Grateful Client Gives Back
This guest post is written and graciously shared by Janel, a grateful client who found recovery through The Council Seven years ago I was trapped living a nightmare with no way out. My addiction took me to the darkest place imaginable. I was literally battling for my soul. I could …Read More »
How useful is abstinence alone in understanding the effectiveness of SUD treatment?
The following article was recently published on the research page of the Recovery Research Institute website. It reports that abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is commonly perceived as a defining feature of recovery and has been widely used as a marker by which to evaluate the success of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. …Read More »
Council Podcast Launched!
The Council on Recovery Podcast, with host Howard Lester, explores the diseases of alcoholism, drug abuse, other addictions, and co-occurring mental health disorders by looking at prevention, education, treatment, and recovery. Through deep and meaningful interviews, we cover every point of view by talking with doctors, educators, researchers, therapists, judges, …Read More »
What would alcohol sales look like if excessive and problem drinkers drank in moderation?
The following article was recently published on the research page of the Recovery Research Institute website. It reports a novel new study focusing on the alcohol industry’s public support of moderate drinking amidst speculation that a large portion of alcohol industry profits come from alcohol sales to excessive drinkers and …Read More »
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Require Warning Labels on Addictive Prescription Opioids & Mandate Education for Opioid Prescribers
In a rare bipartisan effort, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced two bills last week aimed at combating the opioid epidemic. The first first piece of legislation is called Lessening Addiction By Enhancing Labeling (LABEL) Opioids Act. The bill calls for labeling prescription opioid bottles with …Read More »
Discrimination, immigration, treatment expectations, and family stigma are among barriers to Latinos seeking treatment
The following article was recently published on the research page of the Recovery Research Institute website. It explores a new study that indicates Latinos have the lowest treatment seeking rates compared to people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. WHAT PROBLEM DOES THIS STUDY ADDRESS? National studies have shown that individuals who …Read More »
How Does Spirituality Change the Brain?
The following article by Dr. Mark Gold, recently published on the Addiction Policy Forum Blog, explores the growing body of research about what regions of the brain are changed during a person’s spiritual practice. It presents compelling ideas for how fellowship and treatment programs can empower individuals in recovery to …Read More »
Rx Take Back Day at The Council Nets 400 Pounds of Unused & Expired Prescription Drugs
The Council on Recovery was a busy collection site for the DEA’s 16th National Rx Take Back Day this past Saturday. Nearly 100 people stopped by The Council’s drive-in location on Jackson Hill Street to dispose of their unused and expired prescription medications. By the end of the four-hour collection …Read More »
The Council Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs Saturday, April 27
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Council on Recovery and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 17th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring …Read More »
Andrew McCarthy Captivates Supporters at The Council on Recovery’s 36th Waggoner’s Foundation Speaker Series Luncheon
The excited buzz among the crowd after The Council on Recovery’s Spring Luncheon confirmed it: Andrew McCarthy was one the best speakers The Council has ever had! Speaking on Friday, April 12th, the actor, director, producer, and an award winning travel writer opened up about his personal struggle with alcohol …Read More »
When Detox Turns Deadly
Detox, also known as detoxification or withdrawal, occurs when one abruptly stops or reduces heavy, long-term use of alcohol or drugs. Detox happens when toxic substances leave the body over hours, days, or weeks, and may include a variety of non-life-threatening symptoms, such as distress or discomfort. But, sometimes detox …Read More »
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, The Council on Recovery encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much. In Texas alone, there have been …Read More »
Do You Know the Signs & Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder?
The term “substance use disorder” is frequently used to describe misuse, dependence, and addiction to alcohol and/or legal or illegal drugs. While the substances may vary, the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder are the same. Do you know what they are? First a few definitions: Signs are …Read More »
GAO Infographic: Can the federal government curb the misuse of fentanyl?
Pediatricians Can Do More to Prevent & Reduce Adolescent Substance Use
Adolescent substance use has begun to boil over in many parts of the country. Concerned parents, spurred-on by tragic stories from the opioid epidemic, are desperate to turn down the heat and protect adolescents from harm. Among the adults searching for answers is one important group who can do more …Read More »Infographic: 11 Myths About Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Here are some of the popular misconceptions about NA that contribute to a lack of attention to the organization as a recovery support resource: The Council on Recovery believes that Twelve-Step programs, patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), play a vital role in the recovery process. We strongly recommend attendance of Twelve-Step meetings to …Read More »
E-cig Use Associated with Cardiovascular Disease & Other Medical Conditions
Ever since E-Cigarettes (E-cigs) were first introduced in 2007, their use (also known as “vaping”) has been advertised as a safer alternative to smoking. However, new research by the University of Kansas School of Medicine shows that E-cig use, like smoking, delivers ultra-small aerosol particles which may be associated with …Read More »
8 Shocking Statistics About Underage Drinking
Whether or not parents and educators want to admit it, underage drinking is rampant. Although the statistics are disturbing, it is imperative for parents to educate themselves on this pressing matter. Often, parents look toward outward signs such as grades, extracurricular activities, and other factors as reassurance their children are …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 50
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 50 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. The 2018 film, A Star is Born, is the fourth remake of an original 1937 film …Read More »
Guide: 11 Indicators of Quality Addiction Treatment
How to identify high-quality addiction treatment programs. The Council on Recovery recommends the following guide published by the Recovery Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. We suggest using it to evaluate addiction treatment options for you or your loved ones. [The Council meets/exceeds all 11 quality indicators.] Intro …Read More »
New Study Finds Distressing Increase in E-cigarette Use by Middle and High School Youth
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), battery-powered devices that provide nicotine and other additives to the user in the form of an aerosol, have become the most popular form of tobacco use among middle and high school youth. The recent National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2011-2018 found a distressing increase in the use of …Read More »
Baby Boomers and the Alarming Increase in Alcohol Use Disorders
Baby Boomers are the fastest growing segment of the population. They’re also the group with the most dramatic increase in harmful alcohol use. According to a research published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, increases in alcohol use, high risk drinking, and alcohol use disorders (AUD) among adults 65 years and …Read More »
How Pornography Affects the Teenage Brain – An Infographic
Pornography addiction is an adolescent high-risk behavior that is escalating across all segments of the teenage population. By viewing sexually pornographic material, adolescents may face potential emotional, psychological, social, and physiological disorders and issues. The Infographic below, designed by helpyourteennow.com, illustrates the effects that pornography can have on developing adolescent …Read More »
#192aDay Campaign Launches to Remember those Lost to Addiction
This week, Addiction Policy Forum launched the #192aDay awareness campaign to honor those lost to drug overdose and other complications of substance use. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s 2017 data revealed that more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses — 192 a day — making it the leading …Read More »
Millennials, Social Media, and Depression
[From a Jan. 10, 2019 article by Kristen Monaco, Staff Writer, MedPage Today] Facebook “addiction” — not only spending lots of time on Facebook but also seeing negative social impacts from it, yet craving it and trying unsuccessfully to cut down — was associated with impaired decision-making in one study and …Read More »
Sobering Facts About Holiday Drunk Driving
This is the season for celebrating with family and friends. But, when it comes to drunk driving, this most joyous time of year is also the deadliest. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every holiday season, hundreds of lives are lost due to drunk drivers. Drunk driving …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 45
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 45 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In the aftermath of the fall of Rome in the 5th century and the loss of …Read More »
Alarming Increase in Adolescent Vaping and Nicotine Use in 2018
An alarming increase in the prevalence of vaping among adolescents has raised public health concern, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Research into vaping among teens was conducted by the University of Michigan. It indicated a sharp increase in the prevalence of nicotine …Read More »
Debunking the Myths About Holiday Drinking & Driving
Celebrating the spirit of the holidays often includes drinking holiday spirits. Most people celebrate responsibly. But during the holiday season, people are more likely to drink beyond a safe limit than at other times of year. And when driving is involved, the resulting consequences can be tragic. Despite all the evidence …Read More »
9th Annual Run for Recovery Raises Money for The Council on Recovery
The 9th Annual Run for Recovery took place Sunday, November 2nd. One of Houston’s largest recovery events, the race attracted more than 400 people of all ages. Runners, walkers, and other supporters of recovery participated in the 5K run/walk (timed and untimed) and Kids Race along scenic Memorial Drive next …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 43
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 43 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In the multi-season show, Stargate SG – 1 and its offshoot, Stargate Atlantis, there is a …Read More »
New Study: Hangovers Impair Thoughts & Performance Even After Alcohol Leaves the Bloodstream
According to a recent study, the effects of a hangover from heavy drinking on our thoughts and performance may last longer than originally thought. The study, published in the journal Addiction, indicates that impairments in cognition observed in drunk individuals still occur the day after a session of heavy drinking, …Read More »
The Council’s Speakers Series Luncheons 2000-2018 – A Galaxy of Stars
The Council on Recovery’s 2018 Fall Luncheon with Alice Cooper was the 36th Luncheon in the The Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series. Since 2000, the Waggoners Foundation along with, more recently, the Wayne Duddlesten Foundation, have underwritten the production of a Spring and Fall Luncheons. These luncheons have raised millions of …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 42
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 42 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In an earlier note, I talked about the Greek experience of hieros gamos, the idea of …Read More »
Rock Legend Alice Cooper Helps The Council on Recovery Raise $495K to Fund Addiction Prevention, Education, & Treatment Programs
Alice Cooper, the Godfather of Shock-Rock and Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer thrilled an audience of more than 1100 with his personal story of recovery from alcoholism and addiction this past Thursday at the Hilton Americas-Houston. In the process, he helped The Council on Recovery raise more than $495,000 to provide addiction …Read More »
Senator John Cornyn Visits The Council to Host Roundtable Discussion on Opioid Addiction in Houston
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) visited The Council on Recovery on October 30th to host a roundtable discussion on opioid addiction in Houston. The discussion came a week after the President signed into law legislation that was originally introduced by Cornyn and U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). The new law, …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 41
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 41 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. There is a literary device that was originated in classical literature and theatre known in Latin …Read More »National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Takes Place Oct. 27, 10A – 2P
Semi-Annual event provides safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting the semi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 27. The goal of the event is to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, …Read More »
Methamphetamine Abuse: The Other Drug Epidemic
While the opioid epidemic continues to dominate the national headlines, methamphetamine addiction has emerged as a major crisis in Texas. A big problem Methamphetamine, known as “meth”, killed 715 Texans in 2016 compared to 539 heroin deaths. During the same period, U.S-Mexican border agents seized seven times more meth than …Read More »
News Release: Texas HHSC Receives $46M Grant to Fight Opioid Use Disorders
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 40
In the parlance of long-running, multi-season TV shows, the term “jump the shark” denotes that point at which the series popularity begins to decline. It usually cites a particular show in which the characters in the show do something a bit absurd, maybe so much beyond the mythos of the …Read More »
<strong>Senate Passes Broad Opioid Package to Address National Crisis</strong>
The Council on Recovery applauds the U.S. Senate’s passage of the final version of a sweeping opioids package Wednesday. Passed with rare bipartisan support by a vote of 98-1, the bill will be sent it to the White House for expected signature. The bill represents Congressional response to the opioid …Read More »
Yale Study: Genes May Explain Why Alcohol Detox is Particularly Hard for Some People
New findings published in journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Some heavy drinkers suffer intense withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking — some, less so. A new Yale-led international study of individuals with alcohol dependence has identified gene variants that may help explain why “detox” from alcohol is particularly …Read More »
How Drugs Alter Brain Development and Affect Teens
Changes in Brain Development and Function From Drug Abuse Most kids grow dramatically during the adolescent and teen years. Their young brains, particularly the prefrontal cortex that is used to make decisions, are growing and developing, until their mid-20’s. Long-term drug use causes brain changes that can set people up for addiction …Read More »The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 39
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 39 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In Greek mythology, the heiros gamos is a holy ritual, a sacred marriage of a god …Read More »
CNN Reports Nearly 30% of All Opioid Prescriptions Lack Medical Explanation
This CNN story reported findings of a recent study by the Annals of Internal Medicine that indicated nearly 30% of all opioid prescriptions lack medical explanation: (CNN) How large a role do doctors play in the opioid crisis? Nearly 30% of all opioids prescribed in US clinics or doctors’ offices lack a …Read More »The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 38
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 38 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In Herman Melville’s classic, Moby-Dick, Captain Ahab was near mortally wounded by a powerful albino sperm …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 37
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 37 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. The story of Homer’s Odyssey, to which we keep returning as a classic Hero’s Journey, ends …Read More »
Time to cut back on drinking? Here’s how…
Written by Felice J. Freyer & published by The Boston Globe, the following article provides excellent tips to those who drink. Timely information for those who use, misuse, or abuse alcohol. Alcohol is deeply ingrained in American life, central to our habits of socializing, celebrating, and relaxing. But the pleasure …Read More »
As School Starts, Know the Facts About College Drinking
As students start the Fall Semester at college, The Council on Recovery urges parents and students to consider the facts about college drinking from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Harmful and underage college drinking are significant public health problems, and they exact an enormous toll on the …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 36
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 36 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies. In 1993, comedian Bill Murray stared in a film called Groundhog Day. It is about a …Read More »
Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin) Remain a Popular Hallucinogen
Among the hallucinogens abused by those who have a substance use disorder (SUD), psilocybin mushrooms are still a popular source of getting high. Similar to other hallucinogens, such as mescaline and peyote, and known on the street as “magic mushrooms”, they contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin and are found throughout …Read More »
2018 Houston Opioid Summit Creates Vital Awareness and Cooperation in the Battle Against Opioid Addiction
For two full days last week, nearly 250 leaders from across Harris County gathered at The Council on Recovery’s first Opioid Summit. In keynote addresses, topical breakout sessions, panel discussions, round-table discussions, and interpersonal networking, people on the front-line in battling the opioid crisis exchanged ideas, information, and experience …Read More »
CDC Report: Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Women’s Health
Recently reported data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are shedding new light on the links between excessive alcohol use by women and the increasing risks to female health. Here are vital the facts from the CDC. Although men are more likely to drink alcohol and drink …Read More »The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey – Part 61
In the ancient Greek world that spawned so many great mythic stories, the tales of Sisyphus are ones that resonate with many of us. Sisyphus was the King of an ancient city that is now known as Corinth. He was incredibly wise and crafty and took delight in playing tricks …Read More »The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey – Part 60
In the process of doing these Notes, I keep coming back to the Odyssey, by the ancient Greek poet Homer, as a particularly rich text with many stories that fit the parallel of our own individual journeys to Sobriety. The companion piece to the Odyssey is the Iliad, which is …Read More »Episode 4 Trailer: Who Answers the Desperate Phone Call for Help?
When people are suffering from the diseases of alcoholism or drug addiction, sometimes there’s a moment of desperation or clarity in which they will ask for help. When they or their loved ones reach out for that help, there’s a dedicated team of professionals, whose stories are seldom told, that …Read More »