Addiction. Substance Abuse. Substance Dependency. While these terms are similar and related in certain situations, they are not the same. Defining the terms can help us better understand the [...]

Slip vs. Relapse? Is a slip and relapse the same thing? Many people in recovery hear the terms slip and relapse, and wonder if they are the same thing. Sometimes slip and relapse are used [...]

Formerly called shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was once believed to only affect war veterans. Today, we know much more about this complex mental health condition, including [...]

The world is full of opposing forces, tensions. They are at work in each and every life. Life’s pressures push and pull all of us. But those in active addiction often self medicate just to [...]

Loving an addict often feels hopeless. If you have ever loved someone in active addiction, you may feel used and abused. Compassion may not seem like a natural response, and there are times when [...]

September marks the beginning of National Recovery Month, which for the past 26 years has sought to educate Americans on the reality and dangers of substance abuse and addiction, as well as the [...]

Relapse doesn’t happen overnight. Several relapse warning signs appear before you fall completely back into chemical dependency. In addition, one slip may not mean you’ve totally [...]

Yes. Alcohol is a drug. There is no way around it. As the most widely used and accepted drug, alcohol has wreaked havoc on millions of families. People from all different socio-economic [...]

What kind of people go to rehab? You may think only a certain type of person goes to rehab. And you’re right. They are people with families. They are people who are alone. They are people [...]

What does Your Addiction Cost? Millions of people affected by drugs and alcohol continue to endure the damages of addiction because they don’t think they can afford to get help. Looking [...]

While addiction is not a gender specific disease, it does affect men and women differently. More men are diagnosed with chemical dependency (addiction) than women, although studies have yet to [...]

Have you ever arrived at home or work without really noticing how you got there? All your remember was getting in your car. You automatically got to where you were going, without you [...]

Once, there were two frogs who ventured from their quiet little pond. They hopped, as frogs do, across their bank, through the woods, over the field, until they happened upon a barn. Now, the two [...]

Brett Young looked at himself and saw very little worth saving. Addiction had taken control of his life. His successful career did not matter to his addiction. His growing family did not [...]

After years of hard work, many people celebrate retirement with raised glasses, toasting to a successful career and to a future of relaxation. When everyone goes home and the cake is [...]

All too frequently, parents are not aware of the extent their young adult’s alcohol and drug use. They easily dismiss illicit substance use as “kids being kids,” and refer to their own [...]

A simple solution for recovery from drug or alcohol addiction doesn’t exist. No easy treatment exists, but few conflicts in come with a one-and-done resolution. Part of the solution at [...]

Think of the first time you drank a cup of coffee. Did you feel more wired than you do when you drink a cup now? Maybe you have to drink two, three, or more cups of coffee before even feeling the [...]

What is Denial? Denial is a defense mechanism that becomes a huge obstacle to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. While outsiders can see the damage of drug and alcohol abuse, the person [...]

Knowing depression symptoms and signs will help you identify a problem before it gets out of hand. Too many people suffer from this treatable mental illness. Many people with chemical dependency [...]