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Addiction A–Z
Search every addiction topic, treatment explainer, recovery guide and article on Addiction Valley.
69 topics and guides
GuideAdderall AddictionHow Adderall dependence develops, the difference between prescribed use and addiction, withdrawal symptoms and timeline, and the treatments with the best evidence.Family supportAddiction InterventionLearn how to plan a safe, compassionate addiction intervention, choose a qualified professional, prepare treatment options and avoid common mistakes.TreatmentAddiction TherapyCompare evidence-based addiction therapies including CBT, motivational interviewing, contingency management, family therapy and trauma-informed care.Mental healthADHD and AddictionUnderstand the link between ADHD and addiction, safe stimulant treatment, common warning signs and coordinated care for both conditions.SubstanceAlcohol AddictionA clear guide to alcohol addiction: the 11 diagnostic signs, withdrawal timeline, proven medications and therapies, costs, and how to find help today.GuideAlcohol and AnxietyHow alcohol relieves anxiety briefly then increases it, what hangxiety is, how long anxiety takes to settle after quitting, and treatments that address both.GuideAlcohol Detox at HomeWho can safely detox from alcohol at home, who must not, the withdrawal timeline, warning signs that need 911, and how supported outpatient detox works.GuideAlcoholism SymptomsThe physical, behavioral and medical symptoms of alcohol use disorder, the DSM-5 criteria in plain language, and when symptoms mean you need medical help.SubstanceBenzodiazepinesA clear guide to benzodiazepine dependence and addiction, including Xanax, Valium, Klonopin and Ativan: how tolerance forms even at prescribed doses, why abrupt withdrawal can be fatal, and how a medically supervised taper works.SubstanceCannabisA clear guide to cannabis use disorder: who develops it, the withdrawal timeline, effects on sleep, mood and memory, and the treatments with the best evidence.GuideCBT for AddictionHow cognitive behavioral therapy treats addiction, the core techniques, what sessions involve, how long it takes, and how it compares with other therapies.Family supportChildren of Parents With AddictionLearn how parental addiction affects children, how trusted adults can create safety and stability, what to say and when to seek urgent help.SubstanceCocaineA clear guide to cocaine and crack cocaine use disorder: how it affects the brain and heart, fentanyl contamination risk, the crash and withdrawal timeline, and the treatments with real evidence.GuideCocaine Addiction SymptomsThe short-term and long-term symptoms of cocaine addiction, physical warning signs, crash and withdrawal, overdose red flags, and treatment that works.GuideDoes Insurance Cover RehabWhat US health insurance covers for addiction treatment, how parity law works, the questions to ask your plan, and how to appeal a denial successfully.Mental healthDual DiagnosisUnderstand dual diagnosis, common mental health and substance use combinations, assessment and why integrated treatment improves care.GuideEarly Recovery RoutineA practical structure for the first ninety days of recovery, covering sleep, food, movement, cravings, boredom, social plans and the daily habits that hold it together.SubstanceFentanylA clear guide to illicitly manufactured fentanyl: why it is so dangerous, how counterfeit pills spread the risk, overdose response with naloxone, withdrawal, and the medications with the best evidence.Behavioral addictionFood AddictionIs food addiction real? The signs of compulsive eating, how it overlaps with binge eating disorder, what the research shows, and treatment that works.GuideFunctioning AlcoholicWhat people mean by a high functioning alcoholic, the signs hidden behind a working life, the health risks that build quietly, and how to get help early.Behavioral addictionGambling AddictionWhat gambling addiction is, the warning signs, why sports betting apps make it harder to stop, the treatments that work, and free US help lines.Behavioral addictionGaming AddictionWhat gaming disorder is, how it differs from a heavy hobby, the warning signs in teens and adults, and the treatments that help people regain control.SubstanceHallucinogensA clear guide to LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, PCP and DXM: low physical dependence but real psychological risks, HPPD, persistent psychosis, and how treatment works.GuideHarm ReductionWhat harm reduction means, the tools that save lives, how it fits alongside treatment, and where to find naloxone, test strips and syringe services in the US.SubstanceHeroinA clear guide to heroin use disorder: how fentanyl has changed the supply, overdose response with naloxone, the withdrawal timeline, and the medications with the best evidence.GuideHow Much Does Rehab CostTypical US costs for detox, residential rehab, intensive outpatient and medication treatment, what insurance covers, and free or low cost options.GuideHow to Help an AlcoholicHow to talk to someone about their drinking, what to say and avoid, how to stop enabling without cutting them off, and the emergency signs to act on.GuideHow to Help Someone With AddictionPractical steps for helping someone with a drug or alcohol problem: what to say, how to set limits, overdose safety, and where families get free support.GuideHow to Quit VapingA practical plan to quit vaping, including a quit date, nicotine replacement options, craving strategies, and free US support lines that improve your odds.GuideHow to Stop DrinkingA realistic plan to stop drinking, including safety checks, the first week, craving strategies, medication options and free US support that improves your odds.ArticleHow to Support a Loved One Without EnablingHelping and enabling can look identical from the outside. The difference is in what happens next, and families deserve a clearer test than guilt.Personal supportI’m Already in RecoveryPractical addiction recovery support for routines, cravings, relapse warning signs, mental health, medications and returning after a lapse.Personal supportI’m Worried About MyselfConcerned about your alcohol, drug or addictive behavior? Use this private self-check and learn safe, practical first steps for getting support.Personal supportI’m Worried About Someone ElseLearn how to talk with someone about alcohol, drugs or addictive behavior, set healthy boundaries and respond safely to a crisis or overdose.SubstanceInhalantsA clear guide to inhalant misuse, including solvents, aerosols, gases and nitrous oxide products like galaxy gas and whippets: risks, warning signs, withdrawal and treatment.TreatmentInpatient vs Outpatient RehabCompare inpatient and outpatient rehab, including intensity, safety, cost, daily schedule and who may benefit from each level of addiction care.SubstanceKetamineA clear guide to recreational ketamine misuse versus supervised ketamine or esketamine therapy for depression, including signs of a use disorder, bladder and urinary tract damage, dissociation and k-holes, withdrawal, and how to get help.SubstanceKratomA clear guide to kratom and 7-OH products: how they act on opioid receptors, the legal patchwork, dependence, withdrawal, contamination risks and treatment that works.Family supportLiving With Someone With AddictionPractical guidance for living with someone with addiction, including safety, boundaries, money, children, overdose response and support for yourself.GuideLove AddictionWhat people mean by love addiction, how it differs from ordinary intensity, the attachment patterns behind it, and the therapy approaches that break the cycle.SubstanceMDMA (Ecstasy, Molly)A clear guide to MDMA (ecstasy, molly): how it affects serotonin, the midweek crash, hyperthermia and hyponatremia risks, adulteration, and whether it is addictive.TreatmentMedication-Assisted TreatmentLearn how medications for opioid and alcohol use disorder work, who prescribes them, safety considerations and how to find evidence-based care.SubstanceMethamphetamineA clear guide to methamphetamine use disorder: how meth affects the brain and body, meth-induced psychosis, the withdrawal timeline, fentanyl contamination, and the treatments with the best evidence, including contingency management and the ADAPT-2 medication approach.SubstanceNicotine & VapingA clear guide to nicotine addiction and vaping: the signs, the withdrawal timeline, the medications and nicotine replacement that double quit rates, and how to start.GuideNicotine Withdrawal TimelineWhat nicotine withdrawal feels like hour by hour and week by week, when symptoms peak, how long cravings last, and what actually shortens the worst days.SubstanceOpioids & PainkillersA clear guide to opioid and painkiller addiction: warning signs, the withdrawal timeline, overdose response with naloxone, and the medications that work best.Behavioral addictionPhone AddictionWhat phone addiction is, how to tell compulsive use from heavy use, the effects on sleep and mood, and a realistic plan to cut screen time for good.ArticlePost-Acute Withdrawal: How Long PAWS Really LastsDetox is the short part. The foggy, restless, up-and-down months that follow have a name, a pattern, and a set of things that reliably help.SubstancePrescription MedicinesA clear guide to prescription medicine dependence and addiction: benzodiazepines, painkillers, stimulants and sleep aids, with safe tapering and treatment options.GuideQuit Drinking Benefits TimelineWhat improves after you stop drinking, from the first night through to one year: sleep, skin, liver, blood pressure, mood, weight and long-term risk.RecoveryRecovery PlanCreate a realistic addiction recovery plan covering treatment, triggers, medications, routines, support, relapse response and urgent safety needs.RecoveryRelapse PreventionBuild a practical relapse prevention plan, recognize early warning signs and know what to do after a return to alcohol or drug use.Addiction basicsSigns of AddictionThe early, behavioral and physical signs of addiction, the 11 criteria clinicians use, what family members notice first, and what to do next.ArticleSigns You Might Be Drinking Too MuchMost people who drink too much never hit a dramatic rock bottom. The signals are quieter than that, and they usually show up in your sleep, your money and your mornings.GuideSober Living HomesWhat sober living homes are, who benefits, typical rules and costs, how they differ from rehab and halfway houses, and how to spot a well run house.Behavioral addictionSocial Media AddictionWhy social media is addictive, the signs of compulsive use, what the research says about mental health, and a step-by-step plan to take back control.RecoveryStages of Addiction RecoveryUnderstand the stages of addiction recovery, from considering change through long-term maintenance, and learn what support helps at each stage.SubstanceStimulantsA clear guide to stimulant addiction covering cocaine, methamphetamine and amphetamines: warning signs, the crash, health risks, and treatments that actually work.GuideSuboxone TreatmentHow Suboxone works for opioid addiction, how starting doses and induction work, side effects, how long people stay on it, and how to find a prescriber in the US.GuideTapering Off AlcoholHow an alcohol taper works, who it suits, how to calculate a reduction schedule, warning signs to stop and seek help, and why medical input matters.ArticleThe Link Between Addiction and AnxietyAnxiety makes a substance feel like relief. The substance then makes the anxiety worse. Understanding that loop is usually the first thing that breaks it.Mental healthTrauma and AddictionLearn how trauma and addiction can reinforce each other, what trauma-informed care means and how integrated treatment supports safety and recovery.ArticleTreatment Options Explained: What Works and WhenTreatment is not one thing. It is a set of levels of care, and picking the right one matters more than picking the most expensive one.GuideTreatment Programs ComparedDetox, inpatient rehab, PHP, IOP, outpatient and sober living compared on intensity, length, cost and who each level of care suits best.Addiction basicsTypes of AddictionA clear guide to the types of addiction: the ten classes of substance use disorders, behavioral addictions like gambling, and how treatment differs.GuideUnderstanding WithdrawalWhat withdrawal is, how long it lasts for alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants and nicotine, which symptoms are dangerous, and when to get medical help.Addiction basicsWhat Is AddictionA plain-language answer to what addiction is: the medical definition, how it changes the brain, who is most at risk, and why it is treatable.GuideWork AddictionWhat separates work addiction from hard work, the signs and health effects, why it is socially rewarded, and practical steps to change the pattern.SubstanceXylazine (Tranq)A clear guide to xylazine, the veterinary sedative found in the US drug supply: what it does, why it causes severe wounds, how it changes overdose response, and where to get help.
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Amy Brune
Amy’s public account traces family addiction, heroin use, drug court and the recovery community that helped her build a different life.
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PUBLICLY SHARED STORY
Jennifer Tuerke
After a severe relapse, Jennifer found steady peer support, treatment and a community that stayed beside her while she rebuilt.
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PUBLICLY SHARED STORY
Gloria U.
Gloria says a supervisor responded to visible substance use with concern and treatment support rather than rejection.
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