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For a myriad of reasons, the holidays can be a difficult time for people in recovery. Not only are there a lot of feelings that come up during this time of year, but there are also some temptations to cope with if you’re invited to a get-together. Parties with alcohol or marijuana use are now…

When you’ve been in recovery for a while, you find some stability and serenity that you didn’t have before. But sometimes this serenity is mistaken for boredom, which can be a big trigger for some people to use. Once you’ve settled down into your recovery and have stayed clean for a good amount of time,…

Staying positive in recovery can seem like a battle, at least when you first get clean and begin to sift through your emotions. Negative self-talk can be harmful to you and hinder your progress in sobriety. Learning to become more positive will help you achieve more of your goals, build your self-esteem, and stay on…

When you first get clean and sober, there’s a lot on your mind. Recovery can be both exciting and scary, especially when you don’t know what your next steps will be. Soon, however, you learn coping skills and make friends. Life starts looking up as you begin to confront your challenges head-on and still stay…

Everyone has fears, but for many in recovery, these fears can hold back progress and cause a lot of worries. When you were using, you probably were able to suppress some of your anxiety. As a person in recovery, however, fears will crop up now and then. Some types of fear are healthy and can…

Addiction, also known as a substance use disorder, is a disease that can be insidious and powerful. For many people, relapse is a part of their recovery journey. But it doesn’t have to be that way.   The symptoms of relapse are not usually so apparent to people who suffer from it, and it takes…

When you think of the word “health,” what comes to mind? When you were using, you probably weren’t doing healthy things. The World Health Organization defines health as a complete state of mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. These are needs that remain the same across cultures. When you were using, did you make it a…

In recovery, you quickly learn that stress is still a part of your everyday life. Whether you’re in groups all day, working part or full-time, or returning to school, there can be little things that set you off or frustrate you. Recovery doesn’t make anyone immune to stress. In fact, you might discover you’re more…

Accepting responsibility is an integral part of self-esteem self-respect and character building, both in and out of recovery. When you were using, you probably found excuses for bad behavior. This behavior was normal in active addiction. Denial can be powerful for people who have a substance abuse disorder. A lot of behavior is rationalized when…

Getting clean is a great accomplishment, and there’s a lot to celebrate. Finding a new way of life can be a huge relief for those who have been in the throes of addiction for a while. Staying clean, however, can be hard work. Many people in recovery talk about how they feel about “catching up”…

Feelings – we all have them, and we all struggle with them no matter what stage of life we’re experiencing. In early recovery, however, emotions can be overwhelming and frightening. They may seem to come out of nowhere, and you may wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again. Are These Feelings Normal? In short, yes!…

The term “willpower” has often been used to describe how people make significant changes to their behavior. People often believe that willpower is an inner strength that makes it possible to do things such as exercise daily, change your diet, or change other unwanted behavior. So where, exactly, does willpower fit in when it comes…

Over 1000 meetings. You bump into everyone in recovery from the gas station to the grocery. Is this good? Well, being alone and isolated leads to the city of no bueno. Accountability, friendship, support and activities will make anyone worried or stress think twice about being lonely. Here’s a list of AA meeting finder as…

Everyone’s first thought. Must be overwhelming. Impossible. Luck. Miracle. Well, there seems to be a pattern with those that ‘got it’. Lots of meetings. Sponsorship. Stepwork. Personal growth. Education. We’ve seen it all. From big book thumpers to higher education, there seems to be an underlying factor: being connected and being thirsty for growing as…

https://www.spin.com/2018/02/frances-bean-cobain-sober-instagram/ We commend Frances Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain on her 2nd sober birthday. The impact of family hurts not only parents but also children, and the difficulties to overcome alcohol and drug use can become challenging given the social system reintegration and reliving trauma through the developmental stages that psychologically can become stagnant or…

https://www.thefix.com/4-things-consider-when-choosing-transitional-housing-or-sober-living Sober Living: What to ask? This article from the fix is impeccable. How do you tell a quality sober living from a random house looking to fit as many people and call it a process? The fact that it brings back power to the client is important. We’d like to add our own questions…

What used to be a hush hush etiquette of alcohol and drug recovery is now the proud boasting of overcoming a human challenge that is inspiring many and changing the rhetoric of addiction to one of substance use disorders with so many opportunities for help, change and true transformations. We salute you Sia for sharing…

As fraud continues to be evident in the operations of sober living homes, the common denominator of the industry seems to call for standards. What structure or rules exist? Have they been proven to curtail drug and/or alcohol use disorders or relapses? What variables are objective? We need statistics and we need science. As much…

We thank Margaret Cho, comedian extraordinaire, for voicing the importance of extending sobriety through sober living. Given the low rates of recovery and previous limit on rehab due to insurance, the focus on extending sobriety through sober living has been a controversial, in housing, but behaviorally transforming emphasis of sobriety in healthcare. Although having a…

It’s great to hear positive news and an emphasis on sobriety as opposed to the turmoil cause by substance use disorder. We salute and wish the best to those public figures seeking help and leaving a path of hope for those that might never hear about the way out and the success stories. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/bobby-brown-finally-clean-sober/story?id=43244157 www.bytheseasandiego.com

It’s great to hear positive news and an emphasis on sobriety as opposed to the turmoil cause by substance use disorder. We salute and wish the best to those public figures seeking help and leaving a path of hope for those that might never hear about the way out and the success stories. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/bobby-brown-finally-clean-sober/story?id=43244157 www.bytheseasandiego.com

People are complaining about the growth of sober living homes, but isn’t it at its core a reflection of the drug and alcohol problem in the United States? Is there a space to talk about procedures and best practices? Absolutely? Can they be stopped or closed down? We might as well follow the Phillipines, from…

It is not so much ‘cracking down’, but understanding what is being done to make sure that great places can be available as well as making sure that does that do not qualify do not operate. The problem is not so much in the sober living homes, but in the qualification and standards, for disabled…

“I buried a child to drug addiction,” Fiorina said. In a presidential election coming up, the United States becomes a little more aware of an epidemic with Carly Fiorina opening up about her daughter’s battle with addiction. A long time stigma making its way to the spotlight in order to have solutions, options and plans…

The new face of addiction is no longer the cliche brown bag holding homeless adult. Its in the suburbs, in college forms and in the comfort of a family home. As the stigma of substance use disorders begins to be a part of the vocabulary of community, the shock of overdoses will continue to cause…

Steven Tyler joins other great musicians to rally at UNITE, an addiction awareness rally in Washington to begin a shift in attention towards treatment as well as opportunities for those reintegrating whether the incarceration system or housing. Subjects such as treatment rather than punitive efforts, naloxone (narcan) for heroin overdose implementations and many other engaging…

The most insightful video as to why we continue to have punitive treatment for substance use disorders, previously known as addiction and alcoholism. As Hari states, it is in our nature to bond and to connect as well as to be drawn to meaningful relationships and environments that nurture our development. As opposed to the…

Eminem Shares Previous Struggle With Drugs That Pushed Him To 230 Pounds : LIFE : Tech Times The brave rapper and entertainer Eminem opens up abut his demons, difficulties and journey to health. We commend this talented artist that could inspire the over 22 million people in recovery from substance use disorders in the United…

With drinking on the rise and affecting over 33 million people in the United States, efforts to provide alternatives to punitive corrections such as sober living and/or treatment has its own barriers. Society wants them to get help, but not close to them. Alcohol and drug free homes are opening up to attend the demand,…

Quite fervently and proud of his sobriety, Rob Lowe hits a dubsmash (a lip synching app) out of the park, singing to the sound of music. A galant and poised and most recognizable Lowe of the 90’s, Rob seems to be portraying an amazing zest for life and we commend him for this sober living…

What starts as recreational marijuana and prescription opiate use can escalate to an overdose, and given the sensitive biology that is still developing in youth, most prefrontal activity is interrupted and hindered by the strong prescriptions available in most cabinets. Its a phase. She will get out of it. Unfortunately the stigma is still too…

A heroin ring seems to have been a problem in the New York prison where the inmates escaped with supposed support of correctional staff. Heroin use is escalating and its manifestation must be obvious within the correctional facilities. It is interesting to see if there is any attention to drug and alcohol use within as…

Hillary Clinton’s team seems to be placing a higher level of attention to substance use disorders, formerly known as addiction and alcoholism, with the heroin and methamphetamine epidemic in rural America. Seems like awareness is at senate level and permeating the verbiage of the candidate, hoping that their words get placed into action. What’s great…

The stories of hope in recovery from addiction and alcoholism, presently known as substance use disorders, are very real. The impact of school on the turnaround is very real and rarely heard (as well as employment). The challenge is finding these colleges that are willing to give individuals second chances as well as accommodating programs…

What is Kratom? Well, since its not scheduled nor illegal, you don’t have to worry until something horrible happens. Such as the suicide of this teen, or the huge amounts being sold as supplements to those seeking a natural high (or in common terms anxiety relief). Found at supplement stores (even gas  stations) this substance…

Thank you dear Candace for enlightening huffington post readers on your experience with addiction and your unique take on recovery. There was nothing on diagnosis, severity, research nor reliable accounts. Yes, yet another beautiful way to emotional arouse a reader who is urging either education or http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/candace-plattor/addiction-and-relapse_b_6548274.html

And we never think we hurt others while we go around our own problems, specially in families. In Addiction, the confusion is intensified with the lies and the fear to communicate what’s real: there’s a serious problem with alcohol and/or drugs and believing that circumventing around members, many times the younger ones, will be alleviating…

Families who have lost a loved one to substance use disorders, formerly known as alcoholism and addiction, are tired of being tired. Where do they go to? How many times can someone go to treatment? What if you can’t afford it? Families are coming out. The pain is greater than the stigma. It is no…

And these are the stories the public gets about substance use disorders, or commonly known as addiction or alcoholism: that your newspaper columnist or neighbor can provide adequate information to attend a very critical and much more complex issue than a one stop solution. The columnist uses an ‘interventionist’ (yes, she uses quotes) to offer…

http://www.kpho.com/story/28123501/az-lawmaker-wants-sober-living-homes-to-be-licensed And the fight to regulate sober living homes continues. An Arizona bill seeks to license sober houses and recovery homes, placing an interesting point of view on a seemingly untouched policy for disabled housing, which those suffering from substance use disorders are under (ADA and FDH). Are there standards in sober living homes? If…

And finally colleges begin to understand that a wonderful way to keep some students from dropping out is to ensure their safety by supporting and even creating recovery housing near their campuses. Universities listen: alcohol and drugs are an epidemic in your campuses. Recovery is a theme that needs to be spread so that prevention…

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/02/14/fifty-shades-of-grey-box-office/23405561/ And all the talk this month has been about Fifty Shades. That it’s abusive. That it reflects poorly on relationships. The thing is, its selling. Profoundly. And its getting everyone talking (Got me). I had to see it personally and not criticize it without seeing it (typical, we all have strong opinions about what…

Manziel enters rehab. The timing with the superbowl seems like a perfect storm of celebration, media and gossip. I guess its not until it happens in the NFL that more attention is given to substance use disorders than even the entertainment industry (Whitney Houston, Robin Williams and Hoffman?) Big noise for a month…did we learn…

A one day gig. Was it for the media or to get bad press of the light of MMA? Is it use or abuse? Do we want perfect athletes or are we expecting them to be perfect and abstinent? Does the MMA test regularly? For what drugs? Ok, a bit too many questions but I…

As society realizes that alcoholism and addiction is an epidemic, more efforts to attend them locally such as these will be a sign of care and acceptance that an illness is not discriminating of socioeconomic conditions nor geography. Thank you Vineyard House. http://www.mvtimes.com/2014/12/22/marthas-vineyard-new-sober-living-facility/ bytheseasandiego.com

And as we wrap this year, may we know that Holidays for some means hopefully being able to let go of the heaviest burden of them all: addiction. With heroin at its all time high, both in availability and low cost, this once forgotten but now oversupplied drug is arresting the development of many of…

Hmmm….so you mean there is a high probability that youth’s on their phone all the time might also be misusing substances. Interesting. Thoughts? I wonder if the people making the tests have an issue with it and how they came about studying it. I mean, who are the individuals who placed so much value in…

Bradley Cooper opens up about living in recovery for ten years now, a brave step to letting in vulnerability as a public figure. It seems more stars and celebrities keep disclosing as a manner to let go of the stigma and the weight of the shame and guilt that is so many times reinforced by…

Ace of Kiss ‘comes out’ regarding his recovery after receiving the most coveted award in music, the hall of fame. Yet another grand name becomes open regarding a journey of life and a once seemingly held stigma that now seems a calling to educate and empower the community than anything else. Thank you for your…

Aaah, so perhaps there is some science behind the caffeine overload of many in early recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders? Definitely worth throwing in more research. Starbucks wanting to sponsor a double blind study in early addiction? http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/19156/20141120/could-coffee-treat-cocaine-addiction.htm bytheseasandiego.com

A beautiful openness to share her hope. Bravo Gaga, taking a true story that might at first glance appear like the typical lifestyle or repetitive stumble of an artist’s life, turned into an expression of life, redemption and above all a huge impact on many a followers that this talented and immensely creative woman is.…

And the lawsuits continue. http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-me-1122-sober-home-lawsuit-20141121,0,252927.story bytheseasandiego.com

With psychedelic induced therapies become more evident as well as researched, there is a controversial rebirth of interest to its attending PTSD as well as other mental health disorders. The substance use disorder field seems to push backwards, with strong sentiments against the abstinence based mindset overheard from 12 step programs. What are your thoughts…

Colombia, a world known drug capital, now seeks to decriminalize marijuana in an effort to change the way their population confronts use and its legal implications. It seems that the ‘war’ against drugs seems to be a fight against a larger giant, and as we move from decriminalization to attending the underlying factors of use,…

The supreme court said no. It will not review nor follow up on Newport wishing to regulate sober living homes. Its interesting however that there has to be standards and a mechanism for control, for a situation like the one in Florida, mixing insurance and treatment, may cross fine lines and be pushing the terms…

Beautiful Joe. Educating and sharing personal experiences comfort the questions, fears and doubts about mental health and substance use disorders: from anger to solutions. It also creates a shift from handicap to empowerment, both supporting governmental agencies and leaders to promote evidence based programs, social support models and existing agencies that are currently having positive…

And many more continue to open up about their story and their struggle, sharing about the difficulties of recovery but above all the hope for those who continue hurting in still shameful and guilty space that requires attention to its right perspective: substance use disorders are an epidemic and once viewed as containing a physiological…

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/20/health/ebola-outbreak-roundup/index.html

A fresh voice into changing the conversation from ‘war’ to ‘facing’. There cannot be a movement until it ‘faces’ the truth: an epidemic impacting 2/3 of the American population, not ignoring the indirect impact in the world and economies. By understanding that previous efforts to demonize or punitively attend a measure that is rooted in…

A brave soul to come out and share her hope and message about recovery against the overwhelming resistance of stigma, anonymity and continued belief of early efforts to curtail use through abstinence.   Not only are these celebrities saving lives, but changing the way we see addiction: from a dark connotation to an understanding of…

Thank you Obama for your policy on drugs. First time its been clear: Science demonstrates that addiction is a disease of the brain—a disease that can be prevented and treated, and from which people can recover. The Administration’s drug policy reflects this understanding by emphasizing prevention and access to treatment over incarceration, pursing “smart on…

Sober living seems to be heading towards standards and regulations as an outcome of Orange County. Just like there are amazing homes with true passion and leadership, the tarnish of those who aren’t supervised or regulated can only hurt the overall mission of recovery housing: that were someone wishing to begin their journey may find…

Canada might be neutral, but is very positive on making progress on addiction treatment. Their money is going to prevent, educate and make sure the epidemic is getting some hands on. What are we waiting for? http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/08/06/bc-boosts-addiction-research-treatment-funding_n_5655695.html https://www.bytheseasandiego.com

And yet another display of a community’s portrayal of stigma and ignorance: not in my backyard. That doesnt happen in your neighborhood, right? The fact that recovery resources are available in a city such as treatment centers, sober living homes and detoxes, are only a sign of the sensitivity and care that a community places…

The epidemic of heroin keeps escalating, causing twisted heads to look further into the problematic with a need for education, prevention and above all treatment. What is your state doing? http://m.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-new-face-of-heroin-20140403

 http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/04/powdered-alcohol-is-now-mostly-legal/361006/ Let the games begin. A new form of alcohol that has hit the shelfs (mostly digital). We will be witnessing its use (or misuse) as well as the implications and consequences of approving it. Will it be able to be breathalyzed for? How do you test for it? Restaurants, bars and concert halls ok…