Parental Alcohol Use Disorder Causes Trauma
Growing up in a home with parental alcohol use disorder “can feel like life in a war zone,” writes frequent guest author, Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT, in her article below. Darlene is the author of Codependency for Dummies and Conquering Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Freeing the True You, and her latest eBook is titled, Dealing with a Narcissist, 8…
Read MoreHelping Families Recover from the Opioid Epidemic – Scott H. Silverman
“Sometimes the hardest words in the English language are ‘I need help,’” says crisis coach, family navigator and author Scott H. Silverman. I invited Scott to join me on a Zoom call to talk about his latest book, The Opioid Epidemic, What you don’t know will destroy your family and your life! He started our…
Read MoreOpioid Overdose Prevention Tips & Resources
Naloxone is one of the key opioid overdose prevention tools we have. Today’s guest author, Mike Smeth, shares key information about naloxone, as well as other important opioid overdose prevention tips and resources. Mike is a recovery advocate who works to make trusted addiction recovery resources accessible to people throughout the country. To find out…
Read MoreWondering if You Drink Too Much?
Wondering if you drink too much? This can be a tough question to answer. And who even knows or decides what’s too much? Is it drinking a couple Scotch on the rocks most evenings? Is it buying a 24-pack of beer on Fridays and finishing it by Sunday night but not drinking the rest of…
Read MoreUsing Brain Science to Treat Substance Use Disorder
Using brain science to treat substance use disorder (SUD) can be a HUGE help. Why? Because substance use disorder (aka alcoholism, addiction, alcohol or other drug abuse) is now understood to be a brain disorder, sometimes referred to as a brain disease. As Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)…
Read MoreBoundaries in the Pandemic
“How are your boundaries in this pandemic?” asks frequent guest author, Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT. “We all have needs for independence and closeness. But when we’re close with our partner and family all the time, tensions rise,” she explains. And it is these tensions that give rise blurred boundaries and the difficulties that follow. Darlene…
Read MoreCommunication in Families with Alcohol Use Disorder
Communication in families with alcohol use disorder can feel like a minefield of misunderstandings. It’s just about impossible to say what you really want to say because that would be taking a stand against drinking behaviors. And we feel paralyzed just considering doing something like that. Think about it. Can you imagine telling someone who…
Read MoreTeens and Marijuana Use – What Parents Should Do
Teens and marijuana use can be a slippery slope. Many teens believe that marijuana is safer than alcohol or other drugs. Many will say, “it is harmless because it is natural,” “it is not addictive,” or “it does not affect my thinking or my grades.” Some teens argue it’s safe because it can be prescribed…
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