I listened to this program on Marketplace, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Walk Drunk,” and was struck by the discussion — especially the impression I had that the only two options after a night of celebrating the New Year were to drive drunk or walk drunk. Further, if one’s friend is that drunk, a person was… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Continuing Care | Important to Addiction Recovery
Continuing care must be a part of addiction recovery. Why? It’s the third phase of the disease treatment model, and addiction is a disease. How? By its simplest definition, a disease is something that changes cells in a negative way. Addiction changes cells in the brain, which is what makes addiction a chronic, often relapsing… Continue Reading
Don’t Let Worry About Drinking Sabotage Your Holiday Expectations
Holiday expectations and drinking – sometimes the worry about what may happen can kill the joy that’s possible during family celebrations. Read these tips to help you enjoy yourself this holiday season – even if you’re anxious about a loved one’s drinking. Drinking and Holidays Expectations If you live in a family with alcohol abuse… Continue Reading
Alternatives to Control
The following is a guest post from Monkeytraps: A blog about control, which has two authors: Steve Hauptman, LCSW, and Bert. (If you’re new to Monkeytraps, Steve is a therapist who specializes in control issues, and Bert is his control-addicted inner monkey.) (If you’re new to Monkeytraps, Steve is a therapist who specializes in control issues, and Bert is… Continue Reading
When Trying to Prevent Underage Drinking | Drug Use | Share These 5 Concepts
When Trying to Prevent Underage Drinking | Drug Use – these 5 concepts can help. 5 Concepts to Help Prevent Underage Drinking | Drug Use 1) Raise awareness about the 21st century brain research that explains why the teen brain is not the same as that of an adult’s and therefore why the teen brain… Continue Reading
On Their Way – Addiction Education, Intervention, Prevention, and Treatment
On Their Way – Targeting Addiction Education, Intervention, Prevention, and Treatment – quite a mouthful, to be sure! I’ve been talking about an idea of mine – “On Their Way” – a lot, lately. It’s the idea of teaching literacy to women and girls in developing nations using Septima Poinsettia Clark’s teaching model, which became… Continue Reading
Six Effective Ways to Prepare for an Intervention
An intervention can be the action a family takes that can help their loved one accept the fact h/she needs treatment for an addiction (whether to alcohol or drugs). Why is it important to take this step? Because addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease and one that is triggered by use of any… Continue Reading
Suicide Prevention | Facebook, SAMHSA & National Suicide Join Forces
Suicide prevention efforts have expanded with the partnering of SAMHSA, Facebook and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day. That’s 36,035 lives every year. In the past year, more than 8 million Americans 18+ had thought seriously about suicide. Facebook Safety, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ’1-800-273-TALK… Continue Reading