When Relapse Turns Deadly: What You Need to Know About Drug Overdose

Elements' David Sack, MD in the Huffington Post

It is a sad irony that rehab is life-saving, yet the weeks and months immediately following checkout are among the most vulnerable times in an addict's recovery. It can take up to a year for the areas of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotion regulation to return to normal functioning. In addition, people are often still struggling with powerful drug cravings and then return to an environment where they are surrounded by reminders of their drug use.

Learn more about preventing drug overdose and relapsing after rehab...

Promises and The Promises Foundation Celebrate Recovery Month with 8th Annual Polo in the Palisades Charity Event

Promises | August 14, 2013

In honor of Recovery Month, The Promises Foundation will host its 8th Annual Polo in the Palisades charity event to benefit Miriam's House. On September 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades, California, The Promises Foundation will bring together people in the entertainment, business, legal and recovery communities to help change the lives of low-income families in need at its 8th Annual Polo in the Palisades charity event benefiting Miriam's House.

Read more about the 8th Annual Polo Tournament...

I'm Not Sure I'm Really an Addict...

Promises | August 3, 2013

We all drink a little too much from time to time, don't we? Is there anything wrong with enjoying ourselves? Plenty of people have a little to drink each day. How is a person supposed to know if he is really an addict? How do we know if we need help? Are these the questions and justifications that run through your mind when you consider your drinking?

How can you tell if you really have a problem with drugs or alcohol?

What the Heck Is Sex and Relationship Rehab?

Sex Addiction Expert, Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S in the Huffington Post

In many respects, sex rehab mirrors drug and alcohol rehab, relying on the same basic structure and techniques. The main differences between sex addiction recovery and substance abuse recovery are the level of intimacy in the work being done, the subject itself, the fact that the majority of clients have had significant early life trauma, and the way in which "sobriety" is defined.

Read more...

Codependency and Drug Abuse

Right Step | August 5, 2013

Codependency is a term which describes a double-sided relationship in which one person enables and the other controls. This relationship can happen between just two people, as in the husband/wife relationship, but sometimes it can be seen in the family unit as a whole. When a loved one has a drug or alcohol abuse problem, the spouse or family members will often respond by attempting to hide the fact from outsiders. Enablers believe they are acting in a loving way when, in fact, they are merely deepening the abuse habit.

Read more...

Ending the Nightmare of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Ranch | July 24, 2013

For many people with PTSD, shame prevents them from seeking treatment. Many people try to muscle through the fears and flashbacks, or live life avoiding the situations that trigger re-experiencing episodes. Shame, stigma and in some cases real losses (such as losing custody of children, or losing access to specific recognition in the military) may occur if PTSD is disclosed. The suffering PTSD causes is compounded by a sense of isolation and desperation, with little escape available.

Read more...