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Why Alcohol Abuse is on the Rise for Women

The number of men with alcohol use disorder exceeds the number of women with with the disease, but research indicates that women may be narrowing the gap.1 In fact, among adults, alcohol use is increasing for women but not for men.2 So, why is alcohol consumption on the rise for women? Let’s take a look at […]

Are Transfer Addiction and Cross Addiction Supported by Medical Research?
Mar 5, 2024

Sometimes, information seems to take on a life of its own, particularly if it’s found on the internet. A seemingly reputable (and perhaps well-intentioned) source puts out info, someone else sees it and creates similar content, everyone assumes it’s true (because multiple sources are talking about it), and away we go into the Land of […]

Substance Use Disorders and Treatment: Men vs. Women
Feb 23, 2024

How different are men and women when it comes to substance use disorders and addiction treatment? Which gender uses more illicit substances? Are men or women more likely to die of illegal or prescription drug overdose? Which gender is more susceptible to relapse? Insights from the Substance Use in Women Research Report—available from the National […]

Sober St. Patrick’s Day: 6 Ways to Celebrate While Sober
Feb 23, 2024

Most people associate St. Patrick’s Day with raucous parties, historic parades, and copious amounts of alcohol. But the holiday’s origins have little to do with these associations. According to insights from the History Channel, St. Patrick’s Day is historically a Roman Catholic celebration marking the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland (who, […]

Matters of the Heart: How Alcohol Affects Your Cardiovascular System
Feb 19, 2024

Did you know that heavy drinking over time—or even too much on one occasion—can damage your heart? Alcohol misuse can lead to strokes even in people without pre-existing heart disease. It can also contribute to high blood pressure, impact heart rate, and cause alcohol-associated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder […]

Racism, Health Inequities, and What it Means for Black People with Substance Use Disorders
Feb 2, 2024

How Racism Impacts Health and Treatment Among Black People Over the last several years, there has been increasing evidence indicating that structural factors are the fundamental cause of health inequities, which result in poor health outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities. Black people as well as other racial and ethnic minorities with a substance use […]

Eating Disorders and Substance Addiction: The Importance of Simultaneous Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
Jan 23, 2024

Substance use disorders (SUDs) often go hand in hand with mental health disorders—such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. There’s even a term for the simultaneous existence of these two conditions: co-occurring disorder.1 However, some people fail to realize that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating, etc. are mental health issues. […]

What is a Functioning Alcoholic? Signs of High-Functioning Alcoholism
Jan 16, 2024

What is a High-Functioning Alcoholic? While some of the criteria used to diagnose an AUD include an inability to control drinking even after it has caused issues at their job or in their personal life, someone who is a “high-functioning alcoholic” may not demonstrate this diagnostic criteria. However, they may meet other criteria that leads […]

What Is a Dry Drunk?
Jan 16, 2024

A History of the ‘Dry Drunk’ The term dry drunk syndrome was originally coined by the creators of the 12-Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. Author R.J. Solberg defined the term in his 1970 book, The Dry Drunk Syndrome, as “the presence of actions and attitudes that characterized the alcoholic prior to recovery.” Someone struggling with dry […]

Blurred Lines: Alcohol Consumption by Americans
Jan 16, 2024

Blurred Lines: 1 in 5 Americans admit lying to their doctor about how much alcohol they consume. Half of drinkers would ignore their doctor’s advice to cut down their alcohol intake. Men are more likely to lie about their drinking than women. Infographic included on why not to lie about your drinking habits.  It’s no […]

Stages of Alcoholism: Early, Chronic and End Stage
Jan 16, 2024

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2012, an estimated 7.2 percent of American adults aged 18 and older, approximately 17 million people, had a diagnosable alcohol use disorder. Men have alcohol use disorder almost twice as often as women; of the estimated 17 million affected […]

Alcohol Moderation Management: Programs and Steps to Control Drinking
Jan 16, 2024

What is Alcohol Moderation Management? Alcohol moderation management is a form of harm reduction for those struggling with the consequences of alcohol use and who do not have an alcoholism issue. Alcohol moderation is not the same as alcohol abstinence. Those who suffer from drinking problems, in general, do not respond well to a one-size-fits-all […]

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