The Pros and Cons of Drinking After Alcohol Treatment Alcoholism is a chronic brain disease. This means that, in one way or another, it exerts its effects for a lifetime. But what does this mean for the everyday actions of people affected by alcoholism? Can an alcoholic ever drink again? And if so, in what...
Obstacles to Getting Help for Drug and Alcohol Problems Well over half of all American preteens, teens and adults drink or use illicit drugs. Most of these people do not have a diagnosable substance problem. However, tens of millions of them do. If you have problems with drugs or alcohol, you need treatment to maximize...
Loving an alcoholic parent, spouse, relative, or friend isn’t always easy. While all relationships take work, loving someone with addiction comes with a unique set of additional challenges. And these challenges include things that are mental, physical, spiritual, social, and financial. From the mental health risks on both sides to the physical health scares addicts...
If you are in early recovery, you might think that celebrating the holidays is going to look quite different than in recent years. Attending alcohol or drug rehab means you are already aware that relapse is something you must always guard against. Yet the holidays, especially during early recovery, can be a time of great...
One of the most common things a newbie asks about the 12 steps, is how long is this going to take? It’s understandable. Even if you won’t admit it, we know you’re excited about recovery. Who wouldn’t be? But here’s the thing. “Everyone recovers at his or her own pace and experiences sobriety in his...
The temperature is mercilessly rising and the sun is shining bright this summer. There’s nothing like a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage to stay cool and beat the heat. When you’re in recovery, though, summer holiday parties where participating in the celebration all but mandates having a hard drink in one’s hand can make staying sober seem...
How many times have you thought about starting a diet or quitting nicotine or caffeine without doing anything about it? Or lapsed back into bad habits after hitting a speed bump on the road to lifelong addiction recovery? Understanding the stages of change can help you in achieving your goals, particularly when overcoming your destructive...
Alcohol abuse can so quickly take over our lives, and many people are surprised when they take a step back and evaluate their life because they find that they can’t stop drinking. If someone is physically dependent on alcohol, they will suffer severe addiction withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to quit. These symptoms can be serious,...
After President Obama announced the addiction treatment services package extension for the heroin epidemic, it’s time to see the budgets that are going to be allocated to the different states. With a budget proposal of $1.1 billion, Michael Botticelli, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that the budget distribution...
