I still remember my introduction to addiction recovery like it was yesterday. I was shipped from California to Southern Florida, where I would stay engaged in a residential treatment program for around 90 days. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was about to embark on a life-changing journey that would ultimately leave me with a small shred of hope for the future — a shred of hope I certainly didn’t have before. Because people my age were still partying hard all days of the week (at least, those in my chosen friend group were), I had convinced myself that my behavior was normal and if I truly ..read more

It can take some time to truly come to terms with living a life of sobriety — openly embracing this new and revolutionary lifestyle is a completely different story. Over time, your relationship with your recovery will change and evolve. Just like everything else it will experience some degree of ebb and flow. Some days you will wake up feeling overwhelmed with gratitude, fully aware of how far you have come and how immensely your life has improved. Other days you will face challenge after challenge, maybe wishing you could numb out uncomfortable emotions and throw progress to the wind. The hum ..read more

The Sober Curious Movement has been making headlines for the past several years. As more people move away from excessive drinking and begin to embrace a healthier lifestyle, others are being encouraged to evaluate their relationship with alcohol and ask themselves, “Am I drinking more than I need to be?” Alcohol consumption is a major part of American culture. Many of us are exposed to drinking at a young age, whether by our parents or our peers. We are taught that drinking equates to social fun, to parties, to joyous gatherings, to happy times and favored memories. Drinking serves as a right ..read more

What Is Subutex? Subutex is the brand-name drug available by prescription to assist patients with opioid withdrawal and dependence. It is administered as a sublingual tablet. The most active ingredient in Subutex is buprenorphine, which is defined as an opioid agonist-antagonist combination. When a drug is an opioid agonist-antagonist, it means that when it’s used, buprenorphine acts in several similar ways as a drug such as heroin or prescription opioids, but with some differences. Buprenorphine can cause fewer europhia and much milder withdrawal symptoms. What Is Suboxone? Suboxone is a comb ..read more

Cross addiction is a term used to describe someone who becomes addicted to more than one thing. This can include drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and even food. Cross addiction can even refer to replacing one substance, process, or person for another. The science behind cross addictions is still not fully understood. However, some studies have shown that cross addictions are more common than previously thought. Conversely, other studies show that cross addiction is not actually that common. There are a few reasons for this confusion that will be discussed. Cross addictions are often seen in peopl ..read more

After you stop drinking, life without alcohol may seem daunting. This is especially true for individuals who used alcohol to cope with the many stresses of life which include loneliness. In fact, loneliness has been reported as one of the leading causes of alcohol abuse, by the National Library of Medicine, with over 66.1% of people who drink excessively admitting that they sometimes or often feel lonely. While many people who develop an alcohol use disorder may have done so due to their using alcohol to cope, it is no secret that alcohol is only a temporary distraction. While it may tempor ..read more

When taking prescription medication, it is important to avoid dangerous drug interactions. Often, prescription medication may produce unwanted results when mixed with other drugs, or certain foods or beverages. One such combination that can result in many unfavorable consequences is the mixing of Xanax and alcohol. While you may be tempted to have a drink when taking Xanax, it is important to know the dangers of this combination before doing so. If you have been prescribed the drug Xanax, it is important to avoid the dangerous and potentially life-threatening interactions that it can cause w ..read more

When taking prescription medication, it is important to avoid dangerous drug interactions. Often, prescription medication may produce unwanted results when mixed with other drugs, or certain foods or beverages. One such combination that can result in many unfavorable consequences is the mixing of Xanax and alcohol. While you may be tempted to have a drink when taking Xanax, it is important to know the dangers of this combination before doing so. If you have been prescribed the drug Xanax, it is important to avoid the dangerous and potentially life-threatening interactions that it can cause w ..read more

What Is Methadone? Methadone is a narcotic medication or opioid used to treat pain in individuals. It helps individuals get through the detoxification process and reduces withdrawal symptoms for those that engage in narcotic drugs such as heroin. The process is without producing feelings of getting high. Methadone is used for pain management for individuals with chronic long-term pain that hasn’t responded to other treatment methods. The drug is detected in urine tests for up to two weeks, salvia tests for days, blood tests for days, and hair tests for months. It is a drug used in medication ..read more

For practically anyone going through detox and the early stages of rehabilitation, the agony of withdrawal is primarily due to the body adjusting to not receiving the abused substance. Substance abuse causes the body chemistry to drastically change, oftentimes leading to serious complications. These changes will gradually get worse the longer the person continues to abuse substances. The detox phase puts a particular emphasis on getting the body to re-adjust back to normal once the substance has been flushed out of the system. Part of this phase is also devoted to dealing with the effects of ..read more