This video perfectly captures the spirit of Sober College. Clients, who range between the ages of 18 and 26, are treated in a unique and fun way. Focusing not just on the sobriety of our clients, although that is of utmost importance, Sober College also recognizes that adjusting to the real world after treatment is just as hard as getting clean and in doing so Sober College equips its clients with … [Read more...]
Healthy (Safe) Alternatives to Alcohol For Stress Management & Coping
When alcohol is abused, environmental triggers and emotionally stressful situations become connected to alcohol use. Over time, the use of alcohol itself becomes a stressor, which creates a cycle of abuse. It is common for individuals to use alcohol as a means of self-medication, but this often worsens the problem and the person’s condition. Dual-diagnosis addiction treatment is the most effective … [Read more...]
Turning 21: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Turning 21 is a milestone almost all adolescents look forward to reaching. Just as teens count down the days until they turn 16 and then count down the days until they turn 18, turning 21 is a highly anticipated event. On their 21st birthday, young adults become legally able to consume alcohol with new venues and experiences open to them. Most young adults celebrate this milestone with what many … [Read more...]
The War on Drugs and Its Influence
As a multi-billion dollar business, the drug trade from Mexico stands as one of America’s biggest obstacles. The main source of money for these criminal and disgusting organizations that kill people by the thousands and contribute to the corruption of the Mexican government is the buyer who buys the drugs from them. Although it may not be direct, everyday people who indulge in taking drugs … [Read more...]
Addiction’s Fury Foe: How Can Pets Help Aid In Recovery?
There are many types of treatment that can help an individual who is recovering from addiction. Addiction manifests in a number of ways and the form of treatment that is most effective depends on the patient. When assessing the needs of an individual in recovery, it is important to identify triggers and stressors as well as motivators and positive influences that can ease the recovery process. … [Read more...]
Teens and High School: Risk Taking and How to Stay Sober
High school can be the toughest years of someone’s life. Everything is confusing—from fitting in with a group of peers to asking a girl to prom—high school is not an easy ride. It is especially hard in the digital age, when social media is the primary way for high schoolers to connect with one another, not to feel the weight of peer pressure in high school. Often, peer pressure can lead to risk … [Read more...]
“One Day at a Time” – Songs about Addiction Recovery
Music is a powerful influence in many people’s lives, but many do not realize the impact it can have in addiction recovery. Music can transform a person’s mood and emotional state. Happy, uplifting songs can lift spirits, while other songs can darken a person’s mood with feelings of sadness or despair. While it can be difficult to articulate feelings and emotions through words alone, music can … [Read more...]
Stages of Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
In 2014, more than 15 million people in the United States reported having used prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes, with many eventually “graduating” to heroin. Misuse of opiates can quickly lead to dependency, with many users experiencing difficult opiate withdrawal symptoms that range in severity based on the level of dependence and duration of use. For this reason, abstaining from … [Read more...]
Dirty Needles: Heroin Addiction & the Global HIV Epidemic
The human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV, is a virus that causes not only HIV infection but can also lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Beginning in the 1980’s the HIV/AIDS epidemic soon became global, and the World Health Organization and UNAIDS (the division of the United Nations dedicated to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide) now estimates that “35 million … [Read more...]