How COVID-19 Has Impacted the Opioid Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way we live and interact with those around us. For many, the changes that occurred between 2019 and 2020 mark the separation of two different worlds. As the pandemic continues, the one we live in now includes higher rates of drug use, relapses, and overdose deaths than ever before. How did it happen? Let’s take a look at what the current research is telling us, and ... Continue Reading »

5 Ways to Ask for Help With Addiction

If you or a loved one is in the depths of addiction and ready to get help, congratulations. Acknowledging a problem is the first step in solving it. No matter the role addiction has played in your life, there’s hope on the other side. You or your friend have several options once you’re ready to take the first step towards recovery. Not sure which path to take? Let’... Continue Reading »

Managing Pain Without Opioids

Pain can severely impact quality of life. Whether your pain is temporary or chronic, managing it allows you to accomplish daily tasks and live a life you enjoy. And while your pain symptoms may have you considering prescription pain medication, it’s important to explore all options—especially ones less dangerous and addictive than opioids. Why Should I Consider Non-Opioid Pain Treatment? At the surface, taking a pill to manage ... Continue Reading »

Do you know your risk for opioid addiction?

Picture this. You’re at a party where the host offers you and your friends drugs. As you decline, two of your friends agree to try an opioid pill for the first time. While the first moves on from the experience, deciding it’s not for them, your other friend tries it a second time. That second time becomes a third, and then a fourth. Within weeks, your friend is ... Continue Reading »

Awkward situation? Here are some exit plans

Peer pressure can be powerful. Whether it is wearing the coolest clothes or listening to the latest music, it is natural to want to fit in. But, sometimes, that peer pressure can be deadly – like when it comes to opioids. If you are with a group of people who offer you drugs, you might feel pressured to try them even if you do not want to. After all, just one ... Continue Reading »

How Opioids Affect Exercise and Athletic Performance

Sports and exercise keep your body healthy and strong. So why is it that many healthy, strong athletes have such a high risk for substance abuse disorder— particularly with opioids (1)? In all age groups, from youth sports to professional leagues, we see many athletes and fitness lovers succumb to substance abuse and opioid addiction. What are the risks involved in exercising while taking opioids? And what are some precautions to ... Continue Reading »

Opioids and Bad Skin—What’s the Connection?

Some negative side effects of opioid use are invisible. A failing heart or weakened immune system, for example, aren’t seen by the naked eye. Others, however, are hard to miss— like sore, red, or damaged skin. Your skin is a vital organ. Much of your skin health depends on genetics, but environment and lifestyle behaviors impact it greatly. Your skin can tell a story of hydration, self-care, and good ... Continue Reading »

Stressed? 5 Drug-Free Ways to Manage Stress as a Teen

Sometimes, life feels tough. The upcoming test that stands between a pass or fail grade? A championship game you’ve practiced for all season long? A tough break up, argument with a friend, or disagreement with your parents? Regardless of age, gender, or race, no one is immune to the natural human experience we all know as stress. And as we age, our sources of stress expand. The more responsibilities ... Continue Reading »

Opioid Myth vs. Fact: How Much Do You Know About Opioid Abuse?

Opioid use is spreading rampantly across the country, and we’re no strangers to its consequences in West Virginia. With over 70,000 deaths in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of fatal overdoses in West Virginia had increased more than four times the 1999 total. And more than two-thirds of those deaths were linked to opioids. One culprit in the steady rise of opioid fatalities is misinformation—... Continue Reading »

Staying Drug Free: Hobbies for Sobriety

When you’re in a substance abuse treatment program or rehab facility, you’re surrounded by people, places, and activities that support sobriety. Once you’re back home, your support network may not be as accessible. Encouragement from friends, family, and loved ones might help, but you still need to find productive ways to fill your time. Finding new hobbies fills your schedule with past-times unrelated to substance abuse and ... Continue Reading »