In Bloom: for survivors: :: about substance abuse ::

๑ updated 5/08 ๑

What is Substance Abuse?

Terminology and definitions of addiction differ from source to source, and individuals abuse or become dependent on everything from alcohol to prescriptions drugs. Because of this, In Bloom uses the blanket heading of "substance abuse" on this page for simplicity's sake, not as a specific medical designation or to refer to a particular medical condition.

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Sexual Violence and Substance Abuse
This information sheet from the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault describes the connections between sexual assault and substance abuse.

Mental Help Net: Alcohol & Substance Abuse
An exhaustively thorough look at addiction, abuse and dependence. Also offers links to other sites that focus on issues of substance use and abuse.

Why Can't I Stop Drinking?
A feature article by Margaret B Paul for Alumbo!

The ACEF's Alcoholism Quiz Page
A battery of self-quizzes with common sense questions. A practical tool for those who may be concerned about their drinking habits. Created by the Adult Children Educational Foundation.

Alcoholism Stages
Breaks alcholism's progression into three stage: Early, adaptive stage, middle, dependent stage and late deteriorative stage. From Choose-Health.com.

Stopping Stereotypes: Problem Drinking & Alcoholism in the GLBT Community
Many factors contribute to rates of gay/lesbian alcoholism- particularly living in a society where homophobia is still widely encouraged.

Women, Trauma & Substance Abuse
In a treatment setting that focuses on substance abuse, trauma symptoms may be overlooked or misinterpreted. An article from Counselor Magazine by Kolleen L Simons, MSW, LCSW.

Sexual Abuse Huge Problem for Women in Treatment
Over 1/3 of women in drug treatment are survivors of sexual violence, according to research on the link between addiction, HIV, and sexual abuse. An article by Bob Curley of JoinTogether.org, a program of the Boston University School of Public Health.

Genetic Risk for Alcoholism in Abuse Survivors
A specific genetic variant that plays a role in stress response could help explain why some survivors become alcoholics and others don't. An article from the National Institutes for Health's NIH News.

Psychological Trauma & Substance Abuse in Women
Created by Barbara Hilliard, EdM, LADC, of Suffolk University / McLean Hospital, this simply-structured report examines the link between traumatic stress and substance abuse in women.

Alcoholism Among GLBT Aeople
Studies from the 1970's & 80's led many to the conclusion that rates of alcoholism were higher among GLBT people, but could this conclusion simply be a biased stereotype?

Women and Drinking
This article from AtHealth.com explores several studies that indicate a greater likelihood of alcoholism in adult female survivors of sexual child abuse.

Women, PTSD, and Alcohol
A thoughtful, well-written essay describing women who self-medicate with alcohol in an attempt to make symptoms of PTSD tolerable. Written by Suite101's Cheryl Foote, LPN.

Women Addicts Vulnerable to Trauma
PTSD can lead to alcohol / drug abuse, as women try to ease the emotional pain of trauma. But the lifestyle that accompanies substance abuse puts women at risk for even more traumatic violence and PTSD. A devastating article by Lisa Rabasca for the American Psychologists Association's online newsletter, Monitor On Psychology.

Children of Addicted Parents
This page looks at alcoholism's role in child abuse and in the lives of abuse survivors as adults. Originally presented by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

How Child Abuse Can Lead to Substance Abuse
Damage to a key brain area during child development could be a determining factor in why some survivors abuse drugs and alcohol. From a Harvard's superb periodical Research Matters and McLean Hospital.

Childhood Abuse & Alcoholism in Native Americans
New research on seven Native American nations suggests that members who suffered child abuse or were sent away to non-native schools were more likely to have problems with alcohol as adults.

Alcoholism: a Factor In/Consequence of Child Abuse
Annually, more than 1 million children in the US experience abuse or neglect. This online publication from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA) explores the role drinking plays in this crisis.

Self Medicating When You're Depressed
Written by Lisa Angelettie, MSW, also known as "Girl Shrink". Her site GirlShrink.com offers personal advice sessions.

Alcohol & Depression: Is There a Relationship?
Do people become depressed because they drink or are they already depressed and drinking to self medicate? On this link, learn about this seeming paradox and find out what research shows.

Alcoholism & the Risk Factor for Suicide
New research findings point to alcoholism as an established risk factor for suicide, demonstrating the need for recognition/prevention efforts for adults suffering from depression who become dependent on alcohol.

Self-Medicating: When the Cure is the Disease
From About.com's Bipolar Disorder section, this informative essay about self-medicating was written in response to a question posed by a consumer on the site's Bipolar Forum.

Childhood Abuse and Dual Diagnosis
Originally published in the 3/4 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, this article discusses findings about the role an abusive childhood can play in the development of psychiatric problems among alcoholic patients.

So Many Drugs, So Little Time: When Recreation Becomes Dependence
Since the onset of AIDS, increased concerns about maintaining one's health have contributed to many gay men beginning to reevaluate their use of "recreational" chemicals. By Michael Shernoff, MSW.

Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis
Both mental health and substance abuse problems affect an individual physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually, especially when the symptoms of each disorder interact and exacerbate with one another. A page from the UK's ReThink.org site.

Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism
Multiple explanations for the relationship between these conditions have been proposed, but this relationship remains poorly understood. From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Dual Diagnosis
Mental Health America discusses substance abuse as coupled with a secondary mental health condition and the prevalence and impact of such co-occurring conditions in specific populations.

Dual Diagnosis & Integrated Treatment
A great read for Dual Diagnosis consumers, their families and professionals as they set about seeking appropriate treatment.

Treating Co-Occurring Mental Illness & Addiction
Those with psychiatric disorders and substance abuse problems require highly specialized diagnostic and treatment constructs. An article by Joseph Browne, PhD, Center for Addictive Diseases.

Study Recommends Treating Addicts' Mental Illness
For years, the prevailing wisdom has been that addiction and mental illness rarely happen together, "but it's time to get real," says Charles Curie, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A report by Marilyn Elias, USA Today.

Stress & Substance Abuse
Although exposure to stress is a common occurrence, it is also one of the most powerful triggers causing recovering addicts to relapse - even after long periods of abstinence.

Social Anxiety Disorder and Alcohol Use
A web page from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA) about people who use alcohol to alleviate social anxiety.

Substance Abuse & Mental Illness
A page from the Nat'l Alliance on Mental Illness covers challenges in recognizing a substance abuse problem that might be masked by symptoms of a psychological condition.

PTSD & Problems with Alcohol Use
From the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress, this fact sheet explores the ways in which alcohol use and abuse create complications for those who suffer with PTSD.

Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse
Survivors of trauma may turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with emotional pain, bad memories, poor sleep, guilt, shame, anxiety, or terror. Ironically substance abuse makes them much more likely to expose themselves to further trauma. An article from the International Society For Traumatic Stress Studies.

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About.com: The Alcoholism Home Page
Information, resources, discussion and the lastest news about alcohol, alcoholism, substance abuse and recovery issues.

AddictionSearch.com
Offers articles, statistics, population studies, and links about addictions, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. Also features an addiction & treatment blog, forums covering a broad and inclusive spectrum of recovery issues, a database of over 70,000 drug rehabs, alcohol rehabs, addiction treatment and drug treatment recovery programs and centers from all over the US and more.

AddictionTribe
A very cool social networking support community for people in recovery, offering free membership which includes a profile page, friends list, can message, comments or chat onsite and can join or create groups. There's also a members browser, videos & music capabilities and more.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men and women from all walks of life, aiming to recover from alchoholism by sharing their experience, strength, and hope.

American Council on Alcoholism
Dedicated to educating the public about the effects of alcohol, alcoholism, and alcohol abuse. Learn what the disease is and does. Locate support groups and find info on various recovery options.

Drug Abuse - MedlinePlus
Offers news, overview articles, research studies, statistics, and treatment options for various kinds of substance abuse.

HealthyPlace Addictions Community
Featuring columns, online dairies, disorder definitions, bulletin boards, info on medications, online tests, resource links, support lists, links to related Healthy Place communities and more. Free membership.

International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men & Women in AA
IAC serves the gay and lesbian members of Alcholics Anonymous. Includes a directory of meeting places, volunteer positions, and a tape library.

Mental Help Net: Alcohol & Substance Abuse
Professional blogs, Q&A Forums, detailed descriptions of substances commonly abused and their psychological and physical effects, news, articles, and more.

Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 43,900 weekly meetings in over 127 countries worldwide (PDF Version). This site offers info about NA and the disease of addiction, bulletins, informaton about doing service in NA, a helpline directory, a meeting locator, upcoming NA events, news, online literature, a link to the The NA Way and more. Membership in NA is free.

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Info/Prevline:
Prevline is a comprehensive source of info on substance abuse prevention. Their site provides a fact-checking feature, access to initiatives, a multi-media info page, a newsletter and more. Hotlines are toll-free, in English or Spanish, available 24/7 @ 1.800.729.6686.

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
The NCADD provides education, information, help and hope as they fight against the stigma attached to the chronic, often fatal diseases of alcoholism and addiction.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA)
NIAAA supports and conducts research on the causes, consequences, treatment and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol related problems.

National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIDA and its official newsletter, NIDA Notes, offer up a great range of well-researched perspectives on the science of substance abuse and related issues.

Recovery Realm
An online community for recovering addicts and their families, Recovery Realm offers realtime fellowship chats and online meetings for many 12 Step programs, provides free message forums, blogs and profile pages as well as links to helplines and addiction recovery info. Membership is free.

SoberRecovery.com
A directory of mental health and sober living resources, Sober Recovery offers meeting scheduals for a host of 12 Step fellowships, an extensive list of discussion forums (including forums for family and friends), news and articles, a on-site blog, a Soberpedia, an expansive index of treatment facilities (including a national listing of Dual Diagnosis Treatment Facilities), and more. Free membership.

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA assures that quality substance abuse and mental health services are available to people in need. Also strives to ensure that prevention and treatment information is used more effectively in the general health care system. Check out their Dual Diagnosis section.

Suite 101: Substance Abuse
Blogs, articles, discussion, resources links and more- all focusing on addiction/alcoholism from a wealth of unique, informative perspectives.

US Dept of Health & Human Services
The Department's 300-plus health programs cover a wide spectrum including: financial assistance for low-income families, preventing child abuse and domestic violence, substance abuse treatment / prevention and more.