When we think of addiction and its aftermath, we are often quick to judge: how could someone do this? Why would a person do this? Why would they continue to drink or abuse drugs, even when their use continues to hurt others? Heartbroken, confused, and angry, we often ask: why would this person be doing […]

Addiction is a disease of the brain, one that takes over a person’s self control and replaces it with compulsive cravings. And like other chronic diseases, addiction dejectedly bears the burden of high relapse rates. It’s been found that two-thirds of drug and alcohol users who have attempted recovery have also regressed to a brief […]

Each day, hundreds of teens initiate drugs and alcohol into their lives at a mere 12 to 14 years old. Each year, millions of adolescents are diagnosed with a substance use disorder, and naturally, many of us have trouble wrapping our minds around this shocking reality. At first, we may simply blame their age. They […]

In some form or another, everyone carries a dream. More often than not, each person has a clear picture of how they see their lives down the road—they see a light at the end of their journey, through family, finances, or health. These dreams define our own personal success. They drive us forward, giving us […]

Just this month, Major League Baseball luminary, Josh Hamilton, returned to his home field with the Texas Rangers after recovering from both a shoulder injury and an unexpected drug relapse.  Hamilton has been of great focus in the press since his baseball career took flight in 1999—when he was selected as the No. 1 overall […]

Going back to college may be intimidating for young men who have just completed an addiction treatment program. College today is ripe with temptation: partying has become the norm for making friends and establishing social status. For those in recovery looking to pursue an education, the social fabric of campus life can be harrowing. There […]

Between the ages of 12-17, a young man undergoes a great amount of changes—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Many parents understand these teenage years as some of the most difficult; their son is hormonal, aggressive, more distant. The behaviors he is exhibiting are primarily a result of certain changes in the brain that actually make an […]

Left on Science, Right on Spirituality, Recovery is just ahead.  Like the invisible boundary between states, science and spirituality often live side by side in the great divide. But is it conceivable that science and spirituality share an intertwined existence, or at the very least exist in a mutually supportive space? Recovery from alcoholism and […]

Drug addiction is a cycle that constantly spins in the minds and bodies of those afflicted. It can be chronic, it can be heartbreaking, and it can take us by complete surprise. Addiction, however, can also be prevented. By understanding the risk factors and the signs of a substance use disorder, we can identify the […]

Graduating from an addiction treatment program can be a very liberating experience. You can finally apply everything you’ve learned, all that you’ve accomplished, to life and take on the world once again. The ball is now back in your court.  While this next chapter is exciting, many recovering individuals are intimidated by the idea of […]