Steven Lodge

“"Having been through the intervention and treatment process myself, I understand where the addict is at and what concerns he is feeling about the future. My approach to the intervention process employs my unique experience, gathers strength and compassion from the family and presents the gift of treatment in a loving and persuasive manner. The end result is that the addict views the solution of treatment as an opportunity not a punishment".” - Steven Lodge

What Happens After Discharge From Treatment?

Your loved one has successfully completed treatment. You and your family have also sought treatment for your own issues. Is the addiction ordeal suffered by the addict and the family over? Has everyone been cured? Of course not. There is no cure for addiction. There is, however, a way ...

Intervention…What Happens Next?

You've done all the planning, the intervention proceeded flawlessly, and you heard the magical words come out of the mouth of the addict, "Yes, I'll get help." But what type of help is waiting for the addict? Prior to the intervention, did you arrange inpatient residential treatment, outpatient treatment, or will ...

Get Busy

Recently, I've been getting quite a few emails and phone calls from addicts who have been discharged from basic 30 day treatment programs looking for some sort of aftercare to help them deal with continuing craving issues. The first thing I did with these communications is congratulate them on their honesty ...

Drug Tests…You Get What You Pay For

I'm a big fan of drug tests, but can you always trust the results? All you have to do is spend a little time on the internet and chances are that you'll find a wide variety of products and suggestions designed to help a determined substance abuser defeat the system ...

Boredom Kills

If you are experiencing early recovery, you might get the impression that the "fun" dimension of life is over. After all, how can you possibly hang out with your friends who are able to drink and use on a "normal" basis? Well, the truth of the matter is that if ...

Help Yourself

I've been working in the recovery field for several years now and I must say that it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. There is nothing like the feeling of observing an addict work their way out of abject addiction and into recovery. The experience of leading an ...

Can I Get You A Drink?

It's inevitable. At some point in your early sobriety you will find yourself in a social gathering where a whole lot of drinking is going on. Of course, in the first few weeks or months of sobriety it is best to avoid such gatherings as much as possible. ...

Who’s Up For A Pity Party?

So, it turns out there are days in sobriety that are not always filled with rainbows and butterflies. In fact, some days are flat out crappy, fraught with moments of self deprication, low self esteem, and, in some cases, hopelessness. Sound familiar? Have you had a day ...

But I Don’t Feel Like Going To A Meeting

The words kept bouncing around in my head. I'm simply too comfortable right here in my front room watching the Red Sox-Yankee game. I don't need to go to a meeting. Besides, the fog is rolling in and it is too cold outside. I'll hit up ...

Staying Clean and Sober

I think the most important part of recovery begins with surrender. In my case, I didn't actually surrender. I didn't think I had a problem. I thought it was not uncommon or unusual for a person to consume massive quantities of alcohol and illegal drugs on a nightly ...

April 22nd 2009
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Addiction Recovery: The Journey From Alcoholism Intervention To Rehabilitation

Alcoholism is a long, hard battle for both the person fighting the disease and his loved ones. In fact, the first step in the journey toward recovery is often initiated by the addict`s loved ones - in the form of an alcoholism intervention. If successfully orchestrated, the intervention will lead ...
March 23rd 2009
Tags: Intervention, Uncategorized No Comments

Celebrity Treatment

Occasionally I'll see an article or news report concerning celebrities treating at high-end drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Typically, the facility is located in the hills of Malibu and the overall theme of the report focuses on the spa-like atmosphere rather than the quality of treatment. What concerns me is the ...
March 14th 2009
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Prior To The Alcohol Intervention

A frequently asked question from family and friends of an active alcoholic is "How can I stop my wife/husband/partner from drinking so much?" The reality, and answer to the question, is - you can`t. They will stop when it suits them, when their health fails, when they lose their job, ...
March 3rd 2009
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Considering Drug Or Alcohol Treatment?

If you are in the process of organizing a drug intervention or alcohol intervention, the selection of a treatment center will be among your first decisions. There are many factors to consider when deciding upon a drug or alcohol treatment center. Some key points include staff credentials, availability of onsite ...
January 4th 2009
Tags: Intervention, Uncategorized No Comments

How Soon Do We Schedule the Alcohol Intervention?

The short answer is that you should plan the alcohol intervention as soon as possible. Keep in mind that alcoholism and drug addiction are progressive diseases and it is a disease that is designed to kill. The progressive nature of the disease means that the condition of the addict gets ...

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