PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS IN ADDICTION RECOVERY

No matter who you are or what substance you use, there are some factors that will always lead to a greater chance of success in recovery. A full continuum of care, consisting of detox and various types of drug or alcohol treatment, a readiness to change, and a focus on mental wellness can be key […]
HOLISTIC REHAB

Holistic medicine is an approach that focuses on addressing the individual as a whole, with therapies centered around the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Followers of this practice consider physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle elements. Holistic rehabilitation facilities use the principles of holistic medicine to treat drug and alcohol addiction. Their […]
ACUPUNCTURE FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY

Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that dates back thousands of years in Chinese history. It’s been used to help with nausea, stroke rehabilitation, asthma, and a variety of pain conditions including dental pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and menstrual cramps. The general idea is that there are pathways of energy flow, called chi or Qi, in the […]
COPING WITH TRAUMA WITHOUT DRUGS

One of the precipitators of both substance abuse and relapse is trauma. This can include single incidents such as the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, or a natural disaster. There is also long-lasting or ongoing trauma like PTSD from military service, sexual abuse, or finding out you have a serious illness. These […]
STRESS RELIEF IN TEENS

Drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers is a serious concern. You might think that teenagers have it easy – what could they need to self-medicate for, when they don’t have to worry about jobs or paying the bills? – but the adolescent years can be a stressful time. For one thing, teenagers are navigating all […]
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR DRUG-FREE PARENTING

Parents always want the best for their children. You want them to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives as adults, but first you have to navigate the teenage years. It can be hard to find a line between “keeping an eye out” and “complete invasion of privacy,” especially if you’re concerned that your teenager might […]
GRANDPARENTS AND TEEN SUBSTANCE USE

Most people, when they consider the role of grandparents, probably think about all the best parts of parenting without the stress of being completely responsible. You’ve probably heard “It’s my job as your grandmother/grandfather to spoil you rotten) on tv, if not in your own life. In reality, grandparents play a much more important role […]
FINDING A SUPPORT NETWORK

You’ve admitted that you have a substance use disorder, decided to get help, and completed a treatment program. Now what? In some ways, this is the hardest part, because you’re going from a structured program where you’re closely monitoring to being responsible for yourself at home. All of those everyday stresses and triggers are there […]
SIBLINGS OF YOUNG ADDICTS

If you have a teenager with a substance abuse problem, there are no end of things you’re probably worrying about. How to get them help, if they’ll be able to overcome it, what if they overdose, how is this going to affect their future – there’s no quick and easy answer for any of these. […]
WHEN TO LET AN ADDICT BACK INTO YOUR LIFE

If you’ve ever been close with a person with a substance abuse problem, you know that it can involve a lot of heartbreak. When you first notice that something is going on with them, they might be in denial about it, or they might insist that they’re going to change, that this is the last […]