Inhalant Misuse: What You Need to Know
When most people think about substance misuse, they picture alcohol, opioids, or other drugs. But one of the most dangerous and overlooked types of substance misuse involves products found in almost every home, like cleaning fluid, glue, or even whipped cream canisters. When someone intentionally inhales these vapors or fumes to get high, the risks ...
Supporting a Partner in Early Addiction Recovery
Early addiction recovery is an important and challenging phase for anyone beginning treatment for a substance use disorder. It’s also a significant adjustment period for their romantic partners. As routines shift, emotions run high, and treatment decisions evolve, partners may feel unsure about how to help or what their role should be. With education, honest ...
Board Member Spotlight: Rev. Dr. Susan Suchocki Brown
Spectrum Health Systems is honored to spotlight Rev. Dr. Susan Suchocki Brown, a dedicated board member whose lifelong work in counseling, ministry, and trauma response reflects Spectrum’s core values of hope, healing, and community. With a career spanning five decades, she brings a rare blend of clinical experience, spiritual insight, and compassionate leadership to Spectrum’s ...
What is the Alcohol Breaking Point?
Alcohol misuse doesn’t always look like the movies. It doesn’t have to involve a DUI, losing a job, or hitting a dramatic “rock bottom.” For many people, the breaking point with alcohol begins quietly, long before life unravels on the outside. Maybe drinking still feels “normal” from the outside. Maybe you still get to work ...
National Recovery Month 2025: Recovery Is REAL
Every September, we come together to recognize National Recovery Month. It’s a time to celebrate the power of addiction recovery and to uplift the individuals, families, and communities whose lives are changed by it. At Spectrum Health Systems, we believe in the promise of recovery, and we see that promise fulfilled daily in the people ...
Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Journaling in Addiction Recovery
Addiction recovery is filled with milestones, challenges, and personal growth. While professional treatment and a strong support system are foundational, some of the most transformative tools in recovery are the simplest, like journaling. Journaling offers a private space to process your feelings, track your progress, and reinforce your commitment to healing. You don’t need to ...
What Are the Early Warning Signs for Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction doesn't always begin with obvious signs. For many, it can start small with a drink to unwind after work, a way to loosen up socially, or a habit that slowly becomes necessary. But when alcohol begins to take more than it gives, it may be time to pause and reflect. Recognizing the early ...
Why Words Matter When Talking About Addiction Recovery
When it comes to addiction, stigma still runs deep. It shows up in the glances people give, the assumptions they make, and the words they use. Words can carry judgment, shame, and misunderstanding but also hope, dignity, and healing. For those living with substance use disorder, language can equate to identity. That’s why the way ...
PTSD Awareness Month: Addressing PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Addiction Recovery
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) frequently occur together, creating complex challenges for those seeking recovery. Studies show that 20 to 35 percent of individuals with PTSD also have a substance use disorder, while an even larger percentage of those struggling with addiction have a history of trauma, estimated at 75 percent ...
How to Handle Setbacks Without Losing Hope in Addiction Recovery
Addiction recovery isn’t a straight line. It’s a winding road with highs and lows, moments of triumph, and times that test your resolve. If you’ve experienced a setback on your recovery journey, know that you are not alone and are not failing. Setbacks are not the end of the road. When met with self-compassion, support, ...
