When people hear the word relapse , they often imagine something sudden and unpredictable — a moment of weakness that appears without warning. In reality, relapse in substance use disorder rarely occurs out of the blue. Clinical research and decades of treatment experience show a different pattern: relapse is usually preceded by identifiable risk factors and warning signs. When those signals are recognized early and addressed directly, relapse can often be prevented. Understa

Recovery from substance use disorder rarely follows a straight line. Even with strong motivation and high-quality treatment, individuals leaving residential or outpatient care often encounter a complex set of biological, psychological, and environmental pressures that can pull them back toward substance use. We have recreated an objective, structured relapse risk assessment to serve an essential component of evidence-based addiction treatment here. It allows clinicians to mo

When we look at the young people in our Solano County communities, we see incredible potential. We also see challenges that deserve our attention and our best thinking. Recent data from the California Healthy Kids Survey tells us that our local youth are using alcohol, cannabis, and vaping products at rates higher than the state average. But behind these numbers are stories of young people navigating a complex world—searching for connection, identity, and belonging in ways th