substance use disorder Archives - Shanti

Many patients in Portland, Oregon find that Alcoholics Anonymous is a bad fit. Why?

alternatives to the 12 steps alcoholics anonymous portland oregon addiction treatment

As an addiction medicine doctor, I’ve found that many patients begin their recovery journey with a 12 step program. For some, this works wonders. For others, the 12 steps don’t feel like a good fit. So, what happens if Alcoholics Anonymous isn’t effective for you? What can you do now? The answer is: plenty. Here’s […]

Here’s How Trauma Changes Your Brain and Makes You More Susceptible to Addiction

Trauma is definitely linked with addiction. Here's what we know about the brain changes caused by trauma.

Note: Trauma can impact us deeply. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, reach out to Lines for Life right away. Local, understanding people are available to listen 24/7. Their number is 800-273-8255. This article deals with trauma. If you do not feel safe to read material about potentially upsetting subjects right now, please […]

What Causes Addiction? Here’s What We Know – And Don’t Know – About the Disease

Understanding how addiction works helps us find evidence based ways to fight back.

If you struggle with addiction, it can feel very important to know why substance use has become a problem for you. If you have a friend or family member who struggles with addiction, you may want to know if there’s something you did to cause substance abuse in that loved one. Although the […]