​I am the son who died from an accidental overdose.
It breaks my heart, but I will say it.
I was an addict.
I was, and am, also a valuable human being.
Do not turn away from me.

​Many people find success with traditional treatments for addiction, but the drawback of traditional methods of recovery is that they sometimes leave gaps in care. Using alternative treatments for recovery, like mindfulness, stress management, and exercise, can help fill those gaps. For some people, that means using these in place of more traditional treatments, while others find that they’re a great complement to what they’re already doing. 

Almost 28 million people around the world are battling a substance use disorder. It can affect anyone including a child, a parent, and even a spouse. Recognizing the signs of a drug or alcohol addiction can be vital to saving a loved one’s life. 

Animal-assisted therapy isn't designed to be a stand-alone therapy. When combined with other treatments for substance use disorders, the therapeutic approach can motivate patients to stay in treatment. Animals can also help therapists and clients resolve mental health problems in a way that isn't possible with other types of therapy alone. - Jaime Acevedo, Outreach Specialist

For more information on animal-assisted therapy, visit DrugRehab.com

The following guest-post was written by Christine, who lost her brother due to an overdose last year.  It is an open glimpse into her mind and feelings.  Thank you for allowing us to share this, Christine. 
As the year-mark of my beloved brother Andrew’s passing approaches, I wanted to write about some forth-comings and thoughts I've been dealing with this past year and am wanting to express. I want to write this for my own therapeutic sake but most importantly to raise awareness of this current drug-overdose epidemic in the US. Please no judgment as I am doing this in hope that my family’s troubling experience can be used to help others in a positive way. I will first start off with a little background.