NARCONON BLOG

ADDICTION

Healthy Habits and Recovery

It’s pretty safe to say that people want to live the healthiest lives that they can. That applies to just about anyone, not just those who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. By and large, people want to safeguard their physical and mental...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Human Trafficking and Drug Abuse

The terms “human trafficking” and “drug abuse” are terms that invoke senses of anguish, and despair. Human trafficking and drug abuse are terrible occurrences, and both occur in the U.S. and the world.

ADDICTION

Needle Exchange Programs and Safe Injection Sites are Not the Answer to the Drug Problem

Needle exchange programs are one of the more controversial approaches to the drug problem. Safe injection sites even more so. Both methods fall under the category of harm reduction. The goal behind harm reduction is to reduce the harm in drug use.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Opiates Show Little Effect At Easing Post Surgical Pain in Male Only Procedure

A recent article in U.S. News reported on a new study published in The Journal of Urology. The data suggests that taking opiate-based painkillers after a vasectomy does not improve pain control. Furthermore, taking such drugs after a vasectomy is also...

ADDICTION

Can We Please Quit Calling Excessive Use of Technology an Addiction?

There’s been a lot of talk about the addictive nature of tech, the internet, cell phones, and social media. From the Help Guide to Consumer Affairs and countless other publications, big media centers and online resources are beginning to report on the...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why Will it Cost $800 Million the First Year to Bring Oklahoma’s Opioid Problem Under Control?

In an Oklahoma courtroom, state attorneys claim that Johnson & Johnson should pay their fair share for their role in creating the opioid epidemic that claimed thousands of lives in the state. Why will this cost more than $800 million the first year?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

As Demand for Illicit Substances Grows, Drug Distribution Networks Continue to Evolve

When my parents and grandparents were growing up, there were only a couple of drugs readily available: alcohol and tobacco. Some people slipped into alcoholism and others may have ruined their health by smoking too much and too long.

DRUG INFORMATION

Why Synthetic Drugs Might be the Deadliest, Most Damaging Drugs in the World

With so much focus on the harm coming from opioids, it would be easy to overlook the deadly threat coming from synthetics. This ever-changing list of drugs can wreak havoc among drug users who might not even know what chemical they are buying.

DRUG REHABILITATION

Should I Call the Cops on My Addicted Son or Daughter?

This is a difficult question that the parents of addicts sometimes have to ask. “Should I call the cops on my addicted son or daughter?” In the following paragraphs, we’ll look at some of the pros and cons of doing so. We’ll look at the support...

ADDICTION

Should I Get a Pet After Rehab?

Who feels better in the presence of pets? Can I see a show of hands? I know I do. Growing up in the rural Midwest, an Australian Shepherd dog was always at my side, everywhere I went.

DRUG REHABILITATION

What Works in Ensuring Long-Term Recovery?

For anyone who has a family member or loved one who is addicted or is in recovery, the big question is this. “How can we guarantee long-term recovery?” We know how dangerous relapses are. We know about the ever-present risk of an overdose. We know...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why is the Northeast Hit Hardest by Opiate Deaths?

It is no mystery that the United States is struggling with a drug addiction crisis. In October of 2017, the opioid epidemic alone (just one facet of America's addiction problem) was declared a Public Health Emergency. Drug addiction has spread across the...

ADDICTION

Getting Out in Nature – A True Benefit to Recovery

The famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, used to go out into the woods to find inspiration for his architecture. Known for his surreal home designs, Wright found inspiration for his homes in places where there were no homes. He found motivation from nature.

DRUG REHABILITATION

The Importance of Offering REAL Treatment Options to Inmates

Recidivism, the revolving door nature of the prison system provides significant barriers to rehabilitating criminal behavior. Much of this is because offenders are put in a prison system that does not address the underlying reasons why they did something...

ADDICTION

U.S. States Most Affected by the Fentanyl Epidemic?

Fentanyl is reported in the headlines as a killer, but it is not assaulting all U.S. States equally. Which states are suffering the greatest losses?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Yesterday's Battle Against Big Tobacco, Today's Battle Against Big Pharma

A cursory glance at recent headlines will reveal story after story of huge, multi-billion dollar pharma companies being sued for the part they played in the creation of the opiate epidemic. Now the cat is out of the bag, one could say, and the American...

ADDICTION

Supporting Employee's – The Importance of Fostering a Drug-Free Work Environment

In a country where drug addiction statistics are on the rise, it’s not a surprise that drug use among employees is a growing problem. This is particularly harmful too, as one employee's addiction harms all the other employees and the place of employment.

ADDICTION

More Alcoholic Beverages to Choose From Equals More Alcohol Consumption

The alcohol market is expanding. A lot of people don't drink, not because they have something against alcohol necessarily, but simply because they don't like the taste of alcohol. Yet it seems as though alcohol companies are trying to broaden their target...

ADDICTION

The Coming Winter Season – Sunlight, Warmth, Vitamin D, and Avoiding Substance Abuse in Colder Months

Most people gravitate to sunny days over gray ones. Most tend to enjoy warm weather over cold. Most would prefer a day with 16 hours of sunlight over one with just half that.

DRUG INFORMATION

Male Marijuana Use and… Miscarriage???

When we examine the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, we usually think of the person who is using the substance. But the truth is, drug and alcohol use harms those close to the user too. Family members are affected, as are coworkers, friends, etc.