Sober Stories: Mark

What led you to get sober? My wife and I had talked several times about how my drinking was a problem. I tried multiple times to tone it down, thinking, “Maybe I can just have one drink.” But I’m sure you’ve heard the usual: one drink turns to six or however many. There were some […]
Creating Sober Community
I planned to get sober a month in advance, and as I was preparing, I reached out to my friends and family. I knew that having support behind me would be integral to my success in recovery. This is one reason support groups or 12-step fellowships are often recommended; ultimately, your recovery is your own, […]
What Are Resources for Loved Ones of Those With Addiction?

Addiction is often referred to as a family disease, because it significantly impacts those in the person with addiction’s life. When the person enters recovery, their friends, family, partner, and other loved ones may need to recover, too. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources for the loved ones of people with substance use disorders. Al-Anon […]
How to Enjoy a Safe and Sober 4th of July

The 4th of July is an important holiday in the United States. Summer has arrived, so people are ready to get together with friends and family to celebrate. Unfortunately, the 4th is also consistently one of the deadliest days of the year because of alcohol-fueled accidents, automotive and otherwise. Of all the drinking holidays, Independence […]
Leslie Jamison
Leslie Jamison—author of The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath, The Empathy Exams, and others—has been sober since 2010. In The Recovering, Jamison tells the story of her own recovery and those of other famous creatives who got sober. Like some of the artists mentioned in the book, Jamison produced work while in active addiction. “It […]
5 Signs You Need an Alcohol Rehab Center

Nearly twenty million Americans are addicted to alcohol. This addiction disrupts lives, including those suffering from addiction and their families and other loved ones. If left untreated, alcoholism impedes daily functioning, affects long-term health, compromises relationships, and can negatively impact employment and finances. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, professional rehab is your […]
Recent Review Measures How Many People Receive Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was the first nationally representative survey to ask respondents who received treatment for alcohol addiction if medications were part of their care. A new review in JAMA Psychiatry used data from this survey to understand how many Americans receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol use […]
Using Things Outside Yourself to Cope With Emotional Pain

I’ve heard addiction described as—among other things—using something outside of yourself to cope with painful feelings. This can happen even after you quit using substances; it’s one of the reasons many people with substance use disorders also struggle with other, behavioral addictions. Looking to things outside yourself to “solve” your emotional pain often leads to […]
Recent Seasons of the shows POSE and Feel Good Deliver Honest and Complex Portrayals of Addiction

Attn: Spoilers TW: Sexual Assault, AIDS, Death The most recent seasons of the shows POSE and Feel Good both deal with addiction. While the two are very different, each illuminates the links between trauma and substance use disorders. This last season of POSE, season 3, takes place in 1994; previous seasons were in the late […]
3 Signs a Spouse Needs Alcohol Addiction Treatment

When someone we love is in trouble, we worry. But when it comes to alcohol use, sometimes it’s difficult to know if there’s a problem. The media normalizes alcohol use, including abuse, by showing positive, happy images of drinking and even using drunkenness as a subject for comedy. We can easily be lulled into thinking […]