by Sally Rosa | Nov 28, 2013 | Addiction Articles, Sobriety For Women
The holidays are stressful for a lot of people, especially those in recovery!
Here are some great tips to make it through the holidays stress free and sober!
1) Don’t Test Your Willpower
Get rid of all the alcohol in your house, including bottles “for guests.”
Don’t put yourself in uncomfortable situations. If you’re not ready for them, then you’re not ready for them. Don’t sweat it.
2) Live In The Now
You can’t change yesterday or control tomorrow. You CAN do your best right now. After all, today’s a gift, which is why we call it the present!
3) Help Others
When you help others, you feel better about yourself. Keep it simple!
4) Stay Away From the First Drink
If you don’t start drinking, you won’t have to worry about stopping.
5) Be Grateful
Be thankful for your sobriety and your accomplishments. The holidays are a time to celebrate loved ones and enjoy your time together.
by Fiona Stockard | Nov 24, 2013 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
Meet Kratom a.k.a. Legal Heroin
Illicit drugs like crack and heroin have been problems for years. Addicts are flooding into detoxes, treatment centers, and halfway houses all over the country. The substance abuse industry is flooded with people battling deadly addictions. The War on Drugs isn’t anything new. The police and the government have been fighting drugs for decades. They’re always on the lookout for new ways to combat the increasing number of illegal drugs. Well, it looks like the number of illegal drugs may soon increase by one.
A new drug, Kratom, is being found all over south Florida. Hell, it’s being found all over the country for that matter. It’s sold in smoke-shops and Kava bars. It’s hotly sought after for its euphoric effects. Kratom is a member of the opiate family and shares many similarities with its cousin, heroin. It sedates users, causes strong feelings of relaxation, and depresses central nervous system functions.
Just Because It’s Legal Doesn’t Mean It’s Safe
Kratom is sometimes said to be stronger, more addictive, and more dangerous than illegal drugs! Kratom is sold as a powder or, in some cases, as a liquid. This legal powder has sent people to the ER, detoxes, and treatment centers.
“I enjoyed taking the substance because it’s easily available. I could walk right into the local shop and purchase Kratom. There was no waiting around or drug dealer,” states Randy, a twenty-five year old former Kratom abuser. He goes on, “it got to a point where I’d choose to do Kratom over eat food that day. I was heavily addicted to the substance, and entered rehab for the second time in my life. The first time was for cocaine and alcohol use.”
Unfortunately, stories like Randy’s aren’t all that rare. More and more, people are seeking an easy way to deal with the anxiety and stress of the world. New substances, like Kratom and “spice,” may seem like safer alternatives than illegal drugs. However, they often turn out to be just as dangerous as any illegal substance.
We need to educate ourselves about the dangers of legal highs! We need to learn what we’re putting into our bodies! We need to stop thinking just because something’s legal, it’s safe. Look at alcohol. It’s legal and causes far more deaths each year than all illegal drugs put together!
For information on Comprehensive Addiction Treatment, please visit Lighthouse Recovery Institute
by Sally Rosa | Oct 8, 2013 | Drug Addiction
Nick Carter’s Success Story
Celebrities are role models. That’s it, simple as pie. Often, our current celebrities become role models for tomorrow’s youth. Unfortunately, celebrities don’t always lead the sort of life we want our children to follow. Fame, fortune, and money can throw anyone into a whirlwind. When you live in front of a camera, that whirlwind is broadcast for the whole world to see.
Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, and Whitney Houston are examples of celebrities behaving badly. They’re also three people we watched die. Lindsey Lohan and Amanda Bynes are celebrities we watched grow up. We’ve experienced their growing pains and struggles. Once in a while though, well, once in a while we get to witness positive change. We get to see a celebrity return to health right in front of our eyes. We get to see someone move from self-destruction to helping others. Nick Carter is one of these success stories.
You Mean the Backstreet Boy?
Yep, that Nick Carter. By now you’ve probably heard, he’s an addict! Nick Carter, teen heartthrob extraordinaire, recently opened up about his addiction. He let everyone know what he experienced and how hard it really was.
Nick began drinking in his early teens. By the time he was nineteen, right around when the Backstreet Boys blew up, he’d moved onto harder drugs. Nick admits to abusing cocaine ecstasy, and prescription pills. In an interview with Dr. Phil, Nick told the world “I drank, did drugs, and partied until I was paralyzed and passed out.” He went on to talk about how his family blames him for the death of his older sister, Leslie, who overdosed. Leslie’s death, and his family’s resentment, led to estrangement.
Nick’s use began to make headlines around 2005. He was arrested and charged with a DUI. Still, Nick insists there wasn’t anything that could stop him. By 2006, his weight had ballooned to 224 pounds. He was dating Paris Hilton and says that she played a large part in his addiction. They two would often use together. Nick also admitting to suffering depression, due to his heavy ecstasy use and unhealthy relationship.
Not long after, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a heart condition. All his drinking and drugging had led to a buildup of toxins in his heart, which weakened it severely. Sort of a good metaphor for addiction, huh?
The Road to Recovery
Nick’s journey to recovery began after he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. His was way overweight, had a weak heart, and couldn’t stop getting high. He decided it was time to change! His former bandmate, Kevin Richardson, suggested reading his book, “Why Some Positive Thinkers Get Powerful Results.” Nick read this and started to become healthy, one small step at a time. Soon, Nick wanted to write a book of his own. He wanted to share his struggles and successes with the world.
Nick’s memoir is called “Facing the Music and Living to Talk About It.” It details his fight with substance abuse and addiction throughout his life. It also examines his early alcohol use. He admits to taking his first drink at two years old!
Today, Nick’s been sober over five years and is living a much different life. Nick’s brother, Aaron Carter, is also believed to have gone to treatment. Apparently, Nick’s positive change is rubbing off on his entire family! The family is no longer estranged and life is good. Nick is engaged with fitness guru Lauren Kitt. When asked about his new life, he often responds by saying he’s taking it one day at a time.
