Holiday time is often called “prime time” by the sober community. Starting with the Thanksgiving holiday and running through New Years, the season is full of both triggers and pressures to drink or use drugs. How can someone in recovery stay sober during the holidays? How can someone moderate their drinking if it’s becoming a…
Can you get fired for getting drug and alcohol treatment?
Did you know that people in recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol who are not actively using are protected under the Americans with Disability Act in terms of employment and discrimination? Many people mistakenly fear losing their jobs if they get into treatment programs. But, seeking treatment is the best thing to do to prevent…
How to set yourself up for success when you set a quit date for alcohol and drugs
You’ve made the resolution and chosen a date to quit drinking and using drugs. A healthier, happier life that you control is in your future. The journey starts with believing in yourself and your power to change. You can do this. As you count down the days to your new life, this is the time…
Being thankful in recovery
If you go to an AA meeting, you’ll inevitably hear an old-timer introduce themselves as a “grateful recovering alcoholic.” How can someone be thankful that they’re an alcoholic and addict? It’s because they didn’t just achieve sobriety, they found recovery. People in recovery aren’t just grateful that they’ve stopped drinking and using, they’re grateful for…
How to keep sober on holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions
Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and any special occasion where people gather and celebrate together can be mine fields for the person who is protecting their sobriety or trying to manage their consumption of alcohol. No matter where someone is in their recovery journey, the temptations and pressures are always there. There’s that dreaded awkward moment when…
Mental Health and Addiction
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. It is a day of raising mental health awareness and reducing the stigma around mental health issues. There is a mental health crisis in America, and addiction is the leading cause. Addiction and mental health challenges are closely related, with one often leading to the other. It is…
Get Telehealth Intensive Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment on your Phone
Affect’s telehealth treatment program for alcohol and drug addiction has helped thousands of people gain control over their lives and manage substance use disorders through our smartphone app. Now the program has expanded to provide intensive outpatient (IOP) rehab services in Ohio and Kentucky, with Florida and other states coming soon. This higher level of…
Mental Health is the Number One Crisis in America, and Addiction is the Number One Cause
Mayors from all over the country addressed Congress this week about the mental health crisis they’re facing, the surge in demand for services, and the challenges in resources. Addiction is at the top of the list: in 85% of the cities, substance abuse is identified as the main cause for increased need. Hillary Schieve, mayor…
Meth, Cocaine and Fentanyl are a Killer Combination, Literally.
The Center for Disease Controls recently shared data and findings around increasing use of stimulants like meth and cocaine with the synthetic opioid Fentanyl. The overdose trend is not getting better. 110,000 million people died from overdoses in 2022. Stimulants are widely and easily available. Incredibly potent and cheap meth is flowing across the US…
Fentanyl and Meth: What you need to know
May 9th is National Fentanyl Awareness Day in the United States. The use of illegally-made fentanyl is driving a national health crisis as people use it unintentionally and die from overdoses. Fentanyl is now involved in more deaths of people under age 50 than any other cause in the country, including even heart disease, cancer,…