It’s interesting but unsurprising to note that drug abuse is largely concentrated in Pennsylvania’s most populated major city: Philadelphia. Chances of finding illicit drugs, using them, and abusing them are more prevalent in Philly than anywhere else in the state. This doesn’t mean that substances don’t create issues for families and individuals across PA. That’s [...]
Stephen King famously struggled with cocaine addiction—even at his most productive and lucrative career points. One of his entertaining debut films, Overdrive, is a great example of the brain on cocaine: fast, hyped up, and disjointed. Although King quit using cocaine in the late 1980s, he has shared some of the consequences of his use, [...]
When you enter St. Joseph Institute’s treatment program to recover from a substance use disorder (SUD), you’re called to make radical changes that prioritize your well-being. One of the ways you might begin to care for yourself is by taking walks throughout our beautiful campus and the hiking trails that surround it. In fact, hiking [...]
Think about the last time you found yourself or a loved one asserting any of the following statements: That’s not my fault/I’m not responsible for that I can’t do anything about this Everything fails anyway, so there’s no hope in trying to change anything Would you say that the statements above are spoken by someone [...]
Relapse is a part of many recovery stories. It’s the moment in your sobriety when you use the substance that you previously abused, leading you back into addictive patterns. Chances of relapse among formerly drug and alcohol-addicted people are high, but that doesn’t mean that you or your loved one will relapse. It also doesn’t [...]
Self-care is a great way to prioritize your mental health and your physical well-being with techniques that optimize bodily function, mental cohesion, and nervous system regulation. It does not entail being selfish or overindulging while shopping or pampering yourself. Think of self-care less as one specific action and more as a lifestyle or a steady [...]
Our nation’s Veterans, active military members, and their loved ones protect us and the land we live on. This is no small feat. The weight of responsibility that comes with being a protector is often overwhelming and has the potential to lead to a number of long-term negative effects. Recently, our nation has seen increased [...]
Emotionally immature parents can affect their children’s development in ways that may make them more prone to substance use disorders as adults. What does it mean to be emotionally immature? We know what it means to mature biologically. If we think about animals or kids, we can easily point out what maturity looks like. An [...]
Depression. It can feel like a 50-pound dumbbell on your chest every minute of every day. It might look like Alzheimer’s, forgetting appointments or chores or even cherished memories. Perhaps it manifests in a sudden onslaught of narcissistic feelings, extreme guilt, debilitating self-pity, or overwhelming pessimism with every minute that passes. Described as a raging [...]
If we zoom as far out as possible from our loved one’s substance use disorder (SUD), we see that its effects ripple into larger social systems. We see that the person struggling with addiction is taking the brunt of the most obvious consequences: poor bodily and mental health, financial troubles, professional issues, discrimination, involvement [...]
