“I wouldn’t have been able to have access to myself or other people, or even been able to take in other people, if I hadn’t changed my life.”

~ Bradley Cooper, actor

The New Year brings a hopeful outlook. No matter what’s going on in our lives, it gives us a chance to symbolically start over again, clean and fresh. For many people, this means finally seeking help for an alcohol or drug problem.

If that includes you, here are six wonderful reasons why a sober 2019 could be your best year EVER!

Sobriety Benefit #6: You Save SO Much Money

Do you have any idea how much your drinking and drug habits REALLY costs you every year?

• $100,000 (OxyContin)
• $50,000-$75000 (Heroin, 2g/day)
• $40,000-$50,000 (Opioid painkillers)
• $30,000 (Methamphetamine)
• $5,000-$14,000 (Alcohol)
• $10,000 (Marijuana, heavy use)

In recovery, your money belongs to you, not your addiction.

Sobriety Benefit #5: No More Hangovers, Withdrawal, or Dope Sickness

Remember all those times when you partied too hard and woke up in terrible pain the next morning? Or what about how you have the shakes before your first daily drink? Or worst of all, the horrible feeling of being dope sick when you were out and no one was holding?

All of these were clear signs of how substance abuse negatively impacts your health.

But once you are free from the harmful influence of alcohol and drugs, your body and mind can return to normal.

Sobriety Benefit #4: You Will Live a Longer and Healthier Life

Did you know that substance abuse shortens your life by an average of seven years?  That’s not too surprising, when you consider that there are over 200 diseases and health conditions that are directly attributable to alcohol and drugs -cancer, heart disease, and brain damage, along with hundreds of other illnesses and problems.

But by practicing the abstinence and healthy lifestyle changes of recovery, much of that damage can be reversed.  For example, a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine determined that quitting cocaine can significantly reverse some of the drug-induced damage to the heart.

Dr. Shengan Lai said, “Studies of this kind give people hope for a healthier life after stopping drug use.”

Sobriety Benefit #3: You Become a Better Employee

Active addiction affects you professionally -you miss work more often, your production goes down, and your reputation suffers.

And if you are like most people, you put off getting help because you are afraid of losing your job.

But did you know that because Substance Use Disorder is a medically-recognized illness, in most cases, your job is protected if you go to drug rehab? It IS possible to recover AND keep your job.

Sobriety Benefit #2: You Build Better Relationships

Addiction eventually isolates you from your loved ones, until the only relationships you have left are dysfunctional or revolve around drinking and drug use.

But in recovery, but and learn to surround yourself with people who actually care about you and support your sobriety.  Best of all, when you are sober and sincere, you can work on rebuilding other relationships with estranged family members and friends.

Sobriety Benefit #1: You Get to be Present for Your Own Life

Think about it—how many birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions did you miss because of your addiction? Just as bad, how many did you attend and half-remember because you were too drunk or too stoned?

In recovery, you get your life back, and that means showing up for all of the once-in-a-lifetime moments that addiction steals. Even better, you get to make memories that you actually remember.

The New Year can mean a New You.

If you are ready to make a change and break free from your addiction, Chapman House can help.  Since 1978,Chapman House has provided premier alcohol and drug rehab in Orange County, helping individuals and families in crisis due to uncontrollable substance abuse.

To get help NOW, contact Chapman House TODAY.

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by Albert Fontenot