Runway 04 at Newark Airport, I took a moment to appreciate my view of the New York skyline. I remember taking in the beauty of southern Manhattan, anchored with the Twin Towers.
Continue readingThe Origin of Adam Banks Recovery
How Does Drinking Affect Your Life?
At this point, I’m comfortable with defining myself as a former alcoholic because I know that that is just one part of who I am. I have introduced myself as such on numerous occasions; it is a commonality that I share with the other members of my support group. But I also identify with many other titles, such as father, son, pilot, recovery professional, and business partner.
Continue readingEnchanted: Drawn to a Substance
I earned my first pilot’s license at 16 and I was hired to fly for an airline the week that I graduated college. From that moment on, my career path was carefully laid out before me and all I needed to do was follow it to the end. But then I didn’t. I abandoned the path.
Continue readingReaching Out: The First Call for Help
The first call sets the ball in motion for a suffering person to move towards the path of recovery. From the outside looking in, a phone call may seem small, but that person may have been thinking about dialing my number for weeks, years even.
Continue readingWorth it: taking 30 days off of work to go to a treatment center
A thirty-day treatment program may seem expensive. It may seem like too large a time commitment. But if you actually evaluate what you can gain, the investment of time and money will seem well worth it.
Continue readingTell It Like It Really Is
I encourage family members to support and celebrate any level of recovery, but also to verbalize how this level of recovery affects them. Family members might not be ready to fully repair relationships at this level. The person suffering needs to hear the truth.
Continue readingWhat Does an Intervention Look Like?
An intervention is not a one-off event; it is a recovery process. I commit to working with families for 90 days to ensure that the person suffering begins treatment successfully and has a plan that will ensure long term recovery. Committing the first time can lock in lasting recovery, making the intervention a process that only has to be done once.
Continue readingHow I loved and Lost an Alcoholic
I think conducting a formal intervention is a very important part of dealing with a loved one’s addiction. We don’t know if they are going to recover, but by doing an intervention and by sticking with the intervention process for several months, families can be assured that they tried everything they could to help.
Continue readingHow Long Does It Take to Change a Habit?
To really change a behavior, you need to make a commitment and take action every single day. No one gets sober in a day, but you can commit to making a beginning any day you want.
Continue readingMy Story on Addiction
In recovery I have been able to do some amazing things. I adopted two children from Colombia, graduated from a top business school, and I started and sold a successful company. Getting sober has been, without a doubt, that one best accomplishments of my life.
Continue readingCase Study: Ivy League Cocktail (May)
May began her career at a hard-charging tech start up – it was a difficult job to get, but at a quality company that matched the quality of her college. Her hours were long and stressful and the job was very demanding. May continued to use Adderall at her job, which was common among the other young people at her company – they ever traded pills just like May had back in high school and college.
Continue readingCase Study: The Finance Guy (Francis)
When we first spoke with Francis, he couldn’t see his addiction – partly, I thought, because of the way his wealth insulated him. He thought he was getting away with his drug use, that though there were problems his money could usually get him out of any situation.
Continue readingWith Addiction, Short Term Success Doesn’t Guarantee Long Term Recovery
Recovery takes time. A successful plan often involves attending treatment, months of therapy, and a lifetime commitment to change.
Continue readingThe Deep Valley Between Use and Recovery
Addiction drives people into their basements; they may spend a lot of time down there. When they do come upstairs and look around, they observe what has changed: while their yard is still a mess, their neighbors have cleaned up and moved on with their lives.
Continue readingPreparing for Facility Placement
Guided discussions for considering treatment center placement.
Continue readingHow A Dog Named True Became My Higher Power
Considering a higher power prevents many people from joining 12 Step programs, I got over this hurdle by making my dog my higher power.
Continue readingChoosing A Treatment Center: 10 Questions to Ask
It’s so crucial for the recovery process for the individual to find the right treatment center. There can be a vast difference in quality—and price: thirty days of treatment can range from $7,500 to $120,000—and finding the right facility takes research. When you’re doing research on a facility, be sure to ask these questions.
Continue readingWhat to Expect When Your Family Member Checks Into Treatment
The road to get someone into treatment is always difficult. Usually, the family has put an enormous amount of energy into just getting their loved one to the front door of the facility. But what comes after someone checks in?
Continue readingThree Days Before Treatment
In the days following the intervention, the family should expect that the individual will drink or use even more than they were before—sort of a “last hurrah.” This can be very difficult to watch.
Continue readingConsidering Treatment: Common Last Minute Questions
A few common roadblocks come up with almost everyone heading to or considering treatment – always asked after the decision has been made to go to treatment and always used as road blocks to not go to treatment.
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