Recovery is full of paradoxes. By admitting powerlessness we become empowered, we find freedom by surrendering, and if we want to keep what we have we must give it away. Another such paradox is the “selfishness versus self-care” dilemma we are faced with upon starting our journey of recovery. In our addiction we are so motivated by our selfish desires and…

The program of Alcoholics Anonymous is a program of spiritual growth. While it is imperative that all A.A.’s enlarge their own spiritual lives, there are benefits for anyone in increasing their spirituality. Here are a few simple ways to expand your spiritual health. How to Be More Spiritual Improving your spiritual health is a mental and physical endeavor. When people are…

It’s a pretty safe bet to say that no one tries to get sober on a winning streak. As addicts and alcoholics, pain is a strong motivator for change. That pain can be much more than simple physical pain. The mental and emotional despair that many alcoholics and addicts feel after being so beaten down by their addiction can often be…

You might be doing yourself a disservice when you ask the specific question “how do I find the best alcohol rehab program”. You will find any number of answers to that question as well as multiple recommendations for rehab centers that someone else has judged to offer “the best rehab program”. If you are seeking to recover from alcoholism, you will…

With the New Year upon us, there is always a lot to be grateful for. For some of us, the holidays are not the easiest time of the year. We see others celebrating with families and we may not have our families in our lives. We see old friends going out and drinking with an impunity that we ourselves do not…

“MDMA” is an acronym for a methamphetamine compound that is one of the more common recreational “club drugs” in use today. MDMA was first synthesized in the early 1900’s. In the 1950’s, the pharmaceutical industry considered marketing it as a diet drug, but quickly rejected that idea. MDMA is used recreationally to achieve feelings of euphoria, emotional connection and openness with…

The old recovery saying goes that an “attitude of gratitude” will keep you sober. Staying in gratitude keeps you out of dangerous places like resentment, jealousy, and fear. Maintaining focus on the good in all things makes it difficult to obsesses over the negative. When you are in the early stages of recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, you may find…

With an epidemic ravaging the country by killing 40 Americans everyday, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released new guidelines directing doctors to simply refrain from prescribing opioids. But if a new drug and study gains ground the health agency might make a change in their guidelines.The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences have released a report showing…

Breaking News! We are thrilled to announce that The Last Resort Recovery Center is officially CARF accredited! We just found out today that our team has earned this distinguishing achievement for a full three-year term!What does this mean? “CARF International accreditation is a public seal of trust and commitment to quality based on internationally accepted standards.”The Last Resort family has worked…

The Akron Beacon Journal reports on the current OD toll in the city, and the escalation of the problem, tied by authorities to the influx of a powerful elephant sedative in the heroin chain:”From January to June, Akron paramedics responded to about 320 drug overdose calls.In the three weeks between July 5 and July 26, paramedics logged 236.The dramatic spike, from…

Good morning brothers and sisters! The word honest or honesty is mentioned 23 times in the first 164 pages of the basic text in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. In fact, its one of the ESSENTIAL requirements of THE PROGRAM! I am really big on looking up the definitions of words in an effort to have a clear understanding of…

Happy 4th of July everyone! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time flies by in the realm of the spirit. We are half way through the year already!To trail off of last weeks cup of Joe…Just as the man must till the soil and carry the water, he must continue this way of life for a lifetime. If he…

Take a listen to Ashley Lopez of KUT Austin Radio interview our very own Austin Berry.Ashley interviews, Austin Berry, Sierra Castedo (Director of CSR UTAustin), and Ivana Grahovac (Executive Director of Austin Recovery) explain what it’s like to be sober in Austin, Tx. https://kut.org/post/what-its-be-sober-austin-where-alcohol-pretty-much-everywhere

Please welcome David Tejeda as our newest licensed therapist. David is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We are excited to bring David’s experience and passion for recovery to our Clinical Team. David will be working with clients individually as well as providing clinical groups throughout your…

” Before enlightenment, carry the water, till the soul. After enlightenment, carry the water, till the soil. “ – Zen Proverb We who have experienced awakenings of the body, mind, and spirit have come out of the darkness. We see ourselves, God, people, and this world with new eyes. Those of us in recovery have come to understand our primary purpose…

If a person in your life has succumbed to drug addiction, you should understand that his personality has been hijacked by whatever drug has taken over his life. That person may love you and care deeply for you, but the drugs that his body craves will always take precedence over both his own health and well-being and your own. He will…

Why Recovering Addicts Make Great DadsThe disease of addiction is often characterized as one of “selfishness and self-centeredness.” Individuals in active addiction prioritize their substance use to such an extent that they are unable to behave in a way that demonstrates love and concern for the people that surround them, despite their best intentions. However, the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous…

Humphrey Bogart once quipped, “things are never so bad they can’t be made worse.” Alcoholics and drug addicts who have hit rock bottom belie this sentiment. For them, things have gotten so bad that there is no chance of them ever getting any worse. As horrific as this may seem, when handled properly, hitting rock bottom can be a good thing….

If you have family members who are alcoholics or drug addicts, unfortunately, your family may be on the losing side of the genetic lottery where addiction is concerned. Studies have repeatedly verified that genetics is at least fifty per cent responsible for a person’s susceptibility to alcoholism or drug addiction. This does not a child of an alcoholic or drug addict…

An alcoholic’s denial of his problem often goes hand-in-hand with the problem itself. In many cases, an alcoholic will be the last person who admits that he has a problem. The people in his life recognize the problem, but take the easier routes of either ignoring or enabling it out of fear of confrontations or lack of any confidence that they…