American Addiction Centers Blog

On top of the usual potential trials and triggers for those in recovery at Thanksgiving, this year there is another one. That would be the pandemic. On second thought, let’s scratch the word “usual” in the first sentence because little about the holiday in 2020 fits that description. In fact, like the title of an […]

Relapsing is challenging enough at any time and for anyone, but it’s especially a challenge to relapse during the 2020 pandemic. While many have already been social distancing when they leave their homes and quarantining in their homes, a lockdown may feel like an added obstacle that separates us from each other and community. Some […]

1 in 5 Americans have had a relationship breakdown due to a partner’s excessive drinking habits, reveals survey Nearly 1 in 5 people admit to keeping some of their drinking a secret from their partner during lockdown. 15% admit they have been drunk during lockdown while their partner stayed sober. One in ten would keep […]

Criminal justice reform as it relates to the production, distribution, and substance abuse, was an important issue during the 2020 presidential election. Although it might’ve taken a back seat to the pandemic, the economy, and social issues, it still managed to be part of the conversation. Substance use disorders continue to be a battle that […]

Amidst the pandemic and election, there is still an opioid crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $78.5 billion a year is spent on prescription opioid misuse. This includes the cost of addiction treatment, health care, criminal justice involvement, and the loss of productivity. Furthermore, data from 2018 […]

What does a Biden win mean for drug policy in the United States, specifically regarding cannabis? President-elect Biden’s stance on marijuana over the last 30+ years has evolved. And although his earlier positions on the subject may vary from where he stands now, how will his current proposals impact the sale of marijuana, its medicinal […]

While all eyes were on the presidential election in 2020, voters in Oregon got to make a different kind of choice with their ballots: they voted to become the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize all drugs. Additionally, they voted to expand access to addiction treatment. Oregon’s Measure 110 passed by a wide margin […]

Who doesn’t like to receive an affirmation for something well done? It could be a thumbs up, praise, formal recognition, a prize. It’s an age-old concept, popular as ever. You’re familiar with it. Grade school students may get a gold star for an assignment well done. At a more advanced level, college students who earn […]

Most people are so over quarantine. Like it’s a bad plot in a TV series that’s run one too many seasons long. It’s been about a nine-month stretch, and we all find ourselves still living in what feels like a horrible final season of The Pandemic. And what makes matters even more troublesome, the current […]

Have you experienced what’s known as “the pink cloud”? This term describes a period of happiness and elation that’s often experienced by people in early recovery. How it manifests is different for everyone—some people feel it the moment they make the decision to stay sober, while others are not affected until weeks or months after […]

Substance abuse has the ability to not only cause physical pain, but it also has the ability to separate those battling the disease from their families and friends, thereby causing emotional pain as well. According to a 2015 University of Cambridge research study, estrangement is when the supportive relationship between family members is broken down. […]

Opioid addiction knows no bounds. People of all ages, walks of life and occupations may struggle with substance abuse. Many of them are parents of school-age children and, for various reasons, can’t take care of their offspring in a responsible, healthful way. Some may have lost rights to or abandoned them. Others may be away […]