Measuring the success of a program is ridiculously difficult. Not only because you’re looking at a disease that has a high relapse rate but also because treatment is only effective when the addict wants it. The manta, “It works if you work it,” is true in recovery and in mental health. If you’re fighting the…
Would you be able to tell the difference between your loved one sleeping it off or having an opioid overdose? While overdoses may seem like something easy to identify many happen and go untreated because the people around them simply don’t understand what’s happening. It’s difficult to tell if someone is high or in the…
The Big Book from Alcoholics Anonymous, which guides most other 12-step systems, has an entire chapter dedicated to families after recovery. But, what about before recovery? AA often preaches that those closest to an addict may have to end communication with someone who is causing harm to the sober people around them. For example, many…
Unfortunately, you cannot make someone go to rehab. Even if you know that their drug and alcohol use is putting them in a bad spot, the complexity of ruined relationships isn’t enough. In fact, the only thing that you might be able to do is to ensure they are sent to jail if they are…
The question of whether rehab even works or not is something of hot debate. Since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, there have been multi-step programs that allow people to face their addiction without leaving their everyday lives. But, commonalities in these programs include changing your environment, daily routine, and core habits that are likely tied…
It’s no surprise that people have some skepticism about the benefits of holistic therapy. Holistic therapy is often seen as the “hippy-dippy” way of dealing with a real disease. However, many of the benefits are undeniable, such as the benefits of exercise and the feel-good chemical released during low-intensity workouts like yoga. What is “Holistic?”…
Of the many things that are out and about regarding addiction, many people miss the bigger points of identification and addiction treatment. Many people believe that the process is something along the lines of “person chooses addiction, they go to rehab, they return home, and everything is okay.” That couldn’t be further from a real-life…
Not in the way that you might catch a cold or a virus, but are the people close to addicts more likely to become addicts? There is some truth in this theory, it’s not uncommon for a rehab center to see multiple generations, spouses, friends, and siblings rotate through for treatment often for the same…
Society has long had an “I need a drink” culture, and now there is the “I smoke to calm down,” culture setting in. These excuses for bringing a substance into your body to alter your emotional state or stress are just that, excuses. Unfortunately, what starts out as a simple excuse leads to full-blown addiction…
People with alcohol use disorder experience something that many people without addiction can’t comprehend. The disassociation with one of society’s most common factors of life can make it impossible to socialize the way that others do. Additionally, alcoholics must face their primary trigger (alcohol) at nearly every family function, social gathering, or networking event. Understanding…