If you thought the avoidance around death and grief in our society was bad, it is nothing compared to the avoidance of drug-related deaths. Overdose deaths outnumber traffic fatalities in the US, and someone dies every 14 minutes from a drug overdose in this country-...
And here is another article by a top doc explaining why kind love beats tough love. At the end of the day it is a matter of believing the addict is worth saving, even if he/she is still using. Using punishment to try to rehabilitate people who have already suffered...
The topic of heroin addicts getting pregnant, recently came up, and honestly, this is new and uncharted territory for me, so I did my homework. The problem that occurs when using heroin during pregnancy is that the baby also becomes addicted. Heroin goes directly into...
An anonymous guest blogger has this to say about her journey in recovery; I’ve struggled with addiction for a long time. Over the years, I have tried many different modalities, approaches and philosophies to combat and treat the physical, mental and emotional toll...
I've been witnessing it for years- The revolving door of rehab- most clients return Treatment as usual, also known as cookie cutter treatment Cross addiction by facility doctor or psychiatrist- clients given prescriptions such as Tegretal, Lithium, Zyprexa...
Mindfulness, a technique rooted in Buddhism, can be defined as "a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique". It is...
Hitting Rock Bottom refers to the notion that a person must hit their lowest point before having the motivation to change. It implies the person needs to experience firsthand the worst consequences of his actions before he will be motivated to get help and alter these...
Gosh folks, sometimes I need a break from all the very serious stuff I write about, so on a lighter note let's have a little fun with some true-life trivia... Apparently, we try to live up to our names. Women named Laura become lawyers, and men named Dennis become...
If you think you need to set up your own logical 'consequences' in response to an addict or alcoholics behavior, think again. The natural consequences of their behavior create isolation, grief, loss, and disheartenment. Some have lost husbands and children. Some have...