For the estimated 22 million people in the United States in recovery from substance-use disorders[1], recovery group meetings have been part of a daily protocol to help them stay “clean and sober” one day at a time. But once the COVID-19 pandemic kicked into high gear, the vast majority of in-person meetings closed down and…
Rehab 101 – How to Identify “The Next Right Thing to Do” in Recovery When many of us arrive in recovery—be it at a treatment center, a 12 Steps meeting or some other organized mode of recovery from substance abuse or addiction—the last thing we’re familiar with doing is “the next right thing.” That is,…
According to a just-released estimate by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a record number of drug overdose deaths were reported this past year—93,000—a 29% increase over the previous record (in 2019).[1] Brandon Marshall, a Brown University public health researcher who tracks overdose trends, said, “This is a staggering loss of human life. The nation…
In a recent article in The Atlantic entitled, “America Has a Drinking Problem,” author Kate Julian begins by pointing out alcohol consumption in the U.S. has risen steadily since 2000, and the longstanding societal effects of COVID-19 have shifted our nation’s drinking habits in the ‘more so’ direction. “(Prior to the pandemic) you might have…
Very rarely do we see people come into recovery from addiction brimming with positivity, honesty and a caring attitude toward others. Instead, it’s much more typical to find “newcomers” feeling weighted down by distrust and defensiveness, callousness and alienation (if not resentment and malevolence), and a substantial amount of self-centeredness. However, as the saying goes,…
Having occasionally felt myself to be “in the trenches” of recovery myself—as perhaps you have, as well—I’d say some of the most challenging, frustrating and baffling experiences in learning to live this new way of life (especially early on) occur when our insides don’t match our outsides—that is, when what we’re doing at any given…
It’s sometimes hard to be social when all of your friends think hanging out at a local bar or drinking the night away is the normal experience. It does not have to be like that, especially if you are in recovery. The key is to look for new ways to have fun that don’t put…
Given medical professionals—surgeons, doctors, nurses, etc.—have dedicated huge amounts of schooling, training time and effort to prepare for their jobs and then go on to dedicate their lives to helping others recover their health and wellness, their very lives in some cases, it may seem paradoxical there would be such high percentages of alcoholism…
“I haven’t been able to stay sober/clean in the past – why should it be any different this time?” “I hurt everyone around me, no matter what I do.” “I’m not strong enough to achieve any of my real goals.” Negative self-talk is the stream of thoughts and dialogue in our minds that’s linked to…
BoardPrep adheres to the NIDA “best-practice” recommendation of approximately 90-days for the length of stay in primary treatment for moderate to severe substance use disorders and dual disorders. Accordingly, “primary” treatment refers to inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, depending on the initial assessment results. At BoardPrep Recovery Center®, we’re committed to providing the best possible treatment…