American Addiction Centers Blog

Why is it that some teens and young adults can try alcohol or experiment with drugs, and it somehow does not evolve into a substance addiction? Whereas, with others, they try it once or twice, find themselves not being able to control their compulsion to use more, and spend years struggling with addiction? Perhaps it’s […]

  What percent of Americans have never given up alcohol for a prolonged period of time? Find out with our new survey! 3,255 survey respondents.

Television, film, celebrities, and even social media influencers by their very name, can influence the public’s buying habits, create and guide the narrative of conversations, and over time, even shift paradigms. Likewise, contingent on the viewer’s perspective, the media can seemingly glorify substance use, shame those struggling with a substance use disorder, or create an […]

Many celebrities have used their platform as a podium and microphone to lead a narrative about issues that genuinely matter to them, especially in recent years. Everything from political and social concerns to mental health and substance addiction. With the opioid crisis having such a profound and negative impact as it is, it’s not a […]

Addiction not only impacts those who are battling the disease themselves, but it impacts the lives of their friends and loved ones. The emotional roller coaster that these families seem to continuously ride on with very few stops in between can be overwhelming. Substance addiction affects all of us if it affects just one of […]

“I’m only going to try it one time.” Unfortunately, there are many teenagers and young adults who make such a declaration and don’t get the opportunity to say much more after unknowingly taking a lethal dose of fentanyl. Substance addiction has been a serious matter from one generation to the next, whether it’s been methamphetamines, […]

36 million Americans are ‘gray area drinkers’, survey finds.    

Lately, everything has been up for debate. Topics that many had already drawn conclusions based upon established facts, have now been reduced to heated arguments across the dinner table or perhaps an interpretative dance of opposing sides. Why wouldn’t the decriminalization of drug possession be any different? Should laws be modified in order to help […]

We are approaching our third year into this pandemic. That sentence alone stirs up some sort of emotion with most, if not all of us, at this point. Whether an individual struggles with a substance use disorder (SUD), an alcohol use disorder (AUD), or nothing at all, the marathon that is the reality of COVID […]

After completing a treatment program for alcohol and/or substance misuse, individuals are advised to remain connected to supportive family and friends, as well as to support groups. This includes returning to a safe home environment or attending a sober living facility, depending on the situation, circumstances, and needs of the individual. Doing so allows those […]

From the outside peeking into someone’s else’s world, it may seem that the outsider sees and understands what that individual is up against solely based upon a glimpse into that life. But only the individual living that life truly knows the totality of their own battles and struggles. Whether they’re a lawyer, an author, a […]

There are concerning instances when some individuals struggling with a substance addiction first get sober. Even though they work through recovery, some replace the time spent previously dedicated to misuse of alcohol or drugs with different compulsive or otherwise problematic behaviors in another area of their life. For example, excessive exercising, compulsive gambling, or perhaps […]