Many people who seek help for drug or alcohol dependency find out that addiction treatment improves family life in ways they never anticipated. Having a healthy family life is crucial to feeling confidant and supported in recovery, so the topic of family relationships is often a big component of recovery programs like Stepworks. Unfortunately, some people who are struggling with drug dependency aren’t aware of the ways in which addiction treatment could strengthen their family bonds.
Why do people emphasize the importance of structure in addiction recovery programs? Is structure the end goal or just a way of getting to sobriety? These are commonly asked questions, especially when one is looking at the pros and cons of different treatment programs. Questioning structure is also a common response that people may have when they first enter a rehab program or recovery environment. A person like that might ask, “Why do I have to attend all these group meetings?” or, “How come we do this activity at the same time every day?” Discussing the role of structure in addiction recovery means looking at the root of what addiction is and how to best stay on a sober path.
The decision to seek help for a problem using opioids, alcohol, or another drug doesn’t come easy. Many people wrestle with the question of whether they really need professional help. Even after deciding to pursue some kind of addiction treatment, many are unsure what kind of treatment they should choose. Residential addiction treatment, or rehab, offers an immersive kind of treatment that can be particularly effective in laying down a foundation for lifelong recovery. Unfortunately, internal or external barriers often prevent people who have addictions from choosing residential treatment, at least as a first choice. Some of those barriers are myths or misconceptions about rehab. When you’re making a decision that’s going to have a big impact on your health, it’s important to have accurate information. Take a look at these commonly held residential addiction treatment misconceptions. Spreading the facts about rehab can help people make informed health decisions and make more efficient use of the various pathways to recovery.
If you have recently been struggling with a drinking problem, you’re not alone: heavy alcohol use is currently on a steep rise in the United States. A newly published study and editorial in the JAMA Psychiatry journal showed evidence of huge increases in general alcohol use, high-risk (heavy, binge) drinking, and alcohol use disorders (addiction).
The study revealed a variety of upward trends in alcohol use, noting that socioeconomically vulnerable groups have been especially affected by the rise in drinking problems. When disadvantaged populations in the U.S. are already suffering from a runaway opioid epidemic, an increase in alcohol abuse and dependency can only compound the misery of those who are in need of help.
Episode 2: “Van Ingram”
This is our second episode of the Stepworks Connect Podcast! Van Ingram, Executive Director of the the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, joins us to discuss his journey in public service and his career dedication to keeping Kentuckians safe and healthy. We delve into what the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy does, focusing on some initiatives and programs that are available to those in need of addiction treatment.
This podcast series will explore and debate topics in addiction, treatment, and recovery. The podcast will include diverse guests, from recovery experts and behavioral health professionals to ordinary people who have had personal encounters with addiction and recovery. The purpose of this addiction podcast is to engage you in useful conversations about risks of substance use and ways forward in recovery. Listen in and share the podcast with others! If you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail us at [email protected].
Anyone struggling with a substance use problem learns that addiction causes financial trouble. Often these money problems come up in ways they might not have expected when they first began using addictive drugs. The consequences of an undiagnosed or untreated addiction eventually reach most or all aspects of one’s life. That translates to damaged relationships, personal health problems, unreached goals, a lack of direction, and other negative outcomes.
Because money problems and poverty create their own set of problems that can be difficult to find a way out of, it’s especially important to consider some different ways that addiction causes financial trouble. Here are five financial consequences of addiction that often drive people struggling with substance use further into desperate situations.
Here at the Stepworks Connect blog, we talk a lot about why it’s a good idea to seek treatment if you’re struggling with a dependency on drugs or alcohol. Contacting a treatment program for admission can be a life-changing decision and a milestone in your life. So what’s next? Addiction treatment programs are made to guide personal change and growth. That means the results of going into addiction treatment depend greatly on how you approach it and how you navigate the program during your stay there. In other words, your mindset, attitude, and expectations can contribute to your treatment success! Can you think of ways to start getting into a recovery mindset to make the most out of treatment?
Getting help in the form of professional treatment is the next step for someone who thinks they have a substance use problem. But that next step can be confusing for those who are unfamiliar with the different types of addiction treatment that are available. What’s the difference between residential, outpatient, and other kinds of professional help for addiction? Which one might be right for you or your loved one?
This is the debut episode of the Stepworks Connect Podcast!
For your audible enjoyment, we’re launching this series to explore and debate topics in addiction, treatment, and recovery. The podcast will include diverse guests, from recovery experts and behavioral health professionals to ordinary people who have had personal encounters with addiction and recovery. Our purpose is to engage you in useful conversations about the risks of substance use and ways forward in recovery. Listen in and share the podcast with others! If you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail us at [email protected].
“Dr. Tom Ingram”
[powerpress]Dr. Tom Ingram, founder and CEO of Stepworks Recovery Centers, joins us to discuss his journey into the medical profession and career dedication to bettering the field of addiction treatment. In this debut episode, we reveal how Stepworks came to be. We’ll also look at the substance use treatment industry as a whole, breaking down some controversial issues and investigating the science of addiction.
It’s very common to be confused about how to help an addicted loved one. Addictions can go ignored by family members or friends who don’t want to push their addicted loved one away. Others have extreme reactions to finding out their loved ones are using drugs and just cut the addicted loved ones out of their lives altogether. Neither of these responses are likely to be ideal for helping a loved one onto the path to recovery. Most people would probably like to find a happy medium between saying nothing and completely alienating an addicted loved one. How can you help motivate a loved one to seek treatment for a substance use problem?
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