It’s considered the kickoff to summer, but for those trying to stay sober, Memorial Day weekend can seem like the ultimate test. Everywhere you turn are parties and celebrations, and alcohol often feels as central to the traditions as the barbecue. If you are in recovery from a substance use disorder and working hard to […]
6 Tips for a Sober Memorial Day Weekend Read More »
Does seeing alcohol consumption in the movies trigger adolescents to try alcohol or consume more than they would normally otherwise? A recent report published in the journal Pediatrics believes so. It states that 15-year-olds who watched a higher amount of alcohol consumption in films are influenced by what they see.
The Impact of Alcohol in the Movies Read More »
What’s wrong with trying to control life? What’s wrong with holding the people around us to a higher standard? The problem is that addicts expend a lot of energy trying to micromanage the universe and the people in it. What happens when people and circumstances don’t measure up? We’re angry, disappointed, depressed and resentful. And
Unrealistic Expectations Drive Us Deeper Into Addiction Read More »
If drug or alcohol use is starting to complicate your life, you may be ready to consider whether inpatient rehab is right for you. What should you expect when you check yourself in for help with an addiction? To better understand what rehab is, here’s a look at what it isn’t:
3 Things Rehab Isn’t Read More »
America’s love affair with prescription opioid painkillers is now plain. In the last few years, we have scrambled to put into place strategies to combat the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history. If we are going to fight the opioid epidemic effectively, there are 3 hard-earned lessons we need to pay attention to.
How to Fight the Opioid Epidemic with 3 Hard-Learned Lessons Read More »
It is easy to fall into the trap of enabling an addict. It feels like love, but enabling only harms the addict and your relationship with him. If you love an addict, you can be supportive, loving and caring without enabling the addiction and the addictive behaviors. The first step is to recognize whether you
How to Love an Addict Without Being an Enabler Read More »
Alcohol is a widely-available, legal, and dangerously addictive drug that acts as a depressant and negatively affects every organ in the body. Although some people can consume alcohol safely and in small amounts, many become trapped in a devastating spiral of addiction before they even know they are the victims of substance abuse. Those who
Alcohol Addiction Therapy and Rehabilitation Read More »
The tragedy surrounding Amy Winehouse’s death has had a somber effect on the entire world, and as the questions and hope for answers begins, the conversation swiftly turns to her tumultuous history with drug and alcohol abuse and the part it played in her death. Winehouse’s substance use has always been a large part of
Amy Winehouse – The Importance of Safe Detox Read More »
At least seven people staying at a District of Columbia homeless shelter had to be hospitalized after overdosing on synthetic marijuana re-igniting concerns about the risks of “fake pot.” The story underlines the problem of synthetic marijuana—often labeled “not for human consumption”—and shows, yet again, that its “natural” appearance and apparent similarity to marijuana are
Washington, D.C., Sees Spike in Overdoses on Synthetic Marijuana Read More »
If you have been using or abusing drugs or alcohol for any length of time, you have been in the habit of distorting reality. Through addiction to mind-altering chemicals, you have found a way to avoid facing painful or uncomfortable feelings, and most of the time you have been completely numb on an emotional level.
Learning to Love Your Sober Self Read More »