Tag Archive

Judging, shaming, and stigmatizing individuals are proven to be ineffective approaches for healthy, productive, and lasting change. Instead, they serve as proverbial weapons that tear at the core of an already-fragile human condition—a condition that strives to be valued, to matter, and to be loved. Pregnant women are no exception. A woman battling substance misuse […]

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 […]

We hear it all the time: Substance misuse doesn’t discriminate. Each year, individuals from all walks of life—regardless of educational background, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or occupation—meet the criteria for a substance use or alcohol use disorder. In fact, in 2021, 16.5% of Americans aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder. […]

Recovery is a very personal journey. For most, early recovery involves focusing on their well-being; establishing boundaries; finding a healthy routine; seeking and receiving support; growing emotionally, mentally, and perhaps spiritually. It’s a time for lots of self-reflection and self-help to re-establish a positive personal identity. By nature, humans are social beings, and healthy relationships […]

Empowerment. Support. Sobriety. These three words describe the Sober Black Girls Club, a safe online community where Black women, girls, and nonbinary people can share their struggles with substance use and also find resources, inspiration, and motivation to help them—wherever they may be in their recovery journey. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug […]

Social media has the ability to level the playing field in order for those with a message to reach the masses without needing a record deal or the need to be an A-list actor in a major studio film. Social media has inadvertently created opportunities for the “everyday person” to shine with their unique talents […]

Music therapy is a way to help those who have struggled with substance misuse and are now in treatment living their life in sobriety. This type of therapy is the use of music and the therapeutic relationship to create connection to oneself and to motivate change while learning to live a life of long-term sobriety. […]

No. If you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder and want to walk along the road to recovery, the path is available with the help of a supportive team. Although sobriety is a continual process, and often a choice that the individual usually makes on their own, treatment can save their life. […]

Yes, it potentially can. The pandemic has proven that individuals react to adverse circumstances differently. And that reaction determines the experience that they have within the situation. There are also some individuals who face anxiety and can be triggered under certain circumstances. Sometimes suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, or suicide itself is the result. If you’re […]

It’s possible. Many have done so. Celebrity-status doesn’t exempt an individual from the struggle of substance misuse. Some may even argue that the film and TV industry opens the door to such struggles due to the pressure and demands made by the career choice. Regardless, addiction to drugs (illicit or prescription) and/or alcohol is a […]