Martin Seligman, PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, is known as the father of the Positive Psychology Movement. In 1965, Seligman began conducting experiments on his theory of learned helplessness. What he theorized from his research, is that people who “learn” that there is no connection between action and outcome in a particular area, learn helplessness…
There is an estimated 23.4 million Veterans in the United States. With a 52.7 % increase in outpatient Veterans treated for Substance Use Disorder between 1995 and 2016, addiction is a major concern for Veterans and their families. The demanding nature of military life and experience with combat can be made more complex by substance…
The Early Intervention Family Drug Court in Sacramento County is set up to help parents with substance abuse problems complete this program before their children enter the foster care system. All parents who enter the program are at risk of losing custody of their children due to drug abuse. Many parents are referred to the…
There’s been ample research over the last decade showing the negative effects of drugs and alcohol on attention, memory, and learning. It’s now known that the effects last for days or weeks after the acute effects of using (the actual “high”) wear off. In the end, a teen who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at…
A first of a kind study, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) conducted in August 2015, shed insight on substance use patterns among one in five full-time college students (18-22) who were using illicit or potentially harmful substances. The study which tracks initiation of use by month shows that the initiation for…
“So, how long should my son stay in treatment?” a worried mother asked me yesterday. For those of us who work in drug and alcohol treatment, this is probably the question we hear the most from anxious husbands, wives, parents, siblings and friends. How long should your loved one stay at alcohol or drug rehab? Despite all…
According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health.” From many studies they’ve conducted, as well as other studies from around the world, we now know that poor mental health is linked to increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke…
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…
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…
As we mentioned in a previous blog on Addiction and Creating Healthy Families, drug and alcohol use comes with many negative side effects for families. Families coping with addiction can become dysfunctional in their communication, understanding of feelings and ability to feel empathy. The good news is that this is fixable. The Top 5 Rules…