Passive vs. Active Recovery: Which Path Are You Taking?
Updated 4/28/25 Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein , LMFT, Chief Clinical Officer at Cliffside Malibu It is not uncommon for people to group all types of recovery into the all-encompassing phrases “addiction recovery” or “substance use recovery.” Despite committing your life to recovery, there are different levels of engagement that you can have with your […]
Why Mindfulness Is Essential in Long-Term Recovery
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands Substance use and addiction wreak havoc on an individual’s sense of self. They are chronic and invasive conditions that can lead to overwhelming thoughts and emotions. Even when the consequences of substance use become evident, there may be hesitation toward treatment and recovery because an […]
Defining Co-Occurring Conditions
Updated on 02/19/24 Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC Co-occurring disorders refer to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. Mental health disorders can be a contributing factor to the development of substance use disorders. Risk factors for developing these disorders overlap, including environmental and genetic factors. Effective […]
What Does Drug Use Do to the Brain?
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands The brain is the most complex organ in our body. It regulates essential functions, such as breathing or keeping your heart beating and allows you to interpret and respond to external stimuli. Your brain gives you the ability to interact with your environment and make […]
The Hidden Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse
The Hidden Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein, LMFT, Chief Clinical Officer at Cliffside Malibu. Prescription drug abuse and misuse have been on the rise for the last several years. Despite many prescription medications having numerous beneficial effects for health concerns, they also have the potential to produce dangerous side effects, […]
Risk Factors for Developing Addiction
Updated by 06/04/24 Content Reviewed by Cameron Bolish, M.Ed. Many people believe that the main factor that plays into the development of addiction is genetics. While it is more likely for an individual to develop an addiction if addiction “runs” in their family, this is only one of the many risk factors involved in whether […]
Understanding Addiction vs. Dependency
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands One of the many misconceptions about substance use and addiction is that addiction equates to dependence or vice versa. It is essential to understand that, although sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, they are not the same. The difference between addiction and dependence can be […]
Dating Someone in Addiction Recovery
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands In general, dating is an incredibly vulnerable experience. It involves you getting out there and meeting new people. Once you find a person you want to pursue, you wind up evaluating your partner and assessing your suitability together. Dating requires patience. When you start dating […]
Why Do People Use Drugs?
Updated on 01/25/24 Content Reviewed by Cameron Bolish, M.Ed. Drugs have been around for thousands of years. This means that drug use, misuse and abuse have also been around for thousands of years. Throughout time, people have turned to drug use for a variety of different reasons. To gain a better understanding of why people […]
What to Do After a Relapse
Updated on 01/25/24 Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC Relapse does not mean that your recovery journey has failed. For many people in recovery, relapse is considered another step toward securing long-lasting healing—an opportunity to learn something else that will benefit down the road. Recovery from substance use and addiction is never an easy […]