Social distancing is considered to be one of the best defenses against the spread of COVID-19. However, the isolation it leads to is not without consequences of its own. While all people are impacted by pandemic-related social distancing requirements, experts say that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) and those who are homeless face unique…

When COVID-19 first reached pandemic proportions earlier this year, Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warned that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) could be hit particularly hard by the virus. Now, research published in the academic journal, Molecular Psychiatry, confirms Dr. Volkow’s prediction to be true. While…

Adults defined as “sexual minority,” including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer (LGBTQ), have higher rates of substance misuse and substance use disorders than their heterosexual peers, according to statistics shared by the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Specifically, they’re two times more likely than heterosexuals to have used…

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the health and wellbeing of the world right now. While we often think of the elderly and people with serious underlying conditions as the most vulnerable to coronavirus complications, another subset of the population may also be at increased risk: people with substance use disorders. Here’s a closer look at…

Codependency can be a direct impediment to recovery from substance abuse problems. In order to stop these behaviors, we must first understand them. Here’s a closer look at codependency, along with why family therapy is a vital part of substance abuse treatment.   What is Codependency? “Codependency is characterized by a person belonging to a…