Life After Rehab

June 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
lonely boy 01 

Image by zoomyboy.com via Flickr

The rehabilitation of an addict can be a long a painful process. One of the hardest areas, for a recovered addict to deal with, is facing the world after rehab.

How does one ever become “normal”?

No matter how much an addict has had family love and support through treatment and on the painful road to recovery, there is no way that they will ever understand what addiction is and what you have been through, unless they have experienced it themselves.

So, where do you go to find support and understanding with companions that will not drag you down to the bottom again? The recovered addict knows that loneliness can be a mighty force to help drive them back into a world where addiction will again consume them.

The best thing is to find a local support group that can always be accessed.

One of the most successful support groups in the world is Narcotics Anonymous (NA). With 60,000 meetings going on at any one time, NA has attracted former drug users that are all ages and from all stations of life. Everyone in NA understands the problem and has “been there, done that”.

Narcotics Anonymous is a 12 Step Program, designed to for all creeds and cultures, that has a high success rate in helping addicts. They keep no records and have no expectations for their members and yet, year after year, they succeed in helping addicts attain a normal and happy life.

Perhaps NA is not for you; if so, make sure to seek out local support groups that can assist you in a full recovery.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Filed Under: Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Reading the Signs of Teen Addiction

June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
drugs 

Image by L*Ali via Flickr

Let’s face facts.

Almost everyone, by the time they have become young adults, has been exposed to some serious drugs and alcohol.

True, some teens cruise through the drug scene without succumbing to peer pressure, but most teen-agers have at least had experience with recreational drugs and some partying. There are teens who can move on without developing any serious habits, but many teens become drawn into the drug scene, and are hooked before they even realize it.

As a parent, keeping an eye out for problems with substance abuse has to be a high priority. The average kid does not set out to become an addict but statistics show that many start down that path because of a few friends and what is thought of as innocent fun. The problem is that what was at first fun can become a life of fear and misery.

No one wants a beloved family member to suffer the pain of addiction, so what are some things a parent should lbe aware of that might be signaling drug addiction?

Things to look for are:

· Abrupt attitude change; has your child’s attitude become sullen or angry?

· Failing in school.

· Losing old friends; questionable new friends.

· Emotional swings that do not seem to be hormonal.

· Lying; depression.

If you believe that your child is into drugs, act immediately; get your child into a drug rehab program that will work for him/her and see it through to the end. And always act in love and without judgment.

Remember:

Being a teenager is tough enough; being a teen addict can be unbearable, especially once the addiction has set in and can no longer be denied. Your job is to help and to love.

Filed Under: Substance Abuse Tagged With: , ,

Loving an Addict into Treatment

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
18 FDG/PET images showing brain function in a ... 

Image via Wikipedia

Suffering from an addiction can be a very painful experience; life can seem hopeless. The sufferer can feel worthless and ashamed. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to convince an addict that there are solutions to their addiction and that life can become better.

As the path to addiction didn’t happen in a day, the cure isn’t going to be a quick fix, either. Many addicts can become overwhelmed with the idea of a long process that will seemingly have no end.

If you have a loved one that is suffering from addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs, it is in their best interest for you to do all you can to help them get into treatment.

Sometimes one might have a tendency to think that an addict can’t be helped until they’ve reached rock bottom, but this is not necessarily true. As a friend or relative of an addict you have a responsibility to help them understand that there is help out there, as well as hope.

Realize that although most addicts start on the path of addiction voluntarily, once there is sufficient substance abuse, the addict is no longer in a place of reason.  Prolonged drug abuse alters the brain and makes it impossible for a user to overcome a serious addiction by themselves.

Your job is to help them seek help as quickly as possible. Your job is also to do this without exhibiting any judgment or disgust. One of the factors that can lead an addict to seeking help, is to for them feel the unconditional love of family and friends.

It can save their life.

 

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Non-Traditional Drug Rehab Using Art

May 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Theresien-Haus ( 

Image via Wikipedia

Researchers are always looking for new ways to help addicts overcome their addictions in rehabilitation facilities, and a new one, called RADE, or Rehabilitation through Art, Drama, and Education, is seeing if using the arts will help addicts find the strength to succeed.

This facility has been open for six years and during that time, many lives have been transformed — including those whose families had given up on.

Part of the therapy is about changing the label that has been placed on you by society. If you’re only ever seen as a drug addict, as if you can never be anything else, then that’s all you’ll ever be. By changing the label you place on yourself, you’re able to change how those around you view you.

Those in the facility spend their time in activities that include creative writing, art, drama, and film making in addition to working with therapists in traditional counseling sessions.

One great example is Jenna, who before starting the RADE program had been addicted to heroin. Through the program, she learned that she loves acting and is even in a course at the Gaiety School of Acting in addition to the acting she does at RADE. She’s learning that through art, she’s able to express emotions that she used to bottle up inside. It’s crucial to her recovery, she believes.

It’s not surprising that they’re finding success through the arts. Arts have long been used for therapy and it’s been found that the arts help children gain creativity and help kids in rough neighborhoods find a reason to avoid gangs and do well in school.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Recovering, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Are Video Games Addicting?

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Video Games Live logo 

Image via Wikipedia

Although addiction to video games is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, at least not at the moment, many believe that playing video games is addicting. Why? Mostly because of the escape that video games give those who play them. While playing, you no longer have to think about the real world or what is causing you stress.

The problem is that this high that players feel, which causes dopamine to be released, can become addicting — especially if the life outside the game is not very good. Sometimes, kids are playing video games just because they’re bored, but it’s easy to turn a quick game into an all-nighter and the results can be detrimental. For kids and teens it can lead to lack of sleep which affects school performance. For adults, it can affect how they’re able to perform at school and could possibly lead to being fired.

What Parents Can Do

The best thing to do is prevent the addiction in the first place. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these games; it’s when they’re played all too often that there’s a problem. So the first thing that parents can do is limit how much the games are played. They should only be played after your kids’ homework is done and all chores are completed. Depending on age, the time limit should be between 30 and 90 minutes a day.

Games can be a great way to relax and practice problem solving skills, but be sure that you and your children are limiting how much you play so that there isn’t a chance that it could become an addiction.

Filed Under: Addiction, General Tagged With: , ,

Substance Abuse: The Reason for Medical Malpractice

May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You’d think that years and years of studying in medical school would prepare the potential doctors of the next generation well enough to handle just about any case you can imagine in a doctor’s office or emergency room, right? Right. So then why would there be so many cases of medical malpractice?

Why would a California medical malpractice lawyer have to go after this or that doctor for an injury wrongfully caused upon a patient due to some error in the ER? The answer’s simple: it’s not a lack of education, or a lack of experience, rather instead a horrible addiction to an illegal substance or illegal substances!

Substance abuse: a horrifying problem for anyone, even the medical practitioner. Statistically, this field of work has that unfortunate mindset — the fact that drugs are so accessible. Moreover, think about how intensive the job is for a doctor or nurse. It’s a 24/7 profession. They deal with death; they deal with tears. They deal with everything that centers around stress.

Makes all those drugs look appealing, doesn’t it? Hopefully not.

The fact is if you’re a medical professional dealing with an addiction, the imperative to seek help is all the more important. Why? Because you’re not just hurting yourself. You’re not just hurting your own family either, although that’s harm enough. More importantly, involving your career — you’re hurting your whole establishment and all the patients involved. So do the right thing — get help, kick the habit. Drugs are not to be messed with.

 

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Substance Abuse Tagged With: , ,

Staying Clean after Rehab

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

So you’ve put in the hard work at rehab and feel you’re ready to go home, but what can you do to stay clean now that you won’t have assistance every hour of the day? Here are some tips:

Get Steady Support

The number one thing that you can do to help you stay clean is get steady support. Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and want you to succeed and most importantly, do not hang out with those who are still using. They may say they want to support you, but when you see them using your addiction of choice, it will be hard not to fall back into old habits.

Make sure you find a sponsor. Call him or her each and every day when you first get home and tell him or her how you’re doing. In addition to that, go to meetings every day when you first return. You’re going to need as much support as you can and by having your sponsor and the others at the meetings to help you, you’ll be able to stay strong. And if you need it, go to more than one meeting a day.

Take the Advice Given

Before you leave your rehab facility, you’ll receive some advice on what you should do when you get home from your doctors and other care takers there. You may think that you don’t need it and you’ll do fine without it, but to be sure, they know what they’re talking about after having hundreds of patients, so listen to their advice and try to follow it as closely as possible.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Questions to Ask Yourself Regarding if You Have a Drug or Alcohol Problem

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many drug and alcohol users are in denial about their addiction. They often believe that because they have rationalized why they use drugs and alcohol has become normal and there is no problem. Because the drug and alcohol use or has rationalized why they use drugs and alcohol they often do not believe that they have a problem. If you use drugs and alcohol and are concerned that you might have a problem here is some questions that you might be able ask yourself which will help you decide if you have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

Are you forced to lie or hide your drug or alcohol use? If you feel that you are forced to hide your drug or alcohol use it could be a sign that there is a problem. If the behaviors considered normal there is no reason to hide your drug or alcohol use from others.

Are you getting into legal trouble or have you done anything illegally to get your drugs or alcohol? Your drug and alcohol use can be viewed as a problem we start to do things illegally in order to gain the drugs and alcohol that you need to use. If you notice that you’re getting into legal trouble or trouble with your family this could be a sign that the drug and alcohol use has turned into a problem.

Are you spending money that you don’t have or can’t afford to spend on drugs and alcohol? If you notice that you are using money that is normally reserved for bills and other expenses on drugs and alcohol it could be a sign that it has turned into a problem.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With: ,

A Look at Health Insurance Providers Covering Treatment Centers

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many substance abusers are unable to seek treatment due to the high cost of drug and alcohol treatment. It is estimated that drug and alcohol treatment centers can cost anywhere from $5000 all the way up to $23,000 a month. Most people do not have this type of money and cannot afford to pay for their treatment. This is why many substance abusers will try to see if their health insurance will cover the substance abuse treatment center.

Many health insurance providers offer very limited coverage for drug and alcohol treatment centers. There are strict rules and guidelines that outline how the health insurance provider will cover the drug and alcohol treatment centers. Here’s a look at some of the examples of how health insurance providers have covered drug and alcohol treatment centers.

Medical Costs Only. Some health insurance providers will only cover any related medical costs that might be incurred during the day at the drug and alcohol treatment center. This means that all drugs and possibly alternative medicine therapies are cover. The detox process is also covered as it is considered a medical necessity. However, the actual stay at the treatment center as well as the therapy sessions is not covered.

Limited Time Treatment. Some health insurance providers will offer full coverage or percentage off of specific drug and alcohol treatment centers. However, this day must be at a health insurance providers recommended drug and alcohol treatment center, for a specified amount of time, doctor ordered and not within a certain time frame. Generally health-insurance providers will cover a 30 day stay at a drug and alcohol treatment center one every 3 to 5 years.

Every health-insurance provider has their own rules and regulations regarding what type of drug and alcohol treatment centers they will provide for. Some health insurance providers will not cover drug and alcohol treatment centers at all, will others offer limited time coverage for those that are suffering from substance abuse problem. Check with your health insurance provider to see what coverage they may offer.

Filed Under: Recovering, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Most Common Signs of Substance Abuse Problems

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Substance abuse just like any other disease or illness has a number of signs and symptoms that people can use to notice if they or a loved one might be suffering from an addiction. As with any type of illness or disease symptoms of substance abuse can vary from person to person, so what one person has another person might not exhibit. Here’s a look at some of the signs and symptoms that there could be substance abuse going on.

Neglecting Responsibilities. One of the biggest signs and symptoms of a substance abuse problem is if the person is neglecting the regular responsibilities that they would normally not be neglecting. This could be neglecting their workload, school work, household chores and even their parenting responsibilities. These people are neglecting their responsibilities in favor of using drugs or alcohol.

Dangerous Conditions. Drug and alcohol users will normally start to use their substance under dangerous conditions and have no regard for the conditions of their in. Many users will start putting themselves in dangerous positions such as using dirty needles, taking drugs they have no idea of, drinking alcohol and driving and even having dangerous sexual encounters. These dangerous conditions are usually a result of the substance abuser not being able to properly assess the situation due to being under the influence of the drug or alcohol.

Legal Trouble. Getting into legal trouble is a very common sign that there could be substance abuse going on. Constant legal trouble ranging from driving under the influence, stealing, disorderly conduct and other types of legal issues can often be assigned that there is a serious problem with substance abuse.

Problems with Relationships. Another common sign that there could be a problem with substance abuse is a developing problem with relationships. These people will normally have had good relationships with these people but due to the drugs or alcohol the relationships are strained. This could range from having a strained relationship with their friends or family, coworkers and boss, and even neighbors.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Substance Abuse Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts