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Glamorizing Usage and Addiction Treatment
Cocaine is sometimes portrayed as a glamorous drug. Many celebs have been caught or admitted to dabbling in the drug and Lady Gaga even revealed that she continues to use a couple times a year. As a former drug addict, what message does this send to fans and individuals who need addiction treatment? The truth is that about cocaine reveals that approximately 10% of people who start using cocaine will immediately begin to heavy drug usage. When celebrities and others with a lot of media power go out and say things about casual cocaine usage, it sends mixed messages to fans of all ages. It’s time to learn the truth about cocaine addiction.

Living Sober is a Continuous Process
Many people and even addicts have the perception that addiction can be treated with a simple solution. The truth is that living sober is a lifelong process. There are 12 step meetings and other forms of regular counseling to help former addicts stay on the sober path. Seeking treatment isn’t something that you have to be scared or ashamed of. Remember that your health and happiness is the most important thing!

Effective Drug Addiction Treatment
What does effective drug addiction treatment consist of exactly? The first thing that you hear about is detox to help get rid of residue from drugs and alcohol. Once these substances are removed from your body, this is where the healing process begins. Your body and mind will still crave using these drugs, which is where counseling takes into play. From group sessions to individual therapy, it’s important to work on the underlying causes that led to drug use.

Addiction Therapy is Available
Have you heard about post traumatic stress disorder and how it’s related to addiction problems? Although PTSD doesn’t automatically cause problems with drug and alcohol use, there is a strong link. Addiction therapy for these individuals suffering from this disorder can only be effective when the addict gets help to understand the underlying problems that cause them to drink. PTSD can cause extreme stress and anxiety, which leads individuals to cope with alcohol to deal with the trauma.

The Right Alcoholism Treatment Program
People suffering from PTSD are more likely to have problems with alcoholism before and after they are diagnosed. This means that there is a strong link between alcohol addiction for those who have suffered from post traumatic stress. The study shows that women are more likely to develop alcoholism if they have experienced an traumatic event, even if they are not diagnosed with the disorder. If you suspect that this is a problem with your loved one, help choose a alcoholism treatment program that can help them address this crippling disease.

Treatment for Alcoholism and Other Disorders
Treatment for alcoholism is especially important amongst people who are suffering from PTSD. These two problems combined can lead to relationship, intimacy problems and even abusive or violent outbursts. Experts can agree that PTSD symptoms are worsened by drinking, while those suffering will try to cope with the stress. This is a lose-lose situation and individuals need help as soon as possible because symptoms often worsen without treatment. This is an emotionally and physically draining situation but luckily, treatment and counseling are available to help.

Addiction Rehabilitation Services During a Low Point
It’s always touching to hear amazing stories of how individuals have succeeded with addiction rehabilitation services. But here is one that can truly change your outlook on addiction and give your family inspiration. Autumn Beel became addicted to crystal meth at the young age of 13 years old. Over these years, she grew up in a broken home and turned to selling drugs to get a fix. As a single mother, Autumn knew that she could not support a family if she continued this lifestyle.

Guidance with Drug Addiction Treatment
Although some individuals need drug addiction treatment, Autumn was able to find the strength to overcome her addiction alone and focused on getting a job. Autumn found the guidance and training that she needed to get skills as she applied for the customer service skills course provided for free by Seattle’s Goodwill Industries. Because of her new skills and experience, Autumn was able to get a register position at her local Home Depot.

Living Sober with a Happy Family
Autumn is now three years into living sober with s steady source of income for her family. She is engaged and happy with her position as head cashier. This all would not have been possible if Autumn did not take a stand against her addiction. Read more about amazing stories such as this one here.

Police Officers Living Sober
Tragically, it is far too often that we hear about police officers who dabble in drug use. Aren’t they supposed to be living sober to protect public safety? Yesterday, an Orange County sheriff was arrested for driving under the influence after hitting a 78 year old woman. IN addition to causing the elderly woman harm, Allan James Waters has also been charged with selling drugs. The report shows that fellow deputies stopped Waters after he hit another vehicle.

Prescription Drugs and Addiction Treatment
We’re not sure where addiction treatment stands for Waters, but that should be his priority. The trouble began for Waters as other motorists reported his reckless driving. After several near hits with other vehicles, Waters crashed into a car where the 78 year old woman was a passenger. She sustained back injuries and later underwent surgery. Imagine the excruciating pain that she went through! It’s shocking how fellow deputies could release Waters and allow him to drive after his first accident that day. Authorities are of course looking into reasoning as to why these police officers did not follow the standard routine when they stopped Waters. They are under the impression that the officers knew that Waters was a fellow officer.

Addiction Treatment Center for Officers
Looks like Waters should land himself in an addiction treatment center before he harms anybody else. Authorities believe that Waters was on his way from a drug exchange. Reports detail how Waters met an acquaintance to trade Opana and OxyContin for money and coke. The bizarre details don’t end as Waters is accused of giving the friend a white substance that was NOT cocaine. It’s interesting what the OC sheriff’s department will have to say about this one.

Living Sober at the Poker table
A new study has come out and it shows that about four out of five poker players rely on legal and illegal drugs to maintain their edge at the poker table. What kind of drugs are we talking about? The study shows that poker players indulge in energy drinks, caffeine, Valium and coke. Some will even forgo living sober and try prescription drugs to gain an advantage. This sounds like a dangerous venture but with big cash outs at hand, it’s no surprise that young players are opting for any easy solution.

Dealing with Alcoholism and Drugs
Whereas regular casino patrons find themselves dealing with alcoholism, poker players drink less but use more drugs. Why would poker players turn to these substances? Poker tournaments can last a long time and they’re looking for more ways to concentrate and maintain their stamina. These illegal substances can help them from tiring and keep them focused during the game. According to the survey, most of the poker players surveyed were young males in their 20’s.

Sober Guidelines for Poker Players
Poker is fast becoming recognized as a sport. With tournaments showcased on ESPN, it’s time that we start thinking about guidelines for these players. Do you think that there needs to be some sober guidelines and drug testing for poker players? It’s only a matter of time before these harmful substances catch up to the players and prevention can definitely help poker’s future.

Intervention Services

Understanding the intervention process is quite helpful prior to staging an intervention. Working with a professional interventionist can provide families and friends who wish to stage an intervention with unmatched intervention services that will result in a potentially higher success rate. A professional interventionist will profile treatment options available, will assist in developing a plan of action, will hold a pre-intervention meeting, will facilitate the intervention itself, will be involved in the treatment admission process, will provide post-intervention free consultations, and will provide post-treatment services.

Alcohol and Drug Intervention

An alcohol and drug intervention addresses individuals who suffer from alcoholism and/or drug addiction. The primary goal is to help the individual acknowledge the problem, and to then encourage him or her to get professional help. Those present at the intervention should express any fears or concerns they have, but in a supportive and encouraging manner. The ultimate goal is that by the end of the intervention, the individual will willingly agree to participate in a recovery program.

Crisis Intervention

One definition of “crisis” is a situation or period in which things are very uncertain, difficult, or painful, especially a time when action must be taken to avoid complete disaster or breakdown. Experiencing a crisis could include sexual abuse, domestic violence, crime, injury, natural disaster, war, suicide, etc. Events such as these can be extremely traumatizing and can increase a person’s risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. In order to avoid this risk, a crisis intervention may be staged. A crisis intervention attempts to assist the individual confront the reality of their trauma and move forward with a positive attitude. The intervention employs psychological first aid, which involves establishing a rapport with the victim, gathering information for short-term assessment and service delivery, and averting a potential state of crisis.

Executive Treatment

Our economy is not as good as we all wish it was. The job market is scarce. People are being laid off left and right. Being at the top of all this seems ideal—having power, control, and money. However, life as an executive, or as a professional in the business world is not easy. After a long day at work, with looming deadlines, and endless meetings, it’s no wonder many of these executives turn to alcohol or drugs for stress relief. A drink after work might turn into a night of drowning sorrows and little sleep. It becomes a cycle, until quickly, it is no longer a choice, it is an addiction—an addiction that could ultimately destroy a career. Executive treatment is a specialized treatment form that employs various techniques geared towards the values and beliefs of executives. Treatment is very discreet, in order to protect their reputations and careers.

Alcohol Drug Treatment

Alcohol and drugs are common escape routes for executives. Therefore, executive rehab often includes alcohol drug treatment. These executives must learn how to get through their days without relying on prescription drugs, or the bottle of scotch waiting at home. In alcohol drug treatment, individuals are taught various skills and tools that will increase their strength and confidence. It is important to remember that stress in the workplace will continue to exist after the completion of rehab. Therefore, individuals who participate in executive rehab are taught healthy, drug-free ways of dealing with these pressures. A key part of successful relapse prevention is learning how to better handle future stress.

Sober Living

After completing an executive rehab program, the goal is that the individual will feel confident in his or her ability to maintain sober living and confident in his or her abilities to handle stress and pressure.

Sober Living

There are a number of steps one must take in order to maintain a sober lifestyle. Sober living is not something that is easy for everyone. Once an individual loses grasp on how to live a sober lifestyle it can take months, even years to regain this strength and ability. Learning sober living is a journey that requires time, dedication, and effort. Individuals must first confront their addiction and come to terms with the fact that they need help. Once they have done this, they must select a treatment program that addresses their specific needs. Family and friends should assist them in this decision, perhaps with professional help as well. Treatment can be approached in many ways. Inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab are the two most common forms of treatment.

Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

One treatment option is inpatient alcohol rehab. Inpatient alcohol rehab is a comprehensive approach to recovery. Individuals who reside in an inpatient alcohol rehab center will stay for an extended period of time, which can last anywhere from a week, to 30 days, to 6 months. Individuals are under constant observation from counselors, doctors, therapists, etc. This way, their progress can be tracked in a structured manner. Often, they will participate in an assortment of treatment methods such as detoxification, one-on-one counseling, group counseling, 12-step programs, physical exercise and activity, etc. Combining all of these methods makes for a very comprehensive experience that is often very successful.

Drug Program Rehab

Participation in a drug program rehab is similar, but has a more specialized focus on individuals suffering from drug addiction. Individuals confront why they have chosen drugs as their outlet, and how to change this. They work in collaboration with other individuals suffering from drug addiction, and are able to support and applaud each others success.

Intervention

One of the most important elements of an intervention is the attitude of the individual who requires intervening. Denial of the problem is commonplace among drug addicts, alcoholics, etc. Individuals suffering from some form of compulsive behavior, particularly those involving chemical substances, tend to either deny the severity of the problem, saying they could quit if they wanted to, or legitimately are unaware of how serious their behavior has become. The intervention aims to reveal the severity, and help the individual acknowledge that he or she needs help. One additional element that is important is whether or not the individual wants to recover. If he or she actively wants to recover, the process will be more much successful. However, if he or she does not want to recover, family and friends will have to be persistent. Resisting help is not uncommon, but it is important to find out if this resistance is due to pride and embarrassment, in which case persistence will help.

Drug Alcohol Intervention

A drug alcohol intervention addresses victims of drug abuse and/or alcohol abuse. The goal is to assist them in acknowledging the severity of their addiction, and facilitating their entrance into a drug and alcohol recovery program.

Crisis Intervention

A crisis intervention is administered in a slightly different manner than a drug alcohol intervention. Crisis interventions address victims who have experienced a traumatic event and are consequentially at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, crime, suicide, a natural disaster, etc., can be extremely isolating and distressing. A crisis intervention should be performed as soon as possible to help avoid any additional pain or disturbance. By using psychological first aid, the interventionist will assist the individual in confronting the reality of what has happened, and moving forward with a positive attitude.

Teen Addiction

ad·dic·tion n

1. A state of physiological or psychological dependence on a drug liable to have a damaging effect

2. A great interest in something to which a lot of time is devoted

Addiction is a debilitating disease that can result in both temporary and permanent physical and mental damage. Teens are extremely susceptible to peer pressure, which can result in experimentation with both drugs and alcohol. While some teens may not go beyond experimentation, others will begin to use drugs and alcohol in excess, which could eventually result in teen addiction. Teen addiction is a very serious epidemic that must be taken seriously.

Adolescent Intervention

In order to address teen addiction, a family may choose to perform an adolescent intervention. An early adolescent intervention intends to help an adolescent acknowledge his or her addiction(s) and begin to make positive changes in his or her life. Because an adolescent is still developing both mentally and physically, his or her brain is still developing and is therefore at a heightened risk for permanent damage. It is important that an adolescent intervention occurs as early as possible to avoid any extra risks. The ultimate goal is that the intervention will guide the adolescent into a teen addiction treatment program immediately.

Family Intervention

A family intervention is recommended for teen addiction. Having a supportive and encouraging family is extremely beneficial, if not necessary, to the recovery of a teen suffering from addiction. It is important that during a family intervention, the teen does not feel scolded, or shamed. Rather, the family members should be encouraging and supportive as they express their fears and concerns. The goal of the family intervention is to promote positive change, and guide the teen into an addiction recovery program.