Shallow Breathing

Hipster Dude: “so, like you're a writer?” Me: “ah, yeah.” HD: “so, like what'd you write?” Me: “a memoir.” HD: “so, l

By Patrick O'Neil (RADT, MFA), Group Facilitator, Cast Centers Maybe it’s the prospect of starting fresh with a new year, or the leftover collateral damage from all those eggnogs, champagne and bong hits during the holidays—but come New Year’s Eve more people make resolutions to get sober than a

By Patrick O'Neil (RADT, MFA), Group Facilitator, Cast Centers You’re worried about that certain someone. There’s something different about them, their behavior is off, but you’re not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because they’re distant, or moody, or they look unhealthy, or they’re absent from y

Welcome to the year of the Mad Dog two thousand twenty—well maybe not, but when I see 2020 I can’t help but think back to when I was strung-o

By Patrick O'Neil (RADT, MFA), Group Facilitator, Cast Centers It is estimated that 24 million Americans suffer from drug addiction and alcohol addiction , another 47 million have mental health issues, and 9.2 million have co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness. Unfortunately

TSA Agent: “happy holidays.” Me: “um… do I know you?” TSA Agent: “well no, no you do not.” Me: “then why you wishing

By Patrick O'Neil (RADT, MFA), Group Facilitator, Cast Centers It’s November and the holidays are right around the corner. For the newly sober ( and even the old timers with years of sobriety ) the alcohol infused trinity of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s can be challenging. Everywhere y

America is experiencing one of its worst drug epidemics in history, and opiates are at the forefront. There are literally millions of A

“I thought about Lolita in reverse,” announces Liska Jacobs, adding, “why shouldn’t a 43-year-old woman desire a 17-year-old young man?” Her pronouncement sounds provocative, yet Ms. Jacobs’ almost…

Patrick O’Neil is the author of Gun, Needle, Spoon and is a contributing editor to Sensitive Skin Magazine. H

By Mike Rizzo (RADT, MFA), Cinical Program Director, CAST Centers America is experiencing one of its worst drug epidemics in history, and opiates are at the forefront. There are literally millions of Americans addicted to opiates, and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health about

By Patrick O'Neil, Group Facilitator, CAST Centers Are you depressed? Do you suffer from anxiety? Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, while another 25 million suffer from depression. And while anxiety and depression are not mutua

Are You Smoking Too Much Weed? Marijuana is the most widely abused mind-altering substance in the United States and Europe. The general attitude and widely held belief is that weed is not addictive or life threatening as the other notoriously destructive drugs such as heroin, methamphe