Author: Gary Jackson

Author

Gary Jackson has been working as a social worker for 10 years now. He studied psychology at Boston University and, right after graduation, started helping people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Now he is writing helpful articles in the fight against drug and alcohol addiction in this blog.

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

An In-Depth Look At Kratoms Long-Term Side Effects & How to Avoid Them

Start with a low dose (3 grams), but fighting withdrawal usually requires a higher amount, similar to what’s needed for severe pain. Kratom is not for everyone, but it’s worth a try if you’re looking for a natural way to boost your energy levels and improve your overall well-being. Doing this keeps you from using […]

Drug Addiction

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

Effect of Motivational Enhancement Therapy MET on the self efficacy of Individuals of Alcohol dependence PMC

Unlike other forms of rehabilitation, MET does not set out to make abstinence the goal. It is emphasized as a clear option only after the client shows readiness to change. If you are struggling with other mental health issues or are looking for a specialist near you, use the Psychology Today therapist directory here to find a […]

Detox and Treatment

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

Johns Hopkins Scientists Give Psychedelics the Serious Treatment

All four studies combined psilocybin with some form of psychotherapy and showed a beneficial effect of psilocybin-assisted therapy on SUD, but the risk of bias ranged from some concerns to critical. Future (double-blind, placebo-controlled) RCTs in patients with SUD need to evaluate whether psilocybin-assisted therapy is effective in this population. Recent years have seen a […]

Drug Addiction

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

Alcohol and Aging Can Drinking Make You Look Older?

Older people often have concerns about falling, which is a common cause of injury in seniors. But younger people who drink alcohol are at a higher risk of injury from falls due to dizziness and confusion. Chronic alcohol use weakens bones and makes them more likely to break in a fall. It also increases your […]

Alcohol Addiction

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

Teen Drug Abuse: Signs, Risks, and Treatment

Teenagers in Arkansas are 24.84% less likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Arizona are 9.05% less likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Alaska are 25.67% more likely to have used drugs in the last month […]

Drug Addiction

February 15, 2024

Gary Jackson

Alcohol as a Seizure Trigger

Human and animal data have shown that acute alcohol intake has a biphasic effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic effect of alcohol exerts CNS depressant and anticonvulsant properties (4, 5). In the post-alcohol state, however, when alcohol blood levels decline, neuronal excitability is increased which may facilitate the […]

Alcohol Addiction

February 14, 2024

Gary Jackson

Ecstasy Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, & Treatment

This periodic release of serotonin is what keeps people from feeling depressed or anxious. But when someone takes a drug like MDMA, it hijacks this process and influences the brain to release high levels of serotonin at once, which induces a “high” or euphoria. The problem occurs when the brain runs out of neurochemicals and […]

Detox and Treatment

February 14, 2024

Gary Jackson

How long does marijuana stay in your system? Blood, urine, and hair

There isn’t much you can do to speed up the amount of time it takes for THC metabolites to leave your system. Cannabis that’s ingested may remain in your system slightly longer than cannabis that’s smoked. More potent cannabis, which is higher in THC, may also stay in your system for longer. Some of these […]

Drug Addiction

February 14, 2024

Gary Jackson

Art Therapy for Addiction: Painting Paths to Recovery

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will expand by 8% in the decade that began in 2019. There is no definitive reason that explains why people experience substance use disorders (SUDs). But there is a definite connection between a person’s difficulty in regulating emotion and mood and experiencing SUDs. Making your […]

Detox and Treatment

February 14, 2024

Gary Jackson

Meth Addiction: Symptoms, Getting Help, Detox, Treatment, and More

Meth is typically a white pill or powder that doesn’t have a smell but tastes bitter. Crystal methamphetamine usually looks like glass chunks or shiny bluish-white rocks. If crystal meth comes as more of a powder, it’ll have a bitter taste like other kinds of meth. “For heroin users, there’s methadone, there’s suboxone. I just […]

Drug Addiction