Sad testimonal to the devastation that meth addiction causes.

Substance Abuse is a growing problem worldwide.  With unsecure borders and ever growing drug cartels, the availability of drugs is greater than ever.  However, with the help of addiction treatment many former addicts are able to go back to leading happy, successful lives.  Although, one can’t help but wonder what would happen if such treatment was no longer available?  What kind of strain would it put on the economy and society as a whole?
One obvious consequence of a world without addiction treatment is that there would be more drug addicts.  More addicts would mean more money going to drug dealers and cartels, as well as funding terrorism.  That would also mean there would be less money going to help to legitimate business and our communities.  There would be less money going to schools for extracurricular activities or to keeping national parks open or improving roads.  Not to mention increased wealth, could also mean an increase in power and control for those selling the drugs.
On a societal level, we would see a dramatic increase in drug related crime; more fights and deaths over drugs, as well as accidents caused by addicts driving under the influence.  There would also be an increase in drug related deaths and suicides as the drugs slowly take control over people’s brains .  We would also see a dramatic rise in health care costs as liabilities and health care costs associated with drug use go up.  More people would either on the street or in state or privately run facilities once their bodies, and more specifically their brains, could no longer take the consistent drug use.
Without addiction treatment our country, even our world, could not handle the health implications much less the financial burden that such a situation would create.  Substance abuse treatment is an important part of our global society; to help keep our communities in check and give deserving people a second chance.

There are two methods for getting an addict to go to drug rehab.  The first method is to force them to go against their will.  This method is not highly preferred or effective.  Until the addict is able to see their problem for them self, they won’t see the changes that need to be made.  It could also create more anger and possibly make the situation worse.
The second option is for the addict to choose to go to rehab of their own free will.  This method is much more effective because the addict realizes that there is a problem and that there are changes that need to be made.  However, that does not mean that the family is not involved.  They are often that first step in encouraging an addict to seek help.
A drug intervention is usually one of the first things a family can do is to research drug rehabs.  Find a facility that will fit the age and personality of your loved one.  If they enjoy being outdoors, find one that emphasis outdoor activities.  If they enjoy the arts, there are many that offer art or acting classes.  With thousands of facilities nationwide, there is no end to the possibilities.  If they see the facility as a positive experience, they will be more willing to go and learn.
Once you have decided on a facility, bring the family and friends together for an intervention.  It is very important to plan the intervention in advance, so that it will go as smoothly as possible.  Throughout the intervention express in a loving and supportive manner that they have a problem, that you care about them and want them to get help, and that there is hope.
Once they agree to go, it is important to act fast.  Call the rehab facility you have chosen and get them in as soon as possible.  The longer you wait the more likely they will be to change their mind about going.
The important thing to remember is, even if they don’t agree to go the first time, don’t give up.  While it is imperative that the family be a loving, strong support system, getting better is ultimately a decision that the addict will have to make, but you can be there to help them when they are ready to take that next step.

Many people new to Alcoholics Anonymous are terrified of staying sober.  They sit at the back of the rooms in AA.  They come late and leave early.  They see happy people smiling, laughing and enjoying being sober and they don’t get it.  Then out of the cloud they hear it “If you are new get a sponsor and work the steps and your life will change” .   The newcomer wants their lives to change more than anything.  They may be straight out of rehab, living in a halfway house or they may still be living in a mansion with the cars, the husband and the kids.  They set about finding the perfect sponsor somebody they can be friends with who won’t be too hard on them.  When we first go into AA we want things to be gentle and easy as possible.  Alcoholism is a fatal disease and gentle and easy does not work. 

When looking for a sponsor the newcomer should look for the person they see in the room who talks the gibberish they do not yet understand.  The higher power, happy joyous and free, the big book.  Go for the person who seems to know what is going on and make sure your sponsor has time in the program.  If you want a buddy to go to the movies with find the other newcomers but if you want the program find the AA member with time.  Your sponsor has stayed sober a long time because they work the program and one of the steps of the program the 12th step says they must work with others.  They work with you to pass on what they have and carry the message not to go on shopping trips with you or grab a coffee at Starbucks to talk about the weather.  Choose your sponsor because they love AA not what AA does for them.  If you hate your sponsor that is good because the chances are you hate them because they are doing the one thing that makes the difference they are helping you through the 12 steps to crush that huge alcoholic ego. 

Grin and bear it work with a tough sponsor and when you get through the steps thoroughly you will then be able to sponsor others and pass on what you have that is how it works. Sponsorship is a serious business not a social engagement.  A good sponsor can make the difference between life and death and the life could be yours.

Drug rehabs can be as varied as the flavors of ice cream as Baskin Robbins.  Drug rehab changes with the type of substance a person is addicted to, or what their medical insurance can afford. There are inpatient, outpatient and residential types of rehab. Some offer only detox, and others specialize in dual diagnosis treatment.  This post will attempt to clarify the different types of facilities a person can go to get help.

A detox center is usually an inpatient program. This is a process by which the detoxification process begins and along the way it is aided by prescription drugs. This is done to reduce the effects of going through detox. This is normally a process for those addicted to drug such as heroin.  This is a stepping stone in the rehabilitation process.

A residential rehabilitation center is a long term rehab program where a person lives their daily life in treatment.  These are usually less like hospital settings and more open and free for the residents.  Residents attend counseling and live on the premises. With residential treatment, the patient has to take a break from their life to go there. They usually do not attend this type of treatment in their home town; they go to another state, for example, California or Florida.

An outpatient facility is where patients go just for specific times. Perhaps they will go in for meetings with a counselor. Outpatient therapies are things like Alcoholics Anonymous. They have meetings and a person can attend any number of meetings they want to, but they are not obligated.

A dual diagnosis treatment center is one that focuses on not just the addiction but the mental side of addiction. It is for people with co-occurring disorders. For example, someone who is an alcoholic and has bi-polar disorder.

Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings indicate that most of the teenagers who abuse prescription drugs, find the drugs at home from friends or family members.

The study found that:

*
Past year nonmedical users of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs are asked how they obtained the drugs they recently used nonmedically. In both 2006 and 2007, over half of the nonmedical users of prescription-type pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives aged 12 or older said they got the drugs they used most recently “from a friend or relative for free.” In a follow-up question, the majority of these respondents indicated that their friend or relative had obtained the drugs from one doctor.

*
Among persons aged 12 or older in 2007 who used pain relievers nonmedically in the past 12 months, 56.5 percent said they got the pain relievers they most recently used from a friend or relative for free. Another 8.9 percent bought them from a friend or relative, and 5.2 percent reported stealing them from a friend or relative. Nearly one fifth (18.1 percent) indicated that they got the drugs from one doctor. Around 1 in 20 users (4.1 percent) got pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger, and 0.5 percent said they bought them on the Internet.

*
In 81.0 percent of the cases in 2007 where nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers aged 12 or older obtained the drugs from a friend or relative for free, the individuals indicated that their friend or relative had obtained them from just one doctor. Only 1.8 percent reported that the friend or relative had bought the drugs from a drug dealer or other stranger.

*
In 2007, 44.3 percent of past year methamphetamine users aged 12 or older reported that they obtained the methamphetamine they used most recently from a friend or relative for free. Another 30.4 percent bought it from a friend or relative. Around one in five users (19.8 percent) bought it from a drug dealer or other stranger.

Many experts agree that for parents and teachers who deal with teenagers on a daily basis, knowledge is the power in identifying a child that has a problem with alcohol and drug use. These studies help to show trends and empower people who are thinking about enrolling a teenager into a teen drug rehab or young adult drug rehab program.

According to data from TNS Media Intelligence for the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the beer category, which includes the Anheuser-Busch and Miller brands, bought a combined $42.8 million—or about 7 percent—of $643 million in total revenue collected by CBS for the tournament.

With an increase of 24 percent in total revenue since 2007, the tournament generates advertising rates second only to the Super Bowl. The profitable tournament has attracted some 300 advertisers in the past ten years promoting a wide-range of products, and aired an astonishing 140 ads during the final game of the 2008 tournament (ten were for beer). Ads for cars, movies, cell phones, electronics, financial services, food, razors, network television programs, and the U.S. military have all been major advertisers on NCAA games.

The NCAA claims its alcohol advertising policy is the most “conservative and restrictive of any televised sport.” In reality, the league allows 60 seconds of beer ads per hour (which could be as many as four distinct ads), or 120 seconds total per game. That makes the concentration of beer-ad spending on NCAA games more than two-and-a-half times what it is during other television programming, according to Center For Science in the Public Interest . Current NCAA policy prohibits advertising for tobacco products, gambling and other alcoholic beverages, but makes an exception for beer.

In 2005, the SAMHSA National Survey on Drug and Health reported that young adults ages 18-22 enrolled full-time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time to use alcohol, to binge drink, and to drink heavily. This is a sobering statistic when thinking about the young adults enrolling later in long term alcohol rehab or seeking some form of drug rehab programs or drug rehab.

If you know someone who is a recovering addict or have experienced drug addiction first hand, you know that it’s an ongoing, day-by-day process. The first step towards recovery starts with asking for help. Once you have a solid support system to help you through the highs and lows, you move in a positive direction towards a healthy, sober lifestyle. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation most often occurs in a treatment facility. Trained professionals, addiction counselors and resident advisers have extensive experience helping addicts recover from a life of drug and alcohol abuse. Someone would go to a drug rehab facility if he or she feels like their substance abuse has made their life unmanageable.

There are many different types of facilities that treat chemical dependency. The most commonly known type is the 30 day model. These centers can help people who’ve hit a brick wall and need immediate help for their addiction. The 12 Step program is usually a staple in their approach to therapy, but extra special attention is paid to treating the physical symptoms of addiction. Many residents go through an initial detox period when the drugs leave their system under the supervision of a health care professional. Short-term programs can give drug users a “slap in the face”, so to speak, to encourage them to wake up from their destructive behavioral patterns.

Short-term programs are different from extended care treatment centers not only because of the length of time a person stays in treatment. Long term drug rehab tends to focus on providing residents with tools for re-integration into society. Life skills, behavior modification and goal development are instilled in residents, on top of classic 12 Step work. Many people who enter a long term program have had especially tumultuous histories with drug abuse. Basic social and life management skills have been erased or, in some cases, never even taught to them in the first place. Long term rehab not only helps people manage their addiction, but also gives people a second chance at discovering who they are.

It seems like every time you hear about a person going into drug rehab or the TV broadcasts another celebrity with a drug problem, most people say they are going in for alcohol treatment. Even on shows like “Celebrity Rehab” with Dr. Drew Pinsky, most of the characters are diagnosed as alcoholics, even if their drug of choice is a different substance; they are still treated for the specific drug that’s caused the most harm in their lives, but attest to being an alcoholic. That led me to question, does every person who has a substance abuse problem inherently have an alcohol problem? Is it impossible to be addicted to heroine, for instance, and not be addicted to alcohol?

You don’t hear many people say that they’re going to alcohol rehab these days. But in fact, most drug rehabs are also treatment centers for alcohol abuse. The reason so many drug addicts need to stray from using alcohol if they are trying to remain sober is because alcohol has the same intoxicating effects, and using alcohol, even if in moderation, may lead a recovering drug addict to use again.

I learned that addiction, as a larger issue, puts every addict in the category of alcoholism. Even if a person ultimately entered themselves into treatment for drug rehabilitation and not an alcohol problem, many realize that their drinking tendencies are just as destructive.

Heather Locklear’s ex-husband Richie Sambora (who struggled with alcoholism) called her daily during her recent four-week stint in rehab for depression and anxiety, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. (The paper claims she also may have been treated for prescription drug issues.) It is among the revelations a source at the clinic tells the paper. The source says that Locklear, 46, told the other …

Read More at US Weekly…