The clear path forward based on Dr. Harris’s remarks was for physicians to redouble their efforts to curtail painkiller prescriptions. I answered that this was a logical and true answer, since getting drugs on the street was always more deadly than taking drugs under medical supervision. But I added that this was not a sufficient explanation for drug deaths due to everything from stimulants to the whole array of depressant-analgesic drugs rising in lockstep. Staying busy, reconsidering coping strategies, and focusing on mental health can get you back on track to recovery. Obviously, a relapse is extremely difficult to deal with, but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, people in recovery often encounter old triggers, coping habits, and opportunities to use. Myth: If a person has a family life and holds a stable job, they cannot have a drug or alcohol addiction. In the United States, excessive behavior patterns—involving smartphone use, Internet gambling, gaming, pornography, even eating and shopping—are being studied as possible behavioral addiction. While such activities may provide the opportunity for ample immediate reward, it has not yet been determined that they meet all of the criteria for addictive behavior. Substance use is a treatable […]