As if this holiday season isn’t hard enough during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be residing in a state with a mandated quarantine. Perhaps you might be self-quarantining due to travel. Maybe you just received a positive test result and are following the rules by quarantining at home. No matter which scenario, it might be a rough holiday season if you are stuck at home. Federal officials are imploring people to stay home, avoid travel, and stick to small, in-household gatherings only. It all seems too daunting and lonely. What’s a person to do if they can’t be with treasured loved ones during ..read more

The holiday season is chock full of gatherings, parties, reunions, and alcohol and drugs. Amid the merrymaking come festive alcoholic drinks and invitations to partake in marijuana and other drugs. Old friends call, and families insist on getting together to celebrate with you.  What can you do, and what could you say to derail these temptations and possible triggers? How can you avoid the typical pitfalls of substance use when a family member or friend is slurping a drink or mellow from smoking some pot? Is the COVID-19 pandemic keeping you home alone? Our guide on how to say no to invit ..read more

America has a long history of not being able to care for arrested people who are in active addiction. Court systems around the country would be backlogged with cases of people struggling with addiction who were arrested for one or more crimes. Jails and prisons would be full. Inmates addicted to opioids would be left to go through withdrawal alone with no treatment to ease grueling withdrawal symptoms. A report the National Institute on Drug Abuse cites states that 85% of the U.S. prison population had a substance use disorder (SUD) or were incarcerated for a crime that involved drugs or drug ..read more

Scientists and researchers are increasingly taking a closer look at psychedelics’ potential in treating depressive disorders.  Depression affects an estimated 300 million people globally, and at least 16 million people in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. So, psychedelics-based therapies that prove effective could be life-changing for so many people.  Developments in psychedelics in medicine could also have implications for people who harm themselves or have suicidal thoughts or tendencies. Depression is often a factor in those situati ..read more

What would it be like if people who commit misdemeanor crimes could avoid charges or lesser penalties if they show they are poor or suffer from substance addiction or a mental health disorder? The Seattle City Council recently considered such proposed legislation that could make this scenario a reality if passed. This would mean judges will dismiss criminal charges against offenders who show struggle with addiction, mental illness, or poverty. Councilmember Lisa Herbold proposed the measure in October 2020. If the measure passes, it means that up to 100 crimes that are now regarded as misdemea ..read more

As 2020 finally comes to an end, we’re going to see many changes this New Year’s holiday. Instead of watching the ball drop in Times Square or meeting your friends for some joyous festivities, it looks like we’ll be in the house, yet again, quarantined for New Year’s. For many of us, it might be hard to have a positive outlook for the future at this point. As we hear news about a vaccine rolling out, there are reasons for us to have hope that things will soon change for the better. As many in the recovery community battle their sobriety and hope for better times ahead, we can use our New Year ..read more

Not everyone will take the same path to end substance abuse and addiction. For people who could benefit from an approach that combines medication, various behavioral therapies, and counseling, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help them achieve the outcome they are looking for.  Summit Behavioral Health is offering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) at our Summit Florham Park facility to help people who wish to start on their recovery path. Medication-assisted treatment uses FDA-approved medications to help treat alcohol and opioid use. These opioids also include the illegal drug h ..read more

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a unique type of depression that relates to the changing of seasons. The condition begins and ends around the same time each year. Like most people struggling with SAD, the symptoms will start in the fall and persist into the winter months, stealing your energy and causing moodiness. Less often, although possible, SAD will cause depression in the spring or early summer.  Fortunately, because of how common the condition is, various treatment types exist. Depending on the case, a physician may suggest light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy, or medic ..read more

As COVID-19 continues to rock the world, we continue witnessing the devastation that’s left in its wake. While many of us are dealing with the loss of a loved one, battling financial problems due to job loss, or recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, we are all trying to get by during these unprecedented times. Unfortunately, as another round of lockdown quarantines are imposed by states, you might be wondering how much more your mental health can tolerate. Despite the positive news of a potential vaccine, COVID-19 continues its deadly rampage worldwide. Most states show figures that are ..read more

The most common barrier to addiction treatment comes down to cost. If you are on a tight budget, it’s understandable if you are concerned about how it can affect you. The stress of your post-treatment finances may also be a concern. You may also feel embarrassed, fearful, or not ready to start over. Serenity at Summit understands your concerns, and we’d like to say that addiction treatment is not something where cost or anything else should be a deterrent. If you have decided to get help, it will help to view addiction treatment as an investment you are making in your future to lead a healthie ..read more