Unrealistic Expectations Drive Us Deeper Into Addiction BlogBy The Ranch PAApril 27, 2016What’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… Details
3 Things Rehab Isn’t BlogBy The Ranch PAApril 22, 2016If 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:
How to Fight the Opioid Epidemic with 3 Hard-Learned Lessons BlogBy The Ranch PAApril 15, 2016America’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 Love an Addict Without Being an Enabler BlogBy The Ranch PAApril 8, 2016It 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… Details
Alcohol Addiction Therapy and Rehabilitation BlogBy The Ranch PAApril 1, 2016Alcohol 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… Details
Amy Winehouse – The Importance of Safe Detox BlogBy The Ranch PAMarch 17, 2016The 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… Details
Washington, D.C., Sees Spike in Overdoses on Synthetic Marijuana BlogBy The Ranch PAMarch 11, 2016At 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… Details
Learning to Love Your Sober Self BlogBy The Ranch PAMarch 3, 2016If 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.
The Genetics Behind Addiction BlogBy The Ranch PAJanuary 28, 2016Researchers believe a complex mixture of genetics, family history, social history, and environment combine to influence each person’s propensity for addiction. You are not a product of your genes, but your genes can influence how quickly you become addicted to substances. Looking for the Addiction Gene Researchers already know that addiction tends to run in… Details
The Purpose of Therapy Dogs and Other Animals in Rehab Help BlogBy The Ranch PAJanuary 21, 2016Dogs are truly our best friends. Having a therapy dog or another animal while in rehab can really help people in recovery learn to live and love again. The Ranch PA has a therapy dog who loves to interact with residents, and this interaction helps them feel more at home and at ease as soon… Details
