The History of Women and Wine Culture

  The United States is the largest wine consumer in the world, exceeding the wine-producing European countries such as Italy and France, which long dominated world markets. According to the Beverage Information Group, 52 percent of women prefer wine, compared to 20 percent of men. Women make up 59 percent of wine buyers. It bears […]

Michigan Alcohol Abuse Statistics [2023]

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) has published current Alcohol Use Statistics [2023]. Not surprisingly, 60% of adults in the U.S. say that their alcohol consumption increased during the pandemic. 34% admit binge drinking, and 7% report extreme binge drinking. Men still comprise 62% of those diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, 35% […]

Sanford Library of Virtual Recovery Resources

Sanford Behavioral Health’s use of telehealth to continue providing virtual treatment services and recovery resources receives favorable reviews from many clients, even in the aftermath of the pandemic. Individuals who choose virtual connection express gratitude for the groups and individual services we provide. In addition, our clients say they look forward to telehealth sessions to […]

virtual recovery resources library

Sobriety Makes You Pretty – It’s Better than Botox!

Updated 1/2/25 I work for Sanford Behavioral Health in Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, which gives me a bird’ s-eye view of our patients in recovery. Everyone knows that addictive substance use can wreak havoc on our physical health. However, I’d like to address what it does to our physical appearance as well. Since I don’t see […]

Why Does Mommy Need a Nap? Children of Alcoholics Making it All Better

  What is Codependency? The definition of codependency is “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner. Especially one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction”.  At Sanford Behavioral Health, our Family Program addresses codependency and other coping mechanisms loved ones of those with substance use disorders employ to make things better. […]

Dieting? A Healthy Approach to Your New Year’s Resolution

  Thank you to Susan Shaw and Wood TV 8 for including Sanford Behavioral Health in their “New Me in 2023” series. Susan’s conversation with Lori Kehoe, Program Director at Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders, about dieting the “eat healthier resolution” was perfectly timed. A couple of weeks into the New Year, folks already […]

How a Winter in Michigan Can Help You

  We have had a gloomy start to the year in Michigan. The sun shined for five minutes in the first eight days of January 2023. Since then, it has been all grey skies and puddles threatening to turn to black ice. So why, you ask, is this woman writing an article about the health […]

Supportive Living – When It’s Not Safe to Go Home

Around recovery meetings, folks always say you need to change people, places, and things to manage an addiction. But what happens if you don’t have the option to change your current situation? If you live at home with parents or siblings who use, for example. It makes long-term recovery look daunting and can keep an […]

supportive living group together

Letting Go in Family Recovery (Happy Thanksgiving!)

  Once again, it’s the holiday season with a tradition of gathering and gift-giving to folks you care about! And Thanksgiving is the time we count our blessings and express gratitude – all part of the recovery process! At Sanford Behavioral Health, we care about our clients and  Excursions readers and have a little practical […]

Living Sober for My Kids

I had one of those classic “couldn’t do this if I was still boozing” parenting moments the other day. Our nine-year-old had a friend over for a sleepover late in the evening. At around 9:30 p.m., we were interrupted in the living room by a little boy in tears saying, “I want to go home!” […]

a mother holds her young child on her back and both are smiling while the mother happy to be living sober