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Relapse Prevention

5 Tips for a Smooth Transition from Residential Addiction Treatment to Independent Living

By |2023-06-29T15:51:40-04:00August 26th, 2022|Family Resource, Practicing Recovery|

Graduating from residential treatment is an important milestone in your recovery journey. As you prepare to return to independent living, you'll need to work on putting the skills you learned in residential treatment to work in the real world. Here, the treatment team at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction shares some tips that can help [...]

Staying Sober on New Year’s Eve

By |2018-10-23T16:50:20-04:00December 22nd, 2016|Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Holiday, Practicing Recovery|

For people in recovery, New Year’s Eve can present a minefield of obstacles to staying sober that aren’t present on other holidays. There is the idea that celebrating the change from one year to the next is linked with popping corks and consuming alcohol. Anyone who plans a quiet evening or who doesn’t join a [...]

Consequences: A Critical Tool in Addiction Treatment

By |2023-06-23T14:08:16-04:00July 10th, 2013|Clinician Resource, Family Resource, For Families of Addicts|

When we acknowledge that addiction is a brain disease it becomes easier to understand that there is a battle going on inside the addict’s head.  They hear the “voice of the disease” saying that they need drugs and alcohol to cope with life, or they really don’t have a serious problem, or what they do [...]

The Case Against Methadone, Suboxone and Other Medication-Assisted Treatments for Addiction

By |2023-08-29T15:17:11-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Heroin, The Path of Addiction Recovery|

I spend a lot of time talking to families determined to find help for a loved one who is addicted to drugs.  Inevitably the conversation includes the questions: “Aren’t there some medications that will make them stop?” “I’ve heard about Suboxone, is that the answer?” “Will Vivitrol cure my son’s addiction?” How wonderful it would [...]

7 Hard Truths About Opiate Addiction

By |2023-06-23T13:41:29-04:00June 21st, 2013|Family Resource, Heroin|

I recently spoke with a young man who was “having a problem with opiates.”  In actuality, he was trying hard to convince both himself and me that his prescription medication abuse wasn’t serious.  Certainly he felt it would be wrong to call himself an “addict.” The hard facts make it impossible to offer comfort or [...]

8 Keys to Overcoming Addiction: #8 is to be Proactive in Recovery

By |2023-06-23T13:32:01-04:00March 5th, 2013|The Path of Addiction Recovery|

Life in recovery can have many benefits and positive experiences. The key to staying in recovery is to discover the goodness and the fulfillment life has to offer when you are drug-free. People who are engaged in a proactive recovery from addiction: Do things to help them manage stress Work on building and sustaining healthy relationships, especially [...]

8 Keys to Overcoming Addiction: #7 is Avoid Assuming you are Stronger than Everyone Else

By |2023-06-23T13:29:43-04:00February 18th, 2013|The Path of Addiction Recovery|

One of the principle causes of relapse is thinking that you don’t need help, or that you can manage recovery on your own. We hear lots of people say: I understand how to manage my recovery. I don’t need a counselor or a sponsor.” Relapse begins the moment a person in recovery thinks they can [...]

8 Keys to Overcoming Addiction: #6 is to Know the Signs of Relapse & Avoid Triggers

By |2023-06-23T13:28:38-04:00February 7th, 2013|The Path of Addiction Recovery|

There is no cure for addiction so the recovering addict or alcoholic must always be on guard against the possibility of relapse. It is very important to know the signs of relapse and take immediate steps to safeguard against temptation. Some of the big triggers are stress, exhaustion, loneliness, boredom, resentment and relationship problems. Addicts need [...]