The Addiction & Recovery Resource Blog

The Importance of Substance and Alcohol Addiction Treatment for Veterans

• Mandy Sandhu
• 14 Feb 2022

What does patriotism mean? If there’s anyone out there who truly knows, it’s veterans.  Whether they’ve served in the military, navy, or air service, they’ve spent a significant portion of their lives on active or reserved duty. Some have even put their lives on the line or have been disabled in the process of serving and protecting their country. Unfortunately,...

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Addiction Recovery Advocates You Should Know

• Mandy Sandhu
• 7 Feb 2022

There’s a lot of work involved in recovery: working through concurring disorders, unresolved guilt, and the emotional and psychological issues that come with it. There’s so much to deal with that sometimes the path to recovery feels painfully long.  During this time, listening to successful recovery stories can ignite hope. It motivates us to push on. That’s why it’s helpful...

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Simple but Effective Habits to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being in 2022

• Mandy Sandhu
• 17 Jan 2022

There’s a lot of hype about how we should focus on mental health to achieve a happy, well-balanced life. And while we can’t stress enough how true that is, the thing is, we sometimes get so caught up in the big picture that we forget it’s the little things that will bring us there. So what can you do to...

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AA Sponsors: What They Are and How Can They Help Sponsees in Addiction Recovery

• Mandy Sandhu
• 13 Jan 2022

There’s no doubt Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps individuals get sober. Research shows it has helped more people achieve sobriety than therapy. The success of this international fellowship can be attributed to the social interaction model it uses. AA believes a person who’s trying to get sober must be surrounded by others with the same goal to achieve optimal success. A...

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What Are the 3 Prescription Drug Categories?

• Mandy Sandhu
• 10 Jan 2022

There’s a big challenge surrounding prescription drugs in Canada: how can prescription drug-related abuse be reduced while ensuring access to those who need it for medical applications? Tightening regulations further could help prevent abuse and harm. But it could also mean jeopardizing the lives of people who medically need it if they don’t get timely access. It’s a tricky issue...

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What Is Comorbidity and How Does It Differ From Concurrent Disorders?

• Mandy Sandhu
• 6 Jan 2022

Relatives of individuals with drug dependence often wonder what made their loved ones abuse drugs. Did the substance abuse happen because they have a mental illness? Or did the substance abuse cause the mental illness? Often, mental illness contributes to substance abuse and vice-versa. But sometimes, a person can have both substance abuse disorder and mental illness at the same...

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What is Dry January?

• Mandy Sandhu
• 3 Jan 2022

No, it doesn’t mean January will be a dry month. Rainfall and moisture in the air won’t be low, and there won’t be a drought. Dry January means abstaining from alcohol during the first month of the new year. It has become a yearly tradition for many people since it began eight years ago. Others look at it as a...

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Can U.S. Residents Attend Rehab in Canada?

• Mandy Sandhu
• 16 Dec 2021

Canada has become one of the world’s top medical destinations due to the relative affordability, accessibility, and quality of care available in the country. It’s not unheard of for international residents, especially neighbouring people from the United States, to come and get professional medical attention at Canadian rehab centers. But can an American undergo rehab in Canada? The answer is...

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60+ Books About Addiction and Recovery

• Mandy Sandhu
• 13 Dec 2021

Substance abuse is a silent epidemic that's affecting countless people worldwide. The more we know about this complex condition, the more empowered we become to steer clear of personal addiction triggers—or give loved ones whatever they need to power through the journey towards lifelong sobriety.  Reading books about addiction recovery and memoirs of prominent personalities who share their struggles (which...

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Enjoyable Things to Do When Sober: 40 Winter Activities

• Mandy Sandhu
• 9 Dec 2021

For many reasons, wintertime can be particularly challenging for those in addiction recovery. You see less and less of the sun each day and are forced to stay indoors at times, making you vulnerable to winter blues. You’re excited about seeing family and friends but at the same time agitated about the thought of being near alcohol or drugs at...

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