As the medical world learns more about substance use disorders and how they impact individuals, treatment continues to advance in new and interesting directions. One of the most promising approaches that health care providers are now exploring focuses on harm...
Articles by Author Lucas Fernandez
Don’t Be That Guy: What Not to Say to Addicts and People in Recovery
Battling addiction is a lifelong process that takes daily strength and determination. Difficult choices and conversations have to be met head-on with honesty, bravery, and self-love for recovery to be successful and sustainable. On top of that, recovering addicts have...
Relapse Happens—Here’s How to Help
To any family member or close friend of someone battling substance use disorder (SUD), the word “relapse” can conjure all sorts of feelings of dread and anxiety. While many may be unaware, relapse is an exceedingly common occurrence in the SUD world. However, it is...
The IOP Group Therapy Experience
Intensive outpatient group therapy (IOP group therapy) is one of the most foundational and long-term effective forms of therapy for addiction. By putting ourselves in a community, we immediately take one of the biggest steps that we can towards recovery: overcoming...
Fentanyl Deaths – Can Test Strips Save Lives?
Drug overdoses are a tragic epidemic that has been sweeping across the country and affecting the lives of many for years now. Currently, a dangerous drug known as fentanyl has been found being laced with a variety of common illegal drugs that are often bought and sold...
How Outpatient Addiction Care is Helping More People Get Treatment
In the world of someone with a substance use disorder (SUD), admitting to needing help is the first step on the road to recovery. Until someone can fully admit they need help, they cannot heal from their dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. However, once many see the...
The Difference Between PHP and IOP in Recovery
There is no single treatment program that is right for someone recovering from substance abuse disorder. There is a path through the recovery process that is unique to each individual. Because every patient is dealing with different circumstances, they are given...
Values Drive Recovery: Why Personal Values Matter in Addiction Recovery
In addiction recovery, values play a key role. Values are what drive our decision-making processes and help us make decisions that align with who we want to be. They tell us what is important and how we should behave in the world. Unfortunately, when our values are...
What’s the Difference Between Medication Assisted Treatment and Drug Replacement Therapy?
It’s a big step just to decide that you’re ready to pursue recovery from substance addiction. Whether you’re currently in recovery from opioid addiction or any other form of substance dependence, you may not know where to begin. After all, there’s a wide variety of...
Finding Employment While in Addiction Recovery
During substance abuse recovery, it can be demoralizing to feel like you lack self-sufficiency. So, it’s a common goal to establish financial independence as you re-enter sober living. That’s why one of the first tasks on the list for someone undergoing this...