Alcohol use is embedded in American culture. Legal and easily accessible, alcohol use is widely promoted everywhere you look. Plenty of people can drink alcohol without developing a problem. However, it is estimated that 15 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder. The terms abuse and addiction are often used interchangeably, but they are different. […]
Research on substance use disorders and mental health disorders depicts strong evidence for consistent links between the two. Approximately half of Americans who have substance use disorders also have mental health disorders and vice-versa. While it cannot be said that one causes the other, the two are complexly intertwined. When these disorders coincide, it is […]
Compared to the general population, the rates of mental health disorders and substance use disorders are significantly higher among the LGBTQ community. Members of the LGBTQ community are at increased risk of experiencing trauma centered around shame, discrimination, abuse, acts of violence, and hate crimes. At Westwind Recovery®, all of our treatment programs and sober […]
Wilderness therapy, also called adventure therapy, combines nature and survival experiences with rehabilitation therapy to treat mental health disorders and substance use disorders. The activities in wilderness therapy are designed to foster the recovery process by creating positive learning experiences in nature. Experiential therapies are those that use expressive tools and activities to help clients […]
In 2016, the World Health Organization classified stress as the most significant health epidemic of the 21st century. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported stress, anxiety, and depression rates have substantially risen worldwide. Anxiety is often linked with substance use disorders. Many who suffer from anxiety disorders turn to drugs or alcohol to […]
Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most significant problems facing the healthcare system. Much of the efforts to reduce addiction rates focus on prevention because it is better to stop addiction than to treat it after it has occurred. Prevention involves having an understanding of the risk factors for addiction. Research indicates that […]
Analgesics is the medical term for painkillers. Painkillers fall into four distinct categories: non-opioid, anti-inflammatory, compound, and opioid. Some painkillers are over-the-counter (OTC), while others require a prescription. All painkillers can be misused, and even OTC painkillers can negatively impact the body in certain circumstances. Compound painkillers can be potentially addictive, while opioid painkillers are […]
