How to Identify Credible Internet Sources

The internet has become an invaluable source of information and is used by students, teachers, and everyday people for research or entertainment. Unfortunately, not all information on the internet is reliable. It can be hard to tell the difference between a credible website and one that is not. Fortunately, there are some ways to examine a website and see if the information it provides is credible.

The first step in determining the credibility of an internet source is to check who provides it. A website or source provided by a reputable organization, such as a nonprofit, government agency, or university is generally considered more credible than one that is not. It is also a good idea to look at websites that have been around for a while, because they have likely been used and cited many times by reliable sources, and therefore the information is probably more reliable.

When examining a website for credibility it is important to look at the source of the information. If the information is based on scientific research, for example, does the website provide citations and links to the original research? It is also a good idea to look at the authors or contributors of the information. Do they have a credential or expertise in the subject they are discussing? If the website contains opinion, is it attributed to an individual or is it anonymous? Knowing the source of the information can give insight into the reliability of the website.

The design of a website can also provide clues about the credibility of its content. A well-designed website with no spelling mistakes, appropriate use of images, and updated content can give a good impression. It is also a good idea to look at the purpose of the website. Is it meant to provide information, sell a product, or persuade someone to a certain point of view? Websites that are clear about their purpose are often more credible than those that are not.

Finally, it is important to check the validity or accuracy of the information. Is the content supported by evidence or factual information? Does the website cite its sources? Is the information up-to-date and not outdated or inaccurate? Does the website have any kind of disclaimer that states that the content should not be used for making decisions?

These are just a few of the ways to determine if a website or internet source is credible. In the end, it is important to use critical thinking when evaluating internet sources. Doing research on the subject and considering the reputation and design of the website can help to ensure that only reliable content is used. Taking the time to verify the validity of an internet source can help to ensure that the most accurate information is obtained.

Dangers and How to Overcome It

With the advance of technology and internet availability, online addiction has become a growing problem. It is estimated that 18 million people suffer from some level of online addiction and this statistic is only increasing due to the mostly unlimited access to various online activities. Online addiction can adversely affect family, work, and social lives, as well as school performance.

Online addiction can be classified as any online activity carried out more often than one should, and for longer than what is typically seen as normal. This type of addiction develops gradually and can be compared to alcoholism in that the person can become dependent on it and suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and depression.

What Causes Online Addiction?

Online addiction is caused by a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors. People who struggle with feelings of low self-esteem, an inability to cope with stress, or a need to escape from reality may get hooked on online activities. For some people, comfort can be found in their virtual world where they can freely express their feelings and opinions without fear of rejection or judgment.

Social media platforms have become a major contributor to online addiction. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram have all been linked to higher risks of addiction, as users become dependent on others for validation and validation of their digital lives.

What Are the Effects of Online Addiction?

Online addiction can greatly impact quality of life and cause a number of physical and psychological problems. Some of the most common effects of online addiction include:

• Poor academic performance

• Difficulty concentrating

• Reduced physical activity

• Poor sleeping habits

• Easily distracted

• Depression and anxiety

• Increased loneliness

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Irritability

• Feeling antisocial

• Hungry and use food as an emotional comfort

How Can You Overcome Online Addiction?

If you suspect you are suffering from online addiction, there are steps you can take to overcome the problem:

1. Acknowledge the problem: Before you can take steps to overcome your online addiction you must first acknowledge it exists. An honest reflection and assessment of your online activities can give you an understanding of how deeply you are addicted.

2. Set boundaries: Once you have acknowledged your online addiction you can begin to set boundaries for your online activities. Set a daily amount of time that you can dedicate to your online activities and stick to it.

3. Find healthy outlets: Spend time away from computers and mobile devices. Instead, engage in recreational activities, such as going for a walk or playing a sport, in order to get the physical and mental exercise you need.

4. Seek out support: It can be beneficial to talk to friends and family about your addiction and find out the ways in which they can support you in overcoming it. Additionally, seek help from a therapist or support group.

Conclusion

No one should suffer from the effects of online addiction, as it can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. With an understanding of the condition, you can take steps to break free. Be honest with yourself, be disciplined in setting boundaries, and make sure to engage in healthy activities away from technology. It can be a difficult road but with support from friends, family, or a support group, you can break free from the grip of online addiction and get your life back under control.

Learning about addiction from Industry experts

The treatment of addiction and substance abuse involves the collaborative efforts of various professionals in the health industry. These professionals have diverse backgrounds and they each play an individualized role that helps to bring the addicted individual back to his feet.

Below are industry experts that inform you more about addiction

  • Doctors and Nurses

Typically, if you have any health-related issue, the first set of people that would come across your mind are Doctors and Nurses. These health experts provide medical aid when the addicted individual undergoes detoxification and withdrawal from drug or alcohol abuse.

In addition, Doctors and Nurses prescribe proficient medications that helps to manage the withdrawal or addiction symptoms.

  • Counselors and Therapists

Counselors and therapists have sufficient training when it comes to addiction. These industry experts provide diverse forms of therapy that helps the addicted individual to know and manage the emotional and mental aspects of their addiction problem.

Also, counselors and therapists make opportunities available for the individual to know the psychological triggers that cause substance abuse. And they provide them with strategies and tips that help them deal with those triggers without using those addictive substances.

  • Experiential Therapists

Experiential Therapists are not the regular type of therapists. They are professionals who have completed training programs in a specific field. For instance, we have art therapists who take courses in art and psychology and they study how art positively impacts the brain.

When they are treating someone who is addicted, the art therapists can help them get better with treatment by taking them down the art path. There are also other types of experiential therapists like music therapists and the likes.

  • Nutritionists

Nutritionists are a quintessential aspect of an individual’s recovery from addiction. During rehab, the nutritionists prepare a special diet plan that the recovering individuals have to stick to. The reason for this is, the food often helps them to manage addiction suitably.

There are other industry experts who you can learn about addiction from like the fitness trainers, treatment program directors and the likes.

Best sources to learn about addiction

Addiction is a compulsive brain disorder that makes the individual do certain unhealthy habits. These habits, in the long run, adversely affect the individual. And at that point, when they start seeking help, it becomes challenging for them to break through from the web of addiction.

For quite a number of people who are addicted, it was as a result of ignorance. Taking alcohol for instance, some people started taking it without being aware of the adverse effects. They were only informed about the pleasant short-term effects.

As these individuals progress with alcohol abuse, they discover for themselves, some of the unpleasant long-term effects. However, it is difficult at this stage for them to pullout. So, they try to manage the condition.

Below are some sources that keep people informed about addiction:

  • The Media

The media is one of the sources that informs people about the ills of addiction. There are various forms of media, the print media, advertising media, the television media etc. Everyone has access to at least one of the forms of media mentioned previously.

When the media is judiciously utilized, people are properly informed on how to avoid addiction. And for those who are already addicted, they will be taught on how to seek help for themselves.

  • The Internet

The internet has evolved in various forms and it has helped things get easier and smooth. With the internet, you can easily get access to any information you need for free. It would be quintessential if the internet is used as a tool to spread the news about the ills of addiction.

For instance, health professionals can create YouTube channels or Instagram accounts to educate people on the concept of addiction and how they can seek help.

  • Books and Journals

Books and journals are a great source to learn about addiction. And thanks to the internet, you can get soft copies of these books and journals without leaving the comfort of your home for the library.  

THE BEST WAY TO KNOW ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF ADDICTION

Not everyone knows about the concept of addiction. Making the public aware of addiction is an important matter, due to the fact that, addiction recovery involves understanding and a definite support system.

Educating people about the concept of addiction is important because not everyone has an idea on how the addiction process works. They just find out that, they have an obsessive and compulsive behavior which they cannot quit doing.

When someone is addicted to a substance for instance, it would be difficult to let go, and it could induce mental and physical damage.

Psychological and physical changes to the brain can occur, which would need prompt medical attention for control.

Bearing in mind that addiction to substances are medically identified as disorders, it is important that they are combatted via a medium which people have access to.

One of the best mediums of educating people about the concept of addiction is the social media.

The social media can be employed by professionals in ensuring that the entire concept is disintegrated into bits of information. It should be done on a regular basis, so that people are highly conscious of it.

In addition to this, there are also some scientific journals which are written by private or public organizations, lecturers, academic institutions and the likes.

These journals can be accessed online, and a good number of them talk in-depth about the concept of addiction.

Scientific journals which have pieces on addiction comes with essential understanding into essential addiction topics which includes the chemistry of the brain amongst others.

Someone has to carry out studies for the purpose of gathering real information on the way addiction works in an objective manner, and this why a scientific journal comes in handy.

Also, newspapers, news websites and news magazines are profound sources of getting information on addiction. The type of information you will find on these news sources are written in a different format than academic journals.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ADDICTION


Education about addiction and abuse of various substances is one way of helping an addict recover. This does not only provide an addict with information on the signs, effects and consequences of getting addicted, but also how to deal with a close one who is suffering from addiction and how to render support when the addict is undergoing therapy for recovery. Finding the right information on addiction is crucial and could be complicated such that not every news available on issues of addiction, is credible.


Addiction to a substance occurs when it is used to the extent when it becomes difficult to do without, and could cause some damages to the health especially the mental health. It can cause physical and psychological changes in the brain that end up becoming persistent and chronic requiring medical attention in order to be controlled.


Since addiction to substances are recognized as disorders medically, it is necessary for it to be tackled with the medium any other health condition is managed. With the presence of credible and quality information, the dangers of relapse could be avoided. In order to find quality information on treatment for addiction, there are a number of steps to follow.


Firstly, it is important to get accessed by a physician or addiction treatment expert involved in cases of addiction. An evaluation to know the extent of the effect of the addiction is key in other to know the right treatment to adopt. Not everyone addicted needs intense treatment depending on how affected they are.

Addiction treatment experts are professionals which may include medical doctors who are specially trained in identifying and diagnosing issues of addiction. They also provide therapeutic treatments for severe cases of substance use disorders. These experts go through additional training to become experienced to manage different cases of addiction and the disorders that follow them. The Saskatoon alcohol rehab center is certainly a place, where support is at the upmost priority in helping people from becoming addicted through preventative maintenance.


Also, information could be sought from other personnel such as recovery and sobriety coaches. Recovery coaches offer unbiased and credible help and guidance. They focus on individuals that are in the process of overcoming addiction and help them continue with the recovery. They are accountable and trained to provide assistance to people suffering from life challenges such as addiction. They are educated and experienced to handle addiction issues. They offer services such as psychotherapy in case of mental health problems, help addicts focus on achieving set goals of recovery and life improvement.

Scientific Journals on Addiction

addiction scientific journalOnline scientific journals are published by academic institutions and other public or private organizations that receive funding for accredited research. Scientific journals that publish pieces on trends in addiction contain valuable insight into critical addiction topics, such as what the chemistry of the human brain looks like when it is engaging in addiction and what the current statistics on addiction recovery are. Someone has to conduct studies in order to gather legitimate information on addiction in an objective way, and a scientific journal is precisely that method.

The studies that lead to scientific conclusions on addiction often make use of a controlled lab setting, a survey, focus groups or testable hypothesis. All variables are accounted for and meticulous research is conducted. The data is interpreted to quantify and qualify some aspect of addiction objectively. Without this type of addiction material, we would be lost in treating and approaching addiction. We would not be able to understand exactly how addiction works. Scientific journals are one of the foremost reliable sources of addiction information on the internet.

A scientific journal is full of information that comes directly from university studies and academic publications, but another source of information that is rich with insight is the opinions of industry leaders. An addiction industry leader may be an addiction therapist or a rehab owner. They are not necessarily affiliated with any academic institution, but the professional time they spend working with addicts makes them experts and scholars in their own right. The information published in journals that comes from interviews with and biographies of these industry professionals is invaluable.

There are many sources of information on addiction available on the internet, and knowing which ones possess accuracy and critical insight can be difficult. In the case of an established online scientific journal, it is highly probable that the information contained within can be trusted.

Quality News Sources on Addiction

addiction news sourceNews sources, such as newspapers, news magazines and news websites, can make for great sources of information on addiction. It is a different type of information found in news sources than is found in academic journals or in psychology handbooks. Where as more academic publications are based on many years of scientific studies, news stories on addiction are either summations of academic works with additional sources added in, or they are current events related to addiction, such as new funding for addiction treatment programs or current trends in addiction.

In determining whether or not a news source is a credible opinion on addiction, it is good to verify that the news source is well-established and widely circulated. The better trusted the news source is, the more verifiable it is. The strength of a news source with a firm reputation and history will provide accurate information on local, national and global trends in addiction, as well as report on developments in studies on addiction from an academic standpoint.

This is not to say that local news sources do not have quality information on addiction. Millions of groundbreaking addiction news events have come from a grassroots level and were first reported on by a local news source. Not only are local news sources usually the first to get wind of developments happening in their area, but they are often the ones to cover the story most thoroughly. Do not underestimate the value of a good quality local news source on the topic of addiction.

And even more important than the size or reputation of the news source is the quality of the reporting itself. Were all your questions about the addiction story answered? Was the information current? Did the reporter make use of good sources and conduct credible research? Use your best judgment in determining the quality of an addiction news story before circulating it as many lesser quality stories can be misleading.

Industry Professionals on Addiction

addiction industry professionalVerifying that the information you find online about addiction is very important to ensuring its credibility. There are a number of unlicensed, unincorporated websites online being managed by people who are merely opinionated on a topic rather than informed on it. This is concerning, considering that addiction is a serious mental health condition that requires sensitivity and awareness in its approach. Before you circulate information about addiction online, it is highly recommended that you verify where the information came from to ensure that an addiction industry professional created it instead of an untrustworthy source.

For example, one excellent source of information on addiction is professional psychologists and counselors who specialize in addiction. These professionals receive a high level of education on and exposure to addiction. They go through intensive studying up to a master’s level or beyond and continue ongoing education throughout their careers. They also have some of the most hands on experience working with addicted people in the industry.

Rehab owners and facilitators are also professionals who work directly with addicts and play a very important role in their addiction recovery. Rehabs in locations all over Canada, including addiction rehab Ontario, alcohol rehabilitation Scarborough and drug rehab Vancouver, offer intensive treatment programs that help addicts change their thought and behavior patterns for the better. They work in tandem with counselors and therapists to help recovering addict’s overcome their condition. Many rehab professionals have a strong background in the mental health industry already, some of whom held professional counseling positions in their lives. There is no other professional who spends quite as much time with addicts as a rehab staff person. alcohol rehab scarborough

And lastly, academics have a variable history of working directly with addicts, but they have access to the widest body of current information on what addiction is and how it should be approached. Again, many professions within the addiction industry may cross over each other so an addiction academic may have experience with counseling or rehabilitation work, but examining addiction from an academic vantage brings a whole new level of perspective to the matter. We need an academic understanding of addiction to reduce bias and create objectivity around the topic.

Credible Information on Addiction

addiction information sourceEducating the public on addiction is a matter of top priority, considering that part of addiction recovery involves finding understanding, informed support systems. Addicts will have a far easier time defeating their addiction if they do not have to worry about ignorant opinions and harsh stigmas attacking their disorder. Circulating credible information on what addiction is and how to approach the matter are critical to societal mental health and to the well-being of people who struggle with addiction. But knowing where to find credible information on addiction and knowing how to sift through all the non-credible information can be challenging. There are a number of quality sources for addiction information available if you know where to look:

  • Industry professionals on addiction. One reliable source for current information on addiction is from mental health professionals, such as psychologists, addiction counselors and rehab owners. These professionals have years of hands-on experience dealing with serious addiction problems and the psychology of an addict. They have access to the most current studies, theories and recovery material that is available. They are known to publish literature, both online and in print, and give interviews about their experiences, so their wisdom is not difficult to come by.
  • Quality News Sources on Addiction. News articles from reliable news sources provide decent information on addiction and addiction recovery. If you are relying on a news source for your information on addiction, make certain it is from a well-respected news source and an accountable journalist. Verify any cited sources, studies and press releases by familiarizing yourself with the original information source.
  • Scientific Journals on Addiction. A scientific journal, academic publication or university study is a very good source of information on addiction. The information presented in these publications will be the most scientifically documented and gathered information available. These information sources are valuable in understanding the absolute facts of addiction, where as opinions from industry leaders are the best sources of information for understanding valued opinions on the matter.