How Heroin Addiction Develops
Heroin is highly addictive and can lead to physiological dependence within days of repeated use. Dependence can lead to addiction when the person finds that they cannot stop using heroin despite negative consequences. In 2018, a study showed that around [...]
The Most Commonly Abused Drugs in Pennsylvania
It’s interesting but unsurprising to note that drug abuse is largely concentrated in Pennsylvania’s most populated major city: Philadelphia. Chances of finding illicit drugs, using them, and abusing them are more prevalent in Philly than anywhere else in the state. [...]
How Cocaine Addiction Develops
Stephen King famously struggled with cocaine addiction—even at his most productive and lucrative career points. One of his entertaining debut films, Overdrive, is a great example of the brain on cocaine: fast, hyped up, and disjointed. Although King quit using [...]
Let These Beautiful PA Hiking Spots Support Your Sobriety
When you enter St. Joseph Institute’s treatment program to recover from a substance use disorder (SUD), you’re called to make radical changes that prioritize your well-being. One of the ways you might begin to care for yourself is by taking [...]
Exploring The Victim Mentality and How It Hurts Recovery
Think about the last time you found yourself or a loved one asserting any of the following statements: That’s not my fault/I’m not responsible for that I can’t do anything about this Everything fails anyway, so there’s no hope in [...]
Top Relapse Triggers For People New to Recovery
Relapse is a part of many recovery stories. It’s the moment in your sobriety when you use the substance that you previously abused, leading you back into addictive patterns. Chances of relapse among formerly drug and alcohol-addicted people are high, [...]
When Misinformation Goes Viral: The Dangers of Relying on TikTok for Addiction and Mental Health Support
TikTok initially rose to popularity as a social media platform that allowed users to create and share short-form dance and entertainment videos with others. Today, however, the app has become a go-to source of information for teens and young adults—who [...]
Ways to Practice Self-Care in Recovery
Self-care is a great way to prioritize your mental health and your physical well-being with techniques that optimize bodily function, mental cohesion, and nervous system regulation. It does not entail being selfish or overindulging while shopping or pampering yourself. Think [...]
What St. Joseph Institute Can Offer to Veterans
Our nation’s Veterans, active military members, and their loved ones protect us and the land we live on. This is no small feat. The weight of responsibility that comes with being a protector is often overwhelming and has the potential [...]