General
Addiction and the Holidays
For most people, there are several reasons why the holidays may be a difficult time of year. Tense relationships with family members, unhappy home situations, or a lack of a home situation or family all together can make the holidays the complete opposite of a holly, jolly environment. It seems like before we’ve even entered…
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California Suicide Rates
Suicide has been an ongoing national issue for decades. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides us with three distinct definitions to keep in mind when discussing suicide. They define suicide as a “death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.” A suicide attempt is described as…
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How to Handle an Overdose
There are many reasons why anyone would need to know how to handle an overdose safely. Whether it be for your safety or the safety of friends, family, and loved ones, knowing the proper steps to take when faced with someone overdosing can be integral to saving that person’s life. Many of us have probably…
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Gateway Drugs: Fact or Myth?
Anyone who has been to a high school assembly about abstinence from drugs and the dangers of early drug use has more than likely heard the expression “gateway drug.” Those assemblies would often include a life story from an individual who is in recovery and almost did not survive their battle with addiction. Many of…
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Most Commonly Used Substances in California
There are a number of substances, and even behaviors, that individuals frequently fall victim to in addiction. Additionally, some are more common than others. We often see individuals who struggle with alcohol, opioids, or sometimes even battle with food. Despite these commonalities, it has taken a while for the stigmatization of addiction, substance use, and…
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How to Find Employment After Treatment
A common misconception regarding recovery is that there exists a definitive end to the recovery journey. The truth is, post-treatment recovery takes a lot of work, effort, and can last the rest of someone’s life. A lot of time and energy in post-treatment is spent trying to get back on your feet. Whether finding a…
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Happy National Recovery Month!
National Recovery Month has been in existence since 1989. For 31 years, we’ve been celebrating not just the importance of recovery, but the importance of connection and community as well. Maintaining recovery can often take a village: a village of support and compassion from a community of family, friends, and peers who have gone through…
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How Family Therapy Could Help You
Some people get dealt a great hand of cards when it comes to our families, and others, not so much. It is easy for us to criticize and pass judgment on members of our family, and it’s exceptionally easy for us to be too hard on them. Every family comes with its own form of…
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Accepting Yourself and Your Recovery
An integral part of recovery is accepting where you are in life, accepting your illness, and accepting the work that must be done to recover. It’s also essential to get past failures, the consequences of past decisions, and the fact that there will be times where you may have to work harder than others to…
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Tips for Transitioning From Treatment to Recovery in California
The transition from treatment to recovery is not always a smooth ride. There is no actual end of the road regarding addiction, but thankfully, real-life recovery is happening all around us. Recovery from addiction is a life-long process that takes a lot of hard work and determination. The journey will undoubtedly have its bumps, but…
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