A Closer Look at Nature Addiction – also known as substance use disorder – is a topic often misunderstood and clouded in stigma. It’s essential for us to peel back the layers and grasp the true nature of this complex medical condition to foster empathy and understanding. Rewiring the Brain At its core, substance use…
Category: Substance Use
Would You Recognize an Overdose?
Image description: Infographic provides overdose information about the following substances: Many of these substances are sold in a combination form. Most are significantly more dangerous when combined. Alcohol greatly increases the risk of all other substances. If you encounter someone in overdose:
The Criteria for Substance Use Disorder
Image Description: Infographic provides the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder: Meeting 2-3 criteria may indicate mild disorder. Meeting 4-5 criteria may indicate a moderate disorder. Meeting 6 or more criteria may indicate a severe disorder. To get started in SUD treatment, call (360) 876-9430 or fill out a Request for Treatment form…
STRESS & SUDs
Stress & Substance Use Disorders The medical community has known for a long time that STRESS can make individuals more likely to develop an ADDICTION, possibly because people under chronic stress are more likely to turn to substances to cope. However, using brain-imaging and other sophisticated tools, researchers have recently learned that STRESS also alters…
Identifying Substance Use Disorders
Maybe you suspect you have a problem with alcohol or another addictive substance, or maybe someone who cares about you has said something to that effect. As long as you don’t know for sure, you may think you can avoid facing up to it. Shining a light on addiction isn’t that hard, though. You can…
FAQs About Addiction
Lately, the word “addicted” gets used all the time. “She’s addicted to sugar.” “He’s addicted to that video game.” And there are lots of articles in popular publications that report on studies implying that this could be true addiction. They point out that a treat or an activity cause pleasure in the brain, and a…
