We’re in the final stretch of 2019, and for many people, now is the time to reflect on the year and begin making plans for the next. Each year, we all make a list of New Year’s Resolutions for how we will improve our lives in the coming year, listing everything from hitting the gym […]
When a mother-to-be drinks, her baby drinks. Alcohol in the mother’s blood is passed directly to the fetus through the umbilical cord. At present, physicians cannot determine the precise moment when a specific biological system such as the nervous system is most affected by alcohol consumption. That’s why the medical profession recommends no alcohol consumption […]
Substance abuse disorders are quiet, careful killers. They are disorders that force our way of living to center solely around the addictive substance and nothing else. In the United States, 20.2 million adults aged 18 or older suffered from a substance abuse disorder in 2014, accounting for billions of dollars exacted from health care, loss […]
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....
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, romance is in the air! Flowers and chocolates and wine are abundant, but maintaining your sobriety can make celebrating Valentine’s a bit tricky. Here’s 10 romantic date ideas for sober couples! Cook at Home. Whether you make an old favorite or try out...
It often goes unnoticed. Your heartbeat has always been there, and as far as you’re concerned it will always be there. Many people take it for granted, thinking their body can handle anything they throw at it. The heart is responsible for your entire circulatory system. When it is weakened...
Anyone who has ever struggled with substance abuse knows how difficult it can be to remain sober. Positive support and expert guidance are necessary to successfully conquer drug addiction. In the most recent Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it was estimated that almost nine percent of Americans needed help with substance abuse but...
Using National Hobby Month to Fight Addiction January is National Hobby Month! Hobbies make you happy. (No really— it’s actual science, but we’ll touch on that in a bit.) I know what you’re thinking— “a made-up calendar holiday no one thinks or cares about.” Touche! But that’s only true if...
The holidays: a time for family, cheer, and giving. For many it’s also among the most stressful, emotionally difficult times of the year. Strained family connections, grief for lost loved ones, feelings of isolation, and other physical and emotional triggers can make it a struggle to get through to the...
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...
What You Need to Know About Addiction, Your Immune System, & Lung Cancer Drug Abuse’s Suppression of the Immune System It’s lung cancer awareness month! Drugs are bad, m’kay? But, did you know addictive substances are detrimental to your immune system? Opioid use depresses the respiratory system and inhibits one’s...
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...
Happy Pride Month! Each June we recognize and celebrate love in all its shades, encourage living in one’s truth, and fight back against intolerance and harmful stigmas. Established in 2000 then amended in 2009, Pride Month is intended to be a month long celebration of inclusivity in love. Unfortunately for...
