How Psychedelics and Cannabis Are Redefining Sobriety for Young Adults

Today’s young adults are changing the standards for sobriety as drinking declines and the use of psychedelics and cannabis is on the rise. What is the real meaning of “California sober,” and how is this attitude toward mood-altering substances affecting the habits and mental health of those coming of… Read More

Claudia Black’s “Undaunted Hope” Shares Stories of Inspiration

Dr. Claudia Black’s new book Undaunted Hope is not just filled with stories of addiction and recovery; it’s brimming with tales of lives made new, of trauma understood and uprooted, and of the personal transformation that can come from asking for help and receiving it Read More

What to Do When You Feel the Urge to Self-Harm and Relapse

It’s possible to plan ahead to decrease the chances of relapse after you leave treatment. Therapist and author Lisa Ferentz, speaking at The Meadows’ recent conference on trauma and addiction, discussed this challenging part of treatment — and offered a realistic and proactive process that helps patients avoid relapse. Read More

The Triggering Effect: How to Manage Yours

If you’re in recovery from addiction, you know it takes much more than just willpower to prevent relapse. Recovery is a lifelong journey of learning and discovery about yourself that requires deep healing, as well as an arsenal of coping mechanisms to get you through the daily struggles of sobriety. Read More

Addiction’s Impact on You

By Beau Black How does addiction affect you? Substance use disorder impacts all of us, directly or indirectly; the effects of addiction may be physical, relational, financial, societal. The effects of addiction on those around us like family, friends, and co-workers are wide-ranging, but what about its… Read More

Overcoming a Relapse: Reclaiming Your Sobriety

By Wesley Gallagher Recovery from addiction is a long road, and it’s not always a straight one. There are twists and turns along the way, speed bumps and detours. And unfortunately, part of the journey for many includes relapse. In fact, according to the National… Read More

A Portrait of Forgiveness

After seeing a preview of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Dr. Claudia Black shares her expertise on the art of forgiveness as Lloyd Vogel, a young journalist, begins to heal from his childhood trauma with the help of Mister Rogers. Read More

Holiday Wish

Don’t worry about making any one person the answer Let recovery be the answer Don’t worry about finding that good mother Let the rooms embrace you Don’t worry about the “God thing” Let the peace of the program grow inside you one day at a time Don’t even worry about… Read More

Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label: What Does This Mean for You?

If you haven’t already noticed, you will likely start seeing significant changes to how your food is packaged and sold. Rolling out Obama-era policies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring food makers to implement a new Nutrition Facts label, which will include the following information and updates [1]:… Read More

Building Strength and Resilience through Facing and Dealing with Life’s Problems

Resilient qualities are not only what we’re born with but also the strengths that we build through encountering life’s challenges and developing the personal and interpersonal skills to meet them. It is one of life’s paradoxes that the worst circumstances can bring the best out of us. According to the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) studies performed by Robert Anda (2006) and his team at Kaiser Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego, we will all experience four or more serious life stressors that may be traumatizing, and according to positive psychology research, most of us will grow from them. Read More