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Olivia.Gillespie

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So far Liv Gillespie has created 89 blog entries.

The Dangers of THC Beverages

By |2024-11-08T11:47:29-05:00November 8th, 2024|Addiction|

From Port Matilda to Philadelphia to across the United States, the sale and consumption of THC beverages is on the rise. While it’s younger people, mainly Millennials and Gen Zers that consume these cannabis-infused seltzer and alcohol-free cocktails, more and more diverse groups of people are noticing this new and intoxicating method of consuming THC. [...]

November: National Gratitude Month

By |2024-11-01T11:38:24-04:00November 1st, 2024|Addiction|

Gratitude in recovery isn’t just about thanking your loved ones for supporting you as you enter an addiction treatment program. It’s also not pretending that everything is fine. Everything isn’t fine all the time, and that’s normal. Recovery comes with challenges, setbacks, relapses, and growth.  Gratitude is the practice of identifying and acknowledging positive aspects [...]

What is Serial Dating and How Does it Affect Sobriety?

By |2024-10-24T15:48:49-04:00October 24th, 2024|Addiction, Articles, Drug Addiction|

One tri-state area psychologist and author on dating topics, Paulette Sherman, explains that serial daters are people dependent on early-dating romance. The chase, the novelty, and the freshness of a brand new dating partner excites them in ways likened to substance abuse. Just like someone might feel thrilled and excited by doing cocaine or taking [...]

How Addiction Can Affect Marriage

By |2024-10-11T11:51:24-04:00October 11th, 2024|Addiction, Articles, Family Resource, Substance Use Disorder|

It’s no secret: married couples often experience disagreements, infidelity, financial strain, and, sometimes, tragedy. They can fail to be on the same page or feel like they’re falling out of love. Many factors can influence a divorce. However, research shows that alcoholism can be one of the driving factors behind a marital split.  Many of [...]

The Pros and Cons of Dating in Recovery

By |2024-10-04T16:08:02-04:00October 4th, 2024|Addiction Recovery, Articles, Healthy Living|

If you’re in recovery or residential treatment for substance use disorder in Pennsylvania and thinking about stepping back into the dating world, we support you! It’s a huge step and we want all of our Port Matilda community members to be aware of the research around relationships in recovery before they take the plunge.  It’s [...]

Why Some People are at Higher Risk for SUD

By |2024-09-19T17:16:04-04:00September 19th, 2024|Addiction|

Three main areas in life can play a role in whether or not someone develops a substance use disorder (SUD), abuses drugs, or becomes exposed to alcohol and other intoxicants. These areas include genetics, living and working environment, and development and experiences throughout life. How Biology and Childhood Development Play a Role in Addiction  Scientists [...]

What to Do if Your Loved One Refuses to Go To Treatment

By |2024-09-10T11:38:29-04:00September 10th, 2024|Addiction, Articles, Family Resource, Rehab|

Not too long ago an insightful story by author David Sheff about his son’s battle against addiction was published in the New York Times. Sheff relays searching for his child at night, checking all the neighborhoods he knew he might frequent. Most of the time he never got a glimpse of his young adult son—who [...]

What Cigarette Addiction Reveals About Substance Use Disorder

By |2025-01-09T17:09:17-05:00August 29th, 2024|Addiction, Articles, Substance Use Disorder|

It’s the nicotine in cigarettes that makes them exceptionally difficult to quit. When someone consumes a cigarette, vapes tobacco, or uses chewing tobacco, they’re introducing nicotine into their bloodstream. Just seconds after inhaling, the brain detects the nicotine and releases dopamine. Dopamine is the brain’s way of saying WE’RE H A P P Y, KEEP [...]

Nitazene: What You Need to Know

By |2024-08-23T10:20:25-04:00August 23rd, 2024|Addiction, Articles, Drug Addiction|

In 2023, the Boulder County community of Colorado recorded two unique opioid-related deaths. Upon further investigation, officials found that the victims had consumed a newly modified, powerful synthetic opioid called nitazene. Because the type of nitazene currently on the market is so new, it was a breakthrough that healthcare workers detected the drug at all. [...]

How Rumination Impacts Addiction Recovery

By |2024-08-20T14:30:39-04:00August 20th, 2024|Addiction Recovery, Articles, Mental Health|

St. Joseph Institute for Addiction in Port Matilda, PA, treats substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time that we treat the entire individual and assess their general mental health. We know that treating addiction as an isolated issue misses the bigger picture, as many of our clients report struggling with generalized anxiety disorders, depression, [...]