Wintertime Mental Health Bonus – Best of Excursions

At Sanford Behavioral Health, we embrace winter with robust excursions in nature. In fact, it is a part of our evidence-based practices to get outside and experience a Michigan winter in all its splendor. Yes, it can be gloomy and cold. And we are well aware of seasonal affective disorder and the depression that can […]

The Isolation of Addiction

At Sanford Behavioral Health, we have a case study of a client in the final days of their isolation and active addiction. They were a smoker but not allowed to light up in the house. So, this individual would take a bottle of Jack Daniels to an unheated garage behind their house, sit on a […]

I Can’t Go to Rehab Now – Our 10 “Favorite” Excuses to Debunk

It’s almost that time of year – Halloween parties, family gatherings, pageants at church and school, and an array of parties. The admissions specialists at Sanford Behavioral Health have favorite excuses for putting off the inevitable treatment for addiction, especially this time of year.  Why? Because the holidays are a last-ditch opportunity for tying on […]

Afraid to Go Home? The Safety of Sanford Supportive Living

At Sanford Behavioral Health, a recovery-friendly home is essential to the treatment process. Because of this, our family and friends support groups provide education and continuing help for the loved ones of our substance use and eating disorders clients. Forewarned is forearmed, and in our family programs, we anticipate the pitfalls and milestones of recovery […]

Insatiable Hunger – Eating + Substance Use Disorders

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), up to 50% of those with eating disorders also use drugs or alcohol. This is a rate five times higher than the general public. For those with an alcohol or drug dependency, up to 35% also have an eating disorder, a rate 11 times greater than the […]

5 Questions to Support Veterans’ Mental Health

September is suicide awareness month, and I sat down with my colleagues at Detroit VA to ask five questions about Veterans’ mental health resources, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and the prevention of Veteran suicides and other accidental deaths. Thanks to Katrina BeShears, LMSW, CAADC, and Christina Mariani, LMSW, CAADC Detroit VA Community Engagement […]

5 Ways to Beat the End of Summer Blues

Michiganders feel a hint of melancholy during the Labor Day holiday each year. This is when we dry dock the boats, close up cabins, and buy back-to-school supplies. It is also the last big blowout of the summer, and picnics, waterskiing, tubing, hiking, and camping excursions abound. But for those in recovery, looking ahead to […]

Study Shows Only 1 in 5 Receive Medication to Treat Opioid Addiction

According to a new study published in JAMA Network Open, only 1 in 5  U.S. adults with an opioid use disorder received medication-assisted treatment in 2021. An estimated 2.5 million adults have an opioid use disorder. Only 36% received any substance use treatment, and 22% received medications. The findings show that evidence-based medications are underused, particularly in […]

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Toxic Masculinity, Trauma and the Elusive Emotions of Men

Toxic masculinity refers to masculine norms emphasizing toughness and discouraging vulnerable emotions in boys and men. It is correlated with increased mental health conditions (e.g., substance use disorders, depression, and stress). The residential programs at Sanford House at John Street for Men address these conditions in an atmosphere of camaraderie and trust. Clinicians specialize in […]

Al-Anon and Family Support in Recovery – Wood TV Interview

Thank you to noon anchor/reporter Emily Linnert, Wood TV 8, for her informed reporting on the role of family in addiction recovery. Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADA, spoke with Emily this week to discuss the value of Al-Anon and family programs in addiction treatment and recovery.   “We started a family […]