Typical drug treatment centers and twelve-step programs emphasize abstinence: the complete avoidance of drugs or alcohol. The reasoning behind abstinence is that when someone becomes addicted to a substance, it hijacks their brain and makes it difficult or impossible for them to control their behavior when in active addiction. Once they detox and go through...Read More
The number of people in jail has exploded right along with the drug epidemic in our country. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), along with many other institutions, states most inmates are in prison because of substance abuse. According to NCADD, approximately 60% of individuals arrested test positive for illegal substances at...Read More
Outpatient and inpatient addiction treatment each offer a unique set of benefits for recovery. Personal needs and the severity of the addiction are the determining factors in deciding which route is right for you or your loved one. In order to make the best decision for your drug treatment plan, it is important to understand...Read More
One aspect of living with an addiction is living in denial. Most people battling an addiction did not go from having a few drinks now and again, or getting high once in a while, to a full-blown addiction overnight. It was progressive, sneaking up slowly until it became a problem. Even when our addiction starts...Read More
In early recovery it is important to be mindful of people, places, and things that we relate to drinking. Walking into to a bar to ‘hang out with friends’ can be a set up for disaster. Visiting friends with whom you used to share a few cocktails may not be a great idea either. My...Read More
A big part of transitioning out of inpatient addiction treatment is having an aftercare plan, and a big part of an aftercare plan is attending meetings. Although twelve-step meetings are not the only meetings available, they are the most popular. People in recovery use them to maintain their sobriety and learn how to deal with life...Read More
Everyone’s recovery process is different. Not everyone goes into a residential/inpatient drug treatment center. Not everyone goes through an intensive outpatient program. Some people just decide to stop using or drinking, and stop. But for more severe addictions, residential rehab is often the best route to beginning a life in recovery because it provides medically...Read More
When someone first gets clean and sober, they may find themselves in awkward situations. The friends they had at work or at home may wonder why they are not going out for happy hour or not drinking at other occasions. What to do? Do you tell them that you are clean now, or do you...Read More
