How to Prevent Relapsing Into Drug Addictions

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction is tough. It is a long road that requires you to face your addiction and craving for the drug or alcohol every day of your life. While every drug or alcohol addict believes that once they are sober they will stay sober for life, the fact of the matter is that these addicts will most likely relapse at some point in their life. However, there are things that drug and alcohol addicts can do to eliminate the urge to relapse. Here is a look at how to prevent a relapse when you are a recovering drug or alcohol addict.

 

Meetings. Meetings are the number one way to prevent a relapse from happening. In fact, experts believe in attending meetings so strongly that they started implementing the meetings into the rehab programs for drugs and alcohol. The reason that meetings are so great is because they allow addicts to share their feelings or hear stories from others and this reduces the feelings of being alone or isolated as a drug or alcohol addict.

 

Getting a Sponsor. Sponsorship is a common part of the meeting system. A sponsor will help the recovering addict in any way possible. They will offer emotional support as well as access to resources for the recovering addict. However, it is the building of trust and one on one conversations that makes sponsors a key to preventing relapse. Sponsors are people that the addict trusts and will be able to share their feelings and urges to use. A sponsor can then guide the addict how to deal with the urges and possibly show them ways to cope with their feelings.

 

Service Work. Many addicts like to feel involved with their meetings. These people will volunteer to clean up after the meeting and will take an active part in the meetings and those that attend the meetings. This active involvement will prevent the addict from relapsing.

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A Look at the Prometa Protocol for Addictions

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The most common technique used for alcohol or drug addicts is a technique called the Prometa Protocol. The Prometa protocol is a detailed recovery treatment for those that suffer addictions to highly addictive substances. In most cases, these substances are drugs or alcohol that have made their way into the person’s body and the body believes that it needs the substance to survive. Instead of taking the substance away and forcing the body to go through withdrawals the prometa protocol allows patients to receive monitored amounts of the drug and slowly withdraw the drug from the system. Here is a look at the various components of the prometa protocol.

 

Intake Exam. In order to qualify for a program that does the prometa protocol a person will have to undergo an intake exam. This exam will look at the physical and mental aspects of the patient. The patient must be in relatively good health in order to qualify for the prometa protocol. The intake exam usually comprises of a physical, blood work and EKGs. If all checks out the addict can move to the second component.

 

Medical Aspect. The medical aspect of the prometa protocol is a complex balance of drugs and IVs. For the first three days those on the prometa protocol will receive a drip of the drugs every hour on the hour. After three days of this the patient will be cut back to several times a day and so forth for a month. After a month the patient is just given nightly medications to calm them.

 

Nutritional Aspect. The prometa protocol also requires that the patient undergo nutritional help. The patient will learn how to eat healthy and supplement their body with vitamins and supplements.  

 

Psychological Aspect. The prometa protocol also requires that the patient undergo intensive therapy to handle their emotions and reasons for starting the drugs or substance that caused the addiction.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction Tagged With:

Curbing the Possibility of Addiction

January 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Education is vitally important in helping to curb the possibility of becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. If you are a parent and you have an addictive personality, or if your family has had a history of addiction, then it is essential for you to keep an eye on the habits of your children because they may be especially susceptible to having an addiction issue with drugs or alcohol in the future.

College graduates have proven to be far less likely to deal with debilitating addictions in the future. What this means is that by promoting education, you are promoting a drug-free lifestyle in your children. Parents have a variety of different options available to them when it comes to putting their children on the right path toward success in school and beyond. You can help your children enroll in a university to ensure that a proper education keeps them on the right track. If money is an issue, then you should consider an online college, which is typically going to be the more cost-friendly option.

If you need help finding the right online school for your children to attend, consider using a resource like EarnMyDegree.com, which will help you find the perfect school for your children’s needs. The right education is going to help to keep your young children’s minds off of drugs, giving them something valuable and positive to work toward. Putting them on the path to a higher education is capable of putting them on the path to a successful drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle. You have the power to make sure that your children live long, fulfilling and meaningful lives, and it simply begins with making sure that they attend the right school and obtain the right college education in order to keep them on the right track.

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Medications Used to Help Heroin Detox

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Heroin is a very addicting drug. Many people become addict to it every year. The problem with this very heavy opiate is that once it has been used it causes the body and the brain to interpret it as a normal part of the body. This interpretation causes the body to rely upon the drug as if it were a regular body function. This makes detoxing from heroin very difficult because the body goes through intense withdrawals that can cause the addict to want to use the opiate again. Luckily, there are many medications that can be used while a person is detoxing from heroin to make the process easier.

 

Here is a look at the three medications that are used during heroin detox.

 

Methadone. Methadone is the most commonly used medication for heroin detox. It has been used for a number of years and been proven highly successful. When methadone is used as prescribed it will reduce the withdrawal symptoms of heroin without causing a dependence on the drug. Methadone is not a sedative and does not cause the person to become tired. However, the withdrawal process will make the person tired and this is commonly mistaken as an effect of the methadone. Methadone also reduces the addict’s craving for heroin which allows them to detox from the drug. Methadone only needs to be taken once every 24 to 48 hours and addicts are weaned off the methadone after a week on it.

 

Levo-Alpha-Acetyl-Methadol. This is a version of a fake opiate that is administered to heroin addicts who are detoxing. It reduces the cravings for heroin and only needs to be administered once every four days. It is believed to be less addictive than methadone.

 

Buprenorphine. This is common to the above mentioned drug and is still too new to be proven successful. This is less powerful than the previous two and believed to cure addictions without causing a new addiction.

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What To Consider When Choosing a Rehab Center

January 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Heading to a drug or alcohol rehab center can be a tough decision. There are thousands of centers available for the addict to choose from and it can be hard to know which center will be right for you and your addiction. However, there are a few things that you can consider before entering rehab that will allow you to narrow down your choices for rehab centers and pick the best rehab center for you. Here is a look at some of the things you should consider before entering a rehab center.

 

Cost. Cost will play a big role in what rehab centers you can go to or not. Some rehab centers cost $100 a night while others can be all the way up to $2500 a night. Consider your budget and how much you can afford before looking into rehab centers.

 

Location. Many experts believe that heading to a rehab center out of state is best. However, that is not always possible. Try to consider the location of the rehab center in relation to friends and family and whether or not you need to distance yourself from your surroundings.

 

Type of Treatment. Think about what type of treatment you would like to receive while you are in rehab. Some rehab centers focus on alternative medicine while others will focus on medical and psychological treatment. If you have a preference for one or the other make sure that the rehab center you are choosing uses that type of treatment.

 

Specialty.  Some rehab centers focus on specific addictions. You would not want to head to a rehab center that focuses on gambling addiction if you have a drug addiction. Try to see what type of addictions the rehab specializes in and choose a rehab that has the needs for your addiction.

 

Therapy. Inquire about the types of therapy that are available. Some rehabs only offer group, while others offer group, individual and family therapy.  

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Intervention Programs and Their Benefits

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are many benefits to drug intervention programs. They can offer a person a fresh start, and allow him or her to turn a struggling life around and make it into something great. Getting a person into an intervention program isn’t always easy, but it’s always important. If you or a loved one are facing an addiction and you know that you need help, an intervention that has been staged by people who love you could really change your life and improve what you have and how you feel about yourself. Interventions, when done correctly, are very safe. It’s possible that the person who is the subject of the intervention will become angry, but that’s to be expected.

If you just ignore the problem that your friend or family member has, you’re enabling that person to keep going with his or her drug use and abuse. That’s not the kind of life you want that person to be leading, and you don’t want to encourage that kind of behavior or allow for it. Instead, it’s important that you make the time and the effort to help an addict who’s suffering and may not have the resources or the willpower to help himself or herself. Most addicts don’t want to be the way they are, but they don’t feel like they have the power to change. You can show them a different way.

Even ‘forcing’ them to get help is something that they often want. That way they can blame being in rehab on someone else, but they actually have the opportunity to get better. Putting an addict on track (or back on track) to rehabilitation is one of the best things that you can do for someone you care about. Getting a fresh start in life and another chance at the things they want may only come about if you step in and provide them with a drug intervention.

Filed Under: Alcoholism, Drug Addiction Tagged With: ,

Warning Signs of an Addiction: Prescription Drug Addiction

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Prescription drug addiction is on the rise. Due to the common nature of prescription drugs it can be very easy for a friend or family member to become addicted to prescription medications without those that surround them knowing about it. However, there are classic warning signs that someone you know may be addicted to prescription medications. Here is a look at some of the warning signs of prescription drug addiction.

 

Multiple Doctor’s Visits. Many times prescription drug addicts will get their prescriptions from a doctor. To do this they must go to multiple doctors who do not know that others are prescribing the pain medications to the person. If you notice a loved one going to multiple doctors’ visits without a clear reason or over a very short period of time, you may want to suspect that they could have a prescription drug addiction.  

 

Missing Medications. When an addict that is addicted to prescription pain medication gets desperate for the medications they will take it from anywhere they can find it. If you notice that medications are missing from your medicine cabinet or closet, it could be a sign that someone you know is suffering from a prescription drug addiction.

 

Sudden Outbursts. Emotions are running high in someone who suffers from a prescription drug addiction. If you notice extreme mood swings or huge sudden outbursts over small, normal situations this could be a sign of a prescription drug addiction. Many addicts who have not had their fix yet will show signs of extreme irritability or emotional outbursts.

 

Odd Sleep Cycles. Many prescription drugs are either designed to keep a person awake and alert or to put them to sleep. If you notice someone having an extreme change in their sleeping patterns such as staying awake at all hours or sleeping way to long it could be a sign that they are suffering from a prescription drug addiction.  

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Treatment Options for Meth Addictions

January 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Crystal meth addiction is often assumed to be the most difficult drug addiction to recover from. This is due to the extremely addictive nature of the substance. Some people have reported that they became addicted within a day or two of trying the substance. With the substance being so addictive it can be hard for those that suffer from an addiction to break the cycle of addiction.

 

Recovery from crystal meth is not impossible. It takes the combination of several different treatment options but it is possible. Here is a look at the available treatments for crystal meth addiction.

 

Psychological and Behavioral Therapy. A crystal meth addict will have to undergo extensive psychological and behavioral therapy. These treatment options will help the addict deal with the psychological damage that addictions can cause as well as the psychological problems that may have driven them to turn to drug addiction. Behavioral therapy will help the addict re-learn how to cope in the real world and help teach them how to handle emotions and situations without turning to crystal meth.

 

Drug Therapy. There are prescription drugs that can be prescribed to crystal meth addicts to help cure the side effects of withdrawal. These drugs are not a cure for the crystal meth addiction but are used as an aid to other types of therapy.

 

Detox. In order for any of these therapy options to work the crystal meth addict will have to undergo withdrawal of the drug. This can be an extremely difficult time and in some cases painful. However, none of the treatment options will work if the crystal meth is still in the addict’s system.

 

Programs. There are dozens of 12-step programs that are available to help the crystal meth addict handle their addition. In fact, crystal meth use has risen so much there is a whole program devoted solely to crystal meth addiction. These 12-step programs help the addict learn to cope and handle their addiction.

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Helping Parents Cope With a Teen’s Meth Addiction

January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Being a parent of a teenager is extremely difficult. Teenagers tend to be defiant, emotionally closed off and difficult to understand. Being a parent of a teenager is made even more difficult when that teenager is suffering from a crystal meth addiction. Recent studies have shown that more and more teenagers are being introduced to crystal meth while at school. This means that crystal meth addicts are becoming younger and younger.

 

If you are a parent who believes that their child has a crystal meth addiction it can be hard to cope with such a situation. However, there are a few things that you can do to help yourself and those around you cope with your teenager’s crystal meth addiction.

 

The first step to helping yourself cope with a teenager’s crystal meth addiction is to remember not to blame yourself. Many parents will blame themselves for their child’s addictions and problems. You need to remind yourself that you are not responsible and that you will support your child during this time. The ability to take on this frame of thought will help you deal with the other situations you will face while your child has an addiction.

 

The second step is to get the help of a trained professional. This could be a health care provider or a counselor. These people will help get your child the help that they need. They can help you find a drug treatment center that will help your child deal with the addiction.

 

The third and last step to help you cope as a parent is to remember to be supportive and helpful. While you cannot undergo treatment with your child you can support them by helping them avoid triggers when they get out of treatment or even visiting them while they undergo treatment. Support is a vital key to your child’s success and it is a great way for you to cope with the addiction and help your child.

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Drug Addiction’s Side Effects on Friends and Family Members

January 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Drug addictions are defined by the overwhelming need and desire to use illegal street drugs or prescription drugs. In most cases the addict will feel as if they need the drugs in order to maintain a healthy, normal lifestyle. Many people believe that the only people that are harmed when a person suffers from a drug addiction is the addict, but that is not true. Anyone that is around the addict may suffer from the side effects of the addiction. These people include friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers. Here is a look at some of the effects that people who are around drug addicts suffer from.

 

Trust Issues. Addicts have the unique ability to lie their way out of situations. While the lies can range from lying to friends and family members about where they were to lying to them about seeking help, the fact of the matter is the friends or family members are being lied to. Every time that happens a little bit of trust goes with it until the addict has lost all the trust they had from friends and family members.

 

Financial Problems. Drug addictions are costly and many times the addict does not have the ability to pay for the addiction. This means that they will rely upon friends and family members to supply them with money to fund their addiction. If a friend or family member refuses to hand over any of the money, the addict will often steal money or physical possessions in order to pay for the drugs that they need.

 

 Emotional Issues. It is hard to sit back and watch someone that you know and care for go through an addiction. In many ways the friends and family members are watching their loved one slowly kill themselves. This can result in a lot of emotional pain and turmoil for those that surround the addict.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction Tagged With:
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