DreamLife Recovery Blog

Kratom is an herb that comes from the tropical tree, Mitragyna speciosa, native to Southeast Asian regions such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Kratom can be ingested as a pill, capsule, or…

Giving sobriety gifts is a common way to honor a friend or family member who has worked hard on their journey to recovery from addiction. If you’ve supported a friend or family member through their…

According to GoodRx, in May 2017, Gabapentin was the fifth-most prescribed drug in the nation. As of August 2020, Gabapentin made the same list at number six. This isn’t to say that lots of people…

Two people can undergo the same back surgery and will be prescribed the same opioid painkillers for their recovery. However, in many cases, one of them develops an addiction to the pills while the other…

From the rise of Purdue Pharma, to becoming the archetype villain of the opiate crisis, the Sackler Family has certainly evolved over the years. The last name that is now synonymous with the drug OxyContin…

Only 10 years after her national television debut, Demi Lovato found herself minutes away from death. Read more...

Alcoholism is an addictive disorder in which the primary substance of abuse is alcohol. To define alcoholism, we typically consider the behavior and symptoms associated with this form of substance use disorder. A person struggling…

All over the United States, drug overdoses have been rising due to the global pandemic. The 12 months between May 2019 and May 2020 was the deadliest 12-month period for unintentional drug overdose deaths, according…

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the name used to describe the symptoms that ensue when a person who is a heavy drinker tries to cut back or quit drinking "cold turkey.” Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can occur…

When you think of someone with alcoholism, you may picture someone who is always falling-down-drunk or whose life is in shambles. While that can be an accurate description sometimes, it isn’t always that obvious. Read…

If you’ve ever felt absorbed by a really good movie or book and “lost yourself” in it—you have experienced dissociation. Dissociation is when a person experiences a disconnection between their thoughts, feelings, behaviors and their…

If you are dealing with pain from an injury, surgery, or chronic condition, it is possible that your doctor will prescribe medication for pain relief. There are many prescription pain medications out there but the…

While most people have heard of depression, a lesser-known type of this mood disorder is called dysthymia. Dysthymia is a form of chronic, low-level depression characterized by more mild symptoms that come and go in…

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid and natural chemical in your brain, as well as a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger. However, GABA is considered to be an inhibitory neurotransmitter because it blocks certain brain…

Cocaine is a potent stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant that grows in South America. Often sold as a fine, white powder, cocaine is typically snorted but can be injected, ingested, or…

Withdrawal medications are typically used during medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse and addiction treatment for drugs or alcohol. It’s important to understand exactly what withdrawal medications are and how they work. Read more...

At the start of a new year many people look for tricks to create new habits. Often, this means making exercising a habit, eating healthier foods a habit, or make habits out of other beneficial…

In recent years, synthetic opioids have become more prevalent illegally and on the streets and are having powerful consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, more than 31,000 deaths…

If you have a friend who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you are probably wondering how you can help. It’s difficult to see someone you care about go through the pain of addiction. You…

Heroin addiction is a serious problem in the U.S. and throughout the rest of the world. In fact, approximately 9.2 million people worldwide use heroin. Read more...