Question: Should I pressure someone struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction into rehab? Do people who are forced into treatment get anything out of it? Answer: Yes, and yes. People who are not initially willing or ready to go into treatment have the same chance of recovery as those who come voluntarily to treatment. For years, conventional wisdom has stated otherwise: that treatment will work only for those who seek it. However, very few addicts seek treatment on their own. The nature of addiction makes it nearly impossible for the dependent person to admit or even recognize that he ... Read More →

Question: What should I do if I relapse during the holidays? The holidays can be one of the most difficult times for those of us in recovery. We're getting invited to employee Christmas parties and other family and friend events where drinking is expected. And sometimes we relapse almost accidentally, maybe because we just want to fit in with those around. So what can you do if you relapse? Is your entire recovery ruined? The good news is that a relapse doesn't need to derail your journey. Instead, talk about it! Go to a meeting, call your sponsor, ... Read More →

Question: How do I refuse a Christmas invitation without offending someone? How do I tell people I can’t drink?  This is one of the most commonly asked questions during the holiday season. And no wonder: refusing Christmas invitations never occurs without a layer of awkardness.  Ask for advice. The first thing to do is to ask your sponsor or A.A. group what has worked for them. It may be as simple as, “No thank you. I’m not drinking tonight.” or  “Mom, I appreciate your help and input, but ... Read More →

So you have lots of Christmas parties you're supposed to attend--like your work Christmas party--and you're dreading them because you're in recovery, attempting to live a life of sobriety. How are you going to be able to stay sober at a Christmas party?  Question: Should you avoid or skip your employee Christmas party if you're in recovery?  We recently asked Gayle, our counselor at Duffy's, what advice she would give. She said you don't necessarily need to skip your Christmas party, but here are a few things you should consider when making ... Read More →

Staying sober during the holidays isn't easy, probably because you're surrounded by friends and family, creating emotionally charged and stressful situations. Some of the sticky situations you might encounter this season might may include   Family conflict. Strained relationships may complicate holiday planning--or leave you with little to plan for.  Past Guilt. Memories of what happened during past holidays create feelings of guilt and embarrassment. Self-consciousness. Worrying about what others think of you and fear of being put on the spot may further add to the holiday stress.  These situations are prime opportunities to trigger a ... Read More →

Question: Does drinking alcohol cause me to gain weight? Answer: Yes. Drinking any kind of alcoholic beverage will cause you to gain weight. Alcohol slows the rate at which the body burns fat by nearly one third. The body’s fat, which would ordinarily be broken down and sent out of the body, is more likely to end up on the hips, thighs or abdomen. Why does alcohol cause me to gain weight? Alcohol that enters your body is broken down into a chemical compound called acetate. Since acetate cannot be stored in your body, it must be immediately ... Read More →

There are lots of different approaches to treat alcohol addiction, like using medications (Naltrexone) or the meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Or biomarkers. Biomarker testing have been used to monitor treatment outcomes for quite some time, and lately biomarkers have been linked with genetic testing to facilitate personalized treatment. A recent pilot study done by the Waukesha County of Wisconsin have shown the value of biomarkers in delaying relapse.  With all the news about biomarkers, it’s easy to lose the fundamental concepts: what biomarkers are and how they can help in addiction treatment. So let’s answer ... Read More →

Painkiller addiction has hit the news pretty hard this year, shocking the nation with triple digit statistics about the prescription drug epidemic. If your someone who has just been prescribed pills from your doctor, you might be wondering what your chances are of getting addicted to them.  The data out there is confusing with studies citing vast differences, ranging from 1% to 40%. WebMD's estimates roughly between 3% and 16%.  Remember, it’s not the pill that makes an addiction. Addiction, like any disease, rises from a number of physiological, psychological, and social factors.  Who is at a ... Read More →

Question: Does alcohol really cause brain damage? If it really causes brain damage, then why do so many people who drink seem to be perfectly healthy?  Answer: Yes, alcohol really does cause brain damage! (It’s not exaggerated; those scientists are telling the truth). But the "how" and "to what extent" alcohol does this is dependent on a variety of factors. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism lists them as  how much a person drinks how often a person drinks the age at which an individual begins drinking a person’s family history of ... Read More →

Question: What is a “Wet Brain”? How does alcohol create the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?  Answer: The term “Wet Brain” refers to a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. (Other common names include Korsakoff’s psychosis, alcoholic encephalopathy, and Wernicke’s disease.) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic brain damage most commonly caused by chronic alcohol consumption. Individuals with this syndrome often act like they are drunk when they are not. Symptoms include mental disturbance memory loss confusion and disorientation incoordination unsteadiness or a staggering gait paralysis of eye movements drowsiness telling imagined experiences as truth How does ... Read More →