ALL ARTICLES
The latest articles regarding drug addiction, treatment and parent resources.
Featured Article
-
Your Guide to In-Network Cigna Rehab Centers
Welcome to the First Step If you’re reading this, you’re already on the path to recovery. It’s a tough journey, but you don’t have to walk it alone. At 12…
Addiction Treatment Articles
-

Can You Stop Drinking By Yourself?
Millions of Americans engage in regular alcohol use as a part of their lifestyles. The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that over 85% of individuals aged 18 and older engaged in alcohol use at some point in their life. Additionally, the same survey found staggering statistics about those who regularly…
-

Why Ketamine Can Be a Dangerous Form of Medication
Substance use disorder (SUD) is complex as it can develop from a wide variety of factors. We often think of SUD as it relates to the use of alcohol and illegal substances like cocaine or heroin. However, SUD can develop from the misuse of prescription medication such as pain medications like opioids. Over four billion…
-

How to Avoid Replacing One Addiction for Another While in Recovery
At 12 South Recovery, we believe in supporting you with individualized care. Addiction is complex and unique to your experiences, so your treatment should be, too. In the past and still today, there has been a stigma around addiction, treatment, and recovery. As noted in a 2020 article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse…
-

The Journey to Rewire Your Brain From Addiction: Rediscovering Fun in Sobriety
Understanding the scope of addiction and the intricate process of recovery often leads to one key question: How long to rewire the brain from addiction? If you’ve experienced substance abuse, you may find that your ability to derive pleasure and fun from everyday life seems compromised, often pushing you back towards substance use. However, the…
-

When Does Substance Use Become Substance Abuse?
Many people don’t realize there is a significant difference between substance use and substance abuse. Substance use has its risks, however, substance abuse can contribute to worsening risks and consequences. One of these risks is the development of a substance use disorder (SUD). Differentiating substance use from substance abuse is a necessary skill to reduce…
-

Balancing an IOP While Pursuing Education
When an individual with substance use disorder (SUD) surrenders to treatment, such as an intensive outpatient program (IOP), it can bring on a wave of emotions. Many mental health facilities offer treatment options for addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. Treatment may consist of therapy, support groups, medications, and more. During treatment, an individual focuses…
-

How Long Will I Experience Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
If you are seeking recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is essential to understand that healing is possible. Becoming familiar with the wide range of effects that excessive alcohol use can have on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being is imperative to your recovery. You may wonder how long you will experience symptoms of…
-

The Difference Between Germaphobia and OCD
It started with washing your hands after the restroom and before cooking. Now you wash your hands and use a hand sanitizer as often as possible to ensure no germs are on your skin. It is to the point where you smell your hands to be sure they smell clean even after this process is…
-

Why Is Family Involvement Valuable for Recovery?
The family unit is often the most influential source for growth and development throughout an individual’s life. When one family member is affected by trauma or disease, all other members are also affected. The same can be said when one member has substance use disorder (SUD) or another mental illness. Lasting recovery calls for family…
-

What Is the Continuum of Care?
Preparing to enter treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) can foster feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm. Many people may feel weighed down with the responsibility of choosing the best-fit treatment center. It may be relieving to know that a person doesn’t need to decide alone. With help from a treatment professional and a thorough understanding…
-

Lasting Marriage With Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder are not inherently bad or negative people. However, at times they may present behaviors that can be difficult to understand or deal with. This may cause a marriage with bipolar disorder challenging for some. Living day-to-day with bipolar disorder can come with many different challenges. One day an individual may feel…
-

Can Affirmations Further My Healing Journey?
Most of us have a unique voice inside of our minds that dictates our emotions and behaviors. Substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction can taint this voice, causing us to feel out of control. Rather than learning how to work with that voice, many of us take that voice as fact. It is important to…
-

Dating in Early Recovery
Oftentimes, after successfully completing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions, an individual may still face challenges. Finding direction in early recovery before dating is one of them. Getting professional support as well as learning helpful strategies to cope with reentering daily life can be extremely beneficial. Practicing self-care, removing toxic…
-

How Can I Strengthen My Self-Control in Recovery?
Building self-control in recovery helps prevent relapse and supports long-term sobriety. Practice mindfulness, set realistic goals, and create healthy routines to stay focused and resilient.
-

Coping With the Stigmas of SUD
Unfortunately, uninformed stigmas of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) are common. Most people do not understand that addiction is a chronic disease, not a moral weakness or compromised willpower. It is caused by significant changes in an individual’s brain structure. This makes it incredibly hard for an individual to stop using drugs and alcohol.…
-

Can I Detox at Home?
Alcohol and drug addiction affect millions of families every year. Not everyone is ready to enter treatment or commit to lasting abstinence, even when the consequences become evident. Some individuals with this ambivalence may attempt to wean off or cease substance use at home. It is imperative to understand that detoxing from alcohol and other…
Your Insurance May Cover Treatment
We accept most major health insurance.
Call now to receive a private, no-obligations consultation for yourself or your loved one.



