Cocaine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant made from the coca plant that is native to South America. It is most often sold as a fine white powder that is snorted into the nose, rubbed into the gums, or dissolved in water and injected with a needle. The drug can also be found as [...]
Parenting, Addiction, and Recovery Parenting is never easy—especially when you know your child is suffering. If your adult child has a drug or alcohol problem, you may feel powerless to help and afraid of what the future will hold. At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, we believe recovery is possible for all those who desire [...]
Sold under the brand name Klonopin, clonazepam is used to treat panic disorders in adults, as well as seizure disorders in both adults and children. Like other benzodiazepines, clonazepam has a high potential for abuse and addiction because it creates feelings of peace, relaxation, and euphoria. About Clonazepam Clonazepam was first introduced to the United [...]
Quick Fixes Can Be Risky When life gets hectic, it's easy to search for a quick fix to all of your problems. Relaxing with a drink or a few pills at the end of the day might seem harmless, but this behavior can easily turn into a full-fledged substance use disorder if you have an [...]
A Dual Diagnosis The symptoms of bipolar disorder can often be masked by active substance abuse, but these conditions are two separate mental health issues. For a lasting recovery, both must be treated simultaneously. If your loved one has been diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder, educating yourself on this dual [...]
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has affected many aspects of daily life. This has been particularly difficult for people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Managing Your Mental Health While no two people will have the exact same experience, you should be aware of five common pandemic-related mental health challenges. Knowing [...]
Harder to Hide The signs of addiction are often very subtle—especially in the early stages of a substance use disorder. This means that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, they can be easy to miss. One unexpected effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that quarantine restrictions have made it easier to spot potential [...]
Sober Support Networks Building a strong sober support network is one of the most important ways you can create the foundation for lasting sobriety. When you're not able to visit friends and family in person, staying connected can be a challenge. However, St. Joseph Institute for Addiction has compiled this list of fun ways you [...]
It's not always easy to tell if someone is struggling with a substance use disorder. Since the condition is classified as a chronic and progressive illness, someone can appear to be quite functional to the casual observer yet still have significant problems related to their drug or alcohol use. Understanding Terms If you are worried [...]
Talking to teens about substance abuse is never easy, but the conversation often proves particularly challenging for parents in recovery. At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, we know that breaking the cycle of addiction is a top priority for many of the parents in our Pennsylvania drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. In this post, [...]
