We know genetics can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a number of other conditions, and the same goes for opioid addiction. Over the last decade, a growing body of research has focused on minute differences in a person’s DNA,...
Addiction is a family disease, and in fact, research shows that long-term recovery success rates increase when the entire family is involved in the addiction recovery process. Addiction places family members under a great deal of stress and, as a result, the family system becomes...
Researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering have found that computer mapping could be a powerful tool in preventing opioid addiction before it even begins. USC Viterbi researchers in the interdisciplinary USC Machine Learning Center used computer mapping to study opioid addiction, adverse...
We often hear about the concept of “hitting rock bottom” within the recovery community. While some people are motivated to finally seek treatment for addiction once they’ve reached the end of their rope, “rock bottom” is a dangerous misconception. In its most basic sense, hitting...
There is a range of biological, social and environmental factors that denote risk of addiction, including gender. Although men and women are at an equal risk of developing a substance use disorder, women who have an addiction are also dealing with an entirely different...
What a journey we have taken over the past 7 years. My firstborn daughter celebrated her 4th year of sobriety last April. I can still remember the shock and total disbelief I felt when I was finally able to admit to myself that she...
BRC Recovery I had a dream once of going to Penn State and getting a Ph.D. Instead, I ended up at the State Pen getting a GED. After dropping out of high school in the 12th grade, because I thought I knew it all, I...
one of the most inevitable aspects of life Change – one of the most inevitable aspects of life. We grow up, we make friends, we lose friends, we move, WE CHANGE. Despite the amount of “growing opportunities” that my Higher Power has presented in my...
If you’ve spent any time around Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, or other recovery-oriented groups, you’ve heard at least a few slogans and acronyms. Most of them seem to fall into one of three categories, and they include our relationship with: Our addicted loved one. Ourselves. ...
If you’ve spent any time around Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, or other recovery-oriented groups, you’ve heard at least a few slogans and acronyms. Most of them seem to fall into one of three categories, and they include our relationship with: Our addicted loved one. Ourselves. ...
SETTING CLEMENCIES During the last several decades, one of the largest criticisms of the American criminal justice system has been the excessive sentences handed down to nonviolent drug offenders. Many of those offenders were sentenced under draconian laws that required mandatory minimum sentences, some of...
Deathiversary of my son’s death Yesterday was the fifth anniversary (deathiversary?) of my son’s death of a drug overdose. Brandon was one of those people who are larger than life. He was the life of the party. He had a loud voice, a lot of...
