Mental Health Articles

Prescription Drug Abuse in College 101

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Among the homecoming games and pledge weeks on college campuses, a new tradition is taking hold: prescription drug abuse. A startling number of college students admit that sharing prescription drugs is common in their peer groups, and many rely on these drugs for everything from study help to weight loss. In addition to the dangers that come with mixing prescription medication with binge drinking, misusing these medications often leads to indulging in other recreational drug use, including cocaine abuse. This infographic from Las Encinas Hospitaloffers an eye-opening look at prescription drug abuse among college students. If you’re concerned about your prescription drug use or that of a friend, contact our treatment facility to learn about our substance abuse program. Please share this... Continue reading →

Understanding the Potential benefits of Exercise in Your Substance Abuse Recovery

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

While most adults are well aware of the health advantages of getting regular exercise, its benefits for addiction recovery are not as commonly known. Physical activity can help adults overcome their addiction and may even improve the efficacy of other substance abuse treatments. Below are some of the ways in which getting regular exercise may help you overcome your addiction.

Stress Reduction

When trying to recover from an addiction to alcohol, nicotine, or another addictive substance, even a small amount of stress can worsen cravings and create a huge obstacle to remaining healthy. Exercising regularly can help reduce feelings of stress while improving your overall health.... Continue reading →

A Look at the Problem of Prescription Drug Abuse in America

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Prescription drug abuse occurs when a prescription medication is acquired and taken without a doctor’s approval. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this form of substance abuse is so common that it is second only to marijuana in popularity among illicit drug users. Pain medications, anxiolytics, and amphetamines are common medications targeted for nonmedical use and are causing an increasingly serious problem in the United States. Read on to find out just how pervasive this problem is.

Who Is Most at Risk?

In 2010, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 2.4 million Americans first began using prescription medications for nonmedical use. According to this data, women, teenagers, and older adults seemed to be at the highest risk of... Continue reading →

How Long Will You Need to Receive Care for Substance Abuse

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

If you are considering getting treatment for a substance abuse problem, one of your biggest concerns is likely to be how long you will need to stay in a facility and under care. Understanding the scope of your commitment to treatment may make the decision more manageable.

There is no specific amount of time that it takes to help someone overcome addiction. Some people may only need treatment for a few days as they detox, while others will benefit from staying in a treatment facility for a few weeks. At Las Encinas Hospital, we will work with you to develop a personalized plan to fully address your issues so you can understand how long your care should last.

Aurora Behavioral Health Care at Las Encinas Hospital is committed to finding a treatment planthat works for you in... Continue reading →

What Is a Functioning Alcoholic?

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Alcoholics are not always easy to spot. Although it’s sometimes clear when a person has a problem with alcohol, this is not always the case. Functioning alcoholics drink every bit as much as people who have more obvious struggles with alcohol, but they are able to conceal the signs so that few are aware that they are heavy drinkers.

Functioning alcohols are able to maintain most daily routines that slip away from other people who abuse alcohol. They may excel at work, and their relationships don’t usually suffer from their drinking. Functioning alcoholics are able to deny their drinking problems because they haven’t experienced any of the stereotypical consequences. However, being a functioning alcoholic is dangerous. Usually, such people can function while drinking heavily... Continue reading →

Substance Profile: Heroin

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Heroin is a highly addictive opiate. It is a derivative of morphine and acts as a depressant. Heroin varies in appearance depending on type. It comes in white and brown powder forms and as a brown, tar-like paste. It can be smoked, injected, or snorted.

Heroin produces an intense high that initially lasts a few hours, though heavy users may build up tolerance to the drug such that the high lasts only minutes. After the initial high, a period of sleepiness and slow mental functioning sets in. With short-term use, heroin causes vomiting, constipation, and slurred speech. Long-term use causes collapsed veins, cardiac infections, abscesses, and liver problems. Heroin users are also at increased risk of communicable diseases when they share needles.

Kicking heroin on your own is... Continue reading →

Can You Inherit Alcoholism?

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Does alcoholism run in families? Doctors and scientists have long suspected that there is a genetic component to alcoholism, and a growing body of work suggests that they are right. Scientists have yet to identify the specific gene, but it is important to note that having a genetic risk for becoming an alcoholic does not mean that you will become one. In fact, knowing that you have an increased risk can help you make informed decisions about drinking.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. A landmark study in Sweden chronicled alcohol use in twins who were raised in separate adoptive families. The twins born to alcoholic fathers had much greater incidents of... Continue reading →

The Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse in America

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Drug abuse doesn’t exclusively involve illegal narcotics. Millions of Americans are using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, and 40 Americans die every day from prescription drug overdoses. How bad is the problem? This video explains.

In this video, you’ll hear how prescription drug abuse is running rampant through all segments of American society. Some users find themselves coping with addiction after being prescribed painkillers to aid in recovery from an injury or surgery. Other users begin abusing prescription drugs recreationally. No matter the entry point, prescription drug abuse is a very real and dangerous problem.

Las Encinas Hospital can help you or someone you love overcome prescription drug abuse at our residential treatment facility in Pasadena. Get... Continue reading →

What Happens to Your Body and Brain When You Drink?

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Drinking has an enormous ability to alter the way you think and feel, but what makes alcohol so powerful? The way your brain reacts to alcohol causes the characteristic feelings of intoxication. Alcohol affects your neurotransmitters, which causes changes in the way you think and feel. This video explains how alcohol impacts your neurotransmitters to trigger changes in your mind and body.

Alcohol impacts two neurotransmitters: glutamate, which causes excitability, and gaba, which inhibits excitement and organizes thoughts. Consumption decreases glutamate but increases gaba. This causes total information slowdown in your brain. Watch the full clip for additional insight.

When drinking becomes an addiction, we are here to help. Las Encinas Hospital and Aurora Behavioral... Continue reading →

Signs of Alcohol Abuse in Women

March 24, 2017 Posted in: Press Release

Alcoholism is an equal-opportunity disease. Over five million American women are alcoholics. Could alcoholism be affecting you or a woman you care about it? This video explains some of the signs.

Any woman who consumes three drinks in one day, or seven drinks in a week, is at risk for becoming an alcoholic. Women tend to progress from problem drinking to alcoholism more quickly than men, and they are more likely to suffer adverse health effects. Mothers in particular are less likely to ask for help with their drinking problems than men.

If alcohol abuse has become a problem in your life or the life of a woman you love, Las Encinas Hospital can help. Our addiction treatment programs are successful because of our dual-diagnosis approach. Explore our substance abuse treatment... Continue reading →