The term California sober has been getting a lot of attention these days in the news and on social media, but what is it, and should you try it?

Here are some ways that mentorship can help individuals be successful in recovery. You don’t have to walk the path alone.

At The Grounds, we believe that there is more to recovery than abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Recovery is also a matter of discovering one’s purpose.

When it comes to transitional living programs for young adults, location matters. Access to opportunity, nature, employment and support are vital.

Whether it’s exploring San Diego’s trail systems or taking a weekend trip into the Sierras, California trails never disappoint and always provide an opportunity to connect with nature. Find out how hiking fits into The Grounds program.

The development of healthy habits in recovery is key to long term success. Find out how San Diego’s food scene can help our residents improve their nutrition and support an active and fulfilling sober lifestyle.

If you had asked me 10 years ago what my biggest concern for young people was, I would probably have said something along the lines of driving dangerously under the influence, getting caught up in unhealthy drug-related peer groups, and other high-risk reckless behaviors. I would not have said...

Though more research is needed, existing research into the effects of using marijuana while taking Prozac indicates that the combination can decrease the efficacy of the anti-depressant by interfering with its metabolization.

Recovery requires change – big change. Change in thinking, attitude, and worldview, but also change in environment, people and lifestyle. That is why sober transitional living homes can be a good next step for many people on the path to recovery – they provide a safe, supportive space where individuals can rebuild their lives upon a foundation of new, healthy habits, people and routines.

Dual diagnosis, or co-occurrence, is when an individual has both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about half of all people with mental illness also have a SUD, while one-third of all people with a SUD also have a mental health diagnosis...

More research is needed to really understand the relationship between art therapy and the ways it may help heal the brain systems that control craving and addiction; but anecdotal evidence, along with the proliferation of art and music therapy programs in recovery indicates that these programs are indeed helpful…

Comprised of people including friends, family, 12-step groups, sponsors, therapists, mentors, counselors, and others, a recovery support system is a network of people that can help guide your journey and build the framework that aids your progress.

Relapse is generally not something that happens overnight. Rather, it is a process that happens in stages. An individual in danger of relapse will pass through an emotional, mental and finally a physical stage which involves the seeking out and using of the substance.

Through our years of work with young people in recovery, we have found meditation to be a helpful part of the healing process. Yoga and mindfulness-based meditation are types of meditation practice we offer to our residents.

Whatever kind of insights you are looking for, there is likely a podcast on the topic ready for download. To get you started, here is a list of some of the best addiction, recovery and sobriety podcasts, we’ve found so far.

In order for transitional living to be an effective step on the path to long-term recovery, it needs to provide comprehensive nutrition education, hands-on instruction on how to maintain a healthy diet, and counseling where necessary. Find out more…

12 Steps and 12 Traditions is the book outlining the 24 basic principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. The book was written in 1953 by AA co-founder, William Griffith Wilson, or, as he is more commonly known within the AA community, Bill W. Today’s Anonymous programs address many forms addiction beyond alcohol – from narcotics to gambling to food to the Internet and technology, but all of them follow the basic tenets that can be found in this book and have been guiding addicts through recovery since the program was first developed in the 1930’s.

At The Grounds, we believe that a quality transitional living program should provide more than a place to work on recovery. We believe that transitional living should also be a space for cultivating personal development. One of the ways we encourage our members’ personal development is through mandatory employment..

Making the commitment to stay sober is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and to your loved ones. When you decide each day to walk a bit further down the road of recovery you are deciding that your health and well-being matter. You are deciding that YOU matter, and that you deserve a life free from the shackles of addiction.