prevention

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Through prevention and education efforts we have seen alcohol use continue to decline over the past few years. The reason? Some experts attribute the drop to a renewed focus on wellness and others note that vaping and marijuana use may have become a substitute for alcohol.

As we head into 2026, families across the country are grappling with a hidden crisis that's increasingly affecting our youngest generations. While gambling was once considered an adult concern, the landscape has dramatically shifted.

For the past several years, graduates of Herren Wellness have been returning to the halls of Hingham High School with a powerful mission: to share their personal journeys through substance use and recovery.

With changing legislation and increasing social acceptance, marijuana use has become more widespread across the United States.

Navigating the teenage years can be challenging for both parents and adolescents. Among the many concerns parents face, substance use often tops the list.

In recent years, the opioid crisis has plagued communities across the globe. Among the many substances contributing to this epidemic, one stands out as particularly lethal: fentanyl. This synthetic opioid, originally developed for medical purposes, has found its way into the illicit drug market, leading to a staggering rise in overdose deaths and having

Recovery podcasts can be an important tool in supporting your recovery, helping you reinforce your commitment to wellness, sobriety and personal growth.

Alcohol has long been part of human history, with its consumption dating back thousands of years. While moderate alcohol consumption is a common social activity for many, it’s important to recognize that, for some people, alcohol can become a source of addiction and destructive behavior. In fact, 80% of the guests who enter our program

The legalization of marijuana has been a hotly debated topic for decades, and in recent years many states have moved towards decriminalization or outright legalization of cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use. There is a widespread misconception that because marijuana is a plant, it does not carry the health risks associated with other drugs.

Individuals struggling with Substance Use Disorder experience intense feelings of guilt and shame.  In recovery these feelings are worked through in treatment, therapy, and 12 step programs.  But what happens when someone in recovery relapses, when the shame comes roaring back to the surface? The danger in shame is that it keeps people

In January of a New Year exercise rises to the top of many priority lists, however at Herren Wellness exercise is always a top priority year-round. We understand how important exercise is in the recovery process: from improving mood, to fighting cravings, better sleep, and increased self-confidence.  What we also see is

It’s the start of 2022, and that means the return of the Dry January challenge.  It is estimated that one in seven Americans are participating. What started as a public health campaign in the UK eight years ago has grown into a popular way in which people kickoff and reset their New Year.

As this year draws to a close, people will be gathering with friends and family (safely) to celebrate the holidays and New Years.  The good news for those of us in recovery… Thanks to the booming non-alcoholic drink industry, there are many options for filling our champagne glasses and toasting. In the past

Embracing Gratitude, Inner Light, and the Joy of Recovery This Holiday Season  At Herren Wellness the holidays are a special time of year where the community comes together to celebrate and reflect.   While being away from family during this time can be challenging, we encourage our guests to focus on

How to Enhance Wellness This Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is right around the corner, a day to celebrate with family and friends, be thankful for all we have, and for some it is the unofficial start to the holiday season.  At Herren Wellness we understand that while the holiday can be a time

Image courtesy of Los Angeles Times Recovery for Young Adults at Herren Wellness  At Herren Wellness we have seen first hand the impact that Covid-19 and social isolation has had on young adults.  During 2020-2021 we have experienced an increase in guests who fall into the 18-24 age range struggling with

The holiday season is kicking off with Halloween just around the corner.  What once was a tradition geared towards children has become one of the biggest drinking holidays in the United States. At Herren Wellness we recognize that this holiday can be overwhelming for those in recovery, particularly those new to

5 Tools to Manage Anxiety in Recovery  At Herren Wellness we recognize that individuals who struggle with substances oftentimes experience anxiety when entering recovery, and particularly in the early months of sobriety.  A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Services estimates that 48% of people with substance use disorders also

Image courtesy of Faces & Voices of Recovery Language Matters: Breaking Down Stigma and Lowering Barriers to Recovery Support As we continue celebrating National Recovery Month 2021 at Herren Wellness, it's important to take a look at how the use of language matters when dismantling stigma and lowering the barriers to

Yoga has been said to be the journey through the self, to the self.  At Herren Wellness our resident yoga teacher Rachel Tondreault leads our guests in yoga practice each morning in the light filled studio at Jacob Hill. Being in recovery herself, Rachel is able to connect with guests in

When people embark on recovery at Herren Wellness it is a unique journey with individual revelations. One revelation often experienced by our guests is how creativity blossoms in early recovery.

Image: Meetup.com The Sober Events Movement Oftentimes when people get sober they think to themselves… Will I ever have fun again?  It is suggested in early recovery to avoid people, places, and things that may be triggering because sobriety is still fresh and fragile.  Connection is essential in recovery, so what are the

Image courtesy of @rubywarrington The Rise of the Sober Curious Movement Is “sober curious” more than just a buzzword?  A quick Google search would suggest so as it is now defined: Being sober-curious means being more intentional about how, when and why you drink. It's a movement

Image courtesy of Target Mommy Wine Culture On a recent afternoon trip to Target I headed to the women’s section for some new workout t-shirts.  I walked up to a shelf with piles of shirts neatly folded in rows and pulled the top T’s up to see the slogans: “Good Vibes Only” “Namaste”

Courtesy of AccessOnline Chrissy Teigen's Sobriety In the event that you haven’t been on social media since January 1st allow me to catch you up on unexpected headline news: Chrissy Tiegen is four weeks sober!  With the state of the nation and world it's an interesting story to have risen to the top.

How to Change 2020 is not a hard year to say goodbye to.  This post was initially going to be about New Year’s resolutions and why they are important and a catalyst to change.  But that didn’t feel right, so I went to the source of where the inspiration for this blog comes

Holidays at Herren Wellness It’s the week of Christmas here at Herren Wellness.  The world is upside down and heavy… but walking into Jacob Hill the Christmas spirit is very alive.  Joey is outside burning a fire in the pit surrounded by the adirondack chairs covered in snow.  When I walk through the

We believe in the power of connection and community, and while a guest’s stay here ends, their journey as a Herren Wellness Alumni continues as they embrace recovery and rebuild their lives. Our Alumni and their loved ones are always part of our extended family, and we encourage people to stay in touch, stop

At Herren Wellness, we believe family involvement is an essential part of our guests’ healing, both during their stay at Herren Wellness and beyond. We believe in treating the families alongside the person suffering from emotional health and/or substance use disorder. Our team meets the family where they are and walk with them to

As we celebrate Recovery Month during September, it is important to recognize that there is not just one pathway to recovery. The uniting purpose of any pathway to recovery is to heal the mind and body from substance use and have the freedom to live your life to the fullest. Every person is different

Dogs are an important part of our community here at Herren Wellness. They provide companionship, healthy activity, and fun for our guests and team members alike. Pictured are a few of our current and former guests’ dogs as well as our staff’s dogs including Winston, Bama, Brody, Leo, Sweet, Lou, Awlly, Hattie, Maddie, Maggie,

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many vacations have been put on hold, but you may still feel a need to safely get away for a few days. Vacationing in recovery may seem overwhelming at first, but with a little forward-thinking you will discover that sober vacations are amazing, as you get

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and it’s a great time to enjoy barbeques, picnics, celebrate our freedom, and visit with friends and family. With COVID-19 it is also important to remember ways to engage in summer fun while staying safe and healthy. Don’t forget to bring a mask, hand

As we approach Father’s Day, we wanted to shine a light on the importance that family support plays in helping a loved one seek treatment for substance use disorder and embracing life in recovery. Family involvement is an important part of our approach at Herren Wellness. We encourage family members to be active,

We hear about the importance of having a spiritual practice in recovery, but what does that mean? People who are new to recovery often have questions about what spirituality is, why it’s important, and ways to weave a spiritual practice into daily life. What is Spirituality? Spirituality involves examining how we relate to the world

What is the Herren Wellness difference? Our programs are individually customized to each guest combining holistic strategies with medical and clinical support. Jacob Hill and Twin Oaks each offer just 24 beds allowing for a personalized experience. Herren Wellness staff is connected to each guest as they start their journey to recovery. When

People in early recovery sometimes feel apprehensive about their first sober St. Patrick’s Day, and wonder about how to prioritize recovery on a day that is notorious for drinking. If this is your first sober

“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” ~William Plomer Active substance use stifles our physical, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as our ability to explore and experience the joy and enrichment that creativity

Wellness is a term we hear a lot these days, and most people correctly interpret it as an overall sense of wellbeing and health. For people in recovery, however, there is a deeper meaning to the term

The concept of self-care can feel foreign to many people in early recovery, because in active substance use even basic self-care is often not a priority, and it’s common for our mental and physical health to fall

Gratitude is essential to early recovery, as it allows us to cultivate a mindset of positivity, resiliency, and hope. Did you know that gratitude has also been scientifically proven to increase happiness, self-respect, and self-esteem? Even the simple

Early recovery brings many changes, both exciting and challenging. Even positive changes can feel overwhelming, as many of the aspects of life change physically, emotionally, and socially. Establishing new patterns and routines and building structure into your life help

During the holiday season, there are reminders all around that this time of year is for family, food, and fun. For people in recovery, it is also a time of year to be especially mindful of their recovery and wellness

The holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving and ending with New Year’s, is a joyful and stressful time for everyone. For people in recovery it can bring a change in routine and increased social events with work, family, and friends. While these things are all healthy and normal during this time of year, it’s important