an empty wine glass sits on a table

Does Alcohol Cause Depression and Anxiety?

Mental health issues like anxiety and depression are often closely linked to alcohol misuse, each worsening the other. Many people use alcohol to self-medicate emotional distress, but this often makes mental health symptoms worse over time. Effective treatment must address both mental health conditions and substance abuse together, as treating one without the other can…

a woman smiles because she's able to stay sober on memorial day

Staying Sober on Memorial Day

Observed the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday to honor and mourn American military personnel who have died in the line of duty. Memorial Day is also widely observed as the unofficial start of summer, usually celebrated with picnics, barbecues, and parties serving up alcohol and possibly other substances. For those…

addiction often starts in the science of the brain

Facts About the Brain Science of Addiction

When we take medications, they often work by directly affecting how our brain chemistry operates. In the case of pain relief, medications block receptors in the brain so that individuals experience less discomfort as they heal from surgery or medical treatment. However, using medications has to be closely monitored so that the body doesn’t develop…