Making a living by being a productive member of society is not only expected, it’s also necessary to sustain one’s self. Since Sober College clients range from the ages of 17 to 26, many of them have had little, if any, experience in understanding what it means to be “productive.” At Sober College, clients are expected to maintain five core competencies that are geared towards helping them … [Read more...]
Street Names for Drugs: Guide to Understanding the Drug Language
Many drugs are referred to by any number of street names to create confusion, divert attention and avoid the suspicion of friends, family and law enforcement. While some street names are more commonly known, there are a number of obscure names that have not made their way into common vocabulary. Although it is nearly impossible to know all of the names of illicit substances, familiarity with more … [Read more...]
Taking a Swing At Sobriety
Addiction and alcoholism are cunning. They can be so powerful that they pry our greatest passions from our grasp, forcing us to forget the people and things we love and cherish most. Many Sober College clients come into treatment with histories in sports and athletics. As clients get clean and begin to strengthen themselves physically and mentally, they get the urge to get back into the sports … [Read more...]
Healing the Bay and Our Souls
As addicts and alcoholics, we were masters of neglect. We did not care for our sanity, our bodies, our spirits, our friends and loved ones; we did not care for the world around us and instead, chose to turn our backs on life in favor of a slow and often shameful deterioration as human beings. As we fell deeper into our addictions, any former semblance of kindness and gentleness was replaced by … [Read more...]
Learn How to Stop Drinking | 5 Steps Towards an Alcohol-Free Life
Alcohol is a legal, easily accessible substance and is often a major presence in many social settings. Temptation and peer pressure play a strong role in alcoholism, making the journey to overcome this particular addiction long and often difficult. Overcoming alcoholism requires commitment. In addition, there are a number of steps one can take to achieve sobriety and happiness. Prepare for … [Read more...]
The Art of Sobriety
“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” –Henry Ward Beecher Throughout history, various forms of art have been used as a means of expression and communication. For addicts and alcoholics in early recovery, the idea of being creative can sometimes be a daunting experience. In the beginning, many of us experience low self-worth and … [Read more...]
Electronic Music Festivals & The Molly Drug
Molly has received a great deal of attention in the last year, thanks, in part, to increased reports of death among concert-goers using the drug. And, while Molly seems to have appeared out of nowhere, it is actually an old drug with a new name. Molly is the new name for ecstasy or MDMA and has been rebranded as a safer drug because it is more “pure”. This classification, combined with its … [Read more...]
How to Spot Signs of Drug Abuse in Men
The development of addiction is dependent on a variety of factors. While the most common influences on addiction include biological and environmental factors, a user’s gender can play an equally impactful role in the development of experimentation and substance abuse. This stretches beyond hormonal differences in men and women, and encompasses the societal expectations that often influence … [Read more...]
Family Weekends: Finding a Way Through the Pain of Addiction
Family is one of the most important things in life. We grow up learning how to live through trial and error, and for most of us, our families are the ones who provide the fundamental knowledge, values, and beliefs we need in order to survive and grow as human beings. When we are met with struggles, our families are who we rely on to help us successfully navigate our way towards a solution. As … [Read more...]