Much like diabetes, alcoholism is most often the result of biochemical differences present in certain people. A genetic predisposition if you will. I can’t tell you how many times in my career as an addiction counselor and interventionist, I’ve heard problem drinkers say that they still believe they can control their drinking. They simply need to use more willpower to abstain from drinking too much. Unfortunately, that’s like a diabetic saying that they can have some sugar

Drug treatment is very important, but treatment alone is not enough to stay sober on a long-term basis. You need something that is more sustainable and can be a part of your day-to-day life. While you were in treatment, you were in a different environment. You were also under the care of medical professionals 24 hours a day. What happens after you leave treatment? When you go home, you’ll see the same places you once used. You’ll run into familiar faces that will likely ask y

As a highly trained, certified and experienced interventionist, my job is to work with families on how to motivate loved ones in need of treatment to get the appropriate level of care. Here are some things I believe every family should know about professional interventions, and about hiring the right interventionist. First of all, what is an “Intervention?” Interventions are a highly effective tool to place an addicted and/or diagnosed mentally disordered individual on the

Addiction is not a spectator sport – the collateral damage affects the entire family. This is a well-documented fact, and professionals in the field work diligently to help the non-addictive family members recover from the trauma and learn to cope with the addiction. Relationships within the family are noticeably strained, often financial security is adversely affected and family members frequently experience trauma symptoms including: Depression that cannot be attributed t

Just about anyone with any appreciable amount of recovery will tell you that getting sober is only the beginning – staying sober is the real challenge. For most of us, living in addiction was a full time job and we have either never learned or lost many life skills. We have often been withdrawn from society for an extended period, and it takes time to transition back to societal norms within the context of being drug and alcohol free. Many people who are in the process of