About tobacco addiction
Living with addiction isn’t just about chemical hooks or lack of willpower. There are layers beneath the surface that keep us stuck in the loop. I’ve spent plenty of time reading about, talking with, and reflecting on addiction, and it’s clear that the reasons people hold onto addictive habits are both complicated and deeply human. … Read more
Addiction can pop up in the lives of people from all sorts of backgrounds. I’ve seen firsthand how the old stereotypes about who struggles with substance use and why just don’t match up with reality. The truth is, addiction doesn’t care how much money you make, where you live, or what you believe. These real … Read more
Recovering from a chronic illness can feel like a true mental and physical roller coaster. While people often focus on the physical side of healing—managing symptoms, attending appointments, and slowly rebuilding strength—the emotional side of recovery can be just as challenging. Whether someone is learning to live with a lifelong condition or recovering from a … Read more
Relapse is something most people in recovery think about at some point. While the first few months after quitting a substance, like alcohol or drugs, can be the most intense, a surprising number of relapses actually happen after six months or longer. I’ve seen this pattern play out over and over, and there are some … Read more
Self-medication isn’t new, but when it comes to dealing with stress, it’s something I see all the time. Lately, more people reach for over-the-counter pills, herbal remedies, or even a glass of wine just to take the edge off a tough day. While this might look harmless at first, self-medicating for stress can quickly lead … Read more
When it comes to addiction, friendships can shift from supportive to harmful in subtle but powerful ways. Friends often play an important role in providing encouragement, comfort, and accountability during difficult times. However, in the context of addiction, even well-intentioned friends may unintentionally enable unhealthy behaviors. Enabling can happen when someone minimizes the seriousness of … Read more
Black masculinity has historically been shaped by rigid expectations, stereotypes, and social pressures that define how Black men are expected to behave. Cultural narratives often emphasize strength, toughness, independence, and emotional control, leaving little room for vulnerability or open expressions of pain. Within this context, substance use and addiction can emerge in the lives of … Read more
Most people know that smoking isn’t just tough on your lungs. It messes with your entire body. One thing that often flies under the radar is how abnormal fat (also called ectopic fat) from smoking cigarettes can sneak its way into organs and cause health problems that you might not even expect. If you’re curious … Read more
If you or someone you care about is navigating addiction recovery, it’s common to wonder whether therapy or self-help is the better path. With so much information available—from professional treatment programs to books, online communities, and peer support groups—it can feel overwhelming to decide which approach will be most effective. Therapy offers structured guidance from … Read more
Addiction science is an incredibly interesting field, and it’s a topic that’s on a lot of people’s minds. I find that questions about why some people develop addictions, while others don’t, come up all the time. It’s a tricky subject since there’s no single answer. Does addiction happen because of your genetics, or is it … Read more