with Addiction](https://www.addictionhelp.com/addiction/family/parents-of-adult-children/): Helping Your Adult Child with Addiction You can offer help, set limits and protect your own wellbeing while your adult... - [Insomnia](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/insomnia/): Understanding Insomnia Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting satisfying sleep even when you have the opportunity... - [Grief and Loss](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/grief/): Understanding Grief After a Death Grief is a natural response to losing someone close to you. It can affect your... - [Family Support for Mental Illness](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/family-support/): Supporting a Family Member with Mental Illness Family support can include listening, helping with daily tasks, learning about treatment and... - [Ad preview (internal)](https://www.addictionhelp.com/ad-preview-2026-10/): Internal preview, not linked anywhere. Each current (child-focused) ad is followed by its new "you or your child" version. In-content... - [Ketamine Therapy for Depression](https://www.addictionhelp.com/ketamine/therapy/): Considering Ketamine for Depression When depression keeps returning or treatment has not brought enough relief, another option can feel hopeful... - [Video Game Addiction Test Results — High](https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-4/): Your resultHigh out of 17Your answers point to a pattern consistent with what clinicians look for in gaming disorder. What... - [Video Game Addiction Test Results — Moderate](https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-3/): Your resultModerate out of 17Your answers show gaming is displacing things that matter — sleep, people, or work. What tends... - [Video Game Addiction Test Results — Mild](https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-2/): Your resultMild out of 17Your answers show a few patterns worth watching, around time and stopping. What tends to help... - [Video Game Addiction Test Results — Low](https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-1/): Your resultLow out of 17Your answers point to ordinary play. What tends to help at this levelOrdinary play. Gaming is... - [Social Media Addiction Test Results — High](https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-4/): Your resultHigh out of 12Your answers point to use that is affecting how you feel day to day, and that... - [Social Media Addiction Test Results — Moderate](https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-3/): Your resultModerate out of 12Your answers show a pattern that is affecting your mood and your time. What tends to... - [Social Media Addiction Test Results — Mild](https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-2/): Your resultMild out of 12Your answers show some habits worth watching, particularly around checking and comparison. What tends to help... - [Social Media Addiction Test Results — Low](https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-1/): Your resultLow out of 12Your answers point to ordinary use. What tends to help at this levelOrdinary use. If nothing... - [Phone Addiction Test Results — High](https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-4/): Your resultHigh out of 15Your answers point to phone use that is affecting sleep, work or relationships, and that has... - [Phone Addiction Test Results — Moderate](https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-3/): Your resultModerate out of 15Your answers show a pattern that is costing you time and attention you would rather spend... - [Phone Addiction Test Results — Mild](https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-2/): Your resultMild out of 15Your answers show a handful of habits worth watching — reaching for it automatically, losing more... - [Phone Addiction Test Results — Low](https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-1/): Your resultLow out of 15Your answers point to fairly ordinary phone use. What tends to help at this levelMost people... - [Porn Addiction Test Results - High](https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-4/): What Does a High Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its High... - [Porn Addiction Test Results - Moderate](https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-3/): What Does a Moderate Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Moderate... - [Porn Addiction Test Results - Mild](https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-2/): What Does a Mild Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Mild... - [Porn Addiction Test Results - Low](https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-1/): What Does a Low Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Low... - [Motivational Interviewing for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/motivational-interviewing/for-alcohol/): Does Motivational Interviewing Help with Alcohol Use Disorder? Motivational interviewing, often called MI, is a client-centered counseling style that helps... - [Opioid Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/addiction/opioid-use-disorder/): Getting Help for Opioid Use Disorder or Physical Dependence Fear of withdrawal, uncontrolled use, or losing pain treatment can make... - [Alcohol Relapse Prevention](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/relapse-prevention/): How Alcohol Relapse Prevention Helps Alcohol relapse prevention turns a goal into a plan for difficult moments. It connects your... - [Alcohol Use Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/borderline-personality-disorder/): How Are Alcohol Use Disorder and BPD Connected? Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is difficulty controlling alcohol use despite meaningful harm... - [CBT for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/for-alcohol/): CBT for Alcoholism Teaches Practical Coping Skills Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, for Alcohol Use Disorder is a structured, time-limited... - [Exercise Addiction vs. Overtraining](https://www.addictionhelp.com/exercise-addiction/vs-overtraining/): Is It Overtraining or Exercise Addiction? If a rest day brings guilt, or you keep training through injury, it can... - [How to Help Someone with an Eating Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/eating-disorder/how-to-help/): Supporting Someone With an Eating Disorder Helping someone with an eating disorder means responding to concerning eating behaviors or distress... - [Is Roblox Bad for Kids?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/roblox/is-roblox-bad-for-kids/): How to Judge Roblox’s Risks for Your Child Roblox is not one game. It is an online platform containing many... - [Trauma and Compulsive Behavior](https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/trauma/): Understanding the Effects of Trauma Psychological trauma is the lasting effect of an experience that felt harmful or life-threatening. It... - [TikTok Lawsuit](https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/tiktok-addiction/lawsuit/): Can a Family Seek Help After TikTok-Related Harm? Families concerned that TikTok use contributed to serious harm can ask for... - [Food Addiction vs. Binge-Eating Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/vs-binge-eating-disorder/): How Food Addiction and Binge-Eating Disorder Differ Food addiction and binge-eating disorder can both involve feeling unable to control eating,... - [Cutting Back on Drinking Without Quitting](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/cutting-back-without-quitting/): If you may hurt yourself, call or text 988 now. Free, confidential support is available. If danger is immediate, call... - [Alcohol and Weight Gain](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-weight-gain/): Drinking and Quitting Can Affect Weight Differently If weight is part of why you are thinking about changing your drinking,... - [How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/heroin/how-long-does-heroin-stay-in-your-system/): Heroin leaves the bloodstream almost as fast as it arrives. The drug itself survives only minutes before the body converts... - [How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/benzodiazepines/xanax/how-long-does-xanax-stay-in-your-system/): Xanax stops working long before it leaves your body. The calm most people feel fades within hours, yet the drug... - [How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/kratom/how-long-does-kratom-stay-in-your-system/): Kratom clears the body slowly, and slower still if you use it every day. The main active compound, an alkaloid... - [How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/fentanyl/how-long-does-fentanyl-stay-in-your-system/): Fentanyl leaves the bloodstream fast but lingers in the body far longer than most people expect. As a rough guide,... - [COWS Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-opioids/cows/): What Is the COWS Scale? The COWS is the bedside scorecard that detox and treatment teams use to measure how... - [Alcohol and Stroke](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-stroke/): What Does Alcohol Do to Stroke Risk? Alcohol changes your risk of stroke, and it does not do it in... - [CIWA-Ar Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment Scale](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/ciwa-ar/): What Is the CIWA-Ar Scale? The CIWA-Ar is the bedside scorecard that hospital and detox teams use to measure how... - [Baclofen for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/baclofen/): What Is Baclofen and How Might It Help Drinking? Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that has been used for decades... - [Prazosin for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/prazosin/): What Is Prazosin and Why Use It for Drinking? Prazosin is a blood-pressure pill that researchers have spent the last... - [Alcohol and ADHD](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-adhd/): What's the Link Between Alcohol and ADHD? If your drinking has crept up over years while your mind never quite... - [Alcoholic Neuropathy](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-neuropathy/): What Is Alcoholic Neuropathy? Alcoholic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by years of heavy drinking. The burning, tingling, and numbness... - [Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-cardiomyopathy/): What Is Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy? Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is heart muscle disease caused by years of heavy drinking. Over time, alcohol and... - [Gabapentin for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/medication/gabapentin/): If you're looking into gabapentin because drinking has started to feel unmanageable, or because a doctor mentioned it as an... - [Alcoholic Cirrhosis Symptoms Stages and Treatment](https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-cirrhosis/): A Cirrhosis Diagnosis Is Not the End Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most advanced stage of alcohol-related liver disease, the point... - [Processed Food Addiction](https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/processed-food-addiction/): What People Mean by Processed Food Addiction If you can walk past a bowl of fruit without a second thought... - [Is Food Addiction Real](https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/is-food-addiction-real/): What Makes Food Addiction Such a Contested Idea If certain foods feel impossible to keep in the house, if you... - [Compulsive Overeating](https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/compulsive-overeating/): What Compulsive Overeating Means If you have ever kept eating long after you were full, felt unable to stop, and... - [How to Stop Eating Sugar](https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/how-to-stop/): How to Stop Eating Sugar Without White-Knuckling It If you have decided to eat less sugar, the good news is... - [Sugar Detox](https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/detox/): What A Sugar Detox Actually Means People use “sugar detox” to describe plans to reduce added sugar or change what... - [Sugar Cravings](https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/cravings/): Why You Crave Sugar Is Not a Character Flaw If you have ever finished a hard day and reached for... - [How to Quit Weed](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-to-quit-weed/): How to Quit Weed for Good If you have decided to quit weed, or you are still turning the decision... - [Weed Detox](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/weed-detox/): What Weed Detox Actually Means Weed detox means two very different things, and both bring people to the same three... - [Effects of Weed](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/effects/): What Weed Does to the Brain and Body If you are trying to understand what weed is actually doing to... - [How Long Does a Weed High Last](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-long-does-a-weed-high-last/): How Long a Weed High Lasts How long a weed high lasts depends most on how you take it. A... - [Dabs](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/dabs/): What Dabs Actually Are Dabs are highly concentrated cannabis extracts, made by pulling the THC out of the plant into... - [How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system/): Weed behaves differently from almost every other drug a test looks for. THC, the compound that gets you high, is... - [Greening Out](https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/greening-out/): What Greening Out Is Greening out is what happens when someone takes in more cannabis than their body can handle... - [Pink Cocaine](https://www.addictionhelp.com/cocaine/pink-cocaine/): What Pink Cocaine Actually Is Pink cocaine sounds like a designer version of cocaine. It is almost never cocaine at... - [Meth Sores](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/meth-sores/): What Are Meth Sores? Meth sores is an informal name for skin wounds that develop during methamphetamine use. Repeated scratching... - [What Meth Looks Like](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/what-meth-looks-like/): If you found something you cannot identify and you are worried it might be meth, you are asking exactly the... - [Is Modafinil Addictive?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/modafinil/): What Modafinil Is Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil, is a wakefulness-promoting agent approved for narcolepsy, shift work sleep... - [Snorting Adderall](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/snorting-adderall/): What Snorting Adderall Actually Does Snorting Adderall means crushing the tablet into powder and pulling it in through the nose.... - [Study Drugs](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/study-drugs/): What Study Drugs Are Study drugs are prescription stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta, taken without a prescription to... - [Adderall vs Ritalin](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-vs-ritalin/): How Adderall and Ritalin Compare Adderall and Ritalin are both prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD, but they come from... - [Adderall Withdrawal](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-withdrawal/): What Is Adderall Withdrawal? Adderall withdrawal is a group of symptoms that can develop after stopping or substantially reducing Adderall... - [Adderall vs Vyvanse](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-vs-vyvanse/): How Adderall and Vyvanse Compare Adderall and Vyvanse are both prescription amphetamines used to treat ADHD, so they are cousins... - [How Long Adderall Stays in Your System](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/how-long-does-adderall-stay-in-your-system/): Adderall is a mix of amphetamine salts, and amphetamine is exactly what a drug test looks for. Its half-life runs... - [Vyvanse Addiction](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/vyvanse/): Find a Way Forward With Vyvanse ConcernsIf Vyvanse use feels harder to control, your ADHD or binge eating treatment still... - [Concerta Addiction](https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/concerta/): What Concerta Is Concerta is a brand name for methylphenidate, the same stimulant found in Ritalin, packed into a once-daily... - [Meth and Chemsex](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/chemsex/): What Chemsex Is If sex has started to feel like it needs a hit of Tina to work, or a... - [Meth and Pregnancy](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/pregnancy/): What Meth Does in Pregnancy If you are pregnant and using meth, or you just found out you are pregnant,... - [Smoking vs Snorting Meth](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/smoking-vs-snorting-meth/): What Changes When Meth Is Smoked or Snorted Smoking and snorting deliver the same drug through different doors. The route... - [Meth Overdose](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/overdose/): What a Meth Overdose Is A meth overdose is what happens when methamphetamine pushes the body's engine far past the... - [Cocaine Overdose](https://www.addictionhelp.com/cocaine/overdose/): Recognize an Overdose and Get Emergency Help Suspected overdose: call 911 now. Chest pain, a seizure, severe overheating, breathing trouble... - [How Long Meth Stays in Your System](https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/how-long-meth-stays-in-your-system/): Meth does not clear the body quickly. Its half-life runs about 10 to 12 hours, many times longer than cocaine's,... ## Posts - [CopeWell: A Little Space Between Feeling and Doing](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/introducing-copewell-app/): I’ve spent more than 21 years in recovery from drugs and alcohol, and one of the biggest revelations along the... - [CVS’s $315 Million Opioid Settlement: What It Requires at the Pharmacy](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cvs-opioid-settlement/): CVS’s federal settlement requires prescription checks, oversight and complaint channels. For patients, the unresolved question is how those safeguards will... - [Cannabis Hospitalization Rates Rose in Victoria](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cannabis-hospital-admissions-study/): The rate of hospital admissions with cannabis-related harm as the main diagnosis rose 49% over a decade in Victoria, Australia.... - [Cannabis Is Promoted as a Sleep Aid. A New Study Raises Doubts.](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cannabis-sleep-study/): Researchers found a link between cannabis use and more disrupted sleep, even when people’s own sleep ratings didn’t reflect it.... - [How Much Social Media Is Too Much? What Gallup’s New Research Tells Us](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/gallup-social-media-study/): Two people can spend the same hour online and have very different experiences. Gallup’s Julie Ray helps explain what a... - [Designed to Be Addictive: Sokolove Law Attorney Explains the Social Media Harm Lawsuits](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/sokolove-law-attorney-interview-social-media-addiction/): Social media platforms were built to be hard to quit. Sokolove Law attorney Ricky LeBlanc explains how social media addiction... - [What the 2025 NSDUH Shows About Addiction in America](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/2025-nsduh-key-findings/): The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health is out: drinking and smoking declined, marijuana and vaping rose, and... - [Is Day Trading Gambling?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/is-day-trading-gambling/): You meant to place two trades and placed twenty. For most people day trading is high-risk investing — but for... - [Dry January: The Epilogue](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/dry-january/): What Happens After Dry January ends? Every year, people set aside January for a 31-day No-Alcohol challenge. The tradition started... - [The Unseen Battle: Veteran Mental Health, Addiction, and the Path to Recovery](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/veterans-day-2025/): On Veterans Day, our nation rightfully pauses to honor the service, sacrifice, and courage of those who have worn the... - [The 7-OH Effect](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/7-oh-kratom-risk/): What Is 7-OH? “Have you heard of 7-hydroxy? ” my colleague asked me. No, I said, Googling it immediately. I... - [OPINION: The Drug Supply Has Changed Again — And We’re Not Ready](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/dex-drug-supply-changed-not-ready/): There's a Wave Coming. No. It's Here. By Dr. Kent S. Hoffman, Co-Founder of AddictionHelp. com Just when we began... - [Stop Telling Me How to Talk About My Recovery](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/stop-telling-me-how-to-talk-about-my-recovery/): "Chris! STOP Saying You're a 'Recovering Addict! '" I keep seeing it on social media: people — and let’s be... - [What No One Tells You About Finding Addiction Treatment](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/finding-addiction-treatment/): By Michael Moesch, Co-Founder of AddictionHelp. com Each year, millions of people seek addiction treatment in the U. S. Yet,... - [The Cop Who Saw Through Me](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/the-cop-who-saw-through-me/): 20 Years Ago Today, A Police Officer Saw Something In Me I Couldn’t See In Myself. If he had looked... - ["Unexpectedly"](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/unexpectedly/): Twenty Years Ago, I Was Preparing to Die. Unexpectedly. Twenty years ago today, I was preparing to die. And I... - [Study Finds Social Media and Smartphones Fuel Aggression & Mental Health Problems](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/teen-social-media-phone-aggression/): The Youth Mind Crisis The connection between social media, phone addiction, and the mental health of today’s youth has taken... - [GLP-1 Drugs: A Game Changer for Addiction Recovery?](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/glp-1-drugs-addiction-recovery/): Has Addiction Met It's Match? ! It’s been a wild few months for me, and not just because of my... - [National Recovery Month 2024](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/national-recovery-month-2024/): National Recovery Month 2024 September 2024 is National Recovery Month in the United States, a time to focus on raising... - [The Addiction & Mental Health Connection](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-mental-health-connection/): Addiction and Mental Health: The Co-Occurring Issues May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about... - [19 Years Sober. 19 Years of YES to Life on Life's Terms](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/chris-carberg-19-years-sober/): 19 Years Sober. What a ride. As the founder of AddictionHelp. com, I wanted to share my feelings on this... - [Surviving the Holidays While Staying Sober: A Personal Perspective](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/sober-holiday/): As someone who’s navigated the challenges of sobriety for many years, I understand the complexities that the holiday season can... - [Introducing "Lights of Recovery" Podcast with Jessica Miller](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/introducing-lights-of-recovery-podcast-with-jessica-miller/): AddictionHelp. com, a leading platform offering support and resources to individuals battling addiction, is proud to announce the launch of... - [Meta Faces Legal Battle Over Alleged Addictive Features Targeting Youth](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/meta-teen-social-media-addiction-lawsuit/): The 2023 State Lawsuits Against Meta Historical context updated September 30, 2026. The state attorneys general's actions described here were... - [Red Ribbon Week 2023: Be Kind To Your Mind. Live Drug Free.](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/red-ribbon-week-youth/): Behind the Red Ribbons With the initiation of Red Ribbon Week from October 23rd to October 31st, we at AddictionHelp.... - [Victory Over Vices - Mike McDaniel's Journey from Adversity to NFL Stardom](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/victory-over-vices-mike-mcdaniel/): Mike McDaniel: Triumph Over Trials in the NFL Introduction: Welcome to another intriguing episode of Victory Over Vices without interruption... - [Addiction Help Podcast - Episode 9 - Recovery Isn’t Linear: A Conversation with Leah](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-9-recovery-isnt-linear/): Episode 9 - Recovery Isn’t Linear: A Conversation with Leah This week, we have something special for our listeners on... - [Addiction Help Podcast - Episode 8 - When 'Harmless' Hobbies Become Addiction](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-8-behavioral-addiction-gambling/): Episode 8: When 'Harmless' Hobbies Become Addiction Welcome to Episode 8 of the AddictionHelp podcast, where we dive into the... - [Addicton Help Podcast Episode 7: Get the Facts on Fentanyl (and Bust Some Myths)](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-7-fentanyl-facts-and-myths/): Welcome back to the Addiction Help Podcast with your hosts, Dan Hauser and Jessica Miller. In today's episode, we delve... - [Addiction Help Podcast - Episode 6 - The Power of Choice](https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-6-the-power-of-choice/): We're thrilled to present a new episode of The Addiction Help Podcast! 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Our... # # Detailed Content ## Pages - Published: 2026-10-08 - Modified: 2026-10-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/behavioral-addiction/ai-companion-overuse/ When AI Companionship Starts Taking Over AI companion overuse means conversations with a chatbot are getting in the way of the life you want to lead. Perhaps you keep extending a chat after deciding to sleep, cancel plans to stay with a character, or feel unable to make a decision without the bot's reassurance. These are reasons to look at what is happening and seek support. [1] A companion chatbot simulates conversation with a friend, character or romantic partner. People also use general-purpose chatbots for companionship, even when those tools have other uses. The important question is the role the conversation plays in your life, not just the name of the app. [2] You may call the problem “AI addiction,” “Character. AI addiction” or “chatbot dependency. ” Tell a professional what has changed and what you want help doing. The label alone does not explain the problem. [2] Fast Facts About AI Companion Overuse Keep these distinctions in mind when deciding what to do next: Look at the impact. Pay attention to disrupted sleep, responsibilities, relationships and safety. [3] Feeling supported is different from receiving treatment. A chatbot should not replace a qualified mental health professional. [1] Be specific about the problem. Write down what brings you back to the conversation and what gets postponed. Include human support in your next step. Talk with someone who can help you address what is happening outside the app, too. [4] Why Can an AI Companion Feel So Important? Personalized replies, an apparently caring tone and ongoing conversation can make a chatbot feel like a relationship. The American Psychological Association (APA) cautions that these qualities can blur the distinction between a responsive tool and a human companion. A feeling of connection does not mean the system understands your situation or can take responsibility for your care. [1] Start With What You NeedInstead of asking only, “How do I stop chatting? ” also ask, “What am I hoping this conversation will give me? ” Bring both questions to someone helping you. In a clinician discussion published in Psychology Today, psychiatrist John Torous and coauthors Jill Noorily, Mason Granof and Kathryn Ledley recommend asking what need the chatbot met. Their point matters when someone feels isolated: telling them to return to their existing support may miss the fact that it was not meeting their needs. [2] For example, you might want company after a move, somewhere to express feelings, or a break from a difficult day. Naming that need gives you something concrete to work on. You can ask for help finding company, expressing feelings or handling the difficult part of the day, rather than trying to solve everything by reducing a number on a screen. What Are Signs That Chatbot Use Is Becoming a Problem? The APA recommends looking for overreliance, including concealed use, preferring a chatbot to human relationships and use that interferes with work, life or safety. These observations are prompts for getting help, not a checklist that diagnoses an addiction. [1]... - Published: 2026-10-08 - Modified: 2026-10-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/anabolic-steroids/ Understanding Anabolic Steroid Use Anabolic steroids are drugs that copy the effects of testosterone, a hormone involved in muscle growth and sexual development. Clinicians prescribe them for certain medical conditions. Taking them without medical supervision to build muscle or improve performance can cause serious health problems and can become difficult to stop. [1] You may be worried about changes in your mood, sex drive or health. You may want to stop but fear feeling worse or losing muscle. Those concerns are worth discussing with a clinician. You do not need to decide whether you have an addiction before asking for care. [2] Anabolic steroids are different from corticosteroids, the medicines prescribed for conditions such as inflammation. They also should not be confused with every product sold for muscle building. Tell a clinician the exact name of what you take, including prescribed medicines and supplements, rather than using only the word “steroids. ”[3][4] Fast Facts About Anabolic SteroidsThese points can help you prepare to ask for care: Addiction can happen without a high. Anabolic steroid use can involve cravings and continued use despite harm. [1] Health effects extend beyond muscle. Steroid misuse can affect the heart, liver, fertility and mood. [1] Stopping can bring withdrawal symptoms. Depression, fatigue, sleep problems and a lower sex drive are reasons to seek medical support. [1] Medical care should address the whole problem. Hormone changes, physical health, emotional distress and difficulty staying off steroids may need different kinds of help. [5] When Anabolic Steroid Use Becomes Hard to Control Using anabolic steroids and having an addiction are not interchangeable. A concerning pattern includes craving steroids, repeatedly returning to them despite harmful effects, or finding that efforts to stop do not last. A clinician considers the pattern and its effect on your life, not your physique alone. [3][6] Physical dependence means the body has adapted to a drug and symptoms can appear when it is stopped. Addiction involves a broader problem with control and continued use despite harm. Withdrawal can contribute to that pattern, but it does not tell the whole story. [6] Two Concerns to DiscussTell the clinician both what happens in your body when you stop and what makes you want to use again. Those answers help explain different parts of the problem. Fear of losing muscle can make stopping difficult too. In a published discussion of steroid-use problems, researchers Morgan Scarth, Ingrid Amalia Havnes and Astrid Bjørnebekk describe the importance of appearance, identity and the social setting around use. That context matters when planning support. Simply telling someone to care less about their appearance misses what they may be struggling with. [6] Consider writing down what you are noticing: attempts to stop, cravings, money spent, changes in relationships, and physical or emotional symptoms. You can bring the account to an appointment without labeling yourself or another person. How Anabolic Steroids Can Affect Your Health The risks vary with the products used, length of use and the person's health. Not everyone develops the same... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/immigrants-and-refugees/ Finding Mental Health Support in the United States Finding someone to talk with can be harder when you are also learning how a health system works. You may want counseling but need an interpreter, an affordable appointment or help understanding what a clinic will ask you. Those practical needs belong in the conversation about care. Mental health support can mean treatment and help reaching that treatment. Counseling provides time to discuss concerns with a mental health professional. A medical visit can address symptoms and medication needs. A case manager helps arrange services, such as appointments or referrals. Some immigrant and refugee health programs bring these services together. [1] Moving countries does not tell a clinician what diagnosis, if any, you have. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distinguishes screening, which identifies a possible need for further assessment, from diagnosis. A clinician should consider your symptoms and how daily life is affected. [2] Fast Facts About Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health SupportThese distinctions can make the first conversation easier: Care and insurance are different questions. Community health centers see people with or without health insurance, with charges based on a sliding scale. [3] An interpreter can help you communicate. If your clinician does not speak your preferred language, ask about a qualified interpreter before the appointment. [4] A referral needs a next step. Ask who will arrange the appointment and what help is available with transportation or reminders. [2] Immigrant and refugee services differ. Confirm which patients a program serves and whether it provides treatment itself or helps connect you elsewhere. [1] Where to Find Mental Health and Addiction Care Start With a Community Health Center If you do not know where to begin, use the federal health-center locator to find a nearby center. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) says anyone may use a community health center, with or without insurance. A sliding-fee scale means the amount you pay depends on your income. Ask the center which mental health or addiction services it offers and what a visit would cost. [3] You can also ask an existing primary care professional for help. Tell them what is difficult, such as persistent worry, sleep problems or concerns about alcohol. You do not have to choose a diagnosis before asking for an assessment. [2] Ask What an Immigrant or Refugee Program Provides Some programs combine medical treatment with practical support. For example, Boston Medical Center's Immigrant and Refugee Health Center describes primary care, mental health care, refugee health assessments and case management. Its mental health program includes counseling and medication management. This is a Boston service example, not a promise that the same program is available nationwide. [1] When contacting a local organization, ask: “Do you provide counseling or medical care, or do you help me find another provider? ” Then confirm eligibility, location and appointment availability. A useful referral should leave you knowing whom to contact next. When you call, say whether you need someone to provide... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/pacific-islander-support/ Finding Mental Health and Addiction Support You can look for mental health or addiction care while also asking for help with language, insurance and finding the right provider. Some Pacific Islander community organizations help people arrange services. Others provide clinical care themselves. Knowing the difference helps you reach the person who can answer your question. [1][2] Explain what matters to you, such as language or cultural practices, rather than expecting a provider to infer it from your background. [3] For an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911. For emotional distress or a mental-health or substance-use crisis in the United States, call or text 988. You do not need to finish searching for a culturally familiar provider before seeking crisis support. [4] If someone may be overdosing on opioids, give naloxone if available and call 911. Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. [5] Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening, and suddenly stopping benzodiazepines can cause serious withdrawal. Seek medical guidance before stopping after regular heavy drinking or ongoing benzodiazepine use. [6][7] Fast Facts About Pacific Islander Support Start with the kind of help you need and confirm what a service offers. Navigation and treatment are different. A navigator may help with insurance or referrals. A clinical service can assess and treat a health concern. [1][2] Ask about your specific language. Interpretation through one organization's partners does not establish language access at every clinic. [8] Online care still depends on location. A clinician must be licensed or otherwise legally permitted to treat you in the state where you are during the visit. [9] Cost is worth discussing before you rule out care. Some providers offer fees based on income or other financial assistance. Ask what applies to your treatment. [10] Where to Look for Help Near You Use local organizations as starting points, then confirm the service, who it serves, cost and appointment availability. These local examples reflect published services checked in October 2026. They are not a complete directory or a ranking of treatment quality. A program's website cannot confirm that it has a place available for you today. If you search for “Pacific Islander therapist near me,” add your city or state and the concern you want help with. A result for a cultural organization may be useful for referrals even when it does not provide therapy. A therapist's profile still needs checking for location, license, language and relevant experience. Clinical Care on Lānaʻi Lānaʻi Community Health Center describes mental health care connected with medical services for residents of Lānaʻi. Its program includes individual, family and couples therapy, telehealth psychiatry, and help with substance use. It also describes income-based fees for uninsured and underinsured patients. Ask the center how to enter the service that fits your needs. [2] This is a local clinical example, not an offer of care on every Hawaiian island. For a first appointment, the center says its provider asks about physical symptoms, health history, emotional concerns and social or cultural factors. You can use... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/tribal-care/ Finding Native American Addiction Treatment You can start looking for addiction treatment through an Indian Health Service facility, your Tribe’s health program or an Urban Indian organization. These are different kinds of providers. Where you can receive care, which services are available and who pays for outside treatment depend on the program and your circumstances. [1][2] Before an appointment, it helps to separate the care you need from the paperwork that makes it possible. Cultural fit and barriers to addiction care are also worth discussing with the provider you choose. If someone may be overdosing, give naloxone if available and call 911. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, but emergency help is still needed. [3] Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening, and suddenly stopping benzodiazepines can cause serious withdrawal. Seek medical guidance before stopping either after regular heavy alcohol use or ongoing benzodiazepine use. [4][5] Fast Facts About Native American Addiction TreatmentCheck these details before arranging care. IHS is not health insurance. Getting care at an eligible facility does not mean every outside appointment is paid for. [6] Ask patient registration first. Staff can explain eligibility and the documents needed to open your medical record. [1] Living in a city does not rule out Native-focused care. Urban Indian organizations serve Native people living away from reservations. [2] A referral is not a payment guarantee. Purchased/Referred Care has its own requirements and approval process. [7][8] Where to Look for Care Near You Start with the IHS Find Health Care locator or your Tribe’s health department. Before traveling, contact the facility to confirm that it can provide the care you need and see you as a patient. A listing alone cannot tell you whether an appointment or treatment place is available. [6] IHS and Tribal Health Programs IHS operates some facilities directly. Tribes operate others under their own arrangements. An IHS clinic and a Tribally operated clinic can have different eligibility rules or services. IHS advises people to ask the specific Tribal program about care for members of other Tribes. [1] Ask for the team that handles alcohol or drug treatment. It may be called behavioral health, substance use treatment or addiction services. “Behavioral health” often brings mental health and substance-use care together. For example, Seattle Indian Health Board describes both services within its behavioral health program. [9] Urban Indian Organizations The National Council of Urban Indian Health maintains an Urban Indian organization directory. Its explanation specifically includes American Indian and Alaska Native people who do not live on or near a reservation. Look for an organization in your region and ask which treatment or referral services it offers. [2] Programs differ. Seattle Indian Health Board lists outpatient mental health care and standard and intensive outpatient substance-use services for adults. NARA NW describes residential and outpatient addiction treatment among its services. These are examples of different care options, not recommendations based on a comparison of outcomes. [9][10] If travel, work or caregiving makes appointments difficult, planning for treatment access can help you organize... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/safe-help-seeking/ Getting Care When a Partner Monitors You You can seek support when a partner makes it difficult to get mental health or addiction care. The interference may be obvious, such as preventing an appointment, or harder to describe, such as threatening to use your health history against you. The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health identifies these as ways a partner can restrict access to help. [1] If someone may monitor this device, remember that browsing can leave traces on a device or account. Private or incognito browsing does not make internet activity impossible to discover. Consider a device the person has not had access to, if you can use one without increasing your risk. [2][3] For immediate danger or a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911. If you have time to plan a conversation, a domestic violence advocate can help you consider contact options that fit your situation. [4][5] Fast Facts About Seeking Help Safely These points can help you choose a starting place: You can talk with an advocate without having decided to leave your relationship. [4] Removing someone's access to a device or account can increase danger in some situations. Plan before making changes. [3] Tell a service whether it may contact you, how and when. Revisit that agreement if your circumstances change. [6] An advocate can help with safety planning. A therapist can help address the emotional effects of abuse. You may want both kinds of support. [7] When a Partner Interferes with Treatment A partner may pressure you to use alcohol or drugs, interrupt recovery support, take your medicine, or threaten to expose your substance use to people you depend on. Specialists call this substance use coercion. It means using substances or accusations about them to control someone. You do not have to use drugs or alcohol to experience it. [8] Interference can also involve mental health care. For example, someone may discourage treatment, control medication or tell other people not to believe you because of a diagnosis. This is different from a respectful conversation about treatment choices. [1] You do not need the perfect label. Describing what happened and what made it harder to get help is a place to begin. When you can speak privately with a healthcare professional, describe the obstacle directly: “Someone at home takes my medicine,” or “I miss visits because my partner will not let me attend. ” These are example ways to start the conversation. A diagnosis or substance-use history does not make that interference your fault. If your treatment has been interrupted, contact your treating clinician about what to do next. Do not make medication changes on your own to work around the problem. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) advises talking with your healthcare provider before stopping treatment. [5] Consider the Device and the Setting Before You Reach Out A safer device might be a trusted person's phone or a library computer that your partner cannot access. “Safer” does not mean guaranteed private.... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/chronic-pain-and-addiction/ Getting Help for Pain While Protecting Recovery Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than three months. It can interfere with sleep, movement, work and relationships. If you also have concerns about substance use, both needs deserve attention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically advises ongoing pain care for people who have pain and opioid use disorder. [1][2] You may be worried that asking for pain relief will be mistaken for seeking drugs, or that accepting medication could threaten your recovery. Bring those concerns into the conversation. A useful starting question is: “How can we treat my pain and support my recovery in the same plan? ” If someone cannot be awakened or is breathing slowly after possible opioid use, give naloxone if available and call 911. Stay with them until help arrives. [3] Do not abruptly stop or rapidly reduce prescribed opioid pain medicine without speaking with a healthcare professional. [4] Fast Facts About Chronic Pain and Addiction Keep these distinctions in mind when discussing a treatment plan. Physical dependence is not the same as addiction. Tolerance and withdrawal do not count toward an opioid use disorder diagnosis when opioids are taken solely under appropriate medical supervision. [5] Pain care can combine several approaches. Depending on your condition, options include physical therapy, pain-focused psychological treatment and medication. [6] “Nonopioid” does not mean risk-free. Other medicines also have side effects and may be unsuitable for particular health conditions. [6] Pain treatment and addiction treatment can work together. Buprenorphine or methadone for opioid use disorder can also help manage concurrent pain. [2] Pain, Physical Dependence and Addiction Are Different These terms answer different questions. Physical dependence means the body has adapted to a medicine and withdrawal symptoms can occur when it is reduced or stopped. Tolerance means the same amount produces less of an effect over time. Both can happen with prescribed opioids. [1] Opioid use disorder is a pattern of opioid use that causes significant problems. A clinician looks at the whole pattern, including difficulty controlling use, cravings, missed responsibilities and continued use despite harm. Tolerance or withdrawal during appropriate medical treatment does not, by itself, establish this diagnosis. [5] For example, telling a prescriber that pain has returned before the next dose is information they need to assess. It is not a diagnosis. Tell them what you are taking, what the medicine helps with, what worries you and whether you have taken it differently from the prescription. That gives the appointment a clearer starting point. If you are concerned about prescription opioid addiction, ask for an assessment alongside pain care. You do not have to decide on a label before asking for help. What a Combined Pain and Recovery Plan Can Include A combined plan identifies the cause of pain where possible, considers your health and substance-use history, and sets goals you can recognize in daily life. It may include more than one kind of treatment. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends an... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/recovery/after-incarceration/ Getting Care After Jail or Prison Leaving jail or prison can mean finding a place to sleep, getting to appointments and replacing paperwork while trying to stay well. Reentry is the transition from custody back to the community. For someone receiving addiction or mental health treatment, it should include a plan for continuing care after release. [1] You do not need to solve every problem before asking for treatment. Start by telling a healthcare professional what could interrupt your care today, such as an empty medication bottle, a missed dose or no way to reach an appointment. Ask who can help with that specific problem. If someone cannot be awakened or is breathing slowly after possible opioid use, give naloxone if available and call 911. Stay with them until help arrives. [2] For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988. [3] Fast Facts About Care After Incarceration These priorities can help you prepare for the transition: Confirm the next source of medication. A release plan should connect you with prescriptions, a supply of medication and a community provider. [1] The body can become less accustomed to opioids during a period without use. Returning to a previously used amount can increase overdose risk. [4] Coverage needs a separate check. Ask whether Medicaid is active and when it will pay for care. Release also creates a 60-day Marketplace enrollment opportunity. [5] Help is available without insurance. Community health centers and state mental health or substance use agencies can help you look for affordable services. [6] What to Arrange Before Release Ask the facility's medical team, social worker or release planner to connect you directly with the people who will provide care afterward. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends planning that covers medication, treatment, housing, benefits and peer support. [1] Use the questions below to turn a referral into a plan you can follow. If you are already out, take the same questions to a community clinic or reentry worker. NeedPerson to ContactWhat to Confirm MedicationFacility medical team and receiving prescriber or treatment programWhat you will leave with, when it runs out, where the next prescription or dose comes from, and whom to contact if the plan changes First appointmentReceiving clinic or its scheduling teamDate, location, purpose of the visit, documents to bring and whether the clinic has accepted the referral Coverage and costBenefits worker, Medicaid agency or health planWhether coverage is active, when it starts, which clinic and pharmacy accept it, and any charges Housing and transportRelease planner or community reentry organizationA place to go, a way to reach care, any eligibility rules and a backup if an arrangement falls through Ongoing supportCare coordinator, peer worker or trusted person you chooseHow to reach one another and which practical tasks you want help with Write down names and contact details. Before ending a planning conversation, ask: “What should I do if this appointment is canceled, I cannot get there or my medication runs out first? ” Keep... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/rural/ Finding Care When the Nearest Service Is Far Away Finding rural mental health or addiction care involves more than finding the closest office. You need an arrangement you can attend: the right service, a workable journey or connection, enough privacy and a cost you understand. Start by telling a provider which of those pieces is missing. A primary care professional can be an entry point for discussing mental health and arranging a referral. [1] You can also search for a community health center or contact your state or county mental health and substance use agency. [2] The aim is to find out what is available in your area, rather than assume a distant specialist is your only starting point. When You Need Urgent Help Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress in the United States, call or text 988. Do not wait for a routine appointment when immediate help is needed. [1] For a suspected opioid overdose, give naloxone if available and call 911. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose. Try to keep the person awake and breathing, place them on their side to prevent choking, and stay until help arrives. [3] If you think you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal after stopping heavy, regular drinking, contact a medical professional right away or go to an emergency department. It can become life-threatening. Seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations or an irregular heartbeat require emergency care or a call to 911. [4] Fast Facts About Rural CareKeep these practical distinctions in mind: A nearby primary care practice may help you begin a mental health assessment or referral. [1] A phone visit may be possible without video, but the provider must decide whether it fits the care you need. [5] A remote clinician still needs legal authority to treat you where you are located during the visit. [6] If a ride is needed, ask about the whole journey, including the trip home and what to do if an appointment changes. [7] Start With Nearby Services and Ask What They Can Coordinate Look for a health center through HRSA's locator or explore mental health and substance use services through FindTreatment. gov. SAMHSA’s official help page lists its telephone service for treatment information and referrals in English or Spanish. [2] When you contact a clinic, explain the concern and ask what it can provide locally. If specialist care is elsewhere, ask who makes the referral and who will remain your contact. Our treatment guide explains different kinds of addiction care. Some communities share clinical staff across organizations. In a 2025 Rural Monitor interview, Wil Morris, CEO of Sanilac Community Mental Health in Michigan, described a nurse practitioner working at both a hospital clinic and the mental health agency. Patients could continue with the prescriber while receiving other services at the agency. [8] That example does not mean your town has the same arrangement. It gives you a concrete question: “Can my local clinician coordinate with a specialist, and who will help me keep... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/access/ Getting Help When Care Is Hard to Reach You can ask for mental health or addiction care even when you do not know which service you need. A primary care professional can help you discuss concerns and find an appropriate next step. [1] Getting that care may also mean solving a practical problem, such as an unaffordable bill, a full appointment book or a lack of transportation. Start by naming both things: what you want help with and what could prevent you from attending. For an explanation of treatment settings and methods, visit our addiction treatment guide. When You Need Help Right Away For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress in the United States, call or text 988 for crisis support. You do not need to finish searching for a therapist before reaching out. [1] If you suspect an opioid overdose, give naloxone if available and call 911. Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. Try to keep the person awake and breathing, place them on their side to prevent choking, and stay until emergency help arrives. [2] Possible alcohol withdrawal needs prompt medical attention. Withdrawal means symptoms after stopping heavy, regular drinking and can become life-threatening. Contact a medical professional right away or go to an emergency department. For seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations or an irregular heartbeat, go to an emergency department or call 911. [3] Fast Facts About Getting Care These points can help you choose a starting place: Health centers serve people with and without insurance. Ask what services and income-based fees apply to you. [4] A sliding-fee scale means the amount you pay depends on your income. Ask whether a provider offers it. [5] Before arranging a visit, ask about openings, the care you need, costs and any help required to attend. [6] Phone appointments may be possible when video is difficult. Confirm that this format is appropriate for your visit. [7] Treatment Access Guides Explore practical help for the circumstances affecting your care: Mental health and addiction care in rural areas: questions about travel, local services and online appointments. Getting help when a partner monitors you: planning private contact and finding abuse support. Native American addiction treatment: navigating IHS, Tribal and Urban Indian services. Pacific Islander mental health support: exploring community programs and care that fits your preferences. Immigrant and refugee mental health support: asking about language assistance, costs and local services. Find a Starting Point Near You You can begin with your usual medical practice, a community health center, or a mental health or substance use service. For people without insurance, SAMHSA recommends health centers, state or county agencies, and its treatment locator. Its telephone referral service operates day and night in English and Spanish. [8] Use FindTreatment. gov to explore services or HRSA's health-center locator to look for a center. Then contact the service. A nearby listing leaves important questions unanswered: whether it treats your concern, is accepting patients and has an appointment you... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/self-harm/ Getting Help for Self-Harm Self-harm means intentionally injuring or poisoning yourself. Care should address your immediate safety and the difficulties behind the behavior. [1] Call 911 for a life-threatening injury or immediate danger. If someone collapses, has a seizure, struggles to breathe or cannot be awakened after a possible poisoning, call 911 immediately. [2] After an intentional overdose or possible poisoning, get medical advice immediately by calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Its automated online tool is not intended for self-harm. Speak with a poison specialist instead of trying to judge the danger yourself. [3] For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress in the United States, call or text 988, or use 988 Lifeline chat. You can contact the service about yourself or someone else. A crisis conversation does not replace emergency medical care for an injury. [4] Fast Facts About Self-Harm These distinctions can help when you are deciding how to seek support. Self-injury without an intent to die is called nonsuicidal self-injury. Serious injury can still happen. [5] Support can begin with a primary care clinician, school counselor or mental health professional experienced in self-harm. [6] Assessment considers the person's needs and circumstances. A risk score should not decide who gets treatment. [1] A coping activity may help with a difficult moment, but ongoing support is needed to address what is driving the urges. [7] Why Self-Harm Can Be Hard to Stop For some people, self-injury briefly eases overwhelming feelings. For others, it is a response to numbness, loneliness or self-directed anger. When painful feelings return, the urge may return too. These experiences help explain the behavior without making it safe. [5] You do not need the perfect explanation. Start with what you have noticed and what you need help with. You can use your own words. Self-harm and a suicide attempt are not interchangeable. A person may injure themselves without wanting to die. However, self-injury is associated with greater suicide risk and can cause unintended serious harm. Do not assume that someone is safe simply because they describe the behavior as coping. [5] Self-harm can occur alongside different mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and trauma-related difficulties. It can affect adults as well as young people. An assessment helps clarify what is happening for that individual. [5] Getting Through an Urge to Self-Harm If you are not in immediate danger, try creating a little space between the urge and acting on it. The NHS suggests harmless distractions, talking to someone, writing about feelings and calming breathing. These are options to try, not a test you must pass before asking for help. [7] Make contact. Ask a trusted person to talk with you. If words are difficult, send a short message asking for company or support. [7] Choose something gentle to focus on. Listen to familiar music, write a few sentences about what you feel or try a calming breathing exercise. [7] Use your existing safety plan. Follow the coping steps and contact list you developed with your care team.... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/dissociation/ Fast Facts About Dissociation These distinctions can help you describe what is happening and decide where to seek help. Dissociation is a feeling of disconnection. It can affect your sense of yourself, your surroundings or your memories. The experience alone does not identify a disorder. [1] Feeling detached from yourself and your surroundings are different experiences. They can occur together, and either can be frightening. [2] An assessment looks for the explanation. Medical conditions, substances and other mental health concerns may need attention. [3] Treatment depends on what is causing the symptoms. For depersonalization-derealization disorder, talk therapy is the main treatment. [3] What Is Dissociation? Dissociation means a disconnection in experiences that usually feel joined together, such as your thoughts, feelings, memories and sense of who you are. Mild absorption, such as becoming lost in a book, can happen in everyday life. More disruptive experiences may include feeling outside your body or being unable to remember important personal events. [4] In an American Psychiatric Association question-and-answer article, psychiatrist David Spiegel, MD, distinguishes temporary detachment from persistent problems that interfere with a person's life. The practical concern is what the experience is doing to your ability to function, rather than whether an online description sounds familiar. [1] You can ask for help before you know which label applies. Explore mental health support for help deciding where to start. What Can Dissociation Feel Like? Depersonalization means feeling detached from yourself. Your actions or emotions may seem distant, as though you are observing yourself. Derealization means that your surroundings feel unreal or unfamiliar. People or places may seem dreamlike, even when you know where you are. [2] For an everyday illustration, one person might describe speaking during a meeting while feeling removed from their own voice. Another might recognize the room but feel as though it belongs in a dream. These examples explain the distinction. They are not patient stories or a test that can identify a diagnosis. [2] Some people experience gaps in memory. Spiegel's APA explanation describes ongoing memory problems as one form of dissociation that can disrupt daily life. Tell a clinician what you remember and what seems missing rather than deciding the cause yourself. [1] When Should You Seek Help for Dissociation? Arrange an assessment if the feelings keep returning, do not go away, distress you or interfere with work, relationships or daily tasks. Episodes can vary in duration. You do not need to wait for them to become constant before asking for care. [2] Sudden confusion needs urgent medical attention. Call 911 for sudden unexplained confusion, confusion after a head injury or loss of consciousness. Do not assume these changes are dissociation. A confused person should not be left alone while help is needed. [5] Why Can Dissociation Happen? Stress and traumatic experiences can contribute to dissociation. It may occur with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but dissociative symptoms do not by themselves establish PTSD or prove that a particular event happened. [4] Depersonalization and derealization can also occur... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/health-anxiety/ Fast Facts About Health Anxiety These points can help you understand the problem and discuss care. Health anxiety means persistent fear about illness. It becomes a problem when worry and efforts to feel certain interfere with daily life. [1] People respond in different ways. Some repeatedly seek tests or reassurance. Others avoid appointments because they fear what they will hear. [2] Medical care and mental health care can work together. Having health anxiety does not rule out a physical illness. [3] Treatment addresses the worry and its effects. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can help change the thinking and checking patterns that keep the fear going. [4] Understanding Health Anxiety Health anxiety is an ongoing fear that something is seriously wrong with your health. Concern about a symptom is understandable. The difficulty is when worry keeps returning, even after appropriate assessment, and takes over time you would otherwise spend working, sleeping or being with people you care about. [1] You might repeatedly check your body, search symptoms online or ask someone whether you look ill. Or you might put off care because the possibility of a diagnosis feels unbearable. These behaviors can be attempts to cope with genuine fear. [2] Health anxiety is a broad description, rather than one diagnosis. It can occur alongside several conditions, including other anxiety problems. [1] Why Can Checking Make Health Anxiety Worse? In his explanation for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, therapist Ken Goodman, LCSW, describes how close attention to the body can magnify the significance of ordinary sensations. A person notices something, interprets it as dangerous and looks more closely, finding more reasons to worry. [5] Relief and certainty are different. Feeling calmer after an answer does not mean that answer will make every future doubt disappear. Psychologists Sally Winston, PsyD, and Martin Seif, PhD, explain another part of this pattern in their ADAA commentary. When repeated reassurance briefly eases anxiety, that relief can strengthen the urge to seek reassurance again. Another answer may settle today's question while leaving the need for certainty untouched. [6] An example might be checking a symptom, feeling reassured by one webpage, then opening another because the first did not address every possibility. This is an illustration, not a diagnostic test. The useful question is whether searching helps you take an appropriate next step or keeps restarting the same worry. [5] Health Anxiety and Related Diagnoses Illness anxiety disorder involves persistent fear of having or developing a serious illness when physical symptoms are absent or mild. Clinicians consider the person's distress, checking or avoidance, and whether another condition better explains the concern. Diagnostic criteria include at least six months of illness preoccupation, although the feared illness can change. [7] Somatic symptom disorder involves distressing physical symptoms together with excessive health-related thoughts, feelings or behaviors. “Somatic” means related to the body. Symptoms may have a diagnosed medical cause. A negative test or an unexplained symptom alone does not establish this diagnosis, and the person is not faking... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/specific-phobias/ What Is a Specific Phobia? A specific phobia is an intense, lasting fear of a particular object or situation that causes significant distress or interferes with daily life. The fear is greater than the danger involved. Someone might miss needed medical care because of needles, avoid visiting family because the trip requires flying or change their routine to stay away from dogs. [1] The question is what the fear is doing to your life. Disliking spiders or feeling uneasy on a high balcony does not, by itself, mean you have a disorder. Assessment considers the strength and persistence of the fear, danger and the effect on daily life. [2] Fast Facts About Specific Phobias Understanding these differences can help you decide what to discuss with a clinician: Fear has a particular focus. Common examples include animals, heights, flying, enclosed spaces, blood and injections. [1] Avoidance can hide the impact. Ask what you have stopped doing or changed to stay away from the trigger. [3] Exposure therapy is treatment. It involves planned practice with feared situations, developed with a therapist. [4] Needle fears may involve fainting. Tell the medical team if this has happened to you so they can plan appropriate care. [2] Examples of Specific Phobias Phobias can involve animals or insects, natural surroundings such as storms or heights, blood or medical procedures, and situations such as flying or enclosed spaces. Other fears can center on choking or vomiting. A person may have more than one specific phobia. [1] Rather than collecting the formal name for every fear, start with a concrete description. “I have delayed a blood test twice because I fear fainting” tells a clinician more about your immediate need than the word “needlephobia” alone. In a published ADAA article about fear of flying, psychologist Martin Seif recommends identifying what specifically frightens you and telling a companion what helps. That distinction is useful: “I am scared of flying” might mean fear of a crash, the enclosed cabin or being unable to leave. Those concerns deserve discussion rather than assumptions. [5] Symptoms and Effects on Daily Life Facing the trigger, or anticipating it, can bring intense anxiety. Physical symptoms may include sweating, a racing heart, difficulty breathing or dizziness. Some people experience panic. Others spend considerable time planning how to avoid the situation or endure it with great distress. [1] Start with what you missYou do not need to become comfortable with every possible situation. Tell the clinician which necessary or meaningful activity fear is keeping you from doing. For an appointment, make a short list of what the fear changes. Does it affect medical care, travel, work, school or time with people you care about? What do you do to avoid it? What would you most like help doing? Blood and Needle Fears Can Involve Fainting Blood, injection or injury fears can involve a drop in heart rate and blood pressure that leads to fainting. This differs from the racing heart often associated with anxiety. Tell the treating... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/agoraphobia/ What Is Agoraphobia? Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of situations where leaving or getting help might be difficult if distressing symptoms occur. You might worry about panicking on a bus, becoming unwell in a store or needing help when you are out alone. You may avoid places or endure them with intense distress. [1] Agoraphobia does not always mean being unable to leave home. Some people go out only with someone they trust. Others still work or run errands but plan their lives around where they feel able to escape. It can occur with or without panic disorder. [2] Fast Facts About Agoraphobia These points can help you make sense of the condition: The concern is escape or help. Open spaces, enclosed places, crowds, transport and being out alone can all be difficult. [1] The impact matters. Clinicians consider whether the fear is persistent, greater than the actual danger and interfering with daily life. [2] Treatment involves practical skills. Therapy can help you return to activities you have been avoiding. [3] You can ask for help from home. If attending an office feels impossible, ask about a phone or video appointment. [3] Signs of Agoraphobia in Everyday Life The pattern often becomes clearer when you look at what fear has changed. You may avoid public transportation, need someone beside you in a queue or turn down plans because the destination feels too far from somewhere safe. You might fear a panic attack, but also other disabling or embarrassing symptoms, such as falling or losing bowel control. [1] A clinician looks beyond whether you can technically complete an activity. Going to the supermarket while feeling trapped throughout the visit can still be a serious problem. Avoidance, relying on a companion and staying despite intense fear are all relevant to assessment. [4] Describe the changeYou do not need the perfect label before asking for help. Explain what has become difficult and what you would like to be able to do again. For example, you could tell a clinician, “I used to take the bus to work. Now I pay for a ride because I worry I could not get off if I felt unwell. ” This is an example of how to describe a concern, not a test for agoraphobia. Make a short note of the situation, what you fear will happen, what you do to get through it and what it costs you in time, money or missed activities. Bring that note to the appointment. Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder and Other Fears The same place can feel frightening for different reasons. In social anxiety disorder, the central concern is being judged or humiliated by other people. With a specific phobia, fear centers on a particular object or situation. Agoraphobia centers on escape or access to help across different situations. [4] Consider three people avoiding a crowded elevator. One fears being unable to get help if they become unwell. Another fears other passengers noticing and judging their anxiety. Another fears the... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/pmdd/ What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) causes severe mood symptoms before a period that interfere with everyday life. Symptoms commonly begin in the week or two before bleeding starts and improve within a few days afterward. Irritability, depression or anxiety can be intense enough to disrupt work, school and relationships. [1] You may notice that ordinary tasks become much harder during part of each month, then wonder whether you imagined the problem once you feel better. Tell a clinician about both parts of that pattern. The timing, severity and effect on your life help distinguish PMDD from other concerns. [2] Do not wait for your period to start if you are having suicidal thoughts. In the U. S. , call or text 988 for crisis support. Call 911 if you might act on those thoughts or are in immediate danger. [3] Fast Facts About PMDD These points can help you decide what to discuss when asking for care. PMDD affects more than your period. Mood symptoms and disruption to daily life are central to the condition. [1] The pattern across the month matters. Recording symptoms daily helps a clinician assess what is happening. [1] A hormone test cannot confirm PMDD. Testing may instead help check for another condition. [4] Treatment can include medication and therapy. The choice depends on your symptoms, health history and preferences. [2] PMDD belongs within mental health care as well as menstrual health care. You can ask for help before you know which diagnosis fits. PMDD Symptoms and When They Happen PMDD can include several kinds of symptoms. They do not all look the same from one person to another. [1] Mood changes. Strong irritability or anger, sudden sadness, hopelessness, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed. [1] Changes in daily functioning. Trouble concentrating, low energy, loss of interest in usual activities or feeling out of control. [1] Sleep and appetite changes. Difficulty sleeping, food cravings or changes in eating. [1] Physical symptoms. Bloating, breast tenderness, headaches or muscle and joint pain. [1] A clinician looks for at least five symptoms, including a mood-related symptom. Timing, interference with daily life and other possible explanations also matter. Recognizing yourself in a list does not establish the diagnosis. [1][2] For example, you might repeatedly miss a class before your period because you feel overwhelmed, then return to your usual routine afterward. This is an illustration of what to describe at an appointment, not a diagnostic test. Include what happened and when, rather than writing only “bad PMS. ” Ask for an assessment if recurring symptoms are harming your relationships, interrupting responsibilities or leaving you feeling unable to cope. Severe distress deserves attention even when it improves later in the month. [2] How PMDD Differs From PMS and Other Conditions Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and PMDD both involve symptoms before a period, but PMDD has severe mood symptoms and substantial interference with daily life. The distinction involves more than whether you have cramps or feel irritable. [2] Another possibility is... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-dysmorphic-disorder/ What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) involves persistent worries about perceived appearance flaws that other people barely notice or cannot see. The worries cause substantial distress or interfere with daily life, and lead to repeated behaviors such as checking, grooming or comparing. BDD is a mental health condition, not vanity. [1][2] You might spend so long getting ready that you miss work, avoid friends because you feel unable to be seen, or repeatedly ask whether a feature looks wrong. These experiences deserve attention even if you feel embarrassed explaining them. Treatment can help reduce the distress and its hold on your life. [2] If you might act on thoughts of suicide or are in immediate danger, call 911. In the U. S. , call or text 988 for suicide or emotional-crisis support. [3][4] Fast Facts About Body Dysmorphic Disorder These distinctions can help guide your first conversation about care. Mirror checking and avoidance can both be BDD signs. Consider the distress and interference, not whether someone enjoys dressing up. [2] BDD needs its own assessment. Appearance concerns alone do not establish a diagnosis. [1] Therapy should address BDD specifically. Treatment often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, medication or both. [5] Changing a feature usually does not resolve BDD. Cosmetic procedures can leave the underlying preoccupation unchanged. [3] People often search for “body dysmorphia. ” Psychiatrist Katharine Phillips explains in an International OCD Foundation article that this term is used inconsistently. It can refer to BDD or to other appearance concerns. Describing what is happening helps a clinician work out which kind of support fits. [6] BDD belongs within broader mental health care. You do not need to decide on the diagnosis before asking for an appointment. Signs That Appearance Worries Are Taking Over BDD can involve the face, skin, hair or other parts of the body. Someone may check reflections repeatedly, compare themselves with others, hide a disliked feature or avoid situations where they might be seen. Work, school and relationships can become harder to manage. [6] For example, an appearance worry might lead to repeated clothing changes, followed by missing a class. This is an illustrative pattern, not a diagnostic test. The useful question for an appointment is what the worry prevents you from doing, rather than whether someone else agrees with it. Some people recognize that their concerns may be exaggerated. Others are convinced that a feature looks seriously wrong. A strong belief does not rule out BDD, and shame can make it difficult to talk about symptoms. [3] Seek an assessment when the distress or repeated behaviors are disrupting your life. You do not have to wait until you stop leaving home. BDD can be serious, including when depression or suicidal thoughts are present. [2] Causes and Conditions That Can Overlap There is no single established cause of BDD. Family history, experiences such as teasing or abuse, and other factors may contribute. BDD often begins in adolescence, but adults can need help too. [3] Social... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/hair-pulling/ What Is Hair-Pulling Disorder? Hair-pulling disorder, also called trichotillomania, involves repeatedly pulling out hair, trying to reduce or stop the pulling, and experiencing significant distress or disruption. Hair loss may be visible or hidden. A diagnosis also requires checking that a medical condition or another mental health disorder does not better explain the problem. [1] You can ask for help without first deciding what to call it. An assessment can address pulling and its effects on your skin, hair and daily life. [2] Hair pulling belongs to a group called body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs. These involve repeated actions directed at the body, such as picking skin or biting nails. The name describes a pattern, not a judgment about your self-control. [3] Fast Facts About Hair-Pulling Disorder Awareness can vary. You may notice an urge first or realize you have been pulling only afterward. [3] Treatment teaches practical skills. Habit reversal training helps you recognize the pattern and practice an alternative response. [4] Physical care matters. Have hair loss assessed, and tell the clinician if you swallow hair. [5] The impact goes beyond appearance. Avoiding people or activities because of pulling is a reason to seek support. [6] Signs and Everyday Hair-Pulling Patterns Pulling can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other body areas. With automatic pulling, you may not notice your hand moving while reading or watching television. With focused pulling, you deliberately respond to an urge or search for a particular hair. One person can experience both patterns. [7] Describe what happens rather than trying to fit a stereotype. For example, you might notice loose hairs beside your chair without remembering each pull. Or you might spend time searching for a strand that feels different, then feel frustrated when you see the damage. In a Harvard Health Publishing article, psychologist Nancy Keuthen explains that embarrassment can affect social contact and opportunities at work. That perspective matters when preparing for care: tell the clinician what you have stopped doing or started avoiding, not only where hair is missing. [6] You Can Start With What You Notice“I keep finding hairs beside me” or “I avoid swimming because of my eyebrows” gives you a place to begin. You do not need a perfect explanation. A clinician may examine the affected area and check for other causes of hair loss. They will also ask about emotions, pulling behaviors and other health concerns. Ordinary hair touching or a patch of thinning hair does not establish this diagnosis by itself. [2] Repeated pulling driven by an intense concern about a perceived appearance flaw may need a different assessment. The clinician should explore what the action means to you, rather than assume all pulling has the same explanation. [1] Why Hair Pulling May Continue The underlying cause is not fully understood. Genetic and environmental influences may contribute. Pulling can occur during boredom or stress, or in response to uncomfortable sensations. Something that happens just before an episode is a trigger, not necessarily the cause of... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/skin-picking/ What Is Skin-Picking Disorder? Skin-picking disorder involves repeatedly picking the skin, causing wounds, trying to stop and experiencing significant distress or disruption. Its clinical name is excoriation disorder, also called dermatillomania. Picking an occasional spot does not establish a disorder. An assessment considers the whole pattern and whether another condition better explains it. [1] Skin picking belongs to a group called body-focused repetitive behaviors, which also includes hair pulling and nail biting. These behaviors can be difficult to control even when someone wants to stop. [2] Fast Facts About Skin-Picking Disorder Help can address both the behavior and the damage it causes: Awareness can vary. Some picking happens almost automatically. Other episodes involve a strong urge or close attention to the skin. [2] Treatment teaches practical skills. Habit reversal training helps people notice the pattern and practice a different response. [3] Skin care matters now. Seek care for serious damage or wounds that are not healing within a few days. [4] Severe bleeding needs emergency help. Call 911 for severe bleeding or bleeding that cannot be stopped. [5] Signs That Skin Picking Needs Attention Skin picking may involve fingers or tools, repeated scabs, bleeding and scars. A person may hide affected areas or avoid appointments and social activities because they feel embarrassed. These consequences deserve attention, even when other people do not see the damage. [6] Consider what happens before and after picking. Do you return to the same area despite wanting it to heal? Does picking interrupt things you want to do? Have attempts to stop become a source of frustration? Bring those observations to an appointment instead of trying to decide on a diagnosis alone. You Can Ask for Both Kinds of HelpYou do not have to choose between caring for your skin and discussing the picking. Tell the clinician which concern feels most urgent to you. A clinician should consider medical causes, substance effects and other mental health explanations. For example, itching from a skin condition or picking caused by stimulant effects needs a different assessment. Picking driven by a fixed belief or an intense preoccupation with a perceived appearance flaw can also require a different diagnosis. [1] Be specific about medicines, supplements and substances you use, what the skin feels like, and what you believe will happen if you leave it alone. You can say, “I am not sure why I do it. ” Uncertainty is something to explore at the appointment. What Can Trigger Skin Picking? Triggers can include boredom, uncomfortable emotions, itching, blemishes or the sensation of touching the skin. Relief or satisfaction during picking can coexist with regret afterward. Identifying your particular pattern helps guide treatment. [7] In Harvard Health Publishing, psychiatrist Lisa Zakhary, MD, PhD, explains why the starting point matters: acne or itching may call for a dermatologist, while picking associated with urges or emotional distress calls for mental health expertise in skin picking. That distinction helps you describe what you need instead of asking only how to stop. [7] A... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors/ Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, include repeated skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting that can be difficult to stop. Some happen without much awareness. Others involve a strong urge or a search for a particular sensation, such as a rough patch of skin. The behavior can cause damage and interfere with everyday life. [1] Skin-picking disorder and hair-pulling disorder have specific diagnostic criteria. Clinicians consider repeated attempts to stop, the physical effects and significant distress or disruption. An occasional grooming habit does not, by itself, establish either diagnosis. [2][3] Fast Facts About Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors These points can help you decide what to discuss with a professional: Awareness varies. You may notice an urge before picking or pulling, or realize what happened only afterward. [1] Help involves more than “just stop. ” Behavioral therapy teaches awareness and alternative responses to the pattern. [4] Skin and hair changes deserve attention. A medical assessment can check injuries and other explanations for the symptoms. [5][6] Experience matters. Ask whether a therapist treats your specific behavior, not only anxiety or OCD in general. [7] What Skin Picking and Hair Pulling Can Look Like A person may pull hair while watching television and notice only when they see the hairs. Someone else may deliberately search for a strand that feels different. These illustrate automatic and focused pulling. The same person can experience both. [8] Skin picking can also happen with little awareness or with close attention to the skin. The short-term sensation may be satisfying or relieve tension even when the person dislikes the wounds afterward. [2] The names below describe different patterns. They are starting points for a conversation, not a way to diagnose yourself: PatternWhat You Might NoticeWhat to Discuss Skin pickingRepeated picking or scratching that leaves wounds. Healing, attempts to stop and the effect on daily life. [6] Hair pullingPulling from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other areas. Hair loss, pulling patterns and whether any hair is swallowed. [8] Nail biting and other BFRBsRepeated biting of nails, lips or the inside of the cheeks. Damage, discomfort and difficulty stopping. [1] Excoriation disorder is the clinical name for skin-picking disorder. You may also see dermatillomania. Trichotillomania means hair-pulling disorder. Learning a long name is less important than being able to explain what happens to you. [1] For picking-specific wound care, treatment options and appointment questions, explore skin-picking disorder treatment and support. For hair-loss concerns, age-specific care and treatment questions, explore hair-pulling disorder treatment and support. When to Ask for an Assessment Consider seeking help when picking or pulling causes injuries, distress, repeated unsuccessful efforts to stop, or interference with work, school or relationships. There is no requirement to spend an hour a day doing it before these disorders can be considered. [2][3] You Do Not Need the Right Vocabulary“I keep doing this, and I want help” is enough to begin the conversation. You can explain the details at your own pace. A clinician looks beyond the visible damage.... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/hoarding-disorder/ Understanding Hoarding Disorder Hoarding disorder makes it persistently difficult to part with possessions, even when keeping them makes daily life harder. The thought of discarding something can cause intense distress. Belongings may fill rooms until you cannot use them for sleeping, cooking or other ordinary activities. [1] The concern is more than whether a home looks tidy. What matters is the difficulty letting things go and the effect on your life. If this sounds familiar, a mental health professional can help you understand what is happening and discuss treatment. [1] “Unfortunately, stigma and shame prevent people from seeking help for hoarding disorder,” psychiatrist Carolyn Rodriguez told Stanford Medicine. You can begin by describing one difficulty, such as being unable to use your kitchen, even if discussing the whole situation feels overwhelming. [2] Fast Facts About Hoarding Disorder These distinctions can help you decide what kind of support to ask for: Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition. A clinician assesses the reasons for saving things, distress and the impact on daily life. [3] Buying or collecting excessive amounts is common, but it is not required in every case. [4] Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people practice different ways of making decisions and responding to distress about possessions. [5] A cleanout may address an immediate hazard, but it does not by itself treat the reasons clutter keeps returning. [6] Blocked exits and belongings near stoves or heaters need attention because they create fire and escape risks. [7] Hoarding, Clutter and Collecting A collection, a busy household or boxes left after a move do not automatically mean someone has hoarding disorder. The difference involves how possessions affect the use of a home and how difficult it is to discard them. The following examples help explain that distinction. They are not a diagnostic test. [8] SituationWhat to consider Temporary clutterThings are out of place, but rooms generally remain usable. The disorder cannot be inferred from untidiness alone. CollectingA collection is usually organized around an interest. Collecting itself does not mean that belongings prevent ordinary home activities. Possible hoarding disorderPersistent difficulty discarding leads to accumulated possessions, lost use of living space and considerable distress or problems with daily life. A photo can help explain your home situation. A clinician also needs to assess your symptoms and their effects on daily life. [5] Describe what the room needs to do. “I cannot cook because the counter is covered” is more useful than “My home is a disaster. ” It gives you and the person helping you a concrete problem to discuss. You need not agree on belongings’ value before asking for help. The assessment concerns the difficulty discarding and its consequences, regardless of the possessions' monetary value. [4] Signs That an Assessment Could Help Consider talking with a clinician if you repeatedly save things you cannot use or store, feel substantial distress when trying to discard them, or lose the use of rooms. Relationships, work and safety may also be affected. Some people recognize... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/addiction/family/parents-of-adult-children/ Helping Your Adult Child with Addiction You can offer help, set limits and protect your own wellbeing while your adult child struggles with alcohol or other drugs. You do not have to solve every problem in one conversation. Start with the concern that needs attention now, then decide what support you can realistically offer. [1] An adult child's substance use can affect the wider family, including partners and siblings. Start by identifying the concern you want to discuss as their parent. If someone cannot be awakened or has slow, shallow or difficult breathing, call 911. If an opioid overdose is possible, give naloxone if available and stay until emergency help arrives. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose. Giving it does not replace emergency care. [2] Do not make suddenly stopping alcohol or prescribed benzodiazepines a condition of staying at home. Withdrawal is the body’s reaction to reducing or stopping a substance it has become used to. After heavy, prolonged drinking or regular benzodiazepine use, stopping suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Ask a medical professional to plan a safe change. Benzodiazepines include medicines such as Xanax and Ativan. [3][4] Fast Facts About Helping an Adult Child with Addiction Keep these distinctions in mind when deciding what you can offer: Family support can help someone connect with treatment. Parents and other caregivers need support for their own health, too. [5] A boundary describes your needs and limits. It cannot guarantee that another person will change. [6] SMART Recovery Family & Friends offers free online and in-person support meetings for people affected by someone else's addiction. [7] Being someone's parent does not automatically give you access to their medical information. [8] How to Start a Conversation Choose a time when your child is sober and both of you can pay attention. Describe what concerns you without turning the discussion into an argument about their character. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA) guidance for talking about alcohol treatment recommends a calm, supportive approach and cautions against cornering the person or having several people confront them at once. [9] Counselor Pat Aussem of Partnership to End Addiction recommends addressing one issue at a time with an adult child. Choose a manageable purpose for this conversation. [1] An Example You Can Adapt “You missed work twice this week after drinking, and I'm worried. What has this week been like for you? Would you be willing to talk with someone about it? I can help find an appointment or give you a ride. ” This is an illustrative conversation, not a script that guarantees agreement. Change the observation and offer to fit what actually happened. Let your child answer. If they disagree, try to understand the disagreement before presenting more options. “I'm hearing that you're afraid treatment means losing your job. Is that the biggest concern? ” leaves room for an answer. It also identifies a question you could ask a provider together. What If Your Adult Child Refuses Help? Ask what they are... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/insomnia/ Understanding Insomnia Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting satisfying sleep even when you have the opportunity to sleep. It can leave you tired, irritable or unable to concentrate during the day. A few difficult nights and a lasting sleep problem may need different kinds of help. [1][2] If sleep problems are affecting your daily life, start with a health care professional. You do not need to know whether the problem comes from stress, a medicine or another condition before making an appointment. Describing what happens at night and during the day helps guide the assessment. [3] Fast Facts About Insomnia These points can help you decide what to discuss with a clinician: Long-term insomnia involves difficulty sleeping at least three nights a week for three months or longer, with effects on daily life. A clinician considers the whole pattern. [3][4] Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, called CBT-I, is usually the first treatment recommended for long-term insomnia. [5] Healthy bedtime habits can help, but they are not a complete treatment for persistent insomnia on their own. [6] Tell your clinician about medicines, supplements, alcohol and other substances. These details can change the safest treatment plan. [3][5] What Insomnia Can Look Like You might lie awake for a long time, wake repeatedly or wake earlier than you want and struggle to return to sleep. The daytime effects matter too. Trouble concentrating, low energy or feeling unusually irritable can make work, relationships and ordinary tasks harder. [4] Short-term insomnia can follow stress or changes in your surroundings or schedule. Persistent symptoms deserve assessment rather than an assumption that you simply need more discipline. The diagnosis involves more than counting hours in bed. [1][3] In NIH News in Health, a National Institutes of Health publication, sleep expert Marishka Brown explains that healthy sleep involves amount, quality and a consistent schedule. She also distinguishes insomnia from simply having too little time available for sleep. That distinction gives your clinician useful information about what needs to change. [7] Make the problem specific. “I leave enough time for sleep but stay awake for much of it” describes something different from “My schedule leaves too little time to sleep. ” Bring whichever description fits your life. The three-month definition of chronic insomnia is not a waiting period for care. If poor sleep is disrupting your life now, ask for help now. [3] What a Sleep Assessment Includes A clinician will ask when the problem started, how often it happens and how you feel during the day. They may review your medical history, examine you and ask about workdays, days off, medicines and substances. Loud snoring or waking up gasping can point toward another sleep problem that needs investigation. [3] A sleep diary can help. For one or two weeks, note when you go to bed, when you wake, naps, daytime sleepiness and the timing of caffeine or alcohol. Approximate notes are a starting point for discussion, not a test you have to get exactly... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/grief/ Understanding Grief After a Death Grief is a natural response to losing someone close to you. It can affect your feelings, thoughts, sleep and daily routines. You may feel sadness, anger, numbness or several emotions at once. There is no single way you are supposed to feel. [1] Support can include people you trust, a bereavement group or a counselor. You do not have to wait until you are unable to cope before asking for help. A counselor can help you explore those choices and assess persistent difficulties. [2] If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988 in the United States. Call 911 for an immediate medical emergency. [3] Fast Facts About Grief and Loss Keep these distinctions in mind when deciding what support you want: People grieve differently. Cultural beliefs and traditions can influence how loss is expressed. [1] The five stages of grief are not a sequence everyone must complete. [4] Grief and depression can occur together, but they are not the same condition. [5] Prolonged grief disorder involves persistent, intense symptoms and difficulties in daily life. Time since a death is only part of the assessment. [6] What Grief Can Feel Like Grief can reach into ordinary parts of the day. You may find it hard to concentrate, eat regularly or make decisions. You might want company one day and quiet the next. A moment of enjoyment can also bring surprise or guilt. These reactions do not measure how much you loved the person. [2][1] In an interview with NIH News in Health, a National Institutes of Health publication, psychologist Wendy Lichtenthal cautioned against judging yourself for not feeling the way you think you should. Her point is useful when family members grieve differently: another person's tears, silence or wish to stay busy do not set the standard for your own response. [1] Some grief begins before a death, such as during a loved one's serious illness. This is called anticipatory grief. It means you are responding to a loss you expect, including changes already happening in your life. It does not mean you have stopped caring for the person. [1] Do You Have to Go Through Five Stages? No. You may have heard grief described through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. In Cleveland Clinic's explanation, psychologist Regina Josell emphasizes that people may move among these experiences or never experience all of them. The model describes possible experiences, not tasks you must finish in order. [4] A difficult day is not a failed step. You do not have to place yourself in a stage before deciding what support would help today. For example, you might enjoy lunch with a friend and feel intense sadness later that evening. The good moment does not cancel the loss, and the sadness does not make the good moment dishonest. NIH's grief guidance describes the possibility of positive and painful emotions alongside one another. [1] When Grief Needs More Support Tell a health care professional... - Published: 2026-10-07 - Modified: 2026-10-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/family-support/ Supporting a Family Member with Mental Illness Family support can include listening, helping with daily tasks, learning about treatment and finding support for yourself. You may be a parent, partner, sibling or close friend. Start by asking what the person wants help with and what role they would like you to have. [1] Supporting an adult means balancing their choices with your own concerns, especially when symptoms disrupt daily life. Learning about mental health conditions and care options can help you prepare for conversations without trying to diagnose your loved one. If someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988 in the United States. You can call about a loved one. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. [2][3] Fast Facts About Family Mental Health Support Support can include learning, practical help and planning: Family education can help people understand schizophrenia, manage their own distress and learn ways to support a loved one. [4] People experiencing psychosis should be involved in treatment planning, with their needs and goals guiding care. [2] The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers free Family Support Groups led by family members. They provide peer support rather than a specific medical treatment. [5] A crisis plan can record helpful contacts, care preferences and things that helped during a previous crisis. [6] Understand What Your Loved One Is Experiencing Learn about the condition and ask the person what it is like for them. A diagnosis does not explain every disagreement or preference. NAMI's relationship guidance encourages families to consider how symptoms may affect behavior while continuing to treat the person as someone with interests, strengths and a life beyond illness. [7] Some symptoms need particular context. Psychosis means a person is having difficulty recognizing what is real. They might hear a voice that others cannot hear, called a hallucination, or hold a belief that is not based in reality, called a delusion. Psychosis can occur with several illnesses and can also have causes involving medicines, substances or lack of sleep. [2] Understanding is not the same as agreeing. You can acknowledge that someone feels frightened without saying their explanation of the fear is true. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reminds families that a person's hallucinations or beliefs may feel real to them. For example, if your brother says someone is watching him through the television, you can respond to his fear without confirming that someone is watching. A clinician can assess what is happening and what care is needed. [4][2] Learning about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression can help you understand the care your loved one may need. New or worsening symptoms deserve professional attention. You do not need to decide on a diagnosis before asking for help. [2] Mental illness should not be treated as a prediction of violence. NIMH notes that most people with schizophrenia are not violent. Respond to the person's actual behavior and current needs, including any immediate danger, rather than assumptions about a diagnosis. [4]... - Published: 2026-10-01 - Modified: 2026-10-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/ad-preview-2026-10/ Internal preview, not linked anywhere. Each current (child-focused) ad is followed by its new "you or your child" version. In-content banner: current Did social media harm your child? If serious mental-health harm followed, your family may have legal options. Start My Free Case Review In-content banner: new Were you or your child harmed by social media? If serious mental-health harm followed, you may have legal options. Start My Free Case Review Boxed: current Legal help for familiesDid social media harm your child? Courts are examining claims that major platforms were designed in ways that kept young users engaged despite serious harm. If your child’s use became hard to control and was followed by depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, self-harm, or another serious problem, your family may have legal options. Free · About 2 minutesStart My Free Case Review Boxed: new Legal help for you or your familyWere you or your child harmed by social media? Courts are examining claims that major platforms were designed in ways that kept young users engaged despite serious harm. If your use, or your child’s, became hard to control and was followed by depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, self-harm, or another serious problem, you may have legal options. Free · About 2 minutesStart My Free Case Review Sidebar card: current Legal Help For ParentsDid social media harm your child? If your child developed depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or began self-harming, your family may have legal options. Start My Free Case Review Sidebar card: new Legal Help For You or Your ChildWere you or your child harmed by social media? If you or your child developed depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or began self-harming, you may have legal options. Start My Free Case Review - Published: 2026-09-26 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/ketamine/therapy/ Considering Ketamine for Depression When depression keeps returning or treatment has not brought enough relief, another option can feel hopeful and hard to evaluate. Ketamine-based treatment can help some people with treatment-resistant depression. The medicine, the setting, and the follow-up plan matter as much as the name on the clinic's website. [1][2] Ketamine therapy for depression usually means off-label ketamine treatment or treatment with esketamine, sold as Spravato. These are related medicines with different approval and monitoring requirements. Considering either does not mean you have ketamine addiction; a careful assessment should address depression and any substance-use concerns without assuming a diagnosis. [3][4] If you are thinking about suicide or struggling with emotional distress, call or text 988 in the United States. Support is available around the clock. Do not wait for a ketamine appointment to seek crisis support. [5] Fast Facts About Ketamine Therapy Spravato is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression in adults, alone or with an oral antidepressant. It is taken in a certified healthcare setting, with at least two hours of monitoring afterward. [4] IV ketamine for depression is off-label. Research supports short-term benefit in selected patients, but that evidence does not make every formulation or treatment setting equivalent. [3][1] Early relief may need ongoing treatment. Before starting, ask how improvement will be measured and what happens if the benefit fades. [2][6] Ketamine, Spravato, and Compounded Products Ask for the exact medicine and route before comparing treatment programs. Esketamine is a component of racemic ketamine, rather than a brand name for the same formulation. The distinction matters because approval and clinical evidence apply to particular products and uses. [3][2] How the Options Differ Spravato is a specific prescription nasal spray. A compounded ketamine nasal spray is not Spravato, even though both are administered through the nose. The same distinction applies to tablets or troches, which are lozenges prepared by a compounding pharmacy. [3][4] Option US Approval for Depression What to Clarify Spravato nasal spray Approved for adult treatment-resistant depression; a separate indication covers depressive symptoms with acute suicidal thoughts or behavior Certified treatment setting, monitoring, and whether an oral antidepressant is part of the indicated treatment[4] Intravenous racemic ketamine Off-label for depression; injectable ketamine is approved for anesthesia Assessment, monitoring, evidence for the proposed course, and follow-up[3][2] Compounded ketamine, including oral or nasal preparations The compounded product is not FDA-approved Exact formulation, licensed prescriber, dispensing pharmacy, supervision, and evidence relevant to that preparation[3] Off-label does not mean there is no research. It does mean the FDA has not approved that medicine for the proposed use. Similarly, a product can qualify for compounding exemptions without becoming FDA-approved. These are separate questions to discuss with the prescriber. [3] What Treatment Resistance Means Treatment-resistant depression refers to depression that has not improved adequately with appropriate previous treatment. A specialist needs to review what was tried, for how long, at what dose, and with what response or side effects. The label is a description of the treatment history, not a judgment about your... - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-4/ Your resultHigh out of 17Your answers point to a pattern consistent with what clinicians look for in gaming disorder. What tends to help at this levelGaming disorder is a recognised condition and there is real treatment for it. A clinician who works with behavioural addiction is the right next step. If sleep and food have gone, treat those as the urgent part. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about video game addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-3/ Your resultModerate out of 17Your answers show gaming is displacing things that matter — sleep, people, or work. What tends to help at this levelLook at what gaming is replacing rather than what it is costing: sleep, people, work. Agree limits with someone else involved; solo limits rarely hold at this level. If it is affecting school, work or relationships, talk to someone who treats gaming disorder. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about video game addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-2/ Your resultMild out of 17Your answers show a few patterns worth watching, around time and stopping. What tends to help at this levelSet the stop point before you start, not during. Watch spending as closely as time — that is often where it turns first. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about video game addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/test/result-1/ Your resultLow out of 17Your answers point to ordinary play. What tends to help at this levelOrdinary play. Gaming is not a problem by volume alone. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about video game addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-4/ Your resultHigh out of 12Your answers point to use that is affecting how you feel day to day, and that has not shifted when you have tried to cut down. What tends to help at this levelTalk to a clinician. Heavy social media use often sits alongside anxiety or depression, and treating that helps more than blocking apps. Consider a full break of a week, with something planned in the gap. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about social media addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-3/ Your resultModerate out of 12Your answers show a pattern that is affecting your mood and your time. What tends to help at this levelSet the times you are allowed rather than the times you are not — it is easier to keep. Watch the comparison loop specifically. That is where most of the harm sits. If your mood tracks your feed, that is worth talking to someone about. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about social media addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-2/ Your resultMild out of 12Your answers show some habits worth watching, particularly around checking and comparison. What tends to help at this levelCut the entry points: notifications off, apps off the home screen, log out on the browser. Notice which accounts leave you feeling worse and unfollow without ceremony. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about social media addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/test/result-1/ Your resultLow out of 12Your answers point to ordinary use. What tends to help at this levelOrdinary use. If nothing about it bothers you, nothing here needs changing. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about social media addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-4/ Your resultHigh out of 15Your answers point to phone use that is affecting sleep, work or relationships, and that has not responded to cutting back. What tends to help at this levelThis is past the point where app limits alone tend to work. Talk to a clinician who treats behavioural addiction — there is real treatment for this. If sleep has gone, start there. Almost nothing else improves while sleep is broken. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about phone addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-3/ Your resultModerate out of 15Your answers show a pattern that is costing you time and attention you would rather spend elsewhere. What tends to help at this levelMake the phone harder to reach at the times you lose most: greyscale, notifications off, out of the room. Two weeks of limits that do not hold is useful information, not failure. If it is affecting sleep, work or relationships, it is worth talking to someone. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about phone addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-2/ Your resultMild out of 15Your answers show a handful of habits worth watching — reaching for it automatically, losing more time than you meant to. What tends to help at this levelUse structure rather than willpower: app limits, the charger outside the bedroom, set hours. Replace the slot rather than leaving a gap. Watch what you reach for it to avoid. That is usually the real thing. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about phone addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/phone-addiction/test/result-1/ Your resultLow out of 15Your answers point to fairly ordinary phone use. What tends to help at this levelMost people have a few habits they would change. At this level small adjustments are usually enough. Decide which moments you want the phone out of — meals, bed, the first hour of the day — and start with one. Where to go nextThis is a self-check, not a diagnosis. No questionnaire can tell you whether you have a condition, and a low score does not mean nothing is wrong if it is affecting your life. Read more about phone addiction, or speak to a clinician. - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-4/ What Does a High Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its High band. You may feel worried, embarrassed, or relieved to put words to the concern. Reach out for an assessment and help with the parts of life being affected. A screening result is a starting point for that conversation, not a judgment about you. [1][2] High is the quiz's result band, not a clinical diagnosis or a medical severity level. A personal result requires completing the quiz. [2] Fast Facts About a High Porn-Use Quiz Result Reach Out for Support. Ask for an assessment and help with the concerns that are hardest to manage now. [1] You can seek help at any score. Ongoing distress or difficulty controlling use deserves attention. [1] The result summarizes answers about recent pornography use; an assessment considers the wider picture. [2][1] Get Support for the Problems Affecting Your Life Start with the concern that is hardest to manage now, such as repeated loss of control, disrupted sleep, or relationship distress. Tell a qualified professional about it directly. Treatment planning should consider your circumstances and goals; a High quiz band alone does not determine whether you need outpatient or residential care. [1] Use these steps to make the result useful: Contact a provider who has experience assessing problematic pornography use or compulsive sexual behavior. Explain what is being affected now and ask about the earliest available appointment, fees, and follow-up. If you feel comfortable, ask a trusted person for practical help arranging an appointment or keeping a routine that supports you. How to Ask for Porn-Use Support“I am struggling to control pornography use, and it is affecting my life. I would like an assessment, help with the immediate problems, and a plan I can follow. ” If your first attempt to get care does not work out, ask about another provider or available support. You deserve a response that takes your concerns seriously without shaming you. [1] Understand Your Porn-Use Screening Result The quiz asks about pornography use over the past six months using the Brief Pornography Screen. The original validation study supported the screen for identifying possible problematic use. It did not validate Low, Mild, Moderate, and High as clinical severity categories. These are the site's navigation bands for discussing next steps. [2] What matters beyond the result is how pornography affects your life and what happens when you try to change. Frequency, sexual interest, or guilt alone cannot determine whether you have a disorder. Porn addiction warning signs explain patterns a clinician may consider; porn addiction and problematic pornography use covers the broader topic. [1] How Porn-Use Counseling Can Help Porn addiction counseling can include assessment, coping skills, and work on the thoughts and behaviors connected with the problem. Psychotherapy studies report improvements in problematic use and cravings, although study quality and limited representation leave uncertainty about which approaches work best for whom. [1][3] For practical changes you can discuss or begin with support,... - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-3/ What Does a Moderate Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Moderate band. Arrange a conversation about the concerns your answers identified. A clinician can look at unsuccessful attempts to change, distress, and effects on daily life, then help you decide what support is appropriate. [1][2] Moderate is the quiz's result band, not a clinical diagnosis or a medical severity level. A personal result requires completing the quiz. [2] Fast Facts About a Moderate Porn-Use Quiz Result Talk Through the Pattern. Bring examples of unsuccessful attempts to change and effects on your life to a qualified professional. [1] You can seek help at any score. Ongoing distress or difficulty controlling use deserves attention. [1] The result summarizes answers about recent pornography use; an assessment considers the wider picture. [2][1] Prepare for a Conversation About Porn-Use Support You do not need to diagnose yourself before making an appointment. Bring a few examples: a limit you meant to keep, what happened instead, and any effect on sleep, work, or a relationship. Explain what you hope will change and what you have already tried. [1] Use these steps to make the result useful: Save or write down the answers that concerned you, rather than bringing only the total score. Describe repeated attempts to cut back and what made them difficult. Ask how the provider assesses compulsive behavior, distress related to values, and other mental-health concerns. How to Ask for Porn-Use Support“My screening answers raised concerns about controlling pornography use. I have tried to change it, and I would like an assessment and a plan that fits my situation. ” While arranging support, choose a practical boundary that protects a part of your day. If changing use is difficult, describe that difficulty at the appointment; it is useful information, not a reason to give up. [1] Understand Your Porn-Use Screening Result The quiz asks about pornography use over the past six months using the Brief Pornography Screen. The original validation study supported the screen for identifying possible problematic use. It did not validate Low, Mild, Moderate, and High as clinical severity categories. These are the site's navigation bands for discussing next steps. [2] What matters beyond the result is how pornography affects your life and what happens when you try to change. Frequency, sexual interest, or guilt alone cannot determine whether you have a disorder. Porn addiction warning signs explain patterns a clinician may consider; porn addiction and problematic pornography use covers the broader topic. [1] How Porn-Use Counseling Can Help Porn addiction counseling can include assessment, coping skills, and work on the thoughts and behaviors connected with the problem. Psychotherapy studies report improvements in problematic use and cravings, although study quality and limited representation leave uncertainty about which approaches work best for whom. [1][3] For practical changes you can discuss or begin with support, explore ways to change pornography use. You can seek help at any score, especially when distress or difficulty controlling behavior continues.... - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-2/ What Does a Mild Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Mild band. Use the result to identify which question mattered most to you: using more than you intended, difficulty cutting back, urges, coping with emotions, or guilt. Focus on the concern behind the score and one change you want to make. [1] Mild is the quiz's result band, not a clinical diagnosis or a medical severity level. A personal result requires completing the quiz. [2] Fast Facts About a Mild Porn-Use Quiz Result Choose One Change. Pick a specific goal and notice what gets in the way when you try to follow it. [1] You can seek help at any score. Ongoing distress or difficulty controlling use deserves attention. [1] The result summarizes answers about recent pornography use; an assessment considers the wider picture. [2][1] Choose One Manageable Change in Porn Use A useful starting point is a specific goal tied to your life. That might mean protecting bedtime, reducing time spent viewing, or finding another way to respond to loneliness. Notice what happens when you try, including situations that make the goal harder to follow. [1] Use these steps to make the result useful: Choose one goal you can describe clearly, such as keeping pornography out of your bedtime routine. Notice the feeling or situation before use and how you feel afterward. If attempts to change repeatedly break down or distress continues, discuss the pattern with a professional rather than waiting for a higher score. How to Ask for Porn-Use Support“I want to change one part of my pornography use, and I am having trouble following through. Can you help me understand what gets in the way? ” You do not have to wait until the problem feels severe to seek help. Bring the goal you chose and an example of what happens when you try it. [1] Understand Your Porn-Use Screening Result The quiz asks about pornography use over the past six months using the Brief Pornography Screen. The original validation study supported the screen for identifying possible problematic use. It did not validate Low, Mild, Moderate, and High as clinical severity categories. These are the site's navigation bands for discussing next steps. [2] What matters beyond the result is how pornography affects your life and what happens when you try to change. Frequency, sexual interest, or guilt alone cannot determine whether you have a disorder. Porn addiction warning signs explain patterns a clinician may consider; porn addiction and problematic pornography use covers the broader topic. [1] How Porn-Use Counseling Can Help Porn addiction counseling can include assessment, coping skills, and work on the thoughts and behaviors connected with the problem. Psychotherapy studies report improvements in problematic use and cravings, although study quality and limited representation leave uncertainty about which approaches work best for whom. [1][3] For practical changes you can discuss or begin with support, explore ways to change pornography use. You can seek help at any score,... - Published: 2026-09-21 - Modified: 2026-09-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/test/result-1/ What Does a Low Porn-Use Quiz Result Mean? If the quiz brought you here, your answers fell in its Low band. That can feel reassuring. Start with what prompted you to take the test: curiosity, a relationship concern, or a change you wanted to make. A low screening result does not rule out a concern worth discussing. [2][1] Low is the quiz's result band, not a clinical diagnosis or a medical severity level. A personal result requires completing the quiz. [2] Fast Facts About a Low Porn-Use Quiz Result Keep What Fits Your Goals. Keep the routines that protect your time and relationships, and address any concern that brought you to the quiz. [1] You can seek help at any score. Ongoing distress or difficulty controlling use deserves attention. [1] The result summarizes answers about recent pornography use; an assessment considers the wider picture. [2][1] Keep What Is Working and Address What Still Bothers You Consider whether your pornography use fits the time, attention, and relationships you want in your life. If it does, you do not need to create a problem because you took a quiz. If one issue remains, focus on that issue rather than repeatedly checking your score. [1] Use these steps to make the result useful: Name the concern that led you to take the quiz, even if the result feels reassuring. Keep boundaries that protect sleep, responsibilities, and agreed relationship expectations. If guilt is the main concern, explore whether it comes from loss of control, personal values, or a relationship disagreement. Those can call for different kinds of support. How to Ask for Porn-Use Support“My quiz result was low, but I am still concerned about how pornography fits my values or relationship. Can we talk about that without assuming I have an addiction? ” If you want to change a habit, start with one practical goal. If the concern is mainly shame or a disagreement with a partner, a conversation about values and expectations may be more useful than another test. [1] Understand Your Porn-Use Screening Result The quiz asks about pornography use over the past six months using the Brief Pornography Screen. The original validation study supported the screen for identifying possible problematic use. It did not validate Low, Mild, Moderate, and High as clinical severity categories. These are the site's navigation bands for discussing next steps. [2] What matters beyond the result is how pornography affects your life and what happens when you try to change. Frequency, sexual interest, or guilt alone cannot determine whether you have a disorder. Porn addiction warning signs explain patterns a clinician may consider; porn addiction and problematic pornography use covers the broader topic. [1] How Porn-Use Counseling Can Help Porn addiction counseling can include assessment, coping skills, and work on the thoughts and behaviors connected with the problem. Psychotherapy studies report improvements in problematic use and cravings, although study quality and limited representation leave uncertainty about which approaches work best for whom. [1][3] For practical changes you... - Published: 2026-09-20 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/motivational-interviewing/for-alcohol/ Does Motivational Interviewing Help with Alcohol Use Disorder? Motivational interviewing, often called MI, is a client-centered counseling style that helps you explore mixed feelings about alcohol, strengthen your own reasons for change, and choose a specific goal. In a session, the counselor commonly uses open questions and reflective listening rather than argument or confrontation, and research suggests MI can reduce substance use for some people but does not consistently outperform other active treatments[1][2]. Fast Facts About Motivational Interviewing For Alcohol Use Disorder Motivational interviewing aims to strengthen motivation and commitment to a specific goal by exploring a person’s reasons for change and resolving ambivalence in an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion[1]. In a Cochrane review of 93 randomized trials with 22,776 people using drugs, alcohol, or both, MI showed clearer benefit compared with no intervention or assessment and feedback than compared with treatment as usual or another active intervention[1]. Alcohol use disorder can improve with treatment, and evidence-based options include behavioral treatments, U. S. -approved medications, mutual-support groups, telehealth, outpatient care, residential care, and medically directed intensive inpatient services when needed[3][4]. What Happens During A Motivational Interviewing Conversation A motivational interviewing session is a client-centered conversation that emphasizes exploration rather than confrontation. The counselor’s role is to help you look at your own desires, thoughts, feelings, barriers, and ambivalence about changing alcohol-related behavior[2]. MI is guided by empathy, attention to discrepancies between current behavior and goals, backing off when resistance appears, and support for self-efficacy. Self-efficacy means confidence that change is possible[2]. A conversation may use open questions, reflective listening, affirmations, discussion of pros and cons, and summaries. These skills help the counselor understand your perspective and help you hear your own reasons, concerns, and possible next steps more clearly[2]. What the Counselor Is Listening For MI focuses on your motivational language, including what clinicians call “change talk”—your own language favoring change. The idea is not to shame uncertainty, but to notice whether your own language is moving toward or away from change[5]. A study of 149 Project MATCH sessions found that improvement in motivational language during MI was linked with less drinking at the end of treatment mainly among clients who sounded ambivalent in the opening minutes. This supports one possible MI mechanism, but it does not prove MI works only for ambivalent people[5]. How Long MI Can Be MI can be brief or delivered across several visits. In the Cochrane review, MI or motivational enhancement therapy was delivered individually and face to face in one to nine sessions, with session lengths ranging from 10 to 148 minutes[1]. The review included studies in inpatient and outpatient clinics, universities, army recruitment centers, veterans’ health centers, and prisons. That variety matters because MI may look different depending on setting, counselor training, session length, and the population being served[1]. NIAAA describes motivational enhancement as counseling conducted over a short period to build and strengthen motivation to change drinking behavior. In research, motivational enhancement therapy, or MET, is often discussed alongside MI because... - Published: 2026-09-20 - Modified: 2026-10-21 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/addiction/opioid-use-disorder/ Getting Help for Opioid Use Disorder or Physical Dependence Fear of withdrawal, uncontrolled use, or losing pain treatment can make asking for help difficult. Opioid use disorder (OUD) involves a harmful pattern of use. Physical dependence alone does not establish it. [1][2] Physical dependence means the body has become used to opioids and may develop withdrawal symptoms when use decreases. It can happen during prescribed treatment and does not by itself mean someone has opioid use disorder. [3][2] An assessment can sort out those differences and connect you with treatment, including medication, while addressing your health and pain needs. [1][3] If someone cannot wake up or is not breathing normally after possible opioid use, call 911 and give Narcan (naloxone) if available. Stay with them until emergency help arrives. [4] Fast Facts About Opioid Use Disorder Opioids include prescription pain medicines, heroin, and synthetic (human-made) opioids such as fentanyl. [2][3][1] Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid use disorder, and they are distinct from medicines used only to manage withdrawal or reverse an overdose. [1][2] Methadone and buprenorphine treatment are associated with lower risks of overdose and death than no treatment. They can also reduce opioid use and help people stay in care. Individual outcomes vary. [1] Opioids and Patterns of Use “Opioid” describes a group of substances that act on opioid receptors, proteins on cells that respond to opioids. These receptors help regulate pain and other functions. The mu-opioid receptor is especially important because it contributes to pain relief as well as euphoria, an intense feeling of pleasure, tolerance, physical dependence, and dangerous slowing of breathing. [5] Prescription opioids can be important pain medicines, but they also carry risks. Common effects include constipation, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, drowsiness, confusion, tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal symptoms after stopping. [3] Long-term prescription use is associated with risks including overdose and misuse, while evidence establishing long-term benefit for chronic pain remains insufficient. [3] Prescription opioid misuse means taking medicine differently than prescribed, taking someone else’s prescription, or taking it to get high. Using a higher dose or taking it more often than prescribed counts as misuse even when the purpose is pain relief. [6][2] Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Fentanyl Oxycodone and hydrocodone are prescription opioids used to treat moderate to severe pain in some patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention glossary classifies them as semisynthetic opioids. [7] Semisynthetic means a natural opioid has been chemically changed to make the drug. [8] Fentanyl is a synthetic, or laboratory-made, opioid. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is approved for treating severe pain. Illegally made fentanyl is sold through illegal drug markets and may be sold as heroin or pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription medicines. Heroin itself is an illegal opioid. [7][2][9] How Opioid Misuse, Dependence, and Addiction Differ These terms describe different experiences and should not be used interchangeably. Term What It Means Does It Establish Opioid Use Disorder? Prescribed use Taking an opioid medication under... - Published: 2026-09-20 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/relapse-prevention/ How Alcohol Relapse Prevention Helps Alcohol relapse prevention turns a goal into a plan for difficult moments. It connects your triggers and early warning signs with coping actions, people you can contact, and treatment that supports your recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). [1][2] If you are trying to stay sober, start with the situations most likely to pull you toward drinking. Decide what you will do first, how you will leave if needed, and who can help. If you have already returned to drinking, contact your care team or support person and review what needs to change. [2][3] Get medical advice before suddenly stopping alcohol after heavy or prolonged drinking. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and may need supervised care. [4] Fast Facts About Alcohol Relapse Prevention A written alcohol relapse-prevention plan pairs your main triggers with specific coping actions and support contacts. [1][3] An alcohol craving is a signal to use your plan, not proof that you will drink. Recognizing the trigger, leaving a tempting situation, and talking with someone can help you respond. [3] Counseling, alcohol-use-disorder medication, and mutual support can work together in recovery. A clinician can help you choose care that fits your goals and circumstances. [2] A return to drinking is a reason to review and adjust treatment. It does not erase the skills and progress you have built. [2] A useful plan is specific enough to follow when concentration and motivation are low. Write it in a phone note or on paper, then practice and review it with a provider or support person. Create a Practical Alcohol Relapse-Prevention Plan Your plan should be short enough to use under stress. It need not depend on perfect readiness, paid services, or family involvement. Start with what is available, record it on one page or phone note, and strengthen it over time. Define the Goal Write whether the current goal is abstinence, meaning not drinking alcohol, or reduced drinking. For reduced drinking, identify how progress and setbacks will be measured. Also record why the goal matters now, using reasons that are personally meaningful. Map High-Risk Patterns List a few situations closely connected with drinking, including external and internal triggers. For each one, record: The earliest warning sign The thought or expectation about alcohol A possible way to avoid the situation Coping options if it cannot be avoided A person, group, or service to contact An exit or transportation plan when relevant Protect Daily Routines Lifestyle balance is part of relapse-prevention planning. [1] Useful routines can include ordinary, repeatable supports such as sleep opportunities, medication follow-up, structured time, and activities not centered on alcohol. Build a minimum version for difficult days rather than relying on an ideal schedule. It might contain one brief check-in, the most important treatment task, and avoidance of the highest-risk setting. Prepare for Social Pressure Write and rehearse a short refusal that does not disclose more health information than desired. Examples include: “No thanks, I’m not drinking. ” “I’m taking a break from... - Published: 2026-09-19 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/borderline-personality-disorder/ How Are Alcohol Use Disorder and BPD Connected? Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is difficulty controlling alcohol use despite meaningful harm or distress, while borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a long-standing pattern involving unstable emotions, sense of self, impulses, and relationships. AUD and BPD are different conditions, but they can occur together and interact. Careful assessment and coordinated treatment matter. [1][2] Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms That Need Emergency Care In a life-threatening situation, call 911. During possible alcohol withdrawal, go to an emergency department or call 911 for a seizure, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, or an irregular heartbeat. Severe alcohol withdrawal can become life-threatening. [3][4] If someone has been drinking heavily for a prolonged period and plans to stop, seek medical guidance rather than assuming abrupt cessation will be safe. Withdrawal may require monitoring or medication, depending on the person’s history and current symptoms. [5] Fast Facts About Alcohol Use Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Earlier research summarized in a study of everyday drinking reports that approximately half of people with BPD meet criteria for AUD, and approximately 15% of people with AUD meet criteria for BPD. [6] Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the main treatment for BPD, while AUD treatment may include behavioral therapy, nonaddictive medication, mutual-support groups, or a combination of these options. [7][5] When AUD and another mental health condition occur together, outcomes are most likely to improve when both conditions are addressed rather than allowing one to eclipse the other. [1] Alcohol Use Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Are Distinct Conditions AUD and BPD may both involve impulsive decisions, emotional distress, relationship conflict, and risky behavior. Those similarities do not make them the same condition, and neither diagnosis can be established from one symptom or one difficult period. A diagnosis should describe a broader pattern: what happens, how long it has happened, when it occurs, and how it affects health, safety, relationships, work, school, or daily functioning. Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision defines AUD as a problematic pattern of alcohol use causing clinically significant impairment or distress. A clinician assesses 11 possible symptoms during the previous 12 months. Two or three symptoms indicate mild AUD, four or five moderate AUD, and six or more severe AUD. [1][8] Possible symptoms include: Drinking more or longer than intended Repeatedly trying and struggling to cut down Spending substantial time drinking or recovering Experiencing strong urges to drink Failing to meet important responsibilities because of drinking Continuing despite alcohol-related relationship problems Giving up important activities Drinking in physically hazardous situations Continuing despite a physical or psychological problem made worse by alcohol Developing tolerance, meaning that more alcohol is needed for the same effect Experiencing withdrawal—symptoms after stopping or reducing sustained heavy drinking—or drinking to relieve those symptoms[8][4] AUD is not defined by a particular beverage, drinking frequency, or single episode. Heavy drinking can increase risk without necessarily meeting AUD criteria, while someone who does not drink every day may still have... - Published: 2026-09-19 - Modified: 2026-10-21 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/for-alcohol/ CBT for Alcoholism Teaches Practical Coping Skills Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, for Alcohol Use Disorder is a structured, time-limited counseling approach. It helps you notice the thoughts, feelings, people, places, and routines linked with drinking, then practice coping skills for abstinence or reduced-drinking goals. Realistically, it can help you plan differently, handle urges, limit the impact of slips, and improve choices, but it requires practice[1][2]. Alcohol Symptoms That Need Emergency Help Go to the emergency room or call 911 or your local emergency number if seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, or irregular heartbeats occur[3]. Fast Facts About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Alcohol Use Disorder CBT for alcohol and other substance use disorders is commonly defined as a multi-session treatment that targets thinking patterns, emotions, environmental risks, and coping skills to support abstinence or harm reduction[1]. Research reviews find CBT beneficial compared with nonspecific care, but CBT has not shown consistent superiority over other active, evidence-based therapies such as Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, or Contingency Management[1][4]. CBT can be delivered in individual, group, face-to-face, telehealth, and digital formats, but programs differ in intensity, privacy, therapist involvement, and the strength of evidence behind a specific product or model[5][6]. Alcohol Withdrawal Safety Before Changing Drinking CBT does not replace medical withdrawal assessment. Cutting down or stopping alcohol can be dangerous for people who may be in alcohol withdrawal or have developed physical dependence. NIAAA lists withdrawal symptoms such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, racing heart, dysphoria, malaise, feeling low, seizure, or sensing things that are not there[6]. Contact a healthcare provider right away or go to an emergency room if you think you might be in alcohol withdrawal, especially if you were using alcohol often and recently stopped[3]. How CBT for Alcohol Use Disorder Works CBT starts from a practical idea: drinking is often connected to learnable patterns. Patterns may include stress, anger, certain people or places, physical sensations, cravings, and thoughts that alcohol is the only way to cope[7][8]. CBT does not treat those patterns as moral failures. It treats them as clues. The goal is to understand high-risk situations well enough to build other responses that work in real life[7]. How CBT Maps the Drinking Loop Through Functional Analysis A “functional analysis” identifies high-risk situations, related thoughts and feelings, what the person did during and after the situation, and the coping responses available. Therapists use it to anticipate risky moments and choose specific ways to avoid or cope with them[7]. For example, if conflict often leads to drinking, CBT might examine the situation, the thoughts and feelings that followed, and the coping options that were missing. The plan might include communication practice, urge-coping skills, drink-refusal skills, or leaving a tempting situation[7][8][2]. How CBT Identifies Internal and External Drinking Triggers NIAAA describes external triggers as people, places, things, or times of day that offer drinking opportunities or reminders. Internal triggers are thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations, such as frustration, excitement, tension, headache, or nervousness[8]. This distinction matters because... - Published: 2026-09-16 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/exercise-addiction/vs-overtraining/ Is It Overtraining or Exercise Addiction? If a rest day brings guilt, or you keep training through injury, it can be hard to tell whether the problem is your training load, your relationship with exercise, or both. Overtraining means exercise is outpacing your body’s recovery. Exercise addiction describes feeling unable to control exercise even when it is harming your health or life. Both can involve training through exhaustion or injury, but the reason you keep going matters. [1][2] If you feel worn down but can change your training, recovery may be the main concern. If guilt, fear, or rigid rules make rest feel impossible, your relationship with exercise deserves attention too. The two problems can overlap. You do not need to settle on a label before asking for help. A healthcare professional can assess physical symptoms and help with a safe return to activity. Counseling may also help address feeling unable to stop. [1] Fast Facts About Exercise Addiction vs. Overtraining Overtraining is a recovery problem. Warning signs include lasting fatigue, worsening performance, and injuries from repeated strain. [1] Exercise addiction involves loss of control. Exercise continues despite harm to health, relationships, or daily life. [2] Hours alone do not tell the whole story. Whether someone can change their routine when it causes harm matters more than a demanding schedule by itself. [3] Key Differences Between Exercise Addiction and Overtraining The terms describe different parts of the problem. “Compulsive exercise” means feeling driven or obligated to exercise. It can be part of an addiction-like pattern, but the terms are not interchangeable. [4][2] Pattern Main Concern What It Does Not Prove Exercise addiction Loss of control despite harm That training hours alone identify addiction Compulsive exercise Feeling driven to exercise That someone necessarily has an eating disorder Overtraining Exercise outpacing recovery That the person has lost control of exercise Flexible training Challenge balanced with adjustment That a demanding schedule is itself a disorder These are ways to understand a pattern, not a checklist that can diagnose it. The differences become clearer when you look at both physical recovery and the person's ability to change course. Exercise Addiction Emphasizes Loss of Control and Harm Researchers use exercise addiction to describe loss of control over exercise and harm to health or daily life. It is not listed as a separate diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a reference used to classify mental health conditions. Researchers have not established consistent diagnostic criteria. [2] Researchers also disagree about how to classify it. It may be understood as a behavioral addiction, in which a repeated behavior continues despite harm, or as part of another mental health problem. That uncertainty concerns the label. It does not make injuries, distress, or loss of control unimportant. [2][3] Prevalence estimates—figures describing how common a problem is—may be inflated when questionnaires group addiction-like exercise together with exercise used to change weight or body shape. This is one reason a questionnaire score needs interpretation rather than being treated... - Published: 2026-09-14 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/eating-disorder/how-to-help/ Supporting Someone With an Eating Disorder Helping someone with an eating disorder means responding to concerning eating behaviors or distress with care, encouraging professional assessment, and supporting treatment without blame or trying to become the person’s clinician. Eating disorders are serious illnesses involving severe disturbances in eating behavior. They are not choices, can affect physical and mental health, and may become life-threatening. People can recover with treatment. [1] Your support can matter even if you are unsure what is happening. You do not need to diagnose the person or say exactly the right thing. Start with what you have noticed, listen without judgment, and help connect them with appropriate care. Fast Facts About Helping Someone With an Eating Disorder Eating disorders can affect people at any body weight, including those who appear healthy. [1] A useful first conversation focuses on the person’s well-being rather than their weight or appearance. [2] Suicidal thoughts or signs of a serious physical health problem call for immediate help. [1][3] When Does an Eating Disorder Require Urgent Help? Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency department if the situation appears life-threatening. If the person is having suicidal thoughts, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or use the chat at 988lifeline. org. [1] Eating disorders can cause dangerous medical complications, and a person’s appearance does not reveal how ill they are. Someone can have an eating disorder and be extremely ill at an underweight, average, or higher body weight. [1] Seek urgent medical assessment for concerns such as: Acute food refusal, meaning an abrupt refusal or inability to eat Binge eating—losing control and eating unusually large amounts—or purging, such as making oneself vomit to get rid of food, that the person cannot control Suicidal thoughts, a suicide attempt, or another immediate safety crisis Concerning lab results or vital signs, such as heart rate or blood pressure, identified by a clinician Severe dehydration or malnutrition A severe electrolyte imbalance, meaning dangerously abnormal levels of minerals that help the heart, muscles, and nerves function Signs that an organ may be starting to fail[4][3][1] You do not need to decide whether a complication is “severe” before asking for help. Describe exactly what is happening when you call 911, 988, a clinician, or an emergency department. In the United States, most hospital emergency departments must provide an appropriate screening examination for an emergency medical condition, even if the patient does not have insurance. If an emergency condition is found, the hospital must offer stabilizing treatment or an appropriate transfer. [5] How to Help Someone Access Urgent Care Stay with the person if it is safe to do so. Tell the dispatcher, crisis counselor, or emergency staff about the eating behaviors, physical changes, suicidal statements, medications, and other conditions you know about. Offer practical help such as making the call, arranging transportation, bringing identification and medication information, or taking notes. A trusted companion can help someone remember what a clinician says, although the person may... - Published: 2026-09-11 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/roblox/is-roblox-bad-for-kids/ How to Judge Roblox’s Risks for Your Child Roblox is not one game. It is an online platform containing many user-facing games, which Roblox calls “experiences. ” Children can move among experiences with different themes, content, social features, and purchase options. That variety means a parent cannot judge the whole platform by watching one game for a few minutes. [1][2] Roblox risk is not the same for every child. A more useful question is whether a particular child can use particular experiences without gaming displacing daily activities and within family limits for content, spending, and communication. [3][1] Gaming disorder affects only a small proportion of people who play digital or video games, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Concern rises when gaming displaces daily activities or is accompanied by changes in physical health, emotional well-being, or social functioning. [3] For parents, that makes Roblox a supervision decision rather than a simple yes-or-no verdict. Your child’s age, spending access, communication settings, behavior after playing, and the specific experiences they enter all matter. [3][2][1] Fast Facts About Roblox Roblox is a platform of many experiences, so content and social risks can differ substantially from one experience to another. [1] Long or enthusiastic play is not automatically gaming disorder, which requires impaired control and significant disruption to important areas of life. [3] Parental controls can restrict content, communication, spending, and time, but some limits have exceptions. Communication settings do not cover chat features created independently by developers. [1][4] What Roblox Actually Is Roblox’s platform structure is central to understanding its risks because available content and features can differ across games or experiences. One experience may involve chat or direct chat, private-server settings, purchases, fear-related content, or other content described by Roblox’s maturity labels. [1] Roblox assigns content maturity labels to experiences. Its current descriptions range from Minimal through Mild and Moderate to Restricted. Depending on the label, an experience may include violence, blood, fear, crude humor, unplayable gambling content, romantic themes, alcohol, or strong language. [1] Parents can set a content maturity level, allow or block individual experiences, and review a child’s top experiences from the previous week. Roblox says its screen-time dashboard can show the top 20 experiences and time spent in each, although removed experiences do not appear there. [5][2] What Can Be Fine About Roblox? A child enjoying Roblox does not by itself indicate harm. The WHO distinguishes ordinary gaming from gaming disorder and says only a small proportion of players develop the disorder. It advises watching whether gaming excludes other activities or coincides with changes in health or social functioning. [3] A family may reasonably decide that certain experiences fit their child when the content is suitable, interactions are limited to trusted people, spending is controlled, and play ends without major disruption. This is a practical judgment, not evidence that Roblox produces a specific developmental or mental health benefit. Playing for a long time on a weekend or talking excitedly about an experience also does not establish addiction.... - Published: 2026-09-11 - Modified: 2026-10-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/trauma/ Understanding the Effects of Trauma Psychological trauma is the lasting effect of an experience that felt harmful or life-threatening. It may follow one event, repeated events, or ongoing circumstances. It can change how you feel, behave, and function, even when other people cannot see what you are dealing with. [1] You might feel constantly on guard, pull away from people, or turn to something that briefly quiets your thoughts. Some responses ease with time. Others interfere with sleep, relationships, or daily responsibilities. Help can address those difficulties without requiring you to decide which diagnosis fits first. [2][3] Compulsive behavior means behavior you feel driven to repeat even when you want to stop. Trauma is one possible part of that pattern. It does not explain every harmful behavior or mean that addiction is inevitable. [3] If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For suicidal thoughts or an emotional crisis in the United States, call or text 988. [2] Fast Facts About Trauma These distinctions can help you understand your experience and choose support: Trauma and PTSD are different. Many people experience trauma without developing post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition with a specific pattern of symptoms. [2] Distress can look different from fear. It may involve anger, numbness, withdrawal from others, or feeling disconnected. [2][3] Short-term relief can have a cost. Avoidance or substance use may briefly reduce distress while creating other problems. [3][4] PTSD and substance use can both receive treatment. When PTSD and substance use problems occur together, care can address them during the same period. [4] What Counts as Trauma? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma through both the harmful experience and its lasting effects. Those effects can involve physical and mental health, relationships, emotions, and spiritual well-being. People can respond differently to similar experiences. [1] Events associated with PTSD include physical or sexual assault, abuse, serious accidents, disasters, and other dangerous experiences. A person may experience an event directly, witness it, or learn about trauma affecting someone close to them. A clinician considers the particular exposure and symptoms when assessing PTSD. [2] You do not need a PTSD diagnosis for your distress to deserve attention. Symptoms can interfere with daily life without meeting all the requirements for a disorder. An assessment can also consider depression, anxiety, substance use, and other possible explanations. [3][2] How Trauma Differs from PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can involve unwanted memories or nightmares, avoidance of reminders, feeling persistently on guard, and changes in mood or beliefs. In adults, the required combination of symptoms lasts longer than one month, disrupts daily life, and is not better explained by medication, substances, or another illness. [2] That diagnostic time frame is not a reason to wait for help. If you feel unsafe or symptoms are severe, seek support now. Otherwise, a useful starting point is to describe what has changed, such as avoiding a once-familiar place, struggling to sleep, or using alcohol to get through the evening. [2][4] Childhood Trauma... - Published: 2026-09-11 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/social-media-addiction/tiktok-addiction/lawsuit/ Can a Family Seek Help After TikTok-Related Harm? Families concerned that TikTok use contributed to serious harm can ask for an individual legal review. A parent can start for a child, and adults can ask about harm they experienced when younger. The free social media case review asks what happened so the legal team can assess possible next steps. [1] TikTok addiction concerns, children’s privacy and an individual injury claim involve different questions. Government cases can seek penalties or changes to a platform, while an injury case concerns the harm alleged by a particular person. Understanding that difference helps you ask about the route that fits your family. [2][3][4] Fast Facts About TikTok Lawsuits TikTok cases include children’s privacy claims, state consumer-protection actions and individual claims about allegedly harmful platform design. [2][3][4] The August 2026 federal privacy settlement was $400 million, including $100 million tied to a further court order. [2] Alabama announced a separate September 2026 settlement providing at least $100 million to the state and required changes for young users. [5] A first case review can begin before a family has gathered every record or worked out the legal theory. [1] The case’s purpose determines what its result means. A government payment is different from compensation awarded to an individual. These three types of proceedings can involve the same platform while addressing different legal questions. [2][3][4] Which TikTok Lawsuit Is Relevant to Your Concern? On a small screen, scroll the comparison sideways. Keyboard users can focus the table and use the arrow keys. TikTok Legal Proceedings and What They AddressType of caseMain questionWhat it means for a family Federal children’s privacy caseDid TikTok follow rules for children’s information and an earlier court order? The August 2026 government settlement resolves the identified privacy litigation. [2][6] State enforcement actionDid the platform violate a state’s consumer-protection laws? The requested relief or settlement applies to the particular state case. Alabama’s agreement includes payment to the state and required platform changes. [3][5] Individual injury claimDid allegedly defective platform design contribute to the person’s harm? A lawyer evaluates the person’s history, injury, evidence and applicable legal requirements. [4][7] What Happens in a TikTok Injury Case Review? Start with the experience you want the legal team to understand. The current review service accepts inquiries from parents or guardians and from adults looking into harm when they were younger. It identifies hard-to-control use followed by serious concerns such as depression, an eating disorder or self-harm as reasons to seek a review. [1] Start With What You Remember“My child’s sleep and school attendance changed during that period” is a useful starting description. Separate what you saw from what your child told you. You can explain what you do not know, too. The review page says you do not need every record or a formal diagnosis to begin. Information that may help includes when TikTok use started, what changed, any treatment or school support, and available messages or platform reports. The legal team can explain what else it... - Published: 2026-09-10 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/vs-binge-eating-disorder/ How Food Addiction and Binge-Eating Disorder Differ Food addiction and binge-eating disorder can both involve feeling unable to control eating, but they are not interchangeable. Binge-eating disorder is an established eating-disorder diagnosis. “Food addiction” is a debated research concept that applies substance-use criteria to eating behavior; it is not a formally recognized clinical disorder. ⁠[1][2] The distinction matters because distressing eating deserves appropriate care, even when a person is unsure which label fits. Understanding the terms can help you describe what is happening without blaming yourself, imposing restrictive food rules, or trying to diagnose yourself. Fast Facts About Food Addiction and Binge-Eating Disorder Binge-eating disorder involves recurring, distressing episodes of eating an unusually large amount while feeling unable to control the eating. [2] Food addiction is a research construct measured by questionnaires adapted from substance-use criteria, not an established clinical diagnosis. [1] Loss of control can appear in both concepts, but shared symptoms do not make them the same condition. [3] What Is Binge-Eating Disorder? Binge-eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder involving recurrent binge episodes. During an episode, a person eats an amount that is unusually large for the circumstances within a distinct period and feels unable to stop or control what or how much they are eating. The episodes cause marked distress. [2] Under the diagnostic criteria described in a 2015 introductory clinical review, episodes occur on average at least once a week for three months. These details help distinguish a persistent disorder from occasional overeating. The full pattern matters, not just one symptom. A health care provider or qualified mental health professional can help assess concerns. [2][4] Possible features during binge episodes include eating rapidly, eating while full or not physically hungry, and consuming an unusually large amount within a short period, such as two hours. [4] BED can affect people at different body weights. More broadly, eating disorders can affect people of any age, race, ethnicity, sex, or body weight, including people who appear healthy. Appearance alone cannot show whether someone has an eating disorder or how seriously ill they may be. [4] Binge Eating Is Not the Same as Occasional Overeating People may sometimes eat more than intended, particularly at celebrations or in other unusual circumstances. A clinical binge episode has two defining features: the amount is unusually large for the situation, and the person experiences loss of control. BED additionally requires recurrence and marked distress over time. [2] Distress Deserves AttentionIn the diagnostic criteria, binge eating has narrower requirements than simply eating more than intended. This distinction does not mean that other distressing eating experiences are unimportant. If eating feels out of control, involves severe restriction, or interferes with your life, you can discuss it with a health care provider even if you are unsure whether it meets BED criteria. [2][4] What Does Food Addiction Mean? Food addiction is a proposed way of understanding eating that feels compulsive or addiction-like. Researchers have studied experiences such as eating more than intended, unsuccessful attempts to cut... - Published: 2026-08-27 - Modified: 2026-08-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/cutting-back-without-quitting/ If you may hurt yourself, call or text 988 now. Free, confidential support is available. If danger is immediate, call 911. Otherwise, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Is Cutting Back the Right Goal for You You do not have to choose between "doing nothing" and "quitting forever" today. Health care providers routinely help people set a starting goal to reduce drinking rather than commit immediately to lifelong abstinence.  [1] They encourage this by sharing the real benefits of cutting down significantly. At the same time, they are honest that abstinence remains the safest strategy overall.  [1] That tension is worth sitting with rather than resolving too quickly. Reducing your drinking can meaningfully improve your health and how you feel day to day.  [1] Before you start, talk it over with a doctor or someone you trust—it helps to get another perspective on your options first. The sections below walk through how to tell which situation you're in, how to build a workable plan, and when the clear answer is that quitting is the safer path. Fast Facts About Cutting Back on Drinking Cutting back on drinking starts with knowing exactly how much you currently drink and whether that amount is considered excessive for your health.  [2] People cutting back on drinking often do better when they ask a friend, family member, or health care provider to actively support the choice to drink less.  [2] Cutting back on drinking is easier to sustain when it follows a short set of concrete steps: setting limits, counting drinks, managing triggers, and finding support.  [2] Check for Signs of Dependence First Before you build a cutting-back plan, it matters whether your body has become physically dependent on alcohol. This isn't about willpower or character. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical diagnosis that clinicians apply when a person's drinking has become a pattern causing real distress or trouble functioning.  [1] Severity depends on how many of 11 possible symptoms someone has had in the past year: two or three symptoms points to a mild case, four or five to moderate, and six or more to a severe one.  [1] One of those symptoms points directly at physical dependence: experiencing withdrawal symptoms, or drinking specifically to avoid those symptoms, when alcohol wears off.  [1] If you have been drinking heavily for a long time, suddenly stopping can trigger a withdrawal process that is not just uncomfortable but potentially life-threatening.  [3] Nausea, a racing heartbeat, and seizures are among the problems that can show up.  [3] Because of that risk, get medical guidance before you stop, since a doctor can prescribe medication that makes the process safer and easier to bear.  [3] About half of people with AUD experience some withdrawal symptoms after they stop drinking, and a smaller portion of that group need medical monitoring or "detox" so those symptoms don't become dangerous.  [1] Alcohol withdrawal is serious enough that it accounts for roughly 260,000 emergency department visits and... - Published: 2026-08-01 - Modified: 2026-08-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-weight-gain/ Drinking and Quitting Can Affect Weight Differently If weight is part of why you are thinking about changing your drinking, you deserve a clear answer without a promise. Alcohol can contribute to weight gain, but it does not affect every body in the same way. Alcohol supplies energy. In controlled trials, people generally did not make up for those calories by eating less. Yet a major nutrition review found the overall effect on weight and waist size unclear. After cutting back or quitting, some people lose weight and some gain it. Alcohol is one source of calories. Removing it does not tell us what will replace those calories, how hunger may change, or when the scale will move. The evidence does not support one outcome for everyone. Stopping drinking? Get medical help before you quit suddenly. Call or text 988 if you're in danger. If you're in danger right now or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. What to do: Do not suddenly stop after prolonged heavy drinking without medical guidance. Alcohol withdrawal is a reaction that can happen after stopping, and it can be life-threatening for someone with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). Seek medical help to plan a safe recovery. NIAAA says withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, rapid heart rate, seizures, or other problems. Use the supervised path. Learn what alcohol detox involves and review the alcohol withdrawal timeline rather than trying to predict safety from a weight goal. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Alcohol may contribute to unwanted weight gain: alcoholic drinks supply calories but few nutrients. People may not eat less to compensate: a pooled analysis of 22 controlled studies found food intake did not consistently fall enough to offset alcohol energy. Quitting does not guarantee weight loss: the evidence does not establish one direction, amount, or timetable for everyone. Weight gain after quitting is possible: small studies show that recovery-period eating and weight patterns vary, but they do not prove that stopping causes gain. How Alcohol Can Contribute to Weight Gain Alcohol can add to total energy intake. Whether that leads to weight gain also depends on food intake, activity, health, and energy use. Alcohol Adds Energy Before Mixers Are Counted Pure alcohol yields about 29 kilojoules, or roughly 7 calories, per gram. That is the alcohol itself, before sugar, juice, cream, or other drink ingredients are counted. Calories show a route, not your resultAlcohol calories can help explain why weight gain is possible. They cannot predict your appetite, activity, health, or what your body weight will do next. NIAAA describes alcoholic beverages as a source of calories with few nutrients and says they may contribute to unwanted weight gain. If you want to compare drinks, start with what counts as a standard drink, then look at the actual serving size and ingredients rather than assuming every drink is equal. Alcohol Calories May Not Reduce Food Intake A systematic review and meta-analysis, which is a... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/heroin/how-long-does-heroin-stay-in-your-system/ Heroin leaves the bloodstream almost as fast as it arrives. The drug itself survives only minutes before the body converts it, first into a marker called 6-monoacetylmorphine and then into morphine[1]. What a drug test actually looks for is that trail of breakdown products, and how long the trail lasts depends entirely on which test is used and how heavily someone has been using. If you are reading this because a test is coming, or because your own use has started to worry you, the direct answer to "how long" comes with a more useful one underneath it. Heroin addiction is treatable, and the same body that clears the drug can heal once the using stops. You can find help today. An opioid overdose is a breathing emergency. Call 911 and give naloxone (Narcan) right away. Street heroin is often mixed with fentanyl. | Call or text 988 for emotional crisis. If someone has used heroin and their breathing slows or stops, their lips or fingertips turn blue or gray, they cannot be woken, or their pupils are pinpoint, treat it as an overdose and act now. For thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 any time. What to do in an opioid overdose: Call 911 first. Say where you are and that someone is not breathing or will not wake up. Most states have Good Samaritan laws that protect the person who calls for help. Give naloxone (Narcan) if it is nearby. It reverses an opioid overdose within minutes and cannot harm someone who does not need it. Spray one dose, and give another after 2 to 3 minutes if there is no response. Start rescue breathing and stay with them. Roll the person on their side once they are breathing so they do not choke. Know the supply is unpredictable. Illicitly made fentanyl now contaminates much of the street opioid supply, which sharply raises overdose risk, and fentanyl test strips can flag it before use[2]. One more danger worth naming. After any break from heroin, detox, jail, or a stretch of not using, tolerance falls fast, so going back to a previous dose can be fatal[3]. This is a large part of why medication for opioid use disorder saves more lives than detox alone[4]. Find opioid treatment near you → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Heroin itself vanishes in minutes. Its terminal half-life is only about 7. 6 minutes, so the drug is gone almost immediately and is rarely what a test finds[1]. 6-MAM is heroin's fingerprint. The body breaks heroin down through 6-monoacetylmorphine, a marker no other opioid produces, so its presence is specific proof of heroin use[5]. Standard tests see "opiates," not "heroin. " Heroin quickly becomes morphine, so a routine opiate screen reads as morphine and cannot tell heroin apart on its own[6]. Urine is the usual window. After use, morphine typically stays detectable in urine for about two to three days, longer with heavy or repeated use. Hair reaches back... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-07-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/benzodiazepines/xanax/how-long-does-xanax-stay-in-your-system/ Xanax stops working long before it leaves your body. The calm most people feel fades within hours, yet the drug and its breakdown products can still be found in urine for days, in blood and saliva for a shorter window, and in hair for months. So there are really two different clocks running, and they answer two different questions. The first clock is how long the effect lasts. The second is how long a drug test can still detect it. Confusing the two is where most worry starts, because a person can feel completely normal and still test positive. What follows walks through both, built around a detection-window table you can read at a glance. Never stop Xanax abruptly after regular use. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. Call 911 for a seizure. Call or text 988 for emotional crisis. The safe way off is a medically supervised taper. Do not stop Xanax suddenly if you have been taking it regularly. Unlike most drugs, benzodiazepines are dangerous to quit cold turkey. Abrupt discontinuation can trigger seizures, and in rare cases alprazolam withdrawal has proven fatal. This is a medical situation, not a willpower test. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for: A seizure of any kind, including shaking, stiffening, or a loss of consciousness Severe confusion, agitation, or hallucinations after cutting back or stopping A racing or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or trouble breathing If you take Xanax every day, the safe way off is a slow, doctor-supervised taper, never an overnight stop. A medical team can lower the dose gradually and step in if withdrawal turns dangerous. If you are trying to clear the drug fast because a test is coming or because you are frightened, the answer is not a flush or a crash detox. It is real help. Find confidential Xanax treatment near you → For emotional crisis or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Effects fade in hours, traces linger for days: most people feel Xanax wear off within a few hours, while a urine test can stay positive far longer. Half a day is the usual half-life: in healthy adults the average time for the body to clear half a dose of alprazolam is about 12 hours, so full elimination takes several days. A standard 5-panel test does not screen for Xanax: the common workplace 5-panel checks for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and PCP, not benzodiazepines, so alprazolam shows up only on a benzodiazepine-inclusive panel such as a 10-panel. Even a benzo test can miss it: alprazolam is broken down into α-hydroxyalprazolam and can slip past a routine benzodiazepine screen unless the lab tests for it specifically. No hack clears it faster: only time and a healthy liver remove Xanax; detox drinks do not beat a properly run test. Xanax Wears Off Fast but Lingers for Days Xanax is the best-known brand name for alprazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety and... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-07-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/kratom/how-long-does-kratom-stay-in-your-system/ Kratom clears the body slowly, and slower still if you use it every day. The main active compound, an alkaloid called mitragynine, has an unusually long elimination half-life for a plant supplement, so traces can linger far longer than the few hours of felt effects suggest. In practice that means kratom is often detectable in urine for a day or two after a dose, though heavy daily use stretches that window, and specialized testing can pick up hair for far longer. There is a catch that trips up almost everyone who searches this question. A routine workplace drug screen does not look for kratom at all. Mitragynine is not part of a standard 5-panel or most 10-panel tests, and it does not read as an opioid on the usual screens. Finding kratom takes a specific test that is ordered on purpose, usually a lab method that targets mitragynine directly. What follows lays out the detection windows for urine, blood, saliva, and hair, explains the half-life in plain terms, answers the standard-drug-test question directly, and covers what to know if you have come to rely on kratom and want to stop. Kratom can cause real physical dependence and opioid-like withdrawal. If you use it heavily or daily, taper with medical support rather than stopping cold. If you are in emotional crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988. Kratom is not automatically safe because it is sold as a supplement. Its main alkaloids act on the same opioid receptors that prescription painkillers do, so regular use can build genuine physical dependence and a withdrawal syndrome that feels much like coming off opioids. If you use kratom heavily or every day, the safer path is not to quit cold turkey alone. A clinician can help you taper or manage withdrawal with proven medication so the process is more comfortable and better supervised. If you are using kratom to self-treat opioid withdrawal or cravings, there is a more reliable route: evidence-based medication for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine or methadone, prescribed and monitored by a treatment provider. If you are struggling emotionally or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Find treatment and detox help near you → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts The half-life is long, and gets longer with daily use: in the largest human dosing study, the highest mean mitragynine half-life was 43. 4 hours after a single dose and 67. 9 hours after repeated daily doses. It hides from standard drug tests: on a routine screen of someone who had taken kratom, immunoassays were negative for opiates, so a normal panel does not flag it. Finding it takes a specific test: kratom is not routinely screened for in standard toxicology, and when a lab does look, it usually measures the alkaloid mitragynine as the marker. It is a real drug, not just an herb: an estimated 0. 8% of US adults, roughly two million people, reported using... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-07-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/fentanyl/how-long-does-fentanyl-stay-in-your-system/ Fentanyl leaves the bloodstream fast but lingers in the body far longer than most people expect. As a rough guide, a urine test can pick up fentanyl and its main breakdown product for about one to three days after use, sometimes longer in heavy or long-term users. Blood and saliva catch only very recent use, roughly a day, while a hair test can reach back months. The catch that trips up almost everyone is that many standard opioid urine screens do not detect fentanyl at all, so a "clean" result can be misleading. If you are reading this because you are scared, in trouble, or trying to help someone who uses, you are in the right place. What follows is what the science actually shows, and where the numbers come from, without judgment. Fentanyl overdose is a medical emergency. Call 911 and give naloxone (Narcan) right away if breathing is slow or stopped, lips or skin look blue, or the person will not wake up. Give naloxone even if you are not sure it is an overdose. Fentanyl is in much of the illicit drug supply, so treat any suspected overdose as fentanyl. Fentanyl overdose can stop someone's breathing within minutes. It is one of the most lethal drugs in the illicit supply, and it is often mixed into other drugs without the person knowing. If you see any of these signs, act now. Call 911 and give naloxone (Narcan) for: Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing, or gurgling and choking sounds Blue, gray, or purple lips, fingertips, or skin Someone who will not wake up and does not respond to shouting or a hard rub on the chest Pinpoint pupils, tiny even in dim light Limp body, cold or clammy skin Give naloxone even if you are not sure. Naloxone (Narcan) reverses an opioid overdose and cannot harm someone who does not have opioids in their system, so when in doubt, use it. It may take a second dose. After giving it, still call 911 and stay until help arrives, because fentanyl can outlast a single dose of naloxone and the person can slip back. Because fentanyl now contaminates so much of the street supply, treat any suspected overdose as fentanyl. Find fentanyl treatment and support near you → If the crisis is emotional rather than medical, you can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any time by calling or texting 988. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Urine is the workhorse: most detection happens through urine, where fentanyl's main metabolite, norfentanyl, runs far higher and lasts longer than fentanyl itself; in one workplace study the median norfentanyl level was 9. 6 times the median fentanyl level. Short half-life, longer stay: fentanyl's terminal half-life is commonly reported at about 1. 5 to 6 hours, and up to roughly 15 hours in older patients, yet detection windows outlast that because the drug builds up in fat and releases slowly. Standard screens can miss it: fentanyl is chemically unlike morphine or heroin, so... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-opioids/cows/ What Is the COWS Scale? The COWS is the bedside scorecard that detox and treatment teams use to measure how severe someone's opioid withdrawal is right now, and to decide when it is safe to start medication. The full name is the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale. A nurse or clinician rates eleven common signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal, adds up the points, and uses the total to guide treatment rather than guessing. It is a short, clinician-administered instrument built for exactly this job[1]. The scale rates eleven common opiate withdrawal signs or symptoms, and the summed score is used to gauge a person's level of withdrawal and to make inferences about how physically dependent on opioids they are[1]. A low number means mild withdrawal. A higher number means the body is deep enough into withdrawal that the team can act, most often by starting buprenorphine. If someone you love is going through detox, you may see staff repeat this assessment every few hours and write down a score each time. That is normal, and it is a good sign. The trend across those scores tells the team whether the person is ready for the next step and how they are responding to treatment. An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. Call 911 and give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. If you are struggling emotionally or having thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988. An opioid overdose is a life-threatening emergency. If someone has slow or stopped breathing, blue or gray lips or fingertips, or cannot be woken up, act right away. Do not wait to see if it passes. Call 911 and, if you have it, give naloxone (Narcan) for: Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing Blue, gray, or purple lips, fingertips, or skin Being unresponsive and impossible to wake, even to a hard shoulder rub Gurgling, choking, or snore-like sounds from someone who cannot be roused Pinpoint pupils together with any of the above Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes and is safe to give even if you are not certain opioids are the cause. Give it, call 911, and stay until help arrives. If you are struggling emotionally or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Find opioid treatment and detox near you → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Eleven items, one number: the COWS rates eleven common opioid withdrawal signs and symptoms, and the summed total gauges how severe withdrawal is[1]. It times the first buprenorphine dose: clinicians wait for enough withdrawal on the COWS before starting buprenorphine, because starting too early can precipitate sudden, severe withdrawal[1]. It is validated and reliable: against an older validated withdrawal scale, peak COWS scores correlated at 0. 85, and the scale's internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0. 78[2]. It is a clinician's tool, not a home test: the scale is scored by trained staff and cannot replace a doctor's judgment or be used to dose yourself at home.... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-stroke/ What Does Alcohol Do to Stroke Risk? Alcohol changes your risk of stroke, and it does not do it in one simple direction. The real picture is that heavy drinking raises the risk of both major kinds of stroke, while the story at lower amounts is genuinely debated and easy to get wrong. If you have been trying to make sense of the mixed headlines, the confusion is not on you. The science really is split, and the split follows the type of stroke. A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly cut off. There are two fundamentally different kinds, and alcohol affects them differently. That difference is the whole point here. Ischemic stroke, caused by a clot blocking a brain artery, has a complicated dose relationship in the research, with some studies suggesting light drinking is neutral or slightly protective and heavy drinking clearly harmful. Hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a blood vessel bleeding into or around the brain, is simpler and more alarming: risk tends to climb steadily with how much you drink, with no safe dip at low doses. Here is the part worth holding onto. Alcohol is one of the most changeable stroke risk factors there is. Cutting back or stopping lowers blood pressure, calms the heart rhythms that throw clots to the brain, and reduces bleeding risk. Much of the danger is not fixed, and getting help for heavy drinking is something real treatment can make possible. Stroke is a medical emergency. Learn the FAST warning signs and call 911 immediately if you see any of them. Do not stop heavy daily drinking abruptly on your own; withdrawal can be dangerous. | Recovery is hard on mental health. If you are struggling emotionally or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. A stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute counts, because brain cells die fast once blood flow stops. Learn the FAST warning signs and act the moment you notice any one of them. FAST warning signs of a stroke: F — Face drooping. One side of the face droops or feels numb. Ask the person to smile and check whether it is uneven. A — Arm weakness. One arm is weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms and see if one drifts down. S — Speech difficulty. Speech is slurred, or the person cannot speak or is hard to understand. T — Time to call 911. If you see any of these signs, even if they come and go, call 911 right away. Note the time symptoms started; it changes which treatments doctors can give. Do not wait to see if it passes, and do not drive yourself. Call 911 so treatment can begin on the way to the hospital. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop abruptly on your own. Sudden alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and other dangerous complications, which is why a supervised... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/ciwa-ar/ What Is the CIWA-Ar Scale? The CIWA-Ar is the bedside scorecard that hospital and detox teams use to measure how severe someone's alcohol withdrawal is right now, and to decide how much medication that person needs. The full name is the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, Revised. A nurse or clinician rates ten signs and symptoms, adds up the points, and uses the total to guide treatment minute by minute rather than guessing. It is a short, ten-item scale built for exactly this job[1]. Nine of the ten items are scored from 0 to 7, one item is scored from 0 to 4, and the points add up to a maximum of 67. A low number means mild withdrawal. A high number means the nervous system is dangerously overactive and the person is at higher risk of seizures or delirium tremens. If someone you love is going through detox, you may see staff repeat this assessment every hour or two and write down a score each time. That is normal, and it is a good sign. The trend across those scores tells the team whether the person is stabilizing or getting worse, which matters more than any single reading. Severe alcohol withdrawal is a medical emergency. Call 911 for any seizure, confusion, or high fever. Do not stop heavy daily drinking abruptly on your own; supervised medical detox is the safe path. Severe alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Seizures and delirium tremens are medical emergencies. If you or someone with you shows any of these warning signs, call 911 right away. Do not wait to see if it passes. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for: A seizure of any kind, including shaking, stiffening, or loss of consciousness Confusion or disorientation, not knowing where you are, the time, or what is happening A high fever together with sweating, a racing heart, or severe shaking Hallucinations, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there Chest pain, a pounding irregular heartbeat, or trouble breathing If you drink heavily every day, do not stop cold turkey on your own. Sudden alcohol withdrawal can trigger seizures and other dangerous complications, which is why a medically supervised detox is the safe way to stop. Medical teams can ease withdrawal and watch for danger the whole way through. Find alcohol detox and treatment near you → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Ten items, one number: the CIWA-Ar rates ten withdrawal signs; nine are scored 0 to 7 and one is scored 0 to 4, for a maximum total of 67[1]. The score guides the medicine: dosing benzodiazepines to the CIWA-Ar score rather than a fixed clock shortened treatment and cut the amount of medication used in a randomized trial[2]. Higher scores mean higher risk: patients scoring above 15 who went untreated were at markedly higher risk of severe withdrawal, a relative risk of 3. 72[3]. It is a clinician's tool, not a home test: the scale assumes the person can talk and... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/baclofen/ What Is Baclofen and How Might It Help Drinking? Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that has been used for decades to ease spasticity, and over the past twenty years it has drawn serious attention as a possible treatment for alcohol use disorder. If you are weighing it for yourself or someone you love, the straight starting point is this: baclofen is not approved by the FDA for drinking problems, it is not a first-line treatment anywhere, and the evidence for it is genuinely mixed. Yet for a specific group of people, especially those with advanced liver disease, it remains a real option worth discussing with a doctor. The reason researchers got curious is chemistry. Baclofen activates GABA-B receptors, part of the same calming system that alcohol itself engages[1][2][3]. In animal studies that switch dampens dopamine release in the brain's reward circuitry, the system behind craving and the reinforcing pull of a drink[1]. In plain terms, the theory is that baclofen may turn down the volume on wanting to drink, and it may also calm the anxiety that so often rides alongside alcohol dependence[2]. That is a plausible mechanism, not a settled cure. What follows is a straight account of where the evidence actually stands, who baclofen tends to be considered for, and the safety points that matter most, including the one that surprises people: baclofen must never be stopped suddenly. Baclofen plus alcohol can slow breathing dangerously, and stopping baclofen abruptly can trigger seizures. Call 911 for trouble breathing; call or text 988 for a crisis. Never stop baclofen cold on your own. Baclofen and alcohol together deepen central nervous system depression, and baclofen toxicity cases have involved seizures and slowed breathing[4]. If someone is drowsy and hard to wake, confused, or breathing slowly after taking baclofen and drinking, treat it as an emergency. What to do: Call 911 for slow or shallow breathing, a person you cannot fully wake, or a seizure. These can follow baclofen taken with alcohol or at high doses. If you are thinking about suicide or you are in danger right now, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. Do not stop baclofen abruptly. Suddenly quitting baclofen can itself cause severe withdrawal and seizures within a few days, so any change needs a doctor's tapering plan[4]. Do not quit heavy daily drinking alone either. Sudden alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium; a supervised medical detox handles both risks safely. Find alcohol detox and treatment → Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Off-label in the U. S. : baclofen is not FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder and is prescribed off-label; France is the only country to have formally approved it, in 2018[3][5]. A modest, mixed signal: a 2023 Cochrane review of 17 trials and 1,818 people found baclofen probably lowers relapse risk (RR 0. 87) and raises abstinent days (about 9 more days), but does not reliably cut heavy drinking[6]. A real niche in liver disease: baclofen is cleared mainly... - Published: 2026-07-22 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/prazosin/ What Is Prazosin and Why Use It for Drinking? Prazosin is a blood-pressure pill that researchers have spent the last fifteen years testing for a very different job, quieting the urge to drink. If your doctor has raised it, or you have read that it might help with cravings, you are looking at a real and active area of research, not a fringe idea. What you are also looking at is a mixed picture, where the drug seems to help some people a lot and others not at all. The medical name for what prazosin does is alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist. In plain terms, it blocks one of the switches that the body's stress chemical, norepinephrine, uses to flip the body into a keyed-up, fight-or-flight state. Heavy drinking over years pushes that stress system into overdrive, and that overdrive is tied to craving and to the rough stretch of withdrawal. The idea behind prazosin is to turn the volume back down. Two things are true at once and neither cancels the other. Prazosin is not approved by the FDA for alcohol use disorder. It is approved for high blood pressure, and it is widely used off-label for the nightmares that come with post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet for a specific group of people, especially those with severe withdrawal symptoms or co-occurring trauma, the evidence is more encouraging than a quick glance suggests. What follows is where it helps, where it does not, and how the safety works. Feeling faint, dizzy, or unsure whether to keep drinking on this medication is common and treatable. Call or text 988 any time; do not stop heavy daily drinking on your own. If you feel lightheaded, faint, or your heart is pounding after drinking while taking prazosin, sit or lie down and treat it as worth acting on, not toughing out. A blood-pressure medication and alcohol can stack their effects. What to do: If you feel faint or your heart is racing, sit or lie down and let it pass, then tell your prescriber what happened before your next dose. If you are thinking about suicide or you are in danger right now, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. Do not try to quit heavy daily drinking on your own. Sudden alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium, and a supervised medical detox handles it safely. Find alcohol detox and treatment → Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts It is off-label, not first-line: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram remain the only medications the FDA has approved for alcohol use disorder, and prazosin is used off-label. The biggest trial found no overall benefit: a rigorous trial in veterans with PTSD and alcohol dependence found no medication effect on drinking, sleep, or PTSD symptoms[1]. One subgroup responded strongly: in people with high alcohol-withdrawal severity, prazosin cut heavy-drinking days to 7. 07% versus 35. 58% on placebo by week 12[2]. Real-world doses run low: among veterans prescribed prazosin for PTSD-related sleep problems, the average... - Published: 2026-07-21 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcohol-and-adhd/ What's the Link Between Alcohol and ADHD? If your drinking has crept up over years while your mind never quite settles, or if a recent ADHD diagnosis suddenly explained a lifetime of restlessness and hard-to-control drinking, the connection you are sensing is real. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and alcohol use disorder travel together far more often than chance would predict, and each one tends to make the other harder to spot and harder to treat. The short version is this. ADHD is a lifelong difference in how the brain handles attention, impulse, and reward, and those same systems shape how a person responds to alcohol. When ADHD goes unrecognized, drinking tends to start earlier, climb faster, and dig in deeper. None of that is a character flaw or a moral failure. It is a pattern that shows up across study after study, and understanding it is the first step toward treatment that actually fits. What we mean by both termsAlcohol use disorder is a pattern of drinking that causes real distress or harm, on a spectrum from mild to severe. ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, impulsivity, and, in adults, frequent emotional dysregulation. Having one does not cause the other, but each raises the odds of the other. Here is the hopeful part worth holding onto from the start. When both conditions are treated together, rather than one at a time, people do better on both fronts. Treating the ADHD can steady the very impulsivity that drives relapse, and getting off alcohol clears the fog that makes attention problems worse. What follows is how the two fit together and what a realistic path forward looks like. For the specific question of mixing Adderall and alcohol on a given night, see Adderall and alcohol; for a fuller picture of the disorder itself, see ADHD. Do not quit heavy daily drinking cold on your own; withdrawal can be dangerous. Call or text 988 any time, and ask about supervised detox. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop suddenly on your own. Alcohol withdrawal can bring on shaking, seizures, or dangerous confusion, and a medically supervised detox exists to handle it safely. What to do: If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time, day or night. Do not quit heavy daily drinking abruptly and alone. Supervised detox eases withdrawal with medication and monitoring. Find alcohol detox and treatment → If you take stimulant ADHD medication, do not mix extra doses with heavy drinking to try to stay alert; that combination strains the heart and hides how drunk you are. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts It is a common overlap, not a rare one: structured diagnostic studies put ADHD in roughly 11. 9% to 16. 2% of adults in alcohol treatment[1][2], well above general-population adult estimates. ADHD points to earlier, heavier drinking: adults with alcohol use disorder who screen positive for ADHD started drinking earlier and slid... - Published: 2026-07-21 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-neuropathy/ What Is Alcoholic Neuropathy? Alcoholic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by years of heavy drinking. The burning, tingling, and numbness that many people notice first in their feet is the outer edge of it, and if that describes you, you are not imagining it and you are not making it up. The medical name is peripheral neuropathy, and alcohol is one of its most common causes. What is happening underneath is a slow injury to the peripheral nerves, the wiring that runs from the spinal cord out to the skin and muscles. Two things drive that injury at once: alcohol and its toxic breakdown products directly poisoning the nerve, and the vitamin shortages that so often ride along with heavy drinking. Both matter, and the balance between them differs from person to person. This is a common problem, not a rare one. In clinical practice, alcohol-related and diabetes-related polyneuropathies are the two most frequent forms, and each accounts for roughly a third of all cases doctors see[1]. Yet it slips past diagnosis constantly, because the first symptoms get waved off as ordinary aging or blamed on diabetes. Here is the part worth holding onto. Nerve damage from alcohol can stabilize and partly heal once the drinking stops, and the earlier that happens, the more nerve there is to save. Getting off alcohol is not one option among many. It is the treatment that changes the course, and it is something real help can make possible. Confusion, unsteady walking, or eye-movement trouble with heavy drinking is an emergency, not just bad nerves. Call 911 for those signs; call or text 988 for a crisis. If confusion, a sudden loss of balance, or abnormal eye movements appear alongside nerve symptoms, treat it as an emergency and go to an emergency room now. Those signs can mean Wernicke encephalopathy, a thiamine-deficiency crisis where fast treatment can reverse the damage. What to do: Go to an emergency room for new confusion, stumbling or loss of coordination, or abnormal eye movements and new vision changes, especially after heavy drinking. Rapid intravenous thiamine can turn Wernicke encephalopathy around. If you are thinking about suicide or you are in danger right now, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. Do not try to quit heavy daily drinking alone. Sudden withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium; a supervised medical detox handles it safely. Find alcohol detox and treatment → Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts It is one of the most common nerve disorders: alcohol-related and diabetes-related polyneuropathies are the two most frequent forms, each about a third of all cases seen in clinic[1]. It often hides until testing finds it: sensitive vibration testing picked up nerve abnormalities in 60% of people with alcohol use disorder, versus only 34. 3% caught by a standard nerve conduction study[2]. Nutrition gaps are easy to miss: about half of people with alcoholic neuropathy in one study had a functional folate deficiency that ordinary blood tests missed[3].... - Published: 2026-07-21 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-cardiomyopathy/ What Is Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy? Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is heart muscle disease caused by years of heavy drinking. Over time, alcohol and the toxic byproducts of breaking it down weaken and stretch the heart, so it can no longer pump strongly enough to keep up with the body. The medical name for that failing, enlarged heart is a dilated cardiomyopathy, and heavy alcohol use is one of its most common causes. This is more common than most people expect. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy accounts for roughly 4% of all cardiomyopathies and is the second most common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy overall[1], and some researchers call it the leading cause of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in wealthy countries[2]. Among people hospitalized for heart failure, older estimates of how many have it range widely, from 3. 8% to 47%[3]. That wide spread mostly reflects how differently doctors define the condition and how unevenly they ask about drinking, not real disagreement about the danger. Here is the part that matters most: for many people, stopping or sharply cutting back on alcohol can partly or fully reverse the damage. In one careful study, 37% of people with alcoholic cardiomyopathy regained meaningful heart function after they stopped drinking[4], a level of recovery rare among other forms of heart failure. It is not guaranteed. Recovery depends on how long and how hard someone has been drinking and whether permanent scarring has set in. But the door to recovery is real and well documented, and getting off alcohol is what opens it. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is serious, but often reversible. Call 911 for emergency symptoms; call or text 988 for a crisis. If you are thinking about suicide or you are in danger right now, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. What to do: Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you or someone you are with has chest pain, sudden severe shortness of breath, fainting, a racing or wildly irregular heartbeat, or you cannot wake them — these can signal decompensated heart failure or a dangerous heart rhythm. Do not stop alcohol cold turkey on your own after heavy daily drinking. Sudden withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium; a supervised medical detox handles it safely. Find alcohol detox and treatment → Book a heart check now if you drink heavily and feel breathless, exhausted, or swollen — the damage often runs silent for years before it surfaces. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts It usually takes years of heavy drinking: the threshold most often cited is more than 80 grams of alcohol a day for over 5 years — about six standard drinks daily[5][6]. The heart can heal when the drinking stops: about 37% of patients recover meaningful pumping function after they quit[4], and in one small group 25 of 26 people improved after becoming sober[7]. It often hides until it is dangerous: in a Finnish study of sudden cardiac deaths, 77. 9% of the alcoholic cardiomyopathy victims had no prior heart diagnosis, at... - Published: 2026-07-21 - Modified: 2026-07-21 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/treatment/medication/gabapentin/ If you're looking into gabapentin because drinking has started to feel unmanageable, or because a doctor mentioned it as an option, you are not overreacting and you are not out of options. Gabapentin is not a cure, but the research on it is real and specific enough to understand before you decide anything. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Gabapentin is FDA-approved for epilepsy and nerve pain, not alcohol use disorder; its use for drinking is off-label. [1] In one dosing trial, 17. 0% of people on gabapentin 1800 mg/day stayed abstinent over 12 weeks, versus 4. 1% on placebo. [2] Across pooled trial data, gabapentin showed its clearest benefit for reducing heavy drinking days, not for achieving full abstinence. [3] Antiepileptic drugs like gabapentin carry an FDA warning for a small increase in suicidal thoughts, about 0. 43% on the drug versus 0. 24% on placebo. [1] Did you know? "Off-label" doesn't mean unsafe or untested. It means the FDA approved gabapentin for a different condition (epilepsy and nerve pain), and prescribers are using clinical trial evidence to apply it to alcohol use disorder as well. If drinking feels connected to thoughts of not wanting to be here, you can get help right now. This is common with heavy drinking and it is treatable, not a personal failure. Alcohol use disorder and suicidal thoughts are linked closely enough that any medication used to treat AUD, including gabapentin, is required to carry a warning about increased suicidal thinking. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 any hour of the day to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If drinking has become dangerous to stop on your own, ask a doctor about supervised medical detox rather than stopping suddenly alone. Does Gabapentin Actually Work? The candid answer is partly, and unevenly. Pooled trial data shows a real reduction in heavy drinking days, but no reliable help reaching full abstinence. That distinction matters when you're deciding whether gabapentin fits your goals. Where It Helped Most Across combined trials, one outcome stood out clearly: fewer heavy drinking days. This was the only outcome researchers rated as good evidence, not just a trend. The effect size, a Hedges' g of -0. 64, is considered a moderate improvement for this kind of research[3]. Where It Fell Short For most other outcomes, the evidence was weaker or inconclusive: Abstinence: no reliable benefit, with a risk ratio of 1. 33 that did not reach statistical significance. [3] Relapse, drinks per day, and GGT: no robust reduction compared with placebo. [3] OutcomeResult vs. Placebo Percent heavy drinking daysReal benefit, Hedges' g -0. 64 (95% CI -1. 22 to -0. 06)[3] Achieving abstinenceNo reliable benefit, RR 1. 33 (95% CI 0. 84-2. 10)[3] Relapse to heavy drinkingNo reliable benefit, RR 0. 80 (95% CI 0. 57-1. 13)[3] Percent days abstinentNo reliable benefit, Hedges' g 0. 26 (95% CI -0. 16 to 0. 69)[3] Drinks per dayNo reliable benefit, Hedges' g -0. 15 (95% CI -0. 64... - Published: 2026-07-05 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/alcohol/alcoholic-cirrhosis/ A Cirrhosis Diagnosis Is Not the End Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most advanced stage of alcohol-related liver disease, the point where years of heavy drinking leave the liver so scarred that it can no longer filter blood, make essential proteins, or clear toxins the way it should. Hearing this diagnosis feels like a door closing, but the data tell a more hopeful story: abstinence from alcohol is strongly associated with a better trajectory, even in advanced disease, with continued drinking linked to markedly worse decompensation and survival outcomes[1]. Certain symptoms mean emergency care now. Confusion, vomiting blood, or sudden belly swelling are decompensation, not something to sleep off. Vomiting blood, sudden confusion, or extreme drowsiness can mean variceal bleeding or hepatic encephalopathy—call 911 or get to an ER immediately. If drinking feels impossible to stop safely on your own, call or text 988 or ask a doctor about supervised medical detox rather than stopping alone; withdrawal from heavy long-term drinking can itself be dangerous. How Common Is Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis? Alcohol is the single biggest driver of cirrhosis deaths, both in the US and worldwide. It causes an estimated 40 to 50% of all US cirrhosis deaths, and the toll keeps climbing. In the US, alcohol drives 40–50% of all cirrhosis deaths and accounts for about 30% of liver transplants[2] In Europe, alcohol-related liver disease accounts for closer to 50% of liver transplants[2] Globally, 45–60% of cirrhosis deaths trace back to alcohol, and these numbers have not been improving[2] AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Decompensated cirrhosis plus continued drinking: about 22. 9% five-year survival; with abstinence, that jumps to 73. 8%[1] Alcohol causes 40–50% of U. S. cirrhosis deaths and about 30% of U. S. liver transplants[2] Ascites is the single most common complication, affecting 43. 5% of patients in one large cohort Only 14% of veterans diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and cirrhosis received any AUD treatment within 180 days[3] How Cirrhosis Develops The liver tolerates a remarkable amount of alcohol-related injury before cirrhosis takes hold. Damage builds over a span that can run 5 to 40 years, with the pace influenced by genetic factors and other associated risk factors[2]. The Three-Phase Cascade Fatty liver (steatosis): fat accumulates inside liver cells Inflammation (steatohepatitis): immune signals trigger early cell death Scarring (fibrosis to cirrhosis): collagen stiffens and replaces healthy tissue Why Pressure Builds Up Alcohol and its byproducts trigger immune cells to release inflammatory signals, which activate hepatic stellate cells. These cells start producing collagen that stiffens the liver's internal structure. As scarring advances it compresses blood vessels and raises portal hypertension, the pressure buildup behind almost every major complication of cirrhosis. Did you know? Early-stage fibrosis is not a permanent sentence. If drinking stops soon enough, the liver can partially remodel and clear away some of that scar tissue on its own. Liver Cirrhosis Stages Explained StageWhat's HappeningCan It Reverse? Steatosis (fatty liver)Fat accumulates in liver cells from alcohol processingYes, often within weeks of abstinence SteatohepatitisInflammation and early cell death beginLargely... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/processed-food-addiction/ What People Mean by Processed Food Addiction If you can walk past a bowl of fruit without a second thought but cannot keep a sleeve of cookies in the house, you are describing something real. Losing control around certain foods is one of the most common eating struggles people name, and it is not a lack of discipline. When researchers look at which foods people actually feel powerless over, the answer is strikingly consistent, and it is never broccoli or plain rice. It is ultra-processed food, the engineered products designed to be hard to put down[1]. That single fact changes where you aim. If the pull lives in specific engineered products rather than in food itself or in you as a person, then the way out is not another round of willpower. It starts with understanding what those products are built to do[2]. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts The foods people lose control over are ultra-processed. Across studies, the items tied to addictive-like eating are consistently high in fat and fast-digesting carbohydrate, never plain whole foods[1]. About 14% of adults screen positive for ultra-processed food addiction, along with roughly 15% of youth[3]. Fat and sugar together beat either one alone. The brain values foods combining fat and carbohydrate more than equally caloric foods with just one[4]. A leading model says these foods can qualify as addictive using the same criteria that once classified tobacco[2]. It is not a formal diagnosis, and it is still debated. The label is contested, but the loss-of-control experience is well documented[5][6]. The Feeling of Losing Control Is Real Feeling driven to eat past fullness, and unable to stop, is measurable, not imagined. Researchers built the Yale Food Addiction Scale to capture exactly this pattern, and it reliably picks out the people who report it[7]. Naming it is the first practical step. The Evidence Points at the Product, Not the Person You did not fail a test that other people pass. The products at the center of this struggle are formulated by teams of scientists to be as compelling as possible, and struggling with them is closer to the norm than the exception[2]. The problem is engineered, not personal. What Ultra-Processed Foods Actually Are Not all processing is the problem. Freezing peas, canning beans, and bagging flour are all processing, and none of it is what people lose control over. The category that matters is narrower and more deliberate, and a system called NOVA is how researchers pin it down[8]. One Look at the Label Tells YouA quick test for an ultra-processed product is to scan the ingredients for things you would never keep in a home kitchen, like high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or a run of additives and flavorings[8]. The NOVA classification sorts food not by calories but by how much industry has transformed it. At one end sit whole and minimally processed foods. At the other sit ultra-processed products, assembled largely from refined substances and cosmetic additives rather than from anything you would cook... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/is-food-addiction-real/ What Makes Food Addiction Such a Contested Idea If certain foods feel impossible to keep in the house, if you have promised yourself just one and finished the package, you are describing something a lot of people live with. Feeling powerless around food is common, and it is not a matter of weak character. Whether that experience counts as a real addiction is a question scientists genuinely argue over. Food addiction is a popular idea, yet it remains unsettled in research, and it is not a formal diagnosis[1][2]. The debate is active, not closed in either direction. That is the fair place to start. Your struggle can be entirely real at the same moment the label for it is still being worked out. Holding both together is what points toward help that fits the problem instead of the slogan. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Food addiction is not a formal diagnosis. The DSM-5, the manual clinicians diagnose from, does not list it, though it does recognize binge eating disorder[2]. About 1 in 5 people screen positive for addiction-like eating on the Yale Food Addiction Scale, the main tool built to measure it[3][1]. The strongest case points to ultra-processed foods. One influential review argues they meet the same criteria once used to define tobacco as addictive[4]. Critics say the brain overlaps are not specific. Reward circuits also fire for music, sex, and connection, so shared activity does not prove addiction[5]. Everyone has to eat, unlike any drug. That single fact is why some scientists doubt the addiction model fits food at all[6]. The Experience Is Real Even When the Label Is Debated Loss of control around rich, hyper-palatable food is measurable, whatever you call it. Researchers built the Yale Food Addiction Scale to capture that pattern, and across studies close to 1 in 5 people screen positive for it[1][3]. That is a lot of people naming the same struggle. None of that requires proving food is a drug. Naming the pattern is useful in a practical way rather than a diagnostic one. It tells you where to aim, toward the eating itself and what drives it, rather than toward another round of shame and another broken promise. Food Addiction Is Not a Formal Diagnosis You will not find food addiction in the DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose mental health conditions[2]. That absence is not a verdict on what you feel. It reflects a field that has not settled whether the real problem is a substance, a behavior, or something between them[6]. What the manual does recognize is binge eating disorder, a common condition marked by repeated episodes of eating large amounts with a strong loss of control[2]. Many people who call their problem food addiction are describing something close to it, which matters because that condition has proven treatments. The Case That Food Addiction Is Real The strongest version of the argument does not rest on a slogan about sugar and cocaine. It rests on two more careful lines of... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/compulsive-overeating/ What Compulsive Overeating Means If you have ever kept eating long after you were full, felt unable to stop, and then sat with a wave of guilt, you already know what compulsive overeating feels like. It is one of the most common struggles people have with food, and it is not a character flaw. Compulsive overeating describes recurring episodes of eating past fullness with a felt loss of control, often reached for to soothe difficult feelings[1][2]. It is an older, informal term rather than a medical label, and the experience behind it is very real. That pattern overlaps heavily with a condition doctors do diagnose, though the two are not identical[3]. Naming what you are going through is useful less for the label than for where it points you next, toward help that actually fits. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Compulsive overeating is a real, common pattern, recurring episodes of eating past fullness with a felt loss of control, though it is not a formal diagnosis on its own[1][4]. Much of it maps onto binge eating disorder, the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting more people than anorexia and bulimia combined[5]. It is not a willpower problem. Strict dieting is one of the strongest predictors of later loss-of-control eating[6][7]. Distress, not weight, is what makes it a problem, the guilt, the secrecy, and the sense of being unable to stop[1]. It is very treatable. Therapies like CBT and DBT help most people, often quickly, with no focus on weight[8][9][10]. Eating Past Fullness With a Sense of Lost Control The heart of compulsive overeating is not the amount on the plate but the feeling of not being able to stop[1]. One person finishes a meal and moves on; another keeps going well past comfort, aware of it and unable to steer it. That difference is not willpower or virtue. Episodes often happen alone, and they tend to be followed by guilt or shame rather than satisfaction[1]. The eating usually is not about hunger at all, which is the first clue that something other than appetite is driving it. An Older Name for a Very Real Pattern Compulsive overeating is a phrase people have used for decades, long before the current diagnostic language existed. You will not find it as its own entry in the DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose eating disorders[4]. That absence does not make your experience less real. It mostly means the pattern now has a more precise clinical name, binge eating disorder, which carries defined criteria and, more to the point, proven treatments[4][3]. How Compulsive Overeating Relates to Binge Eating Disorder For a large share of people, what they call compulsive overeating is, in clinical terms, binge eating disorder[3]. The good news buried in that sentence is that a named condition comes with tested, effective care. A Description Not a DiagnosisCompulsive overeating describes what the eating feels like. Binge eating disorder is the formal diagnosis that captures much of the same pattern. The behavior... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/how-to-stop/ How to Stop Eating Sugar Without White-Knuckling It If you have decided to eat less sugar, the good news is that it is far more doable than the all-or-nothing plans make it sound. You do not need iron willpower, a perfect week, or a total ban to change how much sugar runs your day. The approach that actually holds is gentle and gradual. Sharp, punishing restriction tends to backfire into stronger cravings and rebound eating, while easing sugar down slowly is both kinder and more effective[1][2]. It also helps to know the target before you start. Some sugar is completely fine, and the aim here is not zero. It is a calmer, freer relationship with food, where a dessert is a choice you make rather than a pull you cannot answer[3]. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Most added sugar hides in drinks and everyday packaged food, so the first move is seeing where it actually is, and sugary drinks are the single biggest source in the American diet[4]. Gradual beats a sudden total ban. Strict, all-or-nothing restriction reliably rebounds into stronger cravings and binge eating, so easing down works better[1][2]. Meals built on protein, fat, and fiber steady your blood sugar, blunt the crash that sends you back toward sweets, and leave you fuller on less food[5][6]. New habits form through repetition in a steady setting, so swapping a sweet for a go-to alternative outlasts willpower[7]. Some sugar is fine. The goal is a calmer relationship, not zero, and federal guidance simply caps added sugar at under a tenth of daily calories[8]. Eating Less Sugar Is a Skill Not a Character Test Cutting back on sugar is a set of skills you build, not a verdict on your character. If past attempts collapsed, that is almost never about being weak or undisciplined. It usually means the plan was too harsh to keep, which is a design problem, not a moral one. Shame is the part that quietly makes it harder. Feeling bad about eating sugar tends to drive more of it, because the relief of something sweet answers the very distress the shame created. Dropping the self-blame is not a soft extra, it is one of the practical moves that works. The Goal Is a Calmer Relationship Not Zero Sugar Aiming for zero sugar sets a bar that is hard to hold and easy to fail, which is why most crash attempts rebound. A steadier goal is to have sweets stop running the show, so you can take them or leave them without a fight[3]. This is the ongoing, everyday version of change. If you want a short reset to break the cycle first, that is what a sugar detox is for, and if the pull itself is the puzzle, what causes sugar cravings breaks down the drivers. When sugar has come to feel genuinely compulsive, that is the subject of sugar addiction. Knowing Where Your Sugar Actually Comes From You cannot cut what you cannot see, and most added sugar... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/detox/ What A Sugar Detox Actually Means People use “sugar detox” to describe plans to reduce added sugar or change what they eat. Added sugar is sugar put into food during processing or preparation. [12] This popular wellness term does not describe one standardized clinical procedure. Detox plans vary and should not be mistaken for established medical treatment. [7] You may be looking for help because sweets feel hard to control, food rules are becoming stressful or you want to understand your eating patterns. Those concerns are worth discussing with a health professional, particularly if eating feels out of control or you are severely restricting food. [9] Start by describing what you hope to change, what you currently eat and how you have been feeling. The aim is to understand your needs rather than assume that a reset will calm cravings or make a restrictive plan safe. Fast Facts About Sugar DetoxKeep these distinctions in mind when considering a sugar detox: A sugar detox is not a guarantee of safety. Reducing added sugar is different from fasting or severely restricting food. Diabetes medicines and eating disorders can change what advice is appropriate. [7][8][9] Withdrawal-like experiences have been reported. Research has asked people about reducing highly processed foods, rather than establishing a sugar-only withdrawal syndrome. [2] The strongest evidence is in animals, not people. Rats show bingeing, withdrawal, and craving on sugar, while the human evidence for true sugar addiction stays limited and contested. [3][1] Fasting is not a proven detox method. A study in adolescent girls linked fasting for weight control with later binge eating. It did not compare gradual and abrupt sugar reduction. [4] There is no established sugar-detox timetable. Recalled symptom peaks in a processed-food study cannot predict an individual’s recovery. [2] Is a Sugar Detox a Medical Treatment? “Detox” is often used to market eating plans or cleanses. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that research supporting detox diets is limited. A popular sugar-reset plan should not be mistaken for an established medical treatment. [7] Limited evidence for sugar-specific addiction does not mean every plan to cut sugar is safe. Fasting, severely restricting food or changing carbohydrate intake while taking certain diabetes medicines can create health risks. [7][8] Why People Reach For A Sugar Detox Most people arrive for practical reasons. Sweets can feel hard to stop once you start, energy can swing between highs and crashes, and the sense of being hooked on sugar is common and real. Wanting a reset from that pull makes sense. Researchers studying highly processed foods examine compulsive use, mood effects and cravings. Ashley Gearhardt and Alexandra DiFeliceantonio argue these foods can meet addiction criteria, while reviews of sugar specifically find limited human evidence. This debate does not establish that a sugar detox is an effective treatment. [5][1] The Truth About Sugar Withdrawal Some people report feeling unwell when reducing highly processed foods. That does not establish that sugar alone caused the symptoms or that everyone should expect... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/sugar/cravings/ Why You Crave Sugar Is Not a Character Flaw If you have ever finished a hard day and reached for something sweet before you consciously decided to, you are not weak and you are not alone. Wanting sugar is one of the most ordinary human experiences there is. A craving is an intense, focused urge for a particular food, and for sweet things it is close to universal. Feeling one says nothing about your character, and it is not a sign that something has gone wrong with you. The trouble is rarely the craving itself. It is the story that wanting sugar means you lack discipline, because that story adds shame, and shame plus restriction tends to feed the very urge it is meant to shut down. Sugar cravings have real, identifiable causes, usually several firing at once. Once the machinery behind the urge is visible, it stops feeling like a personal failing and starts looking like something you can work with. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Sweet taste triggers dopamine and natural opioid release in the brain's reward center, the same circuitry that responds to other rewards[1]. Refined carbohydrates spike then drop your blood sugar, and that dip is followed by more hunger and stronger reward-region activity a few hours later[2]. Poor sleep, stress, and low mood each reliably increase the pull toward sweet, high-calorie food[3][4]. Restrictive dieting tends to backfire, driving preoccupation with food and binge urges rather than calm control[5][6]. A craving is not the same as addiction, and most sugar cravings are an ordinary signal you can ride out or feed sensibly[7]. Cravings Are Normal and Nearly Universal Almost everyone craves sweet things, at least sometimes. The taste for sugar is present from birth and wired deep, since it once signaled safe, quick energy, so a pull toward it is a species-wide default rather than a personal weakness[1]. That matters because so many people carry quiet shame about it. Naming the craving as normal biology, instead of proof of a flaw, is the first step that actually makes it easier to handle. A Craving Is a Signal, Not a Failure A craving usually means something specific is going on. You are tired, stressed, running low on fuel, or simply standing in front of a cue your brain has learned. Read that way, the urge becomes useful information instead of a moral emergency. Each common driver is a specific, changeable condition rather than a test of willpower. That reframe is not just kinder, it is more useful, because conditions you can change give you somewhere real to start. What Actually Drives a Sugar Craving Sugar cravings sit where biology, environment, and habit meet, and for most people several drivers fire together. The ones with the strongest evidence are worth knowing by name. Wanting Sugar Is Wiring, Not WeaknessYour brain is built to seek out calorie-dense sweetness, because it kept your ancestors alive. A craving is that ancient wiring doing its job in a world now flooded with sugar.... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-to-quit-weed/ How to Quit Weed for Good If you have decided to quit weed, or you are still turning the decision over, you are already past the hardest part. Wanting to stop is the turn, and the fact that it feels big usually means weed has taken more room in your life than you meant to give it. Quitting is hard for a real reason, not a lack of willpower. Regular use weaves weed into your sleep, your stress, and the rhythm of your day, so stopping means rebuilding those habits at the same time. A plan is what makes that manageable. The good news sits underneath all of it. Cannabis use disorder is treatable, the withdrawal that comes with stopping is uncomfortable but not dangerous, and the sleep, mood, and money you are afraid of losing come back on the other side. You can find help today. Quitting weed is safe for your body. Cannabis withdrawal is uncomfortable but not dangerous, and it does not cause seizures, so there is no medical reason to fear stopping. If low mood ever turns into thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 anytime. Stopping weed is safe for your body. The comedown after quitting brings irritability, broken sleep, and low mood, but it is a syndrome of mood and sleep, not the life-threatening instability that makes alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal an emergency. What to do: You do not have to fear stopping. Quitting cannabis is not physically dangerous, so there is no medical reason to keep using to stay safe. Find treatment that fits → Take a heavy low seriously. If the low mood of the first weeks ever turns into thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) anytime rather than waiting it out alone. Lean on rest and support, not a shortcut. Sleep, water, light movement, and a person who knows you are quitting make the first days easier while your brain resets. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Deciding is the hard part. Cannabis use disorder is a treatable medical condition, and many regular users do not believe they can quit right up until they do. Taper or stop cold, your choice. Because cannabis withdrawal is not dangerous, cutting down gradually and stopping all at once are both reasonable, so pick whichever you can stick with. The first weeks are the work. Withdrawal starts within a day or two, peaks in the first week, and eases over the next two to four weeks. Counseling beats any pill. No medication is approved for cannabis addiction, so the proven care is behavioral, like cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement, and contingency management. Life gets better. Sleep normalizes after the first weeks, and mood, energy, memory, and money all tend to improve once weed is out of the picture. Deciding to Quit Is the Turn Most people arrive at quitting after a slow build, not a single crash. The signs are quiet: needing more to feel the same,... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/weed-detox/ What Weed Detox Actually Means Weed detox means two very different things, and both bring people to the same three words in a search bar. One is racing to clear THC before a drug test. The other is quitting weed and getting through the first days without it. The answer to the first is not what the ads promise. THC is fat-soluble, so it settles into body fat and leaves only as your body slowly clears it, and no drink, pill, or flush speeds that up. The second meaning is the one that changes a life. If you are reading about weed detox because your using has started to worry you, that worry is worth trusting, and there is a clear way through it. You can find help today. Cannabis withdrawal is uncomfortable but not medically dangerous, and it does not cause seizures, so there is no medical reason to fear stopping. If low mood or anxiety ever brings thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 anytime. Stopping weed is safe for your body. Cannabis withdrawal brings irritability, broken sleep, and anxiety, but it is a syndrome of mood and sleep, not the life-threatening instability that makes alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal an emergency. What to do: You do not have to fear stopping. The comedown is uncomfortable, not dangerous, so there is no medical reason to keep using to stay safe. Find treatment that fits → Take a heavy low seriously. If anxiety or low mood ever turns into thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) anytime rather than waiting it out alone. Ease symptoms instead of chasing a shortcut. Sleep, water, and light movement make the first days easier, while no detox product does anything time does not. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Only time clears THC. Because THC is fat-soluble and stored in body fat, nothing you drink or swallow removes it faster, and labs flag the diluted samples these products create. Detox kits and niacin can backfire. Cleansing drinks only dilute urine for a short window, and high-dose niacin taken to beat a test has caused serious poisoning. The real detox is stopping. About half of regular users go through a withdrawal when they quit, centered on irritability, poor sleep, anxiety, low appetite, and craving. It is not medically dangerous. Cannabis withdrawal does not cause seizures or life-threatening instability, so there is no medical reason to fear stopping. The worst passes in a week. Symptoms start within a day or two, peak in the first week, and ease over the next two to four weeks. Detox Can Mean Passing a Test or Quitting for Good For anyone facing a test, detox means clearing THC and its metabolites before a sample is taken. For anyone trying to quit, it means the physical and emotional reset that follows the last use. The two overlap only in that both are governed by how your body handles THC. That shared root matters. Because... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/effects/ What Weed Does to the Brain and Body If you are trying to understand what weed is actually doing to you or someone you love, start with the truth that it depends. Cannabis has real effects people seek, short-term ones felt within minutes, and long-term ones that scale with how much, how often, how strong, and how young someone uses. Weed is neither the harmless herb nor the certain ruin it gets painted as. Many people use it seeking real effects, relaxation, easier sleep, or relief from pain and nausea that has genuine evidence behind it, while the harms that are real depend heavily on dose, potency, and age. Most short-term effects fade as the drug clears, and most people who use cannabis never develop a serious problem. The effects worth understanding are the ones that scale with heavy, frequent, high-potency, or early use. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts The high comes from THC acting on the body's own cannabinoid system, which is why weed changes mood, memory, appetite, and heart rate all at once. You cannot fatally overdose on cannabis alone, because it barely touches the brainstem that controls breathing, unlike opioids or alcohol. Today's weed is far stronger. Average THC in seized cannabis rose from about 4% in 1995 to roughly 12% by 2014, and concentrates go much higher. About 3 in 10 past-year users meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder, and the risk climbs with early or daily use. The biggest risks are dose- and age-dependent, landing hardest on heavy adolescent users and people prone to psychosis. How THC Creates the High The active ingredient is THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol. It works by latching onto the body's own endocannabinoid system, a signaling network that helps regulate mood, memory, appetite, pain, and coordination. Why Weed Touches Mind and Body at OnceTHC works by mimicking chemicals your body already makes. Those receptors sit in brain regions for memory, movement, and reward, and across the body, which is why one drug changes your thinking, your appetite, and your heart rate together. The receptors cluster most densely in areas for memory, coordination, and reward, and only sparsely in the brainstem that runs breathing. That layout explains both the classic effects and why cannabis, unlike opioids or alcohol, does not switch off breathing and cause a fatal overdose on its own. Why the Effects Vary So Widely The same drug can relax one person and panic another, and much of that comes down to four variables: dose, potency, route, and the individual. Today's cannabis is far stronger than past decades', with average THC in seized flower rising from about 4% in 1995 to roughly 12% by 2014, and concentrates higher still. Route changes the timing. Smoked or vaped cannabis hits within minutes and peaks fast, while an edible can take one to two hours to arrive, which is why people misjudge edibles and take far more than they meant to. Body size, tolerance, and mood do the rest. The Short-Term Effects of... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-long-does-a-weed-high-last/ How Long a Weed High Lasts How long a weed high lasts depends most on how you take it. A smoked or vaped high tends to peak within half an hour and fade inside one to three hours, while an edible can run four to eight hours or longer[1][2]. The route matters more than almost anything else. One thing to separate up front: how long the high lasts is not the same as how long weed stays detectable on a drug test. THC, the compound behind the high, clears the brain within hours, but its leftovers linger in body fat far longer[3]. If a test is your concern rather than the high itself, that is a separate question answered in how long weed stays in your system. Everything below is about the high and the impairment that comes with it. People usually look this up for one of two reasons: they want to know when they will feel normal again, or their use has started to worry them. Both deserve a straight answer, and cannabis dependence is a real, treatable condition[4]. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Smoked highs are short. Effects from smoking or vaping start within minutes, peak in about 10 to 30 minutes, and mostly fade within one to three hours[1]. Edibles last far longer. A cannabis edible can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to land and then last 4 to 8 hours or more, sometimes into the next day[2][1]. The edible delay drives over-use. Because nothing happens fast, people take a second or third dose and get hit by the whole stack at once[5]. Impairment outlasts the buzz. Driving and thinking skills can stay measurably impaired for about 5 hours or more after inhaling, well past the point of feeling high[6]. Only time ends a high. The high fades on its own schedule as the body clears THC, and no food, shower, or drink reliably speeds that up[1]. Weed High Duration by Route The single biggest factor in how long a high lasts is the route, meaning how the THC actually gets into you. Inhaling sends it to the brain in minutes; swallowing routes it through the stomach and liver first, which delays and stretches everything out[1][7]. Route When it starts When it peaks How long the high lasts Smoked or vaped flower Within minutes About 10 to 30 minutes Mostly over in 1 to 3 hours Edibles (gummies, food, drinks) 30 minutes to 2 hours About 2 to 3 hours 4 to 8 hours or more Dabs and concentrates Within minutes About 15 to 30 minutes 1 to 3 hours, far more intense Smoked and Vaped Highs Peak Fast and Fade When you smoke or vape, THC crosses from the lungs into the blood and brain almost at once. The effects begin within seconds to minutes, reach their maximum around 15 to 30 minutes in, and taper off within two to three hours[1]. That fast feedback is why the ceiling is easy to feel. Vaping behaves... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/dabs/ What Dabs Actually Are Dabs are highly concentrated cannabis extracts, made by pulling the THC out of the plant into a sticky or solid form. Depending on texture, they are called shatter, wax, budder, or live resin, along with a solventless type known as rosin. Dabbing means flash-vaporizing a small amount on a hot surface and breathing in the vapor. The one fact that sets dabs apart is strength. Where dried cannabis flower usually carries about 15 to 20 percent THC, concentrates commonly test between 60 and 90 percent, and some run higher still. A single dab can deliver as much THC as several joints. If dabbing has taken a bigger place in your life than you meant it to, that is not a dead end. Cannabis use disorder is treatable, people step away from it every day, and you can find help today. You cannot fatally overdose on dabs the way you can on opioids, but very high THC can trigger a terrifying panic or psychotic reaction. Call or text 988 anytime for a mental-health crisis. If someone is panicking, paranoid, or losing touch with reality after dabbing, stay with them and keep them calm and safe. A cannabis reaction is not usually life-threatening, and most panic passes as the high fades. What to do: Move to a quiet, safe space. Dim the lights, slow the breathing, and remind them the feeling comes from the drug and will pass. Offer water and something to eat. Sipping fluids and sitting down helps a racing heart and dizziness settle. Call 911 or go to an ER for chest pain, a first psychotic break that will not clear, a seizure, or vomiting so relentless they cannot keep fluids down. For thoughts of suicide or a mental-health crisis, call or text 988 any time. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Dabs are cannabis concentrates that commonly test at 60 to 90 percent THC, against roughly 15 to 20 percent in flower. Laboratory analysis of concentrates found THC as high as 76 percent, and residual solvents or pesticides in more than 80 percent of samples tested. Daily use of high-potency cannabis was linked to nearly five times the odds of a first psychotic episode. Homemade butane extraction sends people to burn units; at one Colorado center, about a fifth of hash-oil burn patients needed a breathing tube. Cannabis is not lethal on its own, yet about 1 in 10 people who use it develop a cannabis use disorder, and that risk climbs with potency. Why Potency Is the Whole Story With Dabs Almost every risk that separates dabs from a joint traces back to one thing, the sheer amount of THC delivered in each hit. The concentrate is not a different drug; it is the same THC packed many times tighter, so the dose climbs fast. Measure Cannabis flower Dabs (concentrate) Typical THC About 15 to 20 percent About 60 to 90 percent, sometimes more THC per use Lower dose per puff Much higher dose per... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system/ Weed behaves differently from almost every other drug a test looks for. THC, the compound that gets you high, is fat-soluble, so instead of washing out quickly it gets stored in body fat and released slowly for days or weeks. That storage is why the real answer is a wide range, not a single number. A one-time use often clears urine in about one to three days, while daily use can stay detectable for thirty days or more. How often you use is the biggest reason those numbers differ. If you are checking how long weed stays in your system because your use worries you, that worry is worth trusting. Cannabis addiction is real and treatable, and you can find help today. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts THC is fat-soluble, so weed lingers. Unlike most drugs, THC is stored in body fat and released slowly, which is why it stays detectable far longer than the high lasts. Tests look for THC-COOH, not the high. The liver turns THC into THC-COOH, an inactive leftover that is stable and slow to leave, and that is what urine tests measure. Urine is the usual window. A single use is often detectable for about one to three days; heavy daily use can register for thirty days or more. Frequency matters most. Occasional users clear it in days, while frequent users can stay positive for weeks, because THC builds up faster than the body clears it. Only time clears THC. No detox drink, water load, or flush hack removes it faster, and labs screen for diluted samples. Why THC Lingers Far Longer Than Other Drugs The single fact behind everything here is where THC goes after you use. Most drugs stay in water-based blood and clear within a day or two, but THC dissolves into fat, so the body tucks it away and lets it back out gradually. Why Weed Outlasts Most DrugsMost drugs ride out in water-based blood and urine, so they clear fast. THC dissolves in fat instead, so the body stores it and releases it slowly. That single difference is why weed stays detectable so much longer. THC Is Fat-Soluble and Hides in Body Fat A drug's half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. THC's is complicated because so much of it is stored in fat and released back into the blood over time, which stretches its true clearance from hours into days or weeks. This is the opposite of a drug like cocaine, which clears in hours. In a frequent user, THC accumulates in fat with each use, so there is a deeper reservoir to empty once they stop. Tests Look for THC-COOH Not the High When the liver processes THC, it strips it down into THC-COOH, the drug's main urinary metabolite. THC-COOH causes no high at all, but it is stable and slow to leave, which makes it the reliable marker labs screen for. This is why a person can feel completely sober and still fail... - Published: 2026-07-02 - Modified: 2026-07-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/marijuana/greening-out/ What Greening Out Is Greening out is what happens when someone takes in more cannabis than their body can handle at once. It is an acute intoxication, an overload of THC that leaves a person nauseated, dizzy, pale, and gripped by anxiety. The word comes from the greenish, seasick look it can give you. If you are scared right now, start here. You cannot fatally overdose on cannabis the way you can on opioids or alcohol. A green out is intensely unpleasant, yet it is almost always self-limiting and eases within a few hours. That does not make it harmless. Greening out can be genuinely dangerous for a small child who eats an edible, for someone who has mixed cannabis with alcohol, or when the panic itself leads to a fall or a bad decision. Both things are true at once. Cannabis alone is not fatal, and greening out passes. Call 911 for chest pain or trouble breathing, and Poison Control for a child who ate an edible. Greening out is frightening, but cannabis by itself does not stop your breathing the way opioids do, and it almost always eases within a few hours. What to do: Get to a calm, safe place, sit or lie down, and sip water. Most green outs pass on their own with time and quiet company. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, relentless vomiting, or a heart rate that will not settle. These need emergency care, whatever the cause. If a child swallowed an edible, treat it as an emergency. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away and go to the ER, because young children can become dangerously sedated. If you feel unsafe or are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts You cannot fatally overdose on cannabis alone. THC barely touches the brainstem centers that control breathing, which is why greening out is miserable but almost never deadly. Edibles cause a lot of green outs. Their effects can take one to two hours to arrive, so people redose and take far more than they meant to before the first dose lands. Emergency visits for edibles run high for their size. In Colorado, edibles drove far more ER visits than their tiny share of cannabis sales would predict. A child who eats an edible is a real emergency. Pediatric edible poisonings jumped more than 1,300% from 2017 to 2021, and most of those children were sedated by the THC. Time is the treatment. There is no antidote for greening out, but calm, hydration, and a few hours almost always do it. Why Cannabis Alone Will Not Kill You The fear during a green out feels like dying, so the reassurance has to be specific. Opioids kill by switching off the drive to breathe. Cannabis does not do that, because the brain regions that keep you breathing barely register it. Why Cannabis Cannot Stop Your BreathingOpioids are lethal because the brainstem, which... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/cocaine/pink-cocaine/ What Pink Cocaine Actually Is Pink cocaine sounds like a designer version of cocaine. It is almost never cocaine at all. The name covers a pink-dyed powder, also sold as tusi or tuci, whose contents shift from batch to batch, and drug-checking programs keep finding the same two drugs inside it: ketamine and MDMA. The pink color is the product. Beyond the dye and a sweet scent, a bag can hold ketamine, MDMA, caffeine, and sometimes methamphetamine or other substances, in combinations no buyer can predict. It rarely contains the 2C-B it was originally named after, and often no cocaine either. If pink cocaine or the party drugs inside it have taken hold of someone you love, that is not a dead end. This kind of use is treatable, people step away from it every day, and you can find help today. Pink cocaine is an unknown mix, and some batches now carry hidden fentanyl. Call 988 any time you are in danger. If someone who used pink cocaine cannot be woken, is barely breathing, has hot dry skin, or is rigid and agitated, treat it as an emergency and act now. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. What to do: Call 911 first. Say where you are and what you see. Most states protect people who call to save a life. If they are overheating or agitated, move them somewhere cool, help them sip water if they are awake, and stay with them. Severe overheating and rigidity from an MDMA mix is a medical emergency. Give Narcan (naloxone) if you have it. A pink powder can hide fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that opioid. It cannot harm someone who does not need it, so give it and repeat after 2 to 3 minutes with no response. When the danger passes, get help started. Find treatment that fits your life → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Pink cocaine usually is not cocaine. Drug-checking programs most often find a mixture of ketamine and MDMA, not cocaine. The recipe changes every time. In one seizure study, 33 pink-powder samples held 16 different drug combinations. The name is a mistake. Tusi comes from 2C-B, a psychedelic, yet today's pink powder rarely contains 2C-B at all. You cannot dose what you cannot identify. The main danger is that no one knows which drugs, or how much, are in a given bag. Some batches now hide fentanyl. Fentanyl analogs have turned up in the ketamine and MDMA supply, adding an unseen overdose risk. Why Pink Cocaine Is Rarely Cocaine at All The most useful thing to understand about pink cocaine is that the name is marketing, not chemistry. Sellers reach for cocaine because it is famous and expensive, then attach it to a pink powder that is usually built from cheaper club drugs. The Name Is a Sales TrickPink cocaine borrows the glamour of a drug it seldom contains. The color and the cocaine label do the selling, while the powder inside is... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-10-06 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/meth-sores/ What Are Meth Sores? Meth sores is an informal name for skin wounds that develop during methamphetamine use. Repeated scratching or picking can leave raw patches and scabs. Injecting drugs can also lead to skin injuries and infections. The name does not describe one specific disease, and a sore's appearance alone cannot establish its cause. [1][2] If you are worried about your skin, you can ask for help with the wound and with meth use at the same visit. A clinician can assess whether you need wound care, treatment for an infection, or help with itching and picking. You do not need to work out the cause on your own. [3][4] Seek medical attention immediately if redness spreads quickly around a sore or you develop fever or chills. A worsening skin infection needs care even if you have stopped using meth. [2] Fast Facts About Meth SoresThese distinctions can help you decide what to discuss with a clinician. Picking can break the skin. Meth use can contribute to repeated scratching or picking, but not every person who uses meth develops sores. [1][5] A crawling sensation has a name. Formication means feeling as though insects are on or under your skin when they are not there. It has several possible causes and needs assessment. [3] A sore and an infection are different. Broken skin can let bacteria enter. Increasing pain, warmth, swelling, or pus should prompt medical attention. [2][4] Healing does not always mean the mark disappears. Deeper injuries can leave scars, and wound care may help reduce their appearance. [6] What Causes Meth Sores? Several problems can overlap. Someone may scratch itchy skin, repeatedly pick a small spot, or develop an infection at an injection site. Meth also has effects on blood vessels and infection-fighting cells. Understanding these differences helps explain why simply covering a wound may not address everything causing it. [1][7][8] Skin Picking and the Crawling Sensation Describe what you feelYou can say, “It feels like something is moving under my skin. ” You do not have to remember a medical term or decide what the sensation means before asking for help. Formication can feel like insects crawling, biting, or moving beneath the skin. It may lead someone to scratch or pick in an effort to get relief. Stimulant drugs, including methamphetamine, can cause this symptom. Certain medicines and other health conditions can cause it too. [3] Delusional infestation is different: it is a persistent belief that the body is infested despite evidence to the contrary. The sensation and the belief can occur together, but they are not interchangeable. A clinician needs to examine the skin and consider an actual infestation, other skin conditions, medicines, and substance use. [9] Do not assume that an itch or a rash must come from meth. Tell the clinician when it began, what it feels like, and whether you have used anything to treat it. If unusual sensations come with other changes in what you see, hear, or believe, mention those too.... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/what-meth-looks-like/ If you found something you cannot identify and you are worried it might be meth, you are asking exactly the right question. Methamphetamine shows up in a handful of recognizable forms, and learning them takes only a few minutes. The two most common are a hard, clear-to-white crystal that looks like broken glass, and a loose powder that can run from white to yellow, brown, or even pink. More and more, meth is also pressed into pills made to pass as ordinary medicine. Finding one of these is frightening, but it is not a verdict. Plenty of everyday substances look similar, and knowing what to look for helps you tell a real problem from a false alarm before you jump to conclusions. A pill or powder you found could hide fentanyl you cannot see or taste. Call 988 any time you are in crisis. If someone has taken a pill or powder you found and you cannot wake them, their breathing slows or stops, or their lips turn blue, act now. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. What to do: Call 911 first. Say where you are and that someone is unresponsive and may have taken an unknown drug. Most states protect people who call to save a life. Give Narcan (naloxone) if it is nearby. A counterfeit pill or a bag of powder can hide fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that opioid. It cannot harm someone who does not need it, so give it and repeat after 2 to 3 minutes with no response. For a stimulant emergency such as chest pain, a seizure, or dangerously hot skin, still call 911, move the person somewhere cool, and stay with them. When the danger passes, get help started. Find treatment that fits your life → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Meth takes two main forms. A clear-to-white crystalline "ice" that resembles glass, and a powder that can be white, off-white, yellow, brown, or pink. Color does not equal strength. Meth's shade comes from leftover chemicals, dyes, or cutting agents, not from how pure or potent a batch is. It is increasingly pressed into fake pills. Counterfeit tablets stamped to look like prescription medicine can contain methamphetamine, fentanyl, or both. Purity swings wildly. In one Los Angeles drug-checking study, meth samples averaged about 78 percent methamphetamine yet ranged from under 1 percent to nearly pure. You cannot see fentanyl. A hidden opioid does not change the look, smell, or taste of a powder or pill, which is what makes counterfeit pills so dangerous. What Crystal Meth Looks Like The form most people picture is crystal meth, and it earns its street names. It looks like chunky, see-through shards or fragments of broken glass, clear to white, sometimes with a faint blue or brownish tint. Why It Is Called Glass or IceThe names ice and glass are literal. Crystal meth forms hard, translucent shards that catch the light like a chip of glass or a piece of rock candy, which... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/modafinil/ What Modafinil Is Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil, is a wakefulness-promoting agent approved for narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and the leftover sleepiness of obstructive sleep apnea. It keeps you awake, but it is not an amphetamine, and that one difference runs through the whole question. If you have been taking modafinil to study, work long shifts, or push past tiredness and wondered whether you can get hooked, that is a fair question with a genuinely reassuring answer, though not a simple one. Its addiction potential is real but low, and the full picture is worth having before the next dose. A rash after starting modafinil can be a medical emergency. Stop and get help. Talk to your prescriber before quitting heavy use. If a rash, blistering, mouth or eye sores, or peeling skin appears after you start modafinil, stop taking it and get emergency care. A serious skin reaction is rare but can be life-threatening. What to do: Treat any new rash as urgent. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and related reactions are on the label for a reason, and catching one early is what limits the harm. Talk to your prescriber before stopping heavy use. There is no dangerous physical withdrawal, but a planned step-down beats an abrupt stop, and it is the steadier route. Don't buy modafinil outside a pharmacy to keep going. Pills sold online or on campus are often counterfeit and can contain other, stronger drugs. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Modafinil is not an amphetamine. It promotes wakefulness through a gentler mechanism than Adderall or Vyvanse, which is why its abuse potential is genuinely lower. It is a Schedule IV drug, the tier for medicines with accepted medical use and a low potential for abuse and dependence. Low is not zero. Modafinil still acts on the brain's dopamine system, and dependence and misuse do happen, mostly with heavy off-label use. The smart-drug boost is smaller than it feels. In healthy, rested people the measured gain in thinking is modest and inconsistent. Its serious risks are specific: a rare but dangerous skin reaction, a masked sleep debt, and reduced birth-control effectiveness. Modafinil Is a Wakefulness Drug, Not an Amphetamine Doctors reach for modafinil when the problem is staying awake. It is approved for three conditions where excessive daytime sleepiness is the core complaint: narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea where sleepiness lingers despite treatment. What sets it apart is how it works. Amphetamines force a large surge of dopamine and adrenaline, producing the rush that makes them effective and habit-forming. Modafinil nudges the brain's wakefulness systems far more gently, without that spike, so it feels less like being wired and more like simply not being tired. That softer action is the whole story of its lower risk, and it is why the government places it in a gentler legal category than Adderall. The sections that follow trace what it means for the drug's reputation, its addictiveness, and its real dangers.... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/snorting-adderall/ What Snorting Adderall Actually Does Snorting Adderall means crushing the tablet into powder and pulling it in through the nose. It is a form of misuse, not a way of taking the medicine, and it changes nothing about what the drug can treat. All it changes is how fast and how hard the amphetamine hits. If you have been doing this, or you are frightened for someone who is, you are in the right place and you are not a lost cause. This is a recognized pattern of stimulant misuse, it is treatable, and people step away from it every day. A stimulant overdose is a heart-and-heat emergency, not slowed breathing. Call 911. Call or text 988 in a crisis. If someone may be overdosing after snorting Adderall, call 911 now. A stimulant overdose strains the heart, not the breathing, so it looks nothing like the slow, quiet breathing of an opioid overdose. What to do: Call 911 for chest pain, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, a seizure, confusion, or a body that is burning hot. These are the signs of a stimulant overdose, and it needs a hospital. Cool the body down while you wait by moving the person somewhere cool and putting cool water on the neck, armpits, and groin. Give Narcan and call 911 anyway. Narcan cannot reverse an amphetamine, but pills bought outside a pharmacy are often cut with fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that. If the comedown brings thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Snorting is misuse, not a faster dose. Adderall is meant to be swallowed, and crushing and snorting it is tampering; it is the most-reported prescription stimulant used this way. The faster route is the whole danger. The quicker a stimulant reaches the brain, the more powerfully it drives addiction, so snorting builds a grip that swallowing does not. It does not treat ADHD better. Snorting adds risk without adding benefit, and in people without ADHD prescription stimulants produce no real gain in focus or grades. Crushing an extended-release pill can dump a full day's dose at once, and nasal amphetamine misuse carries a higher risk of serious medical harm than swallowing. Getting help works, and it is behavioral. No medication treats stimulant addiction the way methadone treats opioids, but contingency management and counseling carry the strongest evidence. Snorting Is Misuse, Not a Way to Take the Medicine Adderall is designed to be swallowed, so the dose enters slowly and steadily through the gut. Crushing a tablet and snorting the powder is not a different dose of the same treatment. It is tampering with the medicine to change how it feels, which is the definition of misuse. Adderall Is the Most-Snorted Prescription Stimulant Among young adults who report snorting a prescription stimulant, Adderall is by far the drug named most often. People who use stimulants by a non-oral route also tend to say they do it to get high rather than to... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/study-drugs/ What Study Drugs Are Study drugs are prescription stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta, taken without a prescription to focus, cram, or push through an all-nighter. If you have ever swallowed a friend's Adderall before an exam and wondered whether that counts as a problem, that is a fair question with a real answer. Taking someone else's ADHD medicine to study is common, especially on college campuses, and it rarely feels like drug use. It is still a powerful, controlled amphetamine used outside medical supervision, and the reasons that matters are worth knowing before the next exam week. Worried your study-drug use has gotten away from you? Talk to a doctor before you stop. Call 988 if the crash brings thoughts of suicide. If someone has taken far more of a study drug than prescribed and has chest pain, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, or feels dangerously overheated, call 911. A stimulant overdose strains the heart and needs a hospital. What to do: Talk to a doctor before you stop a heavy habit. A dose review or a planned step-down is safer and far more comfortable than white-knuckling it alone. Find treatment that fits → If coming off a study drug brings a heavy crash with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time. That low lifts. Don't buy pills outside a pharmacy to keep going. Stimulants sold online or on campus are often counterfeit and can contain fentanyl or other, stronger drugs. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Study drugs are ADHD medicines, not a separate class. The common ones are Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta, prescription stimulants taken to study rather than to treat a diagnosis. They are Schedule II controlled substances, the tier reserved for medicines with real medical value and a high potential for dependence. The academic payoff is mostly perceived. In people without ADHD, placebo-controlled testing finds little real gain in thinking, and much of the boost tracks a placebo effect. Most study drugs come from friends and classmates with real prescriptions, not from dealers. Heavy use builds tolerance and dependence, and no medication treats stimulant addiction the way methadone treats opioids. The Drugs People Mean by Study Drugs The label covers a small, familiar set of ADHD medicines. Most fall into one of two chemical families, and both are strong central nervous system stimulants that raise dopamine and alertness. One family is the amphetamines, which include Adderall and Vyvanse. The other is methylphenidate, sold as Ritalin and Concerta. Every one of them is a Schedule II controlled substance. Study drug Active ingredient Drug family Adderall Mixed amphetamine salts Amphetamine Vyvanse Lisdexamfetamine Amphetamine Ritalin Methylphenidate Methylphenidate Concerta Methylphenidate (extended-release) Methylphenidate Whichever one a person swallows, what reaches the brain is a potent stimulant built to be taken under supervision, at a dose matched to a diagnosis. To see how one of the most common ones behaves in detail, read the profile of Adderall. Why Study Drugs Are... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-vs-ritalin/ How Adderall and Ritalin Compare Adderall and Ritalin are both prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD, but they come from two different drug classes rather than being two versions of the same medicine. Adderall is an amphetamine, while Ritalin is methylphenidate, and that chemical split shapes how each one works. If you landed here comparing two medicines a doctor mentioned, or weighing which one carries more risk of dependence, both questions are fair. The real answer to which is better is that it depends on the person, and that call belongs to your prescriber. Worried about your Adderall or Ritalin use? Talk to your prescriber before you stop. Call 988 if the crash brings thoughts of suicide. If someone has taken far more Adderall or Ritalin than prescribed and has chest pain, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, or is dangerously overheated, call 911. A stimulant overdose strains the heart and needs a hospital. What to do: Talk to your prescriber before you stop. A dose review or a planned step-down is safer and far more comfortable than stopping on your own. Find treatment that fits → If coming off either drug brings a heavy crash with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time. That low lifts. Don't buy either drug outside a pharmacy to fill a gap. Pills sold online or on the street are often counterfeit and can contain other, stronger drugs. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts They are different drug classes. Adderall is an amphetamine sold as mixed amphetamine salts, while Ritalin is methylphenidate, a separate stimulant chemical. Amphetamine and methylphenidate act differently. Adderall both triggers the release of dopamine and blocks its reuptake, while Ritalin mainly blocks reuptake. Both are Schedule II controlled substances. That tier is reserved for medicines with real value and a high potential for dependence. Both treat ADHD, and Ritalin is also approved for narcolepsy. Neither is safe because it is prescribed. Both build tolerance and dependence and are misused, and methylphenidate abuse and dependence are well documented. Two Different Stimulant Classes The single fact that explains the most is that these are two different kinds of stimulant. Adderall is amphetamine, sold as mixed amphetamine salts, while Ritalin is methylphenidate, a distinct stimulant chemical. Both raise dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain to sharpen focus, which is why their core effects and core risks overlap so heavily. The differences that matter are the route each drug takes to that shared endpoint, and how fast and how long each dose runs. The Side-by-Side Difference Here is how the two line up on the features people actually compare: Feature Adderall Ritalin Drug class Amphetamine (mixed amphetamine salts) Methylphenidate Main brain action Releases dopamine and blocks its reuptake Mainly blocks reuptake Formulations Immediate-release tablet and once-daily XR capsule Immediate-release tablet and long-acting forms such as Concerta Onset Fast; immediate-release starts working within about an hour Fast; immediate-release starts working within about an hour Duration About 4 to... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-10-06 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-withdrawal/ What Is Adderall Withdrawal? Adderall withdrawal is a group of symptoms that can develop after stopping or substantially reducing Adderall following prolonged use. Symptoms can include fatigue, depression, changes in sleep, increased appetite, and feeling slowed down or unusually restless. Withdrawal can happen even when someone has taken the medicine as prescribed. [1] Adderall contains amphetamine salts. It is a stimulant medicine, meaning it increases activity in parts of the brain and body. It is prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects attention, activity, and impulse control, and for narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness. [1][2] If you want to stop a prescription, start with the clinician who prescribes it. If you have already stopped and feel unwell, describe your symptoms and when they began. You do not need to decide whether this is withdrawal, a return of ADHD symptoms, or something else before asking for help. When to Get Help Right Away Severe depression and thoughts of suicide are important risks during stimulant withdrawal. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are thinking about suicide or need help with emotional distress. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency. [3][2] Chest pain, a seizure, dangerous overheating, collapse, or severe confusion also need emergency care. Do not assume these symptoms are a normal crash. Dangerous stimulant effects, another drug, or a separate medical problem may be involved. A person can have a stimulant overdose while still awake. [1][4] If someone cannot be awakened or is not breathing normally, call 911. Give naloxone if available and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose, including when an opioid is mixed with another drug. It does not reverse Adderall's stimulant effects. Stay with the person if it is safe. [5][4] AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Withdrawal does not by itself mean addiction. Physical dependence can develop during prescribed treatment. [1] Mood, energy, sleep, and appetite can change. Some people sleep more, while others have trouble sleeping. [1] There is no single Adderall withdrawal timetable. Much of the timeline evidence concerns prolonged or heavy use of stimulants, not people taking one prescribed medicine at a steady dose. [3] Safety matters. Worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, and symptoms from other substances need attention. [3] Care depends on your situation. A medication review, support through symptoms, treatment for a use disorder, and continued ADHD care serve different needs. [6][3] Withdrawal, Dependence, and Addiction Mean Different Things Physical dependence means the body has adapted to repeated exposure to a medicine or drug. Stopping or reducing it can then bring withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance means the same dose has less effect than it once did. Neither term, on its own, establishes addiction. [1] A symptom is not a confession. Telling your prescriber that you feel unwell helps them understand what is happening. You do not have to label yourself before that conversation. Addiction involves difficulty controlling use and continuing despite harm. For example, someone might repeatedly take extra pills... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/adderall-vs-vyvanse/ How Adderall and Vyvanse Compare Adderall and Vyvanse are both prescription amphetamines used to treat ADHD, so they are cousins in the same drug family rather than rivals from different worlds. What separates them is form and timing, not their basic chemistry. If you landed here comparing two medicines a doctor mentioned, or weighing which one carries more risk of dependence, both questions are fair. The real answer to which one is better is that it depends on the person, and that call belongs to your prescriber. Worried about your Adderall or Vyvanse use? Talk to your prescriber before you stop. Call 988 if the crash brings thoughts of suicide. If someone has taken far more Adderall or Vyvanse than prescribed and has chest pain, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, or is dangerously overheated, call 911. A stimulant overdose strains the heart and needs a hospital. What to do: Talk to your prescriber before you stop. A dose review or a planned step-down is safer and far more comfortable than stopping on your own. Find treatment that fits → If coming off either drug brings a heavy crash with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time. That low lifts. Don't buy either drug outside a pharmacy to fill a gap. Pills sold online or on the street are often counterfeit and can contain other, stronger drugs. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Both are amphetamines. Adderall is mixed amphetamine salts and Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine, a prodrug the body turns into dextroamphetamine, so both deliver amphetamine to the brain. The main difference is speed and length. Adderall's immediate-release form works fast and wears off in hours, while Vyvanse releases slowly for one long, once-daily stretch. Both are Schedule II controlled substances. That is the tier reserved for medicines with real value and a high potential for dependence. Vyvanse's prodrug design lowers abuse potential but does not remove it. Both drugs still build tolerance and dependence and are misused, most often by mouth. Only Vyvanse is approved for binge eating disorder; both are approved for ADHD. Both Are Amphetamines in Different Forms The single fact that explains the most is that both drugs are amphetamines. Adderall is mixed amphetamine salts, a blend of dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine, while Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine, an inactive molecule the body converts into pure dextroamphetamine. What reaches the brain is real amphetamine in both cases, so their core effects and core risks overlap heavily. The differences that matter are how fast the drug arrives and how long it stays, and those flow from the form each one takes. The Side-by-Side Difference Here is how the two line up on the features people actually compare: Feature Adderall Vyvanse Active ingredient Mixed amphetamine salts (dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine) Lisdexamfetamine, converted to dextroamphetamine Drug class Amphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant Amphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant Formulations Immediate-release tablet and once-daily XR capsule One once-daily capsule or chewable tablet Onset Fast; immediate-release begins... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/how-long-does-adderall-stay-in-your-system/ Adderall is a mix of amphetamine salts, and amphetamine is exactly what a drug test looks for. Its half-life runs roughly nine to fourteen hours, far longer than a stimulant like cocaine, so a single dose stays measurable for days rather than hours. For most people who take Adderall occasionally, that amphetamine shows up in urine for about two to four days. Heavy daily use or the extended-release form stretches the window longer, and it varies from one person and one lab to the next. If you are checking how long Adderall stays in your system because your use worries you, that worry is worth trusting. Prescription stimulant addiction is treatable, and you can find help today. Pills sold as Adderall outside a pharmacy are often counterfeit and can contain meth or fentanyl. Call 988 if you are in danger. If someone has taken a stimulant and has chest pain, a racing heart, a seizure, hot dry skin, or cannot be woken, act now. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. What to do: Call 911 first. Say where you are and what the person took. Most states protect people who call to save a life. Give Narcan (naloxone) if a counterfeit pill may be involved. Pills sold as Adderall are often pressed with methamphetamine or fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that opioid. It cannot harm someone who does not need it, so give it and repeat after 2 to 3 minutes with no response. For a stimulant emergency — chest pain, a seizure, hot skin, severe agitation — still call 911, move the person somewhere cool, and stay with them. When it is over, get help started. Find treatment that fits your life → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Adderall is amphetamine. It is a blend of amphetamine salts, roughly three parts dextroamphetamine to one part levoamphetamine, and standard tests screen for that amphetamine directly. It lingers for days, not hours. Amphetamine's half-life of about nine to fourteen hours keeps it measurable far longer than cocaine. Urine is the usual window. A single dose is typically detectable for about two to four days; heavy or extended-release use can push it past a week. Hair reaches back months. Because amphetamine locks into growing hair, a hair test can reflect use across roughly 90 days or longer. Only time clears it. No detox drink, water load, or flush hack removes amphetamine faster, and labs screen for diluted samples. Adderall Is Amphetamine and Tests Detect It Directly The fact that explains everything here is simple. Adderall is not broken down into some exotic marker a test hunts for, because Adderall is amphetamine. The active drug itself is what a screen measures, and that same drug lingers for days. What the Test Actually MeasuresCocaine tests chase an inactive leftover. An amphetamine test is simpler: the drug in Adderall is amphetamine, so the test detects the drug itself. That is why anyone taking Adderall will screen positive for amphetamines. Adderall's Half-Life Runs About... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-09-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/vyvanse/ Find a Way Forward With Vyvanse ConcernsIf Vyvanse use feels harder to control, your ADHD or binge eating treatment still matters. Care can address stimulant use and the condition being treated together. Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, which the body converts into an active stimulant; that process does not remove addiction risk. Start by explaining what has changed, including extra doses, appetite concerns, or difficulty cutting back. [2][1] Fast Facts About Vyvanse Vyvanse is a stimulant. The body converts lisdexamfetamine into dextroamphetamine. [1] A prodrug can still be addictive. Conversion in the body does not remove the risks of misuse, overdose, or addiction. [1] Vyvanse is not a weight-loss medicine. Its binge eating disorder indication does not make it appropriate for treating obesity. [1] Do not change the prescription yourself. Discuss extra doses, unwanted effects, or concerns about stopping with the prescriber. [3] How Vyvanse Works Vyvanse is a prodrug, meaning it is converted in the body into an active medicine. Lisdexamfetamine is converted mainly in the blood to dextroamphetamine and L-lysine. Dextroamphetamine produces the stimulant effects. This differs from a tablet that contains an already active drug released over time. [1] Conversion does not remove addiction risk Vyvanse's prodrug design does not make it non-addictive. Use the prescription and monitoring plan, not a claim that it is “abuse-proof,” to guide medication decisions. [1] The label carries a boxed warning about misuse, addiction, overdose, and death. These risks need discussion before treatment and reassessment during it. If you were told Vyvanse could not be misused, ask the prescriber to explain the actual benefits and risks for your situation. [1] Vyvanse for ADHD Vyvanse treats attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in adults and children age 6 and older. Treatment aims to improve symptoms and functioning. It may also include counseling and educational support. The medication should be part of a treatment plan, not a substitute for discussing sleep, school, work, or other needs. [3] Ask what changes you should look for and when the plan will be reviewed. “I can focus longer, but I am not sleeping” is useful feedback. So is “I am taking extra to get through deadlines. ” These concerns need different questions, and neither should be hidden to preserve access to care. Vyvanse for Binge Eating Disorder Vyvanse is also approved for moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. It is not approved for weight loss, and its safety and effectiveness for obesity have not been established. Appetite suppression is not a reason to use it outside the treatment plan. [1] Binge eating disorder and concerns about stimulant use both deserve attention. Tell the treating clinician if you are taking more to suppress appetite, changing doses because of body-image concerns, or using it differently from the plan. Ask how care for eating symptoms will continue if the medication changes. [1][2] If appetite or body-image concerns are driving extra prescription stimulant use, bring those concerns into the assessment alongside ADHD symptoms. Learning about eating disorders can help you describe what... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/prescription-stimulants/concerta/ What Concerta Is Concerta is a brand name for methylphenidate, the same stimulant found in Ritalin, packed into a once-daily tablet that releases the drug slowly across the day. It is a real, effective medicine for ADHD, prescribed to millions of children and adults. If you are here because your own Concerta use, or a child's or partner's, has started to feel like more than a prescription, that worry is worth taking seriously. Dependence on a stimulant is not a character flaw. It is a known effect of the drug, and it is treatable. Never stop Concerta on your own. Talk to your prescriber first. Call 988 if you are in crisis. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time. What to do: Talk to the prescriber before changing anything. Concerta is not dangerous to stop the way alcohol or benzodiazepines are, but a planned step-down keeps the crash and rebound manageable. Don't take extra doses to catch up or push through. Taking more than prescribed is the most common way stimulant use slips out of control. If someone took a large amount and has chest pain, a pounding heart, or is burning up, call 911. A stimulant overdose is a heart and heat emergency, not slowed breathing. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Concerta is long-acting methylphenidate, the same drug as Ritalin. Its osmotic shell releases the stimulant gradually for about 12 hours, so one morning dose covers the day. It is a Schedule II controlled substance. Methylphenidate sits in the same legal class as cocaine and oxycodone because it carries a high potential for dependence. Dependence can build even when you take it exactly as prescribed. Regular use produces tolerance, and stopping can bring a crash. The shell lowers misuse but does not stop it. The tablet resists crushing and rises slowly, yet people still misuse Concerta by mouth, most often by taking more than prescribed. The way out works. For stimulant addiction the strongest evidence is contingency management, a behavioral treatment, paired with a frank talk with the prescriber. Concerta Is Extended-Release Methylphenidate Concerta delivers methylphenidate through an OROS shell, the osmotic-release oral system. The rigid tablet draws in water and pushes the drug out through a laser-drilled opening, so the dose rises gradually instead of all at once. Blood levels climb slowly and peak around six to eight hours, giving roughly a full day of extended-release coverage from one morning dose. That smooth curve is the point, steady focus through school or work without a midday pill. The shell itself does not dissolve. It passes through and leaves the body largely intact, which is why the spent tablet sometimes appears whole in the stool. The Same Drug as Ritalin in a Longer Shell Concerta and Ritalin are the same active drug, methylphenidate, in two different delivery systems. Ritalin is immediate-release, so it works within the hour and fades in three to four hours,... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/chemsex/ What Chemsex Is If sex has started to feel like it needs a hit of Tina to work, or a weekend can vanish into one long session, that experience has a name. Chemsex is using drugs to start, intensify, and stretch out sex, and for many gay and bisexual men it has become woven into how they connect. The word covers something specific: using drugs to spark, boost, and prolong sex, most often among gay and bisexual men, or men who have sex with men. In the United States it often goes by party and play, or PnP. It is a behavior, not a verdict on anyone's character. Chemsex can turn into a GHB overdose fast. Call 911 if someone won't wake up. Text or call 988 in a crisis. If someone can't be woken, is barely breathing, or is having a seizure, call 911. A GHB or "G" overdose can look like deep sleep and then stop the breathing. What to do: Don't let anyone "sleep off" G alone. Lay them on their side, stay with them, and if they can't be roused, call 911 rather than waiting it out. Never redose G because it "hasn't kicked in. " The gap between a dose that feels good and one that stops breathing is small, and stacking doses is how it turns fatal. Treat a meth crisis as a heart-and-heat emergency. Chest pain, a body dangerously hot, or a seizure means call 911. Narcan won't reverse meth or GHB, but give it if any opioid might be in the mix. If you're thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Three drugs sit at the center. Chemsex most often runs on crystal meth (Tina), GHB/GBL, and mephedrone, used to enhance and prolong sex among men who have sex with men. It's a minority practice, not a rare one. Pooled across 238 studies, about a quarter of men who have sex with men report sexualized drug use, and roughly a fifth report chemsex specifically. Meth's pull is physical. It lowers inhibition and drives sex drive up, which is exactly what can make sober sex feel flat afterward. Injecting concentrates the danger. Hepatitis C was independently tied to slamsex, the injecting form of chemsex, in HIV-positive men. There is a real way out that fits this life. Contingency management reduces stimulant use, and peer-led, sex-positive programs reach needs other services miss. Chemsex Centers on Crystal Meth, GHB, and Mephedrone Across the research, three drugs show up again and again: crystal methamphetamine, GHB and its close cousin GBL, and mephedrone. Most men combine them, adding poppers, ketamine, cocaine, or erection pills, so chemsex is usually polydrug use rather than any single substance. Drug Also called What it does in a session Crystal methamphetamine Tina, T, crystal Strips inhibition, fuels energy and marathon sessions GHB / GBL G, gina, liquid ecstasy Euphoria and relaxation, with a narrow overdose margin Mephedrone meow meow, M-CAT, drone Stimulant... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/pregnancy/ What Meth Does in Pregnancy If you are pregnant and using meth, or you just found out you are pregnant, please take a breath. You are not a lost cause, and reading this is already a step toward protecting your baby. Meth carries real risks, but the picture is more hopeful than the fear suggests. Stimulants are now the second most widely used drugs in pregnancy in the United States, so if this is you, you are far from alone. The most protective thing you can do is get into care, and you can start today. If you are pregnant and using meth, getting into care is the most protective step you can take. Call or text 988 any time if you are in crisis. The single best thing you can do for your baby is get into prenatal care and addiction care as soon as possible. You do not have to be abstinent first. What to do: Call a prenatal provider or clinic and tell them the truth. Honest information lets them watch for the specific risks meth carries and protect your pregnancy. Ask for addiction help at the same visit. Treatment during pregnancy works, and stopping meth is not the medically dangerous withdrawal that stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines can be. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time, for free and confidential support. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Getting into care matters more than being perfect. Prenatal care lets a team watch for meth's real risks, and honest information protects your baby more than silence does. Meth does cross the placenta. It reaches your baby's bloodstream and brain, which is why using less, and stopping, genuinely helps. The biggest risks fall on the pregnancy itself, including growth restriction, low birth weight, preterm birth, and placental abruption. The "meth baby" is a myth. Long-term effects on children are far milder than the scare stories, and are shaped heavily by the home a child grows up in. Meth addiction is treated with behavioral care, not a detox medication, so there is no dangerous withdrawal to fear and the priority is getting into care fast. Being Pregnant and Using Meth Is Not a Lost Cause Shame keeps people away from the one thing that helps most, which is care. Whatever has happened so far, the pregnancy in front of you can still be protected, and every day you use less is a day that helps your baby. Meth use in pregnancy often travels with poverty, unstable housing, and other drug use, and those pressures are real. None of them make you a bad parent, and all of them are easier to face with a care team than alone. Why Getting Into Care Comes First With some drugs, stopping suddenly is the medical danger in itself. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can trigger seizures, so those drugs call for a supervised taper and cannot be stopped safely on your own. Meth withdrawal works differently, which... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/smoking-vs-snorting-meth/ What Changes When Meth Is Smoked or Snorted Smoking and snorting deliver the same drug through different doors. The route does not change what methamphetamine is, only how fast it reaches the brain, how hard it hits, how long it lasts, and which body parts absorb the damage on the way in. That difference is not a small one. The route of administration, the doorway a drug takes into the body, shapes how addictive the drug becomes, because the speed it reaches the brain is one of the strongest drivers of its pull. Smoking and injecting produce the fastest, most intense highs, snorting a slower and gentler climb, and swallowing the slowest of all. The risk of addiction and of serious harm tends to rise in that same order, from the slowest route to the fastest. AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Smoking meth is now the most common way people use it. Among U. S. treatment cases, about two-thirds smoke meth, roughly a quarter inject, and one in ten snorts it. Faster routes are more addictive. Smoking and injecting reach the brain almost instantly, and rapid-onset routes lead to faster addiction and more medical harm than slower ones. The body absorbs meth efficiently either way. Smoked and snorted meth are both well absorbed, and the drug's long half-life keeps it working for hours regardless of route. Each route scars a different spot. Smoking strains the lungs and blood vessels, snorting eats away at the nose and sinuses, and injecting damages veins, while the drug harms the heart and brain no matter what. No medication reverses meth addiction, but treatment works. There is no methadone for meth; the strongest evidence is for contingency management, a behavioral therapy that rewards drug-free tests. Smoking Meth Delivers the Fastest, Hardest Rush Smoking meth, often as crystal or ice, sends the drug into the lungs, where a vast surface area passes it almost instantly into the blood and up to the brain. The rush arrives within seconds, which is exactly what makes smoked meth so intensely reinforcing. The Fast Rush Feeds Fast RedosingThe quicker and sharper the high, the harder the crash that follows, and the sooner the craving to use again. Smoking's near-instant rush is short-lived, which pushes people into repeated hits and binges that deepen the grip fast. The same speed that makes the high intense also concentrates the strain on the body. Meth is a powerful stimulant that drives up heart rate and blood pressure and clamps down blood vessels through vasoconstriction, and every fast, high peak pushes the cardiovascular system harder. How Fast Smoking Reaches the Brain Inhaled meth behaves almost like an injection. Studies of people smoking meth measured very high absorption and a rapid rise in blood levels, so the drug reaches the brain in seconds rather than the minutes a snorted dose takes. What Smoking Does to the Lungs and Mouth The lungs and blood vessels pay a specific price for being the doorway. Inhaled meth is a recognized... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/overdose/ What a Meth Overdose Is A meth overdose is what happens when methamphetamine pushes the body's engine far past the red line and holds it there. The heart races, blood pressure climbs, and the body overheats, sometimes far enough to trigger a seizure, a stroke, or a heart attack. It can strike someone young and otherwise healthy. What sets meth apart is the clock. A cocaine overdose tends to hit fast and burn out within an hour or two, but methamphetamine stays active for many hours, so a meth overdose can run long and hot, with overheating and agitation stretching across a dangerous window. This is the opposite of an opioid overdose, which quietly slows the breathing until it stops. A stimulant overdose speeds everything up until something gives way, so it looks nothing like the sleepy picture most people expect. If you are reading this after your own use or beside someone you love, the danger is real, but it is not the end of the story. A meth overdose is survivable when people act fast, and the addiction underneath it is treatable. A meth overdose is a heart and heat emergency, not slowed breathing. Call 911 and cool the body. Call or text 988 in a crisis. If someone may be overdosing on meth, call 911 now. A meth overdose is a cardiovascular and heat emergency, so it looks nothing like the slow, quiet breathing of an opioid overdose. What to do: Call 911 for chest pain, a seizure, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, severe agitation, or a body that is burning hot. These are the signs of a meth overdose, and it needs a hospital. Cool the body down while you wait. Move the person into shade or air conditioning, take off extra clothing, and put cool water or ice on the neck, armpits, and groin. Overheating is what kills. Give Narcan and call 911 anyway. Narcan will not reverse meth itself, but today's meth is often cut with fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that. If you have it, use it. Keep them safe if they are agitated or paranoid. Lower your voice, give them room, do not argue or corner them, and clear away anything hard or sharp. If they are seizing, turn them onto their side. If you are thinking about suicide or in crisis, call or text 988 any time. Find treatment today → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts A meth overdose runs long and hot. Methamphetamine's effects last many hours, far longer than cocaine, so an overdose can simmer with overheating and agitation across a dangerous multi-hour window. It is a heart and heat emergency, not slowed breathing. Deaths from acute meth toxicity trace mostly to the cardiovascular system, the opposite of an opioid overdose. Meth is a leading cause of stroke in young adults, including bleeding in the brain, which can be fatal even at a young age. Narcan cannot reverse meth, but carry it anyway: the meth supply is increasingly cut with fentanyl,... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-10-09 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/cocaine/overdose/ Recognize an Overdose and Get Emergency Help Suspected overdose: call 911 now. Chest pain, a seizure, severe overheating, breathing trouble or loss of consciousness after cocaine use needs emergency help. Give naloxone if opioids could be involved. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions for breathing support or CPR and stay with the person if safe. [1][2] What Is a Cocaine Overdose? A cocaine overdose happens when cocaine causes effects severe enough to threaten a person’s health or life. It can involve the heart, brain, body temperature and mental state. Medical professionals may call this cocaine toxicity. It can happen after any route of use, and a person does not need to have cocaine use disorder to experience it. [1] Cocaine often causes a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, agitation and overheating. Opioids such as fentanyl often cause slowed breathing and unresponsiveness. These patterns help explain the drugs’ effects, but they are not a reliable way for a bystander to rule out an emergency. More than one substance may be involved. [1] Someone who used cocaine and becomes quiet, cannot wake up or is not breathing normally still needs immediate help. Do not wait for the person to look overheated or agitated. Naloxone can reverse an opioid component of an overdose, while medical care addresses cocaine’s effects. [1][2] Fast Facts About Cocaine Overdose Call 911 for suspected overdose. Chest pain, seizures, severe overheating or loss of consciousness need emergency assessment. [1] Naloxone treats opioid effects. Give it if opioids could be involved, while getting emergency help for cocaine toxicity. [1] There is no reliable safe dose. Potency, other substances and individual health can change the risk. [1] Signs of a Cocaine Overdose Call 911 for suspected overdose, especially with any of the following symptoms. You do not need to identify the drug or estimate the dose before seeking help. [1] What you notice Why it needs urgent attention Chest pain, pressure, a racing or irregular heartbeat Cocaine can cause a heart attack or dangerous heart rhythm. Severe overheating, confusion or extreme agitation Temperature and mental status changes can accompany serious toxicity. A seizure, collapse or loss of consciousness These can signal a life-threatening complication. Sudden severe headache, weakness on one side or difficulty speaking These may be signs of a stroke. Slow, irregular or absent breathing, or someone who cannot be awakened Opioids or other complications may be involved. Give naloxone if available and follow emergency instructions. These warning signs come from CDC overdose guidance and NIDA’s review of cocaine complications. Not every person will have every symptom, and absence of one sign does not establish safety. [1][3] Chest pain after cocaine use deserves an emergency assessment even in a young person without known heart disease. A bystander cannot distinguish a panic attack from a heart problem by appearance alone. Cocaine-related sudden death can occur with first use or after previous use without an obvious emergency. [3] What to Do While Waiting for Help Follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions and use these... - Published: 2026-07-01 - Modified: 2026-07-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/meth/how-long-meth-stays-in-your-system/ Meth does not clear the body quickly. Its half-life runs about 10 to 12 hours, many times longer than cocaine's, which is why a single use commonly shows up in urine for about two to four days rather than a few hours. The other reason meth lingers is what it becomes. As the liver breaks meth down, it forms amphetamine, an active stimulant of its own that clears even more slowly, and standard tests screen for both. If you are checking how long meth stays in your system because your use worries you, that worry is worth trusting. Meth addiction is treatable, and you can find help today. Street and counterfeit meth is increasingly cut with fentanyl you cannot see or taste. Call 988 if you are in danger. If someone has used meth and their breathing slows or stops, their lips turn blue, or you cannot wake them, act now. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time. What to do: Call 911 first. Say where you are and that someone is not breathing. Most states protect people who call to save a life. Give Narcan (naloxone) if it is nearby. A meth overdose is a heart-and-brain emergency Narcan cannot reverse, but meth is now often cut with fentanyl, and Narcan reverses that opioid. It cannot harm someone who does not need it, so give it and repeat after 2 to 3 minutes with no response. For a stimulant emergency — chest pain, a seizure, hot skin, severe agitation — still call 911, move the person somewhere cool, and stay with them. When it is over, get help started. Find treatment that fits your life → AddictionHelp. com Fast Facts Meth lingers far longer than cocaine. Its half-life is roughly 10 to 12 hours, against about an hour for cocaine, so it stays measurable much longer. Tests look for meth and amphetamine. The body turns meth into amphetamine, a second stimulant that lingers even longer, and standard tests screen for both. Urine is the usual window. A single use is typically detectable for about two to four days; heavy or repeated use can push it past a week. Hair reaches back months. Because meth locks into growing hair, a hair test can reflect use across roughly 90 days or longer. Only time clears meth. No detox drink, water load, or flush hack removes it faster, and labs screen for diluted samples. Meth Has a Long Half-Life and Turns Into Amphetamine The single fact behind everything here is that meth leaves slowly and leaves a trail. The drug itself takes far longer to clear than most stimulants, and the body converts part of every dose into a second drug that lingers longer still. Why Meth Outlasts CocaineCocaine's half-life is about an hour, so it clears in a day. Meth's is roughly 10 to 12 hours, so the same math stretches to days. That single difference is why meth stays detectable so much longer. Meth's Half-Life Runs About 10... ## Posts - Published: 2026-10-19 - Modified: 2026-10-19 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/introducing-copewell-app/ I've spent more than 21 years in recovery from drugs and alcohol, and one of the biggest revelations along the way was discovering that putting down the substances didn't necessarily mean I'd stopped looking for ways to escape myself. As it turns out, the human brain is remarkably creative at finding new ways to make a mess. For me, being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) helped explain a lot. Why my emotions could go from zero to the apocalypse in thirty seconds. Why I could invent entire storylines in my head, cast myself (and others) as the villain, and then spend hours reacting to a movie that nobody else was watching. And why, for so long, I reached for substances or other behaviors to quiet the noise, only to find myself feeling worse afterward. My diagnosis didn't excuse the damage I'd done, but it helped me understand it. And understanding gave me a chance to change, rebuild relationships, and start becoming someone I actually liked being. For the past five years, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been an enormous part of that journey. I genuinely believe it's helped save my life. A special thank-you to Eric Olin at DBT Orlando, whose guidance has helped me learn something that sounds painfully obvious but took me decades to figure out: Not every feeling needs a sequel. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop writing the next scene. DBT has taught me how to slow down, observe what's actually happening, and buy myself enough time to choose what happens next. And sometimes that means doing something as simple as playing a game. Which brings me to CopeWell. We've just launched CopeWell, a free iPhone app from AddictionHelp. com, with an Android version coming soon. It's part puzzle playground, part coping toolbox, and part escape hatch for those moments when your brain decides to declare a five-alarm emergency over something that might not even be happening. But it's not just about distraction. I wanted to create a little wormhole in time. A safe place to crawl into when the emotional storm hits and it feels like everything is about to be swept away. Somewhere you can observe, describe, participate, and immerse yourself in something simple but satisfying. Where you can untangle a puzzle instead of another imaginary catastrophe. Where you can move a few blocks around instead of moving heaven and earth to fix a feeling that might pass on its own. We built four games and a collection of practical coping tools to help people slow down, examine their thoughts, and find a little breathing room. And yes, I insisted it be beautiful. If we're going to build an escape hatch for the human mind, it should at least have decent lighting. We also did our homework. CopeWell isn't a clinically validated treatment or a replacement for professional help. But we drew on published research, lived experience, and professional perspectives to build something thoughtful. You can explore the research and... - Published: 2026-10-15 - Modified: 2026-10-15 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cvs-opioid-settlement/ CVS’s federal settlement requires prescription checks, oversight and complaint channels. For patients, the unresolved question is how those safeguards will work alongside access to appropriate medication. CVS has agreed to pay $315 million to resolve federal allegations that it unlawfully filled opioid and other controlled-substance prescriptions and sought payment for many of those prescriptions from Medicare and other federal health care programs. [1] The Justice Department announced the settlement on October 13, 2026. [1] Alongside the payment, an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration spells out how CVS must check prescriptions, investigate concerning prescribing patterns and handle complaints. [2] For someone who relies on a prescribed medicine, those requirements raise a practical question: what happens when a pharmacy identifies a concern, and how does the patient keep getting appropriate care while it is addressed? The agreement explains the checks CVS must maintain. It does not guarantee that an individual prescription will be filled, and it allows existing programs that already meet the requirements to stay in place. That makes the distinction between a legal obligation and a new experience at the pharmacy counter especially important. [2] Fast Facts About the CVS Opioid Settlement CVS denies the allegations. The settlement is not an admission of liability, and there has been no determination of liability. [1][2] Pharmacists must resolve identified warning signs before filling a controlled-substance prescription. The agreement describes several ways to investigate a concern, including reviewing records and speaking with the patient or prescriber when appropriate. [2] The agreement requires anonymous telephone and electronic complaint channels. Their stated purpose includes reporting suspected inappropriate dispensing, prescribing or diversion involving the agreement’s designated medicines, as well as policy violations. CVS identified its Ethics Line as the reporting channel in an October 15 response to AddictionHelp. [2][3] Not every requirement necessarily creates a new procedure. CVS can retain programs that already satisfy the agreement. Caremark specialty and mail-order pharmacies are outside this particular agreement’s scope. [2] What Did the Government Allege? The federal case concerned prescriptions the government alleged lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were invalid or were issued outside normal professional practice. The allegations included excessive quantities, early fills and prescriptions that pharmacists allegedly filled despite warning signs. The government also alleged that CVS sought payment for many invalid prescriptions from Medicare and other federal health care programs, violating the False Claims Act. [1] The Justice Department also alleged that corporate performance targets, compensation and staffing policies put profits ahead of patient safety. These remain allegations, and the settlement documents explicitly state that liability has not been determined. [1][2] In a company statement supplied to AddictionHelp, CVS said: “We strongly disagree with the claims made in this case, and our settlement with the DOJ admits no wrongdoing. ” The $315 million total covers two agreements, according to the Justice Department: one addressing Controlled Substances Act claims and another addressing False Claims Act claims. [1] The Controlled Substances Act agreement specifies a $126 million payment and includes the pharmacy requirements discussed here. [2]... - Published: 2026-10-15 - Modified: 2026-10-15 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cannabis-hospital-admissions-study/ The rate of hospital admissions with cannabis-related harm as the main diagnosis rose 49% over a decade in Victoria, Australia. The study’s lead author explains what the numbers count. Cannabis Hospital Admission Findings The rate of hospital admissions in which cannabis-related harm was the main diagnosis rose 49% over a decade in Victoria, Australia, according to a study published October 11 in Addiction. [1] The finding points to a growing burden on hospitals, especially involving mental health. The records cover July 2013 through June 2023, rather than a new surge measured in 2026. [1] Fast Facts About Cannabis Hospital Admissions The study covers hospital admissions in Victoria, Australia, from July 2013 through June 2023. [1] Researchers identified 39,565 admissions with any cannabis-related diagnosis, including 7,263 with cannabis-related harm as the principal diagnosis. [1] The Victoria study counts episodes of hospital care, and the same person could have more than one admission. [1] To understand that increase, it helps to ask two questions: What counted as a cannabis-related admission, and whose risk was measured? Lead author Myfanwy Graham, from the Monash Addiction Research Centre, explained those distinctions in written comments to addictionhelp. com. What Counted as Cannabis-Related Harm? In this study, cannabis-related harm meant a recorded diagnosis of cannabis poisoning or a mental or behavioral disorder related to cannabinoid use. That included psychotic disorders, harmful use, dependence, withdrawal and acute intoxication. It did not simply mean that someone had used cannabis. [1] Of the 39,565 admissions identified, 7,263 (18. 4%, or just under one in five) had cannabis-related harm as the main diagnosis. [1] In the remaining 32,302 admissions, a cannabis-related diagnosis was recorded alongside a different main diagnosis. [1] Where the cannabis-related diagnosis appeared39,565 hospital admissions in Victoria, July 2013–June 2023. [1] 18. 4% (7,263 admissions): Cannabis-related harm was the main diagnosis. [1] 32,302 admissions: A cannabis-related diagnosis was recorded alongside a different main diagnosis. [1] Both groups had a cannabis-related diagnosis. These percentages describe admissions, not individual risk. [1] This distinction does not divide the admissions into “harm” and “no harm. ” It tells us whether a cannabis-related condition was recorded as the main reason for hospital care. The percentage describes admission episodes in Victoria from July 2013 through June 2023, not the chance that a person who uses cannabis will be hospitalized. [1] What the 49% Increase Measures The researchers examined admission records from Victoria's public and private hospitals. A principal diagnosis is the main reason for admission. [1] “A cannabis-related principal diagnosis means a cannabis-related diagnosis was identified as the primary clinical reason for a patient’s hospital admission,” Graham said. The 49% figure compares the rate of those principal-diagnosis admissions in the final study year, 2022–2023, with the first, 2013–2014. [1] Researchers accounted for population size, age group and sex in that comparison. It describes a change in admissions relative to the population, rather than simply a larger raw total as Victoria grew. [1] A cannabis-related diagnosis elsewhere in the record means something different. The person was... - Published: 2026-10-13 - Modified: 2026-10-13 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/cannabis-sleep-study/ Researchers found a link between cannabis use and more disrupted sleep, even when people’s own sleep ratings didn’t reflect it. Does Cannabis Help You Sleep? If you rely on cannabis to fall asleep, two questions matter: Is it helping you sleep well, and is your use becoming hard to control? Using cannabis for sleep does not by itself mean addiction. Cannabis use disorder involves difficulty stopping even when use is causing health or social problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [1] A new study published October 9 in JAMA Network Open looks beyond how sleep feels. Among adults around age 61, cannabis use was associated with more disrupted sleep on wrist-worn monitors. The researchers did not find a corresponding association with how participants rated their own sleep. [2] Thanh-Huyen T. Vu, a research associate professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the study’s lead author, explained the distinction in written comments to addictionhelp. com. Vu wrote: “Objective sleep data comes from a device, such as the wrist-worn activity monitor used in our study. Subjective sleep data comes from participants' reports of their sleep, including how long they slept and how rested they felt; these self-reports reflect how people perceive their own sleep, which may differ from what the device measures. ” The finding raises a useful question for anyone relying on cannabis at bedtime: does “helping me sleep” mean falling asleep more easily, staying asleep, or feeling better the next day? Those are different outcomes. Fast Facts About This Cannabis and Sleep StudyThese distinctions help put the cannabis and sleep findings in context. The study examined sleep in older adults who had been followed over many years. [2] People reporting medical cannabis use were excluded. [2] Wrist-monitor findings and participants’ perceptions of sleep did not show the same pattern. [2] The findings show associations and do not establish cause and effect. [2] What the Cannabis Study Measured Researchers used CARDIA, a long-running US study that began following Black and White young adults in 1985 and 1986. By the time sleep was measured in 2020–2022, participants were around age 61. [2] The study was published this October, but its sleep observations are several years old. [2] Here is how the researchers looked at sleep: One week of wrist monitoring. For seven days, devices tracked total time asleep, how much of the sleep period was spent asleep, restlessness and time awake after first falling asleep. [2] Participants’ own accounts. Sleep questionnaires captured how people described their sleep. The device analysis included 891 people, the questionnaire analysis included 1,128, and 753 were in both. [2] These were overlapping groups, not identical samples. [2] Cannabis use over time. Researchers compared sleep with recent use and estimated total cannabis exposure across the years of follow-up. People reporting medical cannabis use were excluded. The device group’s average age was 60. 7. [2] More time asleep did not necessarily mean less interrupted sleep. People who reported cannabis use in the previous... - Published: 2026-10-13 - Modified: 2026-10-13 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/gallup-social-media-study/ Two people can spend the same hour online and have very different experiences. Gallup’s Julie Ray helps explain what a time total leaves out. How much social media is too much? Maybe you’ve checked your phone’s weekly report and wondered whether the total is something to worry about. A number would be convenient. It would tell you when to put the phone down and when you could stop feeling guilty about picking it up. Gallup’s new research might seem to offer one. People it categorized as “moderate” users—30 minutes to under two hours daily—had better wellbeing results on several measures. But Gallup cautions against turning that finding into a daily allowance. Julie Ray, Gallup’s managing editor for World News, addressed that temptation in written comments provided to addictionhelp. com through Gallup’s Justin McCarthy: “Readers should avoid drawing conclusions about social media addiction or recommended daily time limits from this analysis. ” What Gallup Found The 2026 report draws on surveys of people ages 15 and older in 97 countries. It compares self-reported social-media time with emotional experiences and ratings of how people feel their lives are going. It measures social-media use, not total screen time. [1] Gallup grouped people into no use or under 30 minutes daily, “moderate” use of 30 minutes to under two hours, and “high” use of two hours or more. [1] Ray explained why the favorable results for moderate users need care: “Although moderate use is associated with better wellbeing outcomes on several measures, that doesn't mean we've identified an ideal number of hours people should spend using social media each day. ” After adjustment for factors including age, income and social support, high users were two percentage points more likely than moderate users to report stress. Overall life evaluations did not differ significantly between those groups, although high users scored lower in high-income countries. [1] These comparisons cannot establish that social-media time caused the differences. The survey did not assess problematic use or what people did online. [1] In other words, this does not give someone who rarely uses social media a reason to start spending more time there. It also does not tell someone in the moderate group that their habits are working well for them. A category is useful for comparing people, but it cannot make that personal judgment. The Same Hour Can Hold Very Different Experiences Imagine two people who each spend an hour on social media. One catches up with friends, enjoys the conversation and puts the phone away. The other spends the hour returning to hostile comments, rereading them and wondering whether to respond. These are hypothetical examples, but the limitation is easy to see: the time total is identical. If all you knew was “one hour,” you would miss what either person came there for and what happened while they were online. As Ray put it: “Time spent doesn't tell us much about what people are doing online or whether their use is problematic. ” A small difference across... - Published: 2026-10-13 - Modified: 2026-10-14 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/sokolove-law-attorney-interview-social-media-addiction/ Social media platforms were built to be hard to quit. Sokolove Law attorney Ricky LeBlanc explains how social media addiction lawsuits work and who can file. Endless scrolling, autoplay, and a steady stream of likes and notifications keep millions of people coming back to social media platforms daily, with families claiming addiction to these platforms has contributed to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other serious harm. Those concerns have turned into thousands of lawsuits against social media companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap. The cases allege that the platforms were designed in ways that encourage compulsive use among children and teens. I sat down with Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law, to discuss the signs of social media addiction, who may be eligible to file a lawsuit, and recent results from the growing litigation. If you or someone you love developed a serious addiction to social media as a child and experienced harm as a result, you may have legal options. Learn more about the social media addiction lawsuit or reach out for a free case review. Fast Facts About Social Media Addiction Lawsuits Social media addiction lawsuits allege harmful platform design. Thousands of cases claim Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap built features that encourage compulsive use among children and teens. Social media addiction claims focus on people addicted as children. The person must have developed a serious addiction that caused real harm, such as anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder. Sokolove Law handles social media addiction cases on contingency. There are no upfront costs or hourly fees, and you owe nothing if there is no recovery. Q. Can you be addicted to social media? Ricky A. LeBlanc: Unfortunately, I see it all too frequently with my clients. People can develop patterns of compulsive or problematic social media use that interfere with their everyday lives. And when I say that, I don't just mean somebody spends a lot of time on their phone. It’s whether they feel unable to stop or cut back even when their use is causing problems with sleep, work, school, relationships, or other parts of their life. There is still some discussion around how social media addiction should be classified medically, but that doesn’t mean the behavior isn’t serious or disruptive. If someone has repeatedly tried to stop or cut back on social media use and can’t, despite the problems it’s causing, that can signal a much larger problem. Q. Why is social media addictive? Ricky A. LeBlanc: A big part of what's being claimed in social media litigation is that the platforms have been intentionally designed to keep people engaged. You have features like endless scrolling, autoplay, personalized recommendations, and notifications about likes or comments that can encourage users to keep coming back and spending more and more time on the platform. There's also a reward component, and that's really about how our brains respond to those things. You might check your phone and see something you like or find that somebody liked your post or sent you a message. That can feel rewarding, and it can make you want to check again. And the important part is that... - Published: 2026-07-29 - Modified: 2026-07-29 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/2025-nsduh-key-findings/ The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health is out: drinking and smoking declined, marijuana and vaping rose, and most people who needed treatment didn't get it. 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SAMHSA interviews tens of thousands of Americans aged 12 and older for it every year, and it's the source behind most addiction statistics you'll see cited anywhere. The 2025 results were published in July 2026[1]. I spent a full day in this report, and the new numbers resist a simple headline. Four findings organize everything else: Alcohol... - Published: 2026-06-09 - Modified: 2026-06-11 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/is-day-trading-gambling/ You meant to place two trades and placed twenty. For most people day trading is high-risk investing — but for some it crosses into gambling. Here's how to tell. You meant to place two trades and you placed twenty. You told yourself you'd stop once you won back the morning's loss, and now it's 2 a. m. and you're still staring at a chart. Somewhere in there, a question starts to nag: is this still investing, or am I just gambling? It's a fair question, and the answer matters more than it sounds. The short answer For most people, day trading is high-risk speculation, not gambling. But for some, it crosses a real line into a behavioral addiction: the same disorder clinicians treat at the casino, running on a brokerage screen. What decides which one you're doing isn't the stock or the app. It's the behavior. Bought and held for years, a share is an investment. Flipped over and over to chase a rush or win back a loss, the same share is a bet. A few tells that it's drifted toward gambling Chasing losses. Trading bigger or more often to win back what you lost. Traders have their own name for it: revenge trading. You can't stop. You've tried to cut back and it didn't hold. Preoccupation. Checking charts when you should be doing something else. Trading to escape. For the rush, or to numb stress, rather than to build wealth. You don't need all of them. Even a couple is worth taking seriously. The odds nobody wants to hear Here's what the "is it even worth it? " searches are really about. In the largest study of its kind (Chague, De-Losso & Giovannetti, 2019), researchers followed everyone who began day trading futures over three years. Among those who kept at it for more than 300 days, 97% lost money, and only about 1% ever turned a reliable profit. When the math is that lopsided and a person keeps going anyway, the activity has usually stopped being about the money. If this sounds like you You don't need to wait until it gets worse to do something about it. Day-trading addiction responds to the same help that works for gambling, and most people recover. Want the full picture? Our complete guide breaks down exactly when day trading crosses into gambling, what the research shows, and how to get your trading back under control. → Is Day Trading Gambling? The full guide · or start with the warning signs of trading addiction. If your trading feels out of control, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), any time, free and confidential. You can also find a counselor who treats behavioral addiction through our Trading Addiction section, and if you or someone you love is in danger or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. - Published: 2026-02-04 - Modified: 2026-02-04 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/dry-january/ What Happens After Dry January ends? Every year, people set aside January for a 31-day No-Alcohol challenge. The tradition started back in 2011, when a runner (shoutout to Emily Robinson at AlcoholChangeUK! ) decided to quit drinking to support her half-marathon training. And I guess you could say the idea caught on. For many people, the idea behind Dry January lines up really well with the season: It’s perfectly aligned with New Year's Day, so for people looking to start fresh, Dry January offers a great built-in health goal right away. It’s a good break from all that overindulgence; from Thanksgiving onward, we tend to find ourselves inundated with meals, parties, snacks, sweet treats, and boozy occasions. It’s nice to tackle a challenge when it’s part of a collective effort, so when the social vibe switches to talking about a break from drinking, you can’t help but bump into posts and ads about it without even trying. But then, what happens when the whole thing comes to an end? I guess that depends on what you learn during the process. For some, Dry January is a healthy reset and a good way to reexamine their relationship with alcohol. It may cause you to change your drinking habits, dialing back on those nighttime glasses of wine or “special occasion drinks” that tend to crop up, well, at every occasion. Or maybe, like Daniel Radcliffe or Tom Holland, you’ll really start to question whether drinking has become more harmful than harmless in your own life. And it may ultimately pave the way to a sober future beyond January 31st. So now that we’re here at the end of the month, a great first step is a little self-assessment. It doesn’t have to be formal. Simply looking back at the last 30-ish days and noticing how giving up drinking has affected you (physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) can shed some light on what you might like to do next. You may decide it was a nice break, and nothing changes. You may have some clarity on your old habits, and choose to dial things back a bit. After all, recovery isn’t only for people who’ve “hit rock bottom. ” For some of us (like my friend Madison, who shared her story on my podcast), drinking doesn’t ruin your life, but it does quietly get in the way of a better life. Dry January can highlight how much hangovers suck, how drinking interferes with our fitness goals, how much money disappears at bars, or how many adventures we end up enjoying without it. To those who decide to keep the “dry streak” going, congratulations! Choosing a longer sobriety journey can be exciting and intimidating all at once. Many people find that connecting with a sober community, whether that’s Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or something less formal, makes a big difference—especially if not drinking over the past month felt harder than you expected it to. In the end, Dry January doesn’t have to turn into... - Published: 2025-11-11 - Modified: 2025-12-31 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/veterans-day-2025/ On Veterans Day, our nation rightfully pauses to honor the service, sacrifice, and courage of those who have worn the uniform. This honor, however, must extend beyond ceremonies. It requires a commitment to understanding the unseen battles that continue long after active service ends. For many veterans, the most challenging part of their journey begins during the transition back to civilian life. This post isn't just about the challenges; it's a testament to the fact that recovery is the norm. We'll look at the hard truths of veteran mental health and substance use, deconstruct the barriers to care, and provide a clear, actionable plan to access help. For Immediate Crisis (24/7, Free, Confidential) Veterans Crisis Line This is the single most crucial resource. Responders are often veterans themselves. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits to use this service. Call: 988, then Press 1 Text: 838255 Chat online: VeteransCrisisLine. net A Surprising Truth: The Battle After the Battle is Not New It's a common misconception that the "invisible wound" of war is a modern problem, unique to today's service members. But the surprising truth is that this battle has always existed—only the names have changed. In the Civil War, veterans battled "Soldier's Heart" (symptoms of panic and anxiety) and "Opium Slavery," America's first opioid epidemic, fueled by battlefield medicine. In World War I, it was known as "Shell Shock," a condition that affected over 250,000 men, but was often dismissed by leadership as "cowardice. " In World War II, it was known as "Battle Fatigue. " Over 1. 3 million soldiers were treated for it, while many others self-medicated their hidden trauma with alcohol. The problem isn't new, only its visibility is. The formal diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 1980 was a critical victory for veterans, but it also accidentally created the myth that the problem had just begun. Understanding this shared history is a powerful tool to fight the stigma that still prevents many veterans from seeking help. To learn more, please read our complete guide: U. S. Veterans' Mental Health and Substance Use History Honoring Service with Truth: The Battle After the Battle Approximately 200,000 service members transition out of the military each year. They enter a civilian world that can feel profoundly alien, marked by a loss of the structure, identity, and camaraderie that defined their service. The difficulty of this transition is stark. Data reveal that more than 60% of post-9/11 veterans report difficulty adjusting to civilian life, a dramatic increase from the 25% of veterans from earlier eras. This "transition gap" isn't a personal failing; it's a systemic challenge. This "transition stress" is fertile ground for the behavioral and mental health challenges that follow. A landmark RAND Corporation study quantifies this strain: 44% of veterans report difficulty adjusting to civilian life. 48% experience strains in family life. 47% feel sudden outbursts of anger. These are the critical precursors to self-medication, substance use, and the onset of mental health disorders. The... - Published: 2025-08-27 - Modified: 2025-08-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/7-oh-kratom-risk/ What Is 7-OH? “Have you heard of 7-hydroxy? ” my colleague asked me. No, I said, Googling it immediately. I assumed it was the latest designer drug, something horrifying like tranq dope. I was wrong. But in some ways, it’s worse. What if there was a substance, legal in most of the U. S. , that some are calling "legal morphine" and "gas station heroin? " There is. It’s called kratom—a controversial plant with opioid-like effects. And one of its compounds, 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine), is far more potent and has even been synthesized and sold separately in concentrated products. In some cases, authorities have begun to question if these products represent a "fourth wave" in the opioid crisis. " Here’s what you need to know. Miracle or Mess-Maker? First of all, I have personal history with kratom. Kratom and I are not friends. True, not everyone has a terrible experience with it like I did—but there are also lots and lots of others who have had it as bad or even worse than I did. I understand why people are drawn to it. (I was too! ) The idea of an all-natural supplement that can relieve pain and improve your mood sounds fantastic. And it definitely worked well for me at first. I even met someone who had finally achieved sobriety and abstinence from heroin through kratom, when no other MATs could even provide that for them. (And that person remains sober to this day. ) However, for every success story like that, there are plenty of people who struggle with dependence, side effects, or flat-out bad experiences. That’s the part that doesn’t always make it into the “miracle plant” marketing. And that’s the most frustrating part of pro-kratom culture for me: the lack of honesty about the risks, downfalls, and side effects a person might have to deal with. Users like me are often sold this idea that they cannot possibly become dependent on it (which we now know is false). Even if you do your own research, there are a lot of conflicting opinions out there. It’s hard to know what’s truth versus bias; what’s a carefully-crafted argument using selective data, and what’s a broader take. Sure, it may have some benefits. But portraying kratom as almost flawless while dismissing the negatives as rare (or worse, blaming the user) is more than just misleading. At best, it’s irresponsible. At worst, it’s predatory. The 7-OH Effect And this is exactly where 7-OH comes in. All those mixed experiences with kratom trace back to this one compound. When you consume kratom, it goes through your liver just like anything else we eat or drink. In kratom’s case, it turns the active ingredient (Mitragynine) into 7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine). Think of your liver as a refinery. You put in the raw material (kratom's main ingredient, mitragynine), and the refinery processes it into a much more potent, concentrated fuel (7-OH). Selling synthesized 7-OH directly is like skipping the refinery entirely and pumping pure, high-octane jet... - Published: 2025-06-03 - Modified: 2025-06-06 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/dex-drug-supply-changed-not-ready/ There's a Wave Coming. No. It's Here. By Dr. Kent S. Hoffman, Co-Founder of AddictionHelp. com Just when we began to understand the damage caused by xylazine in the fentanyl supply, something worse has already arrived. It’s called medetomidine, or “Dex” on the street. And I’m here to say, plainly and urgently: this changes the game again. Dex is a potent, dangerous veterinary sedative that is not approved for human use. It’s structurally similar to Precedex, a drug we use in hospitals to sedate patients during intensive care or short procedures. Dex slows the heart, lowers blood pressure, and induces deep sedation. And now, it’s showing up with increasing frequency in the illicit fentanyl supply. According to a detailed report published by Lev Facher of STAT News on May 1, 2025, Dex has already surpassed xylazine in prevalence in Philadelphia, found in up to 80% of fentanyl samples. It has also been detected in Florida, but without better surveillance, we don’t know how far this is spreading. And that’s a big part of the problem. Naloxone Isn’t Enough Anymore Let me be clear: Naloxone (Narcan) will reverse the opioid in fentanyl—but not the sedation of Dex. Someone may receive naloxone and still remain unconscious. Their breathing may still be depressed. Their blood pressure may remain dangerously low. Their heart rate may not recover. These aren’t signs of Narcan failure. They’re symptoms of a non-opioid sedative doing what it’s built to do—except now it’s in the hands of street chemists. As a physician, this is terrifying. As someone who’s spent his life treating people with opioid use disorder, I know how easily this could be misunderstood by both clinicians and families. A Second Withdrawal—One We’re Not Ready For There’s something else we need to talk about: Dex causes its own withdrawal. Patients who have unknowingly been using Dex-laced fentanyl aren’t just opioid-dependent anymore. They are now also dependent on a potent sedative. When they try to stop, they may not just experience typical opioid withdrawal. They may also develop rebound hypertension, severe agitation, and cardiovascular stress, effects that are essentially the reverse of what Dex does during intoxication. This is uncharted territory for many Suboxone providers and outpatient programs, who are trained to treat opioid withdrawal but not withdrawal from alpha-2 adrenergic sedatives. That knowledge gap could create real suffering and increase the risk of relapse. So What Do We Do? Carefully, and With Data Let me be cautious here. While theoretical options are being discussed—like clonidine or even tapers using related sedatives such as Precedex or the veterinary reversal agent atipamezole—we do not yet have clinical research or clear guidance on how to treat Dex withdrawal in humans. We need to study this urgently and not jump to conclusions. Until then, we must tread carefully. New Tools Are Emerging—and We Need to Use Them One bright spot: point-of-care test strips for Dex already exist. Clinicians can use them alongside fentanyl test results to better understand what substances patients have been... - Published: 2025-04-25 - Modified: 2025-04-26 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/stop-telling-me-how-to-talk-about-my-recovery/ "Chris! STOP Saying You're a 'Recovering Addict! '" I keep seeing it on social media: people — and let’s be honest, most of them aren’t in recovery — demanding we change our language. They say things like: “You’re more than an addict. ” “You shouldn’t say ‘recovering addict. ’” “You’re recovered. ” “Don’t say ‘clean. ’ That’s a harmful word. ” But here’s the thing — I’m not recovered. I’m not fixed. I’m recovering. After 20 years of sobriety, that’s still the most honest word I can use. And you know what? I’m proud of that. The Words I Use Are for Me — Not You There’s a growing trend to sanitize recovery language, to make it more palatable or politically correct. And I understand the motivation — no one wants people to feel stigmatized. But we’ve crossed a line when people outside this life start telling those of us inside it how we’re “allowed” to speak about our own experiences. I say “recovering addict” because: I know I’m an addict. I say it to myself every day. I’m 'recovering' because this is a lifelong process. It doesn’t end. This Isn’t Just Semantics — It’s Identity That Keeps Me Alert When I say I’m an addict, it’s not shame — it’s clarity. It’s humility. It’s a compass. I’ve never once said, “Hi, I’m Chris and I’m an addict,” and felt weaker because of it. If anything, it grounds me. It reminds me of where I’ve been and what I need to keep doing. And here’s the part people don’t get: you can be proud of something and still know it’s messy. I’m proud of my recovery, and that doesn’t mean I’m some spiritual superhero. I’ve got character defects, trauma, and compulsions I still work through. Addiction isn’t just about substances — it’s about behaviors, wiring, patterns. It shows up everywhere. Stop Policing a Community You’re Not Part Of Let’s call this what it is: people outside the recovery community trying to clean us up so we’re more digestible to them. You don’t like the word “clean”? That’s fine — don’t use it. But don’t tell me I can’t. When I say “clean,” I’m describing a break — a line in the sand between chaos and clarity. It’s a word that matters to me. When you say “you’re more than just an addict,” I know that. I’m a husband, a dad, a business owner, a man of faith, and a mentor. But when I’m sharing in a recovery space, I’m not there to list my resume. I’m there to connect with other people who speak my language. I don’t want our community gentrified for outside comfort. I don’t want the tribal fire of our recovery stolen because someone with a clipboard decided the terminology was “dated. ” Recovery Isn’t a Rebranding Campaign Let me be clear: I’m all for inclusive spaces. I love that we now have options like Smart Recovery and Dharma Recovery for people who need a non-religious or... - Published: 2025-04-14 - Modified: 2026-02-24 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/finding-addiction-treatment/ By Michael Moesch, Co-Founder of AddictionHelp. com Each year, millions of people seek addiction treatment in the U. S. Yet, far too many still struggle to access care that truly meets their needs and leads to lasting recovery. This gap isn’t about a lack of motivation or effort. It’s caused by a confusing, often misleading, and rarely transparent treatment system. For individuals and families already in crisis, some of these obstacles can be the very reason they don’t get help. At AddictionHelp. com, we believe finding care should be simple, supportive, and trustworthy. Based on what I’ve seen and experienced, these are the biggest barriers standing between people and treatment - and what we’re doing to change that. Challenges in Finding the Right Treatment 1. Information Overload and Misinformation Most people searching for treatment aren’t clinicians - they’re parents, spouses, or individuals in crisis typing phrases like "alcohol rehab," "inpatient drug rehab," or "rehab near me. " However, instead of easy-to-understand, actionable results, they’re hit with a wall of confusing options: Buzzwords and marketing copy that all sound the same Limited or vague information about what treatment involves No way to compare programs based on effectiveness, fit, or transparency Little guidance on how to know what level of care is actually needed It’s not just overwhelming; it’s discouraging. 2. Unclear Insurance Coverage Even when treatment centers list the insurance plans they accept, it’s rarely clear what’s actually covered and how much the patient will have to pay. This confusion leaves folks stuck in the middle: Not knowing if their plan covers detox, inpatient, or outpatient care Struggling to get honest answers about what's medically necessary vs. what’s billable Questioning whether decisions are being made based on care - or on what insurance is willing to reimburse In these moments of crisis, no one should have to become an expert in benefits verification to get help. 3. Limited Access to the Right Level of Care Finding treatment nearby (or not if you so desire) is only one part of the equation. Matching someone with the right type of care is equally, if not more, important. Without proper guidance, people often end up in programs that don’t match the unique specifics or severity of their addiction. Some may start an outpatient program when they really need medical detox or inpatient care. Others may get placed in programs that are too restrictive, causing frustration and early dropout, leading to relapse and a lack of trust to try again. These mismatches don’t just delay recovery - they can cost lives. When someone is ready to get help, the care they receive should fit their clinical needs, not just match their ZIP code or be what a random call center happens to offer. “It Makes Me Sick”. Many treatment companies employ large call centers using telemarketers' strategies and tactics. When making the most critical decision of your life, you deserve better than speaking with a salesperson reading off a script, incentivized by bonuses tied to... - Published: 2025-02-08 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/the-cop-who-saw-through-me/ 20 Years Ago Today, A Police Officer Saw Something In Me I Couldn’t See In Myself. If he had looked the other way, I’d be dead. I didn’t know it at the time. I wasn’t thinking about life or death—I was thinking about my next delivery. A Midnight Mission - 2/8/2005 My internet was down, and that wasn’t an inconvenience—it was a crisis. When you’re running a multi-state online drug operation, losing connection means losing control. I had dozens of doctors and dozens of pharmacies—none of them knew the others existed. I impersonated people I loved—anything to get my fix. That night, I was tracking big shipments, waiting on my next drops. I was on the verge of leveling up the game—finding compounding pharmacies that could prescribe pure hydrocodone and oxycodone, free from the acetaminophen that wrecks your liver. I was innovating the dope game. And I was slowly dying. A Bad Omen My apartment WiFi was dead. I needed a connection now. So I grabbed my keys, my pills, and my desperation, jumped in my Toyota Corolla, and drove to Kinkos. I parked crooked, nose in the bushes—a subtle attempt to avoid attention. Before getting out, I poured a dozen pills into my mouth. Dry-swallowed. Took another handful, just in case. I’d been drinking the night before, but that had surely worn off by now. I needed something to drink. Found a half-empty can of grapefruit juice in the backseat. Drained it. Grapefruit juice intensifies opioids, but I wasn’t thinking about that. I walked inside and logged into the overpriced Kinko internet terminal. I pulled out my credit card. Started hunting. New suppliers. New prescriptions. Bigger shipments. Then... blackness. The Moment Everything Changed I blinked. The screen had jumped from 10 minutes to 160 minutes. I wasn’t in my chair anymore. It was flipped on its side. I was on my knees. People were staring. The sun was rising outside. Someone was saying, “Sir? Sir? ” but their voice sounded far away. I tried to laugh it off, but my mouth didn’t work right. I felt the eyes on me, and I saw the cameras. I needed to leave. Ejected my card. Stumbled toward the door. I stepped outside, and the world started spinning. And then... I heard it. The unmistakable sound of a police car door shutting. The Cop with Kind Eyes I had always avoided cops. But this one was walking toward me. Buzzed head. Kind eyes. “Are you alright? ” I nodded, playing the role. “Haven’t been feeling good. ” “Sit down, take a breath. ” I sat on the curb. I could feel the act coming together—be polite, be relatable, crack a joke if needed. Cops just wanna know you’re not about to do something stupid. “Have you had anything to drink? ” I knew it had been hours since I downed those mini bottles, so I played the angle. “I don’t drink. My dad’s an alcoholic. ” He smiled. “That’s a good reason not... - Published: 2025-02-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/unexpectedly/ Twenty Years Ago, I Was Preparing to Die. Unexpectedly. Twenty years ago today, I was preparing to die. And I didn’t even realize it. Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty years ago, I was making dangerous decisions that were certain to leave my family without their son. To break the hearts of many. To become another obituary that read "died unexpectedly. " I was severely addicted to hydrocodone, taking upwards of 60 pills a day and washing it down with 5-10 Valium and alcohol. You don’t need to be a doctor to know that’s a deadly mix. But to me, that day was like any other. I pushed through, drank through the night, and wound up at a Kinko’s at 3 AM—like that was normal. By morning, I was on the edge of death. Fighting for my life. Fighting for my sanity. Forced to face who I had become. A liar. A manipulator. A full-blown addict and alcoholic. The 'Unexpectedly' Generation If you grew up between 2000 and 2025, you’re part of what I call the "Unexpectedly" Generation. The generation whose deaths are most often described as "unexpected. " It started with prescription opioid overdoses. Then heroin took over. Then fentanyl became the killer of choice. At the same time, we poured billions into mental health awareness. We talked about it more than ever. And yet, despite all the education and endless awareness campaigns... We’re still losing. Because the harvest from these efforts has failed. The Truth About 'Dying Unexpectedly' The truth? My near-death wasn’t unexpected at all. The warning signs were everywhere—so obvious they could have attracted buzzards. The only person surprised by my "unexpected" demise? Me. Because that’s the thing about addiction. We tell ourselves so many lies that we start to believe them. We get so good at deceiving others that we seduce ourselves into thinking we're in control. "I know what I’m doing. I can’t die. " But that’s the thing about dying unexpectedly. You never see it coming. What I See Now—And What Needs to Change Twenty years later, I look back with gratitude, humility, shock, and horror. Because despite all the awareness, despite all the "progress," despite all the societal band-aids meant to pacify everyone except those actually suffering... Suicide and overdose deaths are at an all-time high. And I’ll prove it in my next post. This Is Why I Founded AddictionHelp. com I built AddictionHelp. com to stop people from becoming just another "unexpectedly" statistic. If you care about saving a life—yours or someone else's—stick with me. I'll show you how. Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride. At least now, you’ll know what to expect. - Published: 2025-01-23 - Modified: 2025-01-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/teen-social-media-phone-aggression/ The Youth Mind Crisis The connection between social media, phone addiction, and the mental health of today’s youth has taken center stage in alarming new research. A recent report from Sapien Labs' Global Mind Project, funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, highlights a stark reality: younger generations are facing unprecedented mental health challenges, with rising rates of aggression, anger, and feelings of detachment from reality. This comprehensive study of over 10,000 adolescents in the United States and India provides critical insights into the effects of early smartphone use and the digital world on teen mental health. The findings demand our attention—and action. Alarming Trends Among Adolescents According to the study, the mental health of 13–17-year-olds continues to decline compared to older age groups, with younger adolescents (ages 13 and 14) experiencing the sharpest drop. Key findings include: 65% of teenage girls and 48% of boys report mental health struggles that significantly impair their daily functioning. Problems like anger, aggression, and hallucinations are increasing rapidly, particularly in younger teens. Early smartphone ownership is strongly associated with these struggles, with children who receive a smartphone before age 10 faring worse in nearly every category. These trends underscore the damaging effects of phone addiction and unfiltered exposure to the virtual world during critical developmental years. The Smartphone Effect: How Early Access Harms Mental Health The average 13-year-old in the U. S. now receives their first smartphone at just 10 years old. While this might seem harmless, the study reveals troubling correlations: Aggression and Anger: Adolescents who own a smartphone from a younger age are more likely to experience heightened aggression and irritability, disrupting their ability to navigate social relationships. Disconnection and Hallucinations: Many teens report feelings of detachment from reality, a concerning trend linked to excessive screen time and a lack of real-world social interaction. Sleep Disruption: Phone use often interferes with sleep—a critical factor for emotional regulation. Poor sleep habits are directly tied to increased aggression, anxiety, and sadness. Social Media Pressures: Early access to platforms like Instagram and Snapchat exposes teens to unrealistic beauty standards, bullying, and cyber harassment, amplifying feelings of inadequacy and anger. The cumulative effect of these factors is a generation of youth who are more vulnerable to mental health issues than ever before. Social Media Addiction and Its Role Social media addiction is a growing concern among adolescents, particularly in tandem with smartphone use. Platforms are designed to capture attention and encourage compulsive use, leading to: Chronic distraction and reduced focus. Heightened anxiety about social validation (e. g. , likes and comments). Depression and isolation stemming from unrealistic comparisons to peers and influencers. The addictive nature of social media reinforces cycles of negative emotions, making it harder for teens to disengage or develop healthier coping mechanisms. What Can Be Done? The report makes a compelling case for delaying smartphone ownership until at least 8th grade (age 13). This aligns with grassroots campaigns like Wait Until 8th, encouraging parents to delay providing smartphones to younger children. Other recommendations... - Published: 2024-10-19 - Modified: 2024-10-19 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/glp-1-drugs-addiction-recovery/ Has Addiction Met It's Match? ! It’s been a wild few months for me, and not just because of my usual chaos of growing AddictionHelp. com, which is now reaching hundreds of thousands of people every month, and for that, I am SO grateful (as is our entire team). This is in addition to other crazy things going on, such as me getting sinus surgery (without any pain meds), a hurricane hitting, and watching my New York Jets take a beating. I plan to update you all on it via a new video series soon! Another issue I've faced in this battle with addiction has been related to my weight gain over the years. It's been HARD, but I’ve been on this journey with GLP-1 drugs, which were prescribed to help with weight loss. What I didn’t expect was that they’d spark something much bigger—a shift in how I view cravings, habits, and even addiction. What's even cooler is that I sensed this would be a breakthrough LONG BEFORE any clinical research was published, but now it has. Before you roll your eyes at yet another “weight loss” story, hear me out. This one’s different. I’m talking about something that might just change the game for people battling addiction—yes, addiction to substances like alcohol or opioids. Crazy, right? But hang in there, because I’m about to dive into why these drugs, designed for managing diabetes, might just be the breakthrough we didn’t know we were looking for. So, What Exactly Are GLP-1 Drugs? Alright, let’s break this down in simple terms. GLP-1 drugs are a class of medications that mimic a hormone in your body that controls blood sugar and hunger. Originally designed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs help people keep their blood sugar in check. As a nice bonus, they also suppress appetite, making them effective for weight loss. You’ve probably heard of some of these—Semaglutide, Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Trulicity—they’re kind of all over the place right now. People are dropping pounds left and right. But here’s the thing: these drugs don’t just stop at curbing hunger. They mess with your brain’s reward system. And if you know anything about addiction, you know that’s where the real battle is fought. Addiction and the Brain: The Sneaky Connection If you’ve ever struggled with addiction—or watched someone you love go through it—you know that it hijacks your brain’s reward system. The same part of your brain lights up when you eat something delicious or experience something pleasurable. With addiction, though, this system gets rewired, and suddenly, substances like alcohol or drugs become the only thing that can trigger that hit of satisfaction. Here’s where GLP-1 drugs start getting interesting. They don’t just suppress appetite; they send signals to your brain’s reward center that make you feel satisfied and “done” after eating. What researchers are now wondering is: could these same signals be used to dial down cravings for drugs or alcohol? That question got me excited. I’m no stranger to... - Published: 2024-09-20 - Modified: 2024-09-27 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/national-recovery-month-2024/ National Recovery Month 2024 September 2024 is National Recovery Month in the United States, a time to focus on raising awareness about addiction, including substance use disorders and mental health disorders. As we consider what's going on this month, it also serves as an important reminder about why recovery services are so important and why people need ongoing recovery support services, whether through ongoing treatment via outpatient care or through therapy, which is very common. This month connects communities, healthcare providers, and those in recovery, showing that treatment can work and recovery is possible. It is a month of education, hope, and empowerment for all those affected by addiction. What is National Recovery Month? National Recovery Month is founded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is observed each September. It promotes evidence-based treatment options and recovery practices for people seeking recovery who have battled substance use, mental health disorders, and behavioral health. Supporting public dialogue about these issues during National Recovery Month can reduce stigma, educate the public, and celebrate the growth and progress of those in recovery today. This observance is essential in raising awareness about how substance use and mental illness can impact families, individuals, and communities at large. It also highlights the critical role of treatment and recovery services. It reminds us of the resilience and strength of those battling addiction. This acknowledgment counters a commonly held belief that addicts are weak or inferior. Why Do We Need National Recovery Month? SAMHSAs own material points out five reasons we need to observe National Recovery Month to promote addiction recovery. Recovery is Becoming Prevalent: In 2021, 70 million adults in the U. S. reported having had a substance use or mental health problem at some point, and 72. 1% of them (about 50. 2 million) considered themselves to be in recovery. Substance Use Recovery: Of the 29 million adults who perceived they had a substance use problem, 72. 2% (or 20. 9 million) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered. Mental Health Recovery: Among the 58. 7 million adults who believed they had a mental health problem, 66. 5% (or 38. 8 million) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered. Impact of COVID-19 on Recovery: Adults who reported that COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health or substance use were less likely to be in recovery. Those who believed the pandemic worsened their substance use or mental health saw a decrease in their recovery success. Access to Treatment Affects Recovery: Adults who received treatment for substance use or mental health issues in the past year were significantly more likely to report being in recovery compared to those who did not receive treatment. The Dangerous Rise of Opioids The rise of opioid use disorder, particularly driven by the increased prevalence of fentanyl, has created a public health crisis of staggering proportions. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than... - Published: 2024-05-15 - Modified: 2026-02-24 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-mental-health-connection/ Addiction and Mental Health: The Co-Occurring Issues May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about mental health, challenge the stigma associated with mental illness, and highlight the importance of quality mental health care. This observance is crucial for promoting education, supporting, and advocating for policy changes to improve mental health services. This year, AddictionHelp. com is focusing on the convergence of addiction and mental health, co-occurring disorders, and why access to quality mental health care is one of the top ways to achieve sustained and long-term sobriety. Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, refer to the simultaneous presence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in an individual. These conditions often interact in ways that exacerbate both, making diagnosis and treatment particularly challenging. For instance, individuals struggling with anxiety or depression might turn to substances like alcohol or drugs as a form of self-medication. Conversely, substance abuse can lead to the development of mental health disorders due to the brain's chemical imbalances caused by the addictive substances. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that roughly half of those who experience a mental illness will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa. Common Misconceptions About Mental Health and Addiction One of the biggest barriers to treatment for both mental health and addiction issues is the pervasive stigma and misconceptions surrounding these conditions. Many people wrongly believe that mental illness and addiction are signs of personal weakness or moral failings. However, both are medical conditions that require professional treatment and support. Chris Carberg, founder of AddictionHelp. com, emphasizes, “Mental health and addiction are complex issues that intertwine in unique ways for each individual. Overcoming these challenges is not about willpower alone; it’s about receiving the right support and care. ” The Importance of Quality Mental Health Care Quality mental health care is critical for several reasons: Integrated Treatment Approaches: Effective treatment for co-occurring disorders requires an integrated approach that addresses both the mental health and substance use components simultaneously. This holistic treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals battling these dual challenges. Reducing Relapse Rates: Access to quality mental health care helps in reducing the risk of relapse. When underlying mental health issues are left untreated, individuals are more likely to relapse into substance abuse as a way to cope with their symptoms. Proper mental health care provides individuals with healthier coping mechanisms and support. Improving Overall Well-being: Quality mental health care improves overall well-being, leading to better physical health, improved relationships, and increased productivity. Addressing mental health issues enhances an individual’s ability to function effectively in daily life and contributes to long-term sobriety. Carberg emphasizes this point, stating, "The Journal of the American Medical Association has shared data showing that mental illness affects around 45% of people with substance use disorders (alcohol and drugs). They have also outlined that 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance use disorders. As the founder... - Published: 2024-02-10 - Modified: 2024-02-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/chris-carberg-19-years-sober/ 19 Years Sober. What a ride. As the founder of AddictionHelp. com, I wanted to share my feelings on this special day. I have never regretted my sobriety, even as I've walked through moments that some would describe as "excuses to get drunk/high. " Some were just incredible, others incredibly painful, yet the world would have told me I needed something to take or drink to "enjoy" or "forget" them. Facing the shame and horror of the lies, broken relationships, and the remains of my actions due to my addiction. Rebuilding relationships and witnessing tremendous and selfless love from family and friends. Going back to college sober and having a prolific year culminating in a produced play kickstarting my career. Meeting my bride, the love of my life, and choosing to stay in Orlando and build something together here. Getting married while in the middle of filming a movie and having my first "real" job. Jumping headfirst into excitedly building a new career in tech and media because I loved the web so much and launching my first startup company. Witnessing the "failure of that first company" and subsequent un-or-underemployment that spanned being hired, fired, laid off, or simply witnessing companies collapse (At least 6 of them in little more than 2 1/2 years). Having a wife who worked so hard, providing for our family while I "figured it out" and who, in the midst of my sojourning, never stopped believing in me, telling me that "I know who Chris Carberg is, I know who I married, and I KNOW you are going to break through. " Reaching a breaking point of deciding that God must want me to go back to acting or writing because I can't do it. Getting that dream job opportunity at the peak of my sorrows, minutes away from throwing in the towel, working diligently, growing it successfully, and building new brands. Experiencing a traumatic miscarriage and walking with my wife through years of hopeless infertility. Finding a beautiful new church home and something of a community to be a part of. Leaving a company I helped build and loved, abandoning one particular product that was my brainchild, my baby, all because I couldn't put up with the darkness surrounding me there anymore. Having my first child, a beautiful daughter, but temporarily losing my wife to intense mental illness in the form of nine long months of postpartum depression. Launching PostpartumDepression. org to help cope with the extreme pain and to witness it explode into a wellspring of hope for the nearly a million visitors since. Becoming a caregiver for my father as he faced a painful cancer journey, and I was in the role of the advocate for my mom and dad. Buying and completely renovating a home, moving in March 2020 as the world changed in the face of Covid-19. Welcoming my amazing son into the world while the rest was locked down. Returning to my passion, seeing lives saved and hope restored... - Published: 2023-12-24 - Modified: 2024-03-13 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/sober-holiday/ As someone who’s navigated the challenges of sobriety for many years, I understand the complexities that the holiday season can bring. In our recent episode of the Addiction Help Podcast, we explored several strategies for staying sober during these times. Let's delve deeper into these strategies and share insights from my journey and our podcast discussions. Understanding the Holiday Sobriety Challenge Holidays bring a mix of joy and stress, often intensified for those in recovery. The prevalence of alcohol in festivities can be a trigger for many. Our podcast highlighted a startling statistic: 50% of people find alcohol a significant part of their holiday gatherings. Holiday Season Addiction & Mental Health Statistics The Surprising Reality of Holiday Substance Use: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that people drink 33% more alcohol between Thanksgiving and New Year's compared to other times of the year. This spike in substance use can pose a significant challenge for individuals in recovery. Mental Health Strains During the Holidays: A startling 64% of people with mental illness find their conditions worsen during the holidays, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Increased Risk of Emergency Room Visits: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes a 50% increase in alcohol-related ER visits during Christmas and New Year’s. Combatting the Holiday Blues: With about 10% of the U. S. population experiencing "holiday blues," as per Mental Health America, it's important to recognize and address these feelings. Navigating Relapse Risks: The holiday season sees higher relapse rates, as highlighted by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Prescription Medication Uptick: The American Psychological Association points out an increase in the use of prescription medications like anti-anxiety drugs during the holidays. Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD affects about 5% of adults in the U. S. , with symptoms peaking during fall and winter, according to the American Psychiatric Association. This underlines the importance of having a plan to maintain sobriety. Detailed Strategies for Staying Sober During The Holidays Develop an "Escape" Plan Why It's Important: Being in an environment where alcohol is present can be challenging. Having an escape plan gives you control over your situation. How to Implement: Drive yourself to events to leave at your discretion. Identify someone you can call if you need support or a reason to step out. Remember, there’s no shame in leaving early if it means protecting your sobriety. Create New Sober Traditions Why It's Important: Old traditions may be closely tied to substance use. Creating new ones can redefine the holiday experience. Ideas: Host a sober dinner party, engage in outdoor activities like hiking or ice skating, or start a holiday craft night. These activities create a new sense of joy and celebration that doesn’t revolve around alcohol. Another personal favorite of mine is hiking. Rely on Your Support System Why It's Important: A strong support system provides a safety net during vulnerable times. How to Implement: Schedule regular check-ins with... - Published: 2023-11-21 - Modified: 2023-11-21 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/introducing-lights-of-recovery-podcast-with-jessica-miller/ AddictionHelp. com, a leading platform offering support and resources to individuals battling addiction, is proud to announce the launch of its newest venture, "Lights of Recovery," a podcast dedicated to illuminating the path of recovery. Hosted by the compassionate and insightful Jessica Miller, known for her impactful work on the Addiction Help podcast, this show promises to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for those on the journey toward healing and wellness. Lights of Recovery is now the 3rd original series created by the AddictionHelp. com media platform, alongside The Addiction Help Podcast and Victory Over Vices with Dan Hauser. Introducing "Lights of Recovery" Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of AddictionHelp. com Jessica Miller, with her profound empathy and understanding of the challenges faced in recovery, is set to guide listeners through "Lights of Recovery. " Her approach is deeply influenced by her belief in the power of small beacons of hope during tough times. The first episode of Lights of Recovery will be released on Wednesday, 11/22/23. A Vision of Hope and Recovery The podcast's central theme is the metaphor of "lantern lights" in darkness - small yet significant beacons of hope that guide individuals through their darkest moments. This innovative approach shifts the focus from the depths of addiction to the empowering journey of recovery. In her own words, Jessica describes the essence of the podcast: "Imagine a very dark, empty street and you're walking alone, but way in the distance, you see this one street lamp, this one lantern burning ahead. That's what this show represents. It's just enough to get you through. " The Format: Illuminating the Journey "Lights of Recovery" will encompass various segments, including inspiring recovery stories, discussions with mental health professionals, and community interactions. Jessica emphasizes the unique focus of the show: "There are plenty of shows that dive into how bad things got during addiction. I want to focus on the recovery aspect... on what happens after. " Building a Community of Support This video podcast is not just a show; it's a movement towards a supportive community for those in recovery. It encourages listeners to engage and share their journeys, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support. Invitation to Join "Lights of Recovery" will be accessible on major podcast platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. "Join us in shedding light on the path of recovery," invites Jessica. "Whether you're directly affected by addiction or supporting someone who is, this podcast is a ray of hope in the challenging journey towards healing. " AddictionHelp. com invites everyone to listen, subscribe, and be part of this enlightening experience. More About Lights of Recovery Lights of Recovery" is a groundbreaking new podcast hosted by Jessica Miller, known for her impactful work on the Addiction Help Podcast. This show emerges as a beacon of hope in the often dark and challenging journey of recovery from addiction. Drawing inspiration from the metaphor of "lantern lights" on a dark street, this podcast aims... - Published: 2023-10-24 - Modified: 2026-10-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/meta-teen-social-media-addiction-lawsuit/ The 2023 State Lawsuits Against Meta Historical context updated September 30, 2026. The state attorneys general's actions described here were announced in October 2023. For later developments, visit the social media addiction lawsuit guide. On October 24, 2023, a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general announced actions against Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. [1] A group of 33 attorneys general joined a federal lawsuit in California, while other attorneys general brought separate actions. [2] The filings alleged that Meta designed features to encourage excessive use by children and teenagers while misleading the public about risks. These were the governments' allegations. The announcements did not establish that a court had found Meta liable. [2] Fast Facts About the 2023 Meta Lawsuits State attorneys general announced coordinated actions in October 2023. [2][1] The filings alleged harm and deceptive practices. Those announcements were not court findings of liability. [2] Company research and the company's interpretation of it need their own context. [3] What the Attorneys General Alleged California's announcement described allegations involving platform design, statements about user safety, and the collection of children's personal information. The federal complaint alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and state consumer-protection laws. [2] Massachusetts' separate announcement identified features such as infinite scrolling, frequent notifications, autoplay, and rewards that vary unpredictably. The complaint alleged that these features exploited young users' vulnerabilities and made it harder to regulate their time on Instagram. [1] The Massachusetts complaint also alleged that Meta knew children younger than 13 used the service and did not adequately enforce its age restrictions. Those allegations concerned the company's practices, rather than a conclusion that every child who used Instagram developed an addiction. [1] What the Instagram Research Could and Could Not Show Internal research became part of the public debate about Instagram and teen well-being. In September 2021, Facebook publicly released annotated research presentations and disputed how their findings had been characterized. [3] The body-image findings concerned teens who already reported struggling with body-image issues. They should not be described as a finding about every teenage girl. Facebook's response said the research asked whether Instagram made an existing concern better, worse, or unchanged. It also said the research did not establish causal relationships between Instagram and real-world problems. [3] That response represents the company's interpretation of its research. It does not resolve the governments' legal allegations. Likewise, a complaint's description of research should not be mistaken for an independent clinical assessment of a particular teenager. How to Read This Historical Coverage The state actions were part of a wider debate about youth safety, platform design, and corporate responsibility. California's announcement described a multistate investigation that preceded the filings. [2] Keep the date and type of document in view. A government announcement explains what an enforcement agency alleges and seeks. A company's response explains its position. A later court decision may answer different legal questions. These sources should keep those distinctions when they are summarized. The current lawsuit guide provides a separate... - Published: 2023-10-23 - Modified: 2023-10-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/red-ribbon-week-youth/ Behind the Red Ribbons With the initiation of Red Ribbon Week from October 23rd to October 31st, we at AddictionHelp. com take a reflective journey back to the origins of this impactful movement. The Red Ribbon Campaign, heralded by the National Family Partnership (NFP), formerly known as the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, stands as the nation’s largest and longest-running drug-use prevention initiative. Established in 1980, the NFP was born from a group of committed parents aiming to pioneer a change in the narrative of drug prevention. Fast forward to today, and the organization has flourished into a national bastion of drug prevention education and advocacy, leading efforts to foster drug-free youth nationwide. Red Ribbon Week 2023 Theme: Be Kind To Your Mind. Live Drug Free. The Inception of the Red Ribbon Movement The essence of the Red Ribbon Campaign traces back to a somber event in 1985, deeply etched in the collective memory of communities nationwide. DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a valiant soldier in the war against drugs, met a tragic end in Mexico, tortured and eventually killed by drug traffickers. His gruesome demise resonated across borders, igniting a spark of outrage and a desire for change among individuals, particularly parents and youth. Red ribbons adorned the chests of many as a tribute to Camarena's unwavering spirit and to symbolize a collective stand against the menace of drugs. AddictionHelp. com Related Resources Family Addiction Guides Family Addiction Guide Children Teenagers Underage Drinking The Symbolism of the Red Ribbon The red ribbon soon morphed into more than just a symbol. It was a catalyst, galvanizing communities to educate the youth and promote drug prevention activities. The movement commemorated Agent Camarena's sacrifice and his firm belief that one individual could make a significant difference. This belief coalesced communities, giving rise to new coalitions united against the destruction wreaked by drugs. National Recognition and the Birth of Red Ribbon Week The crescendo of collective action led to the first National Red Ribbon Celebration in 1988, sponsored by the NFP. This marked the inception of Red Ribbon Week, an annual observance from October 23rd to October 31st, dedicated to promoting a drug-free lifestyle among youth. The campaign’s objective is straightforward yet profound: to present a united front against drug abuse, thereby inching closer to a drug-free America. The Ongoing Legacy The ripple effects of the Red Ribbon Campaign have transcended through time, touching millions of lives globally. It's more than a campaign; it's a movement borne out of resilience, a legacy of collective responsibility, and a message of hope. The National Family Partnership continues to play a pivotal role in this endeavor, providing resources, advocacy, and a platform for individuals and organizations to join forces in this noble cause. Your Participation Counts The Red Ribbon Campaign is as robust as the engagement it receives. Each year, a national contest is held to select a new theme for the campaign, fostering creativity and inclusivity in the fight against drug abuse.... - Published: 2023-10-22 - Modified: 2023-10-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/victory-over-vices-mike-mcdaniel/ Mike McDaniel: Triumph Over Trials in the NFL Introduction: Welcome to another intriguing episode of Victory Over Vices without interruption by AddictionHelp. com. Our mission is to spotlight sports personalities who've stood their ground against adversities, and today, we dive deep into the life of Mike McDaniel, the enthusiastic head coach of the Miami Dolphins. A story where his battle against alcohol addiction stands as a testimony of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of dreams. Play VideoWelcome to our latest episode of "Victory Over Vices", where we spotlight sports personalities who've risen above life's challenges. Today's focus is on Mike McDaniel, head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who battled alcohol addiction to take the NFL by storm. Learn how his story reminds us that while addiction doesn't discriminate, it's possible to turn setbacks into comeback stories. Duration: 46 min 04 sec PART I: From Shadows to Spotlight The Miami Dolphins have been making waves in sunny South Florida, particularly in this NFL season. Six weeks in, the Dolphins are already contending for the title of one of the best teams in the NFL. With a resurgent Tua, thanks to his offseason Ju-Jitsu training, and an offense displaying Madden-esque prowess, they’re on a trajectory toward becoming the most dominant offense in football history. However, the spotlight today isn't on the players but on the orchestrator of this symphony, the "mad scientist", Mike McDaniel. McDaniel, a prodigy of the coaching world, resonates with Sean McVay's image – a young, dynamic, and passionate football fanatic. Tracing his roots, McDaniel's story is interwoven with names like McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and Matt LaFleur, all budding under the mentorship of Mike Shanahan in Washington. While his peers quickly ascended to head coaching roles, McDaniel's trajectory was more nuanced. Journeying through the NFL, from a WR coach in Cleveland to an offensive assistant in Atlanta under Dan Quinn, his technical acumen was evident. However, behind the scenes, a tumultuous battle with alcoholism and depression threatened to eclipse his budding career. The early days in Houston saw him dismissed due to tardiness, a consequence of the previous night's drinking. The aftermath of his errors? An agonizing 865 days outside the NFL, a period he reminds himself of daily with a notecard on his desk. Redemption came with a second chance in Washington. Yet, the specter of addiction still haunted him. Stories of empty bottles in Cleveland and detectable alcohol odor in Atlanta painted a picture of a genius struggling with his demons. However, in a moment of clarity and with encouragement from co-workers, McDaniel took a life-altering decision on January 4, 2016 – he entered rehab. The chapters that followed saw his resurgence. Reuniting with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, McDaniel climbed the coaching ladder swiftly, culminating in his appointment as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2022. PART II: Reflections and Conversations Amidst the stories of strategy and touchdowns, McDaniel's narrative stands as a poignant reminder. Addiction is no respecter of persons. It can touch... - Published: 2023-06-07 - Modified: 2024-11-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-9-recovery-isnt-linear/ Episode 9 - Recovery Isn’t Linear: A Conversation with Leah This week, we have something special for our listeners on The Addiction Help Podcast with Dan Hauser & Jessica Miller. We delve deep into a single, inspiring story of recovery featuring our esteemed guest, Leah Numbers. Leah's journey from addiction to sobriety offers a strikingly raw and real perspective on the challenges and triumphs those grappling with addiction face. Play VideoIn this week's episode of the Addiction Help Podcast with Dan & Jess, we feature an incredibly moving and insightful conversation with Leah Numbers. Leah shares her personal struggle with alcohol addiction, beginning from her teenage years, and its complex link with her mental health, specifically Bipolar Disorder. She underlines the vital role of resilience and the power of finding your own path to recovery, speaking from her own experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous and the electronic music scene. Leah's inspiring story serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that sobriety and joyous living are not mutually exclusive, but rather, deeply interconnected. View Transcript. Duration: 1 hrs 25 min 22 secDan Hauser: Hello, everyone, and welcome to episode nine of the Addiction Help Podcast, where we discuss the latest in news, sports and entertainment as it pertains to addiction, addiction recovery, and mental health. I am your host, Dan Hauser, and with me as always is my partner in crime on the show, Jessica Miller, Editorial Director of addictionhelp. com. Jess, how’s it going? Jessica Miller: Pretty good. As we know, we are recording from the past, and so it’s Friday for me. I’m pretty stoked. Dan Hauser: You going to play your fun nerdy games this weekend? Jessica Miller: 1,000%, Dan. I was actually looking last night, because Nintendo, it shows you your hours played. Dan Hauser: Oh, no. Jessica Miller: hundred hours, but bills are paid. Animals are taken care of. Husband is not neglected. Dan Hauser: Listen, you don’t have to justify it for me. The Heat and the Panthers both started their respective championship series. Jessica Miller: Yes. Dan Hauser: Since we record on Friday, last night for Heat game one. So for the next anywhere from 10 to 16 days, my sleep is going to be all sorts of out of whack, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. So I’m right there with you, same nerdy things, just different genre of nerdiness. Jessica Miller: I love that for you. Yeah, yeah. Heck yeah. Dan Hauser: But anyway, we have a very exciting and interesting and different type of episode today. My sister-in-law, Leah Numbers, who is a fantastic and wonderful person, who has been a listener of ours, a dedicated listener of ours from day one ... She does not miss a single episode. The day it comes out, as soon as it drops, she’s immediately listening to it, and she reached out to both of us, actually, recently and offered to come on this podcast and tell her story about her journey through... - Published: 2023-05-31 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-8-behavioral-addiction-gambling/ Episode 8: When 'Harmless' Hobbies Become Addiction Welcome to Episode 8 of the AddictionHelp podcast, where we dive into the latest news, sports, and entertainment related to addiction and addiction recovery. Our show is hosted by Dan Hauser, and Jessica Miller, Editorial Director for AddictionHelp. com. We sincerely appreciate your continued support and encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel and podcast feed for regular updates. Today's episode focuses on a compelling topic: Behavioral Addiction. We will explore the general concept, specific examples, common misconceptions, and relevant stories from the news. Let's delve into the fascinating world of behavioral addictions together. Play VideoThis week, Dan and Jess tackle behavioral addiction—from gambling to video games and beyond. But what’s the difference between a hobby and an addiction? We’ll cover that and more with a personal share from Dan and the basics of what counts as a behavioral addiction. Duration: 45 min 09 sec Behavioral Addiction 101 1. General Overview: Behavioral addiction refers to a person becoming obsessed with a specific activity and continuing to engage in it despite the negative consequences it brings to their lives. Explanation of How it Happens in the Brain: We'll provide an overview of the neurological processes underlying behavioral addiction, shedding light on its mechanisms. 2. Specific Examples: Gambling: Discuss the allure of gambling and how it can lead to addiction, impacting individuals and their families. Shopping: Explore the addictive nature of excessive shopping and its potential consequences. Social Media/Internet: Examine the addictive behaviors associated with excessive social media and internet use. Pornography: Address the addictive nature of pornography and its effects on individuals and relationships. Food: Highlight the complexities of behavioral addiction related to eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food. Exercise: Discuss the fine line between a healthy exercise routine and exercise addiction. Video Games: Explore the allure and potential addictive aspects of video gaming. Acknowledge Jess's healthy enjoyment of games while discussing the risks for others. 3. Common Misconceptions about Behavioral Addictions: We challenge the notion that behavioral addictions are not "real" addictions. While gambling addiction is the only DSM-5-recognized behavioral addiction, all behavioral addictions or process addictions are considered genuine addictions and compulsive behaviors. Relevant Stories and Topics in the News about Behavioral Addiction We discuss a recent USA Today article on the boom of sports betting and its implications for gambling addiction. Provide statistics on the growth of legal sports betting across the United States. Highlight concerns raised by experts regarding the lack of attention and funding dedicated to problem gambling and gambling addiction support. Mention the efforts made by some sportsbooks, such as FanDuel's feature that informs users about their logged-in time and wagered amounts. Address the increased vulnerability of young bettors, particularly those between. A Personal Experience of Behavioral Addiction: Dan shares his personal experience with an unsuspecting behavioral addiction, reflecting on the lessons learned from his experience with poker and the financial challenges it brought. Recap In this thought-provoking episode, we navigate through the depths of behavioral... - Published: 2023-05-24 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-7-fentanyl-facts-and-myths/ Welcome back to the Addiction Help Podcast with your hosts, Dan Hauser and Jessica Miller. In today's episode, we delve into the world of fentanyl, shedding light on its uses and dangers as well as dispelling some common myths. Join us as we raise awareness about fentanyl and discuss essential safety measures. Episode 7: Get the Facts on Fentanyl (and Bust Some Myths) Play VideoIn this episode of the Addiction Help Podcast, hosts Dan Hauser and Jessica Miller guide you through an in-depth discussion on fentanyl. They provide a comprehensive overview of this potent opioid, its uses, the dangers it presents, and debunk common myths about it. Duration: 48 min 46 sec Segment I: Fentanyl and Fentanyl Awareness General Overview Fentanyl Awareness Day: On May 9th, we commemorate Fentanyl Awareness Day to draw attention to this potent substance's impact on individuals and communities. What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a strong painkiller, legally prescribed for chronic or severe pain resulting from conditions such as cancer, surgery, or accidents. Illicit Use: Unfortunately, fentanyl is also produced illicitly in "labs" and used as a counterfeit version of pills or mixed with other street drugs. Drug Trafficking Impact: Drug trafficking organizations distribute fentanyl by kilogram, with just one kilogram having the potential to cause the deaths of 500,000 people, according to the DEA. What Makes Fentanyl Dangerous? Potency: Fentanyl's potency makes it particularly hazardous. Even tiny amounts can have severe effects on the body, leading to overdose and death. Segment II: Fentanyl Safety Signs of Fentanyl/Opioid Overdose: Recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl/opioid overdose is crucial. These signs include slow or stopped breathing, slow or stopped heart rate, bluish discoloration around the lips and fingertips, and unresponsiveness. CDC Guidelines for Suspected Overdose: Step 1: Call 911 immediately. Step 2: If available, administer Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdose. Step 3: Keep the person awake and ensure they continue breathing. Step 4: Lay the person on their side to prevent choking. Step 5: Stay with them until first responders arrive. Importance of Narcan: We briefly touch upon the importance of Narcan and its role in saving lives. For a more in-depth discussion, refer to our pilot episode. Test Strips for Detecting Fentanyl (Cutting Agent): Test strips play a crucial role in detecting the presence of fentanyl when it has been used as a cutting agent in other substances. Safe Disposal of Fentanyl: For instructions on safely disposing of fentanyl and related substances, please visit the FDA or CDC websites. You can find the link in the episode description. Segment III: Fentanyl Facts and Myths: Quiz and Discussion (15-20 min) Disclaimer: Please note that the quiz questions were unavailable in advance, so our reactions and responses are spontaneous. Fentanyl Facts Quiz: Click here to access the quiz questions. Discussion: After each question, Jess and Dan engage in a brief discussion about the answer. They share their thoughts, surprises, and general observations. Feel free to play along and let us know how you did! In this... - Published: 2023-05-17 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-6-the-power-of-choice/ We're thrilled to present a new episode of The Addiction Help Podcast! Join hosts Dan Hauser and Jessica Miller as they dive into compelling topics related to addiction, mental health, and personal growth. Episode 6: The Power of Choice Today, we discuss Tom Holland’s sobriety, Dan’s mental health strategy, and the difference between addiction and dependence. Play VideoJoin us on the Addiction Help Podcast as we discuss Tom Holland’s sobriety, Dan’s mental health strategy, and the difference between addiction and dependence. Duration: 53 min 45 sec Segment 1: Tom Holland's Sobriety In this episode, we discuss actor Tom Holland's recent revelation about his sobriety journey. In a candid interview with Entertainment Weekly, Holland shared that he has been sober for an impressive one year and four months. He credits his new Apple TV+ project, "The Crowded Room," for playing a pivotal role in his commitment to sobriety. Holland opens up about the TV series' profound impact on his mental health and addiction struggles. He shares a decisive moment during filming when he found himself deeply immersed in his character and unable to detach. Through this experience, Holland gained a profound understanding of the power of mental health and the importance of recognizing triggers in his own life. Join us as we explore Holland's journey, the educational aspects of "The Crowded Room," and the hope that viewers will develop more profound respect and empathy for individuals facing mental health challenges. We continue to witness influential celebrities openly discussing substance abuse, addiction, and mental health, destigmatizing these critical topics. The ongoing conversation is crucial in breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. Segment 2: Q&A - Diving Deeper into Dan's Story From Last Week (ADHD) This segment delves deeper into Dan's personal story, building upon the previous episode. Jess leads the conversation, recapping the highlights and sharing insights into Dan's journey. We explore the adjustment period after making life changes, the difficulties faced, and any instant relief experienced. We also address managing ADHD symptoms as Dan shares his own experiences. We examine the various types of ADHD, including inattentive, hyperactive, and combined, and discuss commonly associated symptoms. Along the way, we provide fascinating realities about ADHD to increase awareness and understanding. Listeners praised Dan's powerful statement, "You don't have to justify your choices, do what is best for you. " We emphasize the importance of listening to your body and carefully weighing the pros and cons of different solutions. Additionally, we tackle the topic of addiction and how easily one can unintentionally become dependent on medications or develop behavioral addictions. We debunk common misconceptions about "addicts" and stress the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to improve. At The Addiction Help Podcast, our official stance is that support and compassion should be extended to all individuals seeking recovery. Segment 3: Dependence vs. Addiction: What's the Difference? In this episode's final segment, we clearly understand the difference between dependence and addiction and how dependence can often be a precursor to addiction. We illustrate this... - Published: 2023-05-10 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help-podcast-episode-5-john-mulaney-carrie-fisher/ In this episode of the Addiction Help Podcast with Host Dan Hauser and AddictionHelp. com Editorial Director Jessica Miller, we delve into two individuals who have shared their personal struggles with addiction and mental health in unique and impactful ways. We start by discussing John Mulaney's recent Netflix special, where he opens up about his journey with addiction, including his cocaine problem, intervention, and time in rehab. Play VideoJoin us on the Addiction Help Podcast as we explore the stories of two incredible individuals (John Mulaney & the late Carrie Fisher) who have shared their addiction and mental health battles. Duration: 41 min 45 sec Mulaney's special touches on the importance of healthy coping mechanisms in addiction recovery, and he uses humor as his way of coping. We explore the significance of finding healthy outlets that don't involve drugs or alcohol, and how Mulaney's approach, though not suitable for everyone, can shed light on different ways of dealing with addiction and recovery. Next, we shift our focus to the late Carrie Fisher, who was recently honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fisher was known for her openness about her mental health struggles and addiction. We discuss her legacy and the impact of her candidness in sharing her journey of sobriety and bipolar disorder. Similar to Mulaney, Fisher used humor to navigate her challenges and became a source of hope and inspiration for others. By leading by example and destigmatizing mental health issues, Fisher demonstrated the courage to be her authentic self and encouraged others to seek help and support. Throughout the episode, we draw comparisons between Mulaney and Fisher, highlighting the similarities and differences in their approaches to addressing addiction and mental health. We also share our personal thoughts and experiences, discussing how their stories resonate with us and the parts that we relate to. Join us as we explore the power of vulnerability, humor, and authenticity in addressing substance abuse and addiction, and how these individuals have made a lasting impact on the conversation surrounding these important issues. Listen to the full episode of the Addiction Help Podcast to gain insights from John Mulaney's Netflix special and the inspiring legacy of Carrie Fisher. Available on: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music iHeartRadio - Published: 2023-04-20 - Modified: 2024-12-19 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/review-money-shot-pornhub/ Money Shot: The Pornhub Story Review Rating: TV-MA Money Shot: The Pornhub Story, a recent Netflix documentary, offers a cautionary look at not only the rise of Pornhub but also the darker side of the adult content industry. While the film discusses how Pornhub revolutionized the way adult content creators can directly sell their content to consumers, it also exposes the serious consequences of a business model that lacks proper oversight and verification. The documentary delves into the shocking revelations brought to light by a 2020 New York Times OpEd article, which uncovered a significant number of illegal and non-consensual videos on Pornhub, including underage girls, hidden camera footage, and rape. These videos were often uploaded by anonymous users, making it nearly impossible to track down the culprits. The documentary also explores how Pornhub's inadequate moderation allowed illegal content to persist on the platform, with only 30 moderators responsible for reviewing thousands of videos daily. In some cases, Pornhub took weeks to remove illegal videos even after being directly notified. As a result of the public outcry and pressure from the Canadian Parliament, Pornhub and other direct-to-consumer platforms have implemented sweeping changes to better protect users and content creators. However, this documentary serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the seemingly harmless facade of the adult content industry. Why's it Rated TV-MA? Graphic sexual content Implied instances of sexual violence Strong and pervasive adult language and sexual dialogue Alcohol consumption and drug use Allegations of sex trafficking, child abuse, and rape Please note that this movie is rated TV-MA, and is not suitable for children or sensitive viewers. IMDB's Parental Guide provides rating information. The Perils of Porn Addiction It's essential to acknowledge that porn addiction is a real and treatable behavioral addiction. Similar to substance abuse, those battling porn addiction may have difficulty controlling their viewing habits, often to the detriment of themselves and those around them. Signs of porn addiction may include: Watching porn instead of completing daily tasks Viewing pornographic content in inappropriate environments (e. g. , work, school, or public places) Obsession with porn and experiencing cravings akin to substance addiction Favoring porn over intimate relationships with a partner If you or a loved one is suffering from porn addiction or developing an unhealthy relationship with pornography, it's crucial to seek professional help for porn addiction. Treatment professionals specializing in addressing and treating the sensitive nature of porn addiction are available to assist. To find a treatment professional or therapist in your area who can help you recover from porn addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit their online program locator. Porn Addiction and Pornhub: A Cautionary Tale in Numbers The vastness of the porn industry and the sheer volume of visits to websites like Pornhub is staggering. In 2021 alone, Pornhub received approximately 72 billion visits worldwide, with an average visit spanning 6. 5 web pages and just over 10 minutes. A whopping... - Published: 2023-04-19 - Modified: 2024-11-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/tldr-addiction-help-podcast-episode-2/ Welcome back to TLDR, where we summarize the highlights of each episode of the Addiction Help Podcast. Today, we're diving into Episode Two, which focuses on addiction, mental health, and recovery, with a particular emphasis on Alcohol Awareness Month. Host Dan Hauser is joined by guest Chris Carberg, founder and chief executive addict of addictionhelp. com. What happened on Episode 2 of the Addiction Help Podcast? Dan Hauser kicks off the episode by expressing gratitude to those who tuned into the pilot episode, including listeners who reached out to share the impact the podcast had on them. Unfortunately, co-host Jessica Miller is absent due to a migraine (or so she claims... )but the show goes on with guest Chris Carberg. Chris enjoyed the first episode, featuring discussions between Dan and Jess, and recalls listening to it while driving. He emphasizes the importance of discussing addiction-related topics in the news and using them to spark deeper conversations. The overall mission of addictionhelp. com and its network of shows is to meet people where they are—whether they're battling addiction, in addiction recovery, or loving someone affected by addiction. Dan and Chris discuss the importance of humanizing addiction and destigmatizing the topic, reminding people that it's okay to seek help. Chris talks about the significance of Narcan as a "pause button" for addiction, allowing recovery to be possible. He also acknowledges the challenges faced by loved ones of individuals with addiction and the importance of compassion. Alcohol Awareness Month - Who? What? Why? April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the hosts take this opportunity to address alcohol use disorder and abuse. They emphasize that alcohol is often perceived as a normal part of social life, heavily promoted in sports and media, and easily accessible to those over 21. Dan and Chris discuss the negative effects of alcohol, including its potential to ruin relationships and create erratic behavior. They praise the availability of ride-sharing apps to reduce drunk driving and the rise of sober bars and non-alcoholic drinks as alternatives for those seeking sobriety. Using the story of the Titanic as a metaphor, Chris suggests that sometimes people need to deal with problems head-on rather than avoiding them. Avoidance may make things worse. (Note, Chris is a keeper of a great deal of needless knowledge) Celebrating Sobriety - Kyle Draper The hosts transition to discussing the Sacramento Kings' NBA playoff success and the story of Kyle Draper, the local television play-by-play announcer for the Kings, who celebrated six years of sobriety. Draper described himself as a "functioning alcoholic," and his career took off after he stopped drinking. The hosts delve into the concept of being a "high-functioning alcoholic" and how non-alcoholic options and mocktails can help people feel at ease in social situations. They highlight the increasing popularity of the "sober curious" movement. The episode concludes with a reminder that help is available for those struggling with addiction or mental health issues, and the hosts provide contact information for the Substance Abuse and Mental... - Published: 2023-03-29 - Modified: 2023-03-29 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/fda-narcan-approved-over-the-counter/ In a landmark decision set to reshape the fight against the opioid epidemic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday the approval of Narcan, a life-saving nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, for over-the-counter (OTC) sales. Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, has been increasingly accessible since the FDA's initial approval in 2015, as the nation continues to seek effective solutions to the opioid crisis. Despite requiring no special training to administer, obtaining Narcan previously necessitated a prescription. The FDA's latest decision aims to save even more lives by lifting this restriction. Although OTC Narcan is anticipated to be available by the end of summer, concerns regarding its retail price and accessibility have been raised. Addressing these worries, FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M. D. , emphasized the agency's dedication to ensuring Narcan remains both accessible and affordable. "The FDA remains committed to addressing the evolving complexities of the overdose crisis. As part of this work, the agency has used its regulatory authority to facilitate greater access to naloxone by encouraging the development of and approving an over-the-counter naloxone product to address the dire public health need," said Califf. "Today's approval of OTC naloxone nasal spray will help improve access to naloxone, increase the number of locations where it's available, and help reduce opioid overdose deaths throughout the country. We encourage the manufacturer to make accessibility to the product a priority by making it available as soon as possible and at an affordable price. - FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M. D" Another area of concern is drug stores and other retailers' willingness to carry the 4-milligram bottles of Narcan nasal spray and display them on their shelves. Despite the growing attention to opioids and addiction in general, products like Narcan and other life-saving addiction treatments continue to be stigmatized. Emergent BioSolutions, Narcan's manufacturer, has not yet announced a retail price for the general public. However, they revealed that they would continue to offer Narcan at a discount for government agencies, first responders, and nonprofits working to reduce opioid-related deaths. The FDA's decision to broaden Narcan's accessibility arrives at a critical time. Even with the concerted efforts of harm-reduction groups, local health departments, and the federal government, opioid overdoses claimed over 100,000 lives in the United States in 2021. While making Narcan more accessible is a significant step in preventing fatal opioid-related overdoses, knowing how to recognize an overdose and taking the proper steps if someone nearby is experiencing one is still crucial. In the event of an overdose, it is essential to: Call 911 immediately Administer Naloxone Perform rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) if the person is not breathing Monitor their response Wait with the person until first responders arrive While Narcan can save lives during opioid-related overdoses, it is not a solution for addiction itself. If you or a loved one require treatment for opioid abuse, dependency, or addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357, or visit their... - Published: 2023-03-22 - Modified: 2023-03-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/xylazine-on-the-rise/ A 'New' Cutting Agent on the Scene Cutting drugs with other substances is hardly a new concept. Dealers and manufacturers of street drugs have been using cutting agents to increase profitability for decades. Some may use basic household or cooking products like baking soda as the cutting agent, while others may use another illicit substance. As the opioid epidemic continues to worsen, a significant factor in that has been the growing popularity of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, as a cutting agent, particularly in cocaine. What happens, though, when fentanyl stops being the cutting agent and instead becomes the drug being cut? Enter Xylazine. What Is Xylazine? Xylazine is a cheap veterinary tranquilizer that is not controlled by the federal government. While hardly new overall, xylazine is new to the world of street drugs and is causing dangerous health risks. The new “fad” in the cutting of street drugs is using the tranquilizer as a cutting agent for fentanyl. The street name for this latest concoction of fentanyl cut with xylazine is Tranq Dope (the street name of xylazine on its own is “tranq”). While fentanyl can be dangerous enough on its own, cutting it with xylazine takes the effects and danger associated with fentanyl to a whole new level. When mixed, tranq dope amplifies and extends the high that fentanyl produces. The xylazine also restricts blood flow through skin tissue, which leads to serious health complications, including unhealing necrotic ulcers, which, when left untreated, can lead to amputation. Also, because xylazine is a tranquilizer and acts as a sedative, Naloxone, the usual antidote for reversing opioid overdose effects, is much less effective in treating those who have overdosed on Tranq Dope. Where Is Xylazine Being Used for Spiking? One city that is being hit particularly hard with tranq dope is Philadelphia. According to a Philadelphia Department of Public Health report, over 90% of lab-tested street opioid samples contained xylazine. While Philadelphia may be the hardest-hit area at the moment, it’s hardly the only affected area. Citing a June 2022 study by the National Library of Medicine, the NY Times reported that xylazine was detected in the street drug supply in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Unlike many other street drugs and illicit substances, the ability to truly track the prevalence of xylazine is tough to do. While hospitals test for many different types of legal and illegal drugs, xylazine is not one of them, and it is also rarely tested for by state medical examiners. The FDA and other federal organizations have been attempting to educate the public about xylazine, but there is a further complication: Xylazine is technically not illegal. The FDA approved the tranquilizer 50 years ago as a veterinarian-prescribed analgesic. As a result, it is not listed as a controlled substance for either animals or humans and, therefore, not under strict monitoring by any government agency. As with any other substance of abuse, if you encounter someone experiencing... - Published: 2023-03-21 - Modified: 2026-09-30 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/social-media-addiction-harm-lawsuit/ The Early Social Media Harm Litigation Historical context updated September 30, 2026. The early federal personal-injury proceedings described here took place in 2023. For subsequent developments, visit the social media addiction lawsuit guide. Families and young people brought personal-injury claims involving Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. The federal proceedings were coordinated in the Northern District of California under multidistrict litigation, or MDL, No. 3047. A March 8, 2023 court order set out how individual personal-injury plaintiffs would adopt a master complaint and file their own short-form complaints. [1] A filed allegation is different from a finding that a company caused an injury. The order expressly stated that the complaint process did not mean defendants agreed with or admitted the allegations. Their defenses remained available. [1] Fast Facts About Early Social Media Harm Litigation The March 2023 order governed the use of master and individual short-form complaints. [1] Plaintiffs identified their platform use, alleged injuries, and claims individually. [1] The filing process did not mean defendants admitted the allegations. [1] What the Early Court Documents Showed The March order recorded that the plaintiffs' steering committee filed a master personal-injury complaint on February 14, 2023. It required each person alleging injury from their own platform use to file an individual short-form complaint identifying the relevant defendants, claims, and injuries. [1] The attached form listed alleged injuries including compulsive use, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. It also included claims involving death. These categories described allegations that a plaintiff might assert. They did not establish how common an injury was among social media users or prove causation in an individual case. [1] The form also identified possible legal claims, including design defects, failure to warn, negligence, and consumer-protection violations. Whether a particular claim could proceed or succeed was a different question from whether it appeared on the form. [1] Why the Complaint and the Court's Findings Must Stay Separate Early coverage discussed what companies allegedly knew about possible harm and how their products were designed. An allegation about an internal warning, a design choice, or an executive's decision requires its own evidence. It should not be restated as a fact proved by the existence of the lawsuit. The court's March 2023 order governed the filing process. It did not determine that each defendant caused each alleged injury. It also said that calling an app a “product” in the pleadings did not constitute a defendant's admission that it was a product for the legal claims at issue. [1] That distinction matters when reading later headlines as well. Look for what happened, which court or case it involved, and whether the document is a complaint, a procedural order, a verdict, or another type of decision. One document may address only part of a much larger dispute. Why Usage Statistics Do Not Establish Addiction The number of people who use a platform and the amount of time they spend there are different questions from whether a particular person has a health condition or whether a... - Published: 2023-03-15 - Modified: 2023-03-15 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/2023-oscars-shine-light-on-addiction-and-recovery/ The 95th annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 12, 2023, and are considered the crown jewel in cinema. While the night belonged to “Everything Everywhere All At Once” from an awards standpoint, this year’s Oscars were special for those in the addiction and recovery community. The documentary film “All The Beauty And The Bloodshed” received a nomination, and many actors and actresses in recovery shined. Here is a quick recap of the overall results before we get into addiction and recovery-specific topics. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” won almost every major award, stealing the show by winning 7 awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. The Best Leading Actor went to Brendan Fraser for his role in “The Whale. ” In total, 23 awards were handed out that night. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed One of the films that did not win any awards on the night was “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed,” losing out to “Navalny” in the Documentary Feature Film category. All The Beauty and the Bloodshed focuses on the life and career of photographer and activist Nan Goldin. A major part of the film centers around her pursuit of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family (the makers of OxyContin) to hold them accountable for the opioid epidemic. Goldin founded the advocacy group PAIN (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) after her own addiction to OxyContin nearly resulted in a fatal overdose. While the film did not win, it serves as a reminder that opioid abuse and addiction are still major issues in the United States that continue to require people on the front lines to fight. Actors and Actresses in Recovery Actress and supermodel Cara Delevigne turned heads on the Red Carpet with a red dress that paid homage to Angelina Jolie's look at the 2012 Oscars. She arrived at the Oscars newly sober after some paparazzi photos of her convinced her to go to rehab. Delevigne wasn’t the only recovering celebrity to make waves on Oscars Sunday. Jamie Lee Curtis, who has been open about her addiction to prescription painkillers and her sobriety, won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once. ” While he didn’t win the award for Best Leading Actor, Colin Farrell was in attendance celebrating his 16th year of sobriety. In a move that shocked many, the movie that he starred in, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” was nominated for several awards on the night but didn’t win any, repeatedly finishing runner-up to “Everything Everywhere All At Once. ” Curtis and Ferrell were recently profiled in Variety, speaking about their sobriety. If the success and acclaim of Cara Delevigne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell, Nan Goldin, and “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed” have taught us anything, it is never too late to get help. Treatment options are available if you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and addiction.... - Published: 2023-01-12 - Modified: 2023-01-13 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/addiction-help/ Addiction Guide Becomes Addiction Help For years, Addiction Guide has been a leader in educating the public about the dangers of substance abuse, the need for compassionate treatment, and how to thrive in recovery. We are excited to announce that AddictionGuide. com has become AddictionHelp. com. This name change reflects our deep commitment to helping individuals and families struggling with addiction and an opportunity to help more people reach successful recovery. The AddictionHelp. com Vision & Mission AddictionHelp. com provides unbiased and trusted medical information about substance abuse, alcoholism, and other addictions. We believe that education is key in the fight against addiction. Our mission is to empower individuals and families with the knowledge and resources they need to understand and overcome addiction. Founded by a team of medical professionals, AddictionHelp. com offers a wide range of information on addiction and recovery, including the latest research, treatment options, and support resources. Our team is comprised of experts and specialists who have years of experience working in the field of addiction medicine. At AddictionHelp. com, we believe that addiction is a disease, and we approach it with the same level of compassion and understanding as any other medical condition. Our website provides detailed information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of addiction, as well as on the latest medications and therapies available. Remembering Dr. Michael S. Levy, DO Dr. Michael S. Levy, DO For many years, AddictionHelp. com was owned and operated by Dr. Michael S. Levy, DO. Dr. Levy passed away in the fall of 2021. Dr. Michael Shawn Levy was a pioneering figure in the field of addiction medicine. Throughout his 36-year medical career, Dr. Levy dedicated himself to helping those struggling with alcohol and drug dependencies. He established the first medical practice in Nevada that specialized in addiction medicine in 1995 and went on to found the Center for Addiction Medicine, where he served as Medical Director. Dr. Levy was highly respected in his field and held several prestigious positions, including Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, President of the Nevada chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Board Certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Medical Association and consultant to the Nevada State Medical Professional Boards and the State Bar of Nevada. Growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, Dr. Levy graduated from West Virginia University and later received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Before his career in medicine, he served in the US Navy. Dr. Levy's passing on August 23, 2021, following a brief battle with cancer, was a significant loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and, most of all, his patients, whom he dedicated his life to helping overcome the disease of addiction. He is deeply missed by all who knew him. Note: Past patients requiring medical records can make requests by emailing medrecords@baileykennedy. com. Carrying Dr. Levy's Work Forward Our Commitment to Dr. Levy's Legacy lives on through the work of AddictionHelp. com. After... - Published: 2022-06-23 - Modified: 2023-03-02 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/telehealth-covid-regulations-expiring/ COVID-19 changed our world. But some of these changes were moving in the right direction. For example, getting help for substance abuse problems, including opioids, has evolved. As telehealth expanded and became more critical, it allowed people suffering from addiction to get treatment. Some of these treatments include potentially life-saving medications, such as buprenorphine (Suboxone), in their own home, an environment where they feel safe and less prone to being judged. With covid-related health measures set to expire, so will doctors and treatment professionals' ability to treat those suffering from addiction via telehealth. This includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a helpful tool for those suffering from addiction to certain substances of abuse, such as opioids. A Novel E-Approach to Treatment When COVID-19 became a national crisis in March 2020, it sent the country inside and scrambling. Suddenly, we had to figure out how to live life without leaving the house. Communication via teleconference became the norm, and everyone was learning what zoom was and how to use it, including doctors and treatment professionals. Since they couldn’t have their practices and facilities open for patients to see them, they had to get creative and see and treat patients via video calls. The government implemented new federal regulations for patients needing to get their medications. These regulations allowed doctors and treatment professionals to issue these prescriptions during an audio or video appointment, even if they were no longer in the same city or state as the prescribing doctor. With these Covid-related federal regulations expected to expire in the next few months, so will doctors and treatment professionals' ability to prescribe medications to patients without being in person. Why the DEA Wants to End Telehealth for Addiction The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulates all controlled substances at a federal level. While the agency came out in March and said they were working to make the pandemic regulations that allowed people to receive treatment via video or phone call, there have been no changes. The DEA has made promises relating to telehealth. In 2009 the DEA pledged to expand telehealth access for controlled substances, but they did nothing. The inaction of the DEA has led to tension between the DEA and other federal agencies, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “There’s this tension between the federal agencies, where you’ve got SAMHSA and the saying medications for opioid-use disorder are good,” Corey Davis, director of the Harm Reduction Legal Project recently told Politico. “And then you’ve got the DEA, which it’s just in its DNA to try and control controlled substances. ” One of the concerns on the side of the DEA is that these controlled substances used for MAT, buprenorphine, could be sold illegally. However, studies have shown though that this is unlikely. A National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) study showed that between 2015 and 2019, buprenorphine misuse declined significantly, and in 2019 only about a quarter of all patients taking the drug as part of MAT reported misusing... - Published: 2022-02-28 - Modified: 2023-04-28 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/interview-needles-hay-brett-meyer/ Often, when we think of filmmakers, we picture the big-budget classics that rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. We think of Hollywood and the glitz and the glamor that accompanies it. We think movie stars, movie studio backlots, and academy awards. But that's just one very small side to filmmaking. The other side of filmmaking is packed with storytellers who gather as much funding as they can, use the best equipment they can find, and work for years on end to tell true stories that matter. It's where most films are made, littered with important stories that don't usually get the star-studded treatment. Introducing Brett Meyer, Documentary Director One example of this type of content comes from filmmaker and fellow addict, Brett Meyer, and his film, Needles in the Hay. The film, still in post-production, personally details the opioid epidemic and its wake that led to a tsunami of first-time heroin users. Watch the trailer for the film: NEEDLES IN THE HAY (Official Trailer) 2022 from Brett Meyer on Vimeo. AddictionHelp. com Founder Chris Carberg sat down the Brett to discuss the project, what led to its creation, and what's next as he works to finish the film. Chris Carberg: What drew you to making a film about the opioid epidemic? Brett Meyer: I could personally relate to the project. I lived in LA for 20 years and my addiction to pills, coke, and alcohol took place there. Later when I got clean, I was injured and had shoulder surgery. I was unemployed for about three months because I couldn't work in my profession of camera operating. I visited home (Michigan) often to see family and friends. Someone told me a lot of people were dying of opioids and heroin where we lived in the Midwest. Now I'm from a small town and I was floored by this. I grew up around little towns and it was very odd to think opioids and heroin were so big here. I only knew LA and my own private life of addiction. That being said, I ended up seeing if a few heads would be interested in doing interviews so I could learn more about a topic I knew so much about personally, but not the lives of others suffering from the same thing back home. So one of the times I was traveling back and forth from LA to Michigan to do interviews and see friends, I asked a friend who was a cop in our small town if she knew anyone that may have a story to tell about the opioid crisis. This was in 2017. Well, I didn't know she was going to go on social media and say "I have a friend who is a filmmaker looking to get some interviews regarding the opioid epidemic and personal stories of people in recovery, using, families affected, etc. She posted on FB while I was at a layover in the Windy City. When I landed in Detroit I had 28... - Published: 2022-02-23 - Modified: 2026-10-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/euphoria-we-need-to-talk-about-rue/ If social media is any indication, one recent episode of Euphoria (S2E5) has fans reeling. And we need to talk about it. For those of you that don’t watch the HBO series, Euphoria is a teen drama that explores the nature and consequences of sex, drug use, and the nuances of growing up while having access to social media and everything it entails. This show was created by former addict Sam Levinson, who has shared with interviewers that he spent a major part of his teen years “in hospitals, rehabs, and halfway houses. ” By age 16, Levinson had given up hope entirely. It wasn’t until the age of 19 that Levinson discovered a book during a rehab stay that would change his path—and his life. Knowing this makes the setting for Euphoria all the more poignant, especially considering this fifth episode. Our main protagonist, Rue Bennet, has been struggling with her own drug addiction since her first day on our screens. It’s been quite a journey, to say the least. **MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR EUPHORIA S2E5! ** In this episode, Rue’s long-suffering but supportive mother has confronted Rue about her evident relapse. Viewers learn that her mother not only knows Rue has returned to using, but she’s also discovered—and flushed—the suitcase of $5,000 worth of drugs Rue had in her possession. This suitcase was part of Rue’s “genius plan” to sell drugs for more money for an extremely high-stakes dealer, but viewers never get to hear her full plan. We are instead left gripping couch seats and screaming at our TVs when Rue’s first act upon getting the case home is to tear open a fentanyl strip and put it in her mouth. She’s not planning to sell these drugs at all, many of us found ourselves thinking. But when the reckoning happens in the first few moments of Episode 5, we feel Rue’s panic as she starts tearing apart her family home in search of the suitcase. We find ourselves wondering if she’s worried about the repercussions from that terrifying, stone-cold dealer, or if she’s more worried about her next fix. What follows is a heart-shattering 10 minutes of full-blown chaos. We watch in horror as Rue first verbally tears into her little sister, Gia. Yes, the same little sister who found her overdosed before the series officially began. The same sister she gaslit in previous episodes, convincing Gia she was “only smoking weed” and not back into her old habits. And then Rue attacks her mother, verbally and, eventually, physically. It’s an awful, awful thing to watch. After kicking down a door (yes, Zendaya evidently has bruises and scars from filming), Rue proceeds to rampage around their home, savagely destroying furniture and screaming awful things at her family as she becomes completely unglued at the loss of her stash. But before we get a reprieve, her mother reveals that she knows Rue has relapsed because Rue’s best friend and romantic partner, Jules, and their mutual friend Elliott,... - Published: 2022-02-22 - Modified: 2022-02-22 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/opioid-doj-rally-washington-dc/ Filmmaker Brett Meyer has provided footage to Addiction Guide from the protest event on 12/3/21 in Washington D. C. The rally was described by organizers in the following way: RALLY in Washington DC on 12/03/21 to plead with the DOJ to pursue the evidence they already have on the architects of the opioid epidemic - The Sackler Cartel Join parents and loved ones from all over the country in a RALLY on Friday 12/03/21 11am at the DOJ in Washington DC to call on AG Merrick Garland and Deputy AG Lisa Monaco of the DOJ to act on the evidence they already possess and NOT to bury it as was done in 2007 to prosecute the Sacklers. Danny Strong (HULU Dopesick showrunner) will be a guest speaker along with others and Beth Macy (Dopesick author) will be there. Recently disclosed discovery documents, as well as thousands of news articles, many books, and documentaries, have exposed beyond any doubt the Sackler involvement in the admitted crimes of Purdue Pharma. Filmed and Produced by Brett Meyer - Published: 2022-01-13 - Modified: 2024-02-23 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/ed-bisch-interview/ Ed Bisch didn't set out to become an activist. He was pulled into it by grief. Mr. Bisch has become one of the most well-known opioid addiction activists, stemming from the tragic loss of his son Eddie in 2001 from an OxyContin overdose. He has been featured in the New York Times, and most recently appeared with TV's Dopesick Creator Danny Strong on CNN and at a rally in Washington, DC. Bisch's story is one of profound loss in the crashing wake of the American OxyContin epidemic. This father lost his son to opioids -- now he's calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland to pursue an investigation and criminal charges against members of the Sackler family, none of whom have been charged with any crime @Dannystrong and @ejb1893 discuss pic. twitter. com/FDEnrCO3EX — The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) December 4, 2021 Ed spoke with AddictionHelp. com's Founder, Chris Carberg to discuss how he unwittingly became an advocate for the millions of innocent victims of the opioid epidemic. Q: What was your exposure or knowledge of prescription drug addiction prior to your son’s passing? Ed Bisch: I was oblivious as I was a normal person that when I went to a doctor if he prescribed something I would take it as directed. I was luckily never prescribed opioids but if I was I would have just listened to my doctor but who knows what it could have led to. Q: What is the most common misunderstanding that parents have about their children and the dangers of these substances? Ed Bisch: In 2001 when Eddie passed I had no idea kids were popping pills. I used to sneak some beers as a teen but the power of OxyContin changed that game. Now today, a lot of pills are counterfeits and made with fentanyl which has also become a deadly game changer. Q: What do you think is the best way to stop this epidemic? Ed Bisch: I wish I knew, as far as overprescribing the CDC really stepped up with revised guidelines in 2016 so today most deaths are now from counterfeit pills all over the streets. Securing our southern border would help immensely with cutting the supply and stopping the precursor chemicals from China but it is a political nightmare to even bring it up. Q: You recently appeared with Danny Strong. How much did the miniseries Dopesick capture your experiences? Ed Bisch: Dopesick which ran on HULU is spot-on. I knew it would be good since Beth Macy (author of the book Dopesick) was involved but it exceeded my wildest expectations with how they told the whole story through masterful writing by Beth and Danny. Note: Actor Michael Keaton has received a Golden Globe for his work as Dr. Samuel Finnix on Dopesick. Q: What are the three most important actions that need to be taken to hold people accountable for the careless proliferation of these drugs? Ed Bisch: (1) The architects of this man-made epidemic need to face justice and... - Published: 2021-12-24 - Modified: 2025-09-12 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/holidays-wonderful-2022/ It’s the most wonderful time of the year—until it isn’t. And maybe Christmas has never been your “thing. ” Maybe you never celebrated it growing up, or maybe you did, but the memories attached are mostly negative. Even worse, maybe you really loved Christmas, but something else has come along and robbed this holiday of all its sparkle. For me, as an adult, Christmas was every bit as magical as it was when I was a child. I have a huge family on my dad’s side. There are 6 families and 14 grandkids. I’m the oldest, and because my family is super close, I basically got to grow up alongside all of them. It’s truly like having bonus siblings that just live in different houses. One of my favorite things about this holiday was spending half of Christmas Day with my loud, wild, hilarious, amazing cousins. And then 2017 happened. Stefan was the second oldest and just a year younger than me. And while he may have left the war overseas, the war never really left him. He took his life in the summer of 2017 and we’ve never been the same. There would be no gathering, it was decided. His family (and maybe all of us) needed to keep things intimate that year. And in the days leading up to December 25th, I didn’t feel magical, or jolly, or sparkly. I wasn’t hopeful, and I found little joy in carols and movies and gifts. And I found myself haunted like Ebenezer, but not by a trio of well-meaning ghosts. Instead, the relentless grief came in waves—and it kept on for three more years. The holidays were no longer holly nor jolly; instead they became a time of gloom and despair. The following year, my Grandmama (and favorite human on the planet) received her cancer diagnosis. The Christmases after that, she was in varying stages of slipping away from us, until dying on January 1, 2020. It’s hard to put into words the depth of despair I felt during each holiday season, especially last year. The unfettered joy around me just made my sorrow more obvious, my sadness more painful. The holidays were one big reminder of everything I had lost. And I’m not the only one. Many of us find ourselves white-knuckling it through this time of year, for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re grieving, too. Maybe it’s your family (or lack thereof). Maybe you’ve failed at something. Maybe you’re struggling with addiction. Maybe it’s your finances. Maybe it’s the state of the world. Maybe it’s your brain, and the chemicals aren’t balanced. Maybe it all feels like so much, too much. There are a million reasons why this time of year is brutal. And maybe there are a million reasons why you don’t want to stick around for another season of this. But there are reasons why you should stay, too. Because we still need you—yes, you specifically. Because someone out there loves you. Because even though... - Published: 2021-12-03 - Modified: 2021-12-03 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/what-does-addiction-feel-like/ "Chris, what does addiction feel like? " Over the past 15 years, many people have asked me to describe what addiction feels like. It's easy to feel dismissive of questions like this, but the reality is people are asking because, more times than not, they want to understand it. As addicts, we often feel as though everyone is like us. But in reality, many people share traits with us yet are not addicts. Something Is Different I wanna share with you one of the most shocking things I've ever experienced. I've witnessed someone in a bar nursing a beer or cocktail for what feels like an eternity. I've seen them leave cash for their bill, stand up, and walk away with some of their drink still remaining. There’s no way I could have left an unfinished drink. But it's not an obsessive-compulsive twitch that would drive someone like me to finish the drink. As hard as it is to imagine, every remaining drop of that drink represents a part of me, a better part than my natural self. Even though I know that it's not true, there is something in my head that makes me believe that just that little bit more will fix what's missing inside of me. Addiction Feels Like a Solution You see, for me, addiction feels like an empty void that these substances briefly mask. Each pill or drop of drink covers it briefly, and at that moment, I feel truly alive. So what's the empty void? Well, it can be different for everyone. Many addicts use and abuse substances or initiate harmful behaviors differently. However, in all my years of knowing addicts, working on myself, and equally being around non-addicts, I've found that the “empty void” feeling is a somewhat consistent character. It doesn't feel the same for everyone, but the empty void appears to surface just before a binge or a bender. The empty void tells us we are missing something, like a nearly completed puzzle. That the substance will help finish the puzzle. The empty void tells us we are on the cusp of pleasure, and the substance will push us over the edge. The empty void tells us there is no hope for today or tomorrow, and the substance will numb this reality. The empty void tells us that life is boring and that the substance will give us purpose. Whether it's good or bad, anything is better than being still. As you can guess, this connective emptiness drives us to take action. And in our case, that action is self-destructive. What I Feel as I Inch Closer to the Dark, Empty Void There are genuine physical and psychological feelings I can report experiencing while operating from within my addictive behavior. For me, as I contemplate what I'm about to do, my heart beats faster, my fingers tingle, and my mind races with excitement. My brain concocts a false memory of my previous actions, stopping the playback at the moment of pleasure.... - Published: 2021-12-02 - Modified: 2026-02-24 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/introducing-addiction-help/ Why Addiction Help, Why Now? Allow Me to Introduce Myself My name is Chris Carberg, and if you were to do a Google search on me, you'd learn that I'm a great many things. Entrepreneur Copywriter Digital Marketer Actor Screenwriter Playwright Director Film Producer New York Jets Fan Christian Husband Father Son The list goes on... We are often defined by the work of our hands, identified by the words that best describe our behavior. What About You? Take a moment to think of yourself and the words used to describe you. I bet they are probably different than the words I listed. There are probably definitions for you that are things I've never even heard of. And yet, you're here. Reading this right now. Maybe the name of the website intrigued you. Maybe you're just curious. Or maybe... we're connected. What could possibly connect such different people? Mental Health Makes Strange Bed Fellows I'm all the things I listed above and more. But what I've learned is that some certain topics and subjects connect us at an almost subatomic level. In 2005, I was a 22-year-old kid who couldn't stop taking pain pills and sedatives. I couldn't stop drinking. My young life had become unmanageable. I had been prescribed medication for migraines and, over the course of two years, found myself taking handfuls of powerful opioid painkillers every day, blacking out in public, and nodding off while standing at a urinal. During that time, when I was closer to death than I realized, I was given information about myself that scared and comforted me. I suffered from "ADDICTION. " Not the kind in the movies, but the real-life thing that lives under your skin and turns you into a marionette puppet. It scared me because I never dreamed I would end up in rehab at 22. Was my life over? It also comforted me because I could see this thing had been with me all my life, in my family, weaving in and out and wearing different masks. Passion. Zeal. Excitement. Fear. All of them could be normal expressions or manifestations of addictive behavior. When my addiction was discovered, I felt a wave of relief. I remember thinking, Thank God they caught me; now it can stop. And in the same breath, I was still mentally prepared to blow everything up again for just one more hit, one more high. It's been 18 years since I took my last pill and drink. 18 years since I felt that false peace that the euphoria promises, which always morphs into self-destructive chaos. By the grace of God, it's been 18 years of new life, restored health, a beautiful family, and a meaningful career. The Road to Addiction Help I have been deeply passionate about what the web can be for self-destructive people. We know how people who enjoy inflicting harm on others can use the internet for their aims. The potential for anonymity (if desired) offered by the web means that... - Published: 2021-10-06 - Modified: 2021-11-30 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/heroin/ Heroin is one of the most dangerous illicit drugs that a person can abuse which has led to a huge increase in heroin addiction cases. Heroin is one of the most dangerous illicit drugs that a person can abuse. The effect that it can have on brain chemistry makes it very easy to become addicted and very difficult to return to sobriety. Heroin use has been on the rise for the past several years with over half a million people seeking treatment for heroin addictions every year. The history and the effects that it has on the body contribute greatly to this trend. History of Heroin Heroin was introduced to the world in 1898 almost accidentally. The Bayer company in Germany invented the substance as a possible cure for tuberculosis and as a morphine replacement. Morphine was highly abused at that time and scientists thought that heroin could be a “non-addictive” way to wean addicts off Morphine. Heroin was highly abused by soldiers during the Vietnam war because of its easy availability. In the 1990s, Heroin became associated with the AIDS crisis as an easy way to pass the disease to another person. The Effects of Heroin Heroin is a fine white powder that can be injected, smoked or sniffed into the body. On the first few uses, the user will feel an intense, euphoric high that they will try to recreate during subsequent. The body builds up a tolerance to heroin and as a result, it takes more of the drug to reach the desired effect. This increase causes heroin addiction. Withdrawal symptoms for heroin are very painful and life-threatening, discouraging people from completing treatment for the disease. Availability of Heroin It is estimated that over 9. 2 million people in the world take heroin and every year the numbers increase on every continent. Heroin is one of the more inexpensive drugs, making it easily accessible to a variety of demographics. Increase in Heroin Use Since 2007, Heroin use has more than doubled in the United States in all demographics. In 2013, heroin claimed four times as many lives as it did in 2000. Experts believe it could be related to the increase in prescription opioid ddiction and the fact that heroin is relatively cheap to purchase. Although it used to have a stigma as a drug for the low-income populations, heroin has emerged as a popular drug of choice for high classes of people. Finding Treatment for Heroin Addiction It is important to realize that any addiction can be overcome with the right treatment and help from a medical professional. Contact a local heroin rehabilitation center if you believe a loved one may be suffering from a heroin addiction. - Published: 2015-10-29 - Modified: 2021-11-30 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/intervention/ Addiction is a powerful disease that can take complete control over someone’s life. Learn how to help them without pushing them away. Addiction is a powerful disease that can take complete control over someone’s life. Achieving sobriety is a lengthy and uncomfortable process which dissuades many from getting the help they need. When a loved one or family member will not willingly enter treatment for addiction or come to terms with their problem, it may be necessary to perform an intervention. What is an Intervention? An intervention is a structured meeting arranged to convince someone that they should seek help for an addiction. Interventions are not specific to any addiction and can be tailored to address a particular issue such as alcoholism or gambling. Participants will usually gather together at a prearranged location and create their statements before the subject of the intervention arrives. It is recommended that a licensed professional or counselor be present to facilitate the meeting objectively. They can lead conversation, intervene if the discussion is disrupted and recommend treatment options. How To Prepare Careful planning is needed to ensure that an intervention runs smoothly and achieves its goal. Here are some tips on how to stage an effective intervention: Create a plan: When someone proposes holding an intervention, it is typically the result of the subject’s denial of their addiction. Forming the right group of people can be a difficult task. Family members, friends and coworkers who can provide thoughtful statements of concern. Form thoughtful statements: In order to break their denial, participants must present convincing and specific evidence of the detrimental impact that addiction has had on the subject’s life. Statements should remain hopeful and sympathetic to avoid the subject feeling ambushed. Statements should also include emotional appeals to the subject offering support, encouragement and reassurance that seeking treatment will improve their life. Determine Consequences: Interventions can easily become emotionally charged due to the very delicate subject matters. In these cases it is helpful to have an objective professional present to steer conversations and intervene if tensions arise or conversations get hostile. Participants must also prepare what they will say if the subject does not agree to seek treatment. Threatening a consequence if the subject refuses treatment is compelling. Arranging the meeting: Choosing a time and a place for an intervention is important to its success. The location should be one where the subject is comfortable and feels safe to be vulnerable in. Interventions are secretive and should only be revealed to the subject at the time of the intervention. Support the subject: Once the intervention has finished and a decision regarding treatment has been made, it is important to support the subject. Treatment for addiction can be a long and arduous process and the subject will not succeed if they do not have a reliable support system. The Goals of an Intervention Staging a successful intervention requires patience and careful planning. Everyone involved must do their part and be stern in their appeals and offer realistic consequences. Although it is difficult to determine what the outcome will be, bringing awareness and offering support to loved ones... - Published: 2015-10-29 - Modified: 2024-06-04 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/demographics/ As drug and alcohol use increase yearly, it is important to remember that addiction can affect the lives of anyone, despite age, gender, religion and race. As drug and alcohol use increases yearly, it is important to remember that addiction can affect the lives of anyone, despite age, gender, religion and race. Learning more about the demographics of addiction can help shed valuable light on where the problems lie and how best to solve them. Teenage Addiction Teenagers are the youngest and the largest group to be affected by drug addiction with alcohol and marijuana being the most accessible. There are approximately three million teenagers that are addicted to alcohol and half of all teenagers that try alcohol will become heavy users of it. Despite research and abstinence programs, teenagers do not fully understand the repercussions of alcohol use despite its legality. 6. 5% of high school seniors smoke marijuana on a daily basis and every year the numbers increase. Adderall and other stimulants are also commonly abused by teenagers as an aid to concentration and focus. College Addiction College has a reputation of being a time for young adults to experiment with drugs and alcohol, but when left unchecked this abuse can quickly lead to a life-long addiction. The independence that students find while away at college and the easy availability of drugs and alcohol make this a very dangerous time for young adults. About 80% of college students drink alcohol heavily which leads to the deaths of 1,825 students annually. Heavy abuse of alcohol can lead to poor academic performance and addiction. “Party drugs” such as LSD and ecstasy have been popular at colleges since the 60s and continue to be dangerous gateway drugs. Adult Addiction Drug addiction is on the rise in most age demographics but most surprisingly, there is an increase in drug addiction for adults aged 50-59. Most believe that it can be traced to the success of the pharmaceutical industry and the increase of dangerous drugs prescribed by doctors. As people get older, they require more medications to manage their health problems. Doctors are quick to prescribe multiple high-dosage medications without regulating the patient’s intake. Alcohol has always been a large source of addiction in adults, but it was never demonized because of the social acceptance. Alcoholism and the major complications that come from it is one of the leading causes of death for people in this age group. Abuse by Gender In general, men are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than women although there are discrepancies in the type of drug usually abused. Men are more likely to abuse performance-enhancer and stimulants while women are more likely to develop addictions to painkiller and fat-burners. Finding Treatment No matter what age or gender a person is, finding treatment for addiction is always an option. If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, talk to a medical professional about finding the best treatment. - Published: 2015-10-29 - Modified: 2024-08-07 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/blog/pregnancy/ Addiction poses a serious risk (sometimes fatal) to the health of anyone who suffers from it, especially dangerous for women who are pregnant. Addiction poses a serious risk to the health of anyone who suffers from it. Addiction makes people susceptible to overdose and long-term complications such as heart disease and cancer. However, addiction poses a particularly large threat to a fetus when the mother continues using drugs during pregnancy. It can result in serious health risks for both the mother and the unborn child. Substance abuse and addiction during pregnancy may lead to many complications, including premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy can also affect the development of the baby's brain, leading to long-term behavioral and cognitive problems. It's important to note that there is no safe level of drug or alcohol use during pregnancy. Even small amounts can have devastating effects. Fetal alcohol syndrome When a mother excessively drinks during her pregnancy, the fetus is exposed to alcohol as well. Children still in the womb are underdeveloped, and their livers do not process alcohol as quickly or in the same way that adults would. Exposure to alcohol causes birth defects, abnormalities and developmental disabilities in children. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a permanent condition and the children will have atypical facial features and mood, attention and anger disorders for all their lives. Opioid Abuse Opioids such as Heroin, Vicodin and OxyContin should never be used during a pregnancy because of the risks they pose on the baby and mother. When a woman has a dependence to an opioid, abstaining from using causes withdrawal symptoms. While withdrawal symptoms are not usually fatal to the drug user, babies in the womb have the chance of developing acute opioid abstinence syndrome. This means that when the mother stops taking the drugs, the baby also goes through withdrawal symptoms, but does not have a developed immune system to help ward away effects. Studies have shown that the babies of mothers who used drugs while pregnant were more like yo have congenital heart defects, fetal growth restriction, fetal death and preterm labor. Marijuana Use Many do not believe that smoking marijuana has any adverse affects on their health, however, smoking marijuana after the first trimester of pregnancy can cause birth defects, premature birth, low birth weight, behavioral and learning problems and even miscarriages. Smoking marijuana increases the levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the blood. This cuts off oxygen supply to the baby. Cocaine Use The consequences of cocaine use during pregnancy all depend on when in the pregnancy it is abused. During the early months, cocaine exposure can increase the risk of miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, cocaine use can lead to placental abruption, preterm birth, and fetal death. Babies exposed to cocaine can also be born dependent to the substance and suffer from withdrawal symptoms like tremors, sleeplessness, muscle spasms and feeding difficulties. Legal Consequences for Drug Use Currently, only one state has laws that prosecute women for using illegal drugs during pregnancy. Other states have laws that force mothers... ## Contributors - Published: 2025-02-04 - Modified: 2025-04-01 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/contributors/michael-moesch/ Michael Moesch is a seasoned digital entrepreneur, co-founder of AddictionHelp. com, and a dedicated advocate for accessible addiction and mental health resources. With a career spanning over a decade in digital strategy, community engagement, and public relations, Michael has played a pivotal role in shaping AddictionHelp. com into a trusted resource for individuals and families seeking guidance, education, and support on the road to recovery. A Passion for Digital Advocacy Michael’s journey in the digital space began with a deep passion for using technology to connect people with life-changing resources. His expertise in SEO, content strategy, and digital marketing has allowed AddictionHelp. com to reach millions, providing critical information and support to those struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. Beyond his technical expertise, Michael is deeply invested in fostering a compassionate and informed community. Through strategic outreach initiatives, public relations efforts, and partnerships with leading experts in the field, he ensures that AddictionHelp. com remains at the forefront of advocacy and education in the addiction recovery space. Committed to Making a Difference Michael’s commitment to empowering individuals extends beyond digital strategy—he believes in providing people with the tools and knowledge they need to take control of their recovery journey. Whether through innovative online resources, educational campaigns, or collaborative initiatives, his work is centered on making high-quality, accessible information available to those who need it most. Today, Michael continues to lead digital growth and engagement at AddictionHelp. com, ensuring the platform remains a beacon of hope for individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction and mental health. - Published: 2024-12-11 - Modified: 2025-02-03 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/contributors/brooke-helton/ Meet Brooke Helton Brooke Helton is a freelance writer passionate about wellness topics, especially the relationship between physical and mental health. As a contributor to AddictionHelp. com, she’s proud to combine her writing and research skills to inform and empower people impacted by substance abuse. You can also find her health work in media outlets like Forbes Health, Business Insider, mindbodygreen, Fortune Recommends, HelpGuide, and more. Writing Journey & Passion for Wellness Brooke began writing professionally in 2020 after previously studying art and graphic design. Through her struggles with a chronic illness, she learned firsthand how lifestyle changes can impact your overall well-being. She blended this passion for wellness with her love of writing to launch her freelance career. She’s happily contributed articles to national and global media outlets, wellness brands, and health websites like Addiction Help. In her work with AddictionHelp. com, Brooke gathers research from government bodies, scientific studies, and other reputable sources to provide up-to-date facts about substance abuse. She then breaks these complex topics down into easy-to-understand articles that help readers understand the impact of addiction on the brain and body and learn about treatment options. When she’s not writing about herself in the third person, Brooke enjoys catching up on her Kindle backlog, tending the vegetable garden, and curating the perfect interior design Pinterest board. She lives in Tennessee with her beloved rescue cats. - Published: 2024-11-09 - Modified: 2025-02-03 - URL: https://www.addictionhelp.com/contributors/kerilyn-ward-bsn-rn/ Kerilyn Ward, BSN, RN is a compassionate Registered Nurse specializing in maternal and neonatal health. Focusing on supporting drug-affected mothers and their infants, she combines medical expertise with empathy to empower her patients and educate them on healthy lifestyles. Through her writing on AddictionHelp. com, she reaches a broader audience, offering practical insights into health and recovery. Meet Kerilyn Ward Kerilyn Ward, BSN, RN, has been a dedicated Registered Nurse for 10 years. At the core of her career, she is deeply committed to helping and serving others. From the beginning, she was drawn to healthcare by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Her work reflects this passion, as she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her patients receive the highest standard of care. Throughout her career, Kerilyn has worked with drug-addicted mothers and their infants, a role that requires both medi