Alcohol withdrawal is one of the few withdrawal syndromes that can be directly life-threatening. Unlike heroin or other drug withdrawal - which are profoundly uncomfortable but rarely fatal - severe alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, and death. This is not said to frighten, but […]
Culture Of Addiction
The addict, regardless of drug of choice, is a chameleon. Ask the addict for a self-explanation (life story), and the story goes through a kaleidoscope of changes depending on who’s listening. Autobiographical accounts contain retrospective explanations and justifications that may have little to do with […]
Intervention Guidelines
If a loved one is suffering from an addiction and you judge that they might be responsive to an appeal from family members and close friends to address their problem, an intervention might be a good course of action. By “intervention” we mean a deliberate, planned […]
Signs of an Addiction
Addiction is an insidious illness. It usually develops gradually over time, making it easy for the severity of the problem to escape the notice of immediate family members. On top of this, the natural inclination for close family is to deny and diminish the problem […]
A Guide on How to Deal With a Tik Addict
Tik is renowned as one of the most addictive drugs in South Africa, an ‘upper’ drug that induces intense but short-lived euphoria, confidence and paranoia. Officially known as Crystal Meth, it’s an extremely addictive substance that hooks its victims more often than not from the […]
Cocaine Use: The Side Effects
Cocaine has very serious effects, but not just on the person using the drug, the damages inevitably reach all the people close to user such as family, friends and employers. Three key aspects of cocaine consequences are: How the drug-use damages relationships with loved ones […]
10 ways to stay sober during the holidays
Who said The Holidays were all fun and games? We’re guessing it wasn’t someone in recovery struggling to remain free from their drugs of addiction. Family, food, presents, work, community events, and in some cases, travel can all add up to a huge amount of […]
Is Instant Addiction Real ?
Most people might say no. First individuals must try a drug and realize that they like it. Then they might start to use the drug more frequently. Eventually, once they have used the drug enough, their brain begins to lose the ability to function without […]
The Opposite Of Addiction Is Not Sobriety
Johann Hari, author of the New York Times best-selling book "Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs," has been exploring the true cause of addiction, something he believes is largely misunderstood. In a Ted Talk filmed last month, Hari […]
Cross Addiction
If you understand the fundamentals of addiction, you’ll understand that it was never about the drugs or alcohol or other self-destructive behaviours. What characterizes addiction is the obsessive and compulsive nature of the behaviour and also what happens when we do act out on that […]
