You’ve decided to seek help for your opiate addiction. Recognizing that you need help for your addiction is the first step towards recovery. Maybe you have researched rehabs or outpatient programs to help you get your life back but it seems overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’re here to help. You want to make sure that you receive the proper medical attention (physically and psychologically) for your addiction. And Vivitrol, a new treatment for opiate (and even alcohol) addiction, can help.

If you or someone you know has a current opiate or alcohol addiction, this new drug might be an option worth considering. Vivitrol may be especially effective for those who struggle with taking a pill every day to help keep them on track because this drug is not administered in pill form.

Vivitrol And The New Drug Revolution

Vivitrol is an injectable form of naltrexone. Naltrexone was developed in the 1970s in pill form to treat addiction, but it did not receive much attention until now. Scientists recently made the drug into an injectable form and found that it is very effective in treating opioid or alcohol addictions. Doctors and scientists are excited about this new form of the drug because it is administered through monitored injections. This is the first drug of its kind to be injected once monthly. It is also unique because taking Vivitrol is non-habit forming and stopping treatment does not lead to withdrawal symptoms. It’s a new revolution in treating opioid and alcohol addictions. It is a prescription drug that is used to not only treat alcohol dependence, but it is also administered after an opioid detox to help prevent relapse. If you are addicted to opioids or alcohol, you must stop drinking alcohol and/or stop taking opioids before starting Vivitrol.

Vivitrol And Counseling

While Vivitrol will help individuals struggling to stay sober, it is not to be used as the only method of treatment. Before a patient can use Vivitrol, they must enter a facility first and receive a detoxification treatment. Individuals struggling with an opiate or alcohol addiction must be alcohol and/or opioid free for at least 7 to 14 days before taking Vivitrol. This includes not using the following: street drugs, prescription medications, opioid dependence treatments, buprenorphine, methadone, or medications for cough, cold, or diarrhea. If you use opioids during the 7 to 14 days before Vivitrol, it can lead to disastrous withdrawal symptoms. These sudden withdrawal symptoms are extremely serious and could lead to hospitalization. Clearing your body of opioids and alcohol before treatment is for your safety.

After the patient is free of alcohol and opioids, they can then be administered a Vivitrol treatment by a doctor or qualified medical professional. In some cases, the doctor may decide that the patient may not need a complete detox program. If this is determined, the doctor can administer Vivitrol in a medical facility that can treat sudden withdrawal symptoms if they do occur. Remember that each case is unique and talk with your doctor to discuss what your individual plan will be. Many patients will enter a detoxification treatment.

When the patient has received detoxification treatment and Vivitrol, they must also receive some form of counseling. Vivitrol is not meant to be taken without counseling. An alcohol or opioid addiction is a chronic and relapsing mental disease. Vivitrol works on the physical side of things and will block the pleasurable feelings you had while using opioids and alcohol. However, receiving counseling will focus on your psychological aspects of the addiction. Receiving counseling is very important to your success. Vivitrol (naltrexone) will assist you one month at a time. If a patient suddenly stops using the drug and has not developed coping techniques through a counselor, they run the risk of relapse. Talking with a counselor about underlying problems and learning coping mechanisms along with taking Vivitrol will lead to the highest rates of success.

Vivitrol And Serious Side Effects: What You Need To Know

Taking Vivitrol does not necessarily mean that recovery will be easy. Some have found that they still struggle with cravings. This is why counseling is crucial to your success. Vivitrol may also cause side effects. If you are currently taking or plan to take Vivitrol, be aware of the potential side effects at the injection site. If you experience any of the following side effects at the injection site, call your doctor immediately. Severe reactions could cause tissue death. Injection site reactions could include: swelling, the injection site feeling hard, blisters, extreme pain, open wounds, lumps, or a dark scab.

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider before taking Vivitrol is that the drug could cause severe side effects. There is a huge risk of opioid overdose. Even if a patient tries to use a small dose of an opioid or a dose similar to before treatment, it can lead to accidental overdose, coma, serious injury, or death. While taking Vivitrol, remember that you may be even more sensitive to doses of opioids after detox, when receiving your next injection, missing a dose of Vivitrol, or even stopping the medication. Even a dose that your body was used to before treatment could lead to serious side effects once taking Vivitrol. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience difficulty in breathing, become extremely drowsy, have slowed and/or shallow breathing, feel faint or dizzy, have confusion, or have other abnormal symptoms.

Vivitrol And Cost

Vivitrol is one of the most expensive treatment options out there right now. Each month you will visit a doctor and they will administer Vivitrol to you. Each injection costs around $1,000 per month. Vivitrol is a non-habit forming and non-controlled opioid blocker, but it must be prescribed by a doctor. If you are concerned about the cost of the treatment, there are options out there that might be able to help. Visit vivitrol.com and click on the “save on Vivitrol” button in the top right hand corner of the screen. It will lead you to a screen to discuss their co-pay savings program and how it might work for you.

Vivitrol And You

If you have tried other opioid or alcohol treatment options, it may be time to try Vivitrol. Talk to your doctor to see if taking Vivitrol is right for you. Remember that you will also need to have other standard treatments such as counseling along with taking Vivitrol. If you have questions about this topic or are seeking help with your opioid or alcohol addiction, we are here to help. Contact us at DrugRehab.org today.

Have you completed an inpatient or outpatient program for your drug addiction? Or are you currently in a treatment facility? Either way, it may seem like you have a long road ahead of you. Perhaps you feel anxious, more sensitive to pain, or even depressed. It’s actually quite common for those recovering from a drug addiction to experience these feelings. You might even feel that you don’t get as much pleasure out of your favorite activities as you used to. If you are recovering from a drug addiction and you are experiencing negative emotions, you should consider adding exercise to your daily routine.

Why Should I Exercise?

Not only does exercising have positive benefits for maintaining a healthier lifestyle, it can also help you recover from a drug addiction. Our brains naturally produce endorphins which are a type of neurotransmitter. Our neurotransmitters (such as endorphins) are the body’s natural response to pain and help elevate our mood. If you have abused drugs such as opiates, this introduces a flood of endorphins in your brain which makes you “feel good”. Your body is also flooded with other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.

Over time, the flood of synthetic endorphins override your body’s natural process of makings its own endorphins. In other words, your body becomes so used to the extra amount of endorphins that it decreases its natural endorphin production. Your brain loses its ability to release and replenish its own endorphin supply. When a person enters a rehab facility for their drug addiction, they will have natural withdrawal symptoms from the drug (including depression and anxiety). The patient’s body is now free of the drug at rehab, but their brains have lower levels of neurotransmitters (endorphins). Endorphin levels are lower after your addiction because the source of the endorphins is now gone. Patients recovering from a drug addiction will have lower endorphin levels than a healthy individual that never abused drugs. This is why you may be feeling negative emotions such as depression.

Exercising is just one way to naturally elevate your body’s endorphin levels. The sense of well-being and feelings of calm after a workout is what people refer to as a “runner’s high”. Some cardiovascular exercises you can try to increase natural endorphin levels are: walking, swimming, biking, or running/jogging.

Eating Right, Exercising, Music, And Your Recovery

Having a healthy diet is also important to your recovery. Eating the right foods will help boost your energy. Increased energy means you will be able to get more out of your exercising routines. Not only does exercising increase your endorphin levels, it also will elevate your mood, help reduce depression symptoms, reduce stress, and help you gain more self-confidence.

If you do not like to exercise, do not think of exercising as a negative thing. You don’t have to become the next Olympian to naturally increase your endorphin levels. If your version of exercising mirrors Rocky, then more power to you. But, if you are more low-key, that is okay too. The point is that you should get out there, do some form of physical activity, and do it often. You have made a positive choice to end your addiction. Why not make more positive choices such as exercising?

Think of the activity as something you will enjoy and not as a bore. If you have a dog, take a nice walk through the park. Try to get a family member or friend involved with you to try a new activity such as kayaking. Or perhaps you want to give back to your community. There are many charity walks or runs that you can participate in throughout the year.

Another great and natural way to increase endorphin levels is through music. Music can create a “natural high”. Fall is just around the corner. Why not attend a local high school or college football game and listen to the marching band? Listen to your favorite tunes while exercising can help motivate you and also increase your endorphin levels. If you know how to play an instrument (and enjoy it), why not play it for an hour each day? All of these activities will help elevate your mood. And, yes, practicing an instrument can also “count” as exercise because it does help burn calories. You don’t have to play in a marching band to burn calories. Even sitting for an hour playing drums or guitar can burn calories. Whatever motivates you to exercise, do it.

Contact Us For More Information

If you still need more information, contact us at DrugRehab.org. We can help answer any questions you may have. Remember to consult with a doctor before engaging in any physical (especially strenuous) activity. Naturally increasing the body’s endorphins after an addiction will help you live a happier and healthier life.

If you are in need of any assistance regarding your addiction or the addiction of a loved one, contact us today at DrugRehab.org.

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.

After doing some research we found out from the Center for Disease Control that over 88% of high school students has used alcohol and that more than half used it in 30 days. We also discovered that alcohol was the leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults. What really was shocking that half of all alcohol related deaths are for the teen to young adult age group.

We knew that we needed to get our son help and started looking at rehabilitation programs. Here is what we found:

• That the time someone is in a program is very dependent on how well they do after treatment.

• That what insurance covers for drug rehab is not always the best option for the person that needs help.

• That the type of rehab a person does is extremely important; with alcoholism and that there are no substitute drugs used as a part of treatment.

Knowing this information we decided to do research on a holistic non 12 step program for our son. This approach is usually at least 90 days long, does not use other drugs to treat addiction and has a much higher success rate than most other choices out there. We felt like a holistic drug rehab was probably going to be the best type of treatment program for our son.

In choosing the right treatment plan to handle our son’s addiction, we got the result we wanted. Several years after completing the program he is still alcohol free.

Often parents feel that teens drinking alcohol is completely normal and is a part of growing up. We accepted this as true for a while and watched our son destroy himself. The truth is that alcohol is one of the most addictive substances available and in the hands of a teen or young adult the results can be devastating. We feel so lucky we found a non 12 step rehab for our son.

If you have a son that is struggling with alcoholism get help now. A holistic non 12 step program cured our son of alcoholism and it can cure yours too.

For More Information Related to “Holistic Non 12 Step Rehab” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

• Social Learning Theory Of Addiction Treatment
• What Are The Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning?
• How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?
• Alcohol Effects – What Happens To Your Body
• Scholarships And Grants To Cover Costs Of Drug Rehabilitation
• 12 Step Drug Rehab