American Addiction Centers Blog

Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate a relationship with that special someone. Or for those currently not in a relationship, it may be a holiday that could possibly bring up negative emotions because of the pressures that society places on us to have a partner. Either can serve as a trigger to drink: a […]

E-cigarettes, or vaping as it’s widely known for, has appeared in the news a lot within the past year. And with good reason. With the sudden deaths among teens, young adults, and others using the cigarette alternative, it has definitely attracted a lot of attention. So, what is vaping and why is it such a […]

As a recovering alcoholic and addict (I still hate to admit the addict part, but there it is) I have been present at hundreds of anniversary celebrations. Our sobriety date is a big deal to us. Those of us who belong to a group of recovering individuals have the option of telling our story to […]

Our addictions are funny things; that which is killing us is actually what saved our lives. If the things we do did not make us feel better, we would not be addicted to them. We are self medicating a misunderstood disease. There are no guidelines, no doctor’s orders, no warning signs or contraindications, just us […]

Everybody can get a little sad and shaky around the holidays. Even Elvis, the King of Rock ‘n Roll, sang about a “Blue Christmas.” It’s challenging for people struggling with substance use or in recovery to maintain steady ground at this time of year. Although the holidays are supposed to be cheerful, they present a […]

Kids these days. What with their newfangled gizmos and constant preoccupation with their social media. What good are these new technologies anyway?  Well, at least in the world of addiction recovery, one particular social media platform has proven to be something of a boon to youth overcoming their struggles with substance use: TikTok, the short-form […]

Learning the ABC’s is taking on new meaning on the famous TV boulevard called “Sesame Street.” That change came about with the arrival of a new pigtailed Muppet, Karli, in May 2019. Sweet as can be, all bright green and furry with a purple tinged nose and eyes, she is staying with her foster family. […]

In August 2019, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson settled a lawsuit over their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. The company agreed to pay $572 million to those who fell victim to their deceptive opioid marketing practices. In November 2019, a judge has reduced that settlement to $465 million, citing a “math error”. What exactly […]

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine prides itself on “Connecting the Best Minds in Science and Patient Care.” For several years, it has put ever more muscle behind that statement in offering a new focus of study. To this end, medical students started taking a required mini-course that addresses an intense patient care need. What’s it […]

Opioid Epidemic Cost the Economy 2.5 Trillion Dollars It’s a well-known fact just how much the opioid epidemic has cost us in human life. In just over 20 years, over 700,000 people have died of a drug overdose in the United States. Well over half of these deaths were the result of opioids. Last year […]

As legal cannabis becomes more common, studies are beginning to emerge regarding the safety of taking the substance. One recent study at an Italian university has shown that cannabis products may not be safe for pregnant woman. Their study found that cannabis may alter the brain chemistry of developing embryos, raising the question: is it […]

It’s no secret that alcohol manufacturers are reliant on people drinking to keep the lights on. As more and more people become aware of the harmful effects alcohol has on the body, there have been calls for alcohol firms to do more to promote moderation. These alcohol firms have acknowledged these calls and begun promoting […]