Author: Ryan Schwantes

Whenever I get stressed out, I smoke crack. Is this a common problem you’ve seen? Does stress cause people to smoke crack?

by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 6, 2017 | Q&A

You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Whenever I get stressed out, I smoke crack. Is this a common problem you’ve seen? Does stress cause people to smoke crack? Again, like some of the other answers to questions like yours, the word “cause” is a problem here. No...

Does mental illness cause addiction?

by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A

You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Does mental illness cause addiction? The answer can be found in Chapter 6 of The Freedom Model for Addictions: “The recovery ideology of “underlying causes” has these people completely confused. According to the Surgeon...

I had a traumatic youth. It was extremely stressful and chaotic, and drugs became my answer. Today, I still find myself getting high as I try to deal with my traumatic past and lost relationships and my guilt. How do I deal with stress and trauma and also stay clean?

by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A

You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I had a traumatic youth. It was extremely stressful and chaotic, and drugs became my answer. Today, I still find myself getting high as I try to deal with my traumatic past and lost relationships and my guilt. How do I deal...

I have depression. I was diagnosed when I was young, and I now have a severe drinking problem. I can’t figure out if depression causes alcoholism, or if my alcoholism causes my depression. Which is it?

by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A

You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I have depression. I was diagnosed when I was young, and I now have a severe drinking problem. I can’t figure out if depression causes alcoholism, or if my alcoholism causes my depression. Which is it? You are asking a...

Does poverty cause addiction?

by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A

You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Does poverty cause addiction? First it is important to note that there are no external causes of addiction. There are reasons that individuals internally decide to use heavily (living in poverty might be one of them) – but...