Why People Drink and Drive
You might see driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol as a one-time mistake, but sometimes it connects to a deeper pattern with alcohol use disorder (AUD). And while research points toward a link between heavy, frequent drinking and driving [...]
Which Substances Have a Higher Relapse Rate?
You’re not the only one wondering how many more times it’s going to take before things finally click, before you get to experience the redemption people talk about in recovery. But relapsing always takes a toll, especially when you’re doing [...]
Older Folks and Cannabis Use
Recreational marijuana isn’t yet legal in PA, but in 2016, Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana, also referred to as cannabis. We often write about how not everyone in recovery needs to avoid marijuana, but it’s probably a good idea to steer [...]
The Education That Prevents Substance Use
Young people have enough to worry about between schoolwork, extracurricular activities, jobs, and puberty. Toss in high substance abuse risk, and they may just implode! But nobody’s imploding today, because St. Joseph Institute in Port Matilda, PA, is here to [...]
Is Medical Marijuana Safe?
Marijuana has been around for thousands of years, but it’s still a topic of heated debates around substance dependency. The research we have on marijuana doesn’t give us clear answers on its overall safety and validity in the recovery process, [...]
Can Inflammation Cause Impulsivity With Substances?
What’s red, achy, hot to the touch, and totally silent at the same time? If you guessed inflammation, you’re 100% correct. But if you’re in recovery from substances, how does inflammation come into the picture? Let’s find out. What [...]
Why Light Drinking Still Causes Harm
Fewer than 7 drinks per week. That’s it. That’s the definition of light drinking, according to a massive study from the BMJ Group in 2025. Depending on how you grew up and your previous history with alcohol, getting down to [...]
What Is Gas Station Heroin?
You might feel like gas station heroin is super dramatic for a supplement sold next to energy drinks and snacks at your local 7-Eleven. But if you or someone you care about has struggled with opioid use disorder (OUD), you [...]
Tips For Better Brain Health in Recovery
So much of recovery seems psychological, emotional, and spiritual—but what if simply changing up a few habits that support your brain health made everything a bit easier? The thing is, more and more research suggests that when your brain gets [...]
Will I Get Addicted to Pain Pills?
We all have the capacity to eventually get there—throwing out our backs in our thirties or caring for the sports injury of a teenage child—and suddenly opioid-based pain killers enter daily life. Each one of us is vulnerable to injuries [...]
