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

It is natural to want to help someone you care about, whether financially, physically, or emotionally. Helping those in need is certainly a good thing, but when that person has a drug or alcohol addiction, there is a fine line between helping and enabling. Many people who are trying to help are actually contributing to...Read More

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, people struggling with an alcohol addiction are at an increased risk for serious health problems, including withdrawal. At a time when the nation’s healthcare system is strained, stay-at-home orders are in place, and social distancing is needed, some people suffering from an alcohol use disorder may not be...Read More

This year is the 33rd year of celebrating Alcohol Awareness Month. Started in 1987, the purpose of this month is to increase awareness of alcohol abuse and addiction and its causes. Additional goals for this month include reducing the stigma attached to alcoholism, encouraging communities to take part in events that spotlight alcoholism and alcohol-related...Read More

Inaccurate InformationSometimes otherwise well-meaning people can be remarkably insensitive—and more importantly, remarkably inaccurate—when giving advice to someone struggling with a substance use disorder. The journey to recovery is difficult enough without having to listen to ill-informed nonsense about your substance use disorder and what it supposedly says about you as a person.Whether you are the...Read More

Holiday StressThe holidays can be a festive and heartwarming time of year. For many people, holiday parties, family gatherings, and celebrations with friends are times to eat, drink, and be merry. But the holidays can also be a very lonely and depressing time for those who have no place to go. Both situations can cause...Read More

Substance abuse and addiction is a growing problem among the elderly (adults aged 60 and over). Senior citizens are becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs at alarming rates. In fact, senior addiction is one of the fastest growing health problems in the United States. A Hidden Epidemic An article published by the University of Buffalo...Read More

An intervention is an opportunity for family to show love and support to someone in desperate need. Often thought of as a last-ditch effort to get a person with an addiction help, interventions can be life changing when appropriately planned. Does your loved one need this type of support? It can be hard to come...Read More

You’ve probably heard of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), but one alternative to these 12-step programs is gaining in popularity.About SMART RecoverySMART Recovery, which stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training, provides an option for those who aren’t comfortable with the religious or spiritual aspects of traditional 12-step programs. Based on scientific research, this...Read More