Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there’ can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne Do you think addiction can’t happen to your child? As a substance abuse counselor, I have seen many individuals from “good homes” with “good parents” who started down a bad path with drugs/alcohol during their teen years.…
Whether you’re new to recovery or have been clean and sober for several years, the holidays can present a challenge to your previous addictions. Even those who feel they have the issue conquered can still experience flare-ups due to the celebratory intensity of the season. Tips for maintaining your sobriety during this season: Prepare ahead of…
Do you (or a friend) need a support group to help with struggles related to substance abuse? A 12-step meeting may be the perfect answer! The term “12-step meeting” refers to a group of people from the community (peers, not professionals) who meet together to support one another as each person recovers from addictions. The…
What do you use to get through your day? We all have ways of coping with life. Some individuals eat, and eat, and eat in order to satisfy an emptiness of joy or fulfillment. Others spend money they don’t really have in an effort to obtain inner happiness. Still, others seek contentment through substances of various types. September is National Recovery…
Have you wondered when, and how, to discuss the topic of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco with your kids? Perhaps you’ve seen the devastation of substance abuse in families close to you and hope to keep this problem from entering your own doorstep. Benjamin Franklin is known to have said, “An ounce of prevention is worth…
People with substance dependences often tell concerned loved ones that they can handle it. In other words, “it” doesn’t control them. I think this mindset is true of most people with obsessions of any type. Perhaps you can say “No” to substances like drugs or alcohol but, what about food? Does it have a bite…
Lorraine Looney, LMSW, shares practical insights for how to encourage a friend or family member struggling with addiction.
As soon as John walked into my office, I knew he was suffering. He was in his mid-40’s, a former EMT, yet as he sat down he looked anything but strong and alert. He was sweating bullets on a cool Fall day, doubled over with pain and nausea, and could barely speak to answer the…
If you are the parent of a teen, you’ve probably heard the word “vaping,” but do you really know what comes along with this trendy addiction? It can be tricky to sort through the myths to get to the truth behind this latest craze of teens and young adults. The new ciggie First, it’s important to…
We all make mistakes. And many times, the wrong behaviors we succumb to happen during times of isolation—similar to what we’re going through now with so much time at home. But sinful actions don’t remain in seclusion. They always spread through us and then to those we love and share community with day-to-day. As we…