For many, New Year’s Eve is a day filled with friends, family, fun and parties. For people in early sobriety from drug and alcohol abuse, New Year’s is generally the last day of a stressful season filled with uncomfortable situations and the need to be vigilant at all times since temptations are, seemingly, never-ending. The secret…
Using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2002–2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a report which provides the most recent self-reported national estimates of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and alcohol and marijuana combined…
For some the holidays are a time of happiness and family but for others it’s a time of dysfunction and despair. As stress, overindulgence, and celebrations increase, so does drug and alcohol use, which generally spikes during the holiday season. Many people think it’s best to wait until after the holidays to deal with a…
For some, Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, family and contentment. However, for those with alcohol or addiction issues, thoughts of Thanksgiving might give rise to anxiety, depression, resentment and overwhelm. Getting together with family and friends can be a trigger for drug and alcohol use, instead of joy. Gratitude is one of the keys…
According to a recent study from McMasters University in Ontario, Canada, half of female methadone patients originally became addicted to prescription opiates after being prescribed pain killers for chronic pain management. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Canada consumes more opioid painkillers than any other country, with the number of prescriptions doubling in the last…
Developed in the 1970s by Dr. Marsha Linehan, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment for people with serious self-harming behaviors or those with complex or severe mental disorders. DBT has also been successful with many substance abusers as addiction can be viewed as a self-harming behavior. Addicts often suffer numerous negative consequences from…
E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes and vaporizer cigarettes are battery-operated devices that release doses of vaporized nicotine or non-nicotine vaporized solutions. E-cigarettes were first introduced into the US market in 2007 as a device to help smokers cut back or quit smoking altogether. The use of e-cigarettes has risen dramatically in the United States…
Many people want to know the optimal amount of time to stay in drug and alcohol treatment to have the most positive effects. We posted a blog on this a couple of years ago, but the question is raised so often, that we thought we’d talk about it again. According to the National Institute on Drug…
Most people use drugs and alcohol as a way of numbing feelings and not dealing with uncomfortable emotions like anxiety, sadness and anger. All of these feelings can be relapse triggers, so it’s critical to identify healthy coping skills in early recovery. Today we’re going to talk specifically about anger. The following are our top…
As one of the oldest drug and alcohol treatment agencies in the Bay Area, we hear it all the time: “There’s nothing fun to do if you’re sober” or “I’m bored – there’s nothing to do if you don’t (drink, smoke pot, put drug of choice here).” For people getting sober in the Bay Area…