If you are struggling with compulsive gambling habits, reaching out for help with gambling addiction can be difficult, but it’s important to see this as a positive and important first step towards recovery In the UK, there are several services available to help you take back control of your gambling, but navigating these options can […]
Addiction Resources
How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
If you are wondering how long ketamine is detected in your system after use, it’s important to first understand the factors that determine this. Body mass, water consumption and length of use can influence detection rates in a urine sample or blood test. The biggest question is, has your ketamine use become a problem in […]
What are Legal Highs and Why Are They Dangerous?
You’ve probably heard the term legal highs – substances engineered within legal loopholes to mimic the effects of illicit drugs. These designer substances are a persistent problem for regulators, with new variations continually emerging. Often, each iteration is more potent than the one that came before, as creators and legislators engage in a dangerous game […]
Why You Shouldn’t Drink Alcohol With Diazepam
Combining alcohol with prescription drugs is generally ill-advised, but mixing it with diazepam, commonly known as Valium, is particularly dangerous. Diazepam, a benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, and other medical conditions, works by calming the brain and nerves. Alcohol, meanwhile, is a depressant. When taken together, they significantly slow your brain activity, leading […]
Tramadol and Alcohol: What You Need to Know
If you’ve been prescribed tramadol for pain relief, you might wonder “can you drink on tramadol”, or whether having a drink would be harmless. Unfortunately, mixing alcohol with a strong opiate like tramadol comes with significant health risks. Tramadol and alcohol both depress the central nervous system. When used together, this combination can significantly impair […]
Weed Withdrawal Symptoms Explained
Quitting cannabis, also known informally as ‘weed’, is a significant step towards reclaiming your health and well-being, but it isn’t without its challenges. The transition from the pleasant effects of recreational cannabis use to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can be very daunting. You may experience a spectrum of symptoms, from mood swings to sleep disturbances, that […]
How to Set Realistic Goals During Recovery
Choosing to begin your recovery journey is a commendable and courageous decision, that comes with both challenges and triumphs. Central to this journey is the art of setting realistic goals, a skill that can significantly influence the success and sustainability of recovery. Here we’ll discuss the importance of establishing attainable, measurable, and personally meaningful objectives, […]
Mindfulness and Addiction Recovery: Why is it Important?
In recent years, mindfulness has emerged as a transformative tool in helping people with addiction recovery. While the roots of mindfulness stem from long-standing Eastern philosophy and traditions, a growing body of new research demonstrates its true benefits for your mental well-being. People often forget that addiction starts in the mind before it can affect […]
Medication-Assisted Treatment vs Abstinence-Based Treatment
Looking into treatment options for your opioid, narcotic or alcohol addiction is an important milestone. For many, it can also be overwhelming, with conflicting advice and so many programme options. We’re here to help you cut through the jargon and understand the choices available to you. Treatment programmes can take two main forms: MAT, medication-assisted […]
Overcoming Cravings Through Mindfulness: Tips for People in Recovery
Managing cravings isn’t a test of willpower; it’s a balance of strategy and self-compassion. As you go through recovery, you can begin to understand them better. What are your triggers? What helps and what doesn’t? In this article, we’ll explain the biology behind cravings and mindful techniques that can help you develop strategies to manage […]
The Importance of Boundaries in Addiction Recovery
Why Healthy Boundaries Are Important to Recovery Setting healthy boundaries is a crucial aspect of recovery. You could say that it is second only to maintaining sobriety. Boundaries protect your well-being as well as your resolve; they keep you safe from unhealthy relationships. They allow you to prioritise your needs, your recovery and yourself. If […]
The Unique Challenges Women Face in Addiction Recovery – Smarmore Castle
Addiction can happen to all of us, regardless of gender, class, skin colour or creed. Despite this seeming universality, recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone. Biological, social, and cultural differences mean that women face a unique set of challenges when overcoming addiction. Their bodies react differently to both the consumption and withdrawal from alcohol […]