Continuing with numbers 6 through 10, these are the most common myths people have about recovery. Myths 1-5

Myth 6. You can’t force someone into treatment. A person, in the end, has to want to recover for it to be successful, but people do enter into treatment for reasons other than wanting to get better. Family interventions that persuade someone to be carried off to treatment, court orders, and other involuntary means can “force” a person into treatment, and these means are just as effective as a person walking in under their free will.

Myth 7. Treatment is treatment; it’s all the same. One of the main misconceptions about recovery is that rehab is the same everywhere. Many people have failed at their program because they believed this myth. Everyone is different, and there are different types of rehab and different programs that can be tailored to meet someone’s needs. Some people are more likely to succeed if they are in a program with their peers, others thrive in a secluded atmosphere. Still others will require a program that treats their specific addiction or has the medical capacity for them to safely detox. Treatment should be personalized for each patient.

Myth 8. Relapse sends you back to square one. No one wants to relapse. Everyone going through recovery is afraid of it. It is important for someone in recovery to heed the warnings of doctors and therapists, in an effort to prevent relapse. Developing good stress relieving techniques and avoiding triggers are ways to help. But a person who relapses will still have all the knowledge and experiences they gained from the first time around, making it easier to get and stay sober again.

Myth 9. A person’s recovery is done once they complete treatment. Treatment facilities know that recovery is a lifelong process, which is why many have created after care programs and encourage their patients to join support groups. Staying active with a support group or finding an accountability partner will help someone stay active in recovery. The journey of recovery does not end once treatment is over; a person must work to stay sober for the rest of their life.

Myth 10. Some individuals are a lost cause. Just ask some of the millions of people who have been through recovery and are sober today. A great number of them and their family members would say that they had lost hope along the way. Many of these people know they shouldn’t be alive today, and know almost everyone had given up on them as a lost cause. But because of one spark of hope, they were able to recover. It’s never too late to get help. Treatment can work, recovery is possible. Never give up hope on yourself or someone you care about.

Sources

Recovery Month 

Drug Abuse Recovery – 4 Common Myths Debunked

Three Myths About Drug Addiction and Recovery

Stupid Myths About Recovery

Sometimes, even in the midst of the drama of our lives, we need to be thankful for what we’ve got. Even someone in this country who is going through recovery from drug or alcohol addiction should take the time to count their blessings.

Improving Treatment in the United States

Addiction treatment in the United States is constantly changing and hopefully always improving. There may be things that we as a country could be doing better to help those in recovery, but we continue to learn and grow through experience.

There is also the challenge before us to educate and create awareness for the hope and purpose of recovery, but we have certainly come a long way. We now have a wide variety of treatment programs, tailored to meet the needs of different patients. We have groups that are helping preserve someone’s job while they get treatment. We have generated a greater tolerance and understanding toward those with an addiction. We can be thankful that our treatment is nothing like that in some other areas of the world.

Russian Recovery

A recent article in the New York Times describes in detail what treatment is like in Russia. More like jails than treatment facilities, patients are kept chained or in cages surrounding their beds while they complete their withdrawal. There are no medications to ease the pain, or rehabilitation, or therapy; patients are simply forced to quit their substance cold turkey, and stay until they are deemed ready to go home, which can take up to a year in some cases. Patients are fed bread and water, and after the worst of their detox is over, they can perform designated jobs while remaining isolated from the rest of the world. Those who have witnessed the system of recovery call it primitive, brutal, and ineffective.

Ineffective Treatment

 “What they present as drug treatment has absolutely no basis in evidence,” said Diederik Lohman, a senior researcher at the monitoring group Human Rights Watch. “What [they do] has little in common with international best practice standards based on research and is unlikely to have any beneficial effect on patients.”

Sergei Polyatykin, head of the medical department at an advocacy group called the Say No to Alcohol and Drugs, said of this approach: “It’s not treatment, it’s jail. Imprisonment and torture can’t help drug addicts to kick the habit. Only a small percentage stay off drugs.” (1)

Russian officials feel they have little choice. Russia is suffering with a heroin epidemic that they cannot contain. But it is also clear that this treatment does not work. No one is teaching these patients how to live back in society without their drugs. There is no rehabilitation, and 90% of addicts in the country relapse.

Positive Recovery

Bringing the focus back to our country, we can be happy at the treatment options we have. We can be proud that so many people have recovered from their addiction, and can be hopeful that we can keep finding ways to help more people. As we remember the struggles that many have gone through during their recovery in this country, let’s also be thankful that their recovery was made possible by caring staff, loving family, and hard work and commitment.

Sources

(1) In Russia, Harsh Remedy for Addiction Gains Favor

Russia Drug Abuse Information

Drug Treatment, Russian-Style

Along with the rising prescription drug abuse in our country comes another danger – drug addiction among newborns. Drug addicted moms are finding out that no matter what they do, it is very hard to keep their baby from having withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting Cold Turkey

Moms that abuse prescription drugs like OxyContin are more likely to have difficult pregnancies. Some women who find out they are pregnant will quit their drugs cold turkey. While this is not recommended for pregnant women, some moms do it. Not only do the women go through withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous to their health, but they are also at a much greater risk for miscarrying. Their developing infants can suffer seizures and other serious complications, such as birth defects, glaucoma, spina bifida, and heart defects.

Continuing in Drug Abuse

On the other hand, a mother who continues to abuse prescription drugs while pregnant is also harming her baby. Along with the possibility for birth defects comes withdrawal symptoms after birth. These babies are born needing treatment and sometimes medication for drug addiction, causing their first few days of life to be very distressing. Some of the babies are given small doses of methadone, Phenobarbital, or clonidine to reverse the symptoms of withdrawal, stop seizure activity, and sedate their tiny bodies.

Methadone Treatment

Other pregnant women will seek help from a doctor in order to sober up. This step is also difficult because not many doctors will take on these cases, because of the fear of harming the infant in utero. Still, some women addicted to prescription painkillers do go on methadone therapy to safely relieve withdrawal symptoms. Methadone keeps a small amount of opioids in the recovering body, supposedly with less risk of dependence, in the hopes that the addict can gradually recover and be weaned off. In the case of a pregnant woman, her baby will also be getting the methadone doses, which causes many of these babies to be born addicted to methadone. While the mom may more easily be able to recover, the baby once again suffers withdrawal symptoms in the first few days of life. Babies born with an opioid addiction cry excessively, have stiff limbs, and may suffer from tremors, all of which can keep these newborns in the hospital for weeks, recovering.

It is hard to say what, if any, long term effects will occur because of a newborn’s addiction. Unfortunately, many of these babies are going to continue to suffer at the hands of parents who may or may not still be addicted to drugs, but may also have other issues that limit their ability to parent. “Most of the literature suggests consistently that the drug exposure itself is not the primary concern,” said Karol Kaltenbach, a professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia who studies addiction in pregnant women. “It’s the cumulative effect of the drug-using lifestyle – poverty, chaos in the home, domestic violence. All those things affect development.” (1)

We as a society need to keep working to curb all kinds of drug addiction. We need to be ready to step in and help these mothers and babies that are in need of strategies to live a drug free life.

Sources

(1) Littlest victims of Rx abuse: Newborns

Opioids 

Opiate withdrawal 

We all mess up sometimes in life. Bad choices can often take us places we’d rather not be, and poor judgment calls can sometimes have lasting effects. Even drug and alcohol abuse and addiction can be caused by a single poor choice, but their effects can be long lasting.

Sometimes loving, well-meaning parents can jeopardize their relationship with their children because they get involved with substance abuse. Too many kids in this country find themselves in the middle of a family addiction; neglected, abused, or emotionally starved because their parent chose to do drugs.

Removing Children from Unstable Homes

As bad as an addiction in a family with children can be, there is treatment that can help. A single parent who is so addicted to drugs that they can’t take care of their own children may be devastated to find one day that their kids are taken away from them. Social services will be quick to step in and remove children from the home once they know drugs or alcoholism are playing a part in family life, because of how devastating substance abuse can be on a family.

Parents in Recovery

There are steps that an addicted parent needs to take to get his or her kids back, the first of which is drug detox and rehab. There are rehab programs that will work with social services to ensure that parents are able to visit with their kids on a regular basis. After inpatient treatment, a parent will most likely need to go to day therapy as they slowly integrate back into society. After outpatient therapy, there will be support groups and continued counseling. Parents whose children are in temporary homes because of drug abuse in the family will most likely need to take parenting classes and keep in contact with social workers to be allowed to care for their children again. Reuniting kids with their parent is usually the goal, even in drug abuse cases, but it will only occur after the parent has gotten clean from drugs, continues to work on sobriety, and has proven to be a safe guardian for their children.

Specialized Treatment

Some treatment facilities specialize in drug rehab for women, or more specifically, mothers of young children. These facilities are open to allowing children to come for supervised visits, or in some cases, will allow kids to live at the facility with their mother. In this way, mother and child are able to continue to work on their relationship, while the mom works on her sobriety. These facilities will usually offer programs and therapy for the children also, who are so drastically impacted by their parent’s addiction.

Many women lose custody of their children because of drug abuse. Those with a real desire to get better and stay sober can work toward getting their children back. It takes a lot of hard work and surrendering to those willing to help, but drug abuse does not have to ruin a family forever.

Sources

Local mom first graduate of Family Treatment Drug Court in Bangor 

Families as a Resource in Recovery from Drug Abuse: An Evaluation …

Addiction and recovery: Families in recovery

When our states and federal government make budget cuts that reduce or eliminate funding for substance abuse treatment centers, we sometimes fail to see the impact it will cause. It is something that is happening more and more, and it is drawing the attention of tax-paying citizens.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has proposed to eliminate $55 million in funding for substance abuse treatment for the upcoming year. Among the cuts is funding for prevention programs for youth, and state-run detox centers. While some legislators support the measure, many people are opposed to it.

Negative Impacts of the Cuts

Reports say that some drug addicts are walking out of detox centers because of the likely funding cuts to their programs, because they feel they “no longer have hope.” Some sources estimate that 80% of patients would be kicked out of care if the budget cuts pass. Only patients who qualify for federally-funded Medicaid would be able to stay in treatment. People predict that facilities will close, treatment providers will lose their jobs, and many people will die from substance abuse.

These state-funded treatment programs provide necessary treatment for addicted patients who often aren’t able to get help anywhere else. Community-based treatment centers would be basically eliminated in the state, and Illinois would see a huge increase in drug addicts on the street. Reports say that people are already turning to emergency rooms for treatment instead of trying to get into a detox center, something that will cost tax payers much more in the long run. Other people will probably remain in their drug addiction, putting a strain on society through the health care system, law enforcement costs, and court system.

Possibly the most surprising and concerning aspect of the governor’s proposed budget cuts is that they will take place in the near future, which means thousands of patients will actually be put out of treatment, without completing their program. With the speed of these budget cuts, many people are afraid there will be no other option for those in treatment or in need of treatment except to live on the street, make use of medical system for emergencies and overdoses, and get caught up in the criminal justice system.

Lack of Funding

Supporters of the budget cuts say the state just does not have the money to run these programs, and the cuts are necessary. Citizens who support the governor’s proposal say these programs don’t work like they should anyway, and maybe this will be a way to find a new solution for these people.

Those opposed to the measures not only see the need that patients right now have for treatment, but also the benefits and savings associated with treatment and prevention. For every $1 spent on treatment, it saves $9 in costs later. It is difficult, however, to front the costs for these programs, especially when states have little money to begin with. But especially in the case of Illinois, taking away programs suddenly may cause larger disruptions than anyone expects.

Sources

Legislators call on Quinn to reverse cuts for drug programs

Ill. Gov. Eliminates Funding for Treatment and Prevention

Drug users leaving treatment centers in Illinois, service providers say

Recovery Month is right around the corner, and it is time again for us to celebrate sobriety from drug and alcohol abuse, as well as the contributions of treatment providers. The whole month of September is dedicated to recovery and wellness, and activities will be taking place across the country. Get involved with an activity this year, or plan one on your own, but don’t wait until the end of the month to join in on the celebration. Many observances begin already on September 1st.

Encourage Sobriety

This year’s Recovery Month theme is Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever! It stresses the importance of getting treatment now, at this time. We all know how negatively substance abuse changes our lives and affects the lives of our loved ones, yet only 10% of Americans who need treatment actually get it. Those who don’t get treatment are sometimes ashamed to admit their substance abuse, or aren’t aware of treatment options, or have financial limitations. Some people simply haven’t admitted that they have a problem yet. But recovery offers such hope and it is important for everyone to be given that chance at hope.

Recovery is Possible

Recovery Month also celebrates the sobriety of those that have successfully ended their substance abuse. Rehab and treatment are a huge undertaking, and a person can’t go through the process without hard work and perseverance. Recovery Month brings together those that have made it through the first stages of healing and allows them to strengthen each other even more. When we accomplish something great, we want to celebrate. What a great accomplishment it is to gain a life back and break free from substance abuse! Recovery Month is a time to celebrate!

Faithful Treatment Providers

Recovery Month also lauds the work that is done by treatment providers. For many patients, these individuals are life savers. They are the ones that spend long, hard hours working with patients and trying to get through to addicts. They devote their lives to making the lives of others better. Quite often, unfortunately, their work goes unappreciated, which is another reason why this month is so important.

Recovery Month Activities

By dedicating a month to recovery and those involved with the process, we are able to raise awareness about the need for substance abuse treatment. Programs around the country aim to educate the public that addiction is a treatable disease, and to encourage those in need of treatment to get it.

There are may ways to get involved. Check with the Recovery Month website for more information, or to view some of the activities that are planned for this month. Contact your local health department, or recovery professionals group for sponsored activities. Local treatment facilities or AA chapters will sometimes plan events, as well as some veterans groups, colleges, and celebrities. However, anyone can work on a new activity, and resources from the Recovery Month website can help.

Sources

Recovery Month

2010 Recovery Month Web Site Launched on January 2, 2010

Local Non-Profits Form “Voices for Recovery Coalition”

While drug abuse can occur anywhere, among any group of people, different drugs tend to be more prevalent in certain circles. This makes sense because people often do the drugs that are easiest for them to get their hands on, or experiment with what friends or co-workers are using.

As odd as it may sound, it seems that even Wall Street professionals follow the crowd at times when it comes to drug abuse. A list of drug test data was recently compiled that showed trends among investors. While cocaine used to be high on the list of Wall Street users, it has dropped in popularity. Found in 16% of positive tests in 2007, in 2008 it was only found in 7% of positive tests. The drug of choice now, by far, is marijuana, coming in at 80% of positive tests. Amphetamines are also growing in popularity, up to 10% in 2008 from 3% a few years ago.

Wall Street is a place of fast-paced business, long hours, and grueling responsibilities. It might not surprise us to hear that even these kinds of professionals are sometimes taken over by substance abuse. For these men and women, it usually begins as a feeling of entitlement. They have huge paychecks and successful jobs, they endure hard work and stress; therefore they deserve to treat themselves to some drugs now and then. But the stress doesn’t end, and in fact it builds, and these business people go from occasional user to addict.

Ignoring a Drug Problem

The overall incidence of drug abuse for Wall Street professionals doesn’t seem to be that high, compared to national averages. In a country where 3.6% of the workforce tests positive for drugs, only 2% of the investment industry failed drug tests last year. This doesn’t necessarily mean these business people use drugs less than other workers. It simply means they are getting caught less often. Random drug tests are not as common on Wall Street as they are in many factory settings, for example. And given the power and money that Wall Street investors hold, some employers simply deny that their workers have a problem. If the employee is holding their own and staying productive, some employers will be careful not to cause a stir, even if it means looking the other way when they know an employee is using drugs.

Getting Help

The personality of many investment bankers may be prone to addiction. These are the risk-taking controllers who are under a great deal of pressure. But they are also the kind of people that will do their best to balance an addiction with a full time job. They are hard working, love to live a fast-paced life, and they don’t easily quit.

But it is necessary for even these people to get help for an addiction. There are many detox and rehab facilities that have programs specifically designed to help business men and women. Luxury rehab facilities are often able to whisk the person away, treat them, and get them back to their office in no time. It is important, however, for these professionals to dedicate enough time to recovery and that they continue to work at sobriety after they return.

Sources

Pot Soars on Wall Street, Real Estate Investors Just High All the Time

Wall Street Pee Tests Expose Startling New Drug Trend: Less Coke Snorting, More Pot-Smoking

Wall Street Drug Use: Employees Giving Up Cocaine for Pot and Pills

“So you don’t think you have a drinking problem? Prove it.” How many times have we felt like saying this to someone? How many people should have said this to us? During the remainder of the summer, we’d like to issue a challenge: Stop drinking so much.

Too Much Drinking

Our society has glamorized alcohol to the point that many people consider it normal to consume large amounts of alcohol. But our society would be better off if we all drank less. We’d reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents or injuries, reduce the incidence of alcoholism, improve our health, and save a lot of money along the way.

People that abuse alcohol don’t often think about their drinking as a problem. The challenge to stop drinking so much will help determine who has a dependency problem and who doesn’t. If we ask everyone to stop drinking for 90 days and see what happens, we’ll find that those that do not have an alcohol abuse problem will be able to do this; the rest will struggle and fail. Someone that is dependent on alcohol will not be able to go even a day without it, and needs medical help to detox from it. These people should go through therapy and support sessions to learn how to abstain from alcohol altogether. For those that aren’t addicted, let’s just start with drinking less, because alcohol abuse is also a problem. If we cut down on the number of drinks we have each day, or every week, we can gain some control over our behaviors and tendencies.

Tips to Reduce Drinking

To drink less, first keep track of how much you actually drink. You might be surprised at the amount you consume. The healthy normal is 1 drink daily for women and 2 for men. If you are consuming much more than this, seriously consider cutting back.

Set a goal, and spell out your reasons for that goal. You know why you should drink less – maybe it’s to improve the relationship with a family member, or to improve your health, or to take charge of your life. If you do plan to drink, don’t let it be more than one or two drinks per day. And set aside some days to not drink at all. Knowing that you can accomplish this will be empowering.

To keep yourself on track, empty out your alcohol cabinet at home. Keep only a few drinks in the house in order to avoid temptation.

Slow down your drinking. Start with a glass of water, and then take your time with the alcohol.

Replace drinking with positive activities. Get involved with a community group, take up a hobby, or go to the gym. Surround yourself with friends that won’t pressure you to drink.

There is much more to life than alcohol. Too often we forget about what’s really important and focus only on having a good time or relieving stress. This summer, make it a goal to drink less alcohol. Encourage friends to do the same. If you find you are not able to control your drinking, get help.

Sources

Alcohol intake of friends, family impact your drinking habit

Drink too much? How to tell

SAMHSA

So you have had enough of your drug or alcohol addiction, and maybe you’ve taken steps to get yourself into treatment. Or maybe your substance abuse has finally caught up to you and you are being forced into detox for family, financial, or legal reasons. Or maybe you are just finally seriously thinking of getting help and entering treatment in the near future.

Oftentimes there is a lag between the time the decision has been made, the trigger has been pulled, and when treatment actually starts. Ideally, once a person has admitted they have a problem and are willing to seek help, they should be whisked off to rehab, so as not to change their mind or get distracted again. But for the many times that this isn’t possible, it is important to consider what you should do with your last few days before treatment.

Don’t Over Abuse Your Substance

Do not go nuts and give yourself one last party on the substance, or one last crazy weekend of overindulgence. Just like the perpetual “diet starts tomorrow” attitude that causes would-be dieters to stuff themselves day after day, so it can go with substance abuse. You may think this is your last chance to live it up and to get as high as you possibly can, but these kinds of thoughts can be very damaging. For one, it may result in less motivation to enter treatment because you think, “Why would I want to give this up?”. It also creates a very dangerous environment for you or for others. Many people have overdosed just before entering treatment, causing serious injury or death. Many other people that are living it up before rehab cause accidents or injury from things like DUI or domestic abuse.

Focus on Positive Activities

It is not expected that you quit the substance on your own just days before your scheduled detox or treatment. After all, that’s why you are admitting yourself; to get help doing something you are unable to do yourself. But you should certainly keep the substance abuse in moderation. Now would be the perfect time to focus on eating right, maybe going for a daily walk, and most importantly, setting goals for your future. Keep yourself focused on what you really want for yourself and your family, so when the time comes, you are motivated to stick with the treatment program.

Look through old family photos of the “good old days”, read an inspirational book, attend church, or hear the stories of others that have succeeded in sobriety. All these positive things will help you much more in the long run than going out and partying one last time.

Sources

7 Things to Know Before Starting Drug Rehabilitation

Expert: Jail Time, Rehab ‘Best Thing’ for Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is turning a new leaf even before her jail sentence begins

EXCLUSIVE: Brooke Mueller Partied With Charlie Sheen Hours Before Going Into Rehab

Wouldn’t it be nice to be substance free? Not just heroin free, or oxycontin free, but also methadone free, alcohol free, even free from everyday crutches we may have gotten used to. Holistic treatment centers on overcoming substance abuse by looking at the whole person, by trying to get the big picture into focus, by promoting a natural, healthy lifestyle.

Whole Treatment

Many treatment facilities now offer a holistic approach to helping people get sober. This works because when someone has a drug or alcohol addiction, it is more than the substances that are the problem. Mental illness, events of the past, and family circumstances can all be factors that drive someone to abuse drugs or alcohol. In order to fully treat a person, it is necessary to create order in the rest of their life also.

Many people detox from drugs or alcohol, only to fall apart and turn back to it after treatment. This is because the pressures, the insecurities, or the things causing unhappiness are still present and cause the person to feel the need to rely on substances. But with whole healing, a person is able to stand on their own and be at peace without substances.

Types of Holistic Rehab

There are many different types of holistic rehab. There are the ones we might expect, including acupuncture, organic food, and medication. These things help us focus on complete health without using modern medicine. Some facilities offer culinary experiences with locally grown organic food, tailored to meet all of the body’s basic nutritional needs. Others have massage therapists, or acupuncturists that can cleanse the body of discomfort. Many programs have a spiritual core that helps a person rely on a higher power to live a clean, healthy life.

Other holistic approaches are maybe not what would come to mind when we think holistic, but they also help redirect the body and mind toward complete health. Experiences in nature, such as staying in the midst of beautiful mountains, powerful oak trees, or a sunny seaside help patients connect with the simple things in life. Adventure therapy gives patients a mission, to help them center on something other than their substance abuse. Equine therapy also provides a positive tool  to aid in recovery.

By providing a nurturing atmosphere filled with positive experiences, along with nutritious meals, support groups, and therapy, holistic patients can become completely sober. No more drugs or alcohol, no more medicines to take the place of the illegal drugs, no crutch. The journey is not easy, but with the right kind of holistic treatment, patients seeking a natural lifestyle can learn ways to bring themselves to a completely healthy mind and body.

Sources

Holistic practices can offer medical options

The Canyon

Michael’s House