Design for Change Recovery Services

12/20/2025

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many people notice changes in their mood, energy levels, and mental health. For some, winter brings mild fatigue or low motivation. For others, it triggers something far more serious: depression, isolation, and an increased reliance on alcohol or drugs to cope.

Winter depression and substance use often go hand in hand. At Design for Change Recovery in Lancaster, California, we see a significant increase in relapse risk, emotional distress, and substance use challenges during the winter months. Understanding why this happens — and knowing when to seek help — can be life-changing.

This article explores the link between winter depression and substance use, warning signs to watch for, and healthy, evidence-based ways to protect your mental health and recovery during the colder months.

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many people notice changes in their mood, energy levels, and mental health. For some, winter brings mild fatigue or low motivation. For others, it triggers something far more serious: depression, isolation, and an increased reliance on alcohol or drugs...

12/15/2025

FREE 3-Day Family Workshop – Palmdale, CA

Loving someone with addiction can feel overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

Design for Change is offering a FREE 3-Day Family Workshop designed to help families better understand addiction, heal together, and learn practical tools for long-term support and recovery.

🧠 Learn about:
• Addiction as a brain disease
• Enabling & codependency
• Post-traumatic growth

🎭 Participate in experiential psychodramatic exercises, including guided check-ins, trauma processing, and role-playing techniques that foster insight and connection.

Led by Jim Tracy, LMFT, LAADC, and Joseph Hunter, MA, LAADC-CA, this workshop is facilitated by professionals with over 30 years of experience helping families impacted by substance use disorders.

📅 Next Workshop Dates:
February 7 (Saturday) – February 9 (Monday), 2026

📍 Location: Palmdale, CA
📞 RSVP: Scan the QR code or call 877-937-9706

💙 Learn how to help your loved one — while also caring for yourself.

12/12/2025

At Design for Change in Lancaster, you’ll be supported by our compassionate, dedicated team of certified counselors. Our staff members not only bring their expertise and certifications to the table but also their personal experience with addiction and recovery. They understand the struggles you’re facing because they’ve lived them. Each counselor is committed to guiding you toward a future free from addiction with relatable, empathetic support every step of the way.

12/11/2025

🎄 It’s that time of year again!
We’re excited to welcome our alumni, friends, and families to the Design for Change Alumni Christmas Party!
Join us for raffles, games, an ugly sweater contest, a gift exchange, and plenty of holiday cheer. ❤️

📅 12pm on Sunday, 12/21
📍 39860 27th St W, Palmdale, CA 93551

Please RSVP by 12/16 at 661-942-1026.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

12/08/2025

The holiday season is often described as joyful, heartwarming, and magical — a time for family gatherings, celebration, and reflection. But for people in recovery, or anyone struggling with alcohol or drug use, Christmas and New Year’s can also be some of the most stressful and triggering days of the year.

Alcohol is everywhere, routines are disrupted, emotions run high, and the pressure to “join in” can feel overwhelming. If you’re working hard to stay sober, you might be worried about how you’ll navigate all of this without slipping back into old patterns.

At Design for Change Recovery in Lancaster, California, we understand how complicated the holidays can feel in recovery. The good news is: with planning, support, and the right tools, it is absolutely possible to get through Christmas and New Year’s without picking up a drink or a drug — and even find new meaning and joy in the season.

The holiday season is often described as joyful, heartwarming, and magical — a time for family gatherings, celebration, and reflection. But for people in recovery, or anyone struggling with alcohol or drug use, Christmas and New Year’s can also be some of the most stressful and triggering days o...

12/07/2025

As a McDonald’s All-American basketball player, Chris Herren remembers blowing off assemblies in high school about drug and alcohol abuse, thinking that negative impact would never happen to him.

But years down the line, Herren’s professional basketball career — which included stints with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics — would be derailed by substance abuse and addiction.

“I think this is about our self-esteem and our self-worth,” Herren told a group of students from Burrell, Kiski Area, Greensburg Salem and Norwin high schools at Burrell on Wednesday. “I think this is about the kid we feel like we have to pretend to be, to be friends with kids, not because we really want to be. I think it’s about the risks we take, the sacrifices we make.

As a McDonald’s All-American basketball player, Chris Herren remembers blowing off assemblies in high school about drug and alcohol abuse, thinking that negative impact would never happen to him. But years down the line, Herren’s professional basketball career — which included stin...

12/04/2025

We can help you get started on your journey towards addiction recovery.

Please call (661) 942-1026 or visit https://designforchangerecovery.com/ for more information.

12/03/2025

Starting Your Journey to Recovery at Design for Change Recovery 🌟

Taking the first step toward addiction recovery is a brave decision, and we’re here to make sure you feel supported every step of the way. At Design for Change in Lancaster, CA, we offer evidence-based, holistic treatment programs that help you build a healthier, more fulfilling life.

What can you expect in the first 24 hours with us?
✅ Confidential Assessment – Our team will assess your needs and set personalized recovery goals.
✅ Meet Our Compassionate Staff – You’ll be introduced to our caring team, here to support you through every challenge.
✅ Learn About Your Program – Together, we’ll design a customized treatment plan that fits you.
✅ Tour Our Facility – From private rooms to community spaces, our welcoming environment helps you feel at home.
✅ 24/7 Support During Detox – If needed, our medical team ensures your safety and comfort through detox.

Recovery is a journey, and at Design for Change, we provide the tools, therapies, and encouragement to help you succeed. Let’s work together to rediscover your true potential. 💙

📞 Contact us today to learn more or refer someone who could benefit from our services. Let’s create a design for change that works for you!

12/02/2025

Client Spotlight "My name is Colin and I’m an alcoholic and needed to find recovery for a better state of lifestyle and health. Design for Change provided a structured environment and reliable access needed for recovery. The routine, resources, and accountability offered a stable foundation for developing healthier habits and clearer direction. Overall, my experience was consistent with what the program aims to provide. I was able to focus on my goals, maintain sobriety, and utilize the structure as a stepping stone for my continued personal growth. As of November 18, 2025 I have maintained my recovery and am over a year sober from alcohol. Design for Change saved my life. - Colin D"

12/01/2025

The landscape of substance use in the United States is evolving at a pace unlike anything we’ve seen before. New synthetic drugs, dangerous chemical analogs, hybrid substances, and unpredictable combinations are entering the drug supply faster than most people — and even many professionals — can track. These “emerging drug trends” pose a serious risk not only to individuals who use substances, but also to families, communities, and health systems across the country.

At Design for Change Recovery in Lancaster, California, we work closely with clients who face the impact of these ever-changing substances. This article breaks down the most important drug trends in 2025, why they matter, and how people can protect themselves or seek help when needed.

The landscape of substance use in the United States is evolving at a pace unlike anything we’ve seen before. New synthetic drugs, dangerous chemical analogs, hybrid substances, and unpredictable combinations are entering the drug supply faster than most people — and even many professionals — c...

11/30/2025

Kayla first tried fentanyl as a troubled 18-year-old, growing up in the US state of North Carolina.

"I felt like literally amazing. The voices in my head just completely went silent. I got instantly addicted," she remembers.

The little blue pills Kayla became hooked on were probably made in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border to the US - a deadly trade President Donald Trump is trying to crack down on.

But drug cartels aren't pharmacists. So, Kayla never knew how much fentanyl was in the pill she was taking. Would there be enough of the synthetic opioid to kill her?

"It's scary to think about that," Kayla says, reflecting on how she could have overdosed and died at any moment.

In 2023, there were over 110,000 drug-related deaths in the US. The march of fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than he**in, seemed unstoppable.

Fatal overdoses in the US are falling - and Kayla's state of North Carolina is at the forefront of that trend.

11/29/2025

Client Testimonial - "When I arrived at DFC 2 months ago I never thought in a million years my life would change this much. I thought I was coming here to get off my DOC but this experience has been so much more. I feel like I'm becoming a whole person again and that my way of thinking is changing for the better. Shoutout to Nick, Adam, and Heather for making what could've been a greuling process fun and enjoyable. If you really want to change this is the place to be. I've never felt this supported and cared for in my life. Thanks DFC I owe you my life ❤ - Meena F"