Addiction Recovery Blog

The opioid epidemic is becoming increasingly rampant in the United States and across the world. This past year, the drug overdose deaths reached an all-time high of approximately 100,000 in the US, and about 65% of these deaths were related to opioids. 

Unfortunately, the coronavirus and all the uncertainty that came with it, only made the opioid epidemic worse. With health departments spending so much time and money on COVID, the spotlight has shifted away from the opioid crisis. 

For many, rather than being a season of gladness and hope, the holidays are filled with grief and anxiety. Whether spent alone, or with friends and family, the holidays can be a very stressful time, which can cause people to lean on their destructive coping mechanisms.

Addiction does not only affect the addicted individual - it affects the whole family. Addiction can destroy relationships, and cause a lot of hurt among family members, which can become magnified during the holiday season.

Whether your loved one is currently in recovery, or is needing to begin their recovery, here are some ways in which you can support them during this time.

If you love Halloween festivities, and are newly sober, you may be worried that sobriety will cause you to miss out on the Halloween fun.

However, there are plenty of ways you can still have a great Halloween while being sober, you will just want to be more mindful of your triggers so that you can manage them effectively. 

What is the best way to show support to an addicted loved one? Some believe that tough love is the only way to get addicts “back on track,” while others enable their loved one in hopes that this will help them curb their addiction.

Fortunately, there are other ways to support your loved one that will not only be beneficial for them, but also for you. 

What are the benefits of going alcohol-free for 30 days? Over the course of 4 weeks, you will already start to see tremendous improvements in your physical and mental health. With Sober October right around the corner, it’s a great time to try out a month without alcohol. 

The first step to recovery is acknowledging that you need to help. Substance use disorders are complex and it requires time and commitment in order to attain sobriety. While going to treatment may seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be that way. September is National Recovery Month, and it’s important to be aware of the types of treatment that are available across the country so that you can decide which one is best for you.

I sincerely believed that alcohol would never be excluded from my life. Not because I couldn’t quit, but because I didn’t want to.

I never understood the ones who found joy without a sprinkle of liquid courage. I was convinced that being “addicted” to alcohol was in my nature and that changing that would be out of the question.

I never considered myself to be an alcoholic, but I knew all too well that I drank too much. I drank more than the people around me, – a lot more often. I preferred drinking alone but because I could function properly while drinking, I dismissed the reality that I had a drinking problem.

It’s no secret that addiction does not only affect the person with a substance use disorder, but their loved ones as well.

If someone you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, you may find yourself wanting to help, but unsure of how to go about it. In some cases, when a loved one tries to help, they end up becoming codependent, which can lead to self-destructive behavior. 

However, it’s possible to take care of your loved one without becoming codependent and without condoning their addictive behavior. Aquila also offers a number of addiction treatment programs for families and addiction recovery resources to help someone struggling with the mental and physical effects of substance abuse.

On February 3rd, 2020 I officially had my last drink after 10 years of heavy drinking. I tried for 2 long years to get sober, but it wasn’t until I hit a personal low that I was able to seek help.

As humans, it’s natural for us to have a competitive nature. However, this is not always healthy, especially in the case of recovery. When you are healing from an addiction and the pain of the past, you may be feeling less confident which leads you to start comparing yourself and your recovery to that of others. However, it is vital for your recovery that you break this habit of comparison, and here’s why.