If you hate the taste of Suboxone, it can make staying on track with your meds more challenging. But there are ways to deal with the flavor. When you think of all of the struggles and pain that substance use disorder can bring us, the taste of our meds seems like a minor hiccup. But when we’re dealing with the ups and downs of addiction recovery, every obstacle in our paths matters. So let’s talk about the…

The concept of recovery capital can help us provide resources to support people toward achieving long-term sobriety. “Recovery capital” is a phrase that feels lofty, kind of academic. That’s because it’s a term used by researchers studying the science of recovery to determine what makes recovery work. You don’t have to be an academic to find recovery capital a really useful concept of how to sustain your…

Many people in recovery fear change, But it’s a vital and unavoidable part of living in recovery. Many people in recovery fear change. Along with the natural, human dislike of uncertainty, we’re also often taught that change could be a sign of returning to use (relapse). I’ve never agreed with this philosophy, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t experience fear around change. I recall times in early…

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. This is the perfect time to understand that the opioid crisis affects people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Every day, more than 130 people die from opioid overdose. Opioid overdose has now surpassed automobile crashes as a leading cause of death for Americans. In order to change this, we need to recognize that it doesn’t have to be this way. Most opioid overdose deaths are preventable.

Alcohol affects our brain chemistry, so it’s no wonder that many turn to it when they’re feeling down. But how does alcohol really affect depression? So many people’s response to stress, anxiety, and depression is, “I need a drink.” We’ve all seen it (or done it). But despite how common that is, most of us also know that alcohol isn’t really the greatest coping tool, even while we’re turning to it. In fact, for millions…

So you want to cut down on or quit your drinking. Great! But what do you replace it with? People drink for a lot of reasons — they like the taste, they enjoy the social aspects of drinking, they want the effects of alcohol on their mind and body, they have an alcohol use disorder, they’re bored … the list goes on and on. So it makes sense that…

Over the course of two pregnancies, I experienced two different medications — methadone and buprenorphine — in my medically-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. I gave birth to the older of my two daughters while taking methadone to treat addiction to heroin. By the time I had my second daughter, I had switched to buprenorphine. I’m not a treatment professional, but I am in a unique position to speak about my experiences with medically-assisted…

It’s especially important for those with substance use disorders to get vaccinated against COVID. The COVID-19 pandemic has parallels with substance use disorder: both have impacted populations globally, often fatally. While the nation has struggled to cope with the harsh realities of the pandemic — isolation, social distancing, and the tragic loss of loved ones — it has resulted in increased drug and alcohol…

With modern technology and science, it’s now possible to get PrEP for HIV via telemedicine. Here are answers to many of your questions about getting and using PrEP. With the advancement of telemedicine, consulting a medical provider has never been easier. With a few clicks of a button, you can visit a medical professional either online or over the phone, whether that’s for digital addiction treatment or other harm reduction services, like accessing PrEP.