Everyone needs to unwind from the stress of life every now and then. Making time to focus on relaxation and self-care can be crucial in recovery. After all, stress and anxiety were often major factors in our decision to begin using drugs and alcohol. When we take time for ourselves by engaging in relaxing activities,…
DetailsThe increased number of overdose deaths from opiates is due in part to the ubiquity of fentanyl. Many drug manufacturers choose to use fentanyl as a way to strengthen other opiates, but because of the extreme potency of fentanyl, this often leads to immediate overdose upon use. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate about 80 times…
DetailsDrug and alcohol treatment programs vary in length. The duration of stay necessary to support the maintenance of sobriety is dependent upon the individual needs of the client. Some men and women are able to effectively utilize the tools they develop in treatment to achieve long-term sobriety, while others may have extenuating circumstances or cooccurring…
DetailsAddiction can make us lose our self-confidence and self-worth. We get so caught up in our self-identification as hopeless drug addicts and alcoholics that we begin to play the role of the victim. Often time, the resulting depression causes us to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, leading us to fall deeper and deeper into our…
DetailsFear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices…
DetailsWhen a person combines heroin and cocaine it is known as a ‘speedball’. The combination can be extremely dangerous or lethal because it mixes together a very strong depressant with a very strong stimulant. Heroin depresses respiration while cocaine stimulates the heart, which can lead to simultaneous cardiac and respiratory arrest. Dr. Adam Winstock, founder…
DetailsThe term ‘go with the flow’ refers to the ability to stay calm and accept a situation without trying to change or control it. In sobriety, we move away from attempting to control situations and focus on accepting what we cannot change. We will inevitably be put into a situation that is out of our…
DetailsAlcoholism is a devastating affliction that can cause major damage to the brain and body. The more we drink, the more likely we will be to face problems with our memory. Alcohol can affect both short-term and long-term memory, as well as increase our likelihood of developing neurodegenerative problems later in life. One of the…
DetailsMany of us had painful experiences during our time in addiction that we would prefer to forget about. It can be difficult not to become agitated or upset when we are reminded of these experiences. However, through recovery we can gain a new perspective on what occurred in our past and begin to use our…
DetailsHepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause inflammation and damage to the liver. The virus can cause serious health complications including liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is easily spread among injection drug users and, although it can go away naturally, 80 percent of people develop a chronic and lifelong…
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