Addiction counseling requires skill, consistency, and a real commitment to create lasting change for people. The 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling provide a clear roadmap that guides counselors through every stage of treatment. From initial contact through ongoing support, aftercare, and relapse prevention, these functions help ensure that care is ethical, organized, and effective. … Read more
If you spend any time online or chatting with teenagers and young adults, you’ll notice that Gen Z has totally different interests and habits compared to earlier generations. Born roughly between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z grew up in a digital-first world where trends spread fast, and tech is at the center of nearly everything. … Read more
The story of pain relief goes way back, long before prescription bottles lined our medicine cabinets. If you’ve ever wondered what people reached for when pain struck in ancient times, you’re about to find out. I’m walking you through the world’s oldest painkiller, sharing how it shaped traditional remedies and even modern medicine. The Origin … Read more
When you hear the phrase “the oldest drug in the world,” it’s easy to imagine something pulled from an ancient apothecary shelf or a long-forgotten herbal remedy. In reality, the answer is both more fascinating and more nuanced, because it depends on how we define a “drug.” Is it any substance that alters the body … Read more
If you’ve been looking into addiction treatment models, something you might have come across is the 7-Dimensional Addiction Treatment Model. This approach has made a real difference for a lot of people—not just those seeking recovery but also families and counselors trying to understand the bigger picture of addiction. So, here’s a detailed look at … Read more
Staying sober can be one of the most challenging journeys a person undertakes, especially during that first year of recovery. For many people, the early months require far more than just avoiding substances; they demand major lifestyle changes, emotional adjustment, and often a complete reshaping of daily routines and social circles. Old habits, environments, and … Read more
The addiction cycle helps explain why breaking free from substance use is often far more complex than simply “stopping.” Addiction isn’t driven by willpower alone—it follows a predictable pattern of changes in the brain’s reward, stress, and decision-making systems that reinforce continued use over time. These biological and psychological shifts create a repeating loop that … Read more
The story of America’s first illegal drug is about far more than a single substance being outlawed. It reflects a turning point in how politics, culture, race, and public fear began shaping national drug policy. Long before modern debates over addiction and public health, early drug laws were driven by social anxieties, economic interests, and … Read more
The phrase “drug with the highest death rate” sounds pretty intense, but it’s a real and important issue that strikes at the core of public health, addiction, and society’s rules. With so many substances available, both legal and illegal, figuring out which one claims the most lives involves exploring a complicated mix of statistics, user … Read more
Drug use among teens is a big topic for families, teachers, and anyone who looks after young people. It tends to pop up in conversations and headlines every so often, and there’s always curiosity about what drugs are most common among teenagers today. If you look at the numbers, there’s a clear number one: alcohol. … Read more