Long-term drug and alcohol use can damage organs and tissues throughout your body, including your heart and cardiovascular system. Irregular heartbeat, also known as atrial fibrillation, is a common side effect of drinking and drug abuse. It’s also a leading cause of stroke, heart failure and related complications. Here’s what you need to know. Drugs…
While many Americans struggle with mental illnesses like anxiety and PTSD, most of them do not seek treatment from a qualified professional. The ripple effects of unaddressed mental illnesses can be devastating. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Lost productivity…
September is National Recovery Month In a recent proclamation from the White House, President Biden formally recognized September as National Recovery Month. In this message, he stated his commitment to helping communities prevent substance use disorder through funding, policy, and advocacy. Here are the highlights from this message, and what this commitment might mean for…
Though alcohol is legal, culturally acceptable and easily obtainable, that does not make it safe to consume. Tragically, alcoholism is a leading cause of disability, illness and death in America, costing billions of dollars per year. Organ damage such as cirrhosis is one potential health complication associated with alcohol abuse, but one recent study published…
Self-care has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years, but it’s more than a passing fad. Self-care encompasses any healthy activity you do to take more ownership of your physical and mental wellness, but unfortunately, it’s often the first thing people ignore when their schedules get hectic. In honor of International Self-Care Day on…
While some amount of stress is inevitable in daily life, many professionals in high-pressure careers face consistently high stress levels. Anxiety can make you dread going to work, have trouble maintaining healthy relationships with colleagues or even interfere with your ability to do your job. Anxiety at work may also spill over into your home…
You have successfully completed treatment for your addiction to drugs or alcohol and are ready to return to your job. Restarting your career can be challenging after addiction treatment. Going back to work after rehab can involve dealing with questions, legalities, and stigma. Stigma of Addiction and Rehab When you were using drugs or alcohol,…
Random drug and alcohol testing is a requirement for many safety-sensitive professions. Pilots and other transportation professionals must be tested regularly to ensure they are fit for duty. When professionals are in treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, random testing can also help reinforce their progress in recovery. Professional laboratory monitoring helps ensure testing…
Sometimes you just need to be still and reflect. That can be difficult to do in a hectic world, especially as working professional who is also challenged with recovering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Taking time to focus inward can help you through your recovery, though. Spirituality and recovery have a connection that…
The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted a lot of normal activities in everyone’s daily life. As a professional in addiction treatment, you may need additional support to manage your recovery. While you are working through your addiction program, you also need to remain safe from the virus itself. The government has provided addiction resources during COVID-19…