Plain answers about opioid treatment and recovery
Short, practical reads on buprenorphine treatment, withdrawal, staying well in recovery and supporting someone you love. Care is by private video in PA, OH, WV, FL and MD.
Latest · Family and support Finding your people in recovery: peer support and support groups The difference between peer recovery support, mutual-support groups and group therapy, and how to find a setting that fits your recovery. Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min readRead the article
Withdrawal and overdose Naloxone: what people in recovery and families should know What naloxone does, when to use it, and why it helps to learn about it before an emergency. Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Anxiety, depression and recovery: why both deserve attention Why your mental health belongs in your recovery appointments, and how to bring up anxiety or low mood with your provider. Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Seasonal depression and recovery: noticing mood changes this fall How shorter days can affect energy, sleep and mood in recovery, and small steps that help. Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Why routine check-ins matter for men in recovery Setbacks often build quietly. Regular check-ins catch stress, poor sleep and isolation early. Jul 7, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Anger, numbness and stress in men: signs support may help Stress in men does not always look like sadness. What to watch for, and when to talk to someone. Jul 7, 2026 · 2 min read Family and support Fatherhood and recovery: support through real-life stress For fathers and father figures in recovery, support has to fit around work, parenting and everyone else's needs. Jul 7, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Men and mental health: why so many wait to get help Pressure to stay strong and keep going can delay care. Why men wait, and what makes it easier to reach out. Jul 7, 2026 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Missed an appointment? How to get back on track Missing one appointment does not mean you failed. What to do first, and how to reconnect with your care. Mar 29, 2026 · 2 min read Family and support How family members can support recovery without controlling it Support works best when it is steady and respectful. How to help a loved one without taking over. Mar 29, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Cravings and triggers: what is the difference? Cravings and triggers are connected but not the same. Knowing the difference helps you respond earlier. Mar 29, 2026 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT How to prepare for your first MAT appointment What to have ready, what your provider may ask, and how to make your first visit feel less stressful. Mar 29, 2026 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Recovery is not linear: what setbacks mean and how to respond A setback does not erase progress. What it can signal, and how to get more support after one. Dec 31, 2025 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Managing stress without substances: coping skills that work Practical, repeatable ways to handle stress in recovery, built for real life. Dec 31, 2025 · 2 min read Understanding addiction When is it time to get help? Early warning signs You do not have to wait for things to get worse. Early signs that it is time to reach out. Dec 31, 2025 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Your first telehealth visit: what to expect How a first video visit works, from the intake form to follow-up appointments. Dec 31, 2025 · 2 min read Family and support Parenting through recovery: balancing self-care and family care How parents in recovery can look after themselves and their families at the same time. Sep 1, 2025 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Why a daily routine supports mental health and recovery When life feels unpredictable, structure helps with stress and cravings. How to build a routine that holds. Sep 1, 2025 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Suboxone and Subutex: how they differ Both contain buprenorphine, but they are not the same. What sets them apart and how a provider decides. Sep 1, 2025 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Sleep, food and mental health: everyday choices that matter How rest, meals and movement shape your mood and energy in recovery. Sep 1, 2025 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Why mental health screenings matter A screening is often the first step toward understanding what you are going through. What one involves. May 31, 2025 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health The emotional side of addiction recovery Recovery is more than stopping substance use. How to work through the feelings that come up. May 31, 2025 · 2 min read Family and support How to talk to a loved one about opioid addiction What to say, what to avoid and how to keep the door open when someone you love is struggling. May 31, 2025 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Medication-assisted treatment: what it is and common myths What MAT involves, how medication and support work together, and the myths that keep people from trying it. May 30, 2025 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Is CBD addictive? How CBD differs from marijuana, and what is known about dependence. Apr 1, 2025 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Can you drink alcohol while taking a medication? Why alcohol and medication can be a dangerous mix, and which combinations carry the most risk. Mar 1, 2025 · 2 min read Understanding addiction What is crack cocaine addiction? How crack cocaine affects the body and brain, signs of addiction and how treatment works. Feb 3, 2025 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Five signs of marijuana addiction Cannabis use disorder is possible. Signs to watch for in yourself or someone you love. Jan 4, 2025 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT What does a substance use counselor do? The role a counselor plays in treatment and recovery, and what sessions can look like. Dec 9, 2024 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Online addiction counseling: how it works What online counseling for substance use involves and who it can help. Nov 11, 2024 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Stimulants: what they are and how they are used How stimulants affect the brain, prescribed and non-prescribed use, and the risks of misuse. Oct 1, 2024 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Signs and symptoms of addiction Behavioral, physical and emotional signs that substance use may have become a problem. Sep 3, 2024 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Addiction and compulsion: what is the difference? The two words are often used the same way, but they describe different things. Jul 2, 2024 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose Can you overdose on sleeping pills? Which sleep medications carry overdose risk, the dangers of mixing them, and signs of an overdose. Jun 1, 2024 · 2 min read Understanding addiction DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders How clinicians diagnose a substance use disorder, and what mild, moderate and severe mean. May 4, 2024 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose Drug overdose: signs and what to do How to recognize an overdose and how to respond while you wait for help. Apr 1, 2024 · 2 min read Family and support How to help someone in active addiction Ways to support a friend or relative who is using, and where to find help for them and for you. Mar 5, 2024 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose Oxycodone withdrawal: symptoms, timeline and treatment What oxycodone withdrawal feels like, how long it can last and why medical support helps. Jan 4, 2024 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Methamphetamine addiction How meth affects the body and brain, signs of addiction and how treatment works. Dec 2, 2023 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose How to ease insomnia during withdrawal and recovery Why sleep problems are common in withdrawal and recovery, and habits that help. Nov 4, 2023 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Four types of commonly misused medications Prescription and over-the-counter medications that are most often misused, and their risks. Sep 18, 2023 · 2 min read Understanding addiction What are opiates? What opiates are, how they work in the body, and the risks of dependence. Aug 8, 2023 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Allostasis and addiction: how the brain adapts How repeated substance use shifts the brain's balance, and why that makes stopping hard. Jul 11, 2023 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose Opioid addiction and withdrawal: what you should know Common questions about opioid use disorder and withdrawal, answered. May 1, 2023 · 2 min read Understanding addiction What is double doctoring? What doctor shopping is, why it happens, and how prescription monitoring tracks it. Mar 8, 2023 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose What is precipitated withdrawal? Why starting buprenorphine too soon can bring on sudden withdrawal, and how providers time the first dose. Feb 8, 2023 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose Hydrocodone withdrawal: symptoms and timeline What to expect when stopping hydrocodone and why medical support helps. Jan 3, 2023 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose What is neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome? How opioid exposure before birth can affect newborns, and how the condition is treated. Dec 3, 2022 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health How to overcome an addiction Why quitting is often harder than expected, and the steps that make recovery more likely to last. Nov 4, 2022 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose How long does opioid withdrawal last? A general timeline for opioid withdrawal symptoms and what affects it. Oct 6, 2022 · 2 min read Family and support What not to say to someone with an addiction Well-meant comments that can hurt, and what to say instead. Sep 5, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction What to know about heroin use How heroin affects the body, signs of use, overdose risk and treatment. Aug 8, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Stress and addiction: how they are linked How stress can lead to substance use, and why managing stress is part of recovery. Jul 2, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Ten of the most addictive painkillers, and why Which prescription painkillers carry the highest risk of addiction, and what makes them habit-forming. Jun 3, 2022 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health How to stay sober: 13 tips for your recovery Practical habits that help protect your recovery day to day. May 2, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction What is a substance use disorder? How a substance use disorder is defined, its signs, and how it is treated. Mar 2, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Can opioids cause heart problems? How opioid use can affect the heart, and which risks to talk about with your provider. Feb 4, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Signs of prescription drug addiction How prescription drug misuse starts, and signs it may have become an addiction. Jan 6, 2022 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Viral hepatitis and substance use How hepatitis spreads, why substance use raises the risk, and the value of testing. Dec 1, 2021 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Five relapse triggers and how to handle them Common relapse triggers and ways to plan for each one. Oct 3, 2021 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Treating opioid addiction with Suboxone How Suboxone works as part of treatment for opioid use disorder. Sep 4, 2021 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Treatment for opioid addiction: the options Medication, counseling and other options for treating opioid use disorder. Aug 5, 2021 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Coping with addiction after COVID-19 How the pandemic affected substance use and recovery, and ways to rebuild support. Jun 4, 2021 · 2 min read Recovery and mental health Why mental health conditions and substance use often go together Why co-occurring disorders are common, and why treating both together matters. May 1, 2021 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Suboxone treatment by telehealth How buprenorphine treatment works by video visit, and who it can be a good fit for. Apr 2, 2021 · 2 min read Withdrawal and overdose How long does Suboxone withdrawal last? What to expect if you stop Suboxone, and why tapering with your provider matters. Mar 8, 2021 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Substance use: an overview What substance misuse is, the substances involved, and when use becomes a disorder. Jan 29, 2021 · 2 min read Treatment and MAT Suboxone and Subutex: the differences explained How Suboxone and Subutex compare, and why a provider might choose one over the other. Nov 12, 2019 · 2 min read Understanding addiction Eleven signs of opioid addiction to know Behavioral and physical signs that someone may be addicted to opioids. Aug 18, 2018 · 2 min read