RSS FeedFighting drug or alcohol abuse or watching a family member struggle with addiction can be a difficult test of love. The physical and emotional toll addiction takes can be agonizing and frustrating, particularly for family members and friends worried about their loved ones. If you are concerned that someone you care about may be addicted to alcohol or drugs, the first step toward helping them is to educate yourself about substance abuse.
An internet search for substance abuse turns up more than 22 million websites! How do you know which sites to trust? How do you know which ones will provide accurate, up-to-date, reliable information? Government sites (those ending in .gov) can be a good place to start. The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides accurate information; though for more than the bare-boned facts you’ll have to page through numerous screens searching for information on prevention or treatment. You may even have to check a number of different government websites to find the information you seek. The government provides a wealth of information, but it can be frustrating to find what you need.
Medical websites provide basic facts and treatment information, but presentations are usually over-generalized. Behaviors, effects and treatment can vary widely from drug to drug. Useful and accurate information about specific drug addictions can’t be found on one-size-fits-all web pages. In obtaining information from a medical website, you also have to consider the validity and reliability of the site. Sites sponsored by well-respected hospitals like the nationally known Mayo Clinic will certainly provide accurate, if generalized, information. However, many people turn to medical websites like WebMD or eMedicineHealth. While these sites advertise that they are written by physicians, there is no guarantee that the writer has specific expertise or experience in treating alcoholism or drug addiction. Information is generalized and can be inaccurate.
As a leader in the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction, Transitions Recovery Center has created easy-to-access and read info sheets on major addictive drugs. In the right-hand column of the Transitions Recovery homepage, you will find a useful list of addictive drugs. A quick click will give you an informative overview of the drug, how it’s sold and used, the effects and risk, symptoms to look for, current research findings and, most importantly, how to treat addiction. No more agonized searching through myriad websites. At Transitions Recovery you’ll find complete, accurate information on alcoholism and drug addiction, conveniently organized in one easy-to-use location.
