By Maia Szalavitz Ms. Szalavitz is a contributing Opinion writer who covers addiction and public policy. After rising exponentially since 1979, overdose rates have finally begun to decline, falling more than 29 percent since 2022. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that stopping these fatalities is a priority. But recent moves by his administration threaten to stall or even reverse this progress. The Trump administration is now enforcing an executive order against what ar

Originally appeared on the Moderation Management website on October 8, 2025 by Madeleine Zimmerman, MSW, LCSW If you’ve ever thought, “I know I need to stop drinking, but I don’t want to,” you’re not alone. As a therapist, I hear this phrase often: “I know I need to stop, but…” It’s usually followed by: “I don’t want to.” “…I can’t imagine my social life without it.” “…I’m afraid of failing.” That little word—but—carries a lot of weight. It’s the sound of ambivalence. And he

September 6, 2025/by Madeleine Zimmerman, originally appeared on the Moderation Management website One of the most powerful tools for managing alcohol cravings is urge surfing. Paired with grounding techniques, urge surfing helps you feel calmer, more in control, and less reactive when cravings strike. Have you ever felt a craving come out of nowhere, that sudden pull toward a drink that feels impossible to resist? You’re not alone. The good news: cravings are a lot like wave

Help! It’s the Holidays!! When you don’t feel like drinking, or want to drink less, here’s some ideas One of my favorite things to do around this time before the holiday season is in full swing is to look around for articles on non-alcoholic beverages, otherwise known as NA drinks. When I stopped drinking alcohol decades ago, the only choice out there was a really awful NA beer, O’Douls. Ugh. I don’t think I even finished my first one, it was so bad. So, I stopped looking fo

People use substances for many reasons. Use may start out as experimentation or peer pressure, but if using continues and becomes...

Don’t assume that experimental drug use will lead to harder drugs. Experimenting with drugs can be part of their developmental...

Running Harm Reduction Therapy Groups By Cynthia Hoffman, LMFT, CST (originally for thefix.com 2016 updated 2024) A Latina, lesbian...