WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY...

I had never realized how much alcohol was affecting my life until I started working with April Wilson. Through her non-judgmental approach, I was able to begin examining what was happening, not just to me, but to all the people I loved. It wasn't easy, but I felt like I had someone who was there to help each step of the way, and now I've started to get my life back.”

—Anonymous

Addiction


Addiction

The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction (alcoholism, cigarettes, prescription drugs) gambling, work, money, compulsive overeating, computer addiction, pornography addiction, etc. Addiction is a dependence on a behavior or substance that a person is powerless to stop. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities. Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping, eating, and sexual activity). There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as polydrug abusers, are addicted to more than one sub-stance or process.

Addiction is one of the most costly public health problems in the United States. It is a progressive syndrome, which means that it increases in severity over time unless it is treated. Substance abuse is characterized by frequent relapse, or return to the abused substance. Substance abusers often make repeated attempts to quit before they are successful.

National Council on Alcoholism and Dependence - NCADD provides education, information, help and hope to the public. It advocates prevention, intervention and treatment through offices in New York and Washington, and a nationwide network of Affiliates. (http://www.ncadd.org/)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA is the Federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. http://www.samhsa.gov/

Alcohol Problems: Frequently Asked Questions - from Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/infofaq/alcohol.aspx)

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment - American Psychological Association fact sheet. (http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=45)

Straight Talk on Alcohol and Other Drugs - a web site for college students. (http://www.alcoholandotherdrugs.com/)

Alcoholics Anonymous (http://www.aa.org), Narcotics Anonymous (http://www.na.org), Cocaine Anonymous (http://www.ca.org/) - 12-Step organizations.

The 12 Steps - and links to characteristics of adult children of alcoholics, codependence, triggers to relapse and more. (http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/assess/12steps.html)
Alternatives to the 12 Step Approach: Rational Recovery (http://www.rational.org

Internet Addiction - Article discussing this newer variant of compulsive behavior (http://www.netaddiction.com/).

Teens and Drinking, an article by Samaritan Counseling Center counselor, April Wilson )http://samaritan-vail.org/index.php/vail-counseling/resources/teens-and-drinking/)

Addiction Center: Resources (https://www.addictioncenter.com/)

Alcohol Rehab Guide (https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org)

Drug Dangers (http://www.drugdangers.com)