Amethyst Recovery has been offering Vivitrol treatment for some time, but some have expressed concerns about the way it works. Vivitrol blocks the receptors that allow people to feel the effects caused by alcohol and opioid drugs. This is obviously useful in relapse prevention, but what of those who must receive such medications for surgical…
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Like many treatment centers, Amethyst has treated patients who were addicted to a wide variety of illicit substances. From barflies to heroin addicts, we have seen it all. But one of the more troubling developments in the addiction world over recent years has been a rise in the abuse of Schedule II medicinal drugs. We…
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Last month, we noted in our article on the Third Promise that it was technically only one half of a longer sentence contained within Chapter 6 of the Big Book. The second half of that sentence has been turned into the Fourth Promise, which is much shorter than the Third Promise yet no less important.…
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When we touched on the Third Concept last month, we spoke frequently of the “Right of Decision,” the right for AA groups and their members to act as delegates rather than servants. Embedded in Concept IV is the “Right of Participation,” which is similar in some ways yet still carries its own meaning and importance…
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As we have done in previous months this year, we are following our article on the Fourth Step of AA/NA with an article on the Fourth Tradition. We noted in our article on the Third Tradition that, while Tradition One and Tradition Two may have been somewhat related to their corresponding steps, this is not…
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Now that we have entered the month of April, it is time to introduce our fourth installment in our series on the Twelve Steps. This is an important one, as it begins a new chapter in our step work. Step One, Step Two and Step Three are all strongly connected as the three primary steps…
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Humility is the most important of the Seven Heavenly Virtues, which is why it has been chosen to end this series. Much as pride is often seen as the root of all the Seven Deadly Sins, humility is in many ways the attribute which breeds the rest of the virtues. Without it, we would not…
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The penultimate article in our series on the Seven Heavenly Virtues may come as a surprise to some. Not the concept of patience as a virtue—which is, after all, a rather common expression—but rather the fact that its counterpart in the Seven Deadly Sins is generally held to be wrath. It may be a bit…
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In the most recent installment of our series on the Seven Heavenly Virtues, we mentioned that kindness meant more than just charity. Of course, the two clearly still go hand-in-hand. And once recovering addicts and alcoholics have learned the basics of kindness, it is time to begin branching out and finding new ways of demonstrating…
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Even if you had only just heard of the Seven Heavenly Virtues for the first time, it would likely not surprise you to learn that kindness was on the list. In fact, it is the first virtue we have covered that mostly stands on its own. Courage is required for diligence, while temperance and chastity…
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