Drugs and the Brain

Binge Drinking: An Exposé

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Alcohol, Drugs and the Brain, Medical Consequences, Research/Trends/Statistics

What is binge drinking? Binge drinking is a popular form of excessive alcohol use, which the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines as “a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above.” For a typical American adult male, this translates to drinking 5+ servings of alcohol in two hours. For a typical American adult female, this translates to drinking 4+ servings of alcohol in two hours. A serving of alcohol is any drink that contains 0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol. The following portions count as a single serving …

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Why Do People Use Drugs?

April 7, 2020 / Addiction Science, Drugs and the Brain, Intervention, Prevention, Research/Trends/Statistics

Are you or a loved one struggling with substance abuse and you’re not sure why? Gaining insight into the motivation behind the drug use is a great first step towards recovery. There is no one answer to the question “why do people use drugs?” but we have provided the following list of potential reasons as a starting point for your inquiry. Feel free to call the Two Dreams admissions team at 504-510-2331 to jumpstart your recovery today! Physical Pleasure. Addictive drugs stimulate the release of dopamine, a “feel-good” chemical in the brain that invokes the euphoric high commonly associated with …

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November 2015’s Dream Journal

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Co-Occurring Disorders/Comorbidity, Criminal Justice, Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Intervention, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics

Dream Journal Volume XXXIV / NOV 2015 Note from Dr. B. The ongoing opioid overdose crisis has prompted the CDC to take action in the form of developing new guidelines for qualified prescribers. First and foremost, the CDC stresses that opioid therapy should be utilized only if all other treatment options have been exhausted. Opioids can vastly improve functionality and quality of life, but the benefits must be weighed against the risks of tolerance, addiction, overdose, etc. If opioids are absolutely necessary, the prescribing physician and patient should work together to formulate a safe plan of approach and establish realistic treatment …

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Reverence and Respect – October 2015

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Co-Occurring Disorders/Comorbidity, Criminal Justice, Dream Journal, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Women and Drugs

The Dream Journal Volume XXXIII / October 2015 Note from Dr. B. The Walk on Washington was a great success! The Two Dreams staff gathered in Washington DC on October 4th in a collective effort to support policies that will improve addiction recovery and end the stigma against those with the disease. Major media networks covered the event, so our voices were heard all across the nation. Fall is a time of transformation, and we look forward to affecting more change as we move towards the end of the year. Monthly Tradition “Tradition Ten – Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on …

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Lose Interest in Selfish Things – July Dream Journal 2014

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Dream Journal, Drugs and the Brain, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Sleep Hygiene

Dream Journal Volume XIX / July 2014 Note from Dr B. It gives me great pleasure to announce that I have been featured in the current issue of Addiction Professional Addiction Professional. I emphasize in the article the call to come together as treatment providers and programs and set aside our differences. This message parallels our theme for this month, which is about losing interest in selfish things and gaining interest in our fellows. The disease we face is complex and relentless, and to keep evolving as a community we must face it together. Monthly Promise #7: “We will lose interest in …

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The Twelve Promises – January Dream Journal 2013

April 7, 2020 / Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Methamphetamines, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Suboxone Treatment

VOLUME I / JAN 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. NOTE FROM DR. B. As the New Year begins, we transition from our monthly focus on the Twelve Steps of AA to this year’s theme: The Twelve Promises. These promises are the payback of the AA program; these are the gifts that are guaranteed to the individual who works diligently on their recovery process. January is a time when we naturally begin making promises and resolutions for ourselves. We …

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Situations Which Used to Baffle Us – November Dream Journal 2014

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Chicago, Dream Journal, Drugs and the Brain, Inpatient, Marijuana, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Outer Banks, Pain, Public Health, Research/Trends/Statistics, Synthetic Drugs

VOLUME XXIII / NOV 2014 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. NOTE FROM DR. B. This month we gathered together for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with the Two Dreams Outer Banks staff, clients, and family members. The holidays can be particularly challenging for those in recovery, and that is why we must remind ourselves and each other of our gratitude and the gains we make in treatment. Thank you to everyone who attended my performance at the Under the Gun …

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Does Drug Rehab Work?

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Drugs and the Brain, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Prevention, Recreation

Yes. The question of whether or not drug rehab “works” is a complex one, but the fact is that it has changed and saved the lives of millions of people. Statistics are hard to come by, because recovery is a multidimensional process and therefore difficult to pin down with a rating scale. For this reason, success rates are not yet measured uniformly across facilities and the inquiry “does drug rehab work?” is answered with subjectivity at best. Part of the difficulty in creating a rating scale is that the goals of recovery vary widely from person to person and from …

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