According to the Surgeon General’s Report published in 2016 “20.8 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had a substance use disorder. That number is similar to the number of people who suffer from diabetes and more than 1.5 times the annual prevalence of all cancers combined (14 million).”
I attended Gulf Breeze Recovery in 2016 after over a decade of failed attempts to get clean at 12-step drug treatment centers. I was an IV drug user, and I thought that if anyone truly understood how powerful my cravings were, then surely they would see why it was impossible for me to stay sober. That’s why one of the most valuable insights I gained during my time in Gulf Breeze was my relationship to cravings.
Mary was a fun-loving girl. In college, she started drinking and experimenting with drugs, and it was part of the college adventure. She believed that she was in control and that everything was okay – until it wasn’t. “You are a functioning member of society,” she explains, “until one day you’re not!”
You can recover from addiction, and rediscover how it feels to dream! Dreams for the future are a wonderful part of life. Kids are full of dreams concerning things they …
When is someone really ready for transformational change? One of the most commonly asked questions by those who have a loved one entering drug or alcohol treatment is, “Are they …
There’s hope and a solution! Non-12 Step Recovery is a holistic alternative to the traditional 12 steps of AA Although for many years, AA was believed to be the gold …
Relapse after substance abuse treatment is common. Unfortunately, some people go to multiple programs investing both time and resources in their quest for sobriety. So often, sobriety, when it is achieved, doesn’t last.
Not just for our non-12 step treatment facility, but one of the most overlooked aspects of any organization, I refer to as “The Health of The Helper.” Speaking with Barnett Gilmer, CEO of Gulf Breeze Recovery “and it’s one of the most important, especially in helping professions such as ours.”
Regardless of the problem that was temporarily addressed by their “solution”, with continued use, it becomes the problem. Addiction doesn’t happen with the first pain pill someone takes or their first glass of wine, or the first joint they smoke. When the substance is perceived to solve the problem, it becomes the “go to” solution each time the problem arises.
There are things you can do to improve the likelihood of a positive outcome from an intervention. These tips can help you approach an intervention with confidence.