No One Is Immune to Depression or Addiction

You often hear people say that Americans live in a celebrity-obsessed culture. We tend to view being famous— or even just generally well-known— as the height of achievement. We sometimes also assume that you leave all “regular people” problems behind once you’ve reached the height of fame. “If you’re a… Read More

Saying Goodbye to Love Addiction and Love Avoidance

The following letter was written by a woman who attended The Love Addiction/Love Avoidance workshop at The Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows. At the end of the workshop, participants were asked to write a goodbye letter to their love addiction and… Read More

Inpatient, Outpatient, or IOP?

Inpatient, Outpatient, or IOP? Most psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals agree that addiction is a complex disorder caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. It can also vary in intensity; The DSM-5 defines addiction as a spectrum disorder that can be categorized as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.”… Read More

Benzos: The Dangers of Abusing Prescription Drugs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs are benzodiazepines (a.k.a. benzos). As the number of these prescriptions has grown, so has the abuse. Some types of benzos are… Read More

March Madness and Gambling Addicts Are Often At Odds

We’re nearly halfway through NCAA® March Madness® tournament. The excitement is ramping up as the team in the Sweet Sixteen prepares for the next round. Those whose brackets aren’t already busted are anxiously waiting to see if their picks will help them reign supreme over their friends and co-workers and… Read More

Celebrating Sober: 3 Tips for Navigating Super Bowl Parties

Football plays an important role in the lives of many Americans. Friendships are forged through small talk about the strengths and weaknesses of prominent players. Families gather in their living rooms and bond while cheering on their favorite teams. Social connections are strengthened through tailgating, Super Bowl parties, and impromptu… Read More

It’s the Same Old Story…And It Has to Change

By Dan Griffin, MA, Senior Fellow at The Meadows Here we are again: One more tragic tale of a good man, with a good heart, being destroyed by addiction, trauma, and the effects of toxic masculinity. The world—including those closest to former NBA player Lamar Odom — were waiting for… Read More

Pain Is at the Heart of Heroin Addiction

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of heroin-related deaths has quadrupled in the past ten years. Of the people surveyed between 2011 and 2013, nearly 663,000 said they had used heroin in the past year; 379,000 said they had between 2002 and… Read More

Wealth, Power, and Sexual Addiction

Earlier this week, news broke that Jared Fogle, the well-known spokesman for Subway, was at the center of an FBI investigation. No details have been confirmed at this time, but many speculate that the investigation is related to the recent arrest of an executive of the Jared Foundation on child… Read More

Seduction and the Sex Addict

By Monica Meyer, Ph.D., CSAT-S, Clinical Director of Gentle Path at The Meadows Last week, best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert published an essay titled “Confessions of a Seduction Addict” in the New York Times magazine. It’s a personal and poignant account of the pain and struggles that… Read More