How to Decrease the Number of No-Shows to Rehab Treatment Meetings

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are many people in the United States who are facing substance abuse issues. There are so many people that need help with their substance abuse that some of the substance abuse treatment centers are overbooked. This leads to the individual being placed on a waiting list and having to wait for treatment. However, when their schedule time comes many of these substance abusers do not show up. Here is a look at how substance abuse treatment centers can do to make sure that their schedule substance abusers show up for their scheduled appointments.

Reminder Calls. A treatment center should make a reminder call to remind the person that their scheduled appointment is coming up. Calling 48 hours before their appointment has been known to increase the amount of people who show up for the appointments. It is also recommended that you call a member of the group if they have not shown up in a while. Often times that reminder call is enough to prompt them to return to the group.

Positive Reinforcement. Treatment centers that talk about the great benefits of attending meetings and all the schedule treatments in a positive light will get more people to return for their appointments. While treatment centers shouldn’t hide that the recovery process will be hard they should highlight why the person is doing it and how helpful it can be. At the end of meetings it can also help to talk about the benefits of that meeting. It will allow those recovering to see what they can get out of the program and remind themselves why they show up.

Pledges. It might sound like you are back in high school making a pledge but pledges to the group and to themselves will often help make the substance abusers feel an obligation to return to meetings and scheduled appointments. Research has shown that pledges can really increase the amount of people who return.

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Handling Stress While in Recovery

December 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Handling Stress While in Recovery

1. Stress is a fact of life. How we deal with it is what makes the difference. While in recovery handling stress is very important. If stress takes over it can lead to poor health conditions increasing the chance for relapse. Recovery demands that we pay attention to stress.

2. Good Stress vs. Bad Stress

Understanding the difference between good and bad stress helps determine a course of action. An example of good stress is exercising to increase blood flow and circulation. This has a direct impact on the bad stress caused by anxiety and depression. Exercise and a healthy diet aid in producing good stress.
3. Dangers of Stress

Stress can lead to chronic illness and death. Overeating can lead to many diseases including, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. Smoking increases the risk of the previously mentioned illnesses as well a variety of cancers. Yet smoking is something many people still do to relax. It is kind of ironic and even more reason to find ways to stay balanced. Recovery requires that we learn to be aware of our stress levels.

4. Positive Relaxation

Positive relaxation is good for the mind, body, and spirit. It reduces stress and allows us time to reflect and to find peace. Stress doesn’t allow for peace. It keeps us anxiety ridden threatening our health. Exercise, no matter how light is helpful for our bodies and our minds. Before joining a gym and or starting an exercise program you should be evaluated by a physician.

5. Recovery and Relapse

Recovery is possible. The same holds true for relapse. A positive attitude is essential in reducing stress levels. Our attitudes help us deal with handling our issues. Life happens and finding ways to deal with stress keeps us as healthy as possible.

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Being Honest with your Tween about Substance Abuse

December 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Being Honest with your Tween about Substance Abuse
1. Honesty Counts

If you are a parent with substance abuse issues it may not be a secret. Many parents think they are protecting their families and especially children by keeping the illness of Substance Abuse secret. The truth is addiction is so powerful it changes our make up so people know anyway at some point. It is our denial of the abuse and the high being chased that causes us to dodge the truth.

2. Substance Abuse is not pretty

Substance abuse isn’t pretty. Actually, it can get pretty nasty and ugly. Substances contain chemicals that play with the way our brains are wired. Too much of the wrong thing and you have a problem. The other problem is you never know exactly what you’re getting. Is it laced? Is it too strong. Will it kill me? These should all be on the question list you check off before answering your tween honestly.

3. Respect begets Respect
If you are able be frank about where you are in you addiction. It will help down the road even if you can’t see how right now. If you are honest you can keep yourself respect, your family and your job if you focus. People fall down it happens. It is how we handle adversity that matters. Being honest with a tween aged child about substance and abuse it good policy. Trust from a Tween isn’t always guaranteed. How many adults did you raise an eyebrow to receiving great advice. Sometimes we have to consider the source.

4. Your tween is less likely to do drugs and alcohol if you don’t- They may decide later in life that alcohol in moderation isn’t all bad. As adults with good coping skills who are able to be honest about their usage they will be better prepared to handle the responsibility of drinking socially if they desire.

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Let Electronic Cigarettes Help Conquer Your Addiction

November 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Anyone who smokes, or who has been a smoker in the past, knows that it can be very difficult to quit. Some people seem to accomplish it more easily than others, but there is usually at least some degree of struggle. People can lash out in anger, overeat, or turn to other kinds of addictive behaviors when they try to quit smoking. There are options they can use, but not all of them work well for every person out there. If you’re trying to quit, it’s important that you find the option that works for you, instead of only trying what’s been said to work for others.

Electronic ciagarettes are one of the newer choices available today. These don’t actually produce smoke, so you can use them even in places where smoking isn’t allowed. You also won’t be inhaling all of the chemicals that are commonly seen in standard cigarettes. The e-cigarettes have batteries, and a replaceable cartridge that’s filled with nicotine. The nicotine vapor is all that you inhale, so it’s much better for you than a standard cigarette. Of course, the goal is to quit entirely, but the electronic cigarette is a great way to ‘step down’ your addiction to cigarettes so that you can quit more easily.

Some people just assume that they can keep smoking the electronic version forever, which is an option, but most people use them as a way to reduce the damage that they’re doing to their bodies and the danger that they pose to the people around them who were being exposed to secondhand smoke. Once they’ve gotten used to the e-cig version, they can start reducing their dependence on it and the number of times per day they use it. Over time, this can be a great method to help them quit smoking completely and lead healthier lives.

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Stopping oneself from addiction

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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You never know when you become an addict of something. Something that you use just for the

purpose of recreation, you end up craving for this thing and before one knows it she is a

huge addict that leads to problems in their social, professional and educational lives.

Most of the people getting addicted to drugs nowadays are teenagers. These teenagers can

not afford expensive drug treatments since they live on monthly pocket money sent by their

parents or the few dollars which they earn doing odd jobs. Even going to their parents and

guardians is not an option because this will cause the trust of their parents in them to

die. They get caught in a conundrum from which it becomes hard to make their way out of.

But in cases where the addiction is just at the beginning stages and the addict himself

wants to stop, it is possible to become addiction free.

The first and the foremost thing that needs to be done is reach out to other people who

have fought this addiction, it does not have to be just your friends, they can be your

friends of your friend or your relatives They can even be random strangers from free group

therapies. The routes that they have taken and the fights that they went through will help

you a lot in curbing yourself. Along with this you can get some valuable tips from these

people that will help you in rehabilitation. Another very important thing to do is not be

ashamed of your problem, its okay to be an addict as long as you are willing to fight this

addiction. If you could tell a helpful friend about your wish to get rid of your addiction,

they will remind you of your resolution and this will help in a big way to get rid of the

addiction.

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Saving yourselves and other from Social media addiction

November 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Addiction to social media is being seen as a disease. It took a long time for it to be

included in to addictions which have profound effect on the person’s personal and

professional lives, their emotions, their mental health, they physical health which keeps

deteriorating because of less physical activity. It causes the person to develop symptoms

of emotional upset with permanent depression setting in. Realizing this addiction which is

comparable to addictions like marijuana, caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, etc has ways to deal

with it properly and to limit the usage.

The first thing that an internet addict needs to realize is that to be aware of her

problem. Only when the problem is realized can it be solved. Focusing on the number of

hours spent on the internet and trying to reduce the number of minutes will help in dealing

with this problem. If the problem gets to out of hand you could just get rid of your

internet connections and find friends and family members to hang out with. Look for outdoor

activities and find new hobbies. If cutting the internet is a very drastic step which can

not be taken then you can start filtering websites where you spend a lot of time. Even when

you are using social networks or just browsing the net, you can set timers which will let

you know about the time spent on the internet. Keeping a schedule where you distribute time

equally for friends, family and physical activities will help you. Even if you haven’t yet

become as addicted to internet where you require using all of the above methods, you can

still set up a schedule where you make sure you have time for everything. If all these

things don’t work then you can look for professional help. Rehabilitation centers dedicated

to solving addiction related to internet have come up.

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Three Things to Consider When Choosing a Drug Treatment Program

October 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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When entering a drug treatment program there are a few things to consider. You want to find a place that can help you achieve your goals of becoming sober and beginning to live a healthy lifestyle.

What type of facility do you want to enter?

Drug treatment programs are often available as in-patient or out-patient programs. Out-patient programs generally require the patient to attend meetings and counseling classes. In-patient programs are usually at a rehab facility where the patient will live. The best approach is usually to start with an in-patient facility. Look for one that has medical professionals on staff. These professionals will be able to help you through the detoxification process safely. Also, these programs take you out of the environment you have been in. Therefore they create a safer, drug free environment to help your recovery process go smoother.

What type of treatment program do they offer?

All facilities have different types of treatment programs. You will want to find one that caters to the individual and not a group. A plan that is specifically created for you will ensure you the best chance at recovery, as it is designed for you. Each person with an addiction has different reasons that they use drugs and each addict uses different drugs. So, it is best to have a plan that meets your needs.

How do they help you after you are sober?

After going through the initial detoxification period, you will need a great deal of support to remain sober. Try to find a facility that has counseling for families as well as yourself. This can help you reconnect with your family and try to mend the trust that may have been broken during your addiction. You will also need to continue individual therapy, so finding a facility that continues to help you once you leave is best.

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Withdrawals: What to Expect

October 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Recovery from substance abuse may be one of the most challenging and difficult things you’ll have to face. Once your body is physically addicted to a substance, be it alcohol or drugs, chemical changes take place. So eliminating these substances from your body is bound to cause distress but in the end, it will be worth it. Remember, you want to be able and free to live a full life without needing drugs or alcohol. You want to see your kids grow up, marry, and be part of your grandchildren’s lives.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Stage One
The first stage of alcohol withdrawal brings symptoms of restlessness, sweating, inability to sleep, an increased heart rate, facial flushing, muscle spasms, and ultimately nausea and vomiting. Expect to feel anxious and possibly paranoid. This stage can begin within 12 hours or sometimes not until 36 hours after the last drink.

Stage Two
In stage two, the symptoms from stage one can increase in intensity. Additionally, be prepared for severe stomach pains, tremors all over the body and especially in the hands, and seizures. You may also have confusion, hallucinations, and a worsening of paranoia symptoms. Expect this stage to worsen before it gets better, and in total to last as long as one week.

Stage Three
In this stage, expect many of the symptoms from the first stage to remain, including restlessness and inability to sleep, weakness, fatigue, headaches, muscle weakness, and sexual issues. Also expect to feel anxious, irritable, depressed, decreased ability to think clearly, focus or remember, and impulsiveness. Do not make any big decisions during this time. This stage of withdrawal can last as long as six months and can reoccur at any time. As time passes, the severity will weaken as you grow stronger.

Drug Withdrawal

Although each specific drug can have different withdrawal symptoms, here are some general things to expect: excessive sweating, restlessness, insomnia, muscle weakness , twitching or spasm, body aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramping, irritability, anxiety, tension, mood swings, fatigue, increased or decreased hunger, depression, fever, strange behavior, and suicidal thoughts.

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About Interventions

October 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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If you want to seek Tennessee drug treatment for someone with an addiction, you may want to stage an intervention. This is where a group of the addict’s family and friends get together in order to talk the person into going to rehab. When a person has a drug problem, he or she needs to seek help immediately. However, many people do not want to admit they have a problem.

When an intervention is necessary, you may be the one that has to put it together. Ask friends and family to join you to convince the person that he or she needs to go to rehab. Have everyone get together on the same day. While some addicts will see that all their friends and family are there to support them, others may not respond well.

Once everyone is there, start talking about the situation. Bring up specific incidents that have made you think the person may be struggling with an addiction. A drug addict who isn’t ready to get help will always be in denial, so you may want to have proof ready to back you up.

After acknowledging that this person has a problem, keep going by talking about how much you love and care for the person. It may seem intimidating to a drug addict to have everyone there confronting the situation. If you include some positive things instead of all negative, then this can help to ease the flow of the intervention.

If the individual agrees to get help, you need to take him or her to a rehab center immediately. If you wait, the person may change his or her mind. Then you would have to start the process over again.

An intervention can be a big help if you are willing to work at it. Even though it may not always be successful, it may help save someone’s life.

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Alternative Alcohol Treatment: A Scientific Approach

October 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Entering rehab for an alcohol addiction can be a major step for an addict. One would think this would be the hardest step of all to take, and for some, it is. But what happens when a patient fails to recover from the addiction?

Many patients leave alcohol treatment centers only to resume their addictive behavior shortly after re-entering society. These individuals may not be able to handle environmental triggers, or they may have other reasons why the program failed to help them beat the addiction.

Whatever the reason, these individuals face a serious problem. Where do you go when traditional rehab centers were unable to help you? For many, the answer is an alternative alcohol treatment center.

The type of alternative program addicts decide to try may depend on preference. Some alternative methods base recovery on science rather than psychological methods. Instead of cognitive behavior therapy or group counseling, an alternative program may look at the addiction as a physical problem.

With a scientific approach, rehab facilities may focus on trying to restore your body to a pre-altered state. Most research into alcoholism confirms that using the substance alters the chemistry of the brain and the body. This altered condition may make it impossible for an addict to recover unless something or someone steps in to restore the balance.

Some rehab centers offer an alternative treatment method in combination with traditional practices. In these facilities, an addict may undergo detoxification and follow a scientific approach to restoring the natural chemistry of the body while attending counseling.

People who failed at recovering the first time around should take heart in knowing that they are not alone. Many people have setbacks along the path to recovery, and it may take finding the right program before you finally walk away clean. If traditional routes haven’t worked, why not try an alternative one?

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