The Chicken or the Egg?
If only life was a true reflection of the fairy tales our mothers read to us as small children. There was a problem, with courage and determination it was overcome, and everyone could then live happily ever after. The illusion [...]
Relapse: Why Addiction Treatment Often Falls Short
Addiction treatment can be discouraging. As a healthcare professional you can invest huge amounts of energy and passion into helping someone enter into recovery, only to see them fall back into the old patterns of using. The addict or alcoholic [...]
Common Roadblocks to Recovery
There is no point in being less than honest. Recovery is hard work. It requires discipline and change – things that most of us resist, not just addicts and alcoholics. To overcome addiction it is important to recognize that there [...]
The Power of “Real”
Some would call it human nature, but perhaps it is more accurately described as a human weakness. I’m referring to our common desire to sugar-coat the truth, making things appear better than they are. People in recovery know what I [...]
Rehab at Gunpoint
For a parent, a spouse, or a friend, it is incredibly hard to watch someone you care about sink into addiction without taking action. The destructive behavior must stop. They must get help now. Any leverage seems fair, and appropriate, [...]
Prescription Pain Medication: a Gateway to Heroin
WPSU radio station wanted to discuss the increased use of heroin and the inherent dangers. One of our graduates joined me for the interview and made a great contribution. Emily was celebrating her third anniversary of sobriety and we are [...]
Pittsburgh, Heroin, and the Road to Hell
Pittsburgh, Heroin, and the Road to Hell A Mother’s Call for Help Not long ago, a mother from Pittsburgh called me seeking help for her daughter. She described a two-year journey that began when her daughter started taking prescription meds [...]
Dear Heroin, I want a divorce. I want a new life.
It’s frustrating. No matter how terrible the impact of heroin has been on a user’s life, they keep returning to the same sick relationship. The dependence is so great that the resolve to stop using can easily crumble. Why is [...]
“People in Recovery Are the Best!”
I will never forget the little speech that Sara gave at St. Joseph Institute during an evening discussion on relapse prevention. With strong emotions, she argued that the best people she knew were in recovery. The group chucked when she [...]
St. Joseph Institute Spring Alumni Reunion
Reunion weekend is almost here!! We hope you are as excited as we are about the upcoming reunion! We have so many fun things planned and can't wait to see you all. A copy of the schedule is listed [...]
