Addiction, Fentanyl, Overdose

Our oldest son died of an accidental heroin/fentanyl overdose on his 22nd birthday, in December, 2015. Our family produced this video to help teens and their families avoid the painful path of addiction. Understand how addiction starts and how to prevent it. We welcome anyone sharing this video to help others.

Addiction, Change, Recovery, Truth

Desert Road Image According to Stanton Peele, PhD. "More people quit addictions than maintain them, and they do so on their own. That's not to say it happens overnight. People succeed when they recognize that the addiction interferes with something they value—and when they develop the confidence that they can change." Peele discusses how successful addiction treatment places responsibility for change solely on the individual, and recognizes that positive events may be able to jump start change. 

Addiction, Boundaries, Family, Friends, Health, Recovery, Relationships

People Toasting Image According to Elizabeth Hartney, PhD. "Although a boundary can be clearly marked by a fence or a road, it is never entirely clear exactly where one area ends and the other begins. In a similar way, when we use the word boundaries to describe limits and rules in relationships, some honest judgment is needed to decide which behaviors "cross the line." In her article, Dr. Hartney discusses the common difficulties for boundaries and addiction, and provides principles for setting good boundaries.

Addiction, Change, Recovery, Strategies

Breaking Free Image According to Dr. Elizabeth Hartney, "Sooner or later, most people who have an addiction decide a change needs to happen. Once the decision is made, most people have a specific goal in mind. It might be to quit entirely, to quit some addictive behaviors or substances, but not all, reduce the amount of time or money spent on addictive behaviors, or to reduce the harm of an addictive behavior. In her article, Dr. Hartney explains how making the decision to change may not be an easy process, or a quick one, but is essential to overcoming addiction.

Addiction, Disarm, Method, Recovery, Refusal, Urges

Saying No to Cigarettes Image SMART Recovery uses DISARM as a tool "that helps us see the self-talk and images that tell us to use as lies, excuses, and rationalizations. It challenges those urge-producing thoughts at every opportunity, shooting them down like a gunslinger or reducing them to the point of absurdity." DISARM is a tool that can be used when you are having strong urges. The method allows for the individual experiencing these urges to carefully ask a few questions to help overcome the urge. Read the full article to learn more about DISARM. 

Addiction, Alcohol, Drugs, fitness, habits, Health, healthy, Recovery

According to Kelly Coleman, "Attaining a well-balanced, healthy life with a well-managed addiction involves adopting healthy habits. There are many healthy choices available for most people such as incorporating more activity, becoming mindful, adding spirituality, eating a healthy diet, and ensuring positivity in one’s social circles. Here are some ways to address each of these for successful recovery." This article discusses different healthy habits that aid addiction recovery.

Addiction, Cocaine, crack, Drugs, Signs, Symptoms, use

According to Natasha Tracy, "Cocaine signs and symptoms are both psychological and physical. Signs of cocaine use, though, vary depending on how much cocaine is used and the ingestion method of cocaine use."This article gives the signs of cocaine use and cocaine addiction. Read the full article