In a healthy, functional family, support is a given. Dealing with the inevitable trials and tribulations of life becomes much more manageable knowing you have the support of your family to rely upon. However, when one person in the family unit develops an addiction, whether a drug addiction, alcohol addiction or behavioural addiction, this support […]
Addiction Resources
Addiction Relapse Triggers – Identifying the Dangers and What to Do
What Is Relapse? Relapse is a return to addictive behaviour of any kind, and it may begin in your mind and your emotions before you actually take the action that ends your sobriety – the lifting of a drink or the placing of a bet. Sobriety should not be seen as a once and for […]
The Five Rules of Recovery and Relapse Prevention
Overcoming an addiction is a long and challenging journey. Patients often believe that the treatment is complete after they have been through detox. It is not quite that simple. Post-rehab treatment is critical. Relapse is possible even years into sobriety. But don’t panic. You are not alone in this fight. Relapse has multiple stages, and […]
Do Drugs Make You More Creative? Drugs, Alcohol and Creativity
Do drugs make you more creative and boost productivity? People have been arguing about this age-old question for decades. There are convincing anecdotes from both sides, including creative geniuses who cited alcohol and drugs as part of their success, as well as those who eventually ended up addicted. For those interested in a creative life, […]
Alternatives to 12 Step Programmes for Addiction Therapy
The 12 Step programme, a self-help strategy first developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), has been a cornerstone of addiction treatment in many parts of the world for decades. However, it is not the only approach to rehabilitation from addiction. Alternative models have emerged that offer different approaches, aims, and techniques for recovery. In this article, […]
Women and Gambling Addiction: Why Are More Women Gambling?
Women and Gambling Addiction The number of women treated for gambling problems has doubled in recent years, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.1 The increased visibility of women’s sports such as football is certainly a factor and the gambling industry has been quick to target this emerging market. For gamblers between the ages […]
How to Deal With Child Gaming Addiction? Eight Signs of Gaming Addiction in Children
How to Deal With Child Gaming Addiction & Is Video Game Addiction Real? Play is an innate human drive that begins in very early childhood, but today gameplay has largely been transferred from the real world to online. Whilst gaming is a pleasurable pastime, it is one of the fastest-growing forms of Internet addiction, and […]
What is Monkey Dust Addiction? Effects and How to Get Help
What is Monkey Dust? Monkey dust is a synthetic drug — also known as Butylone, M1, magic crystals, bath salts, MDPV, methylone, and pyrovalerone — that is chemically similar to amphetamines, and from a family of drugs known as cathinone, an ingredient derived from the khat plant. Khat has been cultivated in the Horn of […]
Anxiety Medications: How Safe Are They?
Can You Get Over-The-Counter Anxiety Medication in the UK? No, you can’t. If you want anxiety medications, they must be prescribed by a doctor. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, your doctor needs to see if you actually need anti-anxiety medications. Maybe there’s a reason for your anxiety disorder (such as previous […]
Why Is Men’s Mental Health Not Taken Seriously?
Why Is Men’s Mental Health Not Taken Seriously? Good mental health is an essential aspect of a person’s overall well-being and has a significant impact on their daily lives, relationships, and even their physical health. Although mental health issues affect people of both genders, men’s mental health has generally been receiving less attention and support. […]
Fentanyl Crisis in the UK – a Concern or a Crisis?
For some years now the UK and most of Europe have managed to avoid the worst of the crisis in fentanyl use that has escalated in the USA since 2010, causing a huge increase in the number of deaths from overdose. There are signs that this North American public health emergency which when combined with […]
Substance Misuse & Dementia
Excessive use of alcohol and other substances can contribute to Alzheimer’s. Alternatively, any form of dementia (of which Alzheimer’s is the most common) can contribute to addiction. In cases where both are present, clinicians may question if rehab is then a suitable place for treatment. At Castle Craig Hospital, we have successfully treated patients with […]