Author Archives: Alta Loma

 5 Tips To Staying Sober During Summer Party Season

 5 Tips To Staying Sober During Summer Party Season

Weddings, graduation, pool parties, festivals and family gatherings, summer is the ultimate party season and with the sultry weather often comes alcohol. And this year, it may be the first time you’re sober during all the fun. Summer parties can be very triggering for those in recovery, but with support, this season can still be […]

What is Vaping?

What is Vaping?

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, “vaping” is a form of electronic cigarette use – also known as “e-cigs”, “vape pens”, or “e-hookahs”. Despite the ever-growing warning alerts that government and community organizations are sending out regarding traditional cigarette use, e-cigarettes and “vaping” have become more and more popular and are […]

3 Types of Meditation That Will Provide You with Balance in Recovery

It’s become an incredibly popular practice throughout the United States; last year, CNBC reported that 14.2% of Americans had meditated within the previous year. Apps like Headspace and Calm have promoted meditation by providing an open space for individuals to learn more about meditation and to engage in a variety of self-discovery strategies for growth […]

What Are the Signs That Someone Has Developed a Tolerance for a Drug?

What Are the Signs That Someone Has Developed a Tolerance for a Drug?

Tolerance is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as, “A state in which an organism no longer responds to a drug; a higher dose is required to achieve the same effect.” All too often, tolerance begins to develop when a person doesn’t even realize it; they’ve begun using alcohol or other drugs […]

The Road to Recovery: Why Those with Addiction Should Receive More Kindness

The Road to Recovery: Why Those with Addiction Should Receive More Kindness

A few years ago, Dr. Glenn Sterner, writer for Independence Blue Cross Foundation (IBC), shared a common story that he’d heard of from a man he’d previously worked with: “I’ll always be a recovering addict, no matter what, you know what I mean? It’s going to follow me. But every day I feel, I guess […]

Is There Still Stigma Against People Recovering from Addiction?

Is There Still Stigma Against People Recovering from Addiction?

Celebrities such as Demi Lovato, Dennis Quaid, Simon Pegg and more have become much more open about addiction – and it’s all mainly been to help combat stigma. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) explains that the language we’ve used in the past as a society has been incredibly harmful to people recovering. “Junkie”, […]

Your Ultimate Guide to Dopamine and Addiction: What Happens with Substance Abuse

Your Ultimate Guide to Dopamine and Addiction: What Happens with Substance Abuse

When we indulge in alcohol or other illicit drugs, we’re likely to experience a variety of symptoms – including euphoria. It’s that “rush” that many people chase after, but what is it about substances that gives them such a pleasurable feeling? One component of family and individual addiction recovery is exploring how drugs affect the […]

What Are a Person’s Risk Factors for Relapse?

What Are a Person’s Risk Factors for Relapse?

Last year, the Huffington Post covered the story of Demi Lovato – who released a song called “Sober”, which talks about her potential relapse and drug overdose. Relapse is incredibly common for people in recovery, but for those who are “outsiders” to this world, there begs the common question: Why do people relapse, and what […]

Recent Study Says Online Support Groups Make for an Enhanced Recovery Experience

The support we receive while in recovery can make an incredible influence on the way we push forward. Friends, family and peers in our treatment program can motivate us to carry out recovery-related activities even on days we don’t feel like it – and these same groups can cheer us on as we navigate the […]

Does Recovery Mean the Same to Everyone?

Does Recovery Mean the Same to Everyone?

A few years ago, an article was published on The Conversation, a website that explores various topics as it relates to arts and culture, economy and business, health and medicine, and more; it was explained that recovery from trauma is different for everyone, because each person goes through their own battles and successes. In a […]