The COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) has gone from a Chinese epidemic to a global one. Confirmed cases are in each of the United States with numbers that are flying upward. Many states are trying to take a proactive approach to quarantine the virus and do things ranging from closing non-essential businesses where people typically congregate, such…
You’re about to begin the journey through sobriety. You want to stop focusing on your need for the drugs or alcohol that took control of your life. However, you’re not sure where to start. Then, your counselor suggests trying adventure therapy. You wonder, what is adventure therapy, and what are the benefits of adventure therapy?…
Opioid Deaths Have Fallen – Or Have They? Preliminary data shows that opioid deaths have fallen (maybe) by 5 percent in 2018 — the first drop in overdose deaths since the country’s opioid epidemic began in the 1990s. The statistics about opioid abuse in general are shocking. The data, first reported by the New…
How to Rebuild Your Credit After Rehab Trying to rebuild your credit after rehab can seem like a daunting task. While it will take some time, you can start almost immediately. Once you’re out of Rehab, if you’re smart, you’ve continued your addiction treatment in an outpatient facility such as a sober living home. In…
Fixing Your Life After Rehab If you or a loved one has completed Rehab, congratulations! You’re on the road to recovery. If you’re serious about recovery, you’ve chosen to continue the recovery process by enrolling in outpatient treatment or maybe you’ve entered a sober living home. Once you’ve settled into some form of Aftercare program,…
Addiction Relapse Rates Statistically speaking, addiction relapse rates range from 40% to 60% on average. The rates can be even higher if treatment protocols aren’t followed. Another factor is the support structure surrounding the recovering patient. Studies show that the stronger the support network, the greater the chance of success. A support network might include:…
When to Call Your AA Sponsor Knowing when to call your AA sponsor is sometimes difficult and confusing. We’ve put together the top 10 times you should call your sponsor. 1. If you find yourself stressed out by friends, family, work, school or in any situation (ex. during the holidays), you should pick up the…
Treatment of Substance Use Disorders In a recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), substance use disorders (SUDs) were divided into two distinct categories–substance abuse and substance dependence. An individual could receive a current diagnosis of either abuse or dependence (not both) for a single drug class. A current SUD…
Landmark $270 Million Opioid Lawsuit Settlement Opens Door for Dozens of Pending Cases Purdue Pharma recently agreed to pay Oklahoma $270 million rather than face trial on charges of misleading marketing practices and misrepresentation regarding Oxycontin, according to company and state press releases. Court battles are far from over for the pharmaceutical company, which still…
Is Methadone a Good Alternative? Medication Assisted Treatment programs use a few alternatives to dangerous opioids. Medications, including buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®), methadone, and extended release naltrexone (Vivitrol®), are effective for the treatment of opioid use disorders. Buprenorphine and methadone are “essential medicines” according to the World Health Organization. A NIDA study shows that once treatment…