Is Your Middle Schooler at Risk? What Every Parent Needs to Know About Addiction
Remember middle school? Braces, binders, first dances and budding friendships were always top of mind. But it’s around this age that less innocent topics begin to show up as well. Children between 13 and 17 are the most easily influenced age demographic, which can make them more susceptible to experimenting ...
How One Veteran Tackled Physical Pain, PTSD and Addiction
Every year, in the second week of November, this country honors its heroes. Veteran’s Day is a stark reminder that courageous men and women have fought hard for America’s freedoms. In the addiction community, it inspires us to pause and reflect on the effects of war on our soldiers, long ...
The Patriots Welcome Josh Gordon and Help Raise Awareness of Addiction
If you’re a sports fan, you’ve heard of Josh Gordon. His entrance to the NFL was highly anticipated. Drafted as a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in 2012, he logged 50 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie year. But by the time his career in ...
How Addiction Affects Our Most Precious Population
Our older citizens have made our communities what they are today with years of love and hard work. That’s why its particularly sad to see the sharp rise in addiction among people over 65. Not only has the issue become far more prevalent, it is also under-diagnosed – allowing the ...
What We Can All Learn From Demi Lovato’s Relapse
Pop singer Demi Lovato’s story is common. She was six years sober before she overdosed in her home on July 24. She was revived with naloxone and transported to the hospital. Relapse is often part of the lifelong recovery journey and should not be viewed as a failure. In fact, ...
Remembering Alcohol Use Disorder Amidst the Opioid Epidemic
As we come to a close on Alcohol Awareness Month 2018, we want to stress that raising awareness of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) should continue to be a priority. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 88,000 people die every year from AUD and other alcohol-related ...
The Opioid Epidemic Isn’t Easing Up – It’s Getting Worse
For a while now, public perception has been that the opioid epidemic is loosening its grip on the U.S., primarily due to a downward trend in opioid-related deaths. While fewer casualties is certainly promising news, addiction professionals have been cautioning the public that these statistics are because of the availability ...
Staying Strong (and Sober) on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday season. It’s a challenging time of year for so many people – especially those living in recovery. Large family events are complicated, and serve as very common triggers and stressors for people struggling with substance use disorders. Luckily, those who have completed ...
Celebrating Progress and Looking Back at National Recovery Month 2017
Every September, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors National Recovery Month to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, and celebrate people who are living in recovery. As we head into October, we wanted to reflect on Recovery Month and the ...
Heroin(e): A Harrowing but Optimistic Look at the Opioid Epidemic
A new documentary has been added to Netflix’s lineup and it's worth a watch. Heroin(e), directed by Elain McMillion Sheldon, follows three brave and compassionate women as they battle addiction in the City of Huntington, West Virginia – the overdose capital of the country. In 2015, the city’s overdose rate ...
