Q: What is substance use disorder? A: Substance use disorder is the clinical term used to describe the chronic, relapsing brain disease otherwise known as addiction. Someone with a substance use disorder experiences an inability to control his or her use of one or more dangerous substances. A primary characteristic of substance use disorder occurs … Continued
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Those who have gone from active addiction to recovery know the disease of addiction is difficult to live with, even when in recovery. A person who stops abusing drugs or alcohol does not magically return to “normal.” It takes a great deal of effort, dedication, and hard work to learn how to live in recovery. … Continued
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We have heard about secondhand smoking for decades now, as it claims the lives of 41,000 people each year in the United States alone. But we have not heard nearly as much about secondhand drinking despite the millions of people it affects on a daily basis. Secondhand drinking, while it might sound strange, is a … Continued
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Everyone experiences grief at some point in his or her life. Loss is a natural part of life, as people pass on and things of importance can leave us. Many people grieve the loss of someone or something and then move on with their lives. Others, however, can become trapped by grief, struggling with the … Continued
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Being in recovery from drugs or alcohol addiction teaches people many things, including some of life’s most important lessons. As people progress in their recovery process, they will learn more about themselves as sober individuals, allowing them to truly flourish as substance-free people. This does not mean there is a straight line to successful recovery. … Continued
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Each year, the opioid crisis claims more lives in the U.S. than car accidents. Just as most people have either been in a car accident or know someone who has, most people are either addicted to opioids themselves or know someone who is. This is a glimpse into how pervasive this epidemic is. While the … Continued
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Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and is home to more than 600,000 people. It is known nationwide for hosting the Kentucky Derby in May of every year and for the production of the infamous Louisville Slugger baseball bats. And while this city is viewed as one of the greats in the country, it … Continued
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Drug addiction is an insidious disease that can bring users to their absolute “rock bottom” and then some. Regardless of the drug being abused, those trapped in the cycle of addiction experience physical, mental, and emotional effects that can completely alter the course of their lives. Even though each individual drug user experiences his or … Continued
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The United States is in the midst of a public health emergency as the opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of people in every corner of the country. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the nation’s opioid problem as being an epidemic in 2011, the public has gone from abusing … Continued
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Beechland Baptist Church in Louisville had a busy summer, planning its first Addiction Summit to raise awareness of substance use disorder in the local community, counteract the stigma of addiction, and educate the public about the nationwide opioid epidemic. “The idea behind the event was, you can’t force someone into recovery, but you can build … Continued
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