In late January, Francesca and I met with Brian Dolan, the new Director of SHU’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), at the program office (4980 Park Avenue, Bridgeport). NCPSG has written about SHU’s program in the past, after it started up in 2019 with a big boost from Bill Mitchell of Mitchells of Westport. SHU’s CRP in 2019 was the “new …
On Wednesday, January 18, our support group hosted David Fiellin, MD of Yale in a virtual Pathway Session. Dr. Fiellin is the director of the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine. He’s a strong advocate for treating addiction in primary care settings and reducing the stigma of using medications to treat addiction. During his talk, David discussed the role medications can …
It was 4:30 a.m. on a cold January morning, I crept down the stairs of my 1927 center hall colonial praying that the creaky old house wouldn’t give away my departure. I could see the lights of the car that had just pulled up in front of the house, waiting for me. It was a scene that probably wasn’t unfamiliar …
Tuesday, January 10, marked the first day that marijuana could be sold through state-licensed retail outlets in CT. This is a sad day, in my opinion. Based on the legalization act, commercial enterprises will have the incentive to sell stronger, more-potent THC products to young adults and older members of the population. Therefore, the public health consequences will be more …
Today When I met my now husband a year into my sobriety, I remember him asking, “Can’t you just promise that you will never drink again?” It doesn’t work that way–or at least it doesn’t for me–it’s just today. And today–I get to wake up unencumbered with a headache or shame or a fogginess. No more questions: “Where did I …
This is great news. Access to NARCAN will get even better, as the drug will be distributed through drug stores over-the-counter, without a prescription. Our support group already offers free NARCAN to family members who request it, through one of our strategic partners. Just contact us on our website or by email. Here is the link to the news article.
Our December 14 Pathway Session with Dr. John F. Kelly was a great success. If anyone has the scientific and empirical evidence that peer support groups work, it’s John. To recover from addiction takes a continuing care model, and John advocates for that at every opportunity. Here is the replay on YouTube, and here is his slide deck. You can …
We thank all of you, for your past contributions to NCPSG. Again this year, we ask our community to think of NCPSG in their giving plans. While the physical toll of COVID has been reduced, the behavioral health of our community has NOT improved. Based on attendance and the stories at our support meetings, the number of loved ones who …
In 2005 I was devastated by the sudden loss of my husband, Terence. My children were only 3,6, and 9 years old. I can remember sitting on the front porch on a Saturday, watching my neighbors drive by doing their weekend activities, while my life and my children’s lives were forever changed. Not only did I lose a beloved partner, …
On Wednesday, November 19 we held our monthly Pathway Session with Dr. Ned Hallowell over Zoom. In his open, empathetic style, Ned made the case for why ADHD is not so much a disorder as a series of traits that can be managed. In fact, these traits have huge benefits, especially the big three which are both strengths AND challenges: …
