Recovery First Treatment Center

04/29/2026

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

It's an important day to have a conversation because fentanyl isn’t just hidden in counterfeit pills anymore. It’s taken over the drug supply.

A single dose can be lethal. You often can’t see it, taste it, or know it’s there.

👉 Know the risks. Carry naloxone. Talk to the people you love.

Learn more about fentanyl and how to get help at the link: https://loom.ly/DACA3dY

04/28/2026

🌟 Recovery isn't done in silence. It starts with asking for help. 🌟

This week, we're celebrating Patient Experience Week, and today, we're honored to share a moment from our "My Recovery Story" series featuring Josh, one of our own team members here at American Addiction Centers.

Josh reminds us that success in recovery doesn't mean perfection. It means reaching out. It means taking that one courageous step to ask for help... and knowing that when you do, you will not be judged. You will not be shamed. You will be supported.

Relapse can be part of the journey. What matters most is that the door to help is always open, and that we keep it that way for everyone who walks through it.

💙 If Josh's story resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it today. You never know whose life that one share could change.

Want to hear more of Josh's story? Click the link! https://loom.ly/S0asjjU

04/27/2026

He knew he was going to rehab.
He drank anyway.

“My last drink was before the Uber got here.”

“I’m just tired of living the way I was.”

“People can tell you what’s possible… but when they show you, that’s a whole other level.”

This isn’t a scripted story.

❤️ It’s real people.
❤️ Real turning points.
❤️ Real recovery.

🎬 A powerful new documentary, "What It Takes," from director Jeff Shulman, features an alum from our sister center in Southern California, and brings these moments to life in a way you don’t often see.

Tomorrow, April 28, marks the world premiere in Richmond, VA, marking the first time this story is shared on the big screen.

Know someone in the area who should see this? Share it with them.

🎟️ Find a screening, get tickets, or host a screening here: https://loom.ly/sscUSOY

04/24/2026

Kratom is widely available across South Florida. It’s often sold as a natural supplement, but it acts on opioid receptors in the brain.

👉What we’re seeing:
• Increased use of high-potency products
• Dependence developing over time
• Withdrawal symptoms when people try to stop
• People underestimating the risk

Because it’s legal and easy to access, many assume it’s safe. That’s not always the case. A lot of people don’t realize how quickly use can shift.

Save & share.

04/23/2026

Calling all Recovery First Alumni!

Mark your calendars!
Our next Alumni Dinner is happening in a week.

📆 Thursday, April 30
⏰ 6:45 PM
📍 Outback Steakhouse 1760 Stirling Rd., Dania Beach

We hope you'll join us for a fun, food, and fellowship!

04/23/2026

We don’t talk enough about how hard it is to know what to say�when someone you love is struggling with alcohol.

So we fall back on frustration.�
Ultimatums.�
Words we don’t actually mean.

Breaking the silence isn’t just about talking about alcohol use, it’s about how we show up in those conversations.

👉 Save this. It could help more than you think!

04/20/2026

He has a job.
She pays the bills.
He goes to the gym.
She shows up… most of the time.

So this isn’t a problem… right?

Wrong.

When alcohol use looks “high-functioning,” it often just means the consequences haven’t caught up yet.

Here’s what people ignore:

• Joking about how much they drink
• Every situation revolves around alcohol
• “At least I’m not as bad as…”
• Getting defensive when it’s brought up
• Needing it to relax, sleep, or socialize
• Quitting… and always going back
• Being there physically, but not really present

You don’t have to lose everything to have a problem.

And you don’t have to hit rock bottom to take a closer look.

If this feels a little too familiar, don’t ignore it.

Not sure where you stand? Take a quick, confidential assessment: https://loom.ly/Z7IePtw

04/19/2026

Change doesn’t have to be a big, perfect moment.

Sometimes it’s just deciding to do something different today.

📞 If you want to talk it through, we’re here. 866-407-4832

💬 If it’s easier, send us a message. We’ll meet you there

04/18/2026

If you've been here for some time, you know that Mike Diamond, Recovery Advocate, does a lot of our weekend videos.

Well… this weekend, we’re giving Mike the time off. And for a very good reason:
He’s celebrating 20 years in recovery! 🎉

20 years of showing up.
20 years of doing the work.
20 years of choosing a different path again and again.

We asked Mike what it takes to reach a milestone like this, and he shared 3 things that have helped him navigate life’s ups and downs:
• Stay connected — When he feels angry, resentful, or frustrated, he checks in with another sober person instead of checking out.
• Don’t take things personally — “It’s just information… good, bad,
or indifferent.”
• Stay present — Appreciate what you have right now, because this moment is the only one guaranteed.

Simple, but not always easy. And clearly, it works.

Mike, we’re grateful for you, your honesty, and the way you show up for others.

👏 Help us celebrate Mike. Drop some love in the comments for 20 years in recovery!

04/17/2026

We see every day how complicated -- and how human -- recovery really is.

That’s why we’re proud to promote director Jeffrey D. Shulman's new documentary, "What It Takes" -- a film about addiction, recovery, and the moments that remind people change is still possible.

Told through real stories -- including a former patient from our Orange County, CA sister center -- the film challenges how people understand addiction and what it really takes to find a way forward.

🎬 Premiering the month and coming to select cities this spring!

04/17/2026

We talk a lot about forgiveness in recovery; letting go of resentment, making peace with the past.🫶

But the hardest forgiveness is often the one we give ourselves.

For many people, that inner voice sounds like accountability:
“I should have known better.”
“I hurt people.”
“I don’t deserve to feel okay.”

But that’s not accountability. It’s shame.

And shame doesn’t move people forward, it keeps them stuck.

In this piece, our Clinical Director, Ricardo Santiago, breaks down the difference between shame and real accountability, and what self-forgiveness actually looks like in practice.

👉 Read more: https://loom.ly/IVCaBh0

If this is something you’re struggling with, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We’re here when you’re ready. DM or call us any time. 📲 866-407-4832

Looking for a drug and alcohol rehab center in South Florida? Recovery First Treatment Center offers quality addiction treatment services.

04/16/2026

There’s a lot of noise around cannabis right now.

From menopause relief to brain health claims, many of these messages are spreading faster than the research behind them.

Here’s what current research actually suggests:
�👉 Cannabis is being used for symptom relief, but much of the data is still limited and self-reported�
👉 It’s often seen as a “safer alternative,” yet it still carries real risks for mental health and cognitive function
�👉 Research on brain health is mixed. Some findings suggest potential benefits, while others link regular use to memory and attention challenges

What matters most? Access has increased. Potency has increased. But public understanding hasn’t always kept up.

Cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it isn’t risk-free, especially with frequent use or higher-THC products.

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about having the full picture.

💬 Where do you see the biggest gap between what people believe about cannabis and what you’ve actually experienced?