Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

woman experiencing PAWS
Most people know about acute drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which occur very soon after substance use has been stopped and the body detoxifies. Acute withdrawal is often very uncomfortable and can be hard to overcome on one’s own. In the case of alcohol withdrawal, it can sometimes be dangerous or fatal because of the … Read More

Peer Recovery Support Groups

peer recovery support group holding hands
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes peer support as one of the ten critical components of recovery. Peer support is, therefore, becoming a popular component of the addiction treatment process. The Role of Peer Recovery Specialists in Addiction Recovery A peer recovery support specialist is someone who has achieved success in … Read More

Oregon Voters to Determine New Bill on Tobacco Taxes

A cigarette filled with tobacco crushed on the ground in Oregon after tax bill raises prices
Oregon lawmakers took serious action to further reduce the rates of tobacco and nicotine use in the state. With the support of hospitals, health systems, labor unions and care organizations, state Democrats pushed House Bill 2270 to the November 2020 ballot. The bill will significantly increase the cost of cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes in an … Read More

Natural Psychedelics Legitimized in Oakland

Psilocybin mushrooms in Oakland California after they were legalized
In June 2019, Oakland, California, became the second city in the United States to decriminalize natural psychedelic drugs. Denver, Colorado, was the first city in the country to do this. Oakland’s ruling expanded beyond Denver’s law to decriminalize possession or use of even more substances. While these substances remain illegal under California state law, prosecutors … Read More

Is There A Connection Between Cold Weather & Overdose Rate?

A cup of coffee next to winter clothes in the snowy weather where opioid overdoses are high
When you think about the opioid epidemic and all of the factors contributing to the tragic number of overdose deaths, does weather cross your mind? While it may seem like an unusual connection to make, it appears that there is a correlation between cold weather and overdose rates in those who struggle with a substance … Read More

Hundreds of Patients Dying in California Rehab Centers

A beach in California where hundreds of patients have died in rehab centers
Local news investigators in California recently found that hundreds of people have died as a result of provider neglect or inadequate operations in drug and alcohol detox centers. Vulnerable individuals seeking recovery from addiction are being mistreated or untreated with lethal consequences. Families of the deceased are demanding action. Establishing Standards for Client Care Standards … Read More

Does Socialization After Treatment Decrease Relapses?

peer recovery group
Mike Marshall, co-founder and director of Oregon Recovers, recently worked with state lawmakers to create House Bill 2627. The bill, if it passes, would establish four recovery community centers in Oregon. Marshall has worked for years in Multnomah County to help create social support communities for people in recovery. Marshall, who is 11 years sober, … Read More

Medical Schools Look To Train Future Doctors to Decrease Addiction

Medical school students being educated on the use and misuse of opioids in treatment patient pain
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain and many use opioids for treatment. As a result, increasing rates of opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths became a growing problem throughout the United States. Between 1999 and 2017, nearly 218,000 people died in the United States from overdoses related to prescription opioids. To address this growing opioid … Read More

Addicts Become Role Models At Scotland’s Recovery Village

Mountain landscape during sunset in Scotland
A recovery program in Scotland uses a novel approach to treating addiction. It could potentially change the way that addiction rehab is approached in Scotland. The River Garden Auchincruive program has been running since 1978 and uses a unique approach to treat addiction. Traditional rehabs facilities typically offer programs that are one to three months … Read More

A Look at the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

DEA website
Trafficking drugs is a serious public health concern. Addiction in Washington state has reached crisis levels. The opioid crisis is at epic proportions and meth misuse continues to spread. Cocaine is back along with the more lethal opioid synthetics like fentanyl. A 2016 report showed nearly 600 opioid-related deaths in the state. While King, Kittitas, … Read More