Loving an Addict into Treatment

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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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.

 

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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.

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Health Issues Arise as Baby Boomers Continue to Use Drugs

October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Pot smoking hippies from the 1960’s have grown into middle-aged Americans across our country, and unfortunately older people between 50 and 59 are continuing to use drugs in the 2000’s.

A survey conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services determined that 8 percent of people between the ages of 50 and 59 used an illicit drug of some sort. The survey said most of them used marijuana, but many use prescription drugs, pain medications, ant-anxiety pills, and sleeping pills. Between 2002 and 2008, the percentage of potheads and pill users in their 50’s grew by over 50 percent.

Rightfully so, researchers are very worried that lifetime drug use by baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) is on the rise, and will complicate the lives and health of many aging Americans. Peter Delaney, Director of the Office of Applied Studies, mentioned that there are so many people in the 50 to 59 age bracket needing substance abuse help that the number of treatment facilities needs to double in the near future.

Delaney said the problem with older users is that drugs cause greater impairment, as people get older. As physiology slows down with age, it takes a lot longer to process drugs through the body. In other words, drugs like marijuana stay in the body’s system for longer periods of time. Also, a mix of marijuana and prescribed pills that lower blood pressure can produce lethal side effects. Unknowing drug users in their 50’s can easily land themselves and extended stay in the hospital for mixing marijuana and pain pills.

The substance abuse administration also queried over 20,000 adults over 50 and found that 5.2 percent of adults in the 50 to 59 age group used marijuana between 2006 and 2008. In addition, 2.9 percent of them took prescription drugs illegally. Lastly, 7.9 percent of these adults said they had taken some type of illicit drug as well.

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The Negative Effects of Methamphetamine

October 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Methamphetamine is a man-made chemical with properties that are very similar to adrenaline. Methamphetamine (commonly referred to as meth) affects the nervous system with a highly addictive stimulant. The common street names for meth are crank, crystal, speed, ice, and glass. For over three decades, meth has been the mostly widely produced controlled substance in the U.S. Unfortunately, many young people in the U.S. are meth users, and the numbers continue to rise. Meth can be manufactured secretly in meth labs throughout the country. Many of these so-called meth labs are found in people’s homes. The fact that it can be made so easily means that it is also easily sold and distributed. Aside from heroin and cocaine, meth is the most dangerous and lethal drug available in our society.

Meth is a powerful stimulant, and it can keep awake for hours at a time. It also decreases the user’s appetite, and increases his/her activity. The effects of meth are much the same as methadrine (or speed), a popular drug of the 1960’s. Younger adults took speed so that they could stay up all night studying for exams in college. Users say that meth gives you a brief, intense sensation when snorted or injected.

When a user does meth, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released to the pleasure areas of the brain, and he/she experiences an immediate adrenaline rush or feeling of euphoria, as users typically describe it. People who take the drug also say they feel a sense of well being. Just like any other drug, the user needs to take larger doses of it in order to obtain the same high as before. Increased doses and prolonged use of meth produces feelings of irritability, depression, anger, and paranoia. Users also experience delusional thinking and visual impairment. Some even have visual or auditory hallucinations.

Most meth users go without food or sleep for days, injecting meth into their systems every two or three hours in order to stay high. This type of binging occurs until the user runs out of meth, overdoes, or becomes too delirious to continue taking the drug.

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Warning Signs For Teenage Substance Abuse

October 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Being a teenager in today’s society is a lot more stressful than days past. Expectations are very high for adolescents. They’re expected to have excellent grades and keep up with the other kids in sports, school clubs, and other social events. Sometimes the stress becomes unbearable, and teenagers turn to drugs to help deal with it. If you’re concerned that your teen might be using drugs, there are several warning signs to look for in your adolescent’s behavior that could be indicators.

The following are some of the warning signs or indications of substance abuse:

Evidence of drugs or paraphernalia. Teens often feel you’re invading their privacy when you search through their personal belongings, but it never hurts to look for blatant physical signs of drugs or paraphernalia around the house. For example, marijuana smoke has a very strong and distinct odor. It doesn’t smell anything like cigarette smoke at all. If your teen comes home wreaking of marijuana smoke, don’t be afraid to confront him/her with some questions about what they’ve been doing that evening.

Behavioral problems. If your teen suddenly seems disinterested in school and other activities like sports and social events, ask them about it. A major deterrent from drug use of any kind is simple, honest communication with your teen. We’re not recommending that you become nosey or intrusive, but it’s always a good idea to take a genuine interest in your teen’s welfare. Let him/her know that you care about their well-being. A simple question like, “How is school going,” is always a good opening to a good conversation with your son or daughter.

Emotional distance, depression, or fatigue. Young teenagers should be full of vitality and energy. They really shouldn’t act listless or apathetic in any way. After all, they’re young, and have a whole life ahead of them. If your teenage suddenly seems disinterested or depressed, ask them about it. Again, you don’t want to appear nosey, but a little bit of care and interest will go a long way. Sometimes teens just need a little push to get them going in the right direction.

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Teenage Substance Abuse

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Teenagers in today’s society are faced with challenges, stress, and confusion. As a result, many teens fall prey to substance abuse in hopes to deal with everyday problems and challenges, only to discover bigger problems by turning to drugs as solution. As a teen, it’s difficult to predict problems that can occur down the road. Younger people are more impetuous, and seek and immediate solution to problems. A small circle of friends at school may use drugs, and those kids say that there’s no harm involved. A vulnerable teenager sees his friends, taking drugs and decides to give it a try. After all, what is there to lose? Well, in the long run, there’s plenty to lose, but no one realizes the true facts of drug abuse until it’s much too late.

Today’s adolescents don’t perceive the problems associated with drug use. To them, it’s a harmless way to alleviate stress and escape from reality. At first, taking drugs is just another way to relax and have fun. They don’t realize the risks and consequences involved. Even though adolescent drug abuse doesn’t necessarily lead to problems later on, drug use at any stage in life has negative consequences. Although drug use at any early age doesn’t necessarily lead to addiction later on, it’s like a game of Russian roulette, no different than holding a gun to your head and pulling the trigger, hoping that the chamber is empty.

For most teens, drug use has consequences, including poor academic performance, deteriorating relationships with loved ones, and a general lack of interest in everything life has to offer. Substance abuse changes behavior in teens. A newly discovered obsession with drugs overshadows all other activities. A teen who was previously involved in sports and other productive activities suddenly becomes apathetic. The captain of the swim team stops showing up to practice due to his/her preoccupation with drugs. Everything valuable and important takes a second seat to drug users. Unfortunately, drugs will eventually take precedence over a teenager’s life.

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Preventing Drug Abuse in the U.S.

October 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Drug abuse in the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions. It’s difficult to determine why, but people abuse substances like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, an more. The drug problem in the U.S. is a difficult problem to solve, since the people who use drugs don’t want to admit it. Since it’s against the law, the keep it a secret, and as a result, there are more drug users/abusers in our country than anyone realizes. People use drugs for their own personal reasons, whether they just want to get high or maybe even relieve stress, that high (or temporary feeling of euphoria) comes at a cost to the drug user and to society as well.

The toll for drug abuse can range from extended stays in emergency rooms and hospitals or even jail time. It’s a well know fact that the majority of offenders who spend time in jail are alcohol/drug abusers. It’s a growing problem in the U.S., and drastic measures need to be taken in order to stop it. Finding the right treatment to help prevent drug abuse is challenging, however, medical professionals are gaining a better understanding of the problem through knowledge and research. Since drug abuse often starts at an early age, drug education among teens and younger people is a major key to prevention.

According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the number of illicit drug users in the U.S. is around 13 million. Since the survey was performed several years ago, the number of drug users has grown significantly. The survey also said that 10% of all Americans either use or abuse alcohol, and 25% of them smoke cigarettes. Despite the health hazards and risks of tobacco, people still smoke cigarettes, saying that it gives them pleasure, increased performance, and less depression. People drink alcohol for many reasons. Although most people say they drink it for a “pick me up,” alcohol actually depresses the brain. It lessens your inhibition, slurs speech, and impairs judgment. For the most part, the disadvantages of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs outweigh the advantages.

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Tennessee Drug Treatment Facilities Offer Strength and Caring for Patients to Overcome Addiction

September 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Admitting that you have a drug problem is hard enough to do with yourself, let alone when you have to share the admission with friends and family. There are so many issues that are tied to drug abuse and depending on the length and depth of your struggle to stay sober, there are likely many relationships and opportunities that have suffered. Whether it’s missed appointments for your job or misunderstandings with family and friends, it’s likely that there are things that you regret because of your substance abuse. Some of these situations you want to remedy, and some you want to avoid reliving. If you are a resident of Tennessee who is coping with substance abuse, it’s time to stop the cycle and find help.

Taking Steps to Overcome Addiction

Coping with substance abuse is difficult and requires the help of trained professionals who understand the nature of addiction and the steps you need to take to begin your lifelong recovery. Understanding the origin of the disease and finding ways to substitute addictive behaviors associated with alcohol and drug abuse with healthy habits is part of the recovery process. Good staff members who are versed in addiction can help you trace back when you started turning to substances to cope and what led to your choices. The next part of the process is dealing with repercussions of your actions and finding ways to mend fences and repair your life as you re-enter society substance free.

Treatment with caring and trained professionals can lead to lifelong sobriety in patients, so finding a facility where you are comfortable is key. If you are ready to put an end to your addiction, contact one of the many Tennessee drug treatment facilities today and start a new, drug-free life.

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Factors that make you a softer addiction target

August 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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There are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who try out a drug or substance for the first time on any given them. Not all of these people attempt taking a drug again and many of them never take any form of addictive drugs once they have experienced the thrill of trying out something new. Yet, there are several people from amongst those who try drugs for the first time who will not only take drugs again but are at a greater risk of abuse and addiction.

One of the primary factors that lead to addiction is mental stress and disorders. If a person is going through a tough phase in life and has high levels of emotional and mental anxiety, there is a higher chance that such a person would repeatedly use drugs as a means of escape. Substance abuse provides them with a supposedly easy solution to the depression and so mentally stressed people are more likely to move on to addiction.

If a child has grown up in a family where drug/ substance abuse was an issue, such children are more likely to follow suit. In a psychological response to making their childhood family life seem normal, children coming from families with a history of drug abuse fail to realize that there is anything wrong with substance abuse. It is extremely dangerous when a person considers addiction to be “normal” as they are not only prone to becoming addicts themselves but are eventually more difficult to treat as well.

It also very likely that children who have grown up in families suffering from addiction also have a history of child abuse. Parents who are addicts often neglect their children and can be abusive as well, leading to traumatic situations for the child. Having a troubled childhood and drugs being freely available in the household leads to children using drugs at an early age, which again leads to an addiction that is more intense and difficult to treat. Children from such families need to be monitored or they might become victims themselves.

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Going To A Rehab Facility for Detox

August 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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A drug addict faces many obstacles and tough decisions in their road to sobriety. There are more than a few things to think of if they have any hopes of getting better. One of those things begins from the moment they decide to go clean and that’s the process of drug detox. This is not something any addict looks forward to. The mental and physical toll it takes on your body can be enormous and so it’s important to ask yourself the important question of where you want to do your rehab: at home or as part of a facility.

It seems like an easy choice but for some their comfort zone is at home and so it poses an issue. However the choice to do detox at a rehab facility makes the most sense for addicts. First of all the level of care is better than anything you could get at home. You are going to be dealing a top notch doctors, you are working with highly skilled nurses and technicians who are trained to deal with any situation that may arise during the course of your detox. As it has been explained, detox can take a toll on the body and result in some very serious medical situations and it’s certainly beneficial to have a trained medical professional, on site, in case of a complication.

The other issue is that of privacy and distraction. An addict at home may still feel obligated or perhaps feels a little motivated to go and fulfill family duties. He may have a hard time staying away from triggers in the home or relationships that might prove to be in direct conflict with their sobriety. That’s why it’s important to have a rehab facility go through the process. Not only will they keep distractions out they will make sure that the detox is happening in a clean facility. This allows an addict to clear their mind and simply focus on getting better rather than worry about the pressures they feel and face at home every day.

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