American Addiction Centers Blog

Public Services – 6% Working in public services – such as the police force, army, paramedics and air force – can be high-paced and extremely stressful, leading to higher alcohol consumption during the day. Education – 7% Dealing with children is especially tough and might make you want to sip on a glass of vino […]

Based on a survey of 3,000 Americans

Substance misuse, or a substance use disorder, is what happens when an individual uses drugs and/or alcohol recurrently and it causes clinical impairment such as failure to meet responsibilities, health problems, and disability. And when on the path to recovery, oftentimes, triggers and relapse are part of the process. A trigger is a catalyst that […]

Drinking is a socially acceptable activity in which to partake. A beer with friends while watching a game. An occasional glass of wine with dinner and loved ones. Rubbing elbows with colleagues or business associates at “Happy Hour.” Scenarios that are legal and acceptable, contingent there’s no underage drinking. However, an individual facing alcoholism, or […]

For over two decades, the United States has struggled with an opioid epidemic that is continuing to worsen each year. Despite efforts to fight drug abuse, the booming use of fentanyl has only increased the death toll. But overdoses aren’t the only consequence of drug abuse. Many people are living with the physical, mental, and emotional effects of […]

In recent years, America’s addiction treatment industry has been transformed by twin forces: the opioid epidemic and the Affordable Care Act. Overdose deaths have climbed steadily since the early 2000s, creating a crisis of unprecedented proportions. Simultaneously, the ACA extended health coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans and mandated the coverage of substance abuse treatment. This combination of widespread need […]

We are all aware that illicit and some legal drugs can be harmful to our bodies and can lead to addiction, which in turn, can bring a wide range of long term negative effects on the body including health conditions affecting our quality of life. We are conditioned to think about drug use in a […]

Habitual drug use has been a societal issue for as long as there have been societies, and it’s clear that things need to change. Drugs, like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, are getting easier to purchase and consume, which only increases the number of times users are compelled to take them. In fact, it’s not uncommon […]

Substance use disorder can affect people from any background, ethnicity, or gender with equal opportunity, but there are certain factors that place people more at risk of becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. One major risk factor that contributes to substance use disorder (SUD) is another co-occurring mental health disorder. Those diagnosed with mental health […]

How Substance Abuse Treatment Varies by State: Substances Used, Dropouts, and More Unfortunately, many individuals across the world struggle with substance misuse. It’s no small problem. In fact, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated that 19.7 million American adults dealt with a substance use disorder in 2017. Millions of adolescents struggle as well. […]