Category Archives

Science

older man bending down on stair

Shame, Alcoholism, Stigma, and Suicide

By Kristance Harlow | April 29, 2022 |
Posted in , ,

Conventional addiction treatment suggests we have to let people hit rock bottom before we can help them. But what happens if rock bottom is dying from suicide?

woman with half face as mirror of man

Alcohol and Rape Prosecutions: Consent, Intoxication, and Memory

By Kristance Harlow | April 29, 2022 |
Posted in , , ,

Victim blaming is a defense mechanism for bystanders to feel safe by falsely imagining that it “could be avoided if…” or “that can’t be the real story.” Content Warning: discussions of sexual assault In allegations of sexual assault, if there are no physical injuries and a lack of DNA evidence, the court of public opinion…

narcan box and spray

Long Term Effects of Overdoses on the Brain

By Kristance Harlow | April 28, 2022 |
Posted in , ,

With painkillers like OxyContin, the overdose reversal drug naloxone, and detox/maintenance medications like Suboxone, the pharmaceutical industry is making a profit off people addicted to opioid at every stage. Opioids are highly addictive and sometimes, especially in combination with other drugs, deadly.

Stylized image of museum display of human brain

Everyone is Biased, Even You Have Bias

By Kristance Harlow | November 27, 2019 |
Posted in ,

Every perspective is naturally biased because of the cultural lens through which it is viewed. No one can truly be entirely subjective all the time.

woman walking up stairs

Can 12-Step Programs Treat Dual Diagnoses?

By Kristance Harlow | November 23, 2019 |
Posted in , ,

Effective treatment needs to include both the substance use disorder and the co-occurring disorder in an integrated approach because the two conditions build on each other.

7 Innovative Architectural Ideas With World-Changing Potential

By Kristance Harlow | March 10, 2019 |
Posted in ,

Our ancient relatives, Homo heidelbergensis, were constructing shelters at least 400,000 years ago, and architectural innovation has been a defining feature of societies since then, changing to suit the needs and desires of the builders and occupants as they evolved. From energy-efficient designs to community-based spaces, these seven designs could help shape the future. 1. Silver Architecture…

a dark library bookshelf

How Does AA Work? A Review of the Evidence

By Kristance Harlow | March 4, 2019 |
Posted in ,

AA is cloaked in misconceptions and mysticism: a society of “former drunks” who tout spirituality as a means to cure the chronic, genetic, and life-threatening disease of alcoholism.

Multi-exposed silhouette in green and purple

Addiction or Mental Illness: Which Should You Treat First?

By Kristance Harlow | March 4, 2019 |
Posted in , ,

Substance use can alter behaviors, moods, and personalities so severely for people with addiction that without specialized knowledge and experience, it’s difficult to determine underlying causes such as mental illness or trauma.

Inspirational Travel Quotes by Adventurous Women

By Kristance Harlow | March 6, 2018 |
Posted in ,

Travel quotes, whether you can travel or not, remind us that the world is diverse and full of wonder. Travel takes us out of our comfort zones.

Silenced Street Art

Retracting Allegations of Abuse is Not Proof – Trauma and Memories

By Kristance Harlow | June 20, 2017 |
Posted in , , ,

Retracting an abuse allegation is not proof that the abused is lying or that the alleged abuser is innocent. Rape is amongst the most underreported crimes. Victims face enormous obstacles in the aftermath of rape. Not the least of which is deciding whether or not to contact the police. The justice system is designed to be a hostile…

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. The numbers listed here are the commonly used numbers for the stated region, the numbers can vary greatly depending on where you live. If you don't know your country's equivalent to 911, this wiki page and The Lifeline Foundation have comprehensive listings.

Americas

911

The Americas

Europe

112

Europe

Africa

112 & 999

Africa

Asia

112, 999, 110

Asia

Oceania

112, 911, 999, 111, & 000

Oceania

Find help for a crisis by texting, calling, or chatting online with these free crisis organizations. Looking for one outside of the USA? Check out our support listings.

Crisis Text Line
Text: “HOME” to 741741

Suicide Lifeline
Text: “ANSWER” to 839863
Call: 1-800-273-8255

Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

The Trevor Project
Text “START” to 678678
1-866-488-7386

These online and international resources may help you anywhere you are located. Looking for local support outside of the USA? Check out our support listings.

DV Support Abroad
Call toll-free worldwide
1-833-723-3833

I'm Alive Virtual Crisis Center
Live chat with trained volunteers

Crisis Connections
24/7 crisis support with interpretation in 155+ languages