Needle exchange programs have been around for decades, but they have never been popular with the public. The basic idea of needle exchange programs is that IV drug users can dispose of used needles and pick up sterile needles to replace them. This is meant to reduce the spread of bloodborne diseases such as HIV… Continue Reading Do Needle Exchange Programs Work?
We’ve come a long way in our understanding of addiction and addiction treatment and we’re still learning more all the time. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions still persist. These can create all kinds of problems for people struggling with addiction and the families of those people. These myths may lead people to take unnecessary risks… Continue Reading 7 Myths About Addiction and Recovery
After treatment, joining a mutual aid group is a good way to continue in recovery. Attending regular meetings is a good way to reaffirm your commitment to recovery and review the lessons you learned in treatment. It’s also a great way to build a sober network. A strong sober network is one of the best… Continue Reading Mutual-aid Groups for Women
Some of us never consider ourselves to be addicts because our addictions haven’t seriously disrupted our lives yet or caused us any catastrophic circumstances. We haven’t lost our job, been kicked out of school, or had to drop out. We haven’t ruined any relationships. We haven’t gotten arrested or gambled our money away. We are… Continue Reading What Does Functional Addiction Look Like?
Depression is a serious mental and emotional health issue that is often considered a co-occurring disorder alongside addiction. When our depression is left untreated and unaddressed, there can be a wide range of dangerous effects. Untreated depression can increase our chances of turning to addictions, or worsen them if we’re already addicted. Depression can make… Continue Reading The Dangers of Untreated Depression
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. About 16 million American adults have had at least one depressive episode and the rate of depression appears to be increasing. The increasing rate of depression is partly due to greater awareness and more people seeking help, but it may also be due in part to greater… Continue Reading 5 Ways Mindfulness Can Help You Beat Depression
Relapse rates are difficult to measure reliably, but one frequently cited study estimates that between 40 and 60 percent of people will experience a relapse. The number is much higher for some substances. People who have quit drinking, for example, have about a 90 percent chance of having at least one relapse, partly because alcohol… Continue Reading 6 Ways to Cope with Relapse Triggers
The process of entering and completing treatment can be life-changing and can start us on the path towards full recovery. The decision to enter treatment can be a difficult one. Often when we’re starting treatment, we’ve really been struggling with our addictions and can feel like we’re at the end of our rope and have… Continue Reading How Can I Prepare Myself for Treatment?
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, PLEASE get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). When we struggle with addictions, we are often driven to our addictive substances and behaviors because we’re using them to self-medicate to try and escape our inner pain. We come to realize… Continue Reading Self-Medicating to Escape our Pain
Mindfulness is the practice of becoming conscious in everything we do, in our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, habits and patterns. When we become more mindful of how we are operating mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, we start to figure out what we need to change in order to be successful in our recovery. Meditation is one… Continue Reading How Can Mindfulness Help Me in My Recovery?
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