Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol
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 […]
LGBTQ Trauma and Addiction
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 for Addiction
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 […]
Long-Term Effects of Painkillers on the Body
The way pain is experienced is through how the body communicates with the brain. When pain is present, the central nervous system sends signals to opioid receptors in the brain, alerting the brain to discomfort. When an individual takes painkillers, two things happen: the central nervous system is depressed, making it harder for pain signals [...]
Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction
Most people acquire prescription drugs legally from their doctor for legitimate reasons, take them as prescribed, and stop taking them when the prescription is out. Too frequently, however, people come to enjoy the psychoactive effects of certain drugs and begin to misuse them. The misuse of prescription drugs involves taking them in any way other [...]
Healthy Ways to Address a Family History of Addiction
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 […]
Art Therapy for Addiction
In the broadest terms, “art” is a form of communication. Art is an expression of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and observations, no matter what form it takes. Art is music, dancing, painting, drawing, pottery, sewing, photography, sculpting, poetry—it is all-encompassing. At Westwind Recovery®, we understand that sometimes it can be difficult to find the words to […]
Alcohol Detox Timeline
Choosing to quit drinking can be a life-changing decision, especially when someone suffers from alcohol abuse or addiction. As is the case with all addictive substances, the downside of quitting is that you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe, depending on your history of alcohol consumption. […]
Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription medications are used daily by millions of Americans to treat conditions ranging from anxiety to pain management. There are several classifications of prescription medications, many of which have a high risk for misuse, dependency, and addiction. Opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Studies on prescription drug […]
