The use and distribution of fentanyl is on the rise in Oregon and in Portland, in particular. Five Oregonians die at the hands of fentanyl every week. During the pandemic, drug overdoses - largely owing to an increase in the use and availability of fentanyl - increased by over 40% in the state of [...]
Structure. Routine. Discipline. What do these words mean to you? For some, they represent safety, sameness, predictability. Others feel stifled or even oppressed by what these concepts represent. Our previous experiences - or lack of experience - with structure and routine will often color how we feel about embracing these tools in recovery. Whatever these [...]
Making the decision to get treatment for drug or alcohol abuse - technically known as Substance Use Disorder - is a huge step. It’s normal to feel nervous or even anxious about your first appointment. Throughout the years, we’ve had several requests for a blog post like this one to walk new patients like [...]
Substance abuse patients in Portland, Oregon have a lot of the same fears as SUDs patients do all around the world. When you’ve built your life around drinking or using, getting sober can be downright terrifying. Sometimes it’s the what-ifs that keep folks from pursuing treatment and seeking help. What if… …I become a [...]
We hear it all the time from new patients, concerned families, and, yes, even the recovery community in Portland, Oregon all the time. You’ve probably heard it, in Portland, too. It goes something like this: “Methadone? Suboxone? Vivitrol? Isn’t all of this just replacing one addiction with another?” It makes sense why this is [...]
If you’re in recovery, you know that it’s important to have a game plan for handling special occasions in new and healthy ways - without relying on old patterns to get you through. That means staying connected to your recovery program during the holiday season, thinking outside the box, making new traditions, and exploring [...]
Have you ever heard the acronym HALT? It stands for Hungry, Lonely, Angry and Tired. When we are feeling some or all of these symptoms, it’s much easier for us to make bad decisions that we will regret later. This is true of all humans, regardless of mental health diagnosis - everyone can be [...]
Diet is a frequently overlooked element of a successful recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). While counseling, peer-support and medication form the backbone of a healthy recovery, the role that proper nutrition plays in health cannot be overstated. That’s why, at Shanti Recovery and Wellness, we have a nutritionist on-staff to design a healthy [...]
For many patients, the understanding that their drug or alcohol problem stems from a diagnosable disease brings comfort and hope. For others, the idea seems wrong. I know patients aren’t comfortable with the “disease model” of addiction when they ask me things like: Do you really believe addiction is a disease? I chose to [...]
June is pride month, so in honor of the amazing gains - and all the progress yet to be made - by the LGBTQ+ community, we wanted to highlight our favorite resources for the sober LGBTQ+ community in Portland. Sobriety can present extra challenges for folks in the LGBTQ+ community, especially when so [...]
