Category: Uncategorized

Problem Gambling: Changing the Odds It’s a Sunday afternoon. The fourth quarter of an NFL game. Five seconds are left on the clock. A football sails through the uprights for a winning field gold. For some, it’s cause for celebration. For others, it’s a heartbreaking loss. And for others, it’s the worst day of their...

The Power of a Peer Recovery Coach The best feeling is knowing someone’s in your corner. ASAC patients never walk alone. Achieving and maintaining recovery from substance use or problem gambling take a strong support system. That typically involves friends, family, and our full-time staff members, but we introduce another element: the peer recovery coach....

Recovery in Real Life See substance use recovery from a patient’s perspective. Every patient has a “When I Found ASAC” story. It frequently starts with a person finding us at the lowest point in their life, but it’s about where it goes from there—the transformation they make for the better. And recovery is often where...

You’ve probably heard the age-old adage that it takes a village to raise a child, meaning that the involvement of several members of a community is vital to a child’s development and wellbeing. The same can be said for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. We know it takes a community to help people avoid...

In 2023, an estimated 54.2 million people aged 12 and older needed treatment for a substance use disorder, but only 23% received treatment. Stigma, unawareness of available resources, and lack of financial and emotional support all deter people from getting the help they need. The first step is often the toughest, but it’s also the...

Substance use disorders always have a root. From past trauma and life changes to physical injury, these factors can trigger people to turn to alcohol and other drugs to cope. One of the biggest contributors to substance use is brain health, also commonly known as mental health. Read on to see how brain health can...

Worry. Anxiety. Dread. Yes, those are typical feelings for someone dealing with a substance use disorder, but they can also apply to that person’s family and friends. Seeing someone you love struggle can leave you feeling helpless. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Discover ways to support loved ones on their journey of...

A friend who stops coming out as much. A family member with shaking hands and watery eyes. A sudden mood change from someone you’ve known for years. These can all be signs of a substance use disorder. When it comes to combatting substance use disorders, proactive steps are often the most impactful, but that means...

Substance use disorders and problematic gambling have a profound impact on various regions across our nation. Individuals in every community—regardless of size—are grappling with these challenges. The increasing visibility of alcohol promotions, legalization of certain drugs, surge in opioid consumption, and prevalence and accessibility of online gambling platforms are exposing more individuals to the risks...

Substance use disorders and problem gambling can completely consume a person’s life, especially the longer they persist. As substance use and problem gambling take hold, individuals can lose control over their decision-making. This can subsequently make treatment and recovery increasingly difficult, leading to setbacks and recurrences. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse estimated...