Blog

Substance use disorders can frequently be found in multiple generations of a family. It can make a person curious, if this is due to trauma from living in a tumultuous childhood home or if there is a genetic component. In truth, there are many reasons why this occurs. At Safe...

It is very common for people with substance use disorders to also have mental health conditions and vice versa. This phenomenon goes by several names, including “dual diagnosis”, “co-morbid conditions” and “co-existing conditions”. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia, we offer integrated treatment for co-occurring substance use and...

Strong, healthy relationships can be difficult for anyone to build. If you’re making a fresh start without drugs, when they were once a big part of your life, you may wonder how your past substance use or your fresh recovery will impact your love life. Will people be reluctant to...

February is Black History Month, so it seems like an apt time to call attention to the myths and stigmas that have been attached to race and addiction, historically and into the present day. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia, we think it is important to address substance...

When people think about the hippies of the 1960s, a phrase that might come to mind is, “sex, drugs, and rock and roll”. That same generation of flower children who were smoking pot and dropping acid at Woodstock are now entering their golden years. While we might not think of...

A child whose parent was addicted to alcohol or other drugs may find that they see the world in a different way from peers whose parents did not experience addiction. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, we often treat clients who have unique characteristics which only other children...

Everywhere you go right now, there are displays of hearts, chocolates, and flowers; advertisements for romantic dinners; and people holding hands. It’s enough to make any unattached person long for a partner and any person who is doubting their relationship wonders if there is something better out there for them....

There is a stronger connection between trauma and addiction than there is between obesity and diabetes. There are a lot of people with diabetes who are not obese and obese people who do not have diabetes. Very few people who struggle with addiction, however, have lived lives free from trauma....

There is a lot of misinformation and stigma around medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the practice of utilizing medication to help people stop using alcohol and other drugs. This false narrative has made it more difficult for people to access potentially life-saving medications that can reduce their risk of relapsing.  At Safe...

To get sober, a person has to give up what has often been their primary or only coping skill. They may have to learn brand new coping skills and relearn old ones that have grown rusty from disuse. One coping skill that can be very helpful to people who are...