When it comes to getting help for drug and alcohol use, sooner is better. Even during a global pandemic, many people feel busier than ever. The idea of putting your life on hold for 30, 60, or 90 days can seem impossible. Because of that, it’s easy to delay treatment for drug or alcohol addiction even when you know that you have a problem. When you’re looking for a reason not to go to treatment, there are a million excuses. The kids need you home for the transition back to school. You’ll go as soon as you finish that big project at work. You’ll wait until being without you for weeks is more manageable for your spouse.

Sometimes I feel like sobriety’s Andy Rooney – the ironic, curmudgeon of the blogging set, pointing out the pitfalls and snafus that no one else will tell the world about quitting drinking. I have been known to sniff at the sophomoric crowing of those who extoll the benefits of living clean and sober. As if, like that other killjoy Groucho Marx, I do not want to join any club substandard enough to have me as a member.

My friend is married to a man who’s addicted…and his addiction has grown by leaps and bounds over the last year. He constantly lies about his drug use, blows their savings, and disappears for entire weekends. He has created pure chaos in their home, but my friend can’t seem to realize that their tumultuous situation is because of his substance abuse. She confided in me that their marriage has been on the rocks for years now, and no matter how much time and effort she puts into it, it never seems to get better.

Due to the global pandemic, services and care centers have become less accessible to individuals recovering from substance and behavioral addiction. Rehabilitation centers have limited the number of admissions and some clinics have even shut down to prevent the spread of the virus. This has caused significant disruption to the daily routines of those recovering from addiction; many families may be unsure of how to support their loved ones. Some medical professionals and institutions have adopted telemedicine as a treatment method during these times…

You’ve made the decision to seek inpatient treatment for your chemical dependency. You’re investing time, money, and trust; you want to get the most out of it.
But rehab can be a scary place when you first arrive; making new friends is one of the best ways to squash that fear. We all want to feel like we’re part of the group, right?

o many people are suffering in silence from a drug or alcohol addiction. You might have been one of them. You know the pain and internal conflict that comes along with having an addiction.
The best way to get people help for their addiction is to destigmatize the disease. They need to know it isn’t their fault, that there’s hope – and they need to hear it from people who have lived through it.
Recovery can be a personal, private process. But there is so much power in sharing your story, for yourself and for others.
Question is, where do you start?