Longbranch Recovery Blog
What’s an IOP Program? Getting Help for Drinking or Drug Use on Your Own Terms
Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Drinking and drug use take a serious toll on your body, mind, spirit, and family. Even if you’ve managed to hold onto all of your “things” so far — your…
Marijuana Positive? Many Factors To Consider First
“If I smoke pot Saturday, will it show up on a drug screen Wednesday?” This question is probably at the forefront of many minds when facing the possibility of an upcoming drug test. If you’re not a frequent user, the…
Can Intimate Relationships Ruin the Recovery Process?
Entering addiction recovery can feel like stepping onto a foreign planet. There are new people to meet, new rules to follow, and new emotions to experience. Imagine being in a place where you’re expected to change your entire life without…
The Adderall High: Abuse, Addiction and Recovery
When most people hear the word “amphetamine,” they usually think of crystal meth or other commonly abused drugs. At least I used to. Now, I associate it with a legal stimulant I used to take called Adderall. You may have…
Tips to Help Stop Intrusive Thoughts
Every day, we are at risk of experiencing intrusive thoughts. With thousands of thoughts per day, sometimes we don’t even realize they are there. The intrusive thoughts are the ones that are disturbing enough, we focus our attention to them…
Is Klonopin More Dangerous Than Cocaine?
When it comes to Hydrocodone, Oxy, and Fentanyl. After all, there’s an epidemic sweeping the country. These drugs were responsible for more than 30,000 overdose deaths in 2016 alone. It’s no wonder they make headlines. We also hear horror stories…
10 Ways to Relax Without Alcohol
Life Without Alcohol is Relaxing and Fulfilling For many Americans today, alcohol is commonly associated with helping adults relax, avoid stressful situations, and free themselves from unwanted emotions and feelings. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to relax without drinking alcohol…
The Flexeril High: Abuse, Addiction and Recovery
The DEA found that nearly 25 million prescriptions were given out for cyclobenzaprine, the active ingredient in Flexeril. As a muscle relaxant, it is often used for back pain. Flexeril is believed to be much less addictive than other pain…
Young people are at increased risk from cannabis use
Marijuana is perhaps the most commonly abused drug in the United States. Additionally, today’s marijuana is stronger than ever with the risk of potentially permanent negative effects on its users. Marijuana advocates have been given a loud voice through state…
Tips for effectively speaking to someone about their addiction
When it comes to speaking to someone with addiction problems, there are certain things that a person should avoid if they want to be effective in their conversation at all. Like any other problem a person faces, addiction can be…
6 realistic films about addiction
Realistic films about addiction Movies can sometimes reflect aspects of our real life on the big screen. When a film achieves a sense of realism, the audience can feel understood or inspired. Although an estimated 20 million people in the…
Here’s how to tell your friends and family that you are going to rehab
Tell your friends and family that you are going to rehab Deciding to seek help with an addiction is not an easy task. The first steps on the road to recovery can be intimidating and overwhelming. Accepting that you need…
Bruce Lee Letters and the Drug Use of Young Celebrities
Substance use disorders among young celebrities In 1973 actor and martial arts expert Bruce Lee had a mild headache. After taking Equagesic, a prescription pain reliever, Lee fell into a coma and never woke up. The 32-year-old actor’s cause of…
A new and deadly opioid
In the fight to save people from addiction, we try to prevent drug abuse among adolescents, build rehab centers to bring people back to life, and do our best to get illegal, harmful and deadly substances off the market. Taking…
Creating boundaries with a loved one who has an addiction
Healthy boundaries are an essential aspect of any relationship. When a person becomes addicted in this relationship, boundaries become critical. Borders are a way of protecting ourselves and maintaining relationships. They let other people know what we accept and what…
What does it mean to be “California Sober”?
Have you ever heard of the term “California Sober”? It’s a phrase popularized by singer / actress Demi Lovato in a recent documentary that describes her battle against addiction. According to the star, the term means avoiding all addictive substances,…
Alcoholic Energy Drinks – The rise and fall of a dangerous substance marketed to young people
The recent history of alcoholic energy drinks is worth discussing. Such substances weren’t legal for long, but they were quite dangerous, harmful, and very popular while they were. You could say these items are history, but they are recent history…
Manage expectations in early recovery
When it comes to the recovery process from addiction, several unrealistic expectations can arise early on. People in early recovery often go through the “honeymoon phase” where everything seems great and life will always be incredible now, and so on…