The upcoming 4th of July weekend presents unique challenges to everyone this year. With the need to maintain social distances, wear masks, and generally take precautions against the coronavirus, the large crowds that have gathered during years past at holiday events are not possible. In...
Community-driven treatment is a key element in recovery for addiction program participants. Recovery, which is a process, does not end after the treatment is complete. Alumni involvement is vital to a permanent recovery, providing the opportunity for everyone involved to experience continuous connection and recovery...
Once detox is complete, a person begins the real work of recovery. It’s in the weeks and months following initial treatment that you identify challenges to your recovery and find the tools to overcome them. Better understanding post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) helps position people to...
The disease of addiction makes sufferers act in careless and hurtful ways to others. Though there’s no way to undo their actions, a person in recovery can seek to make amends with those they’ve wronged. When is the best time for addicts to apologize to...
So much of our suffering is completely unnecessary. From an early age, we take on ways of thinking that create a useless burden, which traps us in a constant state of sadness and anxiety. We make assumptions, we harbor ill will toward others at our...
Aftercare monitoring in addiction treatment is a bridge from residential programs to a substance-free life. After months of learning the tools you’ll need in recovery, aftercare monitoring teaches you to integrate these lessons into your daily routine. The longer a person with a substance use disorder...
When you free yourself from the burden of substance use, you make room for the greatest pleasures that life can offer. Finding peace after addiction is a journey, but it’s well worth the effort. If you believe that you can’t live substance-free, then consider the fact...
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. There’s never been a more important time to talk about the impact of addiction on individuals, families and communities. The number of overdose deaths has skyrocketed in recent years, and countless more deaths and serious illnesses are attributed...
Substances mask our problems. They also numb us to some of life’s greatest joys. When people with a history of substance misuse remove the barrier of drugs or alcohol, they begin the journey of experiencing richer, fuller lives. Through addiction recovery, you learn so many...
The first 30 to 90 days after Primary Treatment are the most critical for preventing relapse because most relapses occur during this time frame. For people coming out of intensive residential treatment, sober homes offer valuable community and support that helps residents stay on track...
You’ve discovered your loved one or friend is an alcoholic or addict—now what? For many people in that situation, their first reaction is, “What can I do to fix my alcoholic/addict?” It took a while for me to figure out that I couldn’t “fix” my son....
One of the greatest fears for a person in recovery is transitioning from inpatient treatment back into “the real world”. Multiple studies conducted by The National Institutes of Health highly support the importance of high accountability sober living and the impact it has on potential...