Getting sober was my first step into self-care. I recall countless other intentions and attempts at solitary self-help when I was in the midst of substance u...

It is often said that being in active addiction is a full-time job: the energy funneled into fantasizing, procuring, using, and recovering from the effects o...

It’s a privilege to be able to continue on the path of recovery in sickness and in health, through misfortune and advancement, and down the ever-shifting and...

I had sober sex for the first time. I didn’t completely lose it when someone cut me off on the train. These aren’t the sort of recovery milestones that get c...

Coming up on six years sober from alcohol and drugs, I’ve grown in many ways that make holidays feel more manageable and community-oriented than they ever di...

Generally speaking, I live my life with dignity, self respect, responsibility, and care. I like to be in healthy relationships with my family, friends, and r...

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Recovery Month, a national observance held every September to raise awareness about the fact that substance use trea...

Early recovery from a substance use disorder can be challenging for anyone, but perhaps not more so than for the countless students in recovery who, while co...

Many people in recovery from alcohol and/or drug use remember those early days in sobriety when we were convinced the party was over. No more laughing. No mo...

Recovery from addiction is a life-long journey. As such, it’s critical that we continue to practice our program regularly in order to avoid relapse. We ofte...

Relapse is a significant part of my recovery story. I first tried to get sober in AA in late 2006 and since then, have had more 90-day celebrations than I c...

In the spirit of self-preservation, an essential part of my recovery has been learning how to practice healthy boundaries with myself and with others. In ear...

The urge to self-medicate is a habit shared by almost everyone who suffers from addiction. It is an urge which drives us to quiet uncomfortable thoughts and ...

Many people in recovery fear or even loathe drugs and alcohol. Go to any recovery fellowship meeting or scroll through posts on recovery-oriented social medi...

During active addiction, I wasn’t a fan of big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hanukkah. To me and my addiction, holidays and holiday parties meant...

Thanksgiving is a unique holiday. On most American holidays, we exchange gifts with loved ones, celebrate in reverie, or commemorate a group of people or spe...

In the summer of 2018, my 2 year sobriety anniversary was approaching, and I was feeling good. I had celebrated 2 years of continuous sobriety a couple years...

Working your body to strengthen your recovery In the world of recovery, we spend a lot of time focusing on the spiritual condition, the tools of recovery, th...

Dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder is when a drug addict or alcoholic simultaneously suffers from a mood disorder or other mental illness. The Nationa...

Contributor Emily Ash discusses her the events that led her to her bottom, what happened, and how she escaped the pain and suffering of addiction. This piece...