The holiday season can be a crazy time of the year. Staying sober and sane for the holidays can be a challenge. With all the heavy traffic, crowded malls with last-minute shoppers, travel delays, and just the stress of reuniting with family and friends can be enough to set off triggers for anyone in recovery. For some, the holidays may even be a somber reminder of a tragic or traumatic event. Yet, this time of year doesn’t have to be a total loss. Whether you’re in recovery or just trying to get through the holiday stress, you can still enjoy [...]

On November 17, 2016, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released the first ever report on addiction - the current public health crisis facing America. The report, Facing Addiction in America, reveals important findings on the neurobiology of substance abuse; prevention programs and policies; early intervention, treatment and management; different paths to recovery; and health systems for substance abuse disorders. Not only does the report state that addiction is not a moral failing but a brain disease, it also sheds light on the segregation of addiction treatment in healthcare, which has been largely ignored due to the stigmas about addiction. Murthy [...]

As humans, we all have a natural need to connect and bond with others. When that bond breaks or is under-developed, there’s a greater tendency to develop unhealthy and destructive behaviors. In our hyper-individualistic and hyper-competitive society, many people feel isolated and don’t know how to best cope with life’s stressors. When difficult situations occur, stressors make it that much easier to escape problems by isolating. While many people may think isolation is relief, it doesn’t stop the ruminating negative thoughts, erratic emotions, and unhealthy behaviors that often lead to addiction. For recovering addicts, isolation often spells disaster, but community [...]

Making the decision to go to treatment for your drug or alcohol dependence is an important first step towards living a healthier life. It is a difficult decision and there are typically some common barriers that prevent people from seeking the treatment they desperately need and deserve. One of these barriers is the fear of losing one’s job while taking time off for rehab. “Will I lose my job if I go to rehab? What will my boss and my coworkers think?” These are common questions people have when considering taking time off to go to rehab, but they should [...]