Melissa Gilbert, star of the famous TV series Little House on the Prairie, has opened up about her past alcohol addiction and her public combat against prescription drug abuse to the news world. Sometimes, we forget that the disease of addiction affects everyone. From Laura Ingalls to Leading Advocate Against Alcohol and Drugs Trapped by the … Read More
Question: Does alcohol really cause brain damage? If it really causes brain damage, then why do so many people who drink seem to be perfectly healthy? Answer: Yes, alcohol really does cause brain damage! (It’s not exaggerated; those scientists are telling the truth). But the “how” and “to what extent” alcohol does this is dependent on … Read More
We’ve all been there–Our friend is struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction, and we’re not sure how to help without inflicting hurt or offense. At first, our friend’s indulgence was occasional but now it has become so much more. The addiction has changed them, and the problem is impossible to ignore. But how do … Read More
When you think of the things that influence your recovery, you’re probably thinking of supportive friends, regular 12-step meetings, and a good rehab program. You usually don’t think about running, right? But running is considered one of the most beneficial activities to do during recovery and is a favorite activity of those in recovery–and here … Read More
We all have pictures in our heads of what an addict looks like. We’ve seen movies with grown men beating their families while drunk, junkies passed out in bathrooms or streets, coach potato voyeurs stalking on the internet. Sometimes the extremity of these visuals keeps us from recognizing the signs of addiction in our own … Read More
What is a “Wet Brain”? How does alcohol create the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? The term “Wet Brain” refers to a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic brain damage most commonly caused by chronic alcohol consumption. Individuals with this syndrome often act like they are drunk when they are not. Symptoms include: mental disturbance … Read More
Prescription drug abuse is the leading cause of death in San Diego. Over the last decade, the number prescription-drug related deaths have shot up 85%. Think about that. The average San Diego citizen is more likely to die from prescription drugs than car crashes. This may be due to the increase in prescriptions themselves. As the … Read More
How does Vicodin detox work? What happens during Vicodin rehab? What can I (or my loved one) expect from a Vicodin rehab program? Does Duffy’s treat a Vicodin addiction? This is the last post in our Vicodin series: 101, 201, 301 Vicodin Detoxification If you’ve ever tried to withdraw from Vicodin by yourself, you know it can be very painful. This is because … Read More
Question: Does drinking alcohol have a feminizing effect on males? Answer: Yes. A study done by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) showed that men who drank 220 grams of alcohol (or around 16 standard drinks) a day for 5 days showed a decrease in testosterone, the principle male sex hormone. Testosterone is … Read More
Is someone you know struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction? Are you looking for a good resource on intervention? This short book of just over 100 pages, Intervention–How to Help Someone Who Doesn’t Want Help, can help you understand the disease of addiction and learn how it’s affecting your loved one. Direct, clear and concise, Dr. … Read More
