Did you know that 8.7 percent of full-time workers ages 18 to 64 used alcohol heavily in the past month? And 8.6 percent used illicit drugs in the past month? More than nine percent of workers in the U.S. have a substance use problem and a majority of them are working in the restaurant and […]
Shehan Karunaratne
[IDEAS Series] Q&A with Derek Stone, Recovery Specialist
Derek Stone developed substance abuse problems at a very young age and was sober by the age of 20. Today, with 18 years of sobriety under his belt, he works closely with Nova clients to help them overcome their own battles with addiction. “This isn’t just something I do for a living,” he says. “I […]
Netflix Documentary Review: Take Your Pills
The Netflix documentary “Take Your Pills,” directed by Alison Klayman, asks some very pointed questions regarding our society’s willingness to use performance-enhancing stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin. Although the film explores the historical development, production, and widespread use of these drugs over time, it also begs one very important question: What is the cost of […]
Set Free from the Bondage of Addiction
Al Lesem’s upbringing in Houston, Texas was difficult. His mother passed away when he was just six years old and his father remarried several times after that. Although his father cared for him and had a great job as a psychiatrist, Al had no structure or guidance as a child. “My childhood was very stressful,” […]
Child Opioid Overdoses Have Nearly Doubled Since 2004
A study published this month in the journal Pediatrics highlighted a disturbing trend of increasing child opioid hospitalizations. According to the study, child hospitalizations due to opioid overdoses nearly doubled between 2004 and 2015, the majority of which were for children ages 12 to 17. One-third of the opioid hospitalizations were for children under the […]
Finding Purpose in Life
Megan Minasi grew up in Houston, Texas, in a broken home full of secrets and substance abuse. By the time she was four years old, her parents had already divorced. She saw her dad every other weekend as a child and her mother remarried when she was eight. Although Megan and her older brother were […]
7 Common Challenges People Face in Addiction Recovery
Successfully completing a drug and alcohol rehab program and re-entering society as a sober individual does not come without its own unique challenges. Maybe your loved one is in rehab and you want to understand what he or she may be experiencing. Or maybe you’re considering enrolling in a rehab program yourself, but your fears […]
How to Make Amends in Addiction Recovery
Drug and alcohol addiction has the potential to severely damage relationships between the addict and their loved ones, leaving behind only a shell of the relationship that used to be. Steps eight and nine of the 12-Step Program clearly reference making amends, highlighting the importance of repairing those relationships, if possible.
How Social Media Contributes to Drug Abuse
Updated on June 25th, 2020 Social media today plays a huge role in the ongoing drug abuse crisis in America. Although social apps and websites are marketed as a safe, fun, online place to interact with friends and family (and they definitely can be), some people also abuse them to share drug-related propaganda or to […]
Full Surrender
Adam Tucker’s story of addiction starts in the quiet lake community of Frederick, Maryland, just an hour west of Baltimore. Born in Washington D.C. to two loving parents, Adam describes his upbringing as relatively peaceful and enjoyable. “I never experienced any trauma; there was never any abuse,” he says. “I was a pretty privileged kid […]