Addiction Recovery Resources & Insights from Hanley Center
Hanley Center has been helping people and families navigate addiction and recovery for more than 40 years. This blog draws on the experience of our clinical team to offer clear, trustworthy information on substance use disorders, mental health, and what treatment can look like. Whether you’re researching for yourself, a loved one, or a patient you support, you’ll find straightforward answers grounded in real clinical care.
Active Recovery vs. Passive Recovery
In recovery communities across the country, stories of relapse often share familiar themes. Individuals who had once embraced a program of recovery slowly began to disengage, skipping meetings, disconnecting from sponsors, and withdrawing from the fellowship that once...
Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Prescription Drugs
It might seem harmless to have a glass of wine while taking your regular medication, but mixing alcohol with prescription or over-the-counter drugs can have serious, even life-threatening consequences. At Hanley Center, we’ve seen firsthand how combining substances,...
Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters
For many individuals living with addiction or mental health disorders, trauma is more than just part of their story, it's a driving force behind it. Trauma-informed care recognizes the profound impact that past experiences of harm, neglect, or loss can have on a...
What Is a Functional Alcoholic?
The term "functional alcoholic" is often used to describe someone who appears to maintain their responsibilities while struggling with alcohol use. They may hold a job, keep up appearances in their social life, and provide for their family, all while privately...
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a solemn time to honor and remember the brave individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in service to our country. While for many it marks a long weekend, for countless veterans, it is a deeply personal and emotional reminder of loss,...
Is Marijuana Addictive? Everything You Need to Know
As marijuana becomes increasingly legal and widely used, across the country, questions about its safety and answering the question of whether marijuana is addictive is more critical than ever. While many believe marijuana is harmless or “non-addictive,” science tells...
Is Ecstasy Addictive?
The use of party drugs like ecstasy, also known as MDMA or Molly, is increasingly common among young adults. As a loved one, learning that someone you care about has used ecstasy can be deeply concerning. Naturally, questions arise: Is ecstasy addictive? What are the...
Is Alcohol a Depressant?
The term “depressant” can be confusing, especially when it’s mistaken for the emotional state of depression. But in medical and clinical terms, a depressant refers to a substance that slows down brain activity and central nervous system function. So, is alcohol a...
Coping with Social Anxiety Disorder
Feeling nervous in certain social situations is normal, but for some, these feelings go far beyond occasional discomfort. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a chronic mental health condition that can deeply affect every aspect of daily life. When left untreated, it can...
College Mental Health: Where And Why Students Struggle
In recent years, college campuses across the country have seen a troubling rise in the number of students seeking treatment for serious mental health conditions. These students are not simply stressed about exams; they are battling diagnosable disorders like...
Borderline Personality Disorder: Understanding the Complexities
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Its symptoms can vary widely, overlap with other disorders, and manifest in ways that challenge individuals and those around them. For millions...
Addiction and Identity: Rebuilding Who You Are in Recovery
One of the most transformative aspects of addiction recovery isn't just physical sobriety, it's rediscovering or redefining your identity. For many individuals, substance use becomes so intertwined with how they see themselves that imagining life without it feels not...
Grounding Techniques for Anxiety
Anxiety can be overwhelming. It often feels like your thoughts are racing, your heart is pounding, and your body is stuck in "fight or flight" mode. Whether you're dealing with occasional anxiety or a chronic anxiety disorder, grounding techniques for anxiety can help...
Marijuana and Pregnancy: What Expecting Mothers Need to Know
As marijuana becomes more socially accepted and legally accessible across the country, many people—including pregnant women—are left wondering: Is it safe to use marijuana while pregnant? The short answer is: no amount of marijuana use during pregnancy has been proven...
What Is EMDR?
When people talk about trauma therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and distressing memories, one term that often comes up is EMDR. But what is EMDR, how does it work, and who can benefit from it? In this article, we’ll demystify EMDR and explore why it’s...
Binge Drinking on the Rise in Young and Middle-Aged Women
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines binge drinking as four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men consumed on the same occasion—typically within about two hours—raising blood‑alcohol concentration to 0.08% or...
PTSD in First Responders and Veterans: The Hidden Battle After Service
For first responders and veterans, service is more than a career—it's a calling. Whether running toward danger as a firefighter, paramedic, or law enforcement officer or serving in combat zones as a military member, these individuals dedicate their lives to protecting...
The Importance of Helping Others and Being of Service
The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program began in 1935 and has become one of the most successful recovery models for people struggling with addiction. Think about that: people have suffered from substance addictions since man first started crushing grapes and picking...
What is a Doula? The Essential Role of Birth Support in Addiction Recovery
Pregnancy is a life-changing journey filled with emotional and physical challenges. For women recovering from substance use disorder, this experience can be even more overwhelming. Many expectant mothers in recovery face anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about childbirth...
Resentments and Forgiveness
The 4th Step in the Twelve-Step program of recovery tells us that "Resentment is the 'number one' offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it forms all forms of spiritual disease." Let's take a look at why this is. First of all, I don't think it...
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes the blogs at Hanley Center?
Our blogs are written and reviewed by a collaborative team that includes licensed clinicians, medical professionals, recovery experts, and members of Hanley Center’s communications team. Many articles are developed with direct input from clinical staff to help ensure content is accurate, compassionate, and aligned with evidence-based care. Our content team also brings decades of experience working within the behavioral health field and supporting Hanley Center’s mission of education, prevention, treatment, and recovery.
How often is the blog updated?
New articles are added regularly. Content is reviewed and refreshed as needed to stay accurate, relevant, and aligned with current clinical understanding.
Can I find information about specific types of addiction on the blog?
Yes. The blog covers substance use disorders, mental health and co-occurring conditions, treatment and recovery, and support for families. You can start with our alcohol addiction resource or browse the categories above
Where can I go if I need immediate help for addiction?
Our admissions team is available 24/7 at 561-841-1033 to speak with you about treatment options and next steps. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Insurance Can Cover up to 100% of Treatment
We offer free, no obligation health insurance benefit checks. If you are currently insured, your treatment could be covered partially or in full.
Information entered on this form will not be used to initiate SMS.
Address: 933 45th Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
