Shannon Alder once wrote, “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” Shannon’s quote is very compelling and perhaps one of the most clearly stated on the true essence of leaving a legacy. Which helps us to beg the question, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? Will your children and grandchildren respect you? Will you leave a legacy etched in their hearts? In late March, Tom Claunch, a recovery inspiration living in New Zealand, passed away in Alabama ... Read More →

Held every April, Alcohol Awareness Month is a national effort to highlight the effects of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. At Duffy's, we are passionate about helping those who are struggling with alcohol, so we are excited to participate in this special month on our blog.  Who Sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month? The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) What is the Goal for Alcohol Awareness Month? The goal for Alcohol Awareness month is to raise awareness and to support recovery.This is a time dedicated to support prevention, research, education, intervention, treatment and recovery from alcoholism and ... Read More →

A New Obsession I'll never forget the first time my friends and I got a case of beer and got drunk together. I loved it. I wanted more. Nothing was ever the same after that because unless there was booze and drugs involved I wanted nothing to do with it. The booze and drugs took hold of me from day one. I never knew what would happen. . . I could hook up with a pretty girl, get in a fight or black out and wake up covered in vomit. But I still loved it. It was adventure in a bottle ... Read More →

For decades, society has dreamed of a miracle drug that can end substance addiction. We've hoped for a way to make recovery from addiction effortless and painless--that “quick fix” for addiction itself. Lunbeck, a Danish international pharmaceutical company, claims to have finally bagged that dream and squished it into a little tablet dubbed Selincro. Have we finally found a "miracle fix" for addiction? Touted as the “first major innovation in the treatment of alcohol dependence in many years,” Selincro is one of the few medications to be approved by the European commission for the reduction ... Read More →

Though we will forever have the memories of what our lives were like before sobriety, it can be easy to forget the strength of the beast as we become busier, happier, and journey further in recovery. And that’s just what it wants.    You see, when we’re too busy or complaisant, we forget the real power of alcoholism and the havoc it can still cause in our lives.  I recently read a blog post by a recovering alcoholic entitled “A Letter to My Disease.” This personal letter illustrates the point so ... Read More →

“Ecstasy not considered that addictive” ran a headline in the Calgary Herald, an online journal in Canada. This headline may catch people’s attention, but it is very misleading. In fact, one could argue that it’s a flat-out lie. Sure, it is true that ecstasy has a lower potential to cause physical dependency than some other drugs, but the article fails to mention the high psychological addiction of ecstasy. What is a Physical Addiction? Physical addiction occurs when your body becomes so dependent on a substance or drug your cells cannot function without it. The ... Read More →

It's the holidays--Christmas and New Year's--some of the hardest times of the year to stay sober--especially at a party. And chances are, every December, you get invited to multiple Christmas or New Year's events. Is it actually possible to hang out with your friends and not drink? If you're in recovery (or just don't want to drink), consider some of these helpful tips for staying sober at a party. (By the way, these tips aren't time sensitive--you don't have to use them just during the holidays; they'll actually work any time ... Read More →

Melissa Gilbert, star of the famous TV series Little House on the Prairie, has opened up about her past alcohol addiction and her public combat against prescription drug abuse to the news world. Sometimes, we forget that the disease of addiction affects everyone.  From Laura Ingalls to Leading Advocate Against Alcohol and Drugs Trapped by the bottle Similar to others trapped in addiction, Melissa's history includes rocky relationships and early experimentation with drugs and alcohol. But for Melissa, alcohol got out of control when she was in her late 30s. After her grandfather passed away, "something just triggered" ... Read More →

Prescription drug abuse is the leading cause of death in San Diego. Over the last decade, the number prescription-drug related deaths have shot up 85%.  Think about that. The average San Diego citizen is more likely to die from prescription drugs than car crashes.  This may be due to the increase in prescriptions themselves. As the following video explains, the number of pills distributed to San Diego pharmacies have almost doubled, rising from 675,000 in 2007 to 1.1 million in 2008. Infographic: California Drug Statistics However, evidence shows that the majority of abusers obtain these pills not from physicians, but from family and ... Read More →

How does Vicodin detox work? What happens during Vicodin rehab? What can I (or my loved one) expect from a Vicodin rehab program? Does Duffy's treat a Vicodin addiction? This is the last post in our Vicodin series: 101, 201, 301 Vicodin Detoxification If you've ever tried to withdraw from Vicodin by yourself, you know it can be very painful. This is because Vicodin contains strong opiates. And opiates interfere with your brain's reward center and your pain messaging system, making quitting vicodin both hard and painful.  Why is Vicodin So Hard to Quit?  Your body produces natural ... Read More →