You come home from work, and the scent of something vaguely medicinal fills the air — a common smell when your son and his friends hang out in the basement. You find plastic cups in the trash, with purple droplets scattered at the bottom. You hear them laughing about “lean”, and Google search what the […]
We have heard the term for years: “the opioid crisis.” It has ripped through our Appalachian communities, taking away sons, daughters, aunts, fathers, and friends while leaving many loved ones behind with heartache. It’s hard for them to understand why opioids seem more important than the people around them. The science behind what is going […]
Have you ever taken a medication – whether recreationally or prescribed – for a period of time and find yourself painfully uncomfortable when you stop? Maybe you noticed an increase in body sweat, a new level of anxiety you hadn’t had before, or pain in your joints and muscles. These are signs of withdrawal, and […]
It can seem like an easy feat – just stop taking opiates and everything will be fine, right? Those who have managed opiate withdrawal know that this type of advice is meaningless. Those who have tried to stop are met with pain in both the physical and mental sense, often leaving them to wonder “How […]
Do you use heroin but hold down a full-time job? Do you still put food on the table and care for your family? But at the same time, have there been days where you were too sick or too preoccupied with heroin and weren’t as present as you would have liked? Or perhaps you have […]
You always wanted to be a mother, and with the birth of your son, your dream was realized. The plan did not quite go as you thought, though. You required a c-section to save your son. Both of you were healthy and mending well in the hospital. But no one could have prepared you for […]
You know your daughter has been using drugs because you’ve seen the signs. Changes in her appearance and friend groups, loss of motivation, a drop in her grades, and even white residue in the bathroom and on her nightstand. With your stepson being only 8 years old, you didn’t think it was smart for her […]
Your son has always been in the “failure to launch” phase. He is 28 and living in your basement. You know you are partially to blame, it’s easy to mother-hen him and help when he asks. He had been distant since the divorce over five years ago, and he stopped doing the things he needed […]
Your dad has always worked hard to provide for your family. With five brothers and sisters, your mom stayed home to keep the house and your siblings in line. He didn’t mind his role, but you knew there had to be something going on for him to handle all the stress. As you got older, […]
You had a wild phase when you were younger, experimenting with opioids to cope with – at the time – undiagnosed anxiety. There were times when you were lucky to make it through the night, and your mom had to make the call more than once for help with accidental overdoses. She helped you get […]
