Addiction Recovery Blog

Codependency is a common problem when one or both people in a relationship struggle with addiction. A typical codependent relationship … Continue reading Are You in a Codependent Relationship? →

Someone who has been experiencing panic attacks or insomnia is often prescribed a benzodiazepine–usually Xanax–to get the problem under control. … Continue reading Can Anxiety Be Treated without Benzodiazepines? →

Your relationship isn’t the same anymore. It may have happened quickly or slowly over time. Either way, the result is … Continue reading How to Live with an Alcoholic Spouse →

With marijuana becoming legal in several states, including Colorado, there have been new echoes of the old argument that marijuana … Continue reading Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug? →

People often drink to relieve stress and anxiety, especially social anxiety. Ironically, drinking alcohol can actually make anxiety worse. The … Continue reading Why Alcohol Can Make Anxiety Worse →

  By the time a person decides to go to rehab, they have been through a lot. Their family has, … Continue reading The Role of Family in Opioid Recovery →

Rationalization is a defense mechanism people often use when they see their drinking or drug use has become a problem … Continue reading How Do People Rationalize Addiction? →

Deciding to get sober is a commitment that will change your life in many ways. Most of those ways will … Continue reading 5 Common Fears About Addiction Recovery →

  So you’ve gone to rehab and conquered your addiction. You head home with your whole heart and head focused … Continue reading The Importance of Sober Activities and Fellowship →

  Like any good consumer, your first inclination is to check out online reviews before you choose a treatment program. … Continue reading Good Rehab Centers vs. Fake Online Reviews →

The pink cloud is the euphoric feeling some people experience early in recovery. If addiction has been making you miserable … Continue reading What is the Pink Cloud? →

  Unfortunately, criminals have taken advantage of the suffering of others. In the rehab industry, it is one of the … Continue reading Government Rules: Cracking Down on Rehab →

Humans didn’t evolve to be inside all day. Most people recognize intuitively that they are happier in a green park … Continue reading Why Spending Time in Nature Makes You Feel Better →

Comedians Chris Farley and John Belushi died from them, as did musician Chris Kelly and actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. A … Continue reading Speedballs: What is It? →

The Fourth of July can be tough day to stay sober. There are parties, cookouts, and fireworks. It’s a day … Continue reading How to Have a Sober Independence Day →

  Methamphetamine (meth) and cocaine are both powerful stimulants that affect the central nervous system, but that’s where the similarities … Continue reading Cocaine Vs. Meth: Differences, Similarities, and Effects →

It’s common for people who quit drinking to suddenly find themselves craving sweets. This is probably one reason there are … Continue reading Why You Might Crave Sweets After You Quit Drinking →

When methamphetamine (meth) and alcohol and used together, the effects can cause adverse effects, from serious health problems to overdose. … Continue reading Meth and Alcohol: Why It’s a Dangerous Mix →

  The opioid epidemic has been called the worst drug crisis in American history. About 115 people die each day … Continue reading How the Opioid Epidemic is Affecting Millennials →

There are so many ways to watch movies and TV shows that didn’t exist even 10 years ago. If you … Continue reading Why Do You Feel Depressed After a Netflix Binge? →

  There are a lot of different opinions on medical marijuana use, but there is also one very interesting fact … Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Using Marijuana to Curb Opioid Use →

Starting recovery is difficult. You have to go through detox, which can be painful, then you have have to gradually … Continue reading Why Gratitude Matters in Addiction Recovery →

Creative people often feel conflicted about getting treatment for addiction. On one hand, they know their addiction is making life … Continue reading Do You Need Drugs or Alcohol to be Creative? →

  Here’s a staggering statistic: 4.4 percent of the U.S. population misuses opioids, including painkillers and heroin. That statistic was … Continue reading Opioid Crisis Update: Here’s What You Need to Know →

Depression is a frequently misunderstood condition and people with depression are often not fun to be around. People typically want … Continue reading Why Can’t Depressed People Just Snap Out of It? →

  Over the course of the last century, the gender gap has narrowed. Women can now vote, wear pants, go … Continue reading Women and Alcohol Abuse →

  We’ve all heard the news: The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since 2000. Given that statistic, it’d … Continue reading How Opioids Depress our Labor Force →

More than 80 percent of Americans drink coffee regularly, and many people need a couple of cups just to get … Continue reading Does Coffee Cause Anxiety? →

  A baby is born approximately every 15 minutes in the United States suffering from opioid withdrawal, according to a … Continue reading Children of the Opioid Crisis →

  Some 115 Americans die every day as a result of the opioid epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease … Continue reading The Epidemic Expands: From Opioids to Meth →

There is a large overlap between addiction and eating disorders. About half of people with an eating disorder will also … Continue reading What Are the Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder? →

Negativity in recovery is often a sign someone is heading toward relapse. It’s normal to have a bad day now … Continue reading How Can You Overcome Negativity in Recovery? →

When you decide it’s time to get sober knowing what to expect can reduce your anxiety going forward. There are … Continue reading The 4 Phases of Addiction Recovery →

  You’ve had enough. You learned firsthand that drugs always take more than they give. You’re ready to be done. … Continue reading What to Expect When Tackling Painkiller Addiction →

Introverts are people who generally prefer to be alone. To them, being around other people is stressful, tiring, and distracts … Continue reading What Are the Challenges for Introverts in Addiction Recovery? →

Some people safely take prescription painkillers as prescribed by their doctor to manage chronic pain. Others start using painkillers for … Continue reading Painkiller Side Effects and Depression →

Grief is hard for anyone and it can be a disaster for someone in recovery. Grief is typically associated with … Continue reading How to Avoid Relapse While Grieving →

  Overdoses in libraries. A burgeoning homeless population. Thousands of needles turned in at the Harm Reduction Action Center. The … Continue reading The Opioid Crisis in Denver →

  It feels as if the person you love is lost. Yes, they might be standing right in front of … Continue reading How to Deal with a Heroin Addict →

The liver is the organ hardest hit by excessive drinking. When you drink, your liver metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, which … Continue reading What Is the Connection Between Alcohol and Liver Damage? →

Most of us have heard of “meth mouth.” But the truth is that heroin users experience the same dental problems … Continue reading Heroin Long-Term Effects on Mouth and Teeth →

Your liver takes the brunt of excessive drinking. Fatty liver disease can develop in a relatively short time of regular … Continue reading How do You Heal Your Liver After You Stop Drinking? →

  Deciding to get help is the most important decision you’ll ever make, and deciding WHERE to get that help … Continue reading 5 Things a Credible Alcohol or Drug Rehabilitation Center DOESN’T Do →

In most recovery communities, smoking gets a pass. Surveys have found that AA members smoke at a much higher rate … Continue reading Should You Quit Smoking in Recovery? →

One strange feature of addiction is that someone can hate the addiction and derive little pleasure from using, but continue … Continue reading The Important Difference Between Wanting and Liking →

You probably wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t already know how great heroin can make you feel and how … Continue reading 10 Reasons to Strive to Live Heroin Free →

Setting expectations for recovery can be tricky. If you don’t expect your life to improve considerably, you may not put … Continue reading What Are Realistic Expectations for Addiction Recovery? →

  Supporting a loved one who is battling addiction is like walking a tightrope. You have to be loving, but … Continue reading How to Support an Alcoholic or Drug Addict →

People in recovery don’t often spontaneously relapse. You don’t usually trip and fall into a pint. Relapse is typically a … Continue reading 4 Signs You May Be Setting Yourself Up for Relapse →

  It can be very easy to justify heavy drinking. You get the bills paid. You’re not in jail. You … Continue reading How My Alcohol Problem Affects My Family →