For some of us parents, we find out that something has gone drastically wrong with our child’s journey (often by police or school).  In crisis, we place him into a drug and alcohol treatment facility to avoid consequences or to fix whatever the problem (which we have not really identified) our child is experiencing. For […]

This past summer, the world lost one of its most beloved, storied artists of all time, actor and comedian, Robin Williams. And of late, his tragic suicide has shed incredible light on a shaking reality: the persistent, disparaging battle between addiction and depression.  Addiction and depression are two internal demons that have housed themselves in […]

You are worried about your son’s marijuana habits. He locks himself in his room, talks only half as much as he used to, and really only comes when called. Dinners are quiet, family activities are shrugged off, and your relationship with him feels stunted. He just doesn’t seem like the same, energetic kid he was […]

How to Choose a Residential Drug Rehab There are five key elements to evaluate when choosing a residential drug treatment program.  These include: preparation, reputation, location, effectiveness, and staffing. What is the purpose of going to residential treatment?  Certainly it is a development of a sober life but as important is the development of life […]

Ever hear the saying “recovery is not a race”? Well, I disagree with those who claim that recovery should not be treated as a race. I believe it is a race… a marathon race. Never a sprint or 100 yard dash. True recovery requires most of the body’s key functioning systems to get healthy again; […]

As an addiction treatment program that believes in a long term approach to drug rehabilitation, we wanted to share a brief story that highlights the benefits of a longer term, transformative approach to recovery.   He was a 23-year-old male. He grew up in an upper middle class household in Connecticut . He took saxophone lessons […]

Providing addiction treatment for young people has a unique set of challenges.  Denial and precontemplation plague this age group.  Common rebuttals include, “everyone my age is doing it” and “I can stop whenever I want — I just don’t want to.”  From an outsider’s perspective looking in, it may seem obvious that the person needs […]

For high school or college age people who are in drug treatment or have completed an addiction treatment program, graduating from school is a natural and worthy goal.  However, schools of every kind are natural incubators for the party culture.  Therefore, there shouldn’t be a rush to return to campus prematurely.  For people of the […]

Fact:  Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. In a recent federally sponsored survey, 60 percent of high school seniors say they think marijuana is safe, and 23 percent say they’ve used marijuana in the past month—more than those who used alcohol or smoked cigarettes.  A concern for the harmful […]