I have chosen to work with children not because I believe I need to step into their lives and help them, but because their strength and resiliency is both boundless and awe-inspiring. I am in the enviable position to witness this strength and resilience as a therapist in the Children’s Healthy Coping Skills Program at … Continued
What does the Big Book mean when it tells us He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves? Be assured that God is not here primarily to take care of us and our desires. He is here to give us the tools and the power to do His work, not ours. The will of God is infinitely more satisfying than anything we could plan for ourselves. If you are not so sure about this, stick around until you are. You will be amazed before you are halfway through.
by Ana Sandoiu Traditionally, alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse have been more commonly associated with men than women. But as more women drink alcohol, a new analysis finds they are catching up with men at an unprecedented rate. This also means women are affected by the same harmful effects of alcohol as men, and the … Continued
by Scott Kellogg and Andrew Tatarsky Many addicts have mental health problems, and all have complex reasons for using substances. In order to effectively address both the addiction and what drives it, providers require training and skills in psychotherapy. The recent suicide of country singer Mindy McCready brings the death toll of patients who were treated on … Continued
What you are seeking here is aiding each child and the family as a whole to redefine their story based on an understanding of what things were like before, what happened that changed that, and what things are like now. These story reconstructions and storytelling processes are essential to personal and family recovery from addiction.
If, like most of us did, you spent years avoiding, denying or otherwise evading the question, consider this: People who don’t have a problem with drugs, alcohol or any kind of mind- or mood-altering substances, typically never ask themselves, “Am I an alcoholic or drug addict?”. It’s not even on their radar. Similar to the … Continued
Young people who are looking to start participating in a 12-step program should, whenever possible, begin with meetings that are specially designated for young people, to help them feel connected and engaged. After this initial engagement, however, young adults may find it more beneficial to branch out to more mixed-age meetings. Older people are more likely to have long-term sobriety, and generally have greater life experience and wisdom.
Toronto city council voted yesterday to approve creating three safe injection sites in the city’s downtown core. With Toronto Public Health reporting a 41% increase in overdose rates between 2004 and 2013, the Toronto board of health unanimously supported the motion. While we at Renascent follow an abstinence-based model, for some people harm reduction (HR) can … Continued
Substance abuse and interrelated mental health issues have had, and continue to have, a strong negative impact on First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) communities throughout Canada. Whether on the reservation or on the streets of Toronto, FNMI people who could be vital to their families and communities are struggling with drugs and alcohol. Many … Continued
Our education system does a remarkable job in teaching us about addiction and the brain but it could do a better job in teaching us about the beauty of recovery. If we educate our students better about recovery, this will equip them in the battle against stigma. Addiction is a disease—point blank.
