Archive for the ‘Drug Rehab’ Category

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) began in the late 1940s, inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which, in turn, began in the 1930s. The first meetings were held in the Los Angeles region in the early 1950s. Officially, though, the NA program started in 1953.

Jimmy Kinnon, also known as Jimmy K., born in Scotland on April 5th, 1911, moved with his family to New York in 1923. He worked as a roofer there, struggling with drug addiction until he achieved abstinence from all drugs through the Alcoholics Anonymous program early in 1950. He and others began to hold meetings specifically for drug addicts three years later, with the first meeting on August 17, 1953. Kinnon wrote portions of the Little White booklet, on which the text titled Narcotics Anonymous is based. He also created the NA logo and served as the volunteer office manager of the organization’s World Service Office since it began in 1983. He died in July of 1985, after spending 35 years in recovery as a clean member of NA.

In the 1950s, NA was not yet well understood by society, so it had difficulty finding places to meet, initially going to people’s homes. In some cases, such as New York State, it was against the law for drug addicts to meet for any reason, which, in essence, made NA an illegal organization. The organization nearly went out of existence, holding no meetings for four months in 1959, until Jimmy Kinnon and others restarted NA, with the idea of dedicating themselves to the original principles of the group.

In the 1960s, meetings began again and started to grow. The White Booklet was written in 1962 and formed the basis for NA literature that would come next. Narcotics Anonymous really began to grow, however, in the 1970s, moving from 20 regular weekly meetings in 1970 to 200 meetings in 1976, some which took place in Germany, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Inida, Japan, and the UK, among other nations. By the 1980s, there were 1,100 different meetings across the world. By 2007, there were over 25,065 groups holding over 43,900 weekly meetings in a 126 countries, and, today, there are about 50,000 weekly meetings internationally in around 130 countries.

In the 21st Century, Narcotics Anonymous is known as a fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs are a major problem, and is based on the twelve steps as adapted from AA, and is now the second largest 12 step organization. The requirement for membership is a desire to stop using, and members meet on a regular basis with the intention of helping each other remain abstinent of all mood or mind altering substances, which includes alcohol and marijuana. Membership is free, without any dues or fees.

Even Bill W. — one of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935 — doesn’t quite know the origins of the twelve steps, used so prominently in many rehab treatment programs for both drug and alcohol recovery, but he does recall a conversation with an alcoholic friend in 1934, who told him that his path to getting sober required him to be honest with himself and others, to make restitution for any damage he had done, and to pray to God for guidance even though the friend wasn’t sure God existed. This is one of the starting points for the creation of the Twelve Steps, which many use to help them combat their own addictions, from alcohol to narcotics. For those who have not come across the Twelve Steps before, they’re paraphrased below:

1) Admit that you’re powerless over alcohol and that your life has become unmanageable, 2) Come to believe in a Power greater than yourself that can restore you to sanity; 3) Make a decision to turn your will and life over to the care of God as you understand him; 4) Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself; 5) Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being, the exact nature of your wrongs; 6) Be entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character; 7) Humbly ask God to remove your shortcomings; Make a list of all persons you have harmed and be willing to make amends to them all; 9) Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others; 10) Continue to take a personal inventory of your life and when wrong promptly admit it; 11) Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understand him, praying only for knowledge of his will for you and the power to carry that out; and, finally, 12) if you’ve had a spiritual awakening as the result of the steps, carry the message to others, and to practice these principles in all your affairs.

The Twelve Steps do not work for every individual, although such programs using the steps provide a community of people who understand and can support each other as they struggle to overcome their addictions. At least four out of the twelve steps seem to have something to do with God or a higher power, as the individual understands that higher power, and that can be a stumbling block for some individuals, especially those who are not religious. For more information, consult a twelve-step program near you which is focused on the substance to which you feel you’re addicted, whether it’s alcohol, narcotics, or another drug.

Ryan Leaf has put himself through a very hard time, and it is only now that he has grown and learned that he has come to realize that it was his immaturity that lead him to not be able to play football professionally anymore, and nothing else. A lot of this he learned after hitting rock bottom on pain killer addiction and finally checked himself into rehab. The rehab did a lot of good for him, and he came to understand why he felt that he needed the drugs as well as why he had behaved the way he used to. There is a lot more to this story though, so check out the article in the SeattleTimes.

Addiction is a terrible thing to live with. On the one hand, those who don’t believe they are addicts and continue to use cocaine over and over in an obviously addictive way are in denial. Denial is extremely insidious, because it is a behavior that lies about itself, making it impossible to spot in yourself. That, in turn, can lead to a whole complex of thoughts and emotions that eventually stunt your growth in every conceivable direction. On the other hand, knowing you’re addicted, and being unable to stop using, can also be extremely humiliating. Either one can make a life that feels like it is spiraling out of control, and in fact, it is. But there is certainly good news, and there’s lots of it. Dealing with cocaine addiction is something that thousands of people have done successfully, and most people beginning the road to recovery wonder if they can do it on their own.

It is certainly possible to stop using cocaine without any outside help. There are people who have done it, and some of these have been rather successful, being drug-free for years. However, it is extremely difficult to do, and much more difficult to do than with help from others, and the obvious question here would be: why would you want to do it alone? Programs and treatments have had a great deal of success for many addicts, and they offer a new way of life that doesn’t mean compromising who you are essentially. In any kind of recovery, you become who you are, who you were meant to be, and any good program will help lead you in this direction.

One of the biggest problems with trying to do it alone stems from the nature of the disease. Addicts have a personality type that makes it very difficult for them to ask for help from anyone. There’s a sense of pride about being in control of your life, and that’s perfectly normal. At the same time, when your life is out of control, asking for help is a significant step, if not the most significant, toward dealing with an addiction. Being able to ask for help is also the first sure sign that you’re ready to take yourself seriously, and begin honestly entering into that realm where freedom from cocaine is possible.

Addiction therapy is a complex practice, and one that’s still always in process. There are new findings about addiction everyday, and because it’s always dealing with volatile individuals, there are wide ranges of practices and therapies available, and new ones all the time. Generally, a combination of individual and group therapy seems to be the most effective treatment for addicts, with the lowest occurrence of relapse. Because it is a turning point in someone’s life when they have made the decision to get on the road to recovery, it’s good to know ahead of time what to expect. What, then, is individual addiction therapy about?

Most treatment centers will offer a combination of both individual and group therapy. Group therapy is extremely effective, because it gives recovering addicts the chance to talk with others who are in, or have been in, the same situation. The depths of addiction can be a living nightmare, and anyone who’s been there understands that it feels like no one else has ever felt such pain. Group therapy, then, is a way of coming to terms with the fact that no addict is really unique.

Individual therapy in these situations can help the professionals to make determinations about the addict specifically. While the stigma of uniqueness is one that eventually has to go away for any chance of recovery, people need to be acknowledged for their own personal experiences and life journey. Individual therapy will take all of these things into consideration, looking deeply into the addict’s life history, looking at family, environment, relationships, and into their own patterns of drug use. This is helpful for identifying the specific problems, triggers, and behaviors.

It’s also the perfect opportunity for the recovering addict to talk about the things that are really troubling them. It’s often the case that family history and personal triggers won’t matter eventually, that addiction is addiction, and can be controlled, but it’s also necessary to have a space to air out the personal demons. In any kind of effective therapy, the personal demons can become the most helpful guides toward a successful recovery, and individual therapy can help identify the places where real healing can begin.

Coming to terms with a chemical addiction problem can be one of the toughest, and one of the most rewarding challenges a life can offer. When you’ve already decided that you need help, things begin to change. Life might not suddenly turn for the better, and all the usual daily problems go away, but there is a profound shift that opens up the doors for recovery, and a full life lived comfortably in your own skin. As you start to look into the different types of therapies and treatments available for you or for the one you love, you’ll notice a wide variety of approaches, and here we’ll look at why individual therapy is important for recovery from chemical addiction.

For most treatment programs, in-patient and out-patient, there is usually a very strong component that stresses peer support. Studies have been suggesting for a long time that one of the best ways to treat addicts and alcoholics is to have them work with each other. People in different stages of recovery can help to shed light on the journey for others, they can share advice, and addicts tend to trust others who have been through the same thing rather than trained professionals who may not know what it’s like from the inside out.

At the same time, individual therapy is also extremely important. This gives the recovering addict the chance to really focus on their own issues, and their own process, and it gives importance to their own individual concerns. One of the most common distinguishing features of an addict is a rather pronounced self-centeredness. This is a personality trait that is formed after years of use and abuse, that leads to the spiral of addiction. By giving this self-centeredness a place in therapy, it has a place to find expression, ultimately leading to a breakthrough where they can discover that they are not unique, and not at all alone. In therapy, they can develop the necessary skills to talk about their own feelings, and this is one of the most important steps toward becoming a whole human being, free of addiction.

Deciding to go to rehab and choosing a drug treatment center are big decisions that should not be taken lightly. Deciding which program and facility would work best for you or your loved one is a decision that requires a lot of thought. Fortunately for those living in San Bernardino County, California there are many to different residential facilities to choose from.
When choosing a treatment center, one of the first things that you want to consider is whether or not it is residential. There are many benefits to a residential program. Often the number of residents is lower, which helps the counselors provide more one on one attention. There is often more structure with a residential facility as opposed to a non-residential facility; which can be of significant importance to those who are suffering extreme addiction. It also provides a safe environment so that the residents can focus entirely on getting well. The next thing that you want to consider when choosing a treatment center is the program. Many facilities use some form of the 12 Step Program. It is a program that is based on the recognition of the problem, the need for outside help, and making amends. Since it’s foundation in the 1930′s, it has helped thousands of people through the recovery process. Lastly, consider the location. Look for a facility where you or your loved one will feel comfortable; a place where they will be able to relax and focus on recovery.
Whether you live in California, Virginia, or someplace else it is important to consider all of your options when deciding on a residential drug treatment center. Though much of the responsibility for recovery lies with the individual, it is the treatment center that can make or break the process and the road to recovery.

Arizona is a great place to go for drug treatment if you have no means to pay. There are approximately 86 drug treatment facilities throughout the state that offers a substance abuse program of free. There are 25 places in the city of Tucson, 25 in the city of Phoenix, 5 in city of Yuma, 11 in Mesa, 2 in Bisbee, 7 in Prescott, 8 in Scottsdale, and 3 in Wickenburg. Some facilities are brand new, others may have closed due to mismanagement, while others are well established and successful. A majority of these drug treatment facilities are what is called in the industry as ‘Halfway’ homes, or ‘Out Patient’ facilities. There are a few of these drug treatment facilities are located in hospitals or in a facility that specializes in ‘In-Patient’ recovery programs for substance abusers and will stay for 30-days. For these facilities, the fees can be on a sliding scale or for free.

Halfway homes, otherwise known as outpatient programs in Arizona are great for low-income or homeless families with no income. They offer programs for adolescents, women and men, for residential long-term treatment that offer beds for the client and their children. Half-way homes also offer short-term treatment, which is basically good for court ordered substance abusers who are dealing with DUI/DWI offences and helps them remain clean and sober and out of the jail system.

Full fledged drug treatment facilities that offer ‘In-Patient’ programs, which usually average 28 to 30 days, or sometimes 6 months to a year for free if the substance abuser qualifies, which will vary on each individual basis and if the drug treatment facility is privately, state or federally run.

All drug treatment facilities, whether it’s an ‘Out-Patient’, halfway home or an ‘In-Patient’ facility, offer their services for free, but they don’t advertise this to the general public. These facilities can offer drug treatment for free, because they apply for federal and state grants. These grants allow for these facilities to offer a certain amount of substance abusers to get drug treatment for free.

It is hard to find actual data on the cases of drug users who went to prison that have been clean due to treatment in 2009, in the research one finds that maybe anything is possible. There has been many people who have been able to stop the addiction to whatever, and enjoy a much better life. It always takes support and a plan. Some of the best ways to change your life is to make a plan and stick to it. It seems the more you focus on the plan of what you can do and have the more you forget it about what you aren’t doing or getting.

There are many reasons for starting a drug treatment facility, and different scenarios where it might sound like a great idea. Someone who’s recently gotten sober might decide that this would be the best way to carry the message and help others, or a family member of an addict or alcoholic who didn’t get better might decide to open something in their name, or at least in their memory. There are also those who might see it as an opportunity to help pay the mortgage, by turning their home into a halfway house. Whether it’s a money-making enterprise or the desire is purely beneficent, both issues of money and charity will come into play, so it’s best to be reasonable about both of these.

To begin, it’s a good strategy to decide whether you want to make money from the center, or whether you want to open it as a non-profit. A non-profit does not mean you can’t pay yourself or employees, but only suggests that you’re not in business to generate income for the benefit of you or shareholders, and that all the profits will go back into the treatment center. This might be the better option if you don’t have a lot of start-up funds, and it may be easier in the long run to maintain. There are grants and loans available for non-profits as well as profitable businesses, but this does seem to be an area where people are more likely to contribute if their donations are deductible.

Next, it’s time to think about location, particularly if you haven’t already. Chances are, however, that you have an idea of the area in the city, or at least the city. Here, you’ll want to begin to do more research on what else is available for rehab programs here. Look carefully at what’s offered, and try to determine what it is that you can provide that no one else can. Also, what resources are at your disposal? On the human scale, what experiences do you and your potential staff have to bring to all of this? If there are diplomas involved, along with other qualifications and certifications, then you have a lot more to offer at the get-go. Be very aware of all the local laws regarding the administration of treatment, and make sure you meet all the requirements. It’s not a simple task by any means, and more than just a business or a specialty hotel, a treatment center is a commitment to a way of living, that combines solid business practice with a spirit of philanthropy, as well as a compassionate interest in helping people to find their way.

Drug addiction, clearly, is a very large problem in the world, and one without simple solutions. It has likely been a problem for as long as people have been experimenting with intoxicants, which is to say, since the very beginning. What’s changed lately, however, is a set of attitudes and treatments for the addiction, and these are also related to definitions. It’s useful, then, to speak of definitions, in order to get some perspective on the options, so we’ll look closely here at what drug addiction actually is.

According to the standards set by the boards in psychiatry and other medical practices, addiction is a very complex phenomenon. It is something that happens to someone who uses drugs, generally for a long period of time. There is a lot of controversy about the notion of a genetic predisposition to addiction, and nothing conclusive has been found, although it seems as though there may be some ways of knowing ahead of time if someone is likely to become an addict. That may not be something we see in our lifetime, however, so it’s safer to assume that anyone can be predisposed to it. Addiction is repeatedly using the substance after there are demonstrable detrimental effects, a physical and/or psychological dependency on the effects, increased usage to obtain the same effect, and compulsion or craving.

Any one of these signs can indicate that there is the possibility for addiction, and this possibility should be enough to warrant an attempt to get help. One method for determining addiction or dependence is to cease using the drug altogether, and if there are withdrawal symptoms, then there is a very high chance of addiction. It has become common, since the 1960s, to place addiction and dependence together, although technically they are not the same thing. However, one usually leads to the other, and the treatment for both are effectively the same. Generally speaking, however, addiction is usually accompanied by an inability to see it as an addiction, and this sets off a chain of behaviors that make it so difficult on friends, family, as well as the addict. Like any chronic illness, it can be treated, and it can be controlled, and asking for help is a step in the right direction.

Dealing with addiction is very difficult for everyone, from the addict to their entire social circle. Often the ones who are affected the most are the family members. This is because of the proximity to the addict, of course, but also because the emotional stakes are always very high. A history with another human being means that there are many different memories that can all trigger different emotions, and all of these tend to arise when there are difficult circumstances. However, the family can certainly play a role in helping the recovery along, even if that role might sometimes be to step aside for awhile.

One of the most proactive things a family can do is to organize an intervention. This is where they team together, and work out how they are going to confront the family member about their addiction. It’s necessary here to take great care in planning, so that everyone has a kind of script for what they will say or do, anticipating all of the possible responses from the family member who is addicted. Usually, these are intended to get the family member into treatment, so they can begin to accept help and help themselves. There are professionals who do interventions, and this is a very good option for addicts who are cross-addicted, have histories of violence, suicidal tendencies, and other unstable behaviors. Of course, every addict has unstable behaviors, but some are more extreme than others. For this option, look into the advice from places like the Mayo Clinic, and be sure to take time to decide if this is right for you.

Interventions seem to be very effective, when done in the right way, but they are not a cure-all, and they are not always a reasonable option. In many cases, and possibly most, the family can only offer love and support to the addict. At times, this may even take the form of tough love, where the person has to hit a bottom before there can be any change. This is the toughest position to be in, but it is not unusual or uncommon. The best thing family members can do is to find their own support system. There are many groups, such as Al-Anon, designed specifically for family members and loved ones to cope with their own conflicted emotions. It’s a very difficult situation, always, but there is also always the possibility for growth. With the right attitude, and a strong social network, addiction does not have to destroy everyone.

Drug addiction is an enormously complex issue, and it’s important to understand that it’s never something that happens in a vacuum. One does not simply become an addict on their own, and live in their own little world, experiencing a pleasant and individual euphoria. It always affects other people, and usually quite intensely, even those friends who seem to have only a tangential relationship with the addict. There is also a very popular misconception, one that’s shared by users and non-users alike, that the addict is only hurting herself or himself. It’s not only a disease that takes the soul away from the addict, but it also works to destroy the lives of those around at the same time.

One of the more subtle affects, and one that’s easily overlooked, has to do with personal and psychological development. When the addict enters into the addiction, growth stops. This doesn’t mean only the times when the drugs are in the system, but as soon as they enter into that kind of obsessive thinking that begins very quickly. Most addicts will deny this when it starts to happen, because it is an extremely terrifying experience, and it’s one that can go on for years and years. While this is happening, all emotional responses are stunted, and the usual gamut of normal human attachments do not form as they should. More often than not, they are based on fear and various forms of manipulation.

There are other more obvious affects on friends. Strange behavior and deep isolation can take their toll on any relationship. The naked truth of addiction is that it is a ride where no one has control. The addict is most certainly taking their loved ones with them along for the ride. They don’t get to feel the same sense of euphoria, though, but only get to experience the fear, the disappointment, and the loss. There are programs in recovery that are devoted solely to those who are close to an addict, either in active addiction or recovery. Here, there seems to be a very peculiar dynamic that forms between addict and non-addict, and the personality types that come from these relationships can actually learn to have very healthy lives together once recovery enters the picture. Either way, it is an enormous toll on friends and loved ones, but in this there is also a possibility for healing.

Chemical addictions are a growing problem in this country despite continued efforts to reduce and control the problem. Tougher criminal consequences and strong social taboo placement as well as greater educational efforts may be part of the changing face of addiction, though they are not eliminating the problem. Street drugs continue to be used and abused though many people are turning toward prescription medications, which can be equally harmful when taken in an abusive manner though criminal charges are more difficult to file and society tends to be more lenient on prescription drug use versus street drug use. And while these changes may affect the amount of use for drugs like heroin or crystal meth, other drugs like marijuana continue to be extremely popular and part of common usage for many people.

In fact there is a growing interest in legalizing marijuana and it is already legal for medical use in places like California. With the continued popularity of this drug and regular use and exposure to it, problems of abuse and addiction to it are going to continue. With this in mind it is important to consider what addiction to marijuana entails and how you can find treatment for it if you are suffering from addiction to this or other drugs and medications. The addictive potential of marijuana has been debated and the effects of such an addiction are also considered in a different context than with the hard street drugs. However, this can lead to overlooking or denying problems when they exist and that is one of the dangers of marijuana abuse.

As with most drugs there are twelve step programs across the country and many times throughout the world that are available at all times during the day and in many different locations in cities. Marijuana Anonymous meetings are based on the same twelve step structure that Alcoholic Anonymous is based on. It is an extensive process and commitment to the journey and each step along the way is essential to recovery. There is good information on these programs as well as other treatment programs that are community specific available on the Internet as well as at many social service centers and hospitals. Schools will also have treatment referral resources available.

An Asian elephant that became addicted to heroin after being fed bananas spiked with the drug is to return home after undergoing a detox programme. The four-year-old animal, called Xiguang, received methadone injections for a year at five times the human dosage, state media said. It was illegally captured by traders in 2005 in south-west China. When police arrested the traders and freed the elephant, it was found to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The elephant’s eyes kept streaming and he made continuous trumpeting noises, the Beijing News newspaper’s website reported. It is thought that the traders fed the elephant bananas laced with heroin to capture and control it. Xiguang was sent to a wild animal protection centre on Hainan island in south-west China for rehab, the official Xinhua new agency said. He is expected to arrive at a wildlife park in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, on Saturday. The Asian elephant is an endangered species, with only 25,600-32,750 left in the wild, according to the WWF conservation group.

Drug Addiction Treatment – Atropine Comatose Therapy

A somatic therapy for the treatment of selected cases of mental illness and drug addiction is described. Coma is produced by the administration of massive doses of atropine and terminated by physostigmine. Increased accessibility, better contact with reality, and more appropriate affective responses are found immediately after termination of coma, providing the opportunity for more effective psychotherapeutic assistance.