How Many Chances Should a Drug User Get? Recently, a letter to the editor in a newspaper from the managing director for policy at the Drug Policy Alliance asked the rhetorical question above. He’s a psychiatrist with a background in public policy and bioethics, and he wrote to the paper after reading that a patient…
One of the greatest challenges when attending a North Bay Recovery Center is that rehab never really ends. When you have been addicted and want to recover, embracing a substance-free life is not easy. It is usually a process that includes some relapses. This may seem discouraging but there are ways for you to recognize…
Recovery is a lifelong process and involves far more than abstaining from alcohol or drug use. It is also about being able to understand more about the patterns and behaviors that caused your substance abuse. It involves developing new behaviors and attitudes. Coping skills to prevent relapse, they’re steps that can be taken during the rehab…
Recovery from substance abuse is all about change. A person trapped in the cycles of addiction must take action in order to free themselves from those cycles. The hard bottom line in recovery is a change in behavior: addictive behaviors must be identified and replaced with non-addictive behaviors. This basic fact implies changes in thoughts,…
When it comes to sustaining long-term recovery after addiction treatment, it’s important to avoid those triggers that put you at greater risk of returning to drugs or alcohol. Much of the treatment process is about learning how to identify and avoid these people, places and things that can set off an urge to use. While,…
For millions of people in recovery, relapse is a frightening word. Though there are many reasons that individuals suffer relapse, one of the more interesting discoveries is that certain people are prewired genetically to have insufficient numbers of D2 receptors in their brains, which can lead to a lack of dopamine, a chemical in the…
Family and company parties are abundant this time of year. For those in recovery, it can be a difficult and tempting time. The following are tips on how to prevent relapse and survive a holiday party. Tips To Survive A Holiday Party First of all, give yourself permission to not go to the party. It’s…
On the long journey of recovery, there will be many twists and turns. The challenges of life that affect all of us can be more difficult to navigate when you’re in recovery. In fact, they can sometimes lead to relapses that can result in a return to an addiction. Most addiction experts will tell you…
