AT Magazine Contributor
You’re probably wrong about the substance (or substances) you consider to be a gateway drug -- but it’s not your fault. For nearly 50 years, the idea that experimenting with mild drugs can or will inevitably -- depending on the version you heard -- lead to harder drug...
The early stages of addiction recovery are powerful and transformative -- but also a time of vulnerability. Expecting perfection in your sobriety journey without a single misstep is a lofty expectation. While the ambition is admirable, such shoot-for-the-moon thinking...
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is an annual, week-long observance dedicated to educating people, especially teens and young adults, about the realities of substance use and addiction. Held from March 17-23, this national initiative is spearheaded by the...
While family and friends can offer encouragement, many people in recovery find that having a recovery sponsor is one of the most effective ways to stay on track. A recovery sponsor is someone who has successfully navigated their sobriety journey and is willing...
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed how people lived, worked, and coped with stress. One major shift involved alcohol consumption. From social drinking at home to self-medicating for anxiety and depression, alcohol use increased significantly during and after the...
When people think about the dangers of alcohol, liver disease often comes to mind first. But did you know alcohol is also a carcinogen? According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen—the same category...
Korsakoff Syndrome is a serious memory disorder often caused by chronic alcohol abuse. It is commonly associated with a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1) and is part of a broader condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Here’s an in-depth look at its causes,...
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant with profound effects on the brain and nervous system. While its short-lived euphoria attracts users, cocaine can have severe and sometimes fatal consequences. One such danger is cocaine-induced seizures, a medical emergency that...
End-stage alcoholism is the most severe and life-threatening phase of alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), where the body and mind are profoundly affected by years of excessive alcohol consumption. At this stage, individuals face significant physical...
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a highly addictive drug that can have deeply negative consequences on people and communities. Its popularity as a drug of abuse has led to many street names for meth, used to refer to it colloquially or in secret....