Star-Studded Addictions: Samuel L. Jackson
The actor Samuel L. Jackson got his breakout role in the 1991 Spike Lee movie Jungle Fever weeks after leaving addiction treatment. He went into treatment after his wife LaTanya and then-8-year-old daughter Zoe found him passed out drunk in their kitchen, in the process of cooking cocaine. Jackson said, “I drank and used […]
Life is Complicated, Keep it Simple
In recovery, you’ll probably hear the phrase “keep it simple.” This may be baffling. Life isn’t simple! Recovery isn’t simple! Addiction certainly isn’t simple! True, but the idea behind “keep it simple” is not to get too far ahead of yourself. You don’t have to overcomplicate a process that’s already overwhelming. I don’t use AA, […]
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is when a therapist works with several people at a time. In the book The Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy, author Irvin D. Yalom describes the benefits of group therapy, as reported by people who have experienced it. According to those reports, group therapy: Instills hope Reminds people they are not alone Allows […]
But I Want it Now: Patience in Recovery
In active addiction, when you crave something, you immediately seek it. It’s almost impossible to sit with your feelings for any length of time. The prefrontal cortex—a part of the brain involved in decision-making and self-control—is affected by chronic substance use. This makes people more impulsive and impatient. The prefrontal cortex is still developing into […]
Checking in With Pandemic Drinking
Almost as soon as COVID-19 caused lockdowns in March, a culture arose around pandemic drinking. People were posting about their “quarantinis,” or making jokes about how every hour was now 5pm; why did it matter if they drank during the day? I, your friendly local alcohol culture curmudgeon, wrote about these trends relatively early in […]
Staying Sober Through the Winter Blues
When I was contemplating getting sober, I worried about what I would do come winter. I was already mourning the loss of winter nights spent drinking red wine or whiskey. But it’s not as though I’d drink a glass or two; I’d have upwards of 15. I didn’t realize it, but I was really mourning […]
You Can Stay Sober, Even During the Winter 2020 Holidays
Everyone celebrates different winter holidays, but during COVID-19 most people face similar questions about how to do so safely. This brings added stress to a time that many already find challenging. In a survey of over 1,000 people’s holiday drinking habits, the second-highest alcohol consumption occurred on New Year’s Eve. The December winter holidays were […]
What are the Relapse Statistics?
Since addiction is a chronic brain disease, relapse is considered part of recovery. It does not mean that a person has failed; many people have success in long-term recovery after a relapse. 40-60% of people who have been treated for addiction relapse within a year. While people can relapse at any time, the chances of […]
How to Help a Teenager with Anxiety and Depression
By Stanley Clark Growing children (teenagers 13 to 18 years old) often go through many changes. During this period, they may also experience mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Treating such conditions with antidepressants may interfere with the normal development of a young brain(1). Because of these risks, most parents look for […]
Star-Studded Addictions: Jada Pinkett Smith and Her Mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith has been sober for over 20 years, and addiction runs in her family. Her mom, Adrienne Banfield-Jones, has been in recovery for 30 years. Banfield-Jones battled heroin addiction for more than two decades, throughout Pinkett Smith’s childhood. She said it took six years for her to reach one year of continuous […]