The opioid epidemic has had a staggering impact on the United States, killing Americans across the country at alarming rates, but it has now taken on an additional terrifying dimension thanks to a synthetic opioid known as fentanyl. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “In 2016, synthetic opioids (primarily illegal fentanyl) passed prescription...Read More

It is no coincidence that people struggling with substance abuse often also experience mental illness, including depression. Not only can substance abuse and mental illness both share underlying causes, but they can each complicate the other condition. Risk factors for addiction can be related to family history, relationships, high stress levels, and living with a...Read More

There is a tendency when one is living in addiction to also develop the bad habit of seeing oneself as a victim. There is a strong connection between addiction and trauma. Additionally, people with mental health issues sometimes become addicts by trying to use alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate when medical care is not...Read More

When a person is trying to free their life from the grip of addiction, they might be inclined to accept the first help they can find.  While it is important to get support, it is also true that not every rehab is created equal. Explore the range of supports offered by different recovery programs before...Read More

Coping with Sleeplessness in Recovery and Sobriety Some of the first advice people receive when entering recovery is to develop new, healthy habits. In addition to eating right and exercising, they are told to get plenty of sleep. Unfortunately, insomnia is a common struggle people face when they initially stop using alcohol and other drugs....Read More

Nearly two years ago, the Surgeon General declared substance abuse a public health crisis. At the time, a government report was issued, stating that our country needs to start treating addiction, “Not as a moral failing, but as a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency and compassion. The way we address this...Read More

Because alcohol is a legal drug, there is a common misconception that using and withdrawing from alcohol is safer than using and withdrawing from other drugs. For many individuals, quitting drinking has some unpleasant, but tolerable side effects. For others, the side effects can be so severe as to become life threatening. Detoxing as Part...Read More

It is natural to want to love and support people who are important to us, especially when they are suffering from an illness. Addiction, like any other illness, can wear on the person diagnosed and the people around them. It is important, therefore, to ensure that the people who make up the support system of...Read More

Stress is Inevitable. Everyone experiences it. Social media may present highlight reels of other people’s lives while our own blooper reels play on a loop in our heads, but even seemingly picture-perfect lives are not without stress. Because too much stress can be a risk to successful recovery, it is important to learn how to...Read More