If you’re looking to learn more about addiction and recovery, an Internet search can feel a little like a scavenger hunt. This North Jersey Recovery Center article will help you vet sources and point you in the right direction for reliable addiction information. 

Where Do I Begin Looking For Addiction Information?

When it comes to information about addiction on the Internet, scarcity is not the problem. There’s plenty of addiction information and recovery-related content out there. But how do you know what’s accurate? What can you trust? How do you know you’re getting accurate answers to your addiction questions?

The place to begin is by focusing on your purpose and perspective. Is your interest purely academic or scientific? Are you a person who is living with addiction yourself and wants to understand better what’s happening inside your mind and body? Maybe you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction and you want to know how to talk to them. 

What to think about when searching for information about addiction:

• Do you have a loved one who is suffering from addiction?
• Do you want to learn about addiction for a research or school paper?
• Are you living with addiction yourself and want to understand it better?
• Are you looking to learn more about addiction treatment in NJ or elsewhere?

What’s Happening in Addiction News and Research? 

Unfortunately, America’s love affair with drugs shows no sign of subsiding anytime soon. But the war on addiction isn’t either. More resources than ever are being directed towards research to better understand, fight, and even prevent addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a division of the National Institutes of Health dedicated to understanding and helping to treat addiction. 

We recommend Nora’s Blog, which is written by NIDA’s director, Dr. Nora Volkow, as a reliable, unbiased source of information about addiction research and trends. We think you will find Dr. Volkow’s content not only informative but hopeful and inspiring. Check it out. 

If you’d like information about alcoholism specifically, check out the NIAAA Director’s Blog. Written by George F. Koob, Ph.D., Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) this blog has a solid blend of alcohol addiction research updates, public health info along with tips and advice. 

Understanding The Mental Health Aspects of Addiction

Substance use disorders are first and foremost, a disease of the mind. Whether you are looking for addiction information out of a desire to learn or research, or you have been personally impacted by addiction — understanding how addiction affects thinking is helpful. 

We recommend the Understanding Addiction blog, written by Canadian neuroscientist and PROSE award winner Marc Lewis and other contributors. It’s a great mix of news on trends in addiction psychology and insights into recovery as well as links to other similar blogs and vlogs. 

Real Stories About Addiction Recovery and Mental Health

If you or someone you love is battling addiction, hearing real stories of people in recovery and how they overcame impossible odds can be a vital source of inspiration and courage. If you’re already in recovery, these accounts can help to enrich your recovery life and help you to help others. 

This Is My Brave is an independent project begun by real people with mental health and addiction challenges. They feature blogs and vlogs and have produced a short documentary that’s worth a watch too. Initially funded by a Kickstarter campaign in 2013, This Is My Brave isn’t affiliated with any private companies. They aren’t trying to promote or sell anything. They exist only to raise awareness about mental health and addiction. 

Faces & Voices of Recovery is another independent, not-for-profit site that serves the addiction recovery community. Check out their Media section for recovery podcasts and videos. 

You might also enjoy our recent article about Our Top 5 Sober Social Media Influencers. 

Information About Addiction Treatment 

Our own blog here at North Jersey Recovery Center often covers important aspects of addiction treatment and living in recovery. If you’ve ever been confused by terms like medical detox, intensive outpatient program (IOP), or partial hospitalization program (PHP), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM for short) is a good place to start. 

This is the organization that designed the “levels of care” system we use in the addiction treatment world. It’s safe to say ASAM can probably explain the ASAM Levels of Care, AKA the ASAM Criteria, better than anybody. 

Finally, the North Jersey Recovery Center FAQ page is a good resource to find information about using health insurance to cover drug rehab costs, explanations of dual diagnosis treatment, intervention, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and lots more. 

Answers To Your Questions About Addiction

If you still have questions about addiction or treatment for substance use disorders — North Jersey Recovery Center is ready to help. Give us a call at (877) 790-5873

If you are being personally impacted by addiction, our dual-diagnosis treatment program in New Jersey has everything you or your loved one needs to conquer drugs and alcohol.

Our programs are designed to fit into a busy schedule, where necessary with day and evening IOP therapy available. Everything you or the person you love needs to overcome addiction is here. But it’s up to you to make the first move.