A hand holding a lit cigarette with swirling smoke against a blurred gray background.

How Quitting Smoking Supports Recovery

Olivia Gillespie May 7, 2026

You might already know how dangerous smoking can be, but when you’re dealing with substance use disorder (SUD), cigarettes can feel like the least urgent issue. At the same time, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the country, linked to more than 480,000 fatalities each year, according to the CDC. Today, we’ll look into why smoking has historically taken a backseat in recovery—and why more people are starting to rethink that approach.

A blurred person sits at a table with numerous prescription pill bottles in focus in the foreground, suggesting themes of medication, health, or mental health struggles.

Is OUD a Chronic Disease

Olivia Gillespie May 1, 2026

The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) explains that conditions that last a year or longer, require ongoing care, and affect daily life often fall into the chronic disease category. That means that, in many cases, opioid use disorder (OUD) can absolutely check every qualifying box for chronic disease status, especially when you’re struggling with relapse. So why doesn’t the United States and its healthcare systems treat it as such? If you’re frustrated with

A woman in striped pajamas sits on the edge of her bed with her eyes closed, resting her hand on her forehead. Sunlight streams through a window, casting shadows on the wall and bed.

Insomnia and Cannabis

Olivia Gillespie April 24, 2026

When was the last time you enjoyed seven to nine hours of uninterrupted, quality sleep in one single night? If you’re a parent, a student, or employed, it’s probably been a while. But sleeping less as an adult doesn’t necessarily mean you have sleep problems, although it wouldn’t be uncommon if you did. According to WebMD, millions of Americans rely on cannabis to help alleviate insomnia. And their reasoning may make some scientific sense, since

Three friends sit at an outdoor table, smiling and clinking glasses filled with yellow drinks. Other people and string lights are visible in the background, creating a lively, festive atmosphere.

Are Non-Alcoholic Beverages Okay in Recovery?

Olivia Gillespie April 17, 2026

We live in interesting times. Almost all of us are connected online, the Pope is from Chicago, and nonalcoholic beverage sales are on the rise. But in all seriousness, you may be wondering if these trendy drinks are recovery-friendly. Sure, these drinks’ descriptors seem clear: zero-proof, non-alcoholic, no-proof, etc. But could they also feel a little too close for comfort if you’re in recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) here with us? Let’s see if

A man with short dark hair and a beard sits indoors, resting his chin on his hands and looking to the side with a thoughtful, slightly concerned expression. There are green plants in the blurred background.

Cannabis As a Coping Method or Path to Paranoia

Olivia Gillespie April 9, 2026

Anthropological discoveries in Asia have proved that people have been using cannabis for nearly 12,000 years, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. In the U.S., over 64 million people reported using cannabis in 2024, according to a national survey, making it the most widely used illicit substance in the country. The survey also showed that more young people have started using it, and with South Carolina’s push in 2025 to legalize medical marijuana (in

A young man and an older man sit on a couch, facing a person taking notes. The setting appears to be a therapy or counseling session in a comfortable, modern room.

Multidimensional Family Therapy For SUD

Olivia Gillespie April 2, 2026

At the moment, rates of teenage nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use are at a record low, according to AP Health reporting. And although the stats for harder substances, like cocaine and heroin, are also lower than in past decades, researchers are still seeing upticks in teens who use and experiment with them. All of this is to say that young adults are doing better than they have in the past, but that shouldn’t make those

Two people pass a lit joint between them, illuminated by dim greenish light. Only their hands and part of their faces are visible, with an out-of-focus background.

Disruptive: Cannabis and Tobacco

Olivia Gillespie March 20, 2026

Smoking cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, comes with a culture of smoking styles. Some people use a glass apparatus like a bowl or a bong to smoke. Others may roll a marijuana cigarette, commonly called a joint. And some may prefer to mix their marijuana with tobacco to create an upper-downer effect where the weed relaxes them while the tobacco pumps them up. A small cigarette containing both weed and tobacco is called

Two women sit facing each other indoors. One woman with long gray hair and a blue sweater is smiling, holding a notebook, while the other woman has her back to the camera.

Are There Free Forms of Addiction Therapy in Charleston, SC?

Olivia Gillespie March 13, 2026

When substance use disorder (SUD) is ruining your life, the last thing you want to do is math. Imagine being in a desperate situation only to learn that healing has a hefty price tag. This could deter anyone from seeking help, no matter how much they want to get better. And with the average cost of drug rehab in the U.S. falling around $13,475 per person, financial barriers aren’t an excuse. They’re a reality. Even

A gray car parked at a gas station next to a fuel pump with multiple colorful nozzles. The scene is slightly wet, suggesting recent rain.

What Is Gas Station Heroin?

Olivia Gillespie February 20, 2026

If you’ve been taking drugs that people can legally buy at a gas station, you might feel pretty good. Relaxed, less in your head—at least for a while. But when it wears off, you might feel irritable or restless, or even worried that this is becoming a habit. If you catch yourself thinking about the next dose soon after the first, you may even start to feel panicked. Now you keep hearing people talk about

A young woman in a denim jacket sits on a gray couch, talking to another person whose back is to the camera. There is a large green plant in the background and natural light coming in from a window.

What’s Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy For SUD?

Olivia Gillespie February 6, 2026

Magic mushrooms may bring up memories of a very different chapter of life (especially if you’ve been to a music festival, or dove into a deep, Zen conversation for a little too long, or communed with nature in a way that can only be described as magical). Or maybe psychedelics generally exist as a cultural reference point for you, something you’ve heard about but never touched. Either way, the idea of psychedelics and medical treatment

Archives for Author: Olivia Gillespie

Olivia Gillespie

Articles by Olivia Gillespie