Can the Brain Recover From Addiction?

You might have heard that addiction changes the brain—but can the brain recover after you remove substances? The rate and level at which it recovers depends on the substance you used, the severity of your use, the length of time you were in active addiction, your age, and a number of other factors. However, the […]
Can People Change?

“Can people really change?” is a common question—and that “really” seems to imply we can’t. Sayings like “a zebra never changes its stripes” or “a leopard never changes its spots” reinforce this idea. But people often come at this question from a narrow angle: can this person change in the way I want them to? […]
What Is an Addiction Treatment Center?

To some, an addiction treatment center can be a lifeline. Others may call it their doorway to recovery. For the family and friends of people suffering from a substance use disorder such as alcoholism or addiction to prescription drugs, an addiction treatment center is where they have hope to get their loved one back. Simply […]
Star-Studded Addictions: Tim Allen

In March, the actor Tim Allen—best known for his role on the show Home Improvement—reached 23 years sober. Allen has seen lots of success in his career, but it didn’t always seem like his life would take this path. Before he became famous, Allen spent two and a half years in federal prison for cocaine […]
How to Choose Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers

When looking for addiction treatment centers to get help with an alcohol or drug use disorder, it can feel genuinely overwhelming. You are already feeling stressed. Whether you are looking on your own behalf or for someone you care about, the most pressing issue is to find the right alcohol or drug treatment center for […]
Sober Stories: Doug

What led you to get sober? The Drug Enforcement Administration, basically. I’d been drinking and drugging for about 30 years. The last two years, I was using crystal meth heavily. I had a $500 a day habit, and to keep that going I had to sell a lot of drugs. Eventually the DEA put me […]
How to Support Others in Their Recovery

In the recovery world, you hear a lot about the importance of having people to support you. This is vital—and it’s equally crucial to give support. Helping Others Helps You A study of adolescents in addiction treatment found that those who helped others had a significantly reduced risk of relapse post-treatment.[1] Another study found that […]
Staying Sober in This New World

A lot has been written about the pandemic’s negative effect on people in recovery. This is important to discuss; addiction rates have spiked during COVID-19. But it’s also true that as things reopen, we sober folks may face new challenges. Staying Home Sometimes Meant Less Triggers I know several people who got sober during COVID-19. […]
LGBTQIA Pride

Happy LGBTQIA Pride Month! I am a queer person in recovery, and of the sober people I know, most are LGBTQ+. My communities might skew queer—but it’s also true that there are many LGBTQ+ people in recovery. An estimated 30% of LGBTQIA people struggle with addiction, compared with 9% of the general population.[1] Addiction and […]
Staying Sober on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time to honor people who died serving in the military. With so many deaths due to COVID-19 this past year, it’s an important time to honor all lives lost. It can be a challenging day for some, but it’s also a reminder that allowing yourself to grieve is necessary. A Big […]