Dopamine Rush – 27 Things to Do Instead of Scroll
These days, studies, marketing campaigns, and warnings abound about excessive smartphone scrolling, but many of us reach for our phones the moment our eyes open in the morning or a beep alerts us to a new message. Grabbing the phone can be practical for checking the schedule, weather, and time. However, according to the former […]
10 Sober Holiday Traditions at Sanford Behavioral Health
It’s December 1st, and for those in recovery, the holidays may loom as a stressor, not the stuff of storybooks. At Sanford Behavioral Health, our sober holiday traditions have stood the test of time through gloomy days and a pandemic. Remember staying sober through that holiday season? Along with the customs of tinsel, candles, dreidels, […]
Worried About a Loved One’s Drinking During the Holidays? 7 Ways You Can Help
Updated 11/19/ 2025 At Sanford Behavioral Health, we get feedback from the loved ones of previous clients this time of year. They tell us about the difference between holidays in recovery versus the years prior when their loved ones were in active addiction. We hear, “It is such a relief. I used to get so […]
How Can We Establish Family Boundaries in Recovery?
Let’s face it: family members can push every button. When a person is in recovery from a substance use disorder, the entire family is involved in the delicate process of transitioning beliefs, feelings, and actions. How can we establish family boundaries in recovery? In an upcoming webinar with the Mental Health Association in Michigan, […]
Is Pink Cocaine the New Club Drug?
Pink cocaine (or tusi) is a dyed pink powder, but despite its name, it does not contain much cocaine. The hot pink color comes from food dye or colored baking powder to distinguish it from cocaine or methamphetamines. Like MDMA or ecstasy, pink cocaine is a mind-altering hallucinogenic drug, although the effects and mixtures of […]
Ask Rae: Is My Recovery at Risk When I Help an Addicted Person?
Dear Rae: I have been in recovery for more than ten years, and I recently had a strange experience that makes me wonder if I have put my recovery at risk. One of the tenets of recovery is to help others, and I am a recovery advocate. Over the years, I have been open about […]
CRAFT and Family Treatment in the Addicted Home
If you have followed my two previous articles, you are aware of how a substance use disorder (SUD), a dangerous disease by itself, becomes a family disease. An SUD negatively impacts the current and future generations of a family. Negative consequences of this disease will impact every relationship and situation in the life of a […]
The Impact of Addiction on Children Ages 10 and Older
This article is part two of a series on the impact of addiction on children. Part one (ages ten and younger) was published in July. Before reading this article, I recommend reviewing the first article by clicking the link below. In the Sanford Behavioral Health Family Program, we address the impact of addiction on children […]
The Collaboration Between Medical and Mental Health Treatment
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we are always looking for new ways to improve the treatment experience for our clients. In a new collaboration with Grand Rapids’ RightCare Clinic, we are streamlining the process for patients who need medical clearance or stabilization before they’re ready to enter treatment for mental health conditions. Our collaboration between medical […]
The Myth of the High-Functioning Alcoholic
A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who exhibits a pattern of excessive or frequent alcohol consumption yet is able to maintain their drinking habits within socially acceptable boundaries. They may hold a prestigious job, have apparently stable and fulfilling family relationships, and possess the outward appearance of leading a happy life despite their underlying struggles with […]
