For many people, the holiday season is a wonderful and happy time of the year. For others, that joy is compromised by stress or loneliness. For those in recovery from a substance use disorder, the holidays can be an especially tricky time, with relapse triggers aplenty: stress, substance-heavy parties and events, loneliness, difficult relationships, and...Read More

You made the choice to get treatment for your substance use disorder. You went through detox and completed your rehab program. You received all the tools and learned the coping skills you need to live a clean and sober life in recovery. Things seemed to be going well, but you relapsed. You wonder why it...Read More

Whether you are well into your recovery or newly sober, giving back to others is an important aspect of the recovery process. Serving others will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it will also greatly increase your chance of long-term sobriety. Giving Back – The First Step Throughout the recovery process, many...Read More

Weighing approximately three pounds, the human brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It regulates all of your body’s functions and is at the center of all of your activities. It shapes how you behave and what you feel and think. In essence, your brain is who you are. The Brain and...Read More

When a person takes their first alcoholic drink or uses their first drug, they are probably not contemplating suicide. But for many people, the first drink or drug use is the beginning of a life of substance abuse and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they are at increased risk of suicide....Read More

In the United States, one of the most common patterns of alcohol overuse is binge drinking. In fact, of all the alcohol people consume, over fifty percent is served while those people are binge drinking. But many people do not understand what binge drinking is or believe that they are engaging in it. Binge Drinking...Read More

A class of anti-anxiety medication, benzodiazepines are usually prescribed for anxiety, seizures, insomnia, muscle relaxation, and acute alcohol withdrawal. In addition, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), they are also often prescribed off-label for depression, restless leg syndrome, and many other conditions. These commonly prescribed medications have the potential...Read More

For thousands of years, meditation has been an important spiritual practice in many cultures. However, meditation can be practiced apart from any religious beliefs, and many people today use it for the variety of ways it can support well-being. In the world of addiction recovery, meditation can help people establish a healthy balance that supports...Read More

When you are in recovery from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you have to learn healthy ways to deal with stress or anxiety. You can no longer use your substance of choice as a way to escape from stress. Because extreme or chronic stress can trigger a relapse, it’s important to understand how stress...Read More

June is LGBT Pride Month. Pride came about as a result of individual and systemic traumas endured by the LGBT community, including the Stonewall Riot, which occurred in New York in June 1969. Science has confirmed the link between trauma and addiction, so it should not be surprising that members of the LGBT community would...Read More