The Availability and Danger of Nitrous Oxide Use in Young Adults
Recreational nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) use is a growing trend among young adults, fueled by its easy accessibility online and in stores, and normalized by social media. Despite being falsely perceived as safe due to its medical use, inhaling nitrous oxide without medical supervision carries acute risks like sudden death from hypoxia and frostbite, and […]
Addiction & Related Topics
Dopey: How Drug Stories Sparked a Recovery Community
The Dopey podcast, created by Mountainside alumni Dave and Chris, provides a raw, unfiltered, and often hilarious take on addiction and recovery, initially focusing on “war stories” but evolving into the supportive “Dopey Nation” community. The podcast resonates with thousands who feel isolated by traditional methods by embracing dark comedy and honest storytelling, proving that […]
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a fundamental shift in perspective that recognizes the widespread impact of psychological trauma and integrates this understanding into all aspects of service delivery, moving from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” It operates on six key principles—including safety, trustworthiness, and empowerment—and is guided by the “Four R’s”: Realize, […]
5 Things to Expect in Rehab
Deciding to seek help for addiction is a courageous step, and understanding what to expect in rehab, including the initial assessment and detox process, daily structured schedule, privacy rules, and aftercare planning, can help ease anxiety. A typical rehab journey, often lasting 30 to 90 days, focuses on individual and group therapy, life skills, and […]
Addiction & Related Topics
Overcoming the Stigma of Addiction
The article discusses the pervasive stigma surrounding addiction, which is rooted in cultural views, media portrayals, and judgmental language, and how this stigma creates significant barriers to recovery, leading to reduced treatment seeking and higher relapse rates. It emphasizes that recovery is diverse, highlighting alternative paths like SMART Recovery and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and urges […]
Relearning How to Have Fun as a Family in Recovery
Recovering from addiction requires the whole family to relearn how to have fun without substances, which is critical for sustained sobriety and building stronger bonds. This process involves the individual taking responsibility, making amends, and consistently demonstrating change to rebuild trust with family members. Families are encouraged to intentionally create new, sober traditions and activities—such […]
Returning to Work After Completing Treatment
Returning to work after drug and alcohol treatment is a crucial step for long-term recovery, offering financial stability and purpose. This guide emphasizes understanding legal rights like FMLA and ADA accommodations, preparing for the transition with a phased return, and navigating common challenges like fatigue and stress. The key is prioritizing recovery and setting boundaries […]
The Availability and Danger of Nitrous Oxide Use in Young Adults
Recreational nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) use is a growing trend among young adults, fueled by its easy accessibility online and in stores, and normalized by social media. Despite being falsely perceived as safe due to its medical use, inhaling nitrous oxide without medical supervision carries acute risks like sudden death from hypoxia and frostbite, and […]
The Importance of Winning Small Victories in Recovery
Achieving and maintaining sobriety is an incredible accomplishment. Why not celebrate it more? Sure, most in recovery celebrate major milestones like being six months, one year, or five years sober. But why not celebrate being 17 days sober? Or going to three meetings instead of the usual two? Or the fact that you woke up […]
Having Fun in Sobriety According to Your Star Sign
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never met a single person in recovery who said getting sober was easy. It’s hard. It’s like walking-on-a-bed-of-nails-while-your-head-is-on-fire hard. But you’ve put in the work. You’re in recovery. You’re safe and living your life. Having fun in sobriety is important. So, why not make it the most amazing […]
5 Healthy Nutrition Habits for Recovery
Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction requires an awareness of the impact substance abuse can have on the body, mind, and spirit. Developing healthy nutrition and habits involves a similar understanding of which foods and eating habits can have a negative effect on physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing and can be particularly triggering to […]
Personal Stories & Accounts
One Wild Summer: Celebrating Milestones in Recovery
Summertime is when we think of being active, outward, uplifted, and having fun. It’s a time to get outside by camping, hiking, swimming, attending outdoor concerts, and those amazing road trips with soundtracks of our lives playing right along with us. We tend to eat more naturally by having beautiful fruits and garden vegetables, visiting […]
