Ria Health Blog

Alcohol and Depression: Can One Make the Other Worse?

Consuming alcohol isn’t just common, it’s also widely accepted and promoted as a way to [...]

Moving On From The “Years I Lost To Alcohol”—6 Tips and Affirmations

In recovery, people often go through a time of mourning for the “years lost to [...]

Why Mental Health Is Crucial, for Patients and Those Who Care for Them

As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on, the death toll is not the only casualty. Healthcare [...]

How To Get Sober From Alcohol: 7 Things To Know

If you’ve decided it’s time to give up alcohol for good, you’re certainly not alone. [...]

Financial Stress and Alcohol Use: Is There a Connection?

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes to our daily lives, not the least of which is [...]

Why Do We Drink Alone?

A recent article—one of many in the COVID-19 era—commented on drinking in isolation. Stuck at [...]

Alcohol and Stress: What You Need To Know

During any stressful time, it’s common to look for a way to ease the pressure. [...]

Finding Your “Safe” Person in Recovery

When I was going through the worst period of my drinking, there was only one [...]

8 Signs of Alcoholism—From a Former Alcoholic

I’d venture to say that most people who drink alcohol have had at least one [...]

Staying Sober During Social Distancing: Tips For Self-Care

COVID-19 has presented a unique challenge to our culture: How can we support each other [...]

Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Relationship With Alcohol

Ever wondered if your relationship with alcohol is healthy? You’re not alone. In a culture [...]

COVID-19 and Ria Health: What Do I Need To Know?

How we are addressing the coronavirus (COVID-19) for our members and partners  Every day, we’re [...]

Dating an Alcoholic: 11 Signs, and What You Can Do

Have you noticed that your significant other is drinking more than they used to? Or [...]

Sneaky Things That Can Undermine Your Recovery

Even people with the best intentions can slip up during recovery. Making a permanent change [...]

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Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day While In Recovery: Fun Activities and Helpful Tips

For many, St. Patrick’s Day is a fun and festive occasion. Originally intended as an [...]

How to Deal with Hangxiety (Hangover Anxiety)

If you’ve ever had a long night of drinking, you’ve likely experienced the physical effects [...]

How to Stop Alcohol Cravings: From Mindfulness to Medication

One of the most common misconceptions around alcoholism is that it’s a choice, and that [...]

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A Milestone: Ria Health Is Now Accredited by The Joint Commission

In October 2019, at the company’s San Francisco headquarters, Ria Health underwent a rigorous review [...]

Can Ketamine Help You Drink Less Alcohol?

More than 14 million Americans suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD)—and millions of others drink [...]

Relapsing on the Sinclair Method: My Experience

Claudia Christian discusses her own struggles with compliance on the Sinclair Method, and the importance [...]

How to Help an Alcoholic Cut Back or Quit Drinking

It can be hard to know what to do when a friend or loved one [...]

Dry January Benefits: Should You Participate?

The transition from one year to another can mean more than just the flip of [...]

An Entertainment Giant Tackles Addiction and Recovery

Recently the veteran industry magazine Variety unveiled The Recovery Issue, a series of 12 articles [...]

Tips for Sticking with Medication Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Claudia Christian shares her personal advice on sticking with medication-based alcohol treatment for the long [...]

From Blacking Out, to Backing Out of AUD with Ria Health

Isn’t time travel cool? Being able to jump from one time to another sounds so [...]

How to Navigate the Holidays Sober, With Humor

No matter how long it’s been since you’ve had a drink, the holidays bring a [...]

17 Fun Holiday Activities That Don’t Involve Drinking

If you’d like to stay sober, or drink less this holiday season, you’re not alone. [...]

How One Year Sober Has Changed My Body, and My Life

I know how daunting it can be to read blogs about the “profound enlightenment” people [...]

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25 Recovery Quotes to Keep You Moving Forward

Recovering from alcohol addiction can feel intimidating. Sometimes, a boost of encouragement, or a reminder [...]

Can An Alcoholic Ever Drink Normally Again?

It’s often thought that those who struggle with alcoholism can never return to a normal [...]

Alcohol Rehab From Your Phone: Is the Best Solution in Your Pocket?

If you’re searching for “alcohol rehab near me,” you might be hoping to find an [...]

Ria Wins First Prize at Ignite Fire Pitch Competition in Houston

Last June, Ria Health’s chief financial officer, Jen Douglas, met the women who run the [...]

9 Mental Health Apps to Help You Reset Your Habits

Mental health care is among our society’s greatest needs, yet it’s also one of the [...]

The Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Addiction

For years, researchers, scientists, and families affected by substance abuse have wondered, “What causes addiction?” [...]

Did You Know that September is National Recovery Month?

Addiction and mental illness are issues that affect our lives and communities every day. National [...]

12 Surprising Ways Alcohol Impacts Your Health

How many times have you heard that a glass of red wine is good for [...]

Sober October—Health Benefits, and Tips For Making it Through

From the final week of Oktoberfest, through that spookiest of holidays, Halloween, October offers many [...]

Public Image and Private Reality: Celebrities and Alcohol

Constantly in the spotlight, triumphs and foibles of celebrities are magnified to the umpteenth degree. [...]

9 Tips for Quitting Alcohol: Key Strategies For Kicking the Habit

If you’ve decided that it’s time to quit or cut back on alcohol, we congratulate [...]

Does Alcohol Cause Inflammation? Drinking and the Risk of Chronic Illness

As scientists investigate the causes of dangerous and deadly diseases, they’ve found one factor common [...]

How Alcohol Affects Women’s Hormones, Before and After Menopause

According to recent statistics, women are drinking more than they used to. This doesn’t always [...]

What is Moderate Drinking? Finding a Healthier Balance With Alcohol

The consumption of alcohol has always been the subject of debate. Is drinking good for [...]

5 Ways Medication Can Make Quitting Alcohol Easier

Cutting back or quitting drinking is a challenge for many people. It’s not unusual for [...]

Is Sobriety the New Black? How Sober Socializing is Taking Over

Whenever a hot new trend pops up, it’s often referred to as “the new black.” [...]

Self-Medicating with Alcohol? How Combining Treatments Can Help You Quit

Fighting addiction is rarely easy, and it can be especially hard if you drink to [...]

Antabuse and the Birth of Medication for Alcoholism

Medication to treat alcoholism continues to gain popularity. Naltrexone in particular has earned a loyal [...]

Children of Alcoholics: Common Patterns and Helpful Resources

Growing up with parents who drink excessively is more common than you might think. According [...]

Zoloft and Alcohol: Avoiding a Risky Combination

An increasing number of Americans are taking antidepressants, and Zoloft is among the most popular. [...]

When Working Hard Means Drinking Harder: Long Hours and Risky Drinking

Have you ever poured a drink or two to relax and wind down after a [...]

How Drunk Are You? Here’s Why You Might Not Know the Answer

It’s not always easy to judge how drunk you are. We’ve all had friends at [...]

Alcohol and Sleep: Does Drinking Make Insomnia Worse?

It’s been a long workday, and you’re exhausted, yet you can’t seem to get to [...]

Recovery Coaching: How Does it Work and How Can it Help?

Treatment for addiction is evolving at a fast pace. Elsewhere in this blog we have [...]

Sober Curious vs. Harm Reduction: Which is Best For You?

You may have seen terms like “sober curious” or “mindful drinking” popping up a lot [...]

Booze, Independence, and Patriotism: The History of America and Alcohol

Since the time of the first European settlers, alcohol has been an integral part of [...]

How to Cure a Hangover: 4 Remedies You May Have in Your Cabinet

If you clicked on this article, chances are it’s because you’ve experienced the misery brought [...]

When Losing Weight Means Gaining a Drinking Problem

Nearly 40 percent of Americans suffer from obesity— that’s according to official numbers from the [...]

5 Best Telemedicine Apps For When You Can’t See a Doctor

Feeling under the weather? Want to check in with a doctor, but don’t have the [...]

Wine Belly Is a Thing—What Can You Do About It?

Do you enjoy having a nice glass—or a few nice glasses—of wine in the evening? [...]

Kudzu for Alcohol Addiction: Can a Natural Remedy Help You Drink Less?

In recent years, several plant-based remedies have emerged as potential treatments for alcohol addiction. Among [...]

6 Apps That Can Help You Drink Less Alcohol

We’ve come to rely on smartphones for nearly everything—from productivity management, to hailing a taxi. [...]

Binge Drinking: The Risks and the Costs

When people think of alcohol use disorder, they often picture a person drinking heavily and [...]

Behavioral Health Services for Alcohol Use Disorder

If you’re in charge of managing health insurance or other health-related issues for your organization, [...]

Rehab at Home: How a Telemedicine App Can Help You Stop Drinking

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the high cost of rehab, and how it often discourages [...]

Vivitrol vs Naltrexone for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

People who struggle with alcohol use disorder no longer have to rely exclusively on rehab [...]

The 4 Best Meditation Apps to Clear Your Mind

Talk with anyone who meditates regularly, and they’ll gladly tell you about the benefits to [...]

Alcohol & Workplace Productivity: Are Your Employees Secretly Struggling?

There are many stereotypes associated with alcohol addiction, not the least of which concerns employment. [...]

Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms: How to Spot Them, and What to Do About Them

You’ve probably seen people who were “three sheets to the wind,” or even unconscious from [...]

Alcohol and Aging: Does Drinking Make You Look Older?

The short answer: yes. While the occasional drink with friends might not hurt, evidence suggests [...]

Why Antidepressants and Alcohol Don’t Mix: Treating Depression Without the Booze

Depression has grown into a modern-day health crisis, with 17.3 million American adults in 2017 [...]

Can Pedialyte Really Cure Your Hangover?

There are many ways to describe how you’re feeling when you wake up after a [...]

Can Telemedicine Help Solve Our Doctor Shortage?

As Americans get older and our addiction crises worsen, the need for doctors—and especially addiction [...]

Alcoholism Treatment Flaws: Where the 12 Steps Stumble

People have sought to free themselves from the grip of alcohol addiction for as long [...]

Alcohol Treatment That Helps You Before “Rock Bottom”

Maybe you’ve noticed that you’ve started drinking on weeknights or imbibing alone after a long [...]

Mystery Ingredients, Customs Delays: The Risks of Buying Naltrexone Online Without a Prescription

Pharmaceuticals like naltrexone and other anti-alcoholism drugs aren’t always easy to access in the U.S. [...]

I Finally Quit Drinking Without White-Knuckling It. Here’s How.

I didn’t care much for alcohol when I began drinking. I didn’t like the feeling [...]

5 Common Questions from Ria Health Members’ Friends and Family

Is your loved one a Ria Health member, or thinking of becoming one? If so, [...]

What Is Low-Dose Naltrexone and Can It Reduce Alcohol Consumption?

Many people ask us whether very low doses of naltrexone can be used to treat [...]

April Is Alcohol Awareness Month—Here’s How You Can Celebrate.

Since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has recognized April as Alcohol [...]

Marijuana Addiction Treatment: Medication Can Reduce Cravings

As the medical applications of marijuana become better known, and as more states have legalized [...]

Need to Control Your Drinking? These 5 Medications Can Help.

If giving up alcohol or reducing alcohol consumption was always just a matter of willpower, [...]

4 Ways to Support Your Loved One’s Fight Against Alcohol

If your family member or close friend is caught in the clutches of alcohol addiction, [...]

St. Patrick’s Day: Why the Holy Holiday Is All About Drinking

Millions of Americans discover their Irish side every March 17. That’s when St. Patrick’s day [...]

Avoiding Alcohol Withdrawal: How to Curb Your Drinking Safely

Maybe you drink too much, or at least you drink more than you want to [...]

Women Are Drinking More and “Mommy Wine Culture” May Be to Blame

Ever since the first National Women’s Day in February of 1909, this time of year [...]

Am I an Alcoholic? 4 Signs You’re Drinking Too Much.

Concerned you may be drinking too much? Battling alcoholism is hard for a lot of [...]

Is Red Wine Good for You? Questioning the Health Benefits of Wine

Despite its massive wealth and technological innovations (we’ve got computers on our wrists now!), the [...]

Topiramate Prevents Migraines. It Can Also Help You Drink Less.

Alcoholism is on the rise. In fact, alcoholism rose by a startling 49 percent during [...]

Discussing “The Abstinence Myth” with Dr. Adi Jaffe

How does someone go from a meth addict, to a Ph.D. in psychology, to a [...]

What Is a “Nalover”? We Surveyed Reddit and Facebook to Find Out

When you peruse the alcoholism medication-assisted treatment online communities (yes, they exist!), you’ll probably come [...]

Acamprosate Rewires Your Brain to Reduce Alcohol Cravings

There are several medications that work to reduce drinking, but how do they differ? Here [...]

The Sinclair Method Reviews: “It Totally Works”

The Sinclair Method, or TSM, is pretty simple—just take a dose of FDA-approved naltrexone one [...]

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Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Is Killing More Young People—But There’s Hope

Cirrhosis deaths have grown significantly in recent years, especially among young people. Experts cite alcohol [...]

Online Alcohol Treatment: Why Patients Prefer Telemedicine

Imagine coming down with the flu and being able to webcam with your doctor, even [...]

Want to Protect Your Brain? Mind Your Drinking Habits

Among all the major organs of the body, the brain is uniquely irreplaceable. While artificial [...]

How You Can Change Your Relationship With Alcohol—Without Ending It

Do you want to change your relationship with alcohol so that you drink less, or [...]

What Is the Sinclair Method for Alcohol Addiction?

If you’re struggling to drink “normally,” but don’t want to quit drinking altogether, you should [...]

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Yes, Opioids Are Everywhere—But So Is Alcohol

Every new day seems to bring fresh headlines about the modern-day plague of opioid addiction. [...]

5 Reasons Moderate Drinking May Be a Better Goal than Abstinence

Alcohol abuse affects millions of people, a lot of whom want to change their drinking [...]

Struggling with Alcohol Dependence? Don’t Go to AA, Go Online

We live in an age of informational self-empowerment. When you want the answer to a [...]

Dry January Tips to Make it Easier to Drink Less

January is a great month to cut back your drinking for a few reasons. Many [...]

How Silicon Valley Is Getting Sober

Alcohol addiction has long swept the nation, and Silicon Valley is far from exempt from [...]

Dry January Is Coming: Here Are 31 Things to Do Other than Drink

After the countless drinking opportunities during the holiday season, some people decide to start the [...]

How Telemedicine Is Changing Alcohol Treatment

People who are ready to reduce or eliminate their alcohol intake are increasingly turning to [...]

Side Effects of Naltrexone: Why Are They Too Much for Some People?

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication that has been repeatedly shown to significantly reduce drinking, and [...]

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How to Control Your Drinking Before “Rock Bottom”: Tips from Blogger Heather Serody

Maybe you don’t consider yourself an “alcoholic,” but you’d still like to reduce your drinking. [...]

Naltrexone Side Effects and Uses for Alcohol Addiction: Is it Right for You?

If you want to cut back or quit drinking, 12-step or abstinence-based programs aren’t the [...]

5 Tips for Mindful Drinking This Holiday Season

We get it: Being mindful as a way to drink less alcohol is often much [...]

“Why Do I Feel So Much Freer?”: Joseph’s Journey with Ria Health

I recently chatted with Joseph, a Ria Health member, about his relationship with alcohol and [...]

7 Tips to Avoid a Hangover this Holiday Season

Hangovers make everything hard—especially during the holiday season. For many, this time of year is [...]

Baclofen: How a Muscle Relaxant Can Reduce Alcohol Cravings

Whether you want to stop drinking completely or just cut back, there’s a treatment option [...]

Gastric Bypass and Alcohol: The Risks of Drinking After Surgery

In a recent post, we looked at how anxiety can put you at a higher [...]

Can Menopause Cause Alcoholism? A Closer Look at Women and Alcohol

Menopause: Universally experienced by women, but not often discussed in the mainstream. It marks the [...]

10 Alternatives to AA: How Modern Science Can Help You Drink Less

Alcohol abuse is a tale as old as time, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been [...]

Gabapentin and Alcohol Addiction: Can it Reduce Cravings?

Many people don’t know that there are medications for alcohol addiction, but they are often [...]

“I No Longer Feel Addicted” to Alcohol: People Tell Us About Naltrexone

Naltrexone is a safe, effective medication that has been shown to significantly reduce heavy drinking. [...]

What to Do When Alcohol is Everywhere: 11 Tips (Part II)

(Part I of this article is here.) #7: Plan Ahead What You Want to Tell [...]

What to Do When Alcohol is Everywhere: 11 Tips (Part I)

A mimosa with brunch. A beer to unwind after work. A glass of wine with [...]

Women, Alcohol, Anxiety—and Why AA Might Not Work

Women are drinking alcohol more than before. But the most common treatment option for addiction, [...]

Can Drinking Alcohol Cause Anxiety?

Addiction and emotional distress often go hand-in-hand. Indeed, Alcohol Use Disorder—or AUD, the current preferred [...]

Are You Drinking a Bottle of Wine a Day?

Wine is one of those drinks that can sometimes weave itself through every evening. A [...]

What’s It Like to Drink Alcohol While on Naltrexone?

When many people realize they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, they delay treatment because [...]

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3 Ways to Become More Self-Compassionate

In the third season of the television series Breaking Bad, protagonist Jesse Pinkman winds up [...]

Let’s Talk About 25% of Your Friends—and Movies

Did you know that 25% of your friends could have a drinking problem? According to [...]

Talking with Kids About Alcohol: 11 Tips

Teaching kids about alcohol safety can feel as uncomfortable as explaining “the birds and the [...]

5 Drinks to Avoid on a Diet

Millions of people use diets which assigns a number of points to different foods, depending [...]

Does Alcohol Really Spice Things Up in the Bedroom?

Today’s culture is replete with images of alcohol and sex, to the point where romantic [...]

Do You Know Someone in an Occupation with a High Risk of Alcohol Issues?

It’s no secret that some people make drinking a daily routine. The habit can culminate [...]

The (Simply Explained) Science Behind Hangovers

Some controversies may forever divide our nation: political party preferences, tax rates, how much time [...]

Alcohol and Affluence: Are the Poor Really the Heaviest Drinkers?

They say money can’t buy happiness—nor can it guarantee freedom from addiction. If anything, money [...]

Three Reasons Most Say “No” to Treatment for Addiction

There are plenty of obvious reasons why problem drinkers forgo treatment for addiction. Some people [...]

Does Alcohol Always Make You Pack on Pounds?

These days, weight loss seems downright impossible. After all, today’s dieters are bombarded left and [...]

Seven Tips to Survive Holiday Drinking

Growing up, it seemed like every Fourth of July had a few things in common. [...]

“A Complete Miracle”: How Naltrexone Works on Your Brain

A beloved actress and friend, Claudia Christian once felt utterly hopeless. For years, Christian had [...]

Ria Case Study: Female Winemaker Reduces Her Drinking Using Medication

Rachel has an interesting story and an incredible job. In an industry dominated by drinking, [...]

A Glass of Wine a Day Won’t Keep Heart Failure Away, Says New Study

Think a glass of red wine before bed will keep your heart pounding for years [...]

Two High-Profile Suicides Rekindle Conversation

With the recent, untimely deaths of the designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain, people [...]

Parents’ Alcohol Use: 3 Ways It Can Harm Children

When stress, work, and family responsibilities pile up, many are tempted to drink more than [...]

Ria Case Study: When the Vodka and Soda Took Over

Geno (Stockton, CA) Anxiety can be a challenge for many adults, especially those juggling the [...]

Medication Plus Counseling: Why Two Heads Are Better Than One

A popular saying states that it “takes a village” to raise a child. After all, [...]

John Oliver on Why You Should Rethink Rehab

$73,000 for 30 days. That’s the figure John Oliver quoted for a month’s stay in [...]

An Introduction to Harm Reduction, and 8 Strategies to Consider

“How much is too much?” When it comes to alcohol, the answer to this question [...]

Do You Know “The Four L’s”?

One of the great ironies of alcohol addiction is that sometimes heavy drinkers are able [...]

Alcohol and Diabetes: Are You at Risk?

In the United States, over 30 million people have diabetes. Another 84 million are prediabetic—meaning, [...]

How Much Should You Pay for Alcohol Treatment?

One of our members recently said, “You all are a bargain—a super bargain!” Of course, [...]

Rehab Under Fire: The Sober Underbelly of the Recovery Industry

  On January 3, during a time when many Americans were focused on relaxing, cooking, [...]

Hangovers: Hydration, Prairie Oysters—and Pickle Juice

Today on Good Morning America, ABC News’ chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, spoke about [...]

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Alcohol and Sleep

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, [...]

Ways to Reduce Hangovers: Old, New, and Surprising

It’s that time of year again. Multiple holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve—conspire to [...]

14 Ways Alcohol Abuse Harms Marriage

Alcohol can be a poisonous substance, especially in large amounts. When used to excess, alcohol [...]

Why Aren’t More Doctors and Patients Aware of Naltrexone?

Naltrexone was initially approved to treat opioid addiction in 1984. Later, scientists tested naltrexone in [...]

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Same Drinks, Different Metabolisms: One Size Does NOT Fit All

Alcohol Is Broken Down Differently in Women’s and Men’s Bodies Men and women have the same [...]

From the Perspective of a Ria Health Member, Part Two: Pamela’s Story

This is a specific account of one person’s real experience with Ria Health. Individual results [...]

The Science of Alcohol and Depression

The Impact of Alcohol on Depression A glass of wine or beer after a stressful [...]

From the Perspective of a Ria Health Member: Part One of Two

Part One- Testimony from a Ria Health Member This is a specific account of one [...]

4 Things Kids Need to Know about Alcohol

The importance of arming young people with facts about the dangers of alcohol At some [...]

3 Things You Should Know About Alcohol and Blackouts

Memory loss and blackouts are a common symptom of heavy alcohol use. A blackout occurs [...]

Perspective of a Medical Student

“I’m tired of feeling like a criminal.” During my first week as a 4th year [...]

Naltrexone: Getting Rid of the Obsession

  “Patients themselves often comment after a couple of months of treatment that, to their [...]

Naltrexone: 50mgs Of Hope

Ria Health uses Naltrexone to help patients break and change drinking habits. It was approved [...]

Naltrexone: Side Effects and Interactions

Naltrexone has a number of known side effects. Patients should ask their doctors whether they [...]

10 Ways to Reduce Drinking

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) suggests the following steps may help [...]

Naltrexone: Vivitrol, ReVia, Depade, Alcohol Recovery

Naltrexone was originally intended to help users of heroin and other opiates. But after its [...]

The Physician’s Perspective | What is an Alcoholic?

If we do not define alcoholism by the quantity and frequency of alcohol use or [...]

The Sober Guy Radio Treatment

On Episode 120 of Sober Guy Radio with host Shane Ramer (below, with his guitar), Ria Health [...]

The Physician’s Perspective | Naltrexone to Treat Alcoholism

  Here at Ria Health, our preferred drug of choice is Naltrexone, which blocks opioid-receptors. [...]

The Physician’s Perspective | Medication to Control Drinking

So, you’ve decided to cut down on your drinking. Great! There’s medication to help with [...]

The Physician’s Perspective | Alcohol Abuse

It”s been amazing watching addictive diseases go from untreatably severe to problems that are manageable. [...]

Alcohol Rehab: Today There Are Other Options

Conventional wisdom is that those who drink too much should check in to an alcohol [...]

Naltrexone Helps Overcome Opioid Abuse

To date, three medications are approved by the FDA for long-term treatment of opiate dependence. [...]

Naltrexone Can Help Save Lives Lost to Drunk Driving

Drunk driving kills and injures hundreds of thousands of people every year. This carnage could [...]

Benefits of Medication To Treat Alcohol Abuse

What are the benefits of medication management in treatment services and how does it affect [...]

Committing to Self-Improvement

Making the commitment to changing your habits can be the first and main step to [...]

Does your liver need a break?

The Holidays are over. It’s the time when many people make resolutions to ease their [...]

Interesting Hobbies To Try Out

Ever felt like you were bored or needed something to do and ended up drinking? [...]