If you’ve watched network news, opened a newspaper or smartphone, or checked Twitter or Facebook recently, it’s likely you’ve come across some startling news about opioids. The Opioid Crisis: Making the News These dangerous substances have gotten a lot of media attention. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the topic, and it can be anxiety-inducing, especially...

Who smokes anymore? Cigarette smoke and recovery have long been associated. However, with thorough and pervasive anti-smoking campaigns spanning the country over the past few decades, who really smokes anymore? In 2015, it was reported that 31 percent of the general population still regularly smoked. That number was nearly three times higher — 84 percent...

Can you inherit an “addictive personality” from your parents? In other words, to what degree do our genetics affect our likelihood of developing a substance use disorder? This is a question that sparks both debate and confusion. Continue reading for some insight on the topic of genes and addiction. Let’s explore the question: Does addiction...

This is part two of a two-part series on alternatives to opioids. As discussed in part one of this series, alternatives to opioids outside the realm of traditional medication regimens are already available. Refresh your memory about those topics here, and ask a doctor about how they might be able to help you. On the...

This post is part one of a two-part series on alternatives to opioids. Earlier this summer, the Willingway blog released a three-part series on how the opioid crisis started, what it looks like in 2017, and where it’s headed. In those posts, one common scenario was posed about how an individual can become addicted to...

Sometimes talking about our days’ darkest and brightest moments is a challenge. Sometimes it’s difficult to find someone to listen. Sometimes we need some precious alone time. At these moments, there is still potential to sit and productively process our thoughts. That’s where journaling comes in. What is journaling? Journals are a collection of our...

Recovery can begin long before you enter the halls of a professional recovery center. There are a host of resources available to you and your loved ones that can make a difference on the road to a sustainable, healthy, sober life. Some of the most powerful resources out there are free of charge and accessible...

You or someone you love have made the sometimes difficult but always important decision to check into a substance abuse recovery facility. You’re ready to take this big step into leading a life free from addiction, but you still have one pressing question: How do you know what facility is right for you? The recovery...

Congratulations, you’ve graduated! You’ve reached the goals you set out to achieve in a treatment facility. You’re sober and ready to step into the next phase of recovery. You’re feeling healthy with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear head! This is great news, but there lurk those elements of your life that started...

John comes home late one night, his breath reeking of liquor. His eyes are bloodshot red. He says nothing and falls into bed, passes out. Was he drunk again? Loretta’s mood is swinging drastically. One morning she’s warm and fun-loving. That same afternoon she is cold, distant, and completely disinterested in the world around her....