American Addiction Centers Blog
Is There a Difference between Concerta and Ritalin?
May 9, 2024
Central nervous stimulants, like Concerta and Ritalin, have been prescribed for decades to help treat the effects of ADHD in adolescents and adults. Many people wonder “is there a difference between Concerta and Ritalin?” Read on to learn more about these medications, how they work, and what to do if you or someone you love […]
Judging, shaming, and stigmatizing individuals are proven to be ineffective approaches for healthy, productive, and lasting change. Instead, they serve as proverbial weapons that tear at the core of an already-fragile human condition—a condition that strives to be valued, to matter, and to be loved. Pregnant women are no exception. A woman battling substance misuse […]
Signs of a Rehab Scam Addiction is an extremely prevalent issue in the United States. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 13.1 million Americans 12 or older (4.6%) received treatment within the previous 12 months. And the number of people who get treatment is just a small fraction of […]
Whether you’ve been to treatment, you’re contemplating rehab, or your loved one is struggling with substance misuse, the more tools you have in your arsenal the better. Everything from inpatient rehab and sober living facilities to peer-support groups and outpatient care can move you or your loved one another step closer to long-term recovery. Self-help […]
The number of men with alcohol use disorder exceeds the number of women with with the disease, but research indicates that women may be narrowing the gap.1 In fact, among adults, alcohol use is increasing for women but not for men.2 So, why is alcohol consumption on the rise for women? Let’s take a look at […]
Sometimes, information seems to take on a life of its own, particularly if it’s found on the internet. A seemingly reputable (and perhaps well-intentioned) source puts out info, someone else sees it and creates similar content, everyone assumes it’s true (because multiple sources are talking about it), and away we go into the Land of […]
How different are men and women when it comes to substance use disorders and addiction treatment? Which gender uses more illicit substances? Are men or women more likely to die of illegal or prescription drug overdose? Which gender is more susceptible to relapse? Insights from the Substance Use in Women Research Report—available from the National […]
Most people associate St. Patrick’s Day with raucous parties, historic parades, and copious amounts of alcohol. But the holiday’s origins have little to do with these associations. According to insights from the History Channel, St. Patrick’s Day is historically a Roman Catholic celebration marking the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland (who, […]
Did you know that heavy drinking over time—or even too much on one occasion—can damage your heart? Alcohol misuse can lead to strokes even in people without pre-existing heart disease. It can also contribute to high blood pressure, impact heart rate, and cause alcohol-associated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder […]
How Racism Impacts Health and Treatment Among Black People Over the last several years, there has been increasing evidence indicating that structural factors are the fundamental cause of health inequities, which result in poor health outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities. Black people as well as other racial and ethnic minorities with a substance use […]
Substance use disorders (SUDs) often go hand in hand with mental health disorders—such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. There’s even a term for the simultaneous existence of these two conditions: co-occurring disorder.1 However, some people fail to realize that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating, etc. are mental health issues. […]
What is a High-Functioning Alcoholic? While some of the criteria used to diagnose an AUD include an inability to control drinking even after it has caused issues at their job or in their personal life, someone who is a “high-functioning alcoholic” may not demonstrate this diagnostic criteria. However, they may meet other criteria that leads […]
A History of the ‘Dry Drunk’ The term dry drunk syndrome was originally coined by the creators of the 12-Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. Author R.J. Solberg defined the term in his 1970 book, The Dry Drunk Syndrome, as “the presence of actions and attitudes that characterized the alcoholic prior to recovery.” Someone struggling with dry […]