Alec Baldwin
Actor Alec Baldwin got sober on February 23rd, 1985. He was 26 years old. Addiction runs in Baldwin’s family; his brother, Daniel Baldwin, has also spoken publicly about his substance use disorder. When he was younger, Baldwin struggled with drinking and drug use. Soon before he stopped using substances, he nearly died of an overdose. […]
Signs of Physical Dependence
Substance abuse can produce silent effects. You start with a drink or a pill, experience the high, and wake up the next day as if nothing happened. If you do this enough times, your body begins to change. You can develop a tolerance, also known as physical dependence. Physical dependence is what begins the dark […]
Sober Stories: Brett
What led you to get sober? I know it’s often complicated. It is complicated. The number one reason was mental health. My biological father was an alcoholic; we were estranged for decades because he was going through his own stuff. My dad’s father died by suicide on my dad’s birthday when he was young, which […]
How to Talk to Kids About Addiction
Whether you’re a parent, a concerned relative, a teacher, or someone else close to a kid whose life is impacted by addiction, talking about it is important. Kids need to learn that the person’s addiction is not their fault and that they have support. Before you talk to a child about addiction, educate yourself. Read […]
Is There More Stigma About Mental Health Disorders or Addiction?
While things are getting better, there is still stigma about both mental health disorders and addiction. A study in the journal Psychiatric Services assessed whether people had more negative views towards one or the other.[1] Half of participants were given a survey about their beliefs on drug addiction and half about their beliefs on mental […]
Rob Lowe
This past May, the actor Rob Lowe—most recently known for his role in the show Parks and Recreation—celebrated 31 years sober. Lowe first started drinking at age 13. He then began using drugs and getting heavier into drinking during the filming of the movie The Outsiders, during which he turned 18. For a year before […]
A Conversation With Author Sarah Hepola
I spoke with the author Sarah Hepola over zoom about her book Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget, society’s changing attitudes towards alcohol, and finding identity and connection in sobriety. So first of all, I loved Blackout. Regarding the subtitle, “Remembering the things I drank to forget,” can you talk about some […]
Emotional Honesty in Recovery
Active addiction and secrecy often go hand in hand. It’s hard to be honest with yourself or others when you’re using substances to cut you off from your internal experiences. Also, we often feel like we have to lie in order to keep drinking or using. Getting to Know Yourself In recovery, being emotionally honest […]
Being Vulnerable in Recovery
Vulnerability is sometimes viewed as weakness, but it’s in fact the opposite. Being vulnerable is scary; doing so anyway takes courage and strength. Getting sober often helps us build these qualities, and this is good, because vulnerability helps recovery. The Benefits of Vulnerability The first part of becoming sober—admitting you have a problem, to yourself […]
What’s the Difference Between a Detox and a Recovery Center?
Detox and recovery centers are both parts of treatment for addiction, and may even exist in the same building, but they are not the same thing. They treat people at different stages of early recovery. A detox center helps people get off substances safely and as comfortably as possible. A person looking to stop using […]
