The teen years are often considered the most difficult period of a person’s life. After all, how often do you hear anyone over the age of 30 wistfully say, “Oh, to be 15 again…”? Probably never. It’s a vulnerable time of life as teens attempt to navigate the precarious bridge between childhood and adulthood. And…
For anyone in recovery, one of the most important tools for continued success is a support system for recovery. This can consist of friends, family members, and ideally, other people who are also in recovery. During a patient’s time at a drug and alcohol treatment center, they may meet and develop close friendships with others…
Activities like binge drinking, which involves drinking 4-5 drinks within 2 hours, are widespread, with 1 out of every 6 adults binge drink at least 4 times a month. This can make it difficult to spot the signs of a functioning alcoholic, as drinking in excess is expected or encouraged in many environments. Although alcohol…
Substance abuse disorders, alcoholism, and addiction affect 1 out of every 7 Americans in their lifetime. Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that doesn’t discriminate. That means anyone, regardless of age, race, and background, can develop a substance abuse disorder. While there is no cure for addiction, treatment can allow you to learn how…
Keeping hold of the sobriety earned through drug rehab is an ongoing challenge. At every turn, it seems, newly sober individuals are fighting relapse triggers that lead back into drug use and addiction. Yet, just because those triggers exist does not mean that yielding to them is a foregone conclusion. Realizing what the most common…
Social media is big for teens. It’s a major way in which they interact with each other, and it can be positive. There are many downsides to social media use too, as many parents know, and substance abuse and mental health issues are two very important ones. Social media use can become obsessive in some…
Once you complete a rehab program, it is up to you to use the skills that you have learned in your programs in the real world. Sobriety is another challenge that many recovering addicts have to face. Luckily, studies have shown that there are ways to help those coming back maintain their sabriety. Antidepressants, naltrexone,…
In recovery, things are bound to be different. There’s simply no way that life can go on as it did before. Still, recovery is a scary prospect for many who are just beginning this stage of the healing process. There are so many unknowns, and it’s hard to know how to plan for such a…
The Mayo Clinic staff posted the following article on teen drug abuse: Many teens experiment with drugs, putting their health and safety at risk—but teen drug abuse isn’t inevitable. You can help prevent teen drug abuse by talking to your teen about the consequences of using drugs and the importance of making healthy choices. Know…
When you hear the words “alcoholic mother,” you already have a mental image that’s disconcerting and confusing. It’s actually a dichotomy. Mothers should be nurturing, caring individuals, not falling-down drunks. How can the two possibly go together? The sad reality is that alcoholism knows no gender boundaries, nor does it pay heed to age, race,…
