blurry windshield alcohol and cannabus

Deadly Combination – DO NOT Mix Alcohol and Cannabis on the Road

Highlights from a new study by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health show an increase in simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use among adults 21+ in the U.S. from 2008 to 2019. Researchers examined data and responses from more than 800,000 participants. They found that simultaneous use was almost twice as prevalent […]

Family Guide to Understanding Addiction Relapse

  For family recovery to become a reality, each household member must have an accurate perspective on addiction relapse and their recovery plan. Any situation that stimulates old addictive pathways can lead to relapse in the person with an addictive condition, likewise, to family members. The most important thing is what the individual with a substance […]

How to Set Boundaries in Addiction Recovery

As the family program facilitator at Sanford Behavioral Health, I spend a lot of time helping loved ones establish boundaries. Establishing healthy boundaries is possible in family recovery. Establishing boundaries is essential to effectively work with a loved one with a substance use disorder (SUD). Healthy boundaries are at the heart of any positive relationship […]

two women talk to each other the couch and one of them women is establishing boundaries for herself

These 10 Excuses are the Enemy to Your Recovery. Do Any Apply to You?

  It’s the holidays—the time for pageants at church and school, office parties, and family responsibilities. As a person in recovery, I can remember this time of year while in active addiction. On top of the crushing TO DO list of everyday holiday tasks, there was the exhausting schedule of drinking, planning to drink, and […]

Not Your Grandpa’s Detox – One Year of Reflections

Sanford Founder’s Reflections on Advancements in Medical Detox My family has a story we tell about the time my grandfather went to alcohol detox at Deaconess Hospital in Detroit. It was back in the 1970s when the approach was “white knuckle.” He was tied to the bed with straps. While his sons held vigil, he […]

Art Therapy: It’s Not What You Think

Art therapy has always been a part of Sanford Behavioral Health’s programming. One of the tenants of art therapists is to ask a group to “show me.” Of course, when asking someone to “show” something, they are asking them to show themselves. Sanford embraces creative expression as a viable and effective framework for treatment.  Because […]

art therapy

Dear Rae: No Alcohol for the Holidays? I’m Mad!

Dear Rae: I just got an email from my aunt saying our cousin (we’ll call him Bill) is in early recovery from addiction, and to support him, she is not allowing any alcohol in her house for the holidays. I have to admit it makes me mad! My aunt is always the center of our […]

no alcohol for the holidays

What’s the Connection of ADHD and Substance Use?

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to use substances as a way to cope with their symptoms, such as impulsivity and hyperactivity. There is also some evidence that ADHD medications may reduce the risk of developing problematic substance use behaviors, making ADHD treatment a critical part of preventing or managing substance use in […]

a therapist sits on a couch with a patient consoling them and writing notes while discussing the connection between ADHD and substance use

Behavioral Health Professional’s Day – Free CEUs

  Join us for a full day of presentations and networking at Sanford Behavioral Health’s Professional’s Day. Behavioral Health Professional’s Day is an in-person event in Midland, Michigan. Five experts will speak on topics such as the common characteristics central to eating and substance use disorders; suicide prevention; the PIES model; and recovery efforts at […]

professionals

Commemorating Those We Have Lost to the Disease of Addiction

  October is Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. In honor of those we have lost to the disease of addiction and mental illness, Sanford Behavioral Health hosted its first annual event to commemorate the lives of clients, friends, and family members who have died.   Remembering […]

Memorial Sanford West (2)