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 […]
It’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
What Is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week? National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is a nationwide health observance aimed at counteracting the myths teens hear about drug and alcohol use.1 Many federal, state and local partners have teamed up to make this observance a priority, including the:
Trapped in a Downward Spiral of Addiction
Parker Jarmon’s drug use started early. He was only 13 years old when he first started smoking marijuana. Before he smoked, he was a loner—a lost soul. But marijuana changed all that. He finally fit in. In tenth grade, Parker got an Adderall prescription, but after a year on that drug, he craved something more. […]
Why a Moral Inventory Should Be a Part of Your Sobriety
What is a Moral Inventory? Step four of the 12-step program requires that individuals make a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves.1,2 A moral inventory is a written objective assessment of your life, including character deficits, strengths and weaknesses, and an overarching look at the damage you’ve caused with your addiction.