Trusted Resources
In this Article
- Drug Abuse Education
- Signs of Dependency and Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Resources for Parents of Drug Addicts
- Collections of Essays and Stories by Addicts
- Drug and Alcohol Detoxification Resources
- Drug Addiction Treatment Centers
- Behavioral Addiction Treatment Programs
- Substance Abuse Recovery Programs
- Online Support Forums and Communities
- Books About Overcoming Addictions
- Addiction Treatment Industry Resources
Drug Abuse Education
http://www.nida.nih.gov/
Chock full of information, this online resource has sections geared toward children and teens, as well as parents and teachers. The children’s section is divided into areas for different grade levels and includes information about marijuana, opiates, nicotine, steroids and more. The pages for adults include the same topics, and teachers can download detailed learning modules, including lesson plans and activities for classroom use.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/
The National Clearing House for Drug and Alcohol Information has a wealth of materials dealing with all kinds of substance abuse. Choose from titles dealing with the facts about medications being given for opioids, anger management for people undergoing treatment, reports about tobacco sales to youth, and a national directory of drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Download your selection directly to your computer.
http://www.dare.com/home/default.asp
D.A.R.E. provides information about drug abuse to children, as well as parents and caregivers. The children’s activities are geared towards young children and include puzzles and crosswords. Parents and caregivers can find out news about drug-related issues, get tips for keeping their kids drug-free, find out what warning signs they should be on the lookout for, and more. Information about starting a D.A.R.E. program in a school is also provided.
http://www.acde.org/
This informative site offers information for teens, college students, and parents about drug and alcohol abuse. Employers can find facts about substance abuse in the workplace and what they can do to prevent it. Teachers can get tips for how to discuss drug abuse in their classrooms, how to spot the signs of drug abuse. Lesson plans are provided, along with some basic information about drugs and a guide for health care professionals about drug abuse among youth.
Signs of Dependency and Drug and Alcohol Abuse
http://www.med.unc.edu/alcohol/prevention/
The Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides a detailed list of signs of alcohol abuse. The effects that a drug or alcohol dependency can have are also listed here. Visitors to the site can also check out suggestions for making good choices about dealing with stress, drinking in moderation or deciding to abstain entirely. The topic of responsible partying is covered and includes suggestions for non-alcoholic mixed drinks, as well as a list of ways that a host who is serving alcohol can do so responsibly.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm
This article on the topic of drug abuse presents a good overview of what drug addiction is and the factors that cause it. It goes on to point out the signs of drug addiction and the effects this behavior can have on the addict. Tips for understanding addiction and the recovery process are provided, including how to deal with the person who claims they can stop any time or denies that they have a problem.
http://www.phoenixhouse.org/national/DrugFacts/drugfacts_symptoms.html
The signs of a drug or alcohol problem in teens can be difficult to pick up on, especially since teens go through so many changes during this phase in their lives. This article lists 10 physical signs and 10 behavioral signs that young person may be dependent on drugs and/or alcohol. The important thing for parents to remember is that changes in normal behavior patterns may indicate a problem and shouldn’t be ignored.
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/addiction-types/drug-addiction/index.htm
The word “addiction” may be thrown around casually by some people, as in the case of someone who describes themselves as a “chocoholic”. The Drug Abuse Symptoms, Signs, and Effects pages from The Good Drugs Guide web site provides a detailed definition of what an addiction is. If you suspect that you or someone you know is an addict, the list of 20 questions to assess the signs of drug abuse will help you to get a handle on whether that is the case. Information about how to spot drug abuse in teens is provided.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/
Teens need to learn the facts about drug and alcohol abuse and the TeensHealth.org web sites gives them the information they need to know without being preachy. The facts about tobacco use, drugs and alcohol are set out in language that is easy for teens to understand. The site also features a section about how to get help for an addiction and explains how physical and psychological dependence play a part in this issue.
Resources for Parents of Drug Addicts
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621782/20090917/fall_out_boy.jhtml
Parents don’t always have to consider a full-on intervention with the participation of a professional to help their children get help for an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. This article give 10 tips to help parents discuss the issue with their child themselves. They are designed to help parents share their concerns and discuss the situation calmly, in the hope that the child will agree to seek treatment.
http://www.drugfree.org/
Time to Talk has an impressive selection of information for parents. From the facts about different kinds of drugs (cocaine, crack, cough syrups, prescription pain killers, alcohol, marijuana, etc.) to news and statistics about drug use among young people, this site has it all. Parents who suspect their child is using drugs and/or alcohol can find out how to deal with the situation, check out the blog for tips, or participate in the discussion forum.
http://www.notmykid.org/hot-topics/substance-abuse.aspx
The NotMyKid.org web site takes the position that if kids can stay away from destructive choices until they are 21, they are not likely to start engaging in antisocial behaviors after that point. The site gives parents some basic facts about addiction, along with tips for how to talk to teens about drug and alcohol abuse. They can also find out how to create a drug prevention plan for their own family.
Collections of Essays and Stories by Addicts
http://www.anonymousone.com/stories.htm
A story written by someone who has been there is a powerful thing when it comes to recovery from addiction. Check out stories written by men and women who have written about their struggles with alcoholism, compulsive eating, and gambling. Some of the stories listed on this site have been written in French.
http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/drug-addiction-stories.html
Drug addiction stories help to put a human face on addiction. By reading about a person’s experience with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the reader can understand more about this issue. Not all the stories are about how the person successfully beat their addiction. Sometimes, the story is about how far down into the pit of addiction a person can fall and how challenging it is for the people who are trying to care for them to try to understand them.
http://cocaineaddiction.me/
Read about other people’s addiction to cocaine or post your own story on this web site. They reflect the reality of what using this drug can do to a user. Rather than point to cocaine use as being something glamorous or attractive, these stories give the reader food for thought.M
Drug and Alcohol Detoxification Resources
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/treatment-centers/detox-centers.htm
Comprehensive statewide listings of facilities offering or specializing in drug detoxification including those offering detox programs specific to a particular substance or pharmaceutical drug. Contains information on withdrawal effects, symptoms, and safety.
http://www.drugs.com/condition/alcohol-withdrawal.html
The Alcohol Withdrawal Medications page at Drugs.com lists a number of drugs that may be prescribed for people who are going through alcohol detox. Find out what other conditions the medication may be prescribed for, and who should avoid using it. You can also learn what the side effects of the different medications are, and which drugs will interact with them, and the correct way to take it.
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/withdraw/a/blucd040604.htm
The focus of this web page is to give the reader an overview of the symptoms that a person who is going through alcohol detox may experience. The site visitor learns that the majority of people who are going through the process don’t have severe symptoms and that they can be given medications to keep them comfortable. Treatment options for severe withdrawal symptoms are also covered here.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040315/1443.html
This web page provides a detailed explanation for what happens in the body of the person going through withdrawal, as well as a table listing the diagnostic criteria for diagnosing it. Visitors to the site will also find the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, along with how soon after the last alcoholic drink they are likely to appear. The use of medications in the alcohol detoxification process is also mentioned.
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Opioid-Detoxification.htm
This page from the Patient UK web site lists how long the detoxification process should take in a treatment facility, as well as on an outpatient basis. Information about when a community-based detoxification program should be offered and the circumstances when an inpatient program would be best is provided. Common medications used in detoxification and treatment options for side effects of drug detox, such as diarrhea, headaches, muscle pains, stomach ailments and anxiety are also provided.
Drug Addiction Treatment Centers
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/treatment-centers/index.htm
State and City organized directory of drug treatment centers and addiction recovery programs. Includes links to profiles of facilities, photos, care provider interviews, maps, testimonials, and other details to help prospective patients make informed choices. Includes links to drug rehabs, behavioral disorder treatment services, and recovery programs.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/treatmeth.html
The information on this page gives a good overview of the different strategies that a drug addiction treatment center would use to help its clients, along with statistics about how many people in the United States have sought treatment for addiction issues. Points that form the basis for a successful treatment program are listed. Basic information about inpatient and outpatient treatment programs is provided.
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/treat/treatment.html
Find out about the different types of treatment available to people who are addicted to drugs. This page shares facts about options, including agonist maintenance treatment, outpatient treatment without administering medications, long-term residential treatment, and short-term programs. Medical detox is covered, and an explanation about treatment options for incarcerated individuals is provided.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/methnet/fightmeth/treatment.html
This page includes some basic information about drug addiction treatment as well as specific facts about meth addiction specifically. Tips for finding a treatment program are offered. In depth information about the cost of treatment, how to evaluate a particular treatment program’s effectiveness, and what makes a meth treatment program a successful one.
http://drugabuse.gov/PDF/PODAT/PODAT.pdf
Published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute on Drug Abuse, this PDF document offers answers to a series of FAQs about drug abuse and drug treatment programs. Discover what drug abuse treatment involves, where to find information about treatment options, why women and adolescents have unique needs when it comes to drug addiction treatment. Coexisting mental disorders, the role of exercise in the treatment of addiction, general information about the types of treatment programs available, and specific information about drug treatment programs for offenders and behavioral therapies.
Behavioral Addiction Treatment Programs
http://www.videojug.com/interview/behavioral-addiction-treatment
VideoJug has posted a series of videos on the subject of behavioral addiction. They are packed full of helpful information about what desensitization is, why an inpatient program may be the best choice, and how much one of the programs costs. The rules for patients at an inpatient program and follow-up care are covered. Similar facts about outpatient care are provided in the series.
http://www.ncpgambling.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
Along with a detailed description of what problem gambling is, this informative site offers answers to FAQ about this type of addiction. Visitors to the site get an idea of how widespread the problem of behavioral addiction is and also discover whether this form of addiction affects children and teens. People looking for a certified gambling addiction counselor can access an online database from the site.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/treatment-for-sexual-addiction/
Find out how to evaluate treatment programs for sexual addiction by checking out this web page. A list of questions to ask before choosing a treatment program is provided. Visitors to this site can learn about different approaches to treatment used to help sex addicts.
Substance Abuse Recovery Programs
http://www.adp.ca.gov/
The California government has a number of programs available to residents of that state who need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Special programs are available for veterans, women, and young people. The web site offers general information to the public, as well as information about how treatment facilities and counselors get licensed to work with addicts.
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/substabuse/
The government of Wisconsin offers several kinds of services to people who want treatment for substance abuse, as well as their families. Find out about substance abuse programs available to Wisconsin residents. Special program are offered for women, people who have been arrested for DUI, and those who are dealing with an addiction to narcotics.
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dasa/
Members of the public are invited to check out the DBHR web site to find out about state-funded substance abuse recovery programs available to them. Information about prevention programs is available here. Find out whether you or a loved one is eligible and how to get a referral to a treatment program.
Online Support Forums and Communities
http://www.mdjunction.com/support-groups/addiction/
MD Junction offers a number of online support groups for people who are living with addiction. The site offers help and support to those who have issues with alcohol, drugs, heroin, codependency, shopping, sex addictions, and more. The site administrators are always interested in starting new groups, and if a visitor doesn’t see a group that fits with their addiction issues, they are invited to start their own recovery group.
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=7
The Addiction and Recovery message boards on the Healthboards web site offer people who are in any stage of addiction or recovery to share their experiences and ask questions of other members. Moderators ensure that the members abide by the forum rules, including one stating that discussions about obtaining drugs illegally are forbidden. People who are concerned about a loved one are also welcome to post here and get the benefits that sharing with an understanding community can provide.
http://www.dailystrength.org/support-groups/Addiction-Recovery
Whether you are an addict or someone who cares about one, you will probably find an online support group here that can help. Groups are available for people who are addicted to alcohol, food, inhalants, marijuana, meth, prescription drugs, sex and porn, smoking, video games and more. There is also an online group for friends and family members of addicts.
Books About Overcoming Addictions
http://www.amazon.com/review/0553351389?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_pr_hist_5&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar
This book explains how a person can recognize the signs of a sexual addiction in themselves or someone they care about. The consequences of a pattern of sexual addiction are set out. The second portion of the book looks at the stages of recovery from this type of addiction and explains how a sex addict can develop a healthy sexual relationship with a partner.
http://www.amazon.com/review/157224237X?ie=UTF8&ref_=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt&showViewpoints=1
Kill the Craving provides the reader with information about how to use a treatment technique called “Exposure Response Prevention” (ERP) to break free from addiction. ERP has successfully been used to treat those living with phobias and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The book takes the addict on a self-directed journey where they consider the reasons why they started using, learn relaxation techniques they can use before adopting the strategies of ERP, and strategies to prevent a relapse.
http://www.amazon.com/Treating-Pornography-Addiction-Essential-Recovery/dp/097722080X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254259742&sr=8-1
Dr. Skinner’s book starts at the beginning with how someone can become addicted to porn. The reader gets tips for rewriting the beliefs they have in their mind that keep them in the cycle of addiction. The steps involved in breaking free from the addiction are covered. The book also includes a profile of the type of person who is most likely to have a relapse. Lifestyle suggestions that will help the individual change their lifestyle to help them in their recovery.
Addiction Treatment Industry Resources
http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpalcoholabuse/index.html
The federal government has earmarked $24.5 million for discretionary grants for projects lasting up to 36 months. Local education agencies are eligible to apply for funding of $250,000-$450,000. The moneys are used to fund projects designed for students at the secondary school level.
http://www.tresearch.org/centers/comat_conf.htm
The Treatment Research Organization has posted presentations from the Conference of the Wharton-TRI Center on the Organization and Management of Addiction Treatment held on December 1-2, 2006. “National Treatment Center Study: Analysis of Retrospective Data” has data taken from a survey of private addiction clinics conducted from 1995-96 and 2002-04. “Consistency? We’ve Got to Automate This Thing!” considers whether technology can improve services given to addicts. “Efficiency in Addiction Treatment: A Data Envelopment Analysis in Maryland” presents results from a study of 373 clinics in that state.
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/treatment_pro_res
Hazelden offers addiction counselors and others working in the field a number of products they can use for professional development purposes. Materials geared for professionals working with teens are offered through the Hazelden web site. Special issues associated with people who have survived traumatic experiences and co-occurring disorders are addressed in some packages offered by the Clinic.





Behavior therapist Carnes ( Out of the Shadows ) and fellow researchers targeted some 1000 sexual addicts and their "co-dependent" partners through surveys and interviews.


For every drug addict there are at least four people affected, a depressing assertion by some experts that is clearly borne out in this soft-spoken, utterly honest account by educator Cataldi.
Exposing people to the things that they try hard to avoid - things like fears, and phobias, and painful memories - has long been a standard therapeutic technique.
