10 Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Sobriety

For many people, recovery from addiction might seem daunting. Withdrawal symptoms can often make early sobriety days challenging, and without the right support, many fall back to old habits and relapse. Nonetheless, if you focus on the many physical and mental health benefits of sobriety, you’ll quickly realize it’s all worth it in the end. If you’re in early recovery, these are some benefits of sobriety to look forward to.

1. Mental Clarity

The most noticeable mental health benefit of sobriety is, by far, improved mental clarity. Without substances to cloud your mind, your brain has a chance to function at a higher capacity. You won’t experience intense hangovers, blackouts, or fuzzy memories anymore. Instead, you maintain steady mental clarity and will soon learn to celebrate the present instead of being numb all the time.

2. Better Sleep

Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge. However, addiction often disturbs sleep patterns because it alters your brain’s chemical functions. Staying sober will help normalize your brain functions, improve sleep, and be more consistent. Over time, you’ll also reap the benefits of improved sleep, such as improved vitality, less sore muscles, and a calmer attitude.

3. More Energy

Before, your body spent most of its energy recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. Most drugs deplete the system from the necessary vitamins and nutrients your body needs to function at optimal levels. When you’re sober, your body can realign these nutrients and reinvigorate the system, giving you more energy to spend on sober activities!

4. Better Eating Habits

It’s hard to have a healthy lifestyle while your brain is unbalanced and constantly looking for the next dose. As you get sober, you’ll notice that you have the energy and dedication to make better decisions, such as cooking your food instead of ordering takeout or simply not eating enough, a common side effect of addiction.

It’s also a positive cycle that reinforces itself: eating healthier helps you stay healthy and focused on long-term recovery, and staying sober promotes healthy decisions such as eating better.

5. Healthier Skin

Addiction puts your body and mind through a grinder. Many drugs contain components that deteriorate skin cells and make your skin look dull. Sobriety eliminates these substances from your system and promotes healthier habits like eating, sleeping better, and hydrating. Most people notice positive changes after about six months of sobriety.

6. Emotional Stability

While emotional stability might not be present in early recovery, long-term sobriety can help you achieve emotional stability to support long-term addiction recovery. Without the influence of addictive substances, most people feel more in control of their emotions and how they respond to triggering situations. Furthermore, sobriety focuses on living in the moment, practicing the skills you learned in rehab, and following the steps to nurture your substance-free lifestyle.

7. Better Relationships

Many people isolate themselves when they become addicted. Or their addiction causes so much friction with the people around them that their relationships deteriorate quickly. Your newfound mental and physical health will improve your connection with people, whether family or friends. Living a healthier life will help you get closer to people through support groups and other social activities you may have neglected before.

8. Financial Stability

Addiction costs money. Not just because substances tend to be expensive and sometimes hard to access, but because it affects your decision-making skills, increasing the risk of mismanaging money. Over time, sobriety alone can help you achieve financial stability. In addition, the other benefits of sobriety, such as emotional control and mental clarity, can help you maintain a job and secure your financial status.

9. Optimal Health

While it will take time to reverse many of the physical damages of addiction, sobriety helps you achieve optimal health. By staying sober, you will avoid the side effects of your substance abuse and build long-term health by making better decisions for your body and mind.

10. Newfound Approach to Wellbeing

Under the influence, you cannot live life to your fullest potential and enjoyment. The mental and physical wellness that comes with sobriety will improve every single aspect of your life and infuse a sense of well-being you may not have felt in a long time. Most people in recovery have a newfound approach to living and report an overall improvement in their sense of well-being.

Sobriety Starts With You

While the road to recovery is hard, know that the rewards will be worth it: your life will be under your control again. You’ll be able to make the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones without having your brain hijacked by addiction.

If you or someone you know is ready to begin their recovery journey and reap all of the health benefits of sobriety, find help today.

Which Opiates are the Most Addictive?

People have used opiates to relieve pain and get high ever since opium’s intoxicating properties were first identified thousands of years ago. Individuals who genuinely required pain relief throughout history become dependent on opium-based pharmaceuticals far too frequently. Opioids and opiates come in a variety of forms. Prescription medicines make up the majority of the most addictive medications, and several opiates have been pulled off the market because of their extreme hazard.

The following Opiates are the most addictive:

1. OxyContin

This kind of oxycodone with an extended-release was created to assist persons with chronic pain who required relief for 12 to 24 hours. The drug’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, emphasized in its advertising how well this opioid relieves pain, but prescribing it more extensively to treat other types of pain along with other, less effective analgesics contributed to the current opioid abuse pandemic. To get around the extended-release formula, the medication is frequently crushed and snorted, which frequently results in opioid overdoses.

2. Percocet

This brand-name drug, which combines acetaminophen and oxycodone, was intended to treat moderate to severe pain only briefly, for no more than a few months, and for a period of up to six hours. After surgery or a serious injury, a short-term opioid medicine like Percocet is intended to help patients concentrate on their recovery, including physical therapy. Instead, many people who are introduced to opioids like Percocet and others like it become addicted to them and then progress to higher and riskier opioids.

3. Vicodin

Vicodin is another brand-name painkiller intended to relieve moderate to severe pain, often for 4-6 hours, for no longer than a few months. It is a mixture of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, similar to Percocet. Vicodin has led to millions of people struggling with opiate addiction and switching to stronger drugs, much like Percocet did.

4. Methadone

It is one of the longest-acting opioid agonists available. Methadone was used for years in the US to help heroin addicts gradually overcome their addictions and resume normal lives. Many methadone users stayed on the drug for years, going to methadone clinics to get their dose. Like long-acting opioids like fentanyl or OxyContin, the drug is occasionally recommended to manage chronic pain, but it is also one of the most misused substances and is a major cause of overdoses.

5. Fentanyl

This potent narcotic painkiller, which was originally intended for the long-term management of chronic pain, has since been produced in covert labs and sold either in combination with heroin or in its stead, fueling an epidemic of overdose deaths across the country. Fentanyl has an average potency of roughly 80 times that of heroin and is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine. People who battle with opioid addiction unintentionally use this medication in place of heroin or another opioid, which is exceedingly risky.

6. Heroin

Heroin, one of the few opioid medications that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has designated as Schedule I, was originally created from morphine to be a more effective, less addictive pain reliever. Instead, this synthetic drug turned out to be worse, causing overdose deaths and addiction throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Heroin quickly attaches to opioid receptors in the brain, producing a quick-acting, potent high. Because the initial effects of heroin wear off so rapidly, those who battle heroin addiction are inclined to take multiple doses throughout the day.

7. Morphine

Morphine, the first opioid painkiller created from opium, is still prescribed to relieve pain in the United States and most of the rest of the globe. It is available under various brand names. The creation of heroin and other opioid analgesics, which have also shown to have a significant potential for addiction, was nonetheless prompted by worries about the addictive properties of morphine, particularly after the Civil War. All opioid drugs—both illegal and legally prescribed—are derived from morphine.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opiates are drugs that, when given by a doctor, are intended to help with the treatment of severe pain. They are frequently used following a catastrophic accident or surgery, as well as occasionally in cases of persistent pain or diseases like cancer. Opiates cause the same reactions that are brought on when you do something your body and brain find pleasurable, like eating, but they are considerably more apparent. If you use opiates frequently, your brain begins to change in such a way that using them makes you feel normal while not using them makes you feel strange. Depending on the severity of Opioid addiction, the treatment options include:

Medical detox- To supervise a safe withdrawal
Outpatient Rehab- For patients who want to return home after treatment
Inpatient Rehab- For patients who heal better when being cut off from all triggers
Medicated-Assisted Treatment- Using therapies and medication like Suboxone together to achieve long-term sobriety.
12 Step Recovery- Find an NA meeting near you

Parting Words…

Among the opiates are heroin and morphine. These medicines affect the reward region of the brain, which governs how your body experiences pleasure and related emotions. Opiates duplicate and enhance your body’s inherent feel-good mechanisms. Opioids have a tendency to slow down some of the body’s core processes, including the respiratory system, in extremely high doses.

When Can I Stop Going to AA Meetings?

There are two main reasons why a person would want to stop going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. One is that they feel cured of their alcoholic addiction; they’ve reached a stable point in their recovery journey and feel that they’ve sufficiently soaked in the lessons and wisdom that AA has to offer. The other might be the opposite situation where the peer-based program isn’t resonating with them. In either case, let’s talk about quitting AA: how to figure out if it’s the right call for you, how to go about it, and how to continue your sobriety journey without the organization.

When can I stop going to AA meetings?

One of the greatest features of Alcoholics Anonymous is how easy it is to customize your experience, including, where—and if—you attend. Since AA doesn’t require any sort of formal membership or commitment, you can stop going to meetings whenever you want (unless it’s court-ordered of course).

There’s nothing to be ashamed of

A reason why some might not think it’s okay to do is that the organization itself has a sharp stance on the idea of quitting AA. On page 174 of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book, it says:

“Unless each AA member follows to the best of his ability our suggested Twelve Steps to recovery, he almost certainly signs his own death warrant. His drunkenness and dissolution are not penalties inflicted by people in authority; they result from his personal disobedience to spiritual principles.”

This gives the impression that quitting AA meetings is something you’re never allowed to do or would guarantee a relapse. However, the operative phrase in this passage is “follows to the best of his ability”. Imagine if you were taking a cooking course halfway through. Do you think that you’d have all the knowledge you need to become a successful chef? Probably not.

This is essentially the ethos of AA. If you’ve learned the basic principles and made it habitual to implement them in your daily life, then Alcoholics Anonymous has done what it set out to do. If you quit going to meetings before you’ve fully absorbed the 12 Steps, you may not have the perspective or mindset that gives you the best odds of achieving (or maintaining) sobriety.

How to quit AA meetings (and break the news to your group)

Unless you hold a committee position in your Alcoholics Anonymous group, you don’t have any obligation to the other members of the group itself. Once again, you could technically just leave and never return without saying a word to anyone. However, if you’ve been going to the same group for months or years, you’ve likely formed bonds with other attendees, and disappearing could cause them to worry. Here are some steps to take when preparing to break the news to them.

Decide who you want to tell

Whether you’re switching to a different AA group or quitting the organization altogether, you don’t need to announce your decision to leave or notify any of the group members. However, for the people you are closest to, such as your sponsor, you’ll likely want to let them know before just disappearing. If you want to notify those on the group committee as a courtesy you can, but there’s absolutely no obligation to do so.

Have a response ready for any naysayers

If you do plan on telling anyone about your decision to leave, it can be helpful to have a polite but firm response ready for those who might try to convince you to stay. It’s your decision how forthcoming you are with the reason why. If you’re worried about alienating a friend, you can phrase it as that you’re taking a break from meetings but want to keep in touch.

Ask for your information to be removed from any lists

If AA is no longer going to be a part of your life, you may want to ask to have your phone number and email address removed from any correspondence lists. In addition to eliminating outreach about events or other going-ons that are no longer relevant to you, you won’t have to worry about people contacting you trying to get you to return.

Have another support system in place

This isn’t something you need to disclose to others, but have some sort of support network in place. Alcoholics Anonymous offers a supportive, nonjudgemental community and structure, both of which are highly important in addiction recovery. Make sure you still have the social security net even if you no longer attend meetings.

Why is Admitting You Have a Problem the First Step?

There are plenty of terms and ideologies from Alcoholics Anonymous that have crossed over into mainstream vernacular. The most well-known by far is the concept that admitting you have a problem is the first step to fixing it. This is a reference to Step 1 from AA, one that you’ve very likely heard before even if you’re not in the addiction recovery community.

Not only is this concept the beginning of the foundation on which all of AA’s 12 Steps are based, but it is central to the fundamental principles of the organization as a whole. If you’re brand new to 12-step-based recovery groups, read this first to learn why being able to admit you have a problem is so important.

The trouble with denying that you have a drinking problem

Alcoholics—anyone with any type of addiction, really—are often really good at hiding things. This includes hiding things like receipts, injuries, and any signs that their lives are falling apart. Sometimes, they’re so good at this that they end up fooling themselves as well.

They convince themselves that their drinking habits are fine—and since everything is “fine”, there’s no reason to change. Then, as their substance abuse drives them further and further into isolation and there are only a few (if any) people around them to try and tell them that their drinking is out of hand, this lie gets easier to tell.

That’s why admitting you have a drinking problem is absolutely pivotal to overcoming addiction. Until reaching this point, an alcoholic likely wouldn’t be receptive to any attempts to change their behavior. Being able to make such an admission is the very sign that you’re now mentally at a place to confront an out-of-control drinking habit.

What are the five stages of recovery?

When working the steps of AA, the first step to recovery is acceptance. However, there’s quite a bit that goes on before a person gets to this stage. The transtheoretical model is a concept that explains the different phases a person goes through before they’re mentally ready to go through addiction treatment.

Precontemplation

During the precontemplation stage, seeking treatment for alcohol addiction is nowhere on the person’s radar. They’re deeply in denial about their issue; defensive and actively rationalizing their destructive behaviors. Not only are they unwilling to face the reality of their substance abuse, but they’re unable to fully grasp the full scale of the negative consequences.

Contemplation

A person who’s open to the idea of getting help or getting treatment has moved into what’s known as the contemplation stage. They’re willing to consider a future that involves being drug-free. They may or may not be willing to admit they have a problem, but they’re far more receptive to friends and family members.

Preparation

The preparation stage is entered when a person begins making efforts to change. This could be searching for drug rehab centers online, reading others’ sobriety journeys in forums, dumping their alcohol down the drain, or admitting that they have a drinking problem.

They may successfully go without drinking for a few days. However, it’s common that during this stage people have second thoughts when they realize how much effort getting sober will actually require, and return to the contemplation or even precontemplation stage.

Action

The action stage is marked by continued efforts to make a change in multiple aspects of their life: be it physical, emotional, mental, or social. They’re committed to the process and have successfully maintained prolonged periods of abstinence. Not only are they making the necessary corrections to undo their substance abuse, but they are actively attempting to unlearn old patterns while gaining positive new ones.

Maintenance

As its name implies, the maintenance stage is when a person is continuing their healthy, drug-free lifestyle, and turning abstinence into a permanent habit. Relapse prevention is the primary focus and they have several tools to use to help them deal with triggers and cravings. The person is more independent, confident, and positive about their ability to remain abstinent.

You can only help someone who wants to be helped

No matter how dire a person’s drinking problem may be, nothing will change unless they’re willing to acknowledge its necessity. This can be frustrating to family members and friends as they watch their loved ones self-destruct. While they may be limited in the help they can provide, the situation is far from hopeless.

A great way to start the addiction recovery process to simply get that afflicted person to an AA meeting. Being confronted with others who have been in their shoes can be the wake-up call they need to get the wheels churning. Find an AA meeting near you and get started for free.

Where to Find Worksheets for the 12 Steps of AA

As the Alcoholics Anonymous organization has continued to grow and evolve, so too have the tools and resources available to its members. One of the most practical and sought-after are 12 Steps AA worksheets. They’re great for helping organize thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be chaotic and difficult to confront. Plus, there’s just something about putting pen to paper that, for better or worse, makes things feel more real. Follow these guided worksheet questions for all twelve steps and a simplified explanation of what each of them means.

The 12 Steps of AA: Simplified

Below you’ll find a brief overview of each of the 12 Steps that includes what it means and why it matters. Use this in conjunction with any of the worksheets you use to remind yourself what the step is all about and to compare it to other steps that might have a similar lesson.

You need to be able to admit you have a problem before you can begin recovery. If you’re still in denial, you aren’t in the right mindset for changing.

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Relinquishing the need for control and finding an external source of motivation. This “Higher Power” doesn’t need to be a religious entity and can be anything that you find motivational.

“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

Learn to accept that you cannot control everything. Once you do, you’ll allow yourself to rely on others which opens you to helpful guidance and advice.

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

Taking an honest look at yourself can help you evaluate how your drinking got to such a point, and show you how you can improve.

“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

Sometimes we need to be vulnerable and brutally honest with ourselves in order to move forward. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”

Motivation is key to creating long-lasting change. After a brutally honest evaluation of ourselves, we identify and release the negative aspects of our character.

“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

Achieving change doesn’t happen without humility, accountability, and most of all—action.

“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings”.

Drinking doesn’t just hurt ourselves, but also the people around us. Taking responsibility by acknowledging our past faults will, in turn, help us forgive ourselves.

“Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.”

In the last step we talked the talk, now it’s time to walk the walk and do right by the people that we hurt in the past.

“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

Make mindfulness a constant practice and remain vigilant that we’re acting and thinking in a way that supports our goals.

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

Don’t expect perfection from yourself, but always strive to be better (and be gracious when you experience setbacks).

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Help others accomplish their sobriety goals by taking part in the organization and using your experiences as a way to help others who are struggling.

“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

AA Worksheet Resources

https://12step.org/tools/12steporg-worksheets/all-12-step-questions-english/

https://12steppers.org/12-step-programs/12-step-worksheet/

Not sure how to work the 12 Steps?

The 12 Steps is the foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous. They’ve inspired countless other peer-based support groups, bringing hope and change to millions of people. The principle behind each step is as relevant and effective today as it was more than 80 years ago when AA was initially created.

While it’s possible to read, study, and work the 12 steps on your own, it can be very helpful to have insight and support from peers. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings offer a safe, judgment-free space to meet with others who have gone through similar struggles. Find an AA meeting near you today for guidance on understanding how to incorporate these lessons into your everyday life.

Is Sobriety The Same As Abstinence?

Sobriety and abstinence are both important for recovery from addiction. While they share many similarities, sobriety and abstinence differ in several ways. To better understand how these concepts work together to support recovery from addiction, we need to look at each individually.

Abstinence vs. Sobriety

So, the first thing to understand about sobriety and abstinence is that they impact different states of your being. Sobriety refers to the state of mind, while abstinence refers to the state of your body. Abstinence is something you do; sobriety is a feeling you have. Secondly, people can be sober without abstaining from drugs or alcohol—and vice versa.

What is Sobriety?

The definition of sobriety is said to be a personal one. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes it as the quality or state of being sober. In 12-Step programs, sobriety refers to people who have achieved and maintained a positive state of mental health.

However, most people define sobriety as achieving stability in recovery. It focuses on attaining sustained life balance. Some sober people also abstain, but not everyone needs to remain abstinent to practice sobriety.

What is Abstinence?

The definition of abstinence also varies from person to person. Mostly, it’s a decision not to engage in or avoid substance use or behavior. The promise of abstinence means the person is committed to a lifestyle without access to drugs, alcohol, or other medications that could affect their recovery.

People might choose to practice abstinence for many reasons, including health, social, religious, psychological, traditional, or even a change in preferences. Abstinence is a self-chosen and self-control decision that’s not forcefully enforced.

The Differences Between Sobriety and Abstinence

When you look at the definitions of sobriety and abstinence, they are pretty similar. However, they have specific differences, particularly from an emotional standpoint.

Sober people may still go out drinking with friends on Saturday nights; they might choose not to drink that night because they need their wits about them for some reason.

On the contrary, someone who practices abstinence may still go out with friends but will not drink alcohol because they don’t want to engage with the substance.

Sobriety is a state of mind.

Sobriety is a state of mind that can be measured by how well we control our thoughts, actions, and behaviors around substances or behaviors that might lead us back down the path of addiction or relapse. Sobriety also means being honest with ourselves when we struggle with specific triggers or situations that could cause us stress, such as being around people who drink heavily.

Abstinence is about self-control.

Abstinence is a moment-to-moment decision. Each time you engage in a substance or are tempted to use a sense, you must make an active choice to do so. If someone offers you a drink and says yes, this would be abstaining from a substance. Likewise, if someone asks if it’s okay to invite some friends who will be drinking, that’s also abstaining.

Sobriety requires more than abstinence.

Even though someone remains abstinent from drugs and alcohol, they might still have difficulties reaching sobriety. Those who stay abstinent might struggle to find a job, get their life back together, or leaving the challenges of addiction behind. Despite not having the substances in their lives, their life in recovery still mirrors their life as addicts.

The Importance of Defining Sobriety in Early Recovery

Understanding the difference between sobriety and abstinence is essential, especially when it comes to addiction recovery and treatment. While we don’t want to downplay the value of abstinence, it is essential not to get caught up in a single definition of sobriety.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, addiction recovery includes:

Abstinence from drugs and alcohol
Improved wellness
Improved health
Continuous growth
Improved quality of life (sobriety)

As you can see, addiction recovery involves both abstinence and sobriety. Nonetheless, defining sobriety and abstinence in rehab is critical for early recovery. If someone agrees that sobriety is a state of calmness, drinking every so often might be part of their sober lifestyle. However, if, on the contrary, that person doesn’t feel alcohol or drugs have a place in their lives, abstinence might need to be part of their sober lifestyle.

It’s important to discuss these topics with your addiction counselor or sponsor. Keep in mind that your relationship with the definition of sobriety and abstinence might change over time. That’s fine as long as your new take on recovery is serving you for a healthier tomorrow.

How Do You Live a Sober Lifestyle?

Being sober is a lengthy process, and it takes hard work. It may take months or even years to get sober and keep yourself that way. Understanding this before beginning your recovery journey is important so that you don’t feel hopeless, frustrated, or defeated when things don’t go as planned. Nonetheless, if you’re ready to live your sober lifestyle to its fullest, here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Surround Yourself With Positive Influences

Living a sober lifestyle is all about finding the right support. Whether it’s your partner, parents, siblings, or friends – you need someone who will be there for you. You need to surround yourself with people that bring positivity into your life. It might sometimes feel selfish, but stay away from people constantly involved in drama or challenges that get you down.

2. Stay Focused On Sobriety

You may be experiencing a multitude of new emotions and sensations right now. It can be challenging to feel so many different things at once, especially when your emotions are heightened by alcohol withdrawal. The key to staying sober is not dwelling on these feelings or thoughts and instead focusing on what matters: keeping yourself safe and healthy.

You have worked hard to achieve sobriety, so keep yourself grounded by reminding yourself why it’s important for your health today and tomorrow.

3. Learn to Say “No”

While you want to return to normalcy, the real world is anything but normal. Learn to say “no” to activities, places, and people that trigger you. Focus on accepting invitations that promote sobriety and help you find your new self in sobriety.

4. Focus on New (Healthier) Habits

Like you learned in rehab or throughout your recovery journey, healthier habits are the core of sobriety. Try to start with small healthy habits like eating a wholesome breakfast, exercising 30 minutes a day, or going for a walk every other day. These small habits will help you stay focused on your physical and mental health as you navigate those early sobriety days.

5. Stay Busy with (Sober) Family and Friends

Speaking of sobriety days, you need a plan. You’ll also need to actively work on finding healthy ways to fill your time when cravings hit or when boredom sets in. It’s important that as soon as these feelings arrive or arise, instead of turning to drugs or alcohol for relief, you reach out for help. Contact friends or family members who understand what you’re going through so they can provide support if needed.

6. Get Involved in Activities That Promote Sobriety

Likewise, you want to participate in activities that promote sobriety. For example, instead of accepting an invitation to a bar, try to visit a museum, zoo, park, or another place where alcohol or drugs aren’t expected. Volunteering opportunities are great activities to focus on sobriety. Not to mention, gratitude and giving back to your community will give you a newfound sense of belonging that can help you stay sober in the long run.

7. Don’t Dwell in the Past

Remember how grateful you should be for your sobriety. It’s easy to forget how good life can be when faced with addiction and its consequences every day, but taking a moment now and then to recognize just how far you’ve come is an important part of staying sober for the long haul.

8. Join a Support Group and Find a Sponsor

Attending support meetings and staying in touch with your sponsor are key to living a sober lifestyle. Even after completing the 12-Steps, attending support group meetings can be an incredible resource to enjoy sober living. These meetings are an excellent reminder as to why you started your recovery journey in the first place. And, remember, you can always call your sponsor whenever you feel you’re falling off track.

9. Focus on the Positives of Sobriety

Whenever you feel lost in your recovery journey, focus on the real-life positives of sobriety. For example, after being sober, you can see your family, hold a job, remember your children’s recitals, connect with your partner, and so on. Every so often, sit down for a few minutes and write down how being sober has changed your life. Remembering these things will help you stay strong in your sobriety journey.

10. Consider Joining an Aftercare Program

If you feel you’re not ready to give sober living a try by yourself, consider an aftercare program. Many rehab centers offer aftercare recovery programs as an extension of rehab. These programs offer structure and reliability as you connect with others in early sobriety in a somewhat flexible environment designed to help you find your place in sobriety.

How Do You Live a Sober Lifestyle?

1. Surround Yourself With Positive Influences

2. Stay Focused On Sobriety

You have worked hard to achieve sobriety, so keep yourself grounded by reminding yourself why it’s important for your health today and tomorrow.

3. Learn to Say “No”

4. Focus on New (Healthier) Habits

5. Stay Busy with (Sober) Family and Friends

6. Get Involved in Activities That Promote Sobriety

7. Don’t Dwell in the Past

8. Join a Support Group and Find a Sponsor

9. Focus on the Positives of Sobriety

10. Consider Joining an Aftercare Program

What is a Sober Personality?

Drug addiction is an all-encompassing disease that can take over our brains, causing us to do, say, and think things we normally never would, and can lead us to forget who we were before drugs. Depending on how long a person has struggled with substance abuse, they might have started believing that who they are intoxicated is who they are and always have been.

So while we’ve all heard of a drunk personality, which is the way you act when you’re intoxicated, what about a sober personality? Let’s look at just how much drugs or alcohol can change how we act–if at all–and why sober you will always be the best version of yourself.

Can drugs change your personality?

Yes, drugs and alcohol can alter your personality. Being under the influence can make you a little more outgoing, a little flirtier, or possibly more aggressive in the short term. A significant reason is that drugs can affect the brain in a way that lowers inhibitions slows reaction time, and interferes with general cognitive function.

However, those differences in personality might not be as major as you might think. The main reason for any significant difference in personality is not because of the drugs themselves, but socially, many people find intoxication as an excuse to engage in behavior they know would otherwise be inappropriate or acceptable.

Then there is the influence that media has on our perceptions of how to act while under the influence. Seeing intoxication modeled through pop culture can also shape how we think we’re supposed to behave.

What is a sober personality?

A sober personality is simply who you are when you are not under the influence of drugs; your default state of being. For those who have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, the idea of who they are while sober can leave them with a bit of an identity crisis. Odds are that you’ll find that your personality “changes” (since the differences between you when you are intoxicated and your normal self are mostly perceived) for the better.

5 ways how to be sober

Now that we have convinced you that you do not have to be scared about who you turn into if you no longer drink or do drugs, let’s talk about ways to be sober. First, let’s tackle the hulking elephant of a question: what does it mean to be sober? The definition of sobriety is simply abstaining from indulging in a mind-altering substance.

Know your triggers: Understanding why you drink or use drugs is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success when getting sober. Do you use them recreationally so that you feel more comfortable in social situations? Or perhaps to cope with the stressors of home life? Once you’ve identified these things, you can start to develop alternative plans for dealing with them that don’t involve drugs.
Ditch your old ways: Your environment and the people you hang around can influence your behavior–including drug use. Avoid people, places, or situations that you associated with using drugs. By taking yourself out of those situations, you lower the chance that you could be tempted into a bad decision or doing something simply because it’s familiar and comfortable.
Find a support network: Addiction can be an isolating experience, that’s why one of the cornerstones to doing so is to surround yourself with people who will encourage you and–most importantly–keep you on track if you falter. These are people who will check in on you, try to keep you occupied and motivate you when you feel discouraged. Your support group can include people who have been through addiction or those who haven’t. All that matters is that they have your best interests at heart and want to see you succeed.
Start exercising. Getting physical can do wonders for your body and mind. Exercising releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, all of which boost your mood and help you to replace drugs or alcohol as the main source of things that make you feel good. Exercising also offers the benefits of improving your sleep cycle, the basis of a balanced lifestyle upon which better decisions can be made.

If you or a loved one wants to get sober but isn’t sure where to start, you can find support from your peers at Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Join one for free and hear from others who have been in your shoes. Find a meeting near you today.

Alabama: Ranked Highest Among Opioid Prescription Rates

Well before COVID-19 shook our world upside down, the United States was—and still is—in the grip of another public health crisis: opioid abuse. This complex and multifaceted issue has been dubbed the opioid epidemic. Unlike other drugs which often have a specific user base, opioid users can vary greatly by gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and geolocation. However, Alabama has demonstrated how severe this issue is and garnered national attention for being the first state to ever have more opioid prescriptions than residents.

Learn more about Alabama’s opioid usage and how it compares to the rest of the country, why Alabama is the state with the highest opioid prescription rates, and how such a thing could happen in the first place.

Alabama Opioid Statistics

Alabama first took the top spot for prescription opioid use in 2012 with 143.9 prescriptions per 100 residents—that’s 1.4 prescriptions for every adult and child in the state. As of the most recent data from the Alabama Department of Mental Health, that number has been decreasing but Alabama continues to lead the nation in this disturbing statistic.

While the number of dispensed opioids is indeed lower, according to 2020 CDC data the state of Alabama still experienced an increase in opioid overdose deaths of more than 20%. In 2021, overdose deaths were up 31% (an increase largely attributed to the pandemic that quickly broke state records) and led to Alabama having one of the highest increases in overdose rates in the country. The primary culprit, state authorities say, is fentanyl overdoses by users who don’t know they’re using fentanyl.

Below are several other statistics that highlight the depth of the opioid crisis in Alabama:

Over 91,000 Alabama residents have had a substance use disorder (approximately 2.45% of the population)
92% of Alabama residents who need addiction treatment haven’t received treatment (2014)
27% of Alabamians report transportation as being a barrier to seeking treatments—many must travel to a different city, country, or state (2021)
Fentanyl caused the most opioid overdose deaths in 2016 and 2017
Opioid-related deaths accounted for every 8.6 per 100,000 Alabama residents (2017)
Males between 15 and 54 years old experience twice as many opioid overdose dates than females (2017)
50% of drug-related deaths in 2017 involved opioids
14 of the 15 Alabama counties with the highest opioid prescription rates are rural (2017)
Rural county residents are 87% more likely to receive an opioid prescription than those in metropolitan areas (2021)

What Is the Opioid Crisis?

Since the 1990s, nearly half a million Americans have died from opioid overdoses (the number of deaths in 2019 is quadruple those of 1999). This class of drugs, which is derived from the poppy plant and includes both natural, semi-synthetic, and fully-synthetic derivatives, includes the likes of popular illegal street drugs such as codeine and heroin.

However, there are a great number of opioids that are legal and used for medical purposes such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. It is the latter group that is at the heart of this latest wave of the opioid crisis.

What caused the opioid crisis?

Opioids are highly effective pain killers, which doctors use to treat both acute and chronic pain. Unfortunately, these doctors vastly underestimated the addictiveness of the opioid analgesics they prescribed and many patients unwittingly found themselves hooked even when using as prescribed.

The result? A tsunami of innocent people who had used medication for pain relief (or other medical issues), found themselves addicted to those painkillers. Once their prescriptions ran out, many of them turned to illicit street drugs to fulfill their newfound cravings.

These drugs, often counterfeits of the prescription these individuals had once used, were made in clandestine labs which put users at the risk of contaminated compounds or drugs that were much more powerful than the legal pharmaceuticals they were using. In 2017 over 47,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose and 1.7 million met the criteria of having an opioid use disorder.

What prescription drugs have opiates in them?

The most commonly prescribed prescription opioids are:

Vicodin (hydrocodone)
Oxycontin (oxycodone)
Percocet (oxycodone)
Opana (oxymorphone)
Kadian (morphine)
Avinza (morphine)
Codeine
Fentanyl
Hydromorphone
Tapentadol
Methadone
Tramadol

Where to Find Alabama Drug Addiction Support

Opioid abuse is a serious, but treatable condition. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction in Alabama, you can find a peer-based, Narcotics Anonymous support group in a city near you.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/rxawareness/information/index.html

Benefits of Florida Addiction and Recovery Centers

There are more than 40 million Americans that are 12 or older, who meet the criteria of having a substance use disorder, a situation that the government has dubbed a crisis. Fortunately, more and more institutions are rising to meet this challenge and curb this public health issue. There are now over 14,000 addiction treatment facilities throughout the country in every state. The hard part is not figuring out how to get help, but deciding where to go. If you’re in this boat and trying to determine where to go to rehab, here’s why you might want to consider a Florida addiction and recovery center.

4 Benefits of Rehabs in Florida

A change of scenery is always a great idea for a person struggling with substance use disorder. In addition to taking you out of the environment where your drug abuse took place, going to rehab in a different state can be beneficial for your motivation and focus on recovery. Florida is a natural choice, it is repeatedly ranked as one of the most popular destinations in the United States.

Boasting top-notch entertainment, nature, and cuisine, there’s something for everyone in the Sunshine State. However, being a tourist’s top pick isn’t a reason to consider rehabs in Florida, nor is it why it’s considered the rehab capital of the world. Proven experts in the addiction treatment industry, Florida has the facilities, experienced staff, and auxiliary support services to help anyone struggling with addiction.

Reputation for effectiveness

Florida leads the addiction treatment industry in cutting-edge technology and innovative treatment options. There’s even an addiction treatment model named after the state, which has gone on to be adopted throughout the country.

The pinnacle of the Florida model involves having separate treatment facilities for addiction treatment and housing. Patients attend therapy and counseling in a facility during the day but reside at non-facility-owned establishments which can feel more comfortable and welcoming.

The Florida model also differs from the traditional rehab approach which houses patients for 28 days and then returns them back to their “real” lives. With a greater emphasis on peer support and community involvement, many patients who complete their programs eventually become peer leaders in the addiction treatment space.

Lots of options to choose from

With a high capita of treatment centers, you can find all sorts of different addiction treatment facilities in Florida. There’s no shortage of options with rehabs that accommodate different budgets and lifestyles. There are luxury rehabs that offer five-star amenities that more closely resemble a resort than a medical facility. There are those that specialize in serving LGBTQ+ patients, and others that are faith-based and cater to a specific religious group. Whatever niche you can imagine, there is probably one in Florida.

Another benefit of the aforementioned Florida model is that various institutions offer varying levels of care, which make it easy to create a bespoke addiction treatment program that best suits your unique needs. The close geographical proximity to so many other drug rehabs can make it possible to cherry-pick different facilities for inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient care.

Supportive recovery community

One of the greatest benefits of choosing rehabs in Florida is the expansive recovery community. Sober living communities, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous groups are abundant. Many of those who come to Florida for treatment chose to remain here, adding to an understanding and open-arm population contributing to the recovery oasis as dubbed by the New York Times.

Attractive location

One of the biggest obstacles to helping addicted persons get the help they need is motivation. However, Florida’s adjacency to gorgeous beaches, water sports, and palm trees can go a long way to overcoming a person’s resistance to going to rehab. A desirable location can convince a person to see their treatment through, or agree to get help in the first place.

Another major draw is that Florida is home to several popular destinations including Miami and Orlando. There’s a plentitude of activities on any given day, which can provide a much-needed distraction to someone in recovery.

Addiction Recovery Options for Florida Residents

If you currently reside in Florida and aren’t sure which drug rehab to go to, you have a great resource in your neighborhood. Attend your local AA or NA meetings to connect with individuals who have been in your shoes and can share their addiction treatment experiences with you. Odds are that some of them have been to a drug rehab in-state and can help narrow your search.