In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5 describes in detail, How It Works. Before the 12 Steps of AA are listed, buried in the second paragraph is a phrase that I don’t give a lot of thought to, but I should. “…willing to go to any length…” This is part of a sentence that talks about what we are willing to do to get recovery. What actions we are willing to take to achieve the sense of peace and serenity we see in our fellows. My first sponsor spent a lot of time on this particular phrase with me in early recovery. She pointed out that unless I am willing to put ..read more

Heroin addiction is so powerful and overwhelming, that once it takes over the life of whomever it affects, its unrelenting and devastating effects are felt immediately as it destroys relationships and physical health like the black plague. With the takeover of heroin addiction, it’ll soon control its victims like sock puppets, helpless against its every whim. A problem that arises with heroin addicts and for many different addictions in general, is the difficulties in acknowledging the problem where it exists. If whether for yourself or someone close, it’s important to know w ..read more

If you or a loved one is in the grips of heroin addiction, it feels like you are in the grips of the devil himself. Heroin is not only one of the most addictive drugs on the planet, it is also one of the hardest drugs to quit. The withdrawal symptoms are extremely uncomfortable, painful, and have the potential to become life-threatening. Quitting heroin is a difficult and monumental journey, but recovery is possible! Quitting heroin isn’t just about quitting the drug itself; it is also about addressing the emotional and psychological issues that are tied to heroin abuse and addicti ..read more

On a cold December night, the doors to the triage area in St. Mary’s hospital in New York burst violently inwards. Several gloved and masked men and women surrounded the frantic and spastic man forced onto the rolling stretcher. A plethora of wispy gloved hands covered the man, pushing him against the stretcher, securing him to it. Following behind the stampede of emergency technicians rocketing the man through those double doors, was a woman sobbing maniacally into a messy jumble of paper towels in her hands. Loose strands fell and hovered gently to the floor, as she was ke ..read more

If you think that sober coaches are only reserved for the Hollywood elite, think again. Sober coaching is a resource that can help anyone from an accountant to a housewife to a teenager to a veteran. Sober coaching is a tool that can help anyone struggling with addiction stay on track. There is often confusion about what sober coaching entails, and the answers to that question may vary. In simple terms, a sober coach is a clean and sober companion who assists you through the process of getting and staying sober. Sober coaches are often employed after a person leaves treatmen ..read more

Bill Walton woke up one Christmas Day to a surprise: a permanent acid trip of a psychedelic lifetime. During his time playing for the San Diego Clippers, Walton decided it would be a great idea to take nine hits of “Orange Sunshine” acid at a party thrown by former Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse. This decision would throw Walton into a 23-year acid trip from 1981 to 2004, followed by a comedown that lasted for several years. For the remainder of his time with the Clippers, Walton would live in a “permanent acid trip,” which was not helped by the lack of success for the team. And while Walto ..read more

Adolescents and teens are especially susceptible to substance abuse, and addiction. Whether it’s because of the presence of addiction in the family unit, a biological predisposition, the “wrong” peer group, or some other factor, youths are natural followers, quick to do what they’re shown, told, or what’s natural and easy. So, it comes as no surprise when something as dangerous as huffing begins to make its rounds among the younger generations. This has resulted in unprecedented rates of teen pregnancy, substance abuse and addiction among adolescents. There’s even been a spike in depression an ..read more

In the not-so-distant past, addiction was widely believed to be a moral affliction rather than a disease. Today, we have the benefit of years of research, which have afforded a much better, more enlightened understanding of addiction. We’ve realized that addiction is actually a chronic, progressive brain disease for which there’s no cure.  The disease, which starts in the brain, causes altered brain structure and functioning that compels people to seek harmful chemicals and behaviors, even when it means severe consequences or harm to themselves or others. To combat this incurable disease, vari ..read more

Using social media in recovery can feel like a vulnerable move for people who are new to sobriety, but it can also be a boost of confidence necessary to keep them accountable.  Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can help build the kind of digital support system that can hold a recovering user’s hand as they embrace their recovery and become more social. Though some people might say social media discourages online users from believing they’re living good lives compared to their friends’ status updates, the ease of digital communication can allow old and new friends to reach o ..read more

Mixing energy drinks and alcohol can have severe, dangerous side effects. Caffeine is a substance that produces minimal effects except for hyperactivity. However, when combined with other drugs, it can overstimulate the heart, brain, and body. Alcohol has been the most popular substance to combine with energy drinks since 2012, but research shows that combining a depressant drug (alcohol) and a stimulant (energy drink) can be fatal. So while this may be the popular party mixer for young adults, the decision to mix energy drinks and alcohol could spoil the party with a heart attack. Energy Drin ..read more