Substance abuse and addiction among older adults is a growing concern and is often underestimated, overlooked, or underdiagnosed. In the United States, substance use disorders among people over 60 years old are one of the nation’s most rapidly growing health problems. As the population ages, the number of senior citizens struggling with substance use disorders...Read More

Being in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction comes with many challenges. Dealing with relapse triggers is one of them. Relapse triggers are emotional or physical cues that cause the person to want to drink or use a substance. They are a normal part of addiction recovery. Being aware that triggers will arise and...Read More

The opioid crisis continues to spread throughout the United States, killing tens of thousands of people each year and destroying the lives of even more. A drug called xylazine, also known as tranq, is making the deadliest synthetic opioid, fentanyl, even more lethal.Xylazine (Tranq): The BasicsXylazine is an animal tranquilizer, anesthetic, muscle relaxant, and analgesic....Read More

Grief is a natural, expected emotional reaction to loss. It is painful and can be overwhelming. Many people associate grief with the death of a loved one, close friend, or pet. But the loss of anything important to a person can result in grief. Everyone deals with grief differently. While some of these methods are healthy,...Read More

SMART Recovery is a popular resource for many people in addiction recovery. Some choose it as an alternative to a more traditional 12-Step program like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Others choose SMART Recovery as a supplement to their 12-Step program. SMART Recovery and 12-Step programs share the three main principles of confidentiality, accessibility,...Read More

Drug and alcohol addiction has devastating effects on the user. But it also affects that person’s loved ones. Part of addiction recovery means rebuilding relationships with loved ones, regaining their trust and forming new, happy, positive memories. One way to create good memories with loved ones is to engage everyone in some sober fun. Whether you...Read More

People once believed a fully developed human brain was fixed and unchangeable. Scientists now know that is not the case. The discovery of the formation of new neurons forming new neural pathways in the fully adult brain showed scientists the power of the brain to change, reorganize, and grow. The brain’s incredible ability to adapt...Read More

The question of whether or not a person suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction needs to hit rock bottom before seeking treatment is not new. The simple answer to the question is no. Hitting rock bottom is not necessary before seeking help for a substance use disorder. Whenever you are ready for help, it...Read More

Deciding to stop using drugs or drinking alcohol is difficult for many people. Remaining sober requires daily hard work, commitment, complete self-honesty, and diligent self-care–and these major changes can feel terrifying to people. Others may not want to admit to themselves or their loved ones that they are struggling with addiction. They fear the societal...Read More

Completing a treatment program for drug or alcohol addiction is a great accomplishment. But now it is time to return to work, and you are feeling nervous about making the transition. Returning to work, whether you are going back to the job you had before or starting a new one, is a big step. Be...Read More