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There is are some things which are important enough to seek information about. Dealing with a drug addict you care about is one of those things. With this in mind, we’ve made a top ‘5 Support Tips for Friends and Family of Drug Addicts.’ Read on to find out crucial information to help your situation.  

We want to help you with some vital information you may need for yourself and any of the family members of drugs addicts you know or have in your life.

Everyone has many uncertainties about what to do next when you are dealing with not only the drug addict but other family members and friends.

What do you say about the drug addiction someone you care about is dealing with? What can you do to help?

There are four types of drug addiction which is raging across the United States. You may recognize a couple of the below drug abuse issues:

• Excessive alcohol abuse is rampant right now in the United States.
• Alcohol abuse costs over $249 billion dollars each year in lost productivity, health care, and law enforcement.
• Marijuana may now be legal in several states but it is still linked to distorted perceptions, problem-solving issues and loss of motor coordination.
• Long-term abuse of marijuana can lead to; agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and more.
• Opioids are now in epidemic proportions. There were over 42,000 deaths from opioids in 2016. 40% of those deaths involved prescription opioids.
• Some of the effects of opioids include mental confusion, nausea, euphoria, and more.

How to Deal with a Drug Addict

There are ways you can tell if someone you love or care for is using drugs. If you find out they are, they are also ways on how you can deal with them.

Here are five ways you can effectively deal with a drug addict in the most constructive way you can.

1. Find out what you can about drug addiction. Keep finding out more. Learn about drug addiction and how it interfaces with the cells inside the brain.
   • Understand drug addiction is a disease. It is not something your loved one chose for themselves.
2. Try to connect with others going through the same thing. Al-Anon is a good place to start.
   • Every family member or friend may feel stressed when they try to help the addict.
   • Connecting in a non-judgemental format allows you to vent your feelings and be with people who understand your thoughts and feelings.
3. It begins with family therapy. Everyone and almost every family can benefit from family therapy. When you are dealing with a loved one who is a drug addict, family therapy becomes almost essential.
   • Family therapy is designed to break down feelings of distrust. It is also designed to build up feelings of support.
4. Participate in family and friend activities as simple as having dinner together. It has to start somewhere. Start by sharing a meal.
   • Go to the park together and walk a bit. Quality time even in loving silence can mean a lot to the person in need.
5. Keep your expectations simple. Don’t expect miracles and don’t demand perfection.
   • Try to enjoy the positive steps you see happen. It takes a long time to beat down drug addiction sometimes. Be patient but don’t enable.

Help for Families of Drug Addicts

There is always help for families of drug addicts. All you have to do is to know where to look.

We are here 24-7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Since one in seven people suffer from drug addiction, we have learned to be ready no matter when we are needed.

We know drug interventions, family meetings, friends who confront the drug addict will need us. We are always here for you.

Family members of drug addicts sometimes start blaming each other or the addict for having the addiction.

Drug addiction does not come from weakness or choice. It is not your loved one being stubborn or defiant when they won’t quit.

Sometimes they cannot quit. They need help to quit drugs because drug addiction has never been about what they want. Drug addiction is a disease. It stems from changes in brain chemistry and electrical impulse alterations.

What Causes Drug Addiction?

To this day, no one knows what causes drug addiction. Some scientists say it is genetic. Some scientists say it is the environment. Some scientists say it is a combination of genetic variations to environments.

There are various factors which scientists think may contribute to the development of drug addiction. They are:

• Environmental factors consist of things like your family’s beliefs or attitudes. It is any family member or peers encouraged you to use drugs.
• Genetic factors revolve around when you start using a drug, you are predisposed to having a drug addiction because people in your family also have this issue. It is an inherited trait which runs in your family.

Since no two addicts or addictions are alike it is difficult to surmise and prove why some people can use drugs and never become addicted and others cannot.

But we do know a tailored therapy based on the addict’s needs gives them the best chances of recovery.

Treatment Plan Information

There are several types of treatment plans for drug addicts. It is important to remember whichever treatment option you choose should be designed to increase an addict’s coping and communication skills.

Drug addicts need to know how to manage high-risk situations so they can avoid substance abuse. Treatment options need to help them focus on their psychosocial rehabilitation needs.

Family Members of Drug Addicts

If you are a friend or family member living in the midst of addiction you may feel traumatized.

It is common for friends and family members of drug addicts to feel overwhelmed and angry.

They feel they have been lied to and betrayed.

Yet, these same family members will sometimes try to overcompensate for the addict. They may play a protector of the addict. Sometimes they blame the addict. Or they can even abuse the addict.

It is essential therapy is sought not just for the drug addict but for the family members of the drug addict. You cannot treat part of a wound. You have to treat the entire wound as well as the skin around it.

Help for Family Members of Drug Addicts

There are treatment options for the drug addicts which are quite detailed and inclusive of everything they may need.

Family and friends of addicts also need help. We are going to suggest some great family support systems for family members of drug addicts. They are;

• We talked a bit about Al-Anon or Nar Anon. These free programs are held in almost every major city or area.
• They are dedicated to providing group support to drug and alcohol addicted individual’s family and friends.
• We offer treatment to the drug addict but also incorporate and build family therapy sessions into our treatment programs.
• We assist the drug addict and their support system understand what a sober social network is about. As well as what this network will provide to them and each other.

Through it all, we work on improving the family, friends, support network and drug abuser with their communication skills. Communication can be effective and efficient in reducing conflict and fights.

Drug Addiction Help

Drug addiction help starts with the addict. Unless they want help, it is a long, uphill climb. But we will help no matter where the starting point is with your drug addict.

Every decision-making tool we teach is one which both the drug addicts and family members can use. Because every decision-tool we teach, use, and try to grow in our drug addicts helps them become stronger.

It lets them and their families begin to make healthy decisions. It successfully combines the best of therapeutic and developmental therapy so growth can occur.

There is no substitute for us or our treatment center. We make sure your loved one has the tools they need and the knowledge they can draw from to take positive first steps in their recovery.

What Does My Family Need to Do Now?

Call us or reach out to us today. That is what we are here for. We have the treatment program you need for drug addiction. What’s more, we can help with family members of drug addicts too.

The decision to go to rehabilitation for the drug addict in your family may be the easy part. The hard part is every step after that. That’s why we are there for you every step of the way.

The road is a long one in drug recovery. Sometimes there are setbacks and bumps along the way you thought you were behind you.

But they don’t have to be bigger than they are if you get help when you need it and not months or years later.

Give yourselves and your loved one who suffers from drug addiction a way forward. They will have to do the heavy lifting, but you can be there with support and love.

If we work together through family therapy and support groups we become healthy together.

Which means we can become the family we always knew we were but never had the chance to be.
Call us now so we can be with you as you take the first step.

In 2017, more than 70,200 Americans died from a drug overdose. In 2020, initial statistics point to more than 93,000 perishing, another huge increase.  With this terrible truth in mind, we want to look at ‘8 Helpful Tips to Prevent Drug Abuse,’ so that fewer families have to grieve their loved ones.  

Oftentimes, people who suffer from substance abuse refuse to believe they are ill and continue down the dangerous path of addiction, which can end in a fatal overdose.

But what if you’ve decided it’s time to take back your life and stop using drugs and alcohol? How can you prevent drug abuse and live a sober life?

Recovery is not an easy path, but it’s a necessary one. Keep reading for some important tips on staying sober.

What Qualifies as Drug Abuse?

The first step in recovery is admitting that you have an addiction. This might seem like a simple step, but oftentimes addicts can’t see that they have a destructive and harmful drug habit.

So, what exactly qualifies as drug abuse? When does one cross the line from occasional use to addiction?

Health officials agree that casual substance use becomes substance abuse when one or more of the following things occur as a result of repeated drug use:

• Health issues
• Failure to meet normal responsibilities (missing work, school, etc.)
• Putting yourself or others at risk
• Relationship/social issues
• Disability
• Impaired control

These are just a few of the ways addiction can change your life. There are many other ways drug and alcohol abuse can affect you and the people around you. And if you feel unable to continue through the day without using your drug of choice, you have an addiction.

Now that we’ve laid the foundation of what drug abuse actually is, let’s jump into how to prevent substance abuse moving forward.

1. Understand the Risk Factors of Substance Abuse

One of the most important steps of staying sober is investigating what led you to abuse drugs in the first place.

While the causes of substance abuse can vary vastly from person to person, we should talk about and understand the common risk factors that lead to drug use.

Genetics

Do you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse in your family? This isn’t by accident. Biology and your genetics play a huge role in the likelihood that you develop an addiction.

But while genetics play a huge role, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed from the start just because both of your parents have addiction problems. It just means you’re at a higher risk than someone who has no family history of drug abuse.

Environment

The environment we grow up in and the people we surround ourselves with play a huge role in addiction.

Environmental factors can include family and friends’ behavior, social or economic status, quality of life, stress, and more.

Mental Illness

There is a strong correlation between mental health disorders and substance abuse. This is likely due to people using drugs and alcohol to cope with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

In fact, one in four adults living with serious mental health disorders also suffer from substance abuse.

This means that if you suffer from mental illness, it’s important to seek help to treat the illness so you don’t use drugs and alcohol as a crutch.

Trauma

There is also a strong correlation between trauma and substance abuse, especially among women.

It is estimated that as many as 80 percent of women who abuse drugs and alcohol also report prior sexual and/or physical abuse.

2. Seek Help for Mental Illness

As mentioned above, there is a strong correlation between substance abuse and mental illnesses or trauma. That fact makes it especially important for people to see a therapist or psychiatrist to treat these issues.

Without treating mental health problems, preventing addiction becomes an almost impossible battle. This is because when things get difficult, you will likely turn back to your drug of choice if you don’t have other means of working through it.

Mental health professionals not only give you space to safely talk, but they also give you ways to make it through those tough times. After seeing a professional, you’ll have a toolbox full of healthy ways to cope with mental illness.

3. Be Honest with Yourself

Addiction is a lifelong illness and it doesn’t just go away after being sober for an extended time period. The addiction will always be with you, and it’s important to be honest with yourself about that.

Once you can admit that you are an addict, you’ll know that there are certain things you should avoid if you want to stay sober.

For example, if you’re a recovering alcoholic, you shouldn’t go to a bar with friends you used to get wasted with. The temptation will be too strong and you might succumb to it.

So, be honest with where you’re at in your recovery and keep away from any potential temptations.

4. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

Just as it’s important to keep away from bad influences that might tempt you into using again, it’s also necessary to surround yourself with positive influences.

This doesn’t mean you can only hang out with other sober individuals. It means you should be around people who will support and respect your sobriety. Keep friends who understand the struggle you’ve gone through, and will motivate you to stay sober.

You should also have a group of sober peers — for example, an NA or AA support group that you can turn to when you’re feeling vulnerable.

5. Live a Balanced Life

When your life is in shambles and causing you immense stress, it becomes more difficult to cope with and stay sober. That’s why addicts need to take extra care to make sure they’re living a well-balanced life.

What does this mean, exactly?

A well-balanced life means that your days are full, but you’re not overwhelmed. You spend time completing your responsibilities, but also have time to enjoy yourself and others. You eat healthy foods and exercise your body and your mind.

By practicing these habits, you will be in a better place physically and mentally and you won’t feel as strong of an urge to use again.

6. Communicate with Loved Ones

As an addict, you need to be comfortable sharing your emotions with your loved ones.

If you start feeling overwhelmed with daily pressures or have recently dealt with a life trauma (death in the family, loss of a job, etc.), you can’t bottle that up because it’ll build up and explode into destructive behavior.

By learning to communicate with your family and friends, you can work through these issues before they build up. Loved ones can provide valuable insight and, most importantly, let you know that they’re there for you and will help you through it.

7. Find Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Addicts often use drugs to cope with mental illness and stress on a daily basis. So when you quit using, it’s vital to have healthy alternatives to cope with these same issues.

Seeing a therapist can help you in the long-term, but you should have a way to work through triggers right now so you don’t turn to drug use.

So, what are some helpful coping tools you can use? Here are a few:

Meditation

When you first start to meditate, you might not notice a big effect. But if you practice meditation on a daily basis, you will start to notice the ability to shut off your thoughts and ground yourself.

Once you reach that point, you can start using meditation to get you through stressful or emotional moments in your life. If you feel yourself getting upset, take a step back, sit down, and meditate for a few minutes to reset.

Exercise

Exercise is a wonderful way to deal with stress because it releases endorphins, just as a drug will.

By simply going for a run when you’re feeling upset, you can alter your brain chemistry and start feeling a lot better.

Hobbies

Do you enjoy going on hikes, painting, or gardening? These types of hobbies are a great way to stay grounded and distract yourself from dangerous thoughts when times are rough.

Even if your hobbies keep you distracted enough until you can meet up with a sponsor or support group, that might be all you need.

8. Respond to Relapse by Checking into Rehab

The unfortunate part of recovery is the possibility of relapse. Between 40 and 60 percent of people in recovery relapse at least once. And while that’s a scary thought, it’s important to know it’s a normal part of recovery.

If you relapse, you can’t be too hard on yourself. You need to take responsibility and get treatment so you can get back on track again.

By checking into rehab, you can get clean and understand what led to the relapse so you can develop a deeper understanding of your addiction.

Prevent Drug Abuse and Gain Control of Your Life

If you want to prevent drug abuse and live a sober life, following these tips is a great start.

Recovery and sobriety is a life-long journey and requires dedication and honesty from yourself.
If you have recently relapsed or fear you might, reach out to us today. We can help get you back on track so you can live a happy, healthy, and drug-free life.

There are no easy answers if you are dealing with a teenager who is abusing drugs. We want to help you get through the uncertainties of what to do next, and have written ‘5 Tips for Parents Dealing With Teen Drug Abuse,’ to help.  

We do this by providing you with the latest and most relevant substance abuse information.

Teenage drug abuse is holding steady in the United States. But the new phenomena of vaping is on the rise. Vaping is playing into increased nicotine drug addiction.

In general, drugs and alcohol are present in almost all facets of your teenager’s life.

There are some hard and fast statistics about teenage drug abuse. We have listed them below so we have an informational starting place.

• Marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol are the substances most adolescents or teenagers try and use.
• By 18 years of age, two-thirds of teenagers have tried or use alcohol.
• Marijuana is used by half of all students age 13-18 years of age.
• Four out of ten 18-year-olds have tried or now use cigarettes.
• 20% of all 18-year-olds have abused prescription drugs.

Teens Addicted

When teens become addicted to alcohol or drugs the addiction impacts their growth and development.

Teenage drug addiction targets the teenager’s brain development. Sometimes there is irreversible damage done to the brain.

In dealing with teenage drug addiction we must never forget addiction is a disease. It is not something your teenager is choosing to be or what they want to remain. Addiction affects their brain and their behavior.

The root of what causes teenage drug addiction has thousands of theories. Some say it is genetics.

Some scientists say it is the environment. Some scientists say it is a combination of genetic variations to environments. No one knows for sure. But there is a science to teenage drug abuse.

The Science of Teenage Drug Abuse

Scientists are continuing to study drug addiction. Many times teenage drug addicts suffer from magnified harmful consequences. This magnification of drug abuse in teenagers shows up in different ways.

For instance, some teenagers start taking part in more risk-taking activities. Activities like having unprotected sex or driving their car while under the influence.

Also, many teenage addicts have severe health issues later on in their life due to their earlier drug addiction.

Some of these health issues are heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

Even more frightening is when teenagers become addicted when they are so young, there is a greater chance of them developing substance addiction again later on in their life.

It doesn’t matter if they are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Any type of substance abuses can end up with increased addiction rates when they become adults.

20 million youth ages 12+ are drug or alcohol addicts. It is important to note, that once your teenager becomes an adult treatment options are up to them to seek.

Many treatment centers will work with your adult child and their family if permission is granted by your adult child.

But if your teenager is still under the age of 18, there are some drug addiction treatment options we would like to share with you. These treatment options are good for the whole family as well as the teenage substance user.

Teenage Drug Abuse

Teenage drug abuse issues change from teenager to teenager. No two addictions are the same.

The addictions may have the same symptoms or even consequences but the addict causes the differences.

If all the addictions in teenagers or adults were the same, the world could market and package one treatment plan which works for all of them. Much like antibiotics are used on all infections.

But no two addictions are the same much like no two people are the same. Rehabilitation, treatment plans, and services should be tailored. A tailored therapy based on the addict’s needs gives them the best chances of recovery.

Treatment Plan Information

There are around several types of treatment plans for teenage drug addiction. Remember, what works for one may not work for the other.

Which is why each treatment plan needs to be modified and customized to meet the needs of the teenage addict.

What works for one may not work for the other. Which is why each treatment plan needs to be modified and customized to the teenage addict.

All the treatment plans we are listing are designed to increase an addict’s coping skills.

It teaches them how to manage high-risk situations so they can avoid substance abuse. It helps the teenage drug addict focus on psychosocial rehabilitation.

Treatment Plan Options

If a teenage addict can learn what their triggers are they may be able to avoid them.

This helps them learn how to control their craving for drugs and alcohol. Some therapies which have been effective, include but are not limited to;

• A person-centered approach keeps everyone involved with the teenager’s drug abuse recovery.

• It is a form of community reinforcement approach used in therapy.
• It helps develop alternative activities and groups for the teenager.
• This helps minimize the teenager’s at-risk behaviors.
• Treatment which addresses interpersonal skills through group therapy, behavioral therapy, commitment therapy, mentalization-based therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

• These therapies help addicts identify, recognize, and avoid negative thought processes.
• It can help with the typical behaviors or situations which lead to substance abuse.
• It teaches teenagers about their cravings and how to cope with them.
• There are treatments which offer group and individual wellness activities and therapeutic outings.

• Teenagers can receive weekly family therapy sessions. These therapy sessions range in;
• Multi-dimensional, functional, multi-systemic, motivational or strategic) and anger management sessions.
• Case management works through individual therapy and recovery plans as well.

Through it all, we work on improving teenage substance abusers communication skills. We try to also help the family in support issues which reduce conflict.

We provide therapy which helps rewards constructive and positive behavior while discouraging unhealthy behavior. By doing that we can help teenage drug addiction one life at a time.

Teen Addicted

It doesn’t matter what we call it. If we call it teen addict or teenage addiction the end result is the same. You know or have a teenage drug abuse issue. You want help and you need to know what to do next.

That is what we are here for. We have the teenage drug abuse treatment programs which help.

We have a proven rehabilitation system for addicts. But we often have to start at the same place no matter the age of our addicts.

That is starting our substance abuse patients with detox. When your teenager is admitted to

Best Rehabs In Arizona our medical team does a preliminary screening.

This preliminary screening helps determine detox needs and health of the patient.

The Phases and Stages of Pathfinder Recovery Programs

The medical team does this preliminary screening to assess what pain or suffering your teenager may experience during drug withdrawal. We call it the stabilization phase.

There is no easy way to go through drug detoxification so we want to make sure we do it safely and privately. We make sure there is medical help available if needed.

The next phase is our vision phase. The vision phase enables substance abusers to help make their own recovery decision.

The decision-making tools we teach during this phase help our addicts come to a self-realization point.

It also helps determine if their substance abuse is combined with another dependency or mental health issue.

It is during this phase we want teenagers to understand their substance abuse issues with education. Substance-abuse education which shows all the levels and phases of addiction.

The last phase is the quest phase. This phase is highly recommended and most often used. It is a 90-day tracked program of individualized treatment planning.

This planning is done with a team of mental, medical and clinical expert professionals.

It successfully combines therapeutic, medication-assisted treatment and developmental therapy.

This combination of therapies is specific to the addict’s unique needs.

A Teenager At Risk

Do you know of a teenage drug abuse issue? Does this teenage drug abuse issue involve someone you know or care about?

Then it stands to reason you want to know more about us and if we can help. As we mentioned above, no two addictions are equal. No two teenage substance abusers are the same.

But finding a treatment center who cares enough to keep trying to reach the teenage addict is worth hanging onto.

Just like no two addicts are alike, no two treatment centers are equal to each other either.

The treatment center that is best for you and the teenage substance abuser who needs help is the one that works best for them. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. If it is helping the

teenager who suffers from addiction, keep it.

There is no substitute for a treatment center which seems tailored to what you, your family and teenage substance user needs. In fact, those are the treatment centers which have the greatest possibility of success.

The Last Phase of Treatment

We understand that life didn’t stop in the world around us while your teenager is in treatment.

We know we need to help teenagers in their educational needs or life vocational career options.

We help find sober living environments on or off college campuses.

Sometimes we work with finding support groups and life coaches. Every step which is a positive one your teenager makes is a step which leads him to a healthy life.

We have even worked with teenagers while they plan a future while they are in treatment. A future which gives them a goal. This goal becomes a light they can follow. That light can help you and your family transition back into the world.

When we work together, we find transitions which were made in a healthy manner. Teenage drug abuse patients become some of our most successful and happy graduates.
Because teenage graduates who are free from their addiction disease are taking their first step towards making a healthy life for themselves. We hope we see you soon so your teenage drug abuse issue stops now!

86 percent of adults in the U.S drink alcohol, and for most of them, alcohol consumption isn’t a problem. But about a quarter of adults report heavy alcohol use. That alone is cause for concern, and it’s even more so when someone is also taking prescription medications. Find answers about, ‘Is Mixing Prescription Meds and Alcohol Dangerous?’ 

Combining alcohol with prescription pain meds can cause serious health problems and can even lead to death. In this article, we’ll take a look at why mixing alcohol with medication is so dangerous and how you or someone you love can get help before it’s too late.

The Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down the central nervous systems. That may seem counter-intuitive because people often drink alcohol at parties and other social gatherings to “loosen up”.

Our liver can metabolize about one drink an hour. But even one drink can slow respiration and the body’s response times. That’s why drinking and driving are so dangerous. Consuming alcohol can also affect speech, thought, memory and movement, especially when someone drinks large amounts.

Alcohol can also affect our mental state and cause changes in our emotions, decreased inhibitions, impaired judgment, difficulty remembering things and confusion. Drinking more than our liver can process can lead to both short and long-term health problems. Binge drinking, for example, can cause alcohol poisoning which can be deadly. An average of six people dies of alcohol poisoning every day in the US. It is a certainly factor to consider when asking, ‘Is Mixing Prescription Meds and Alcohol Dangerous?’  

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slowed or irregular breathing
• Cyanosis, or blue-tinted skin
• Pale skin
• Low body temperature, or hypothermia
• Unconsciousness
• Seizures

Binge drinking is a serious problem for millions of people. In fact, nearly 27 percent of adults reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month.  About 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year. It’s the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States

If you or someone you love is drinking to excess, it’s important to recognize the signs of a potential problem.

Alcohol and Medications

Men and women with alcohol use disorders or alcoholism are 18 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs than people who don’t drink at all. Mixing alcohol with the medication of any kind can be dangerous, even deadly.

The combination can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding and heart problems. More severe reactions can include alcohol poisoning, hallucinations, even death.

Alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless. Conversely, it may make the medication toxic to your body. The classes of drugs most commonly abused and mixed with alcohol are:

Depressants – These include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and sleep medications. These drugs are prescribed to help with insomnia and anxiety. They also lower blood pressure and can cause respiratory distress and death when mixed with alcohol.

Opioids –  These include codeine, hydrocodone, methadone, and oxycodone. Most people take these drugs to relieve pain. These drugs can slow or even stop breathing and slow the heart. When combined with alcohol, these drugs can lead to death. These are a particularly dangerous class of prescriptions to mix with alcohol.  

Stimulants – These include amphetamines, which are commonly prescribed to treat obesity and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When mixed with alcohol, they can cause high blood pressure and heart attacks, seizures and strokes. This combination is especially dangerous because stimulants can actually prevent a person’s own body from saving itself. When you drink excessively, you often pass out. That’s the body’s way of stopping you from drinking even more. But if you take stimulants when you drink, you may not pass out and thus put yourself at risk for alcohol poisoning and death.

Here’s a list of commonly-used medications that interact with alcohol in ways that can affect your health.

Alcohol and Prescription Pain Meds

Pain medications fall into the category of drugs called opioids. Opioids include morphine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. 91 people die every day because of an opioid overdose, often caused by combining the drugs with alcohol.

Mixing prescription painkillers with alcohol increases their effects and the risk of overdose. One study found that combining even normal prescription doses of oxycodone with the equivalent of one to three drinks can lead to dangerously depressed breathing.

In fact, oxygen deprivation is the cause of overdose death among people struggling with opioid addiction. Basically, when you combine pain killers with alcohol, you might simply stop breathing.

Other side effects caused by mixing alcohol with opioids include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Slowed or difficult breathing
• Impaired motor control, leading to accidents
• Unusual behavior
• Memory problems or blackouts
• Liver damage

Alcohol can also change the performance of pain medication. In some cases, alcohol can negate its effectiveness. This can be dangerous, because the patient may then take more pills and drink more alcohol to try and achieve the “high” he’s seeking. He may not experience the immediate effects of an overdose until it’s too late.

It’s also important to consider the mental and emotional effects of combining alcohol with prescription pain meds. The mix can change a person’s thoughts and actions, making risky behavior a threat to their safety. The person is more likely to black out, vomit and/or engage in risky behaviors like drunk driving and unplanned, unprotected sex.

A person who mixes alcohol with prescriptions drugs may develop long-term health problems as a result. These include:

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Liver damage
• Liver failure
• Internal bleeding
• Brain damage
• Depression, anxiety or other mental health problems

Signs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Abusing two or more substances is referred to as polysubstance or cross-addiction. This type of addiction can develop in several ways. Perhaps the most common occurs when a patient with a history of alcohol abuse is given prescription pain medication for a legitimate purpose. For example, the patient may need pain meds following surgery.

However, because opioids stimulate the same area of the brain as alcohol does, the patient can easily develop an addiction to them. Additionally, abusing pain medication can trigger an alcoholic relapse.

It’s important to recognize the signs that someone is abusing alcohol and drugs because the combination can be deadly. Those symptoms can include:

Changes in behavior and mood. The person may become easily irritated, angry or depressed with no obvious cause.

Financial problems. The person may quickly exhaust his financial resources, as he needs to buy more and more of the medications and the alcohol. He may also suffer the financial consequences of his addiction, like attorneys fees and court costs.

Difficulty at work or the loss of a job. The person may have trouble functioning at work if he’s actively using. Or, he may experience withdrawal symptoms severe enough to affect his job performance.

Health problems. Heavy drinking combined with prescription pain medication can cause liver problems, including inflammation and scarring. The patient may develop an inflammation of the stomach lining, along with stomach and esophageal ulcers.

Neurological complications. Abusing drugs and opioids can affect the nervous system, causing numbness and pain in the hands and feet, disordered thinking and dementia.

Treatment Options

If you or someone you love is abusing alcohol and prescription pain meds, it’s vitally important to seek treatment. We now know that the combination can be life-threatening. If you suspect someone is mixing drugs and alcohol, having an honest conversation is the first step.

There are a number of treatment options, including residential treatment. The patient is able to detox from both the alcohol and opioids under medical supervision. He might then live at the facility for a month or longer.

Outpatient treatment is also an option. Here, the patient lives at home but spends his days at a treatment facility.

Both options will combine substance abuse treatment and counseling with therapy, life, and coping skills development. The patient will learn how to manage stress, anxiety and past trauma in healthy ways that don’t involve alcohol or opioids.

This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the treatment of cross addictions. The patient may be able to stop drinking but still, need help managing pain. Medical experts will help develop a course of treatment that may involve supervised pain management until the medication is no longer needed.

Wrapping It Up

We’ve focused our discussion here on the dangers of mixing alcohol with prescription pain meds. It’s also important to be aware that other medications can interact with alcohol in dangerous ways.

Some over the counter cough medicines, for example, can contain alcohol. Some allergy medications contain an ingredient that can make you drowsy. Taking the medication with alcohol will increase the effectiveness of both. That can create serious health problems. If you or someone you love needs support dealing with addiction, we’re here to help. Please contact us with any questions you have or to schedule an appointment.

Any addiction can wreak havoc on our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Addictions have the ability to change our personalities and greatly affect our reality. In this article we look at ‘Our People on Meth,’ with an attempt to understand the powerful allure of this substance for so many.  

We may see a loved one suffering from addiction and not even recognize them anymore. We wonder what changed and how we can return them to health and well-being. For people on meth, these changes can be even more dramatic.

People on meth truly aren’t themselves. Like any addiction, meth has a way of hijacking the brain which alters a meth user’s reality. They can no longer distinguish who they truly are when on the drug.

This extreme high matched with an extreme low is what makes meth so addictive. People on meth began to believe that the only way they will feel joy and ease again is if they use. This belief system accompanied by withdrawal symptoms is what keeps a meth addict going back to their drug of choice over and over.

So, what does a meth user actually experience while high? And, what do they experience after the high wears off?

Read on to find out how people on meth think, behave and feel.

People on Meth: How Meth Changes the User

People who seek out meth do so for a variety of reasons. Some are doing so to escape from negative emotions whereas others are seduced by its ability to help them lose weight. But, once the initial high wears off meth users typically find themselves in a worse state than they were before.

This is what leads the meth user to a cycle of addiction. Like all humans, they want to avoid pain and find pleasure. But, meth provides them with such an extreme contrast that their addiction completely takes over their lives.

So, how does the meth high keep users addicted? And, what do they experience while on the drug? Explore the following stages of meth addiction and how to know if your loved one may be on meth.

Stages of Meth Use Explained

The following outlines the stages of meth use. These stages demonstrate what the meth user is experiencing while under the influence of meth.

1. Getting High

The high initial high is what keeps the meth user addicted. The initial high also called “the rush”  induces a feeling of euphoria. However, for some people, this feeling can at first be alarming.

But, once the brain associates the rush with positive feelings, the user will believe they can achieve this over and over again. During this phase, the heart rate quickens, metabolism goes faster, and blood pressure rises. This initial rush can last for up to 30 minutes.

Once the initial rush wears off, the user is now in the high state. During the high, meth users frequently feel grandiose. They feel more confident, invincible, and super-human. They believe they can accomplish any feat and will often be aggressive, violent, or argumentative during this phase.

They might also become highly focused on a single task for hours on end. This is also the phase where injuries occur due to a sense of grandiosity. For example, the user may try to test their speed by running out into oncoming traffic.

During the high, what’s most notable and common is a loss of self-awareness. This is especially true if the meth user is only surrounded by other meth users.

They begin to believe that their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are normal.

2. Bingeing/ Maintaining the High

The next phase of meth addiction is the bingeing phase. The bingeing phase is needed to maintain the high and avoid coming down from the drug. However, the user discovers that each time they use the initial high becomes less and less effective.

This is because their bodies are becoming tolerant to the effects of the drug. During this phase, the body and mind will be hyperactive. The user will get more and more restless and they will show more signs of erratic behavior.

This is because the drug is having less and less of an effect which makes the user powerless and fearful.

3. Tweaking

Once the meth user can no longer feel high, they’ve reached the tweaking phase. The tweaking phase is most commonly portrayed in the media, and this is because of how intense it can be. During the tweaking phase, the user may begin to enter a meth-induced psychotic state.

During this psychotic state, the user will feel like they have lost all sense of their identity. At this time, meth users commonly believe that bugs are crawling under their skin which leads them to pick and create sores. This psychotic state is not only brought on by the drug, but also the fact that the user cannot sleep during this time.

Tweaking also makes people on meth have hallucinations. The hallucinations can be so overwhelming and lead the person on meth to act out. During this time, the user may become violent or harm themselves.

4. Hangover and Crash

After a binge, a meth hangover and crash is inevitable. First, the meth user’s body will seek to shut down leading them to sleep for hours on end. They could very well be sleeping from one to three days.

This happens because of the drugs overwhelming affects on the body. It essentially demonstrates the common saying, “what goes up must come down.” And, since meth has such an extreme effect on the body and mind, it makes sense that it would need to recover through sleep for long periods of time.

Once people on meth awake from the crash, they will experience a meth hangover. During this time, they will feel physically and mentally off balance. They will feel dehydrated, extremely hungry, and exhausted.

This phase is what beckons the meth user to use meth again. To rid themselves of these feelings, they believe that using again will be the answer or cure to their dilemma.

5. Withdrawal

After one to three months, the meth user will realize that they are in meth withdrawal. That is if they haven’t used again during the previous phase. During withdrawal, the meth user will feel depressed and have difficulty experiencing pleasure.

The user will likely start craving meth again at this time. They might also become suicidal.

Physical and Mental Signs of Meth Use

One of the most pronounced physical signs of meth use is weight loss. Other physical signs of meth use include tooth decay and tooth loss, dilated pupils, and skin sores on the face or other parts of the body.

Long-term physical signs of meth include cardiovascular problems, rapid aging, and damage to organs.

The mental signs of meth use are vast. And similar to the physical symptoms of meth use, they are also very noticeable. Especially, if your loved one is acting drastically different than their usual personality.

Some mental signs of meth use include paranoia, being on edge or aggressive, and in a state of psychosis. After long-term use, your loved one may also exhibit signs of depression, suicidal thoughts and ideations, and disorientation.

Changes to Daily Life and Behavior

The physical and mental signs of meth addiction can be alarming, but the behavioral changes may be most notable. People on meth are likely to neglect their children, finances, and employment responsibilities. They may isolate or act out in erratic ways.

Their behavior is likely to be grandiose and impulsive as well. Understandably, this can lead you to worry about your loved one and their future.

But, because of the overpowering effects of the drug, it will likely be difficult to convince your loved one that their behavior is damaging. This is especially true when your loved one is experiencing the first three stages of meth use.

How to React to Your Loved One’s Meth Use

It is important to never confront and communicate with your loved one about their addiction while they are under the influence. Not only will this likely be unsuccessful because of the side effects of the drug, but it could also put you in harm’s way. Instead, talk with your loved one once they are sober and more willing to get help.

Approach them in a loving and concerned manner. Empathize with them and listen non-judgementally.

This will be very difficult for many to do, however. Since meth addiction can wreak havoc on families and the lives of others, you may feel angry and resentful towards your loved one. In this case, have an objective person with you when you decide to speak with them such as a counselor or a family friend.

People on Meth: Getting Help and Recovery

People on meth need help and a recovery program. If they refuse recovery, then make sure to lovingly set boundaries and stick to them. Even though your loved one chose to use meth initially, it doesn’t mean that they would choose to live the life they are currently living.

This is the power of addiction. But, thankfully, addictions are treatable and sobriety can be achieved with support, therapy, and guidance.

Need a recovery center to help you or your loved one recover from addiction? Contact us today to learn more about our programs and begin the journey to recovery.

While concerns about the class of drugs known as opioids have risen in the last decade, 58 out of every 100 Americans still receive a prescription for these painkillers every year in some form or another.  Read on for more information on the opioid addiction, especially useful given the current opioid epidemic.

While useful, their prevalent use and addictive nature lead to millions of cases of abuse. If you’ve come to this article, chances are you have questions regarding yourself or a loved one.

Can you identify opioid addiction signs?

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of natural and synthetic painkillers that work by binding themselves to opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors are part of the body’s reward system and trigger the release of a feel-good endorphin hormone, dopamine.

Normal levels of dopamine release when we experience a pleasurable event such as sex or a particularly delightful piece of cake.

Opiates cause our brain to release an artificial overabundance of dopamine, much more than we need to feel good. This cascade of hormones overrides our pain response, making opioids effective for managing pain. They are particularly helpful where other pain medications fail.

Derived from the poppy plant, there are many legal forms of opioids. These include morphine, oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, tramadol, and methadone, among others. The most widely known illegal version of this class is heroin.

Why Are Opioids Dangerous?

In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, and with good reason.

An estimated 130 people die every day from opiate-related overdoses. Almost 30,000 of those are from legal forms and another 15,000 from heroin derivatives every year.

Opiate addiction is a gradual process and happens for multiple reasons, both physical and emotional.

• The body becomes dependent on the increased levels of artificial dopamine. It quits manufacturing as much of its own, leading to a dependency on the drug for their continued release.
• Drug tolerance grows over time and means users have to consume more of the drug to maintain the needed levels of endorphin release.
• Because of increased tolerance, many people become addicted trying to manage chronic pain issues. Users need higher dosages to effectively control their pain.
• The reward/pleasure effects on the brain cause psychological addiction. You begin to believe you need the drug to feel good mentally and physically.
• The body changes in response to this growing tolerance and addiction, and leads to an actual chemical dependency on the drug. Without it, withdrawal symptoms occur.

At this point, the drug that was once meant to manage pain now manages the person, and they have little to no control in the choice to continue its use.

What Are Opioid Addiction Signs?

Opiate addiction comes with very noticeable side effects, especially the longer the abuse goes on.

Opioids cause drowsiness, nausea, slurred speech, and coordination issues even with recommended use. These will become more pronounced with higher and continued dosage.

Opiate addicts will begin to choose the high over daily responsibilities. They make poor decisions and forget about or abandoning obligations. Job performance will likely suffer, and you may notice they seem to be experiencing financial issues. They will lose interest in activities they once loved, perhaps changing friends or hanging out with new people while avoiding friends and family.

Their physical habits may change. They may stop paying attention to self-care like changing clothes and showering and may start sleeping at odd hours. They may eat much less or more, depending on their mood.

Mood swings are common, with depression, anxiety, and general apathy or decreased motivation. You’ll see erratic behavior, with highs of euphoria followed by agitation and irritability.

They may go from being energetic, talking rapidly and saying things that may not make sense, to crashing, becoming anxious, or angry.

One man recalls a restaurant dinner with his sister, addicted to hydrocodone at the time. She spent the first half of the meal talking and laughing loudly before falling asleep face first into her dinner plate.

What Are The Signs of an Opioid Overdose?

Besides the obvious life upheaval the above-mentioned symptoms would have, the terrifying prospect for an addicted loved one is an opioid overdose.

As the addict uses more and more of the drug to gain the same results, the opportunity for overdose grows. If access to the drug becomes harder, with new restrictions on their use implemented, addicts are likely to turn to illegal forms like heroin and increase their risk of accidental overdose.

An opiate overdose will cause:

• Slow and irregular breathing
• A shallow and irregular (or no) pulse
• Unconsciousness
• Constricted pupils with the eyes rolling back into the head
• Unresponsiveness and inability to wake

If your loved one is an opioid addict and you find them in this state, immediately call 911. Minutes count in this situation. When people survive it’s generally because someone was there to respond and administer help.

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Whether it’s an overdose, some other kind of traumatic wakeup call or the stark realization that there is a problem, treatment for opiate addiction needs to be multifaceted to reduce the chance of relapse.

1. Medical detox, in which professionals administer certain drugs to help negate withdrawal symptoms.
2. Extended evaluation and monitoring as detox ends. This ensures continued support of physical symptoms that may arise.
3. Family therapy to encourage loved ones to participate in the process. This heals outstanding issues resulting from previous symptomatic behaviors, leaving no emotional triggers to prompt relapse.
4. Individual therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, to understand negative tendencies, triggers, coping mechanisms and thought patterns that might contribute to addiction or relapse.
5. Additional supportive endeavors, such as new hobbies, spiritual guidance, and nutrition and wellness. These create a support system to fall back on in moments of distress.

Drugs like methadone and buprenorphine can help with physical withdrawal symptoms. The largest factor for relapse, however, is social support, or the lack thereof.

How Can You Help an Opioid Addict?

If someone you know and love is an opiate addict, or the rehabilitation process has already begun, there are some steps you can take to help the journey.

The first step is to avoid addiction in yourself or others completely.

• Make sure that any opioid prescriptions are in a secure place, away from places children or visitors to your home might find them. Opiates should not be in places they can be easily discovered like medicine cabinets or nightstands.
• Don’t share your prescriptions with others. It’s estimated that half of first-time users received the medication from a family member. If someone you know is suffering from an issue, encourage them to see a physician who can prescribe an appropriate dose.
• If you have extra opioids from a prescription, do not store them or throw them away in the trash. Make sure they are properly disposed of.

If an addiction has already begun, and you’re looking to offer support, you must understand the enormity of the situation. Depending on the extent and duration of drug abuse, the person may have to rebuild their entire life.

Encouraging and participating in the development of new, healthy behaviors is paramount. Knowing that relapse statistics are high and offering support despite setbacks is also critical.

Although you might be dealing with emotional issues resulting from a loved one’s drug abuse, it is important during recovery that your only role is that of support. Avoid criticism and viewpoints that make them feel like a bad person for their addiction. Understand that no one wants to be an addict, and anyone is susceptible.

However, it’s also important not to enable further related behavior. Drug use alters an addict’s brain, so make sure you are someone they can count on to see the situation fairly and clearly.

Opioids – Helping Versus Hurting

Opioids shouldn’t be vilified – when used safely under the supervision of a healthcare professional, they are incredibly useful and efficient for pain management.

If you or a loved one has an opiate prescription, however, knowing opioid addiction signs can mean the difference between a long and drawn out struggle and a quickly noticed and dealt with problem.

Take measures to avoid an opioid addiction from starting by properly storing and disposing of prescriptions. Ensure that you follow and do not exceed the dosing recommendations given to you by your healthcare provider.

If you notice signs of an addiction, bring it up immediately in a safe and loving manner. Be firm but gentle as you help your loved one come to terms with their problem.

Educate yourself so you can be a source of help and support. Understand that everyone is vulnerable to the effects and subsequent abuse of opioids. Your reaction to the problem helps determines the outcome.

If you or someone you know has an opioid addiction, find out how our programs can help you.

If someone you love is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, you’re not alone. ‘Is it Time?’ looks at timing an intervention properly for your loved one.

In fact, one in seven people in the United States will experience substance addiction at some point in their lifetime. And if that statistic shocks you, keep reading.

Because the really sad truth is that out of those addicts, only ten percent will receive treatment. Don’t let your loved one become a part of these heartbreaking statistics.

If you’re worried about the wellness of a friend or family member, it may be time to stage a drug intervention. With the help of an intervention, you’ll be able to communicate your concern in a controlled environment and offer your loved one professional treatment.

Not sure if it’s the right time? Don’t worry. We’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll break down the top signs that it’s time to stage an intervention. Let’s get started.

Constant Lateness

If your loved one is constantly late or absent from family events, work, or appointments, this is a sign that it’s time to stage a drug or alcohol intervention.

Addiction causes chronic lateness because the addict may experience hangovers, withdrawals, or the inability to transport themselves from one place to another.

Lying or Withholding Information

If you often catch someone in your life lying, they may need an intervention.

After all, there’s a lot of shame associated with addiction. To cover their tracks, addicts will often lie about where they’re going, what they’re doing, and who they’re seeing.

Don’t let these lies slip by you, even if they seem harmless. They may be an important clue that your loved one is hitting rock bottom and needs professional help.

Deterioration of Relationships

Many people who suffer from addiction will also suffer in their relationships, whether that means friendships or romantic connections. The mood swings, lying, irregularity, and unreliability make being in a relationship with an addict extremely taxing.

The deterioration of relationships is often a clear sign that a person is in need of serious help. Providing them with a loving, supportive intervention is a great way to get them to agree to join a treatment program.

A Decline in Physical Wellness

Drugs and alcohol weaken the immune system. For this reason, addicts may become sick more often than the average healthy person.

Addicts may also have a hard time taking care of personal grooming habits. Their physical appearance may suffer.

A sudden decline in a loved one’s physical wellness might mean that it’s time to stage an intervention. Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for:

• Sudden weight loss or weight gain
• Extremely large or small pupils
• Changes in appetite
• Strange body odors
• Runny nose
• Tremors
• Slurred speech
• Disheveled appearance
• Obvious lack of sleep

These symptoms may appear out of the blue or worsen slowly as the person’s disease progresses. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, keep tabs on it to ensure that you can track its development.

Increased Tolerance

Whatever an addict’s drug of choice is, one thing is for sure: as their addiction strengthens, they’ll need more of the drug to function. So, if you notice your loved one refilling their prescriptions more often, or buying more alcohol than usual, it could be time to call an interventionist.

Brain Fog

We all have days where we feel mentally foggy. But when a person is suffering from addiction, brain fog will occur more often than not.

If someone if your life is exceptionally forgetful, or they take a long time to respond when you speak to them, this may be a sign of addiction. Help them clear their mind and take back control of their life by encouraging them to join a drug and alcohol recovery program.

Volatile Emotional Reactions

Drugs and alcohol mess with the delicate chemical balances in the brain.

Combining these chemical changes with the shame and fear that come along with addiction can often cause huge emotional swings and shocking reactions.

For example, if you ask a person who’s suffering from addiction where they’re going, they may react with anger, aggression, or rage. This misplaced reaction is a common sign of progressed addiction.

Although these emotional swings are difficult to deal with, keep in mind that it’s not their choice. Their addiction is taking hold of them. Stay patient and organize a drug addiction intervention as soon as possible.

Financial Instability

It’s expensive to support an addiction to drugs or alcohol. It’s also difficult to keep steady employment when you’re suffering from addiction.

Financial instability is a huge red flag when it comes to identifying addiction and figuring out when someone needs help. If your loved one is struggling financially, pawning their possessions, asking to borrow money, or stealing, it’s time to come to their rescue.

Legal Trouble

From drug charges to DUI’s, legal troubles are difficult to avoid when you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol.

If someone you love is in trouble with the law for a charge related to or caused by their addiction, it’s imperative that you stage an intervention for them as soon as possible.

Loss of Employment

As we know, securing regular employment is difficult when you’re suffering from addiction. Not only will addiction stop you from performing well at any job, but it may also cause you to miss shifts without explanation.

Losing employment can lead to a further developed addiction problem or even homelessness. For this reason, it’s one of the top signs that it’s time to stage a drug intervention.

Worsening Mental Illness

Mental illness and addiction often go hand-in-hand. People who suffer from any number of mental illnesses may use drugs or alcohol to escape from or soothe their symptoms.

Unfortunately, drug addiction will only make mental illness worse. If someone in your life suffers from mental illness and their symptoms suddenly worsen, addiction may be to blame.

For individuals with mental illness and addiction issues, dual diagnosis and the corresponding treatments are necessary. Stage an intervention to help these people enroll in the right treatment program for them.

Abandoned Hobbies

Loss of interest in once-beloved hobbies is a clear sign of drug addiction.

This happens because once a person becomes an addict, their drug of choice consumes their life. Drug use rewires the way your brain experiences pleasure, making activities that used to provide joy seem meaningless.

This causes addicts to lose enjoyment in things they once loved. Their only goal is to locate and consume the drugs or alcohol that their brain craves.

Even though abandoning hobbies may not seem as serious as losing employment or getting in trouble with the police, it’s still an important sign of addiction. If you notice it happening to someone in your life, an intervention can help.

Isolation

Isolation is unfortunately common among addicts. Addiction can form because of deep-rooted feelings of isolation and separation, and it can also create these feelings in anyone suffering from this disease.

When you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, the potential judgments of others may cause you to keep to yourself. You may also want to partake in your drug of choice alone or with people who aren’t your friends or family.

How to Stage a Drug Intervention

If you know that staging an intervention will help someone you love but you’re not sure where to start, don’t stress. Follow these tips for the best outcome possible.

Connect with a Specialist

Don’t try to stage an intervention alone. Connect with a specialist first. A professional addiction counselor will keep your intervention on track and help to guide the addict toward receiving treatment.

Invite Loved Ones

Showing an addict that they’re loved is an important part of staging an intervention.

Gather a group of supportive individuals to come to the intervention and show that they care. If they are willing, have each person say a few words to express their love and concern.

Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t jump into an intervention without practicing first. Gather everyone who will be present and run through who will speak and what they’ll say. This will lessen some of the stress during the actual event.

Don’t Lose Hope

Not every intervention is successful right away. It’s important to stay calm, collected, and not to lose hope. Keep your eye on the prize, even if the addict resists.

Lean on the intervention specialist for support if you feel overwhelmed. And remember that you should never raise your voice or lose your cool during an intervention.

You Can Do This

Use the information above to figure out if now is the time to stage an intervention for your loved one. If they’re displaying any of these behaviors, it’s time to get serious about helping them.

By staging a drug intervention, you’ll provide them with the best gift possible: a chance to receive treatment. Although organizing an intervention may seem like a big task, take it one step at a time, and remember how amazing the outcome can be.Do you need help? You’re not alone. Contact us anytime and we’d be glad to offer support in any way we can.

Getting sober is, hands down, one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. To help you accomplish the task, and more (read on…) we’ve made this list of ‘6 Rules to Stay Sober After Rehab.’

Since staying sober? That could prove to be even more challenging than getting sober in the long run..!

There are drug and alcohol rehab programs in place to help people get clean. They can serve as an invaluable resource for anyone trying to kick a drug or alcohol habit for good.

To stay sober, though, a person needs to work hard to put themselves into the right positions in life. Otherwise, they could end up running right back to their old habits and using drugs or alcohol again.

Studies have shown that anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of people who get sober after battling drug addiction or alcohol will relapse. Here are 6 rules that will help you avoid becoming a part of this startling statistic.

1. Look for a Stable Place to Live

Where are you going to live once you’re finished with rehab? This is a very important question—and the answer could very well dictate how difficult it is for you to stay sober.

You should not, under any circumstances, move back into a home or apartment that could trigger you to go back to using drugs or drinking. If, for example, you lived with a roommate who used to do drugs or drink with you, it would be a mistake to move back in with them.

At the same time, you might not be able to afford a place of your own following a rehab stint. You might also not know if you’re ready to live on your own and hold yourself accountable for your actions.

With all these things in mind, it’s a good idea to strongly consider moving in with your parents or other family members. The key is to find a stable living situation that’ll make it as easy as possible for you to lead a sober lifestyle.

In order to beat an addiction to drugs or alcohol once and for all, it’s going to be important for you to establish good habits in your life. That will be much simpler to do when you’re not surrounded by things that could trigger you at any time.

2. Surround Yourself with Support

You don’t want to surround yourself with potential triggers when you finish up with rehab. But you do want to surround yourself with lots of support. It’s easy to stay sober when you have the right people in your corner cheering you on.

So, who should be a part of your support system?

It all depends on who you have in your life at the moment and how willing they are to support you in light of everything that you may have put them through in the past.

Generally speaking, here are some people you can rely on to serve as part of your support system:

• Your parents
• Your siblings
• Your close friends
• Your counselors/therapists

You may also want to think about joining an addiction support group in your area. This will provide you with immediate access to people who are going through the same things as you are right now.

If for whatever reason, you don’t have many people you can turn to for support as you fight to stay sober, you might have to think outside the box to find supportive people. You could, for instance, join a church in your city or town and look to fellow churchgoers for support.

You’re not going to be able to remain sober forever on your own. You’ll need people you can turn to when you feel weak. Build a support group for yourself that will help you during your troubled times and give you the strength you need.

3. Stay Away From Old Friends

We just mentioned that welcoming “your close friends” into your circle of trust would be a smart idea. And to some degree, we stand behind that statement. Your close friends should be involved in your fight to stay sober.

But we should clarify that these “close friends” should not be people you used to use drugs or drink alcohol with. Those types of friends will sometimes try to weasel their way back into your life after you leave rehab, and they will often do more harm than good.

If you move back to the same area you used to live after your rehab stint, it might be almost impossible to avoid your old friends altogether. But if you know that they’re still using drugs or drinking alcohol, you should do what you can to steer clear of them.

That means keeping yourself out of places where you used to hang out. It also means limiting the in-person and phone communication you have with your now-former friends.

Again, this doesn’t mean that you can’t say hello to an old friend if you spot them while you’re walking down the street. But you shouldn’t go out of your way to open up a spot in your life for them at this point.

4. Find New Hobbies

One of the things that makes it so hard for people to stay sober is that they quickly realize how much time they were spending using drugs or drinking alcohol after rehab. Boredom can start to set in after a while when people don’t have much going on in their life.

Prepare for this before leaving rehab. Find some new hobbies that you want to pursue and give yourself as little free time as you can when you head back home.

There are so many hobbies you can use to fill up your calendar. Check out a few of the hobbies you might want to pursue:

• Read more books
• Get into the gym and get yourself into great shape
• Join an intramural sports team
• Volunteer with an organization in your community
• Play video games

You should, of course, try not to go too overboard with your new hobbies. You don’t want to develop an unhealthy obsession for, say, video games and replace one addiction for another.

But for the most part, these hobbies will keep you out of trouble and make it easier to stick to sobriety.

5. Set Goals for the Future

What do you want to do with your life now that you aren’t actively addicted to drugs or alcohol anymore? The possibilities are endless!

You should feel some sense of hope after rehab and want to improve your life. You should also have some ideas about how you can go about doing it.

People set all kinds of goals for their future when they emerge from rehab. Your list of goals can look something like this:

• Go to college and get a degree
• Start saving money towards buying a house
• Find a career (not just a job!)
• Get into amazing shape
• Travel the world and see new things

If you had set some of these same goals a year ago, they would have seemed unattainable. But now that you’re in a better place in life, you can reach these goals without breaking a sweat.

Monitor your goals as you move forward and add to them, too. There is always room for improvement, and you should always be working towards something in your life.

6. Realize the Road to Recovery Has No End

There are some recovering addicts who are under the impression that if they can remain sober for six months, a year, 5 years, 10 years, or 25 years, they can officially beat their addiction.

Unfortunately, that’s not how recovery works. Once you’ve accepted that you’re an addict, you will be an addict for the rest of your life. The struggle to stay sober will never end for you, and you’ll need to continue working on it for the rest of your life.

Don’t let that discourage you, though!

There will be times when staying sober is a challenge. But there will also be times when you’ll breeze through life without even thinking about your addiction.

Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your road to recovery has come to an end at a final destination. If you make the mistake of letting your guard down, it could lead to your addiction rearing its ugly head and wreaking havoc on your life.

Stay Sober by Following These 6 Rules at All Times

A good rehab center should set you up with all the tools you need to stay sober once you’re back out in the real world.

But it’s on you to put those tools to good use from the moment you walk out of the rehab center. If you don’t, you could end up right back where you started before you spent time in rehab. And that’s obviously not the place you want to be.Contact us today to see how our drug and alcohol rehab services can help you or one of your loved ones fight addiction. We have programs in place to help addicts and a supportive staff that will give you a fighting chance.

Addiction is a term thrown around as though there is one clear definition. While addiction generally involves a few similar characteristics, each instance is different. Read on for the foremost ‘Misconceptions and Myths About Addiction!’

This poses a problem for society as well as individuals who suffer from addiction. When we fail to recognize the nuances of addiction, we fail to treat those who suffer from it.

We’re going to cover some of the myths about addiction in an effort to bring a greater understanding of what it entails and how we can support our loved ones who are experiencing it.

Common Myths About Addiction

Whether stereotypes and myths about addiction are pushed through the media, literature, family, or friends, the reality is that they are prevalent in society.

It can be difficult to empathize with those who are in such different circumstances from our own. Hopefully, this article can shed some light on the various pieces of addiction that are so commonly misunderstood.

Let’s get started:

“The Typical Addict”

We can all probably imagine the person we’ve been led to believe is an addict. Someone who is dirty, irresponsible, erratic, intermittently homeless, (insert your preferred stereotype).

We’ve been made to fear these people, loping a number of stereotypes about race, socioeconomic status, demeanor, and appearance together to form the image of a castaway. This is simply not an accurate portrayal of someone with a substance abuse disorder.

Sure, addiction can lead a person to homelessness, erratic behavior, and other negative life situations in some cases. It’s not the case, however, that all of the people experiencing substance abuse issues fit these categories.

We’re going to break down this myth in two sections:

“Those Kinds of People”

The result of the stereotypical addict described above is a reaction from the general public. When we internalize these ideas, whether or not they’re true, we begin to brush groups of people off entirely.

As an exercise, imagine yourself for a moment. Think about your life as it stands, good or bad. Now think through all of the safety-nets that you have keeping you from falling into a substance abuse disorder or becoming homeless.

Really think about what it would take for you to be without a home, or for you to be relentlessly addicted to a drug of some kind. It’s tough to think of all of those things because they would need to be pretty hard and unfortunate.

Now think back to the people we’re trained to brush off– those people have experienced, in one way or another, the sequence of events that would lead them to a point of despair.

When we think back through what that would look like, we get to a point where we realize that person’s humanity. Saying “those people” is a way of ignoring the reality of hardship in another person’s life, effectively casting a person out of our minds.

Who Really Suffers from Addiction?

Some of the people who fit the description of an “addict” do, in fact, suffer from addiction. It’s a marginal amount of the population suffering from substance abuse, though.

Addiction can fall upon everyone in one way or another. Legal drugs are some of the most corrosive and abused in the United States. Alcoholism is and has been for a long time, one of the leading addictions in this country.

More recently, prescription opioids like pain and anxiety medications are commonly abused and lead to overdose. The people suffering from addiction to these substances are present in our daily lives.

Continuing to function in daily life while abusing a substance becomes easier and more normal as the addiction progresses. There is a tipping point, of course, but that point may not occur for a number of years before it a person needs to change.

Even heroin attics, in some cases, can function in a normal way for a time. The point is, noticing someone with a substance abuse disorder is more complicated than the world would have you think. Additionally, addiction may be present in people that you swore were entirely healthy.

“Addiction Is Always a Choice”

If you’re thinking in very specific terms, yes, addiction is always a choice. It’s important to think critically about your ideas and assumptions, though.

Was there a point where the addicted person could have said “no” but chose to use again? Yes. Is every choice equal to the next?

That answer is no.

Each instance of substance abuse is unique, and most substances are used as escapes from different elements of a person’s life. While enjoyment might be the initial intention, abuse insidiously finds a way to help a person avoid difficulty.

The following example may seem like a far-cry from issues of substance abuse but sit with it for a little while.

“Easy Choices”

Imagine that you work long hours at a rubber factory, grinding day-in and day-out to make enough money to afford rent, insurance, and food. In this instance, you’re paid very little and you have no respect for what you do or who you work for.

We can all probably relate to a workplace that we don’t align with ideologically or personally. Now imagine that you recently went to the doctor who told you that eating any unhealthy, sugary sweets would greatly increase your risk of getting diabetes which your insurance won’t cover.

If you get type II diabetes, you will be spread even thinner than you already were financially and you’d be faced with the additional task of monitoring your insulin.

Your boss gives you mandatory overtime and you’re famished. It’s been a long, 14-hour shift on your feet and you hop into the car then drive home. You forgot to buy groceries because of the overtime, and the only thing left in your freezer is a tub of ice-cream.

You have to work in four hours and would really prefer to eat some ice cream and get what little sleep you still can, but your doctor told you that you’re at the tipping point.

People Are Faced with Adversity

Choices are choices, but we’re human. Swap out diabetes, the working environment, and ice cream for addiction, an abusive family member or partner, and a drug to help one cope with those experiences.

We can’t treat every decision with the same weight. There is a good deal of environmental interference that affects a person’s decision to use a drug.

With that in mind, think more carefully when you assume that a person has made the choice to “throw their life away” or use drugs.

“Quitting Just Requires Willpower”

Addictions are a confluence of emotional and physical dependence. In many cases, mental illness predates or emerges as a result of drug use and the two have a direct interplay.

Additionally, the reality of withdrawals is one that can sometimes lead to further physical damage. As the body gets used to the chemical abuse, it craves those chemicals intensely. Whether that craving takes the form of a mental obsession or a serious physical pang, the experience is agonizing.

Recovery typically entails a program in addition to mental health counseling. There are also a lot of environmental factors that contribute to relapse and a person’s desire to use again.

Seeing old friends who you used to use with, being in the room where use would occur, or experiencing emotional traumas that would lead to use can all be very triggering experiences.

Dangers of Withdrawal

Withdrawal comes in different forms and will vary with the substance that a person is coming off of. The length of withdrawals is vastly different between, say, opioid users and users of stimulants.

The symptoms of withdrawal can include extreme anxiety, hallucinations, fevers, fatigue, nausea, chills, depression, suicidal thoughts, vomiting, and more. Beyond the initial pangs of withdrawal lie psychological symptoms that are similarly painful.

The point is, recovering from drug addiction is a long and difficult process. It’s not as simple as waking up one day and deciding to simply stop using. Abuse involves a number of behaviors and circumstances that have formed around the person’s use.

Living situations, familial relationships, habits, friends, and employment are typically tailored to exist around a person’s drug use. In many cases, all of those pillars of a person’s life are negatively affected by drug use. This is especially true in the case of relationships and employment situations.

Getting clean requires some physical and emotional damage control. Mending relationships, getting through withdrawals, and finding a meaningful role in society are all mountains that need to be climbed.

Those mountains look pretty big when you’re at the bottom and using would prolong the need to start climbing.

Need Some Help?

You may be experiencing addiction or know of someone who is. Understanding the myths about addiction is one way to empathize with your affected loved ones or feel a little bit about your own situation. Visit our site to learn more about ways to help or get help.