Substance Abuse Statistics

Written by: Melissa Pena Lately, I have been watching people I love who are in recovery slip back into their old habits. It is sad to watch the ones you love slip away. Since my recovery, I watched seven lose their lives and tons fall. Some that fall come back quickly, realizing this is not…

Read More

Addiction Recovery Centers

Written By: Melissa Pena Are you struggling with your recovery? Let me say there are several options for you if you struggle at home. There are rehabs, sober living, and detox facilities. I want to speak to you first about the drug treatment facility I personally attended. The facility is a residential treatment program. In…

Read More

New Year, New You!

Written By: Melissa Pena Did you bring in the New Year sober or addicted? This year I brought in the New Year sober and with my kids. Enjoying these little moments was the most breathtaking experience. Let me stop and say addiction ate up my life. My addiction caused me to miss holidays, school events,…

Read More

Stigma Behind Addiction

Written By: Melissa Pena I recently had a run-in with a person who has no idea what addiction is and what addiction does to families. I was called a junkie, and I am far from this. Sometimes I find that individuals with no family who went through addiction or themselves tend to push the word…

Read More

My First Sober Holiday

sober holidays

Written By: Melissa Pena For twenty-four years, I never thought there would be a holiday where I was sober. I was so used to spending holidays feeling myself and getting high. I remember holidays when I would act a fool so I could do what I was used to doing. I can say this changed…

Read More

Holidays & Relapse

holidays and relapse

Written By: Melissa Pena When I think about the holidays, I think of stressful situations with family, other people, or money. Last year, I thought I had it made; I had just made it three years sober from my drug of choice. First, I became complacent in my recovery, hanging with unhealthy people, and pushing…

Read More

Adolescents and Fentanyl

Written By: Melissa Pena Going to a seminar this week, I heard about the number of adolescents falling to a plummeting death because of Fentanyl. Fentanyl has become the new drug on the streets. The synthetic opioid is made to look like oxycontin but is put into other drugs in your area. Fentanyl can be…

Read More

Addiction Vs. Recovery

Written By: Melissa Pena How did you realize you were an addict? I met a game warden who searched my car. His words were to tell my dealer to stop selling me drugs, or I would lose everything I worked for. A year later, I was in the process of losing my home, my car…

Read More

Addiction and its Effects on Pregnancy

Author: Melissa Pena When I was pregnant the last time, I was in a full-blown addiction. I was more worried about getting my next fix than the unborn child in my stomach. I was in a self-destructive mode and was not concerned with the growing baby. I had no idea what my addiction was causing…

Read More

Homelessness and Addiction

Written By: Dwayne Myers Today we are going to talk about how homelessness affects people with addiction. I have been a part of this stage of my life just as crowds of people in this world. It is really a tough situation especially when your mental stage of life is gone. A lot of times…

Read More