The dictionary definition of compassion includes mention of sympathy. To have sympathy means having sorrow for someone’s misfortune. Compassion is the way that humans connect through their suffering. Everyone suffers a misfortune at least once in their life. Everyone can and likely will have sorrow at some point in their life. Instead of being separated…
There is something inherently self-harming about addiction. Despite the ongoing pain our drugs of choice cause us, the drastic effects it has in different areas of our lives, we continue to use them. The pleasure we get out of our favorite drugs of choice and alcohol outweigh any of the negative consequences, until they…
Seeking Safety is a counseling model for approaching a dual diagnosis of trauma and substance abuse. Coping with trauma is difficult to do without a well learned skill set full of emotional tools as well as tools for physical self-care. Doing the best they can with what they have at the moment, people who…
Mindful explains that pain is actually made of three parts. First, pain involves physical sensations about pain. The human body has an incredible chemical-nervous response system that operates an astonishing speed. As soon as we, say, stub our toe, there is a flurry of signals sent from our toe to our brain and back again…
Over 23.5 million Americans are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Addictions affect lives, ruin finances, and exacerbate abuse, violence, and mental disorders such as stress and anxiety – but somehow only 11% of addicts ever seek out treatment. This disparity is fueled not only by the difficulties of recognizing problems with substance use, making time…
According to court and police records, Tiger Woods had to be woken up by an officer as his Mercedes was found stopped on a Florida roadway early Monday morning. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. “It should be noted (that) Woods was asleep at the wheel and had to be…
None of us ever think that one day our child or children may be addicted to drugs or alcohol. But youth transitioning into adulthood have some of the highest rates of alcohol and substance abuse. For instance, rates of binge drinking in 2014 were 28.5% for people ages 18 to 20, and 43.3% for people…
For the first time in Rhode Island state history, a man has been convicted of murder for selling drugs that led to a fatal overdose. Aaron Andrade was convicted of second degree murder in an overdose death where he was found to have supplied the drugs. Andrade admitted to selling almost pure Fentanyl to Kristen…
Las Vegas has become the first city in the United States to provide vending machines for clean needles. At least for now though, the machines are not available everywhere. They are accessible only to clients of the Trac-B Exchange which is a program run by the Las Vegas Hard Reduction Center. Interestingly, the machines do…
Whether you’re recently clean or sober, have been in recovery for some time, or are simply worried about the dangers of addiction while recovering from surgery, your fears are grounded. Surgery typically means days to weeks and sometimes months of recovery, during which time you will be exposed to limited activity, negative emotions caused by…