Q: What is bipolar disorder? A: Bipolar disorder, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is a “brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.” NIMH reports that 5.7 million adults in the United States have bipolar disorder, which equals roughly … Continued
Read More
In the 1970s, the most popular drugs of choice included LSD, cocaine, and Quaaludes. It was during this decade that the “peace and love”-style use of drugs quickly turned dark. In the 1980s, the impact of cocaine addiction became impossible to ignore. More people than ever, people were abusing this drug because it was affordable, … Continued
Read More
The University of Kentucky’s Center on Drug and Alcohol Research was awarded a four-year, $87 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) earlier this summer to study and make recommendations to reduce opioid overdose deaths in 16 counties across northern and eastern Kentucky. The $87 grant is the largest grant ever awarded to … Continued
Read More
Q: What is “Rock Bottom?” A: Rock bottom is a term used to describe a figurative place addicts and alcoholics reach in their substance abuse. When someone hits rock bottom, they are at the absolute lowest point in their lives. Depending on the individual, rock bottom can be quantified differently, as not everyone places the … Continued
Read More
So much of the national conversation surrounding the disease of addiction is focused on drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers. While opioid use disorder is indeed impacting more people than ever before, it is not the most common substance use disorder. More than 15 million people throughout the U.S. meet the diagnostic criteria for … Continued
Read More
Ending substance abuse and getting into recovery is a major accomplishment that undoubtedly takes bravery and perseverance. No longer consuming dangerous drugs or alcohol can immediately improve a person’s situation, however that does not mean that he or she is “out of the woods” so to speak. That is because recovering from addiction is complex. … Continued
Read More
Addiction is not a disease that can be cured. Through the appropriate treatment, however, people struggling with active addiction can stop abusing the substances of their choosing and begin living a life rooted in recovery. For many of these people, the real work begins after getting sober, which is why recovery groups are so important. … Continued
Read More
Opioid addiction is a public health crisis throughout the United States, with more than 47,000 people dying from opioid overdose in the past year. Not included in this number are those who died due to the internal damage opioid addiction had caused, accidents that occurred while under the influence of opioids, or opioid-related violence. That … Continued
Read More
More than 3 million Americans are currently addicted to opioids. The scope of this public health crisis includes a rate of 130 opioid-related deaths per day and the highest rate of opioid overdoses ever recorded in the history of the county. For many people, the vast enormity of the opioid crisis was something they could … Continued
Read More
With Kentucky being one of the top five states for fatal opioid overdoses in the country, it should come as no surprise that some of the newest, groundbreaking initiatives to stop opioid addiction are coming from this state. One of those initiatives is the Opioid Response Program for Business, which is being led by the … Continued
Read More