The opioid epidemic was first declared a public health emergency in 2017. If you are struggling with opioid abuse or believe a loved one may be in need of addiction treatment, there are some important facts to consider as you decide how to best proceed with the recovery process. 1. Over 100 People Die of [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
It’s important that we understand recovery from drug and alcohol addiction as a complex and challenging journey, one that takes dedication and time. For many people who struggle with addiction or who love someone who struggles with addiction, the promise of a month spent in concentrated, residential rehabilitation seems like adequate treatment. And yet, when [...]
The Long Road Recovery requires hard work and tough choices. To truly recover from addiction is a process, one that requires deeper and more lasting changes than simply acknowledging the errors of a life controlled by alcohol or drugs. The process of real recovery involves more than an apology for hurtful behaviors and faulty judgment, [...]
It is part of our culture, our daily practices, perhaps even our DNA: the desire to do things faster, easier, and with minimal sacrifice. Let’s face it. We want shortcuts. While finding a quicker route to the grocery store can help us save time and even gas money, when we try to take shortcuts to self-improvement, we often [...]
You will have dozens of questions when you start to talk about relapse, and the answers are often confusing or contradictory. Is the success rate for recovery 10 percent? 25 percent? 50 percent? 75 percent? Can an alcoholic or addict establish long-term recovery, or does everyone relapse at some time? Are some treatment approaches better [...]
In addiction recovery, “almost” is never good enough. No issue in addiction treatment is of greater importance than the prevention of relapse. Sobriety is never an optional goal. It is the “finish line” that justifies the time, expense, and constant effort. Anything less may not represent failure -- for there may be signs of significant [...]
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 comes to understand their disease, learning techniques to manage their urges, triggers and weaknesses. You [...]
When you are helping people begin their recovery, all of your instincts tell you to act like a sports coach. You want the addict or alcoholic to feel empowered, prepared to fight against the strength of their addiction, ready to beat the odds. So often they begin from a broken place, and your prayer is [...]
