American Addiction Centers Blog

Making the decision to seek addiction treatment is a big first step in the recovery process. With this being such a big decision, it’s important that you take the time to research and evaluate your options before choosing a rehab facility. With there being so many options for treatment, there are often bad rehab facilities […]

What Is Loneliness? Humans have an innate need to feel like they belong. Loneliness, then, is an emotional state typically defined by painful feelings associated with a sense of isolation and/or a lack of social contact or belonging.1 Loneliness and social isolation, however, are two different things. The latter is simply a lack of human […]

Startling Statistics About Substance Misuse and Overdose Deaths The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases monthly provisional counts for drug overdose deaths each month. For the 12-month period ending in March 2023, there were 105,224 drug overdose deaths reported in the United States.1 Unfortunately, overdoses have become the leading injury-related cause of death […]

What are Hard Seltzers? Hard seltzers consist of clear carbonated water mixed with an alcohol base—usually derived from fermented cane sugar—and flavored with real fruit or natural flavors. Most hard seltzers are free of gluten and contain 4%-7% alcohol by volume (ABV). Less alcohol means less calories, which is part of the appeal for some. […]

Why is it Important to Have Fun in Recovery? Simply put, fun is a form of self-care that can ultimately help you avoid relapse. But let’s dig a little deeper to better understand what this means. Relapse happens over time and in various stages. That is, you typically don’t just wake up one day and […]

Benefits of Pet Ownership During Recovery When it comes to addiction treatment and recovery, pet ownership usually doesn’t make the top-10 list of therapy recommendations. However, based on a host of studies and anecdotal reports about the perks of pet ownership, maybe it should. Pets—including everything from cats and dogs to lizards and rabbits—can offer […]

Tap the info into your mobile phone, grab your earbuds and click on a program. Or boot up your computer, laptop or tablet, tune in and hit play. Perhaps do the same while traveling in your car, walking the dog, or doing the dishes. Do what? Listen to a podcast about addiction and recovery. A […]

Operating an alcohol and/or substance use disorder treatment center in today’s digital landscape requires a strategic marketing approach. While it’s critical to employ empathy and understanding while trying to reach this unique population, competition is fierce. In fact, according to FindTreatment.gov, a search tool offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the […]

Oh the Places You Can Go Without Alcohol Looking for a last-minute summer getaway or planning a future trip that doesn’t involve alcohol. Traveling can have its triggers, and while it used to be harder to find “dry” adventures in the booze-soaked travel industry, substance-free vacationing is actually a lot easier—and more fun—thanks to dry […]

  Is it better for a person to go to drug or alcohol rehab close to home or far away from home? In most cases, traveling to rehab is preferred over going to a place near where you live. While this may seem counterintuitive, expensive, and logistically challenging, in many cases, it may be best […]

What is a Drug or Alcohol Relapse—and How is It Different from a Lapse? A relapse—which is often called a “recurrence” or a “return to substance use”—is simply an instance of substance use that occurs following a significant period of abstinence.1 When someone experiences a relapse, they may return to the same level of use […]

Summertime barbecues and all-inclusive vacations seem to be synonymous with alcohol consumption. So how does an individual in recovery maintain sobriety when those around them imbibe—sometimes heavily? Try these 7 tips to stay sober—and still have lots of fun—during festivities and travel this summer: 1. Throw a Party Summertime barbecues and pool parties typically involve […]