Coastwise Health Blog
June 11, 2025
Summer brings a welcome break from routine, but for those in recovery from drug addiction or substance abuse, it can also bring unexpected pressure. School’s out, social calendars fill up, and BBQ parties often come with alcohol and other triggers. Whether you’re newly out of treatment or years into your sobriety journey, protecting your progress during summer gatherings is crucial.
If you’re attending a cookout, pool party, or 4th of July celebration, don’t go alone. Bring a sober friend, sponsor, or accountability partner. If that’s not an option, text or call someone who supports your recovery before and after the event.
Why It Works:
Just knowing you have someone in your corner makes it easier to walk away from a situation that doesn’t feel safe.
If you’re feeling uneasy about being around alcohol or people who use, it’s okay to say no. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Choose what’s right for your long-term health, not just a single event.
Reminder:
"Don’t go where you don’t grow." If the environment threatens your progress, protect your peace and skip it.
Summer schedules can get hectic, but your recovery should always stay front and center. Attend regular AA or NA meetings, schedule check-ins with your therapist or group, and don’t let your support system slide.
Pro Tip:
Explore new meeting locations while you travel. Many cities offer outdoor or beachside meetings that fit the season.
You might hear:
Practice firm, simple responses:
Bonus Strategy:
Keep a non-alcoholic drink in hand, people are less likely to offer you something else.
You don’t have to avoid summer fun, just reshape it. Host a sober-friendly get-together or invite others to join you for outdoor activities like hiking, beach walks, or community events that don’t revolve around alcohol.
At Coastwise Health, we offer individual outpatient therapy for substance use and addiction recovery, tailored to your lifestyle. Our San Pedro-based team helps individuals, especially port workers, union members, and families, build sustainable recovery plans through personalized, one-on-one care and flexible scheduling. With consistent outpatient therapy, we provide the support to help you stay sober all summer long.
Whether facing your first sober summer or your fifth, you never have to go it alone.
Located in San Pedro, Coastwise Health supports long-term recovery with ILWU-covered outpatient therapy, substance use counseling, and mental health support for industrial and maritime workers. Call us today to get started or schedule a confidential consultation.
Plan ahead by bringing a sober support person, keeping a non-alcoholic drink in hand, and having an exit strategy. If you're in recovery from drug addiction or substance abuse, staying connected to your treatment team and attending regular meetings is essential during high-risk seasons like summer.
Yes. Individual outpatient therapy offers flexible scheduling that works around summer activities and travel. One-on-one therapy lets you keep up consistent support for substance use while still enjoying your summer.
Remove yourself from the situation if possible. Call your sponsor, therapist, or a trusted friend. Remember that protecting your sobriety is more important than any single event. If you're struggling with drug addiction triggers, contact Coastwise Health for immediate support and guidance.
Coastwise Health provides year-round substance use therapy in San Pedro. Our individual outpatient therapy adapts to your schedule, making it a good fit for maintaining recovery during the busier summer months.
Substance use at Coastwise is individual therapy, not a program. You work one to one with a clinician who specialises in addiction, for as long as it is useful, and we treat the depression, anxiety or trauma that so often travels with it at the same time.
Addiction, long-term recovery and relapse prevention, grounded in ACT. Over two decades of his own sobriety.
Addiction and recovery alongside the trauma and patterns underneath it. Works from his own long-term recovery.
Tell us what is going on and we will say honestly which clinician fits, or meet the full team.
We know it takes courage. That's why the first conversation is free, confidential, and completely without pressure. Just call and tell us what's going on.
Call (424) 536-3002 Get Started Online