First Step is proud to support International Overdose Awareness Day. This is a day that allows us to honor the families of those who have fallen to drug addiction. We can promote awareness for this plague in the U.S. Every year, thousands of people die from overdoses to illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol. This…
Getting off drugs is a monumental step in life. It’s the first of many accomplishments that you’ll take along your journey in recovery. Maybe you’ve been free of drugs for one month or maybe it’s been three months. However long it’s been, you have made the best choice for your life and your future. Now…
Xanax is a medication prescribed by physicians for generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and other conditions such as seizures or alcohol withdrawal. However, most physicians don’t prescribe for the long term, but some may depending on your situation. If you regularly take Xanax and alcohol, then there is the potential for polysubstance abuse. This problem is…
There are two approaches to deal with substance use disorder. These are harm reduction and abstinence. However, there has been controversy on what precisely is the difference between the two methods. Let’s delve deeper to understand the difference between harm reduction vs abstinence. Harm Reduction Harm reduction therapy refers to a set of strategies aimed at…
There are differences between social drinking vs alcoholism. Depending on the extent of our social drinking, these differences may be small and hard to detect. Social drinking implies that you do not drink all that often. Some social groups do drink quite a lot and often, where you stand in a situation like that could…
There are more men in the United States struggling with drugs and alcohol addiction than women, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The reason behind this is that men respond differently to seeking help compared to women. Men, therefore, tend to suffer more effects and struggle in their recovery process. As we celebrate…
Cocaine and alcohol are two substances that people commonly use together in cases of addiction. Alcohol is a suppressant, while cocaine is a stimulant. There are many reasons why a person might become addicted to this combination. One of the more popular reasons is that individuals use cocaine as a way to sober up from…
If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse or addiction, you might have considered finding a treatment center. Without having been through a program before, you probably want to know: what is rehab like? Like many things, rehabs come in all different varieties. Traditional treatment centers for substance abuse abide by the…
Historically, the phrase “gateway drug” has most often referred to the use of marijuana, as it was seen as a softer drug that heightened the probability of people trying more dangerous and addictive substances. The concept of gateway drugs is somewhat controversial as it hosts a variety of oppositional factors. In the general sense, gateway…
National Mental Health Awareness Month is an annual event that occurs throughout the month of May. Its purpose is to spread awareness about mental illness and break surrounding stigmas that can disrupt a person’s well-being. With the help of campaigns and open discourse, the general attitude and associations toward mental illness have seen a shift…