Texas Addiction Recovery Blog
Gathering, Gifting, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse
For people in many parts of the world, today is Boxing Day. During this day, people often gather together to exchange gifts with one another. As much as I like gifts, the older I get, the more I realize that such celebrations aren’t really about the gift giving....
10 Surprising Addictions that Aren’t Substance Use Disorder
Did you know that it's possible to be addicted to something that isn't alcohol or a drug? It might seem strange, but people can really become addicted to substances or even objects other than drugs and alcohol...and it can be very disruptive. Caffeine If you can't...
Getting Away from Shame and Stigma of Substance Use Disorder
Many people are pleased with the Surgeon General for having shifted then perspective of addiction in his recent report (the first of its kind) on substance use disorder. Can we all learn how to think about addiction differently? We're going to have to—the very life...
When Opiate Medications Did Good
Or so we thought. There was a resurgence in the amount of opiate prescriptions in the late 90s. After all, they do allow a chronic pain sufferer to live a life free of crippling pain. But in the 90s, the language surrounding opioids was far less careful, and far...
Honesty and Substance Use Disorder (and Regifting!)
According to those goofy online calendars, today is national regifting (or re-gifting) day. As the name indicates, regifting occurs when we receive a gift and then give this same gift to someone else. I must have done this before. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve...
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Alcohol Abuse
Today marks a change in seasons. It’s the first day of winter. Winter is an interesting time. The beginning of the season features holidays, while the rest of the season can be tough for some people. For many of us, winter is a season of cold weather, snow, and days...
Substance Use Disorder, Stigmas, and Judgment
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, you’re probably wrestling with several complicated thoughts and emotions. You might even be dealing with the opinions of others. That’s because there still seem to be stigmas surrounding drug and alcohol...
Nicotine Is a Dangerous Drug
Is Nicotine A Drug? What You Need To Know About Nicotine Is this a case of another day, another lecture? Maybe, but there’s some fascinating and startling information that links nicotine to other drugs. Nicotine is a drug that is a major component in cigarettes,...
No Regrets: Moving Beyond in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder
Recovery is all about making amends. Most importantly, you must make amends with yourself. Without self-forgiveness, recovery is impossible. Many people have co-morbid disorders that impact their lives negatively, and at times, they don't even know it. Reaching for...
How to Not Drink Alcohol During the Holidays
It's a very good idea to have a gameplan in place before you head out to holiday parties. Even if you've been sober for awhile, there will always be moments where alcohol can still be tempting, and it can happen out of the blue. 1. Make a commitment to staying...
