Now that July has begun, we can push past the halfway point in our monthly series on the Twelve Steps by focusing upon Step Seven. This step is in many ways an extension of Step Six, in which we became ready to remove our character defects. Now, much as we did with our addiction in…
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Not too long ago, we talked about the benefits of Narcan and how it can potentially save lives. The drug works by reversing overdose symptoms, giving the victim enough time to receive medical care. It has been so effective that it has even been distributed to high schools. The thought of high school students suffering…
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We talk a lot about the opioid epidemic and the growing benzo epidemic, but we can’t ignore the truth. Addiction itself, regardless of the substance involved, is spreading at a frightening rate. It has been quite some time since we published our article on addiction demographics and statistics. Since then, the problem has not gotten…
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Like many opiates, fentanyl use appears to be on the rise. While once abused primarily by addicts working within the medical profession, fentanyl now shows up more and more frequently on the streets. Not only is it a highly effective drug on its own, but many heroin dealers now use fentanyl to cut their supplies.…
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TRIGGER WARNING: As you may have guessed from the title, this article and some of its imagery may be difficult for some people to digest. Use your discretion in determining if this applies to you. If you are currently suffering abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) for more info on…
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We should all embrace the need to stand up for ourselves when necessary. There are many different types of addicts and alcoholics. Many outsiders picture the substance abuser as someone who has trouble controlling their anger. They picture us as people who, with lowered inhibitions, will speak harshly or even commit acts of violence. They…
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There are few chapters as important to Alcoholics Anonymous as the fifth chapter. Many of the chapters before it may lead to mixed interpretations, which have the potential to divide those who feel differently about them. But “How It Works” is often used in the context of recovery itself, and is even read in numerous…
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A while back, we wrote an article on the benefits of small treatment facilities. We primarily focused on private facilities, as state-run facilities often lack the funding needed in order to truly operate at their best capability. This could be changed, however, if more funding were given to such treatment facilities. Even if low-income families…
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The death of musician Prince is not recent by modern press standards, but it’s still something that many are discussing. Not just because of the sadness that results from losing such an influential artist, but also because his death may be an indicator as to just how bad the drug problem has become in this…
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On the face of things, it may seem rather cynical to proclaim that we all have a dark side. Luke Skywalker got a little angry, but ultimately remained a Jedi. And looking outside of fictional characters, you won’t find a whole lot of stories about that time Mother Teresa got drunk and screamed at her…
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