American Addiction Centers Blog

Substance Misuse and Women Biologically, women are different. Sex hormones may make women more sensitive to substance use. For instance, as a result of substance use, women may experience adverse cardiovascular and neurological effects differently than men. Additionally, certain substances may cause panic attacks, anxiety, or depression in women. Furthermore, research indicates that women, who […]

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, unease, and/or fear that’s often accompanied by physical feelings such as nausea and chest tightness. “Hangxiety” (i.e., hangover anxiety), on the other hand, involves anxiety-like feelings that occur after drinking alcohol, most often following a night of drinking. Studies have found that alcohol can cause anxiety, especially when consumed […]

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

We hear it all the time: Substance misuse doesn’t discriminate. Each year, individuals from all walks of life—regardless of educational background, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or occupation—meet the criteria for a substance use or alcohol use disorder. In fact, in 2021, 16.5% of Americans aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder. […]

Recovery is a very personal journey. For most, early recovery involves focusing on their well-being; establishing boundaries; finding a healthy routine; seeking and receiving support; growing emotionally, mentally, and perhaps spiritually. It’s a time for lots of self-reflection and self-help to re-establish a positive personal identity. By nature, humans are social beings, and healthy relationships […]

Empowerment. Support. Sobriety. These three words describe the Sober Black Girls Club, a safe online community where Black women, girls, and nonbinary people can share their struggles with substance use and also find resources, inspiration, and motivation to help them—wherever they may be in their recovery journey. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug […]

As nice at it is to cozy up with a warm blanket and a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in the winter months, for some people, the cold-weather season brings a shift in mood. The limited daylight hours and gray days invite in feelings of sadness and fatigue. It’s typically a temporary […]

When dancer and TV personality Stephen “tWitch” Boss died by suicide in December last year, the world was in shock. That’s because, outwardly, Stephen was happy, joyful, and positive. Those are the sentiments used on social media and news networks to describe the man who lit up the lives of those who knew him best. […]

Who couldn’t use a little escape from reality? Whether you lose yourself in a riveting novel or binging a television series, going for a hike or getting physically active another way, leaving to-do lists behind for a few hours isn’t a bad thing. For some, however, escaping reality isn’t a simple on-off switch they can […]

Lights. Camera. Substance misuse? Yes, the third word in that Hollywood catch phrase uttered by millions is “action.” But so many film and TV careers of some of our most brilliant actors have been riddled with a checkered pattern of alcohol and substance misuse that seem to be just as front and center as their […]

Illicit substance use amongst teens remains at or below pre-pandemic use for all grade levels. This includes nonmedicinal use of drugs, cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin. Teenagers most frequently reported using cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine vaping within the past year, according to The Monitoring the Future survey, a survey conducted each year by University of Michigan […]