Addiction Blog. Insight and Advice
from Our Austin Area Addiction Recovery Experts.

More than 12 million people in the United States reported having used prescription painkillers in 2010 for non-medical purposes. Unfortunately, many people eventually turn from prescription painkiller opiates to heroin, also an opiate. There are many side effects both from taking and withdrawing from opiates. Drug replacement therapy is a viable option for many people…

What is the drug trade doing to Texas? Right now Texas is facing a drug crisis that’s leaving more and more people in dire condition. And a lot of the drug trade is fueled by Mexican cartels, which import most of the heroine and meth into Texas. But there is a darker side to this…

What does drug treatment do that can help me improve my life? If you’re struggling with drug addiction, then you know by now what it’s doing to ruin your life. Drug addiction can destroy your health, your relationships, your finances, your reputation – every aspect of your life. In fact, some people who are suffering…

Why should I worry about Ebola in Texas when prescription drug addiction is so much more deadly? Right now in Texas, people are getting more and more nervous about the recent cases of Ebola that have been found in Dallas. And though the threat of Ebola is not something to take lightly, right now it’s…

Embracing Vulnerability Can Boost Recovery: Here’s How Vulnerability is not something most people want to admit to experiencing. It is almost like a taboo subject to admit that inside, things feel a bit shaky, uncertain, and, yes, vulnerable. Vulnerability is often seen as something to be avoided. Brené Brown has been shifting the conversation around…

Enabling, by definition is “doing for someone things that they could, and should be doing themselves.” In doing this, all consequences are removed from a drug addict or alcoholic’s life. Enabling can look like many things. It can be constantly giving someone money, continuing to repair damaged property, paying for lawyers and court fees, bailing…

Many people understand horseback riding as a calming, therapeutic exercise. This isn’t so far off. It even has a name: equine assisted psychotherapy, or equine therapy. People around the world use this therapy. Initially, people used it to help patients recover from traumatic injuries. Later on, in the last two decades, equine therapy branched off…

What are some ways I can enhance my rehab experience that I might not be thinking of? If you’re thinking about drug rehab, then you know by now that it’s the best option for the millions of Americans who are struggling with drug addiction. But not all rehab is created equal. Some rehab offers benefits…

The residents at The Last Resort Recovery Center combined their creative art abilities with some amazing storytelling during the Equine Session last week. Using some of the symbols used by Native American Indians, they painted the horses depicting their stories of addiction and road to recovery. Paula Basden our Equine Specialist at The Last Resort…

Crack Cocaine dependency is an intimidating illness to take on. Hundreds of thousands of addicts butt heads with the first stages of detox when they run out of cash and find themselves doing whatever they can—whatever it takes—to get more crack. The term crack has become an exaggerated adjective synonymous with “highly addictive.”If you or…

A growing libertarian mindset in the United States is contributing to a greater acceptance of recreational drug use. That mindset, however, also ignores the danger created by certain recreational drugs and the personal and societal problems that can result from recreational drug use. Your political views and your opinions of how the country’s criminal justice…

Over the past fifty years, acupuncture has transitioned from a fringe alternative medical practice to an accepted treatment methodology for pain management and other medical issues. Some current research suggests that acupuncture is an effective tool to assist alcoholics and opiate addicts to recover from their addictions. Additional research will be needed to understand and…

As a spiritually-centered recovery center, we understand that the most crucial component of long term success in addiction recovery is faith. This does not necessarily mean religion, though the many religions of the world are centered on faith. Faith by itself, however, means believing in yourself and in something larger than yourself. As the many…

What does drug addiction do to harm my family? Whether you’re struggling with drug addiction yourself, or you’re concerned about your loved one (such as your husband, father, brother, or son), drug addiction impacts are serious business. This is true for addiction to illegal drugs such as meth, cocaine, heroin, PCP, Molly, as well as…

How does drug addiction impact my family? It’s well known that drug addiction has a huge effect on your family, and it can even tear families apart in severe situations. An addiction by any family member impacts the entire family, and can lead to severe consequences for the whole family. But even though drug addiction…

How can the father-son connection help when it comes to rehab? When your son is struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, you’re in a unique position as a father to help them. This is true for alcoholism, as well as illegal drugs like meth, cocaine, heroin, PCP, and abused prescription medications such as Percocet, Vicodin,…

Friday night as I sat in a lawn chair listening to friends sharing ​stories of our past 4 years together and what lies ahead for us all, I became overwhelmed with gratitude. As I watched two more friends graduate and plan their move to another city I started ​to realize how a new era had…

Coming out of recovery with your health intact and a body empty of drugs is a great feeling. You’ve got a fresh start ahead of you. While most of us are conscious of the health and sobriety battle ahead, few of us are thinking about how we can better manage our money so we don’t…

Finding a Spiritual Center in Recovery Looks Different Than Men Think When searching for authentic spirituality, it is healthy to think of it in terms of finding a center that helps ground you in recovery. Men may approach spirituality differently than women, depending on their experiences and how they interpret spirituality. Learn more about how…

There’s nothing worse for a man’s pride and sense of self than the feeling of weakness. Weakness is deplorable in almost every culture and there are a whole range of psychological battles we endure when we feel weak and helpless. It’s not a good feeling and ruins our self-confidence and presence of mind. Substance addiction…

If you’re new to recovery and the family of 12 step communities, you may not know what to look for when it comes to a sponsor. A sponsor is not a requirement for recovery, but they are a helpful tool to support and guide you on your journey of sobriety, while taking you through the…