Your first year of recovery will be full of many challenges, including how to best celebrate the holidays as someone who is newly sober. The risk of relapse is higher during this time, but remaining vigilant about your recovery will help you stay on the right track. Focus on What Brings You Joy There are [...]
With the opioid epidemic making headlines every week, it's understandable to be worried about the risk of addiction if you or someone you love has been prescribed opioids. However, you must remember that opioid medication does play a vital role in the management of chronic pain for certain individuals. It does these patients a disservice [...]
Certain personality traits have been proven to be associated with the development of substance use disorders. Exposure to trauma and a lack of a strong support system can also contribute to the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms. In some cases, this can include the development of substitute addictions after completing a drug or alcohol rehab [...]
Being in recovery means rethinking every aspect of your daily routine, including how you use social media. Your time online has the potential to either be a tool for sobriety or a threat to the recovery process. Advantages of Social Media in Recovery In some cases, social media can be an aid in the recovery [...]
If you're struggling to make the 12-Step process work for you, don't give up hope of a lasting recovery. Although Alcoholics Anonymous and other similar groups play a vital role in keeping millions of people clean and sober, these organizations aren't right for everyone. SMART Recovery is one AA alternative that you may wish to [...]
"Continuum of care" is a phrase that's commonly used in addiction treatment, but many people seeking help for a substance use disorder find themselves wondering exactly what this means. Essentially, continuum of care refers to having a detailed plan for what services a person needs to help him or her stay sober after seeking residential [...]
The relationship between addiction and poverty is complicated. Lower income people are slightly more likely to struggle with drug or alcohol abuse, but this doesn't necessarily mean that poverty causes addiction. In some cases, financial troubles are the result of a substance use disorder. Poverty Increases Addiction Risk Factors There are several ways in which [...]
During your next dental appointment, you may be asked about more than your brushing and flossing habits. A recent survey found that 77 percent of dentists now perform substance abuse screenings as part of routine exams. Why Are Dentists Are Worried About the Addiction Epidemic? Dentists may not be considered primary care providers, but dental [...]
There are thousands of self-help books promising to teach readers the secret to leading a better life, including many dealing with addiction recovery. Although you can't cure drug or alcohol addiction simply by reading a book, self-help books can increase your understanding of addiction and help you figure out ways to handle cravings, codependent family [...]
Although the general public often assumes anyone in rehab actively set out to develop an addiction, this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, most people who struggle with an addiction to prescription painkillers originally took their medication exactly as prescribed. Prescription painkillers are often viewed as safer than illegal drugs, but this misconception [...]
