Life was chaotic for Karen as a child. Her parents divorced when she was two—in part because of her father’s alcohol use—leaving her mother to raise seven children alone. Although her mother did the best she could, Karen’s childhood was filled with chaos and anger rather than love and support. At the age of twelve, …
Tom grew up in a blue-collar, working class family and can trace alcoholism back to his great-great-grandfather. When he was 14 years old, he discovered alcohol at a family party and immediately liked the way it made him feel, “I no longer felt alone. It gave me confidence, I felt like I was the life …
Tom’s Story of Recovery: “There is hope and you can get better.” Read More »
Jake grew up in a large and loving family, always did well academically, and had a great group of friends. He started experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age and vividly remembers thinking that he finally felt normal for once in his life. Things progressed through high school and got significantly worse during …
Jake’s Story of Recovery: “It is absolutely worth it.” Read More »
Sara discovered alcohol at a young age and immediately liked how it made her feel, “it helped me feel confident when I didn’t feel confident, and it helped me fit in when I didn’t fit in.” Sara’s disease progressed through her twenties when she started exploring other substances, but when the consequences of her addiction …
Sara’s Story of Recovery: “I didn’t know my life would get a lot more rich.” Read More »
From a young age, Andy always felt like he was a little bit different than his friends. It seemed like everybody else had gotten a manual on how to live life that he didn’t receive. This feeling combined with a significant childhood trauma led him to seek relief from his pain, and he found it …
Andy’s Story of Recovery: “It’s a process of allowing yourself to be open to help.” Read More »
If you’re struggling with substance use, you are not alone. Millions are affected by substance use disorder (SUD), and the global pandemic has brought on new and daunting challenges for the recovery community. However, it’s important to remember that among those affected by SUD are many who have restored their health and are living each …
Recovery Gives You The Ability To Be Who You Truly Are Read More »
From primary care visits to behavioral health, social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has driven rapid adoption of telemedicine across healthcare. Companies providing telehealth and digital support services have been inundated with requests to get their products up and running quickly, and where these capabilities already exist, utilization is increasing. Much of this adoption is …
Across healthcare, organizations are adjusting to the new normal presented by COVID-19. In this discussion, our panelists offer diverse perspectives and firsthand insight into the pandemic’s profound impact on addiction treatment and recovery. See below for more details and access to the recorded conversation. Panelists: Michael P. Frost M.D., FACP, FASAM Dr. Michael Frost is …
Watch: Substance Use Treatment and Recovery during COVID-19 Read More »
Words are powerful. Help reduce negative stereotypes about addiction by changing your language. Although there’s been a concerted effort to bring awareness to the importance of person-first language, stigmatizing language related to substance use disorders is still widely used in our communities, perpetuating negative perceptions of those suffering from addiction. In a recent post on …
Words Matter. Especially When it Comes to Addiction. Read More »
The increasing number of opioid overdose deaths over the last decade has resulted in a public health response centered around thoughtful opioid prescribing practices and careful consideration of risk versus benefit when initiating opioids for pain treatment. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines around prescribing opioids for chronic pain, …
