For achieving lifelong recovery, nothing has a success rate as high as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and AA Ventura County has some of the best groups and meetings available in the country. AA Ventura County encompasses all of the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in and around Ventura County. I love AA, and it has become something I absolutely want to do just as much as I must do it if I want to stay sober. It is the most enjoyable treatment to the disease of addiction, and after detox and inpatient treatment, it is absolutely mandatory, at least for me, if I want to live happy, healthy, and substan ..read more

Watching a loved one struggle with addiction or any other type of mental health issue can be incredibly difficult. You want to help them through their recovery, but it can be challenging to know where to start or what to do. It’s important to remember that recovery is a process, and it’s not always linear. There will be ups and downs along the way, and your support can make all the difference. Here are some ways you can support a loved one through their recovery journey. Start By Educating Yourself One of the most important things you can do to support a loved one through their recovery journe ..read more

Addiction is one of the loneliest diseases a person can experience. As they cycle through the different phases of substance abuse, tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal can be incredibly taxing on their minds and bodies. And in the process, people get hurt, relationships get shattered, and the closest ones drift away from each other. It can be extremely hard for people to relate to an individual struggling with substance abuse and vice versa, making staying sober even more difficult. That’s when the twelve-step programs come in, as well as the question: Are they effective? More specifically: I ..read more

Modern life is great! Healthcare facilities are better. Transportation is lightning-fast. We have limited access to knowledge, machines that wash our clothes, point us where to go, and do our taxes. And we can very easily keep in touch with someone twenty thousand miles away, free of charge. Yet, despite all of these fantastic advantages, modernity comes with its share of problems that put unparalleled pressure on people – and many of them turn to alcohol to cope. So, yes: alcohol and stress are related. A good, stiff drink has long been hailed for its ability to soothe the nerves. However, th ..read more

There are many different signs of a fentanyl overdose, and they are all the same as any other opiate or opioid. The only difference is that it takes much less fentanyl to overdose than it does heroin, morphine, or codeine to overdose. The signs of fentanyl overdose include shallow breathing, loss of consciousness, slowing heartbeat, and eventually death if the patient is not given an opioid antagonist such as Narcan to reverse the effects of the fentanyl. The Fentanyl Epidemic from a Personal Perspective I was lucky enough to get clean and sober before fentanyl became the dominant opiate avail ..read more

A big question a person considering getting clean and sober must ask themselves is, “should I travel for rehab?” I woke up from a 5-day blackout, realized I needed help, and proceeded to ask myself this question, among many other serious questions. In my mind, the benefits of leaving my hometown in upstate New York to come to Divine Detox in Los Angeles, far outweighed the minimal drawbacks. I knew I was going to die if I stayed in New York. I called Divine Detox, and shortly after packed my bags and headed out to Los Angeles to begin a new life in recovery. Travelling for Rehab Leaving home c ..read more

Loving an alcoholic can be a difficult and daunting task, especially if that alcoholic is not treating their alcoholism. Alcohol is merely a symptom of alcoholism, which means that stopping drinking is only the first step to recovering. When an alcoholic stops their drinking, but does nothing in order to treat the root of the problem, it can be just as bad as when they were drinking, if not worse. Loving an alcoholic who has stopped drinking but is not doing any work on themselves is also known as loving a dry-drunk. There is a lot to learn for someone who begins loving an alcoholic but doesn ..read more

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) has a lot in common with inpatient mental health programs. With both of these types of programs, you’ll receive the same level of treatment but an IOP is outpatient. Therefore these programs serve as a great stepping-stone for anyone who’s been through detox but isn’t ready to fully integrate back into their home life. They’ll provide you with a great supportive option as you do so. What is an Intensive Outpatient Program? With an Intensive Outpatient Program, you’ll receive a higher level of treatment each day while enjoying the freedom of living at home ..read more