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 44
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 44 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 Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol, the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly banker whom …Read More »Internet Gaming Disorder: When Entertainment Turns Into Addiction
Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) may follow the same trajectory as other addictions. For most, gaming is not a problem Internet gaming is wildly popular. According to the Entertainment Software Association, nearly two-thirds of American homes have at least one person who plays video games. And that’s not just kids. Nearly 160 …Read More »
The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 44
Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 44 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 an ancient mythological story about King Minos of Crete who builds a massive, intricate …Read More »