PERSONAL DEMONS, PUBLIC STRUGGLE: The Long Shadow of Addiction

Posted on October 19, 2015July 19, 2017 by dr-admin

The turbulent reality of several top athletes, coaches and public figures who made headlines recently accents a universal truth: addiction grips all walks of life.

Former NBA star Lamar Odom is fighting for his life after being found unconscious in Nevada on Oct. 13. Employees at the brothel where he was staying told 911 operators that Odom had binged on cocaine and herbal supplements. He regained consciousness three days later but is facing a long road to recovery.

USC Football Coach Steve Sarkisian was fired Oct. 12, following a string of incidents involving public intoxication. He has entered an alcohol treatment facility.

“This is a very difficult time for my family and me,” Sarkisian tweeted. “I am facing these challenges the best I can and your support helps immensely.”

Earlier this month, New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia – a Cy Young Award recipient and six-time All-Star player – announced he was entering alcohol rehab and would miss the playoffs.

“It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right,” Sabathia said in a statement. “I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.”

Sabathia spoke of being accountable and said he didn’t want to “run and hide” from his struggles with substance abuse.

“Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids – and others who may have become fans of mine over the years – to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help,” Sabathia said.

Other public figures who recently entered treatment for drug or alcohol dependence include NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel, actor Jon Hamm, Houston Rockets’ point guard Ty Lawson, reality TV personality Scott Disick and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC

Addiction reaches far beyond luminaries and VIPs, as many American families can attest. An estimated 23.2 million people need help for drug or alcohol dependence in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“In reality, we know that drug addiction can touch anyone — our children, neighbors, grandparents, mothers,” says Patty McCarthy Metcalf, Executive Director of Faces & Voices of Recovery, a national advocacy movement. “I think that it is critical to put more of a human face on the struggles with drug addiction.”

Every day, approximately 120 Americans die from drug overdoses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury death in America – responsible for more deaths among people ages 25-64 than motor vehicle accidents.

An especially alarming concern is the resurgence of heroin, which has reached epidemic levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Heroin use is increasing at an alarming rate in many parts of society, driven by both the prescription opioid epidemic and cheaper, more available heroin,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a recent statement. Heroin overdose deaths nearly quadrupled from 2002 through 2013 (more than 8,200 deaths involved heroin in 2013).

Losing a loved one to addiction was illuminated during the recent GOP presidential debate. Republican candidate Carly Fiorina shared her family’s painful journey as she spoke of the nation’s epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse.

“I very much hope that I am the only person on this stage who can say this, but I know there are millions of Americans out there who will say the same thing: My husband, Frank, and I buried a child to drug addiction,” Fiorina said. Her step-daughter, Lori Ann Fiorina, whom the candidate had known and raised since Lori was six years old, died after years of battling alcohol, bulimia and prescription drug abuse.

Fiorina’s personal revelation puts a real face on this public health crisis, experts say, and may reduce the deep stigma that surrounds addiction.

More recently, actor Tom Hanks came forward to support his son Chet, who has struggled with addiction.

“As a parent, you love your kids unconditionally. You support them every step of the way,” the elder Hanks told Entertainment Tonight earlier this month.

Chet Hanks posted Instagram videos about his battle with cocaine, saying “there’s nothing glorious about bringing yourself closer to death and prison.” He entered treatment over the summer and is in recovery.

“If I can change, you can change,” Chet said. “There is a solution.”

Metcalf, of Faces & Voices of Recovery, says it’s critical that we end the stereotypes and stigma of addiction so that people get the help they need.

“As a society, we must work together in an organized movement to eliminate the stigma associated with addiction,” Metcalf says. “We envision a day when the public and policymakers will accord individuals and families affected by addiction dignity, and that they will receive respectful, nondiscriminatory care on the same basis as people with other health conditions.”

RESOURCES

If you or a loved one struggle with addiction, help is available. There are more treatment options available today – including newer medications such as naltrexone to help reduce heavy drinking or buprenorphine to treat heroin/opiate addiction.

Psychotherapy treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and incentive- based motivations can also help people reclaim their lives and overcome addiction.

Here are some resources to help you find the right treatment:

FREE HELP HOTLINES

1-800-NCA-CALL
24-hour helpline sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

Al-Anon
for families/loved ones of problem drinkers

NIDA
24-hour National Drug and Alcohol Abuse Hotline offering information and referral services to people seeking treatment and other assistance; sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)

DrugRehab.org
24-hour hotline providing free, confidential referrals to treatment programs and rehab clinics nationwide. Sponsored by drugrehab.org; counselors available 24/7.

TREATMENT GUIDE Q&A

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/seeking-drug-abuse-treatment-know-what-to-ask/introduction

Reviews questions to ask when searching for a rehabilitation program. A free publication from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

MUTUAL AID/SUPPORT GROUPS

These websites provide an extensive list of mutual aid organizations, 12-step programs and other support resources for people with addiction:

http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/guide/support/

https://ncadd.org/recovery-support/mutual-aid-support

http://www.addictionsurvivors.org/

Is Detox Always Required Before Entering A Drug Rehab?

Posted on October 8, 2015October 8, 2015 by dr-admin

Recovering from drug addiction should always begin with detoxification: it provides a light that can guide you through what may feel like an impossible path to recovery. Understanding the importance of detoxification and the overall process is crucial for beginning your recovery on the right foot.

Detoxification Is A Vital Step In The Rehabilitation Process

It’s hard to imagine tackling drug rehabilitation successfully without detoxification: in fact, it may be impossible. Cleansing your body of those dangerous chemicals helps to eliminate your physical dependency and improve your physical health. It will also boost your mental focus, meaning the process of psychological and emotional healing can progress without distraction.

But more importantly, detoxification manages your withdrawal symptoms. The dangerousness of withdrawal will vary depending on the drug and the severity of your addiction. For example, severe alcohol withdrawal can cause jumpiness, severe trembling, and even seizures, while people withdrawing from opiates often experience extreme abdominal pain, terrible sweating, nervousness, hallucinations, extreme anger, and seizures.

Medically-assisted detoxification decreases the severity of these symptoms by slowly weaning you off your drug. Replacement medicines, such as methadone, are often used to manage your symptoms during this weaning process.

Importantly, any physical problems that occur during detoxification will also be treated. Essentially, detoxification is designed to ease you through withdrawal and keep you physically and mentally as strong a possible for your upcoming rehabilitation.

Types Of Detoxification Available

If you are reluctant to stay in a rehabilitation center, ambulatory detoxification is available. This treatment offers you the freedom to recover at home under the care of medical professionals. This decreases your risk of health complications, but doesn’t offer rehabilitation care. As a result, relapses are common.

Meanwhile, detoxification in a rehabilitation center does restrict your freedom, but also gives you the social and medical support you need. You will be surrounded by friendly faces and, more importantly, you’ll have the medical assistance you need to stay healthy.

That’s why detoxification is so essential to drug rehabilitation: it improves your mental and physical health and gives you the best chance at rehabilitation success.

Detoxification Stages

Medical detoxification moves through three specific stages: evaluation, stabilization, and entry into treatment. Understanding each of these stages can help you prepare emotionally and physically for the demands of each stage in the process.

During the evaluation stage, specialists will evaluate the seriousness of your dependency and the mental and physical health problems from which you may suffer. The last step is more important than you may think: it helps avoid any complications that may occur during the detoxification process.

Sometimes, these problems are rather minor, but others are more severe. Common issues that may interfere with your detoxification or complicate your withdrawal include:

Heart problems
Physical weaknesses
Emotional instability
Psychological dependency

Once you’ve been properly evaluated, the meat of the detoxification process occurs in stabilization. It is designed to carefully eliminate substances from your body, decrease severe intoxication, and slowly lead you to soberness. Essentially, it stabilizes your health and your sober state to prepare you for the rigors of rehabilitation.

After you’ve gone through detoxification, you will then enter rehabilitation treatment. Unfortunately, detoxification alone is rarely enough to beat addiction: while it successfully treats physical addiction, untreated psychological and emotional problems may drive you back to addiction.

Learning More

If you or someone you know is currently suffering from a debilitating addiction, please contact us today. Our helpful addiction counselors here at DrugRehab.org will help you find a detoxification and rehabilitation center near you. They can also offer you important information about other aspects of addiction rehab. Contact us today and get back on track.

How Can The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration Help Me?

Posted on October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 by dr-admin

When you’re recovering from addiction, you may feel lost and confused. There’s no shame in needing help and thankfully, there are groups like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that offer assistance. This group strives to help people recover from addiction in a successful and caring manner. Understanding how they can help may make all the difference in the world.

Helps You Find The Best Treatment Method

SAMHSA is designed to help foster and create a nationwide system for treating substance abuse and mental health disorders. They help find a treatment method that works best for specific addictions. Common SAMHSA treatment options include:

Peer support groups
12-Step programs
Medication
Inpatient therapy
Counseling
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Contingency management
Motivational enhancement
Recovery support services

The latter point is especially crucial, as it can meet some of the logical difficulties of rehabilitation, such as transportation to centers, employment and educational support.

Understands The Dangers Of Co-Occurring Disorders

SAMHSA understands that drug addiction is a sickness and that the physical symptoms are often just the tip of the iceberg. That’s why they focus heavily on treating people with co-occurring disorders, i.e. simultaneous mental and substance abuse problems.

The statistics surrounding co-occurring disorders are alarming: SAMHSA estimates that 8.9 million Americans have co-occuring disorders and that only 7.4 percent ever receive treatment for both. SAMHSA is working to change that by implementing “integrated treatment.”

Integrated treatment diagnoses your co-occurring disorders, assesses how they interact, and works to eliminate them from your life. Successful treatment will reduce substance abuse, eliminate psychological problems, lower the risk of hospitalization, and create a stronger support group.

The end result of treating co-occurring disorders if often immediate: once you’re physically clean of your substance and the psychological compulsions behind it have been treated, addiction can often quickly become a distant memory.

Promotes Trauma Care Approaches

People often turn to drugs when suffering from psychological or emotional problems as well as severe trauma. SAMHSA’s unique “trauma care” approach is designed to identify past traumas and to help you work through them to heal emotionally.

SAMHSA’s trauma care approach allows rehabilitation centers to diagnose trauma in individuals, family members, and even staff members of the care facility and guides them towards modifying care plans to include trauma treatment options. In this way, the chance of “re-trauma” during rehabilitation decreases dramatically.

Working in a trauma care-centric manner requires creating a safe and transparent environment that helps you feel respected during your difficult recovery process. It may even provide you with the motivation you need to quit for good.

Learning More About SAMHSA

SAMHSA is a vast organization with multiple treatment methods that may be right for you. If you’re interested in learning more about how they can help you beat your addiction, please contact us at DrugRehab.org. Our addiction specialists are highly knowledgeable about them and are more than happy to give you the information you need.

What Is The Difference Between Suboxone And Subutex?

Posted on September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 by dr-admin

Are you struggling with an opiate addiction? Perhaps suboxone and subutex can help you on your journey to sobriety. One way you could think of this method is that doctors are basically fighting your drug addiction, with other drugs. Both drugs (suboxone and subutex) are used to treat opiate addiction by taking away the opiate’s “grip” on the brain and they also can help you stop your drug abuse. Suboxone and subutex are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help opiate abusers regain a sober lifestyle. By taking either suboxone or subutex, recovering individuals will not have withdrawal symptoms or cravings. But, the drugs must be taken as prescribed in order to achieve the desired effects. Both drugs share a similarity and they also have one main difference.

The Similarity

Both suboxone and subutex contain buprenorphine. Medically speaking, buprenorphine is an “opioid partial agonist.” Translation: buprenorphine interacts with the same receptors in the brain that affect other drugs (like heroin), but it fools the brain into thinking that it is taking an opiate, when in reality you are not. This is why you do not experience withdrawal symptoms or even cravings. In contrast, heroin is a “full agonist” drug and can create intense highs. Partial agonist drugs are much more difficult to become addicted to and do not create a high when used properly.

Buprenorphine works by being a “sticky” agent to your brain’s receptors. Just like many other substances, abuse of an opiate changes how your brain functions and also its physical characteristics. For non-opioid abusers, there are a set amount of opioid receptors in the brain. When a person abuses an opioid, such as heroin, the drug is able to attach itself onto their opioid receptors, and they are able to receive a high. The high creates euphoria, and the user wants to repeat that feeling again and again.

Over time, however, a person builds up tolerance to the drug. During this time when tolerance is built up, the opioid receptors in the brain increase, which causes the user to seek out more of the drug to achieve more of a high. The original dosage of the opiate they took is no longer effective because they have increased their number of opioid receptors.

Taking the same amount of the drug only fills up some of the receptors, so they seek more of the drug so all receptors can be full and satisfied. Increased levels of opiate receptors, means that the normal levels of brain chemicals can’t function (fully activate the receptors), so more of the drug is sought out. Inactivated opioid receptors are craving the drug and if left inactivated this leads to withdrawal symptoms. This is why a person abusing a drug must constantly seek out a high or they will feel sick or begin to experience withdrawal.

As mentioned before, buprenorphine is a “sticky” agent. When taken properly, the buprenorphine sticks to the increased opioid receptors. It shoves the opioid out of the way and sticks or binds to all the receptors, but without the feelings of a high. If heroin and buprenorphine are taken at the same time, buprenorphine pushes the opioid away from the brain’s receptors, and fills all of the receptors. Buprenorphine fills the receptors up and prevents withdrawal, but it is not strong enough to get the person high and will not let them experience euphoria.

The Difference

The main difference between suboxone and subutex is that one of the two also has naloxone and the other doesn’t contain that substance at all. Subutex only contains buprenorphine while suboxone contains both buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone is mixed with the buprenorphine to prevent misuse. An example of this would be that if you were currently high on heroin, taking naloxone intravenously would almost immediately cause a person to tumble into withdrawal symptoms.

Buprenorphine, as mentioned before, fills the receptors of the brain and activates them. Naloxone, on the other hand, is an opiate antagonist. Like buprenorphine, it fills the receptors of the brain (and also blocks other opiates from filling the brain’s receptors), but it does not activate the opiate receptors. Full but inactivated opiate receptors mean that the abuser will feel the pains of withdrawal very quickly.

Taking Subutex vs. Taking Suboxone

By now you might be thinking that taking suboxone sounds horrible and you would definitely pick subutex over the other drug. But in reality, there is no functional difference between the two drugs (unless you abuse suboxone). Subutex may be prescribed for the first few doses under a doctor’s care, but when you go home, a doctor will most likely prescribe suboxone to you.

The doctor will explain to you that suboxone must be dissolved underneath the tongue. By taking the pill this way, the tiny amount of naloxone will have no effect on you. In other words, it won’t hurt you and you won’t feel a thing if taken properly. By letting the pill dissolve under your tongue, the buprenorphine will go to your brain, and your withdrawal symptoms are relieved.

If you decide to abuse suboxone and inject it into your veins, that will be a bad choice because it fully activates the naloxone. After injection, the naloxone will hit you with full force and you will crash into withdrawal. If you think that you can take another opiate to reverse the effects of the naloxone, you are sadly mistaken. Once the naloxone has hit full force, you cannot get high even if you were to take more opiates.

Choosing to have a buprenorphine treatment to help your opiate addiction could be a good option for you, but talk to a doctor first. As long as you do not abuse suboxone to get high and use it as prescribed, you will get the same results and the medication will work just as well as if you were using subutex.

Take Control Of Your Life

Abusing opiates and other substances is a serious situation and at any time it can cause serious complications or even death. Take control of your life today and seek help. If you have tried other methods of recovery, but are still struggling with an addiction, perhaps a treatment of either suboxone or subutex (under a doctor’s supervision) will help. But only do so under direct care of a doctor or other trusted professional. Talk to your doctor or contact us at DrugRehab.org for more information on seeking help for addiction. A drug addiction is not who you were meant to be, so don’t let it control your life. Contact us today to get your life back.

How To Find A Drug Rehab Center Near Me

Posted on September 14, 2015September 14, 2015 by dr-admin

It may have taken a while to come to the recognition that you are facing a problem that’s bigger than you can handle on your own, but dependency on alcohol or another drug is too consuming to ignore forever. Whether you are the one who is facing the paralyzing struggle of addiction or you are a family member watching a loved one’s life deteriorate before your eyes, you know that help is needed.

The stifling darkness that people often find themselves in due to the destruction that drugs and alcohol have caused does not have to be a lasting darkness. Finding the right type of treatment can shed a penetrating light on the areas that need healing. A drug rehabilitation center that can offer quality assistance is certainly available to you, and probably closer than you might realize.

Others Have Been Through This Too

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health determined that 23.1 million people needed treatment for an alcohol or drug problem in 2012. This statistic includes people 12 years of age and older. Unfortunately, out of this group of people, only 2.5 million actually sought professional treatment at a rehab facility. Why is this the case?

The Cost of Rehab

When drug addiction strikes, it does not have a preference of age, sex, or income level. As a result, one person dealing with dependency on a drug might be able to easily enter treatment due to quick access to money, while another may be concerned about his or her expenditures.

No matter the situation, many insurances actually cover drug addiction treatment services. Since the Affordable Care Act has been implemented in 2014, addiction is now widely recognized as a problem requiring high-quality treatment as a covered, health-insurance benefit.

Factors That Determine Treatment Plans

Addiction is not always an easily treatable illness. Sometimes a person has been struggling for many years with depending a drug as a source of comfort or as a release. Another situation might involve a person who has fallen quickly and hard into the drug scene. Every person is different, and requires a customized plan of treatment.

The story behind the use of a drug matters too. Drugs may have begun to be used in order to cope with emotional trauma, whereas some might have started a drug simply for fun. These “behind-the-scene” factors also come into play when determining what type of treatment is right for each individual.

Narrowing Your Search

When researching drug rehab options, you might prioritize the following in order to help refine your search:

Effectiveness of methods offered for treatment at the facility
Whether or not the facility is licensed within the state it’s located
Relapse prevention services offered (if any) by the rehab

Types of Rehabilitation Facilities

Although it is impossible to categorize treatment centers into specific groups, the reality is that some offer activities, settings, and/or services that another might not. This is because one facility might have a different philosophy or plan of action than another. Finding treatment that is the right fit for you is crucial to the recovery process. Some of your options will include:

Outpatient treatment
Residential treatment
Hospitalization
Counseling
Drug-abuse education and prevention

Allowing An Expert To Help

Nothing is wrong with educating yourself about treatment options. In fact, doing so means that you are serious about the choice you are about to make. However, sometimes people feel as if they must do it on their own in order for the recovery process to be lasting. This concept is not fully true.

Although you must be the one to take a step in the right direction and seek treatment, you do not have to do everything on your own. There are professionals whose experience and expertise will focus specifically on your needs and how to make your recovery process a successful one.

Help Is Here For You

There is no better time than now to achieve the healthy lifestyle that you deserve. If you know that your drug or alcohol use has gone too far and you would like a helping hand, then it is simple; don’t wait any longer. Assistance is available to help you move forward into the future you want to have. Contact us at DrugRehab.org now that will help you find a drug rehab near you.

Should I Tell A Friend’s Parents That They Have A Drug Problem?

Posted on August 28, 2015August 28, 2015 by dr-admin

From the outside looking in, it is pretty easy for you to see. It is because you are around your friend more than everyone else—at parties, outings, shopping, or just relaxing at home; and you have noticed that your friend has a drug problem. Maybe he or she was once a truly happy person with a positive outlook on life and had an overall upbeat attitude that has now turned sour. Or you might have always known that your friend was the type of person who could easily fall into the trap of dependence on drug or alcohol use. No matter the scenario, you have recently come to terms with the extent to which he or she is struggling with addiction, and it is weighing on you.

While experiencing the turmoil of knowing you are a close friend who needs to step in and help your friend get the help he needs, you may have asked yourself, What can I do to help? Should I tell anyone? How do I break it to his parents?

Your Role

Before we explore options about who you should turn to, there is a positive thought to establish in your mind. You are reading this article because you have taken the time to do some research, so please know: You are not blowing the situation out of proportion by seeking information and by staying informed. Just the fact that you are taking the time to read about options for your friend who keeps turning to drugs, makes you a good friend. However, this is just the first step to a necessary, three-step process outlined below:

1. Recognize that drug addiction is a real problem that affects real people
2. You are responsible to help
3. Contact a professional, and parent (if available)

Your Friend, Your Responsibility

It might sound harsh, but here is the truth: you know—at least a little—about what your friend is going through. The struggle he or she is facing is not in your imagination, and the friend needs help. Most people who struggle with addiction to alcohol and/or drugs do not seek treatment on their own. Unfortunately, they are often in too deep and cannot see a way out of the dark tunnel of dependence on drugs. Fortunately, they have you.

Who Can I Trust?

Step two: The worst thing to do next would be to keep your insight a secret. You should definitely tell someone who can be trusted and who you know will be able to help. If you have met the person’s parent(s), discretion must be used as to whether or not you go directly to them about the problem. Many parents care deeply about their child, but some might be caught off-guard at hearing such serious news. Others could be in denial, or even react defensively about the problem at hand.

If you know that your friend has loving and supportive parents, then going to them immediately and sharing your thoughts honestly is definitely an option. Otherwise, you might decide to wait a day or two until after you have done your research and talked to a professional.

How Experts Can Help

Even if you decide to share this intimate information with the person’s parents, you should talk to someone who is familiar with offering treatment to those addicted to a drug. Your friend might not have a consistent and positive environment at home, or maybe you do not feel comfortable going directly to his or her parents. Having someone knowledgeable, stable, and trustworthy to give advice during the process of seeking help is essential.

Get Help While Giving Help

Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s the thought that counts”? Well, those words are not true in all situations. In the case of recovery from addiction, it is the action—your action—that counts. If you know someone who is experiencing hardships due to addiction, then time is of the essence. The earlier you contact a trusted professional, the earlier that your friend or family member can receive treatment. An expert is available to assist you immediately in giving you more information about getting your friend help, so contact us today at DrugRehab.org and get your friend the best help available.

Can Parents Force Their Child Into Drug Rehabilitation?

Posted on August 25, 2015August 25, 2015 by dr-admin

A perpetual cycle of drug or alcohol use has caused a family to be disrupted. Addiction, which casts its snare on vulnerable and unsuspecting individuals—many of them young—has trapped an adolescent in your family, or a young person who you know and care about. However, that individual cannot see how destructive his or her drug use is. The addiction has the person seemingly blinded to how emotionally, physically, and mentally taxing that alcohol or drug use can be; and he or she does not comprehend that the addiction problem is also causing utter turmoil for loved ones. So, if the youth will not opt to receive treatment on his or her own, can parents force their child to be admitted into a drug rehab facility?

The Answer

Yes, a person under the age of 18 within the United States can be put into a drug rehab program without his or her permission. As long as a parent or guardian has legal custody and a right to protect that person, the parent is able to take drastic action, if necessary. With this said, would forcing a young person to do what parents decide is best be a good idea? The remainder of this article will convey information about how to best to approach drug treatment options for the person you care about, and here is what the process will involve:

Be informed about drug use among youth
Talk with an expert
Talk with your child

It’s Okay To Have Questions

Discovering crucial details about drug addiction, how to get treatment, and the type of drug and alcohol rehab centers that are available for a young person is a wise move to make. When seeking rehabilitation with a specific center in mind, it is valuable to understand the magnitude of the problem that is being tackled. Many people struggle with addiction worldwide, including teens.

Youth Drug Use

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) gathers information from surveys taken by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders and draws conclusions about young people’s perceptions of drugs and drug use. Although the NIDA notes that teens’ interest in drugs has waned in recent years, drug and alcohol use is still a detrimental problem among adolescents that should not be pushed aside. Many people of all ages struggle with an addiction to a drug or alcohol; addiction is now recognized as a disease that plagues many, it is not a problem that should be associated with shame and embarrassment. Addiction is a struggle that requires first-rate treatment, beginning with addressing the issue carefully and considerately.

Talk With The Child

You might remember what it is like to be a young person who sees the world through a limited number of experiences involving certain situations, environments, and people. In most cases teens really believe to know what is right for them, but that does not mean that you cannot appeal to a person’s thoughts. Talking to a young person respectfully and with great sensitivity to what he or she is going through is key to opening the door to good communication. Calm conversation helps to build a bridge even through the chaos that is threatening to divide a family. If conversations regarding drug rehab do not go as smoothly as planned, peace of mind can be achieved because you did not stifle the young person’s voice regarding the serious problem he or she is dealing with.

Get Help By Involving Experts

Although it is good to be informed, doing research on your own can be daunting. Therefore, it is extremely important that you set aside time to talk to a professional who can help direct your actions. There are experts available who deal with individuals and families that are seeking a form of drug or alcohol treatment for a loved one. Please do not carry a burden on your shoulders that can be easily alleviated by turning to effective, professional assistance. Drug addiction is a problem that should be given proper care.

Call To Action

Help is not far away. All it takes is a few moments of effort from you to begin the process of establishing a life of freedom from addiction for yourself or someone you know. Please give yourself the opportunity to get the best care possible for a loved one stuck in the darkness of addiction. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org

Ultram Abuse: Similar To Opiate Addiction

Posted on August 19, 2015August 19, 2015 by dr-admin

Ultram (also referred to by its generic name Tramadol) is a drug used to help alleviate moderate to severe pain. In some ways it is a narcotic-type drug. Ultram is an extended release drug which means that it is used for round-the-clock pain. Extended release drugs are those which release different doses of medicine into your body at different times.

Never crush up, chew, inhale the powder, or mix it with water and inject it into your veins. This erases the time extended release qualities of the drug and you may give yourself a life-threatening dose of the drug if administered in this way. Administering the medication in those ways can lead to quicker tolerance of the drug and can lead to a faster addiction. Using the drug in these ways can be warning signs of abuse.

If you are currently using Ultram, make sure that you are taking it as the doctor prescribed. This drug can be addictive, even at normal doses, so take extreme caution while using Ultram. Always keep your medicine stored in a safe place away from others (such as teens, children, loved ones, and pets). And make sure you keep your medication is accounted for (count the number of pills you have to make sure that only you are taking them). And never give your prescription medication to another person (especially those with a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction). Misuse of Ultram can mimic an opiate addiction.

Abuse Of Ultram And Opiates

Maybe you were prescribed Ultram to alleviate pain from an accident or injury. Or perhaps you started taking the drug as prescribed but you started to have more pain, so you doubled up on a dose. Increasing a dose can lead to addiction. Abuse of Ultram is similar to an opiate addiction, and misuse of the drug can cause severe complications or even death.

Opiates are a type of opioid that have extremely addictive properties to them and naturally occur in the poppy plant. Opioids are used in pain relievers, anesthesia, or cough medicines. There are actually three categories of opioids. There are naturally occurring opioids such as morphine. There can be manufactured (synthetic) opioids such as methadone and Demerol. And there can also be semi-synthetic versions (where the plant is mixed with other materials) and these include heroin created by morphine.

Some common opiates include the following:

Codeine (Tylenol 3)
Methadone
Heroin
Morphine
Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lorcet)
Propoxyphene (Darvocet)
Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin)
And others

Some side effects of opiate addiction are as follows:

Vomiting
Dry mouth
Seizures
Slowed heart rate
Trouble sleeping
Insomnia
Memory problems
Nausea
Slowed breathing
More pain
Itching
Altered mood
Constipation
And others

Now, here are some side effects of Ultram abuse, and you should start to notice similarities:

Trouble breathing
Slowed heartbeat
Stopped heartbeat
Seizures
Trouble sleeping
Heart attack
Vomiting
Confusion and/or delirium
Diarrhea
Tremors
And others

Also, if you are mixing Ultram with alcohol (which you should NEVER do) or other drugs, it can create a cocktail of side effects. Also remember that a potential side effect for either Ultram or opiates could be death.

Ways That Ultram Is Abused:

Ultram is prescribed by doctors because it is considered a lower risk drug for abuse and they often think it is a “safer” alternative if you must take an opioid for your pain. However, it can still be abused. Some ways that can lead to Ultram abuse have been discussed. If you use Ultram in the following ways, this may either be an indication you are abusing the drug, or can show signs of an addiction:

Crushing or chewing Ultram
Diluting it with water and injecting it into your veins
Smoking or snorting the substance
Taking a higher dose than prescribed
Taking it more times than directed
Mixing Ultram with drugs or alcohol for a cocktail effect

Trying to figure out if a loved one may have an addiction might be tough. If you notice they have changed their behavior with taking the drug, this could be an indication of abuse. If you see the person snort the medication this is also a sign of abuse that should not be ignored. Think about the number of times the prescription has been filled. Are they running out of the drug faster than they should be? This could be another indicator that the person may have an addiction and it certainly warrants further investigation.

Also, watch your wallet. If a loved one is addicted to Ultram, they may do anything they can to get the next fix, including stealing money from you in order to purchase the drug. Make sure that you are not negligent in keeping track of your personal finances (cash, credit cards, etc). And stay alert. Sometimes, those who are addicted to a substance will find ingenious ways in getting what they want or hiding the truth and evidence. You need to stay alert and aware if you suspect that someone is abusing the drug. Don’t ignore the signs and seek professional help.

Contact Us For More Information

Use caution when taking Ultram for moderate to severe pain. And take your medication as prescribed. If you are addicted to Ultram, abusing the drug can cause severe complication or death, so seek help today. Addiction to Ultram is similar to an opiate addiction, and this is a serious situation. Contact us at DrugRehab.org for more information or reach out to us if you’re experiencing addiction to Ultram or any other substance. We are here to get you the help you need when you need it.

What To Do If A Friend Or Loved One Overdoses

Posted on August 4, 2015August 4, 2015 by dr-admin

If you have a loved one that suffers from drug addiction, the thought of overdose is always in the back of your mind, and you pray everyday that it doesn’t happen. Unfortunately, drug overdoses are a rising problem, so you must be prepared to take control of the situation, should it ever occur.

First, Don’t Panic

If you suddenly find yourself in a situation involving a loved one who has possibly overdosed, keep a cool head. Panicking will do neither of you any favors: panic and anxiety will kick you straight into survival mode, which will make it hard for you to think straight. As a result, you may make mistakes in critical decisive moments.

More importantly, you need to keep them as calm as possible. Panic and anxiety are contagious and if your loved one is overdosing, they are either on the threshold of those emotions or may develop them if they see you panicked. Being a stoic loved one can give them the anchor they need to stay calm.

Call Medical Emergency Responders Immediately

The moment you see a loved one suffer from overdose symptoms, call local emergency services as quickly as possible. They are going to need a variety of information from you, such as the age, weight, height, and gender of the person who is overdosing.

The operator may give you some instructions on how to care for the overdose victim. For example, if your loved one is still conscious, they may ask you to help them feel comfortable. If they are unconscious, they may want you to turn them over on their side in case of vomiting. Most importantly, they are going to want to know what kind of drug was used. Sometimes the person overdosing can tell you. Other times, they may be too confused or paranoid to talk or may even be unconscious.

Quickly Diagnose The Overdose Symptoms

When your loved one can’t identify the drug causing their overdose, you have to do it for them by assessing their symptoms. Symptoms often vary slightly depending on the drug type used. But identifying the exact symptoms can help you prepare the attending medical experts use the right emergency treatment procedure.

Symptoms for the following drugs include:

Opiates – Constipation, nausea, vomiting, spasms, difficulty breathing, decreased pulse rate, low blood pressure, confusion, drowsiness, seizures.
Alcohol – Blue skin, poor breathing, confusion, slurred speech, anger, low temperature, inability to wake.
Cocaine – Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, light-headed, dehydration, uncontrollable muscle twitching, panic attacks, aggression, vomiting.
Prescription Drugs – Symptoms vary depending on the drug, but irregular heart beats, agitation, drowsiness, and uncontrollable movements are seen in many prescription drug overdoses.

Try To Find The Paraphernalia

Though a quick diagnosis of overdose symptoms can give you a clue as to the drug used, you need to find the actual paraphernalia as quickly as possible as well. This is especially true if they use more than one type of drug, such as cocaine and alcohol, on a regular basis.

Remember, though, that you aren’t a drug expert. What looks like cocaine to you may in fact be heroin. Your identification of the drug is just a tip for medical experts to help them treat the overdose properly.

Common Drug Hiding Spots

Sometimes the drugs which your loved one overdosed on are right near them or right out in the open. Other times you may not. Overdoses aren’t always the immediate and explosive situation that Hollywood and television portrays: often it takes an hour or more for symptoms to appear.

As a result, your loved one may have successfully hidden their paraphernalia. Common hiding spots for illicit substances include:

Dryer lint vents
Cosmetic items
Gaming consoles
Posters
Pringles cans
Difficult-to-reach closet spaces
Back of the toilet
Pens
CD/DVD/Game cases

Don’t spend more than a few minutes looking for these items, especially if you are alone. After all, your loved one’s overdose symptoms could become life-threatening while you’re rifling through hand bags.

Discover The Reasons For The Overdose

Once your loved one has been treated, you need to find out what led to their overdose. If you’re lucky, your loved one was a first time user who underestimated the drug and may never use again. However, illicit drug overdoses are more common in long-term sufferers: their body often demands larger doses as it acclimates to its effects.

However, there’s another potential cause of overdose that often gets overlooked: suicidal tendencies. This cause is especially prevalent in instances of prescription drug overdose in people who don’t otherwise use illicit substances.

Identifying suicidal thoughts isn’t easy because people often hide these feelings successfully for years and seem to live a happy life. Watch out for these common suicide symptoms:

Extended periods of depression
Thoughts of inappropriate shame
Direct suicide threats
Personality changes
Sudden focus on death and dying
Hopelessness
Loss of interest in life

If you believe your loved one overdosed due to suicidal tendencies, talk to a therapist or doctor, or contact us at DrugRehab.org as soon as possible and try to get them into therapy.

Talk To Them About Rehab

After an overdose, you need to perform an intervention and try to get your loved one to a drug rehabilitation center. But you can’t come in with excessive judgments: screaming, threatening, and cajoling will only create more anxiety and is likely to drive your loved one away from treatment.
Instead, calmly talk to them about their overdose and how worried the family is about their health. Express your acceptance and care repeatedly to make them feel comfortable and loved. Often, generating feelings of acceptance and compassion is enough to get your loved one back on track.

If you have any questions about overdose, intervention, or drug rehabilitation, please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. We can give you the guidance you need to help your loved one reclaim their life.

What To Do After Leaving A Drug Rehab Facility?

Posted on July 23, 2015July 23, 2015 by dr-admin

If you or a loved one has recently finished treatment or is close to wrapping up their time in a rehabilitation center, then it’s time to start thinking about how to make the transition from treatment to the regular world easier. The world can be familiar to a patient, and trying to blend in memories with current goals from treatment can be difficult in the beginning. Here are several steps you can take to help make the transition a little less stressful:

Find Sober Friends

According to the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, addictions often form through the influence of other people, such as friends or even family members. Peer pressure and the need to feel like part of the group is a potent motivator for drug use. Those who have friendships that are built solely on drugs find it difficult to interact and stay sober, since the temptation to use grows.

Having sober friends can be vital, since they’re willing to engage in fun activities that don’t involve substance abuse; temptation dissipates when people are surrounded by others who are sober.

Evaluate Your Neighborhood and Move If Necessary Find Sober Friends

For many, the old neighborhood can hold dark reminders about past substance abuse. Dark memories of finding their dealer on street corners, local bar fronts, and even parks can trigger addiction cravings and can often lead to relapse. For others, even their home can be unsafe. The Substance Use and Misuse journal found that many female substance users often lived with a current or former user. Returning to a home that’s filled with drugs, a person who had just left treatment could quickly find themselves regressing to their old habits.

Moving to a new area can help push aside temptation, providing new landscapes and opportunities to explore. Whether the neighborhood has fewer available drugs or just proves to be safer, the entire process of relocating can be just enough to push the old memories away.

Keep Follow-Up Appointments

Most drug rehabilitation programs sometimes work as a stair-step model, which means that follow-up appointments with a doctor or therapist are necessary until the person can handle sobriety by themselves. These appointments can help patients by:

Processing feelings regarding work
Dealing with family transitions
Handling relapse triggers
Setting goals for the future
Strengthening their skills they obtained in treatment

Understandably, life can get hectic and demanding, but skipping follow-up appointments isn’t wise. Each follow-up appointment should be considered necessary towards the long-term success in sobriety.

Help Someone Else

By helping others, many are able to share their experiences and remember what it’s like to struggle for sobriety, thus reducing the risk of relapse. Helping could take on many forms and some don’t have anything to do with addiction at all:

Mentoring/Tutoring a child in need
Participating in community events
Volunteering at an animal shelter
Visiting seniors at an assisted living facility
Volunteering at a soup kitchen

The gesture of giving back and doing good for the community gives off a great feeling of happiness and accomplishment. Additionally, volunteering is a great activity to help a person maintain sobriety, learn new skills, and help others in need.

Focus On Mental Health

The stress of returning to an old routine after treatment can be intense, especially if there is a constant urge for regressing back to old habits. It’s easy to just focus on the negativity, but this can lead to depression and ultimately, relapse. The key is to find a time each day to do something positive, either through meditation, writing, or volunteering for a few hours.

Sometimes even physical exercise can play a role; the Mayo Clinic reports that depression and anxiety levels seem to decrease when a person engages in regular physical activity. These actions, whether it’s taking a walk or riding a bike, can help a person feel a little bit stronger and a substantially healthier in the long run.

Find A Support Group

Many drug rehabilitation programs utilize support groups, since it can boost a feeling of affiliation and help people achieve and maintain sobriety. After treatment, it can be tempting to skip your follow-up appointments and meetings altogether, but attending these groups can provide great benefits that casual talks with family and friends cannot. Meetings give the opportunity for the person to say things that family and friends just might not understand unless they’ve been in the same situation themselves. Attending meetings can be inspirational, and possess a strong roster of people to talk to about their journey towards a healthier life.

Stay Alert For Signs Of Relapse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that addiction is a chronic illness, and nearly 40 to 60 percent of people who have been diagnosed relapse at least once. People with addictions will need to adjust their lives and be on alert if they expect to keep the problem from surfacing.

The key is finding out where their triggers are, such as a feeling of sadness or loss or missing the sensation of happiness or invincibility. When these thoughts build and the emotional weight gets heavier, a relapse is bound to take place, but being able to capture and identify these thoughts is vital. When such thoughts do occur, there are a few things a person can do to rid of the negativity, such as going back to therapy, catching a support group meeting, visiting a sober friend, or engaging in a healthy activity.

Supportive friends and family members can also be helpful, since they might know what a relapse looks like and how it can be triggered. Speaking up when they sense trouble can help get the affected person more intensive treatment before they harm themselves or use again.

Let Us Help You Stay On Track To Sobriety

At DrugRehab.org we are committed to helping individuals suffering from addiction by getting the assistance and support they need to forge a path towards sobriety. If you or a loved one needs additional assistance or advice on how to make the transition out of treatment easier, contact us today.

Neural Pathway to Treat Cocaine Addiction Might Be Possible

Posted on July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 by dr-admin

Pharmaceuticals Could Help Cocaine Addiction

Using other types of drugs to treat drug addiction such as cocaine is not a new concept but it may be debatable. Repeated cocaine use and addiction to cocaine increases the brain’s amount of dopamine (the pleasure centers of the brain). Every time a person uses cocaine, they are essentially changing the chemistry of their brain. Those who have fewer dopamine receptors in their brain are more likely to develop an addiction because they are seeking out cocaine, which is a dopamine-increasing drug.

Scientists have recently found a neural pathway that was undiscovered until now. Using pharmaceuticals may be the next best way to help those recovering from a drug addiction. The neural pathway is thought to maintain a person’s likelihood to relapse. Relapse is central to a cocaine user’s problems because of cocaine’s changes to the brain, making the habit so hard to shake.

In a recent study using lab mice, scientists were able to increase or decrease the animals’ relapse by controlling their Activin receptors. Activin receptors are closely linked to pleasure and reward in the brain. Cocaine changes the brain’s connection to neurons because it changes the shape of cells. Scientists don’t yet fully comprehend why Activin receptors link up with cocaine usage, but they think that the receptors control certain genes which stop cocaine from changing neural pathways. The goal of using pharmaceuticals with neural pathways is to prevent relapse from happening.

What Else Can Mice Reveal?

Scientists say that 1 in 5 people who try cocaine will develop an addiction. Some people, however, do not develop an addiction and scientists are trying to figure out what makes their brains different from those who do develop an addiction. In the study with mice, scientists allowed the animals to poke their noses through an enclosure that contained cocaine. Some of the mice obsessively poked their noses through, seeking more cocaine, while other mice only poked their noses through a few times and couldn’t care less. Scientists discovered that the mice that were not addicted to cocaine showed a strong resilient factor. The resilient mice had stronger inhibitory circuits which gave them better control over how often they visited the drugs.

Why Neurons And Addiction Go Hand-In-Hand

It used to be common knowledge to think that our neural pathways were well-established and rather rigid when we reached adulthood. Recent research however, shows that our brains are much more intricate and adaptive than that. The brain is constantly making new neurons and pathways throughout our lives. For example, if someone is in a tragic car accident and suffers from brain damage, neurons rebuild new pathways around the damaged area. This is called neuronal plasticity. And it happens more often than you’d think.

How We Can Think About Neuroplasticity And How It Changes Us

Imagine you are driving to your favorite restaurant, which you have visited many times. Your brain is wired and recognizes if you have used the same roads over and over again to reach your final destination. Now imagine the next time you drive to your favorite restaurant, a new construction sign is posted and the road is closed for 3 months. You must take a detour that you’ve never used before to get to your favorite place. After driving the detour (maybe several times if you keep visiting the restaurant), your brain learns to adjust and adapt to this new route.

This detour method and adaptation is exactly the same way our brains operate when it comes to cocaine or drug addiction. When a person retrains their brain to associate cocaine with stress-relief or even pleasure, the brain gets rewired to think that this is the new and correct path to take. It’s a good feeling that is hard to break and your brain just wants to keep repeating that feeling over and over again. You have, in effect, changed your neuron pathway the same way you would if you had to learn how to drive a new detour. This is why looking into neuron pathways is so important if we want to understand addictions. Luckily, just as the brain rewired itself for cocaine addiction, the brain can rewire itself after an addiction. Though it is very difficult to do, it can be done. And that is why pharmaceutical use to stop cocaine addiction relapse may help.

Hope For The Future

While scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how neurons and Activin receptors are linked to addictions such as cocaine, perhaps pharmaceuticals that prevent a relapse from happening is the next best thing.

If you’d like to know more about how neural pathways can help cocaine addiction, please contact us at DrugRehab.org. We are here to give you the best information for getting into treatment for addiction and making moves toward a new and drug-free future.

Music Therapy For Addiction Treatment

Posted on July 2, 2015May 20, 2016 by dr-admin

You know that jolt of happiness you can get by hearing your favorite song on the radio? That feeling is the basis for music therapy. Music can have a very profound impact on your mood, well-being, and life in general. It allows you to express emotions you might not otherwise be able to reach or accurately convey. Music therapy involves using melodies of various sorts to help you solve your problems—emotional, physical, or cognitive. According to the Saint Jude program, music therapy allows individuals struggling with substance abuse to self reflect and self assess.

How Does It Work?

Music as a valid form of therapy has been around since the early 1800s, when medical students Edwin Atlee and Samuel Mathews both published papers referencing their success at using music to treat patients. Both World Wars saw musicians touring army hospitals, playing for the wounded to raise their spirits and promote healing. Today’s music therapies expand from this base.

In the world of addiction, music therapy is used as a tool, not as a cure itself. When used with other treatments, it can be very effective.

Go back to that song on the radio, and how it affected you. Music is a very emotional thing, and as such, can do a lot of good. It helps purge negative emotions, manages stress, and alleviates boredom. It can also get a person to feel less lonely, increase concentration, introduce meditation, and ease the symptoms of depression. Some addicts find it very difficult to explain the underlying causes of their problems, the “why” of how drugs or alcohol came into their life. In many cases, music has proved an effective way to communicate those underlying issues.

How Is It Used?

The Saint Jude program lists various ways music can be incorporated into addiction treatment, including drum circles, recording a personalized relaxation CD, discussing lyrics and how they relate to substance abuse problems, creative improvisation on various instruments, making compositions, and song-building.

Of these, drumming is the most often utilized because it is a social activity, requiring multiple people to work together to create a harmony. Drum circles create a sense of connection between yourself and your fellow drummers, and can also create a natural altered state of consciousness, which appeals to recovering addicts. It’s often used in meditative therapies, as well.

How Alternative Is Music Therapy?

Not very! That song on the radio doesn’t elicit an emotional response in just you, after all. Music therapy and other alternative treatment methods are continuing to grow in popularity and become more accepted as a traditional approach to rehabilitation. They’re well thought of in the treatment world, and used in programs all over, often with so-called “traditional” treatments. Music therapy is considered an action-based therapy, like gardening or working with animals or art. These types of therapies are all designed to help you get outside yourself and your addictions through the process of nurturing, creating, and working with others.

Let Us Help You Find The Music

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and is looking for help, contact us. We can guide you to a facility that includes music therapy, or other treatment methods that will best suit your needs. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn the sweet sounds of recovery.

The Affects of Co-Dependent Partners Struggling With Addiction

Posted on July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 by dr-admin

Co-dependency is, according to Mental Health America, “An emotional and behavioral condition that can affect an individual’s ability to have a healthy, satisfying relationship.” Co-dependent people often have good intentions, but can take things too far. As parents, they may smother their children, placing a child’s happiness over their own to an unhealthy degree. They can make excuses for behavior or let the child have their way in everything, all because they are afraid of losing the child’s love. In romantic relationships and marriages, the pattern of co-dependency is similar. Letting one person make all household decisions, putting oneself aside in order to focus exclusively on the dominant spouse, and defending the behavior of the dominant person to anyone who questions it are all symptoms of co-dependency.

Co-Dependency And Addiction

When addiction enters the picture, co-dependency becomes at once, worse and more significant. The co-dependent becomes an addict of sorts as well, often obsessing about the behavior of the addict.

Say there’s a couple, Spouse A and Spouse B. Spouse A is struggling with addiction, but in denial about the situation. Spouse B, seeing the household and family situation deteriorating because of this, decides to step in. The kids are taken care of, the home is kept up, and few in the outside world are any wiser because Spouse B does such a good job. While Spouse A spirals more out of control, Spouse B ups the game even more, taking on extra responsibilities whenever needed. In time, Spouse B’s entire life revolves around the addiction of Spouse A, as much as A’s does.

Feelings Of Shame

Among co-dependents, feelings of shame are very common. They may not want anyone knowing about the addiction of those they care for, and may have addiction issues themselves, further complicating things. They often don’t acknowledge the shame and accompanying anxiety, but these feelings are very powerful, all the same. A co-dependent may think of themselves as helpless, unable to change the situation. This can lead to even lower self-esteem, and continue the cycle.

How Does This Affect Recovery?

An addict going back into a situation where someone is doing everything for them can easily slip back into bad habits. In the previous example, what motivation does Spouse A have to change if Spouse B is doing everything that needs doing? In that case, Spouse B does indeed have a relationship problem—but with themselves. A co-dependent person suffers from low self-esteem, and needs to figure themselves out before they can help anyone else. In our example, B needs to step back and let A take place in the household life again. A co-dependent person needs to recover from their situation, then focus on awareness and acceptance. Understanding the current situation is key, as is not judging it. Only after the situation is identified can action be taken—on the parts of both Spouse A and B. Once they focus on healing and re-discovering themselves, the issues of co-dependency and addiction can be addressed.

Help Is Here To Get You Out

If you find yourself in a co-dependent relationship with an addict or are struggling with addiction yourself, contact us today. We can help you find treatment for both issues. Addiction is a complex thing, and rarely affects just one person in a situation. Let us assist you in discovering how to best care for everyone touched by addiction in your life.

The Effect Environment Has On Addiction

Posted on June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 by dr-admin

Addiction is a family disease often with deep roots in genetics, trauma, mental and behavioral issues, relationships and family history. Studies have found that one of most significant influences on an individual’s addiction is environment.

The home, school, and work atmospheres – as well as the availability and acceptance of drugs and alcohol can all affect a person’s drug use, abuse and addiction.

The Family And The Home Environment

Some of a person’s earliest interactions in life can contribute some of the biggest factors in his or her development. Because of this, the home in which an individual grows up may have a strong influence on his or her use of drugs or alcohol. Children raised in homes that are disrupted by certain factors, including trauma, are more likely to become addicted later in life. These factors include, but are not limited to:

Mental and behavioral illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
Domestic violence
Verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse
Criminal behavior
Divorce
Neglect

These household disruptions can amplify stress, and may cause some family members to seek an escape through drugs and alcohol. Children who are exposed to family members who abuse or are addicted to substances are at a greater risk for developing their own addictions later in life. It’s possible that living in homes with drug and alcohol abuse normalizes the behavior – and as a child grows up seeing parents use alcohol and drugs to cope, the child learns to also use substances to cope. Happiness levels and the overall strength of family relationships can also affect substance abuse in young adults.

The home environment may also influence addiction in adults, as well. For example, an adult may be influenced by a spouse who uses drugs – hoping to experience and understand the allure. Instead of fighting about the drugs, once-sober spouse might use in order to make and keep peace within the household.

Peers: School Or Work Environments

Peer groups including friends and acquaintances can also play a large role in a person’s substance addiction, especially in young adults. Peers that use painkillers, alcohol, and even heroin can sway friends to try drugs for the first time. A person with low self-esteem, poor social skills, or academic or professional failure may be at further risk for becoming addicted to drugs.

Working in an environment in which drug, such as amphetamines or cocaine, run rampant – may also can contribute to addiction. People may see or hear of their co-workers using stimulants on a daily basis in order to sustain their work output. This behavior can normalize drug use, and make the person feel as though using substances is both common and harmless.

Availability And Acceptance In The Environment

Living or working in an environment where alcohol and drugs are readily or often available can increase vulnerability to developing an addiction. Exposure to substances on a regular or semi-regular basis normalizes drug use and can make individuals more liable to drug seeking-behavior, and as a result – addiction.

In environments, communities, cultures or societies where drugs and alcohol are seen as acceptable – substance use, and eventually addiction, are more prominent. For example, in communities where people may regularly see neighbors buying drugs on the street or waiting on drug deals, or are exposed to any type of drug paraphernalia. Living in a crime-laden community that is accepting of illicit drug-use like this can also be stressful – and some people may turn to drugs or alcohol in order to calm their nerves.

No Set Rules

Just because an individual is exposed to these types of environments doesn’t guarantee he or she will develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Each person has a unique, genetic component and experience that can mold their development. While these environments are general patterns that increase the chances for developing a substance addiction, there are no set rules that people that determine specifically who will, and who will not – eventually become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

We Can Help Change Your Environment

Drug and alcohol addiction is difficult enough without facing it on your own. A program that gets you out of an unhealthy environment can help you develop an ability to cope without the need for drugs or alcohol. If you or a loved one needs to start a substance abuse program that offers inpatient or long-term therapy as part of their overall treatment plan, DrugRehab.org provides the information to help you pick the right facility for your needs. Take your first step forward toward recovery and contact us today.

The Benefits of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP)

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015 by dr-admin

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are state-run databases that track the dispensing of certain medications prescribed within that state, focusing primarily on prescription drugs that have the potential for abuse and addiction. While most of the data comes from pharmacies, a small percentage comes from physicians who dispense these medications directly. Currently in use by 49 states (Missouri being the lone exception), PDMPs have proven to be an effective and popular tool in the fight against prescription drug addiction.

The History of PDMPs

To fully understand the benefits of PDMPs as they are used today, it is helpful to look back at their history. California was the first state to develop a PDMP, in 1939. Back then, PDMPs were seen primarily as serving a public-safety function, allowing law enforcement officials to track when and where certain drugs were being overprescribed or diverted for illegal activity. In the next half of the 20th century, however, society began to see drug addiction in a new light. Addiction became an issue of public health, not just one of public safety—a disease to be treated rather than a crime to be punished. With this changing cultural understanding of addiction, the goal of PDMPs changed in turn.

PDMPs Today

While PDMPs today continue to help law enforcement in the battle against “pill mills,” “doctor shopping”, and illegal overprescribing, their purpose has expanded dramatically to serve more of a public-health function. We can see this in part by looking at where most state PDMPs are housed. Currently only a handful of PDMPs are run by state agencies devoted to law enforcement and public safety, with the rest governed instead by state health departments and boards of pharmacy. Moreover, a number of states have expanded access to PDMPs so that recovery programs and addiction treatment specialists—not just law enforcement, pharmacies, and doctors—can use the data.

These changes suggest that states are increasingly using PDMPs to get help to sufferers of addiction before the law has to step in. But are PDMPs really working, and if so, what are the benefits?

Benefits in Action

Although the effectiveness of PDMPs is still very much an object of ongoing research, numerous studies have shown that the programs have strong and certain benefits. For example, a 2012 study looked at rates of painkiller abuse and misuse in states with and without PDMPs in the years 2003-2009. The researchers found that in states without PDMPs, rates of abuse and misuse increased more rapidly than in states with such programs.

Another study found that having access to PDMP data made it easier for doctors to determine objectively and conclusively whether patients who showed signs of addiction during in-person examinations were actually at risk. For example, one of the more common reported uses of PDMPs was in allowing a patient’s primary care physician to tell whether the patient had begun, in secret, to seek out prescriptions from other doctors with whom the primary care provider otherwise had no contact.

Kickstarting Recovery

Given that one of the most difficult steps toward recovery is admitting to others that one is suffering from addiction in the first place, this is likely the greatest benefit of PDMPs: giving the doctor, pharmacist, or treatment specialist a way of discovering the addiction without the patient him- or herself having to first come forward. In the most extreme cases, where the patient would otherwise never reveal their substance abuse, PDMP data may be precisely what is needed to refer them to a treatment center and kickstart that crucial first step toward recovery.

For more information about how PDMP data could help your loved one’s physician get them on the road to recovery, contact us today at DrugRehab.org for more information.