Newly Sober During the Holidays

Newly Sober During the Holidays

Christmas music is now playing in stores and on the radio and you are newly sober. Congratulations! This is an incredibly vulnerable time for a newly recovered person. Even the music can be a trigger. Recovery is a process and will be tested many times over the years....
The Power of Gratitude

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is not just for Thanksgiving anymore. Gratitude practiced every day of the year—or most days anyway—is a way to conquer life’s challenges, including depression and recovery. There are endless ways in which we can do this, so stay tuned for...
My Patient’s Most Shameful Secret

My Patient’s Most Shameful Secret

One of the most troubling aspects of my job as a medical addiction professional reared its head last week as I entered the exam room for a follow-up visit with Gordon.* Gordon has had a very successful career in banking. He is the 64-year old divorced father of three...
How Important Are The Medical Staff In An Opioid Detox?

How Important Are The Medical Staff In An Opioid Detox?

My patients, the struggles they have endured, and the efforts they have made to achieve sobriety inspire many of my blogs. But yesterday at work, I have to say, I was moved so much by my coworkers. A young man was with us for a simple accelerated opioid detox. He is...
How to Get Off Methadone with the Coleman Institute

How to Get Off Methadone with the Coleman Institute

I had the pleasure of seeing my patient Isabel (not her real name, but I love this name) in the office for her regular monthly Vivitrol injection. Vivitrol is a long-acting, injectable form of naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opiate blocker, also called an opiate...