Chapman House Inc. Drug Rehab

   You ask what is addiction? Addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on something. When a person is an addict they need to feed there addiction constantly.Addiction is a traitor that sneaks up on you. Addicts do not recognize that they have a problem, everyone has the problem. Addiction and abuse are different, a person can abuse drugs and not be addicted. The two determining factors in figuring if a person had an addiction are their physical dependency and tolerance. People with addictions are very destructive they often end up hurting their family and friends as well as themselves. When overcoming an addiction the first step is the addict has to realize that they have a problem and seek out treatment.

    The movies often portray teens partying, taking drugs and drinking alcohol.  Painting the wrong picture for teens. Oftentimes teens see it as an epitome. Although Hollywood does its part to show a different side of alcohol and drug addiction with movies like "Trainspotting" and "Girl Interrupted", the character still ended up being glamorous and ideal in nature and often overshadows the dark side of addiction. It is important to look at this depiction with a cynic eye. Movies are after all for entertainment purposes only, and there is nothing remotely entertaining about the reality of alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Addiction can be hell on earth and life in an Alcohol rehab and Drug Rehab can be a nightmare.

    Illegal drugs and alcohol are addicting. Records show that the younger you are when you experiment with illegal drugs or alcohol you are more prone to become an addict in the future. Addiction often runs in families; you do not choose addiction, addiction chooses you. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol is a gamble, and the stake is your life, your personality, and your future.

    Individuals often hide their drinking or deny that the fact that they have a problem. Signs of a possible alcoholism include having friends or relatives express concern, being irritated when people comment on their drinking, feeling guilty about their excessive alcohol consumption and thinking that they should moderate it but finds themselves unable to do so, or needs a morning drink to steady their nerves or relieve a hangover.

    On the other hand, drug dependence often begins with the misuse of legal drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that becomes illegal when use in a manner that causes a person to get high. These also include aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are legal to sell or buy however, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs.

    People with addiction work hard to resolve them, and with the support of family members and friends they are able to recover on their own. However in most cases, people they usually cannot stop drinking or using drugs by willpower alone. A lot of them require outside help, mostly from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism treatment and addiction treatment may need medically supervised detoxification to avoid possible life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsion. Once they are stabilized, they need help resolving psychological issues associated with their problem drinking.

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    Bio-Physical Method
People have natural chemicals on their brain that produce the feeling of happiness. But when people use illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine, the natural process of happiness is abruptly interrupted. The result is that a person would feel a sudden feeling of intense happiness followed by heavy depression. Because of this, the drug user is tempted to use the drugs once again to get the “high”.
    As you take these drugs, the toxins would be stored on the fatty tissues of your body. So even if you make an effort to stop your addiction, it would be difficult because the toxins would still create the cravings and depression that is associated with drug usage.
To get rid of these toxins, it is important for a drug addict to undergo bio-physical methods like the sauna. In addition, the patient should also take vitamins and exercise regularly to beat the addiction. With the bio-physical method, the body would be able to restore itself to its normal state at a faster rate so a patient can get his life back as soon as possible.
    The 12 Step Program
This treatment is derived from an alcohol addiction program known as the Alcoholics Anonymous. The Alcoholic Anonymous is basically an organization where people get together to help each other beat their alcohol addiction. The same concepts are used to beat drug addiction.
Behavior Modification Programs
    This type of treatment program is used primarily for teens that have problems with their family. These teens turn to drugs to cope with their situation. Because people at their age bracket have yet to establish their own sense of self, the behavior modification program is used to let them understand that they are doing harm to themselves and they will only become successful in destroying their own lives if they continue.

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    Drug addiction can be a cruel enemy that each drug addict needs to fight in order to recover. There is simply no other way to stop drug addiction than to confront it head on. However, this is easier said than done because a drug addict has to deal with pain, shame, guilt, and hopelessness in the course of battling the addiction. You should always remember that nobody wants to use drugs for the sake of becoming addicted. Their first intention of drug use is probably recreational or they simply want to have a good time, experiment, or escape from their problems.
    It is important to remember that there is simply no way to use illegal drugs safely because each person who uses it has an equal chance to get addicted. Some people can sometimes stop drug use at its roots before they become addiction but some people develop an addiction that will eventually strip them of their money, their self-esteem, their family, and their life. When drug addicts become addicted, it is also sometimes difficult for them to accept. It would be essential for people around them to understand that this fact and make no judgment because it can make the drug addiction worse since the victim would want to escape his problems even more.
    But in the midst of all these problems, is there a way out? Yes, there certainly is but each drug addict has to work to get their life back. The road to recovery is different from one person to another so each drug addict must find his own way. Getting help from a reputable drug rehabilitation facility is proven to be helpful for many people especially if they have the support of their family and friends. There are various programs in drug rehabilitation facilities to suit the unique needs of each person but the responsibility of the drug addict to take advantage of the programs being offered to get your life back.

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    In the past parents had, by today’s standards, little to worry about with what drugs and other substances their kids may be experimenting. In the world wars era it was only really alcohol and cigarettes, the latter being commonly used by virtually the whole population. Then came the hippy era with a focus on marijuana and other mind altering, hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, upping the ante as to what drugs parents needed to be aware of. Cocaine and crack hit the market in the seventies and became popular in the eighties; around the dawn of the new millennium new drugs like ecstasy and meth burst into the main stream.
    While all of these drugs are still being used, they are still all illegal, expensive (to varying degrees), can be somewhat difficult to acquire, and are all harmful in one way or another. Today, however, young adults are becoming more resourceful with what drug they experiment and through the decades have begun experimenting a younger ages. Today, parents need to not only worry about what drugs are on the street, but, also, what drugs are in their medicine cabinets.
In the United States, around 3.1 million youth and young adults ages 12 to 25, or five percent of that age group, have experimented with an over-the-counter cough and cold medication to get high at one point or another, a U.S. government survey said.
    Today’s young people are abusing cold pills and cough syrups in significant doses to experience hallucinations, "out-of-body" events and other ‘trips’, officials said.
The survey, released in 2006, gave a glimpse into the abuse of these OTC drugs among young adults, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, said in a report. The survey was conducted through almost 45,000 interviews with people ages 12 to 25.
    The results of the survey should make parents cautious as to what they keep in their medicine cabinets and what they can do to prevent their child from abusing over-the-counter drugs. Also, young adults, themselves, should be aware of what effects over-the-counter drug abuse can have on their mental and physical functioning.
Adolescents and young adults are thought to have the highest rates of abuse of such medications, the officials said. Nearly 1 million — or 1.7 percent of them — had done so in the past year, according to the survey.
    Abuse of over-the-counter medicines, like cough syrups, has long been known, but the number of young adults experimenting with them wasn’t well quantified until this survey. The survey results, however, are inconclusive as to whether this kind of substance abuse is increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant.
    NyQuil, Robitussin, and Coricidin products were the top three OTC of choice for young adults. The chemical that is present in cold and cough medicines that induces the ‘high’ sought after by the youths is dextromethorphan, also known as DXM. This cough suppressant is prevalent in over 140 cough and cold brand products that are available in the United States without a prescription. DXM is considered safe when used in the suggested doses. Too much of DXM, however, results in hallucinations or out-of-body ‘trips’ similar to those experienced when using PCP and Ketamine. An overdose can cause uncontrollable muscle spasms, vomiting, delirium, irregular heartbeat, and sometimes death.

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The process of drug addiction recovery involves a professional diagnosis of the situation, a detoxification program tailored to the specific needs of the patient and an on-going treatment program, including counseling and voluntary meetings. Detoxification of the patient is a necessary part of the drug addiction recovery process as it prepares the body for any medical treatment that may need to be administered. Drug abuse can have a whole variety of effects on the body and the mind of the addict. Depending on the length and severity of the abuse, toxins can accumulate in the body, often causing problems later on if they are not addressed with a suitable detox program. The toxins and by-products of drug abuse can collect in the organs of the body, such as the liver and kidneys, whose function is to filter the blood and bodily fluids of any harmful chemicals or substances, and also body fat. The effectiveness of the processes carried out by the liver and kidneys can be significantly reduced if these harmful toxins are not cleared from these important organs. The removal of toxins and by-products from the body fat is equally necessary, especially from the fat surrounding body organs for the same reasons. Detox programs address the problems associated with the accumulation of these toxins and drug abuse by-products by flushing out the system and providing a ‘clean slate’ for any further drug addiction recovery treatment that may be necessary. The removal of such toxins is a necessary step of the drug addiction recovery process because, if left in the body, they can cause problems in the future that may jeopardize the long-term success of any treatment. For example, a recovering drug addict may decide to lose some weight. If toxins are still present in the body fat of the individual, weight loss will cause these substances to be released back into the bloodstream and trigger a relapse. They can also cause just as much harm to the body as if the individual returned to abusing drugs. Detox also has other beneficial effects on the patient. Such a cleansing process often encourages the patient to become more healthy and active, changing their diet and participating in exercise programs in an attempt to enhance the effects of the detox process. Patients tend to find that detox programs, as part of a full drug addiction recovery program, boost their overall state of mind and their opinions of drug abuse. Such experiences can encourage the patient to participate more actively in the whole drug addiction recovery process by contributing their willpower and patience. This can often greatly increase the chances of a successful drug addiction recovery. Detox is an essential part of any good drug addiction recovery program as it cleanses the body of harmful toxins and by-products that have collected due to drug abuse. It also provides the patient with the opportunity to experience the health benefits that they had completely cut out of their lives as a drug abuser and allows them to fully involve themselves in the successful treatment of their drug addiction using willpower, strength and dedication.Why is Detox Necessary for Drug Addiction Recovery

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Depression

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that very common in today’s world. It impacts over 10 million adults every year. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men. Left untreated, depression interferes with daily functioning and can have severe impact on family relationships and on one’s physical health.
Depression not only affects a person emotionally, but may lead to physical ailments as well. A person who shows signs of one or more of the following symptoms may be experiencing depression:

Emotional Symptoms of Depression :

• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Lack of motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Worry or guilt
• Suicidal thoughts

Physical Symptoms of Depression :

• Low Energy level
• Unexplained pain, frequent headaches
• Physical pain
• Crying spells
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite

Depression also has different classifications.

Some examples are:

Clinical Depression - Clinical depression is serious enough to require clinical (professional) and possibly even pharmacological intervention. In cases of clinical depression, the symptoms must have been professionally observed by a medical practitioner and last for more than two continuous weeks at a time.

Teen Depression - Teenage depression is becoming more and more common in our society, affecting millions of teens nationwide. Teen depression can be identified by numerous symptoms including: difficulty coping with anger, problems in school, weight loss, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, a desire to use drugs or drink alcohol and an interest in violence. If left untreated, teen depression can often lead to more severe symptoms and last months or years.

What is the cause of Depression?

Depression may be caused by a combination of factors, and over time can lead to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Over the last two decades, extensive scientific and clinical study indicates that the most common cause of anxiety and depression related symptoms originates with an irregular distribution of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as Serotonin and Norepenephrine. These chemicals, along with other neurotransmitters are thought to be essential to cell-to-cell communication in the brain. A chemical imbalance of these key neurotransmitters causes a disturbance within specific receptor sites in the brain. An event such as being laid off, a financial loss, a medical illness or a death in the family can trigger this sort of imbalance and can eventually lead to depression. A person may also experience symptoms of depression suddenly and for no apparent reason.

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

Bipolar disorder, or BPD, is experienced in extreme highs (mania) followed by, and without warning, periods of extreme lows (depression). Symptoms of mania may include rapid idea changes, intense irritability and decreased sleep. Bipolar Disorder is treatable and manageable under appropriate care.

ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common behaviors fall into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention.

People who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their mind on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. They may give effortless, automatic attention to activities and things they enjoy. But focusing deliberate, conscious attention to organizing and completing a task or learning something new is difficult.

Hyperactivity.

People who are hyperactive always seem to be in motion. They can’t sit still. They may dash around or talk incessantly. Sitting still through a lesson can be an impossible task. Hyperactive children squirm in their seat or roam around the room. Or they might wiggle their feet, touch everything, or noisily tap their pencil. Hyperactive teens and adults may feel intensely restless. They may be fidgety or they may try to do several things at once, bouncing around from one activity to the next.

Impulsivity.

People who are overly impulsive seem unable to curb their immediate reactions or think before they act. As a result, they may blurt out inappropriate comments. Or, they may run into the street without looking. Their impulsivity may make it hard for them to wait for things they want or to take their turn in games. They may grab a toy from another child or hit when they’re upset.

Some scientists believe drugs such as Cocaine and Methamphetamines seem to affect the normal development of brain receptors. These brain cell parts help to transmit incoming signals from our brain to the rest of our body and help control our responses to the environment. Current research suggests that drug abuse may harm these receptors. This damage may cause or lead to symptoms of ADHD.

Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The essential characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive uncontrollable worry about everyday things. This constant worry affects daily functioning and can cause physical symptoms. Generalized Anxiety Disorder can occur with other anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, or substance abuse. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks some of the dramatic symptoms, such as unprovoked Panic Attacks, that are seen with other anxiety disorders; for a diagnosis to be made, worry must be present more days than not for at least 6 months.

The focus of Generalized Anxiety Disorder worry can shift, usually focusing on issues like job, finances, health of both self and family; but it can also include more mundane issues such as, chores, car repairs, and being late for appointments. The intensity, duration and frequency of the worry are disproportionate to the issue and interfere with the sufferer’s performance of tasks and ability to concentrate. Physical symptoms include:

• Muscle tension
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea
• Cold, clammy hands
• Difficulty swallowing
• Jumpiness
• Feeling like your life is spiraling out of control
• Irritability
• Insomnia

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During addiction recovery, the body and mind undergo specific changes as a result of the medicinal treatment that is needed to free the patient from their addiction. These changes are experienced in different ways according to the receptivity and personality of the patient involved. There are good and bad experiences involved during the addiction rehab process, as with all aspects of life. Of most importance is that the patient sticks to the addiction recovery program, regardless of how friends and family may react to what they see and how low at times they may feel themselves.

The inpatient drug treatment process may begin with a detoxification program where the body is cleansed of any toxins or substance abuse by-products that may have accumulated during the course of the drug abuse. During this period of detox, the patient can expect to feel some withdrawal symptoms as not all will be subdued. They will also feel healthier and may wish to participate in exercise or other activities that the addiction rehab center may offer. A healthy, vitamin and mineral enriched diet will also be provided to enhance the beneficial effects of the detox process. It is often the case that the patient may feel drained and exhausted during this detox process as the body is being encouraged to flush the toxins from its system. This flushing process consumes a lot of energy resulting in these feelings of exhaustion.

Following detox, there will often be a course of medicinal treatment as part of the addiction recovery process. Depending on the particular treatment that is deemed suitable for the particular case, the patient can expect to feel tired, depressed, anxious, aggressive or experience varying amounts of discomfort. They may also feel confused as the brain is aided in returning to its previous functional abilities and chemical pathways. It is important to realise that these symptoms often do not last very long. It is common to experience rapid changes in emotions during the course of a single day. The doctors and nurses of these addiction rehab centers are well aware of the different stages of the addiction treatment process and are trained in how to deal with them quickly and efficiently.

There may be times during the course of the addiction recovery process where the patient may feel the need to talk about his experiences or any questions he has about the treatment process. There are always counsellors on hand to help the patient with these issues, which in turn will provide a better understanding of the addiction recovery process they are going through. These counselling sessions can be extremely important for the well being of the patient as they can prevent emotional or nervous breakdowns or feelings of isolation in the patient, which may inhibit the effects of treatment.

Ongoing inpatient drug treatment is a necessary and very effective part of the addiction rehab process as it can provide the stepping stones that the patient needs to make a successful transition back into normal society and a drug free lifestyle. There may be times that the patient feels especially weak or tempted to return to the drug abuse. This is where ongoing treatment can be particularly effective, analysing why the patient feels they wish to return to abusing drugs and what can be done to prevent it. A large part of the success of addiction recovery is down to some form of ongoing treatment or the participation in voluntary counselling sessions.

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Drug and alcohol addiction treatment has one purpose: to release the patient from the abusive and addictive behavior patterns that have taken over their life and distorted their view of the world. What are not so clear-cut are the methods and processes that are used to treat drug and alcohol abuse problems. So what exactly can one expect from a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program?

Initially, the drug addict can expect to be diagnosed by a highly trained professional. This is necessary to determine the individual and unique traits and habits of the patient in order to make a correct choice as to the addiction treatment program that will be used. The patient will be asked a variety of questions concerning his social interaction habits, influences, character and other important factors. This information will determine the success of any addiction treatment that may be administered.

Once a full diagnosis has been made, a detoxification program is commonly used to prepare the patient’s body for medical treatment. This involves cleansing the body of toxins and the by-products of drug abuse that have accumulated in the body over the course of the addiction. Detox is necessary for a number of reasons. The release of these toxins in the future, if they are not dealt with effectively, can trigger relapses or possibly harm the body as a relapse would. These toxins can also damage the organs of the body if left untreated. Detox is usually in the form of dry sauna or a swift medical detox.

After diagnosis and detox, the process of medically treating the patient can begin. The methods and treatment used depends very much on the information obtained during the diagnosis and the type and severity of the substance that is being abused. Some treatment methods require a full time stay for a certain period of time in a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center whilst other methods may only need a certain number of visits for medical treatment. Treatment methods may vary from mild with no side effects, to intense, some of which may produce more noticeable and sometimes uncomfortable side effects. Staff of addiction treatment centers will strive to make the patient as comfortable as possible during their stay. They will also offer therapy in the form of counseling sessions and social activities to enhance the treatment process and take the patient’s mind off any discomfort or negative feelings they may experience.

The final part of the addiction treatment process involves ongoing treatment. This will require the patient to visit a certain number of times a week for progress reports and to discuss any issues that may be bothering them. This can be a crucial time for a drug addiction recovery patient as situations they were used to before must be dealt with accordingly to prevent any relapse back into the substance abusing habit.

Drug and alcohol addiction recovery centers strive to not only treat the patient effectively but also to provide them with as much support and advice as possible to give them the best chances of making a successful and permanent recovery from substance abuse.

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During the initial stages of alcohol and drug treatment, a diagnosis of the individual’s circumstances must be made. This will encompass every aspect of the patient’s life. Personality, social interactive behavior patterns, disposition, severity of the addiction, length of time of the drug abuse, type and common dosages of the drug being abused and many other factors must be thoroughly examined to make a full diagnosis and choose the right course of action to treat the patient. One matter that is extremely important to consider is the particular personality of the patient. The susceptibility of the patient to personality disorders is important to address as it can have a massive impact on any alcohol and drug treatment that may be used.

The presence of or susceptibility to a personality or brain disorder when combined with alcohol and drug abuse is known as dual diagnosis. The alcohol and drug treatment that is chosen for cases of dual diagnosis will be slightly different than in the case of solely drug or alcohol abuse. The importance of a correct diagnosis in these cases is of utmost importance.

If the patient being analyzed is susceptible to, or has had in the past, a personality disorder or similar brain dysfunction, it could have serious consequences as to the type of alcohol and drug treatment that is used. For example, someone who is susceptible to acute depression will not be suitable for treatment using medicines that produce depression as a side effect. Such treatment could result in the patient becoming severely suicidal. If the patient is schizophrenic, alcohol and drug treatment involving drugs that cause confusion would be most unsuitable.

If such a dual diagnosis is ignored or missed, it could have severe repercussions for the patient. The drugs used to treat alcohol and drug addictions could trigger a psychotic episode, mental or emotional breakdown, or the return, often with a vengeance, of a previous disorder. Such effects could result in permanent damage to the health of the patient or, in some cases, even death.

It is extremely helpful to all those involved in an alcohol and drug treatment program that the patient be honest and open in these situations. Hiding any information that may seem irrelevant could cause serious problems down the road. If the individual considering or about to begin an alcohol and drug treatment program can recognize what determines a dual diagnosis, this can help the treatment process immensely. If one suspects they may have, or had, any kind of personality or other brain related disorder, it is imperative that this information is passed on to the doctor or nurse involved in the alcohol and drug treatment diagnostic process.

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