Understanding the Difference—and What Actually Leads to Lasting Recovery “If I Really Wanted to Stop, I Would… Right?” One of the most damaging beliefs people struggling with substance use carry is this: “I should be able to stop on my own.” Friends, family, and even society often reinforce this ideaContinue Reading
Understanding High-Functioning Alcohol Use, Hidden Dependency, and When It’s Time to Get Help “I’m Fine. I Go to Work. I Pay My Bills.” One of the most dangerous myths about alcohol addiction is that it only affects people whose lives are visibly falling apart. In reality, many people struggling withContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall, Staff Writer & Marketing Director at Passages Malibu Why Holistic Wellness Matters in Recovery Addiction doesn’t just impact the body—it affects the mind, emotions, and spirit. That’s why lasting recovery requires more than just detox or abstinence. It requires holistic healing. At Passages Malibu, we integrate therapiesContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall, Staff Writer & Marketing Director at Passages Malibu Why Alcohol Addiction Must Be Understood Alcohol is one of the most socially accepted substances in the world. It’s woven into celebrations, holidays, and casual gatherings. But for millions of people, what starts as social drinking can evolve intoContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Alcohol withdrawal can be an intimidating process—one often punctuated by a range of uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms. Of these, headaches are among the most common and distressing. If you or a loved one is reducing or stopping alcohol use, you may be wondering: How long canContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall The holiday season is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and communal reflection. However, for many people, it can also be a period of intensified stress, heightened substance use, and emotional triggers. As a result, substance abuse treatment centers often notice a surge in admissions calls whenContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall In today’s fast-paced world, the phenomenon of binge drinking has emerged as a significant concern, posing serious threats to physical, mental, and social well-being. At Passages Malibu and Passages Ventura, we approach the challenge of binge drinking from a holistic and non-12-step perspective, focusing on the individualContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall In country music, the twang of a guitar often accompanies tales of heartbreak, hardship, and the occasional raucous night out. However, behind the scenes and within the lyrics, there is a more somber narrative that has woven itself into the genre: alcohol abuse. This piece will delveContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Binge drinking is a common habit among young people trying to fit in with their peers. However, binge drinking puts you at risk for alcohol poisoning and other severe health conditions. It increases your likelihood of developing long-term problems like addiction, cancer, and other serious conditions. SoContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall If you’re recovering from addiction or living a sober lifestyle, judgment is something you’ve likely spent a lot of time dealing with. While it’s easy to focus on the judgmental people around us who seem intent on holding us back from making healthy choices in our lives,Continue Reading
by Jennifer McDougall Alcohol and drug addiction is a serious problem, and it’s essential to understand the signs of addiction. But is it also necessary to label yourself an addict? You Are Not a Label The first move you need to make in overcoming an addiction is to stop seeingContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall We believe that you can live a happy, healthy life. We believe you can discover your life’s purpose and become more productive and successful when you break free from addiction. We believe you can repair broken relationships and improve your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. WeContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Alcohol is also known as ethanol, a liquid produced by fermentation and an ingredient in beer, wine, and liquor that causes intoxication. Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down activity in the central nervous system, delaying messages sent to and from the body and the brainContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall While many people are stuck at home, finding themselves bored, with more time on their hands than they know what to do with, the number of people abusing drugs and alcohol is rising. According to Nielsen data, alcohol sales have risen 55 percent in the week endingContinue Reading
by Jennifer McDougall When an individual experiences trauma, it is crucial they receive professional therapy, such as what is offered at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. When trauma goes unhealed, a person may carry around the baggage of their pain everywhere they go and into relationships, their career, and in manyContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Many people who are addicted to alcohol experience a great deal of mental, physical, and emotional turmoil as their health fades due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Getting help for alcohol addiction at Passages Malibu is the best choice you can make if you are experiencingContinue Reading
By Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D. Alcoholism is a problem for many couples. Research shows that over 30% of Americans exceed the FDA guidelines for alcohol use (one drink a day for women and two for men). If your loved one drinks to cope with everyday life, the problem has wormed itsContinue Reading
When Chris and Pax Prentiss opened Passages on August 11th, 2001 they had one goal in mind, to open the world’s finest treatment center, and help as many people as they could. Now, fourteen years later and it’s clear they have accomplished their goal, not only has their groundbreaking, holistic approachContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Studies have found reading to be one of the most beneficial activities you can do that can help improve your life and physical well-being. Reading can help improve your memory, focus and concentration, vocabulary, writing skills, and reduce a large amount of stress. It also allows youContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall When someone you know is battling an addiction and desperately needs help changing their current conditions and lifestyle the last thing they need is to be influenced by an enabler. If you are not careful, that enabler could be you. Do you have a loved one whoContinue Reading