Staying sober for the holidays has been one of the many gifts of recovery for me. However, the holidays are typically a dangerous time for relapse among addicts & alcoholics. Even though this time of year is supposed to be about joy and celebration it can just as often turn into a stressful time filled with anxiety, tension, resentments and loneliness. Take time to breathe and pause.

The US Drug & Alcohol Epidemic Starts With Our Youth

Here’s the truth: You don’t need to be an addict to know the difference between going through life numb and living life fully awake and present. Even though a very small percent of the population can benefit from maintenance drugs, for an addict who is ready to recover and achieve the clarity that comes with being clean, it’s quite possible that “Maintenance Medication” is actually doing a disservice and robbing them of true sobriety.

If you’re a family or friend of someone who is struggling with addiction, you know how overwhelming it can be to find help for your loved one. You might not know a lot about addiction, much less anything about treatment options. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that you are left with the daunting responsibility of making a decision for your loved one.

Maybe you’re not entirely ready to say, “I’m addicted, and I need help.” Perhaps you’re just wondering what to do if you need help with drugs and alcohol?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alcoholism and excessive alcohol use causes somewhere around 88,000 deaths each year making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

You may have heard it before but the question remains: What is a functional drunk?

What Is Detox and is it necessary? Detox is the first phase of recovery from substance abuse recovery.