Lucy has been in recovery since 2011, but even after treatment, life hasn’t always been easy. When Lucy left Gateway Aurora, she returned to four children who had also struggled with her addiction. Some of them wanted nothing to do with her. And she had to rebuild trust with the ones who did. Drugs and…
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People in the LGBTQ+ community face higher rates of substance use disorders and other mental health issues than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Exacerbating the problem, many LGBTQ+ individuals have additionally experienced discrimination, blame or complete denial of care from their healthcare provider due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. To address this stigma and better…
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When you think about substance abuse or addiction, what do you consider the most commonly abused drugs? Are heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine on the top of your list? Although these drugs are widely abused, you must also consider prescription medication. Sadly, millions of people abuse and develop addictions to the medications found in their…
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When you care about someone, it can be hard to see them down or depressed, especially if you’re not sure how to help. A quick Google search — “how to help my girlfriend with depression” comes back with more than 77 million results, and sorting through them, it can be challenging to separate fact from…
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By: James Blasko, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager Springfield, Jacksonville, Pekin and MAT nursing program For National Nurses Week, I want to send my warmest wishes to all nurses, especially the ones in my Gateway family. You make every day better for our clients and our staff. This week reminds me how grateful I am for…
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May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and reducing stigma. To start our month-long conversation about mental health, we started asking some questions: Mental Health Awareness Month Millions of people in the United States deal with mental health disorders. Yet less than half receive help. Chances are you know someone with…
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Every year, there are horror stories about children dying from accidental drug overdoses. Many times, the children got hold of the drugs by going through the family’s trash. Under no circumstances is that an appropriate way to dispose of unwanted/unneeded prescription medications. Flushing medications down the toilet would also be unacceptable because of the potential…
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What takes place in rehab is all in support of one feat, the pursuit of recovery. The entire treatment process seeks to prepare the client for a lifetime without drugs or alcohol. After treatment, the client then heads out to begin life anew. Unfortunately, not all exiting clients are completely ready to take on all…
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Cocaine is a powerful stimulant, and as you’re likely aware, quitting cocaine is probably one of the most difficult things you will ever do. You’re not alone. Approximately 1.5 million people use cocaine in the United States at least once a month. You don’t have to be one of them. Right now, you might be…
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For many, drinking alcohol is a way to celebrate and have fun. Generally, sipping on wine at dinner or throwing back a shot with friends isn’t a problem. However, excessive alcohol use will harm your health. Specifically, the powerful liquid will change your brain chemistry over time. As such, your body will demand more and…
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