January 1st kicked off a new decade. It was time to open a new calendar and turn a new page. The new year was supposed to be filled with possibility, adventures, and positive change. The first lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 22, 2020. The event might […]
Read MoreLife can be really hard sometimes. For many people, life’s hardships feel very difficult, but they are able to reach out for help from family, friends, or healthcare providers. For others, life’s hardships feel impossible, and rather than finding solace in social connections, they may isolate. Their pain can become overwhelming, and their need to […]
Read MoreThere are many pathways to long-term recovery from addiction. One of those includes Sober Living Homes. In this post, we’ll explore why moving from inpatient treatment or detox into a Sober Living Home might be a good idea. Sober Living Homes are group homes that act as a bridge between the regimented therapeutic structure […]
Read MoreThe white powder that we know as Cocaine goes by many slang names, and its highly addictive offspring, Crack has many more. Call it blow, or rail, grit or hard candy. These potent drugs stem from the coca plant, a powerful stimulant that has been in use by humans for thousands of years. Let’s have […]
Read MoreIn our last Dual Diagnosis Brief, we looked at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUDS). Today, we will explore Bipolar Disorder and the complications that arise when someone with Bipolar Disorder also misuses drugs or alcohol. What is Bipolar Disorder? According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Bipolar disorder […]
Read MoreIn our last post, we talked a little bit about Dual Diagnosis, which is what professionals call it when someone has both a substance use disorder and a mental illness. As we discovered in that article, one mental illness that is commonly linked with substance use disorders is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We’ll dive into […]
Read MoreYou may have heard people around you use the words, addict, addiction, and addictive with regard to any number of things to include Netflix shows, video games, apps, and bath bombs. While there’s not anything technically wrong with saying, “Oh! I’m totally addicted to True Detective!” or “Americanos are my vice. I’m a total addict,” […]
Read MoreBoth substance use disorders and mental illnesses are serious health issues that impact millions of people in the United States. Individually, substance use disorders, including addiction, and mental illness account for serious family, financial, educational and health problems. Combined, they can be devastating. When someone is diagnosed with both a substance use disorder and a […]
Read MoreBlursday is a term that’s being tossed around on social media right now to describe the merging of minutes, hours and days since COVID-19 shut so much of the world down. Before the pandemic, it was a term that described a drunk or hungover day, according to Urban Dictionary. You can probably see the similarities. […]
Read MoreI began my work as a substance abuse counselor during my Masters level internship in 2001. I’d been around alcoholism my whole life, and had you asked me way back then, I would have told you that yes, maybe there was a relationship between alcohol and trauma. My father, after all, was a 4-time Vietnam […]
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