The Importance of Family Involvement in Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. So much so, that many professionals refer to addiction as a “family disease.” Dr. Joseph Lee, CEO at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation describes addiction in the family this way: “Even though we know addiction is a disease, there are behavioral aspects that hurt families. People […]
Alcohol Misuse and Abuse: Withdrawal Symptoms & The Detox Process
The abuse of alcohol could be considered a byproduct of popular culture. There is no shortage of opportunities to drink socially. Now that pandemic restrictions are being relaxed globally, happy hours, work functions, holiday parties, and gatherings at bars or restaurants are a part of day-to-day life. There is really no debating it, alcohol consumption […]
The Link Between Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Substance Abuse
A recent study from the University of Pittsburgh with data from the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization found that as temperatures and sunlight hours decrease, alcohol consumption and binge drinking increase. Shorter hours of sunlight and cooler temperatures also correlates with higher rates of depression, which is also linked to an increase […]
The Plum Creek Recovery Ranch Difference
Plum Creek Recovery Ranch is an advanced, unique substance abuse treatment facility located on a working ranch outside of Austin, Texas. Our treatment programs are designed to create a more impactful recovery experience for our residents and their families. According to the Mayo Clinic, drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that […]
Express Yourself! Using Art Therapy to Help Treat Addiction
Art therapy is a type of experiential therapy that incorporates painting, drawing, sculpting, coloring, and other creative mediums in a therapeutic setting to help clients move forward in their journey to recovery. Here is how our friends at the Butler Center for Research explain this type of therapy: “Experiential therapy (including art therapy) involves a […]
5 Steps to Improving Your Mental Health
Your mental health plays such an important role in your life and the lives of your loved ones – protecting and enhancing mental wellbeing is essential to living a healthy life. When you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside! According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from […]
Busting Myths About Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
When it comes to medication-assisted treatment (or “MAT”) as a tool used in addiction treatment, there are many questions and misunderstandings. Let’s debunk some myths about MAT with help from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Journal of Addiction Medicine (JAMA), […]
Telehealth and Addiction Treatment – Does it Work?
Telehealth is not a new concept for health service providers. The practice goes back as far as the 1950’s and was used as an alternative for those who needed an alternative to a face-to-face visit with their healthcare provider. Because of the global pandemic and the efforts used to help slow the spread of the […]
10 Truths About Drug Addiction, Treatment and Recovery
The concept of addiction as a disease is not new. Yet, many people still believe that the person struggling with an alcohol or substance use disorder has a character defect, lacks morals, or simply has no willpower to overcome the strong desire to drink or use drugs. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines […]
How to Recognize the Signs of Opioid Overdose and Act
Nearly 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2020- that’s a 30% increase over the previous year. The vast majority of these deaths were caused by an opioid overdose. Opioids include fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. It can feel hopeless to watch a loved one struggle with opioid addiction. Preparing for the […]