Surviving the Holidays: Recovery Tools for Thanksgiving

Addiction Recovery, Recovery

By Jenny Carey Jenny Carey Meet The Editorial Team Published: November 18, 2025 Updated: November 18, 2025 The holiday season is known for being full of joy, love, and warmth. For many people, it is also a challenging time of the year. From financial struggles to stressful family dynamics and holiday parties, the i season can be overwhelming, especially for someone in recovery. Still, the holidays can be meaningful and enjoyable with the right tools. Here are a few practical ways to support your recovery this season.   Maintain Your…

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Invisible Battles: Addiction and Mental Health Challenges Facing Veterans

Addiction Recovery, Alcohol Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction Treatment

By Jenny Carey Jenny Carey Meet The Editorial Team Published: November 5, 2025 Updated: November 5, 2025 They gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country – but many continue to fight their own invisible battles after returning home. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 5 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, also have a co-occurring substance use disorder, or SUD. There are several reasons why military members are more at risk of developing a SUD than the average citizen. Let’s take a deeper look…

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Family At Table

Families in Recovery: How to Talk About Addiction Around the Table

Addiction Recovery, Drug Addiction Treatment, Recovery

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 28, 2025 Updated: October 28, 2025 Featuring insights from BrightView Health Peer Support Specialist, Missy Adams   The holidays are supposed to bring joy – the smell of favorite foods, the sound of laughter, and the comfort of being together. But for families navigating addiction or recovery, that same table can feel complicated. Old memories mix with new boundaries. Love is there, but so is fear. BrightView Health Peer Support Specialist Missy Adams knows that feeling well. She remembers her first…

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person pouring beer after learning how to manage alcohol cravings

America’s Changing Relationship with Alcohol: Fewer Drinkers, Same Struggle

Addiction Recovery, Alcohol Addiction Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 28, 2025 Updated: October 28, 2025 In the past year, nearly 28 million Americans met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). That’s roughly one in ten people aged 12 and older. At the same time, surveys show fewer Americans are drinking, especially younger adults. Gallup’s 2025 poll found a record-low 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol, down from nearly two-thirds a decade ago. So, if…

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Nurse dispensing medication for medication assisted treatment.

Flexibility Saves Lives: How New Methadone Take-Home Rules Are Changing Recovery for the Better

Drug Addiction Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, Substance Abuse Treatment

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 28, 2025 Updated: October 28, 2025 TL;DR: SAMHSA’s 2024 updates make COVID-era take-home flexibility for methadone permanent. For many patients, that means fewer daily clinic trips, more dignity and stability, and better odds of staying in recovery — with safety safeguarded by clinical judgment.   The Big Picture: Trust That Fits Real Life   For years, recovery for patients on methadone often meant proving themselves daily, one clinic visit at a time. That structure helped many people, but it also created…

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How to Talk to Your Family About MAT: Tips for Explaining Medication-Based Addiction Recovery

Alcohol Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 21, 2025 Updated: November 20, 2025 Starting medication assisted treatment (MAT) can be a life-changing step toward long-term recovery. But for many people, one of the most difficult parts isn’t the treatment itself. It’s explaining it to their family. Loved ones may not understand what MAT is, why it’s used, or how effective it can be. In some cases, they may express judgment or misinformation based on MAT stigmas. If you’re in recovery and facing these concerns, you are not alone.…

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Can You Quit Cold Turkey? Understanding Withdrawal Risks and Symptoms

Alcohol Rehab, Drug Rehab, Withdrawal

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 21, 2025 Updated: November 20, 2025 Quitting a substance “cold turkey” may seem like the quickest path to recovery, but for many, it can also be the most dangerous. Whether you’re considering stopping alcohol, opioids, or another drug without medical support, it’s important to understand how withdrawal works and why a safer, more structured approach often leads to better outcomes. This guide breaks down the risks and symptoms of cold turkey withdrawal, as well as how to access the help you…

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MAT and Counseling: Why Therapy is Essential to Long-Term Recovery

Alcohol Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 21, 2025 Updated: November 20, 2025 Medication assisted treatment (MAT) has helped thousands of people take control of opioid and alcohol use disorders. But medication alone isn’t enough. Long-term recovery often depends on addressing the underlying emotional, psychological, and behavioral patterns that contribute to substance use. That’s where therapy plays a critical role. This article explains how MAT and counseling work together, the benefits of combining both, and what you can expect during treatment at BrightView. What is MAT? Medication assisted…

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“Kratom capsules, sometimes called Gas Station Heroin, sold as a legal herbal supplement.”

Kratom Is Bad Stuff — Totally Legal and Sold Over the Counter

Addiction Recovery, Drug Addiction Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, Recovery, Substance Abuse Treatment

By BrightView BrightView Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 7, 2025 Updated: November 18, 2025 Walk into a gas station or vape shop and you may see small bottles, powders, or gummies labeled Kratom. Sometimes it’s advertised as a natural fix for pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal. Some even call it “Gas Station Heroin.” It’s legal. It’s easy to buy. And it’s far from safe. “It’s a plant — but that doesn’t mean it’s safe,” warns BrightView Health State Medical Director Dr. Gilbert Schmidt. “Kratom acts on the same brain…

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Why Addiction & Mental Illness Often Go Hand-In-Hand

Addiction Recovery, Drug Dependence, Mental Health

By Jenny Carey Jenny Carey Meet The Editorial Team Published: October 7, 2025 Updated: October 7, 2025 In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week – October 5th – 11th In 2021, nearly 19.4 million people age 12 and older had both a substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health condition, as reported by Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry. Living with a both SUD and mental illness, often referred to as ‘co-occurring disorders,’ can make recovery and treatment much more complex and challenging. The patients we treat have a much better…

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