Suicide Prevention Week is dedicated to ending the silence and shame surrounding suicide loss and preventing future tragedies. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet is one of the few which is 100 percent preventable. Connection, compassion, and empathy can help to bridge the...
Stroke Awareness Month: Strokes Are Preventable and Treatable
The 5th Leading Cause of American Deaths Did you know that stroke is a leading cause of death in America? 795,000 people suffer from strokes yearly. Further, strokes account for 1 in every 20 deaths that occur in America. This means that 140,000 people die of strokes every year. This...
Recognizing the Signs of Functional Alcoholism
What Exactly is Functional Alcoholism? Functional alcoholism can be difficult to spot. By definition, functional alcoholism is when someone appears as any non-alcoholic would, despite having a habit of abusing alcohol. They are called “functional” or “high-functioning” alcoholics because they appear to have normally proceeding lives that may even contain...
Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month, designated in 1992 to educate the public about the effects of stress on one’s mental and physical health as well as remedies for daily stress. Because addiction often has roots in one’s mental health, understanding and learning to identify stress and stress triggers is important...
5 Anxiety Busting Lifehacks No One Told You About
How to Calm Anxiety Creatively Every well-being advice column is chalk full of tips on alleviating anxiety- you know the tired, rehashed advice we’ve heard our entire lives. Breathe deeply. Distract yourself. Remind yourself with positive affirmations that “everything is going to be okay.” Well, sometimes things are NOT okay....
Submission: “Growing Up with Prescription Drug Addiction” by Christine F.
I grew up with a mother who had a prescription drug addiction. This disorder started when my mother broke her ankle when I was just four years old. Her life went downhill after that, and it affected my life in ways that still haunt me. The Early Years It didn’t...
10 Facts You Need to Know About: Prescription Drug Abuse
With the prevalence of prescription drug abuse and corresponding fatal overdose rates, it’s time to challenge the way we view and respond to the substance abuse epidemic sweeping the U.S. By correcting misconceptions, banishing stigmas, educating the public, and creating greater access to recovery services, we can work together to...
Mental Health Awareness Month 2018
May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time designated to raising awareness and challenging the stigmas that stand in the way of meaningful treatment and recovery. Because mental health disorders and addiction are often co-current, understanding how your mental health impacts substance abuse recovery is essential to maintaining long-term clean...
3 Tips for Spending the Holidays with Loved Ones
The holiday season is upon us, and with it the stress and joys of spending time with the people you love. Rather you’re gearing up to travel home for the holidays, playing the host, or opting to celebrate with friends, now is the time to celebrate all you have to...
3 Ways Your Aftercare Plan Will Improve Your Life
It’s easy to fall for the false sense of security brought on by completion of an inpatient treatment program. We feel confident, newly armed with the tools, coping mechanisms, and knowledge you need to lead a life free of substance abuse. While beginning your sober life confidently is great, being...
