Summertime is prime time for BBQ, beach parties, music festivals and more – all venues where drugs and alcohol are not only common but also prolific. If these are your favorite summer activities, it can be difficult to avoid relapse, or at least to avoid feeling nostalgic about drug use or left out of the … Continue reading Top 10 Ways to Have a Great Summer Without Drugs or Alcohol
June 9, 2015
With the broad strokes of recovery firmly in place, what are some other ways to ensure long-term recovery success? Here are 10: 1. Know Relapse Triggers The better someone knows his personal triggers, the things that bring on a desire to drink or get high, the better he’s able to plan in advance for ways … Continue reading 10 Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Recovery
May 25, 2015
On This Page: The First 24 Hours The First 30 Days Meetings Work the Steps Sober Birthdays Phone Numbers Romantic Attachments Sharing at Meetings Sponsors Giving Back 12-Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are excellent ways to supplement drug rehab. Though these programs do not provide addiction treatment, they offer … Continue reading Surviving the 12 Steps: Advice for Newcomers and Not-So-Newcomers to AA and NA
January 19, 2015
On This Page: Moving Forward Areas that Require Change An End Game From Here to There The First Step One of the keys to maintaining sobriety for the long term is intentionality. Choosing your goals, crafting your plan, and being very intentional in everything you do from what you eat to whom you spend time … Continue reading Recovery Goals for 2015: Where Will Sobriety Take You This Year?
January 5, 2015
Recovery from drug addiction and alcohol use disorders can be a struggle. At any time, an unexpected event or emotion can trigger cravings for the drug of choice and make someone want to drink or get high. During the holidays, recovery can be even trickier than usual. Some common triggers during the holidays include the following: Dealing … Continue reading 10 Tips for Avoiding Relapse During the Holiday Season
December 3, 2014
After initial stabilization in detox, the first step in recovery should be an in-depth evaluation and assessment. This allows the treatment team to identify all obstacles to recovery and to create an individualized treatment plan to address those issues. Medical health, emotional health, specific life challenges – all these will be addressed through directed therapies … Continue reading 5 Benefits of Personalized Addiction Treatment
October 31, 2014
Recovery is hard. Under the best of circumstances, it’s difficult to make a new life for oneself—new friends, a new perspective, sometimes a new home, a new job and a new relationship. Continuing to progress and grow in recovery by taking part in a range of aftercare services is always recommended, but what does every … Continue reading 3 Things You Need to Thrive in Recovery
September 29, 2014
Rehab was the first big step, but now it’s time for recovery. The excitement of feeling empowered by being sober is the honeymoon phase when people just out of treatment are optimistic but may have unrealistic expectations. It’s also a time of adjustment for family members who don’t know what to expect. Plan for Success … Continue reading 10 Things NOT to Do When Your Loved One Comes Home from Drug Rehab
August 29, 2014
Addiction is more than just a medical and psychological disorder. For many who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, the prospect of getting clean and sober is not just about stopping the use of a substance. Ending drug abuse is about changing everything about how they live. This includes who they spend their time with, … Continue reading Addiction and Loss: Grieving a Lost Identity
August 8, 2014
Alcoholism and drug addictions involve an obsession with getting and drinking or using. When those with a substance use disorder go through detox and rehab, they should be coming out the other side with goals for a whole new life – a life without drugs. It’s a quality-of-life issue that’s central to a long-term recovery.1 … Continue reading A New Obsession: Replacing Addiction with a Healthy New Goal
December 16, 2013