Escalating Overdose Deaths 2020 – WZZM13 Interview
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released their provisional drug overdose death counts for 2020. Based on mortality data, 93,000 people in the US died from drug overdoses in 2020. This represents an increase of 29% over 2019. (West Michigan currently shows a 16% increase, with incomplete data.) The drug […]
Anatomy of Addiction Podcast – What is Recovery?
“Recovery” is a word we hear a lot in the mental health field. Recovery is what all those with mental health and substance use disorders strive for. But what is recovery? And how has the definition of recovery changed over the years? What is Recovery? Recovery is a process of change through which […]
Drug and Alcohol Recovery Achievements
The Recovery Research Institute recently looked at a representative sample of adults who reported “resolution of an alcohol or drug problem”. These adults were examined for achievements in family, life-style, and economic and community participation. The working definition of recovery is: “a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live […]
Substance Use Disorders Linked to Severe COVID Illness
In a recent National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) article, Dr. Nora Volkow addresses COVID-19 vaccines for those with substance use disorders (SUD). SUDs are among several health conditions the CDC identified as increasing the risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. NIDA analyzed health records from 73 million patients in U.S. hospitals and […]
Demi Lovato, Diet Culture & Eating Disorders
Demi Lovato spoke out recently on social media about eating disorders. They have long been open about their personal struggles. Demi said it could be dangerous to comment on a person’s weight, even as a compliment. In the fast-paced world of Instagram stories, the post has likely disappeared from Demi’s feed. But at Sanford, […]
Ongoing Recovery Support for Family & Friends!
Sanford’s Family Education Program has just completed its first year of virtual service to the family and friends of our clients! Ongoing Recovery Support – A Look Back… At Sanford Addiction Treatment Centers, we have always acknowledged the significant role family and friends can play in the treatment of and recovery from addiction. Family […]
The Best Sober Vacations to Take This Summer
Vacations are good for the body and soul, right? For those in recovery, the answer can be yes and no. The fact is vacations (even well-deserved vacations) can be stressful to folks in recovery. And when there’s a boat party on every sandbar or a history of overindulging on past vacations, a holiday can be […]
Men’s Addiction Treatment – Take the Tour
Sanford House at John Street for Men is a residential treatment facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following the success of Sanford House at Cherry Street for Women, Founders Rae and David Green looked for a site for their men’s facility. Their goal was to create the same type of gender specific environment for men, […]
Addiction Stigma – How Person-First Language Helps
Stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace or infamy”. Stigma in addiction comes mostly from the symptoms of a person’s behavior and other aspects of a substance use disorder. Addiction Stigma It is known that persons who are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs can behave aggressively or dishonestly with erratic behaviors and judgment which […]
Teen Eating Disorders on the Rise During Pandemic
Since March 2020, the National Eating Disorders Association helpline has had a 40% increase in overall call volume. 35% of the callers were 13 to 17 years old. This represents a 30% increase in calls over the preceding year for teenagers. Why are Teen Eating Disorders Impacted by the Pandemic? In a recent […]
