Joshua Bennett-Johnson, LADC-II, a licensed counselor with 14 years' experience, argues that the for-profit rehab model focuses more on billing, marketing, insurance, luxury amenities, and short-term stabilization than long-term recovery. The article urges readers to scrutinize patient brokering, revolving-door treatment, underuse of medication-assisted treatment, and weak aftercare.

John Makohen emphasizes the importance of family history of substance use disorder without viewing genetics as fate. Citing research on genetic liability across substances, he explains how inherited vulnerability interacts with trauma, stress, sleep issues, pain, access, and social factors and describes practical ways to build healthier responses to daily stress triggers.

ADHD and substance use disorders often travel together, and Dr. Lauren Grawert explains why that overlap is not simply a coincidence. Drawing on genetic, clinical, and treatment research, she describes shared risk, the dangers of untreated ADHD, and the importance of coordinated care. The article also challenges the idea that ADHD treatment should wait until substance use is fully in remission, offering a more integrated path for better recovery and functional outcomes.

Tim Lineaweaver remembers hearing that addiction is progressive as a warning, then discovering a more hopeful truth: recovery can be progressive too. In this personal reflection, he traces the shift from alcohol offering relief to alcohol taking over, then describes the difficult first months of sobriety, the wreckage that had to be repaired, and the gradual return of health, hope, family, and purpose.

Author Tammy Adler Foeller clearly explains that the opioid crisis did not begin on the streets. It began through systems, messaging, and misplaced trust in American healthcare.

Harm reduction meets people where they are - without requiring abstinence as the starting point. Dr. Andrew Tatarsky's article explains how that shift expands treatment access and improves outcomes.

Belinda Morey explores how GLP-1 medications, long-acting implants, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and telehealth are reshaping addiction treatment in 2026. By targeting the biology of cravings and increasing consistency and accessibility, these innovations are offering new hope for sustainable recovery — while reinforcing that medication and technology work best when paired with therapy, support, and daily commitment.

A clear, compassionate explanation of harm reduction and why meeting people where they are saves lives and builds pathways to recovery.

A gripping first‑person account revealing how trauma and Adult Child Syndrome can fuel substance use disorder—and how recovery rebuilds values and identity.

Family may be the missing piece in recovery—lowering relapse rates and building resilience in substance use disorder treatment.

In Part II of her Substance Use Disorder Series, counselor Belinda Morey shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, suicidal ideation, and the fight for recovery. Drawing from both lived experience and her work in the field, Belinda highlights how even in the darkest moments, hope can emerge through resilience, community, and compassion. This powerful story invites readers to reflect on the struggles of addiction while offering a message of healing and renewal.