America’s “War on Drugs” didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. It emerged from a set of decisions, policies, and attitudes that have influenced U.S. law and society for decades. While multiple presidents stamped their influence on the nation’s drug policy, one leader’s name surfaces repeatedly as the one who set this movement in motion: … Read more
College campuses encourage independence and experimentation, exposing many students to substances for the first time. Social pressure, stress, and curiosity play major roles. While the most commonly used college drug is widely known and socially accepted, its impact goes beyond prevalence, involving patterns of use, mental health effects, and risk of dependency. Most Common Drug … Read more
When someone mentions addiction, most people picture substances like drugs or alcohol. But if I had to pick the #1 addiction in today’s world, it’s not a substance at all; it’s our attachment to smartphones and digital technology. This kind of addiction is everywhere, often goes unnoticed, and changes how we think, act, and even … Read more
Understanding which country has the highest addiction rate is far more complex than pointing to one nation and labeling it “the worst.” Addiction statistics depend heavily on how addiction is defined, what substances or behaviors are included, and how data is collected and reported. Some countries track alcohol use disorders in detail but underreport illicit … Read more
Addiction can be a tough and confusing topic to understand because it isn’t just about what someone is using or doing too much. It’s about what’s happening inside a person on different levels. When people talk about the “threefold disease of addiction,” they’re pointing to a way of understanding addiction that covers the body, mind, … Read more
Dopamine is a brain chemical that gets talked about a lot, and for good reason. It’s deeply involved in our motivation, pleasure, focus, and even movement. Whenever someone brings up the idea of a drug that “releases the most dopamine,” it’s clear they’re curious about what really gets those reward circuits firing in the brain. … Read more
AA membership has been declining steadily over the past decade, even as substance misuse continues to affect millions of individuals and families across communities. Having spent years involved in addiction recovery spaces, I’ve watched these trends closely and reflected on what they may signal for people who are considering Alcoholics Anonymous as a pathway to … Read more
Addiction recovery can be a long and challenging process, not just for those facing it firsthand but also for their families and communities. While many people hope for a straightforward path toward lasting sobriety, the reality is a lot more complicated. Addiction consistently ranks as one of the toughest health issues to treat, with lower … Read more
Teen drug use is something I’ve spent a fair bit of time thinking about, mostly because it comes up so often in conversations among parents, teachers, and people working with young folks. Plenty of stories and headlines seem to focus on “hard” drugs, but the real picture is a little different. The most commonly used … Read more
The 1-2-3 drinking rule is a handy guideline for moderating alcohol consumption and keeping social drinking in check. This simple formula, created by addiction experts and encouraged by some health organizations, helps people track how much they drink in a way that’s easy to remember and put to use in real-life settings. I’ve seen this … Read more