OCTOBER IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH In 2011, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month began as an opportunity to recognize the importance of addiction awareness and prevention. It provides an opportunity to highlight the vital role of substance use prevention for individuals and communities alike. It is also a time to remember those who have lost their lives…

National Recovery Month is held every September to bring awareness to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and mental health services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as a process of change where individuals improve their overall health, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery Month celebrates the positive…

Often, families with loved ones who are struggling from addiction feel they have tried all of their options to help their loved one. Families attempt to control their loved one’s substance abuse through efforts such as talking with their loved one about their use, managing their environment, participation in previous detox or treatment attempts, etc. An…

Addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that gets worse over time if not treated properly.  Recovery is not easy, but it is possible. At Ascension Recovery Services, our encouraging and certified team of professionals are here to help you. We can contribute to your loved one’s recovery through our customized treatment solutions.  Our clinical professionals…

Ascension Recovery Services offers program development services for individuals and hospital systems that are creating substance use disorder treatment programs. One of the main questions that our clients ask is, “Which service should I offer?”  To answer this question, it is important to understand which services are appropriate for an individual, the location of the services and a…

Is drug addiction considered a mental illness? Addiction disturbs the brain, which then challenges an individual's needs and desires replacing them with new priorities like procuring substances to use.  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, lists criteria for SUDs, as well as distinguishes the differences of severity levels of substance misuse. Criteria for…

What sets your organization apart? At Ascension, we believe that receiving national accreditation can be the deciding factor on helping your business stand out. Read on to learn why. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION? National Accreditation is the external verification by a reputable accrediting body that a business or program is adhering to national best practices within…

Reintegrate Appalachia (Reintegrate), a workforce reemployment initiative for those in early recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), was awarded a multi-year grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Initiative in February 2019. Reintegrate is a collaborative effort between West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL), Coalfield Development Corporation (Coalfield) and is supported by West Virginia University Health Sciences Center (WVU HSC). WHAT IS ARC POWER? ARC…

On March 4, 2019, WVU Medicine launched its new facility the WVU Medicine Center for Hope and Healing, a medically managed withdrawal stabilization and residential treatment center for individuals affected by substance use disorders (SUD). WVU Medicine and the WVU Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry already offer a comprehensive menu of outpatient services for people with…

If your child is using substances (drugs and alcohol), you may have been told that there are certain things you do for them are “enabling.” This can be hard because all you want to do is help them. Read on to learn about what enabling is, signs of enabling and how to break the cycle.…