Operation Unite in Pikeville, Kentucky held a prayer rally for addiction in 2012. The event brought together hundreds of former addicts, family members and concerned individuals from the local community to pray for those who are currently living out an active battle with substance abuse. The crowd gathered at a place known as “Fire in … Continue Reading

It’s not a question that’s easily answered. While your mother and best friends have likely been counseling you to head for the hills, in your heart there’s something else urging you to stay – and you don’t know who to listen to. Before you stands a man who you no longer recognize but occasionally, every … Continue Reading

Did you know that tanning is addictive? Studies have shown that the reward circuitry in the brain can trigger cravings for high amounts of UV rays like one gets in a tanning bed and that if you are used to continually getting those doses, you have an addiction-style compulsion to go tanning. But the latest … Continue Reading

We’ve seen that individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can use stimulant medications to help them calm down and focus. It seems counterintuitive since stimulant drugs of any kind usually amp up their users, but when this health issue is present, the script is flipped. A similar thing happens when those diagnosed with bipolar … Continue Reading

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are 17.2 million Americans who abuse drugs and, of these, 12.9 million of them or almost 75 percent were employed. This means that every day, most Americans are dealing with drug and alcohol abuse at work, even if it’s not their own. Is drug abuse … Continue Reading

It’s a new year, and this means a new beginning for every part of your life including your recovery from addiction. Whether you are a seasoned veteran of recovery or new to staying sober, developing a plan for yourself that’s based on where you are in your recovery will help you to avoid relapse in … Continue Reading

Drug addiction treatment success does not come easy. Yes, admitting that you need treatment and taking the steps to get that help by enrolling in a drug rehab are huge steps in the process, but staying every day and working through the stuff that comes up is the hard part. Here are a few tips … Continue Reading

In the Far East, Chinese Medicine was designed as a healing modality to stand completely on its own for anything that ails the human body mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It functioned independently for nearly 5,000 years until East and West came together over the last century. Acupuncture, a treatment that uses the insertion of … Continue Reading

You see them everywhere: people texting, surfing the Internet or talking on their smartphones are in every cafe, on every corner, in their cars, at the dinner table and walking down the street. In fact, there are few places where cell phone use is not in effect, and those who use them for everything from … Continue Reading

Maine is having a serious budget crunch and it looks like state officials are thinking about cutting one of the most essential health services they have: inpatient substance abuse treatment programs. Forget that Maine has a drug and alcohol addiction rate that is eight times the national average; in a move that is typical of … Continue Reading

A couple days ago, we discussed the problematic nature of overcoming irrational thoughts to overcoming addiction. By believing the negative thoughts that often characterize low self-esteem, the alcoholic or addict can successfully blot out the feelings of pain associated with the negative effects of continued alcoholism by rationalizing that things would be worse without alcohol … Continue Reading

Irrational thoughts are often fears that stop those living with alcohol addiction from getting help. Each of these thoughts is pro-addiction and anti-treatment, isolating the alcoholic from the medical detox and addiction assistance necessary to stop drinking. Most of these fears and irrational thoughts revolve around failure or the threat of failure: “If I quit … Continue Reading

If you’re considering 12-step treatment after – or before – drug rehab but have been avoiding going to a meeting because you’re thinking it might be a waste of time, consider this: those who attend and continue to attend 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in addition to drug and alcohol … Continue Reading

There are a number of myths that can harm your recovery – but only if you believe them without double-checking the facts. Below are some of the most common myths about drug addiction and addiction recovery, and the truth that proves them false. Myth #1: Addiction Is a Character Flaw Another variation of this myth: … Continue Reading