Brattleboro Retreat ranked among 15 largest behavioral health providers in US
“The Brattleboro Retreat has established itself as world-class psychiatric hospital and addictions treatment center, and an invaluable partner in Vermont's mental health care system,” said Bea Grause, president and chief executive officer of the … Read more on vtdigger.org

The 4 Degrees of Drug Use
Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol needs rehab; at the same time, not everyone who needs treatment recognizes the seriousness of their problem. How can you differentiate controlled, moderate use from out-of-control drug … Still, just one use can … Read more on PsychCentral.com (blog)

Seabrook Alcoholism Helpline Takes Steps to Improve the Lives of Addicts
Finding the treatment facility which offers the best chance at sobriety is often times one of the hardest aspects of the entire recovery process. The helpline allows addicts a way to find reliable substance abuse recovery help with just a simple phone … Read more on Ticker Report

Woman finds recovery, home as Downtown Women's Center celebrates 25 years
She underwent a 30-day Amarillo Recovery from Alcohol and Drugs treatment, intensive one-on-one counseling, and Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings. “The road I was … The program has changed over the years to better handle meth addiction. Read more on Amarillo.com

Bullying: A Problem That Starts and Ends at Home
He is CEO of Elements Behavioral Health, a network of mental health and addiction treatment centers that includes an adolescent rehab at Right Step as well as Promises, The Ranch, The Recovery Place, The Sexual Recovery Institute, Clarity Way, Journey … Read more on PsychCentral.com (blog)

What's happening this week in Mansfield area
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA). Thursdays, 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, 29 North Main …. Overeaters Anonymous is a 12-step program for recovering from compulsive overeating. There are no dues; no fees and no weigh-ins. Meetings are … Read more on Wicked Local Norton

12-Step Programs Lose Validity, Chapters Capistrano Offers Addiction Recovery …
In the alcoholism and drug addiction circles, recovery has often hinged on the infamous 12-step program; a systematic structure that has become popular among sobriety support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, Chapters Capistrano and … Read more on DigitalJournal.com

Camp Lejeune recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month
When the focus of a person's life begins to revolve around getting, using or recovering from alcohol, they need help, Allegri added. “Once someone crosses over the line, they run the risk of addiction,” said Allegri. Addiction is a difficult path to … Read more on DVIDS

What's happening today in the north valley
Alcoholics Anonymous: Chico Central Ñ 6:30 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. 1102 Mangrove Ave., Chico; Mom's Alcoholics Anonymous — Noon, 5:30 and 8 p.m. 2109 Esplanade, Suite 110, Chico. Meet times, locations or to talk to recovering alcoholic, … Read more on Enterprise-Record

How Long Island is Losing its War on Heroin
Some of the ideas discussed at the hearing include establishing a recovery high school to decrease relapse rates, requiring the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to license largely unregulated “sober homes,” relaxing rules that … Read more on Long Island Press

A Look at the Many Ways Bollywood Mishandles Mental Health
This movie's shortcomings lie in its failure to properly portray alcoholism as a disease — a medical condition with both physical and mental components of alcohol dependence that requires proper treatment. Aarohi tries to “love away” Rahul's … Read more on The Aerogram

Families suffer as heroin overdoses rise
His father, in a show of support, accompanied him to Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings. "He was getting back … His parents tried to get him into a local residential treatment program, but the wait was six to 12 months. Nor could they … Read more on Cincinnati.com

Scranton school director charged with DUI; board president calls for resignation
After his crash, Mr. Casey checked himself into Marworth Treatment Center for alcohol rehabilitation. He spent 24 days in rehab, and has since returned to his seat on the board. There was no discussion of the charges during Monday's school board meeting. Read more on Scranton Times-Tribune

AA counsellor warns of Paphos drinking culture
In terms of alcohol abuse, he said that although some UK health authorities had 'drying out units', chronic alcoholics often ended up in psychiatric hospitals as there were no treatment resources as such. Addiction was seen as a psychological flaw and … Read more on Cyprus Mail

Question by ronswife: Calling all Alcoholics Anonymous members in NJ (morris co.) or surrounding…?
I am very shy and I have a hard time speaking in public (without alcohol).
Last time I tried AA meetings, I felt like an outcast. I found it to be very cliquey. It was hard for people to accept me. (or maybe it was hard for me to open up and accept my disease?)
I wasn’t able to find a sponsor or anyone to talk to, for that matter….
Needless to say, I started drinking again.
I need to go to meetings, but I am afraid that I will not be accepted, again.
My constant anxiety will keep me from speaking at meetings and getting the sponsorship that I need!
I know that alot of alcoholics and drug addicts suffer from anxiety and depression. I am hoping there is someone out there, right now, from NJ that can steer me in the right direction.
Please, don’t bother commenting if you are going to belittle me!!!!

Best answer:

Answer by Canan
Congratulations on having taken your first steps towards recovery. Once you get some sobriety under your belt, hopefully you’ll have the anxiety and depression subside considerably. Although, it is a real possibility that you had those in the first place and became addicted in a mistaken attempt to ‘self-medicate’ (alcohol is a powerful sedative). This is unfortunately very true especially for females…

A.A. meetings are non-professional, and so is its outset. I would highly recommend to get professional stabilizing first.

Talk to a health-care provider, hopefully they can refer you to other professional places or look things up in the blue-pages (beware of some private practitioners and/or most emergency departments: they’re usually in it for the money and are not interested in this unprofitable business …

Then once you’re stabilized, attend A.A.’s. Don’t feel obligated to having have to talk immediately at meetings. It’s ok to just sit and listen and learn and take what you can use in your recovery from the people who have something to offer!

Did you go through a rehab? Those usually help tremendously to get you into a schedule/routine, acquiring tools for your daily recovery Those places also have good resources for “closed meetings”. My suggestion would also be to finding a meeting that is ‘smaller’ or just for females.

Some of the very large meetings have a their ‘cliques’ and a lot of ‘strangers’ that come one day and not the next. That’s why the ‘old timers’ don’t dedicate too much time to make the newcomers feel welcomed. Go to a bunch of different meetings until you find a home-group that you like, in which you’re greeted by a few fellow suffers and who will make you feel welcomed. Also, finding a sponsor is not an easy task, give it a lot of time …

There are also on-line meetings. Get as much information as possible, get started on working on your steps (available from A.A. as well as on the internet). Good luck with everything!

What do you think? Answer below!

Healthy Oshkosh: Take time to learn about dangers of alcohol
… or who may become pregnant, individuals who plan to operate a car or machinery, people taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that might interact with alcohol, people with certain medical conditions, and people recovering from alcoholism. Read more on The Oshkosh Northwestern

When you love a junkie or a drunk
A group of friends and family members of alcoholics/drug addicts who meet together and share their experience, strength and hope to help each other solve their common problems and cope with the difficulties of loving an alcoholic/addict. An … Read more on The Harlan Daily Enterprise

BioCorRx backs alcohol-suppression implant with rehab program
Several medicines that maintain abstinence and sobriety are also used to help people in recovery from alcoholism. One drug, disulfiram, interferes with alcohol metabolism so that drinking a small amount will cause nausea, vomiting, blurred vision … Read more on Gant Daily

'Recovery theater' helps alcoholics through production
They were hardcore nose-in-the-gutter drunks who had a miracle happen in their lives and started to share it with others passionately,” Kimble said. Kimble now carries on that passion through his portrayal of Bill W., since he, himself, is a recovering … Read more on KSAT San Antonio

New Adolescent Helpline Provides Valuable Information for Young Addicts
Treatment options available at rehab facilities can help any addict regardless of age, gender or social standing get the proper help they need. Accredited treatment facilities can provide drug detox, individual and group therapy, dual diagnosis and … Read more on Ticker Report

From the Publisher: Election Week Approaches
Lou La Monte has taken a strong leadership role in connection with trying to get some control over all the drug and alcohol rehab facilities that have popped up in Malibu. This, again, is a very complex issue against a well-funded opposition that makes … Read more on Malibu Times

Leaving Few Clues Behind
His father confirmed that Mr. Ott had been treated for alcoholism in the past and that “it's something that he continues to struggle with.” Rehab facilities and sites of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings have been a focus in the search. Asked whether drugs … Read more on New York Times