Since its beginning in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has played an essential role in the lives of many people in recovery from alcohol addiction. In the years that followed, additional 12-Step groups, such as Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), were developed and have become an important resource for those recovering from an addiction...Read More

Whether you have been clean and sober for weeks or years, it is essential that you know the signs of a potential relapse and have the coping skills you need to prevent it. Recovering from alcohol or drug addiction is a long-term process. In rehab, you learned the tools you needed to get clean and...Read More

A drug or alcohol addiction has a disastrous effect on the person struggling with the disease. But addiction also has devastating consequences for that person’s family. Perhaps the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) puts it best: “addiction is a family disease.”Addiction Is a Family DiseaseAddiction puts everyone in the family unit under...Read More

For many people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, mindfulness is an essential tool that helps them become aware of what triggers their cravings and how to respond to those triggers. The continual cycle of addictive behaviors is broken as the person learns to accept and deal with their feelings rather than giving in...Read More

Whether you create art yourself or simply enjoy observing it, art brings discovery, meaning, and joy to many people. For those in addiction recovery, engaging with and creating art can be key to maintaining wellbeing. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology reports that creative art therapies are a very successful form of...Read More

A New YearFor many people, the beginning of a new year is a time to make resolutions and start new traditions. It is a time to reassess your outlook on life and set personal goals. If you are in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, it might be a good time for you to renew...Read More

Whether you are in recovery, new to sobriety, or have years of sober living under your belt, New Year’s Eve may be a difficult time to maintain your sobriety. It’s a time, for many, of excess–of partying, drinking, getting high. Can you enjoy New Year’s celebrations when you’re trying to remain clean and sober?We think...Read More

Spending time in nature is a wonderful way to relax. It can make you feel peaceful and calm. When being outdoors in nature is used as a form of therapy for individuals that have a substance use disorder, it is known as ecotherapy.Ecotherapy ExplainedEcotherapy is a type of holistic therapy. The basic tenet of ecotherapy...Read More

As sobriety progresses, relationships need to be reevaluated.Recovery is a time to surround yourself with positive people who are supportive of your decision to become sober and distance yourself from those who are not.When a person is in recovery, it is important that they separate themselves from people in their lives who do not support...Read More

Summer is a time of hot weather and sunny days.There are backyard barbecues, street fairs and festivals, days at the beach, and outdoor celebrations. For many people in recovery, those events have always included their favorite alcohol or drug of choice. If this is your first sober summer, you will still have an enjoyable season,...Read More