As you settle into your recovery from substance use disorder and start socializing more, you may wonder if it is OK to have a casual drink with friends or partake in an after-work beer. After all, you were in treatment for drug abuse, not alcohol, right? There is a difference, you tell yourself, and one…
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The last year – let’s be honest, the last few years – has been challenging to say the least. We are still going through a pandemic; the addiction crisis has climbed and thousands have felt the devastation of nature’s destructive force in an unseasonably warm winter. But whatever was thrown our way in 2021, we…
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We are always searching for connection and belonging in the world around us. It is a natural desire to be part of something larger than ourselves; to be included and around others who understand and support us. While active addiction might strip us of these meaningful connections, finding community is critical when it comes to addiction treatment and there are numerous ways to identify and build community during your recovery. Building sober relationships Navigating any major life-altering situation…
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We instinctively want to protect the people we love. We want to shelter them, provide for them, support them and see them succeed. But when your child, your spouse, or another loved one is in active addiction, that “help” you think you are providing them could be doing much more harm than good. Are you…
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The holiday season is considered a time to celebrate and gather with friends and family. For those who are in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, however, the stress, anxiety, and pressure of “the most wonderful time of the year” can put a strain on your sobriety. What do you do when that Christmas or New Year’s Eve party you were invited to has an open bar or someone offers you a drink? What happens when those visits with…
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Between Oct. 23 and Oct. 31, schools and communities across the country took part in events celebrating Red Ribbon Week. This national campaign, which launched in the 1980s, promotes drug-free communities with initiatives targeting school-age youth. But is it really important to continue pushing substance abuse education when it comes to children? The answer is…
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Successful recovery from substance use disorder cannot be accomplished alone. It takes support, compassion, understanding and love. While this support can come from peers, mentors, and experts trained to address the unique needs of addiction treatment, a relationship with God is another crucial factor in successful addiction recovery care. Faith-based recovery combines clinical treatment therapies…
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If you ask two people how they ended up in active addiction, you are likely to receive two different answers. What causes addiction? The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Genetics, home life, peer pressure, traumatic experiences and mental health conditions can all influence the development of an addiction. Oftentimes it is a combination…
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“If I can do this then anyone can!” Denzil Hall- 5 years of sobriety After 32 years of addiction, society, most of my family and honestly, even myself had given up on me. I had come to the end of myself in 2016, after multiple rehabs, being shot 3 times, stabbed multiple times, ending up…
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Kris Hutchins is photographed with the founder of Casey’s Law, Charlotte Wethington. There may be no greater feeling of helplessness than watching a loved one struggle with addiction and unwilling to seek treatment. With resources such as Casey’s Law, however, friends and family members have the power to get their loved ones the help…
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