Rehab Articles
substance abuse, criminal behavior
Substance abuse and criminal behavior often go hand in hand, and not just because the drugs being used or the activities engaged in while drunk are illegal. Alcohol and drugs both impair good judgment and normal caution, causing people to lose their usual inhibitions and do things that they would never do sober. Does this mean that substance abuse excuses criminal behavior as long as the individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crime was committed though? For most people the answer is a big no, because the individual chose to drink or do drugs so they made a conscious choice, and the criminal acts resulted from that conscious choice. There are others who argue that addiction is a disease though, and that the criminal justice system should show some leniency towards these individuals by offering treatment instead of a criminal record and possibly incarceration.
Criminal courts have long held that substance abuse does not excuse criminal behavior, and individuals are held responsible for acts that they commit while under the influence if they knowingly took the drugs or alcohol. If someone has been secretly drugged then the situation is different because the individual did not knowingly and voluntarily get intoxicated. If you or someone you know has been in legal trouble because of alcohol or drug abuse, or you have a problem with substance abuse that has not reached this low yet, there is help available. There are programs with high success rates and effective programs that actually work as expected.
Rehab Articles
substance abuse triggers, recovery
1. In order to manage your substance abuse triggers they all need to be identified. Each individual will have specific triggers, and these are not the same. You have to identify what triggers your cravings and negative emotions in order to avoid these until you can deal with them and work past them.
2. Expect to have some triggers during recovery, this is part of the process and one reason why so many people relapse. Understand going into recovery that you will have some bad times and moments when you feel torn and want to go back to the substance abuse. When you are aware of these facts you can prepare for them so that you do not relapse.
3. Put a plan in place so that you are better prepared when substance abuse triggers occur. Role playing, discussing possible scenarios, and even setting up an extensive network of support people and groups so that when a trigger happens you know just what to do and how to respond.
4. Take good care of yourself during your recovery. Negative emotional states, poor health, too much stress, and even a lack of sleep or a poor diet can cause triggers to happen. Take the time to pamper yourself once in a while, and make sure that you eat right an get plenty of sleep and exercise.
5. Avoid trying to cause substance abuse triggers in order to test your will to stay sober, this is not a good idea and will usually end badly with a relapse.
Rehab Articles
substance abuse, rehab
1. Price- The best rehab may have a higher price than one that is run by a community government or charitable organization, but the cost may be worth it due to more focus on proven methods and techniques which are more effective. Make sure that you compare all of the factors involved and not just the price.
2. Location- The location of a substance abuse treatment facility can be a critical component in your decision. You want a program that provides some distance between your old activities and the start of your new and sober future. This will make it harder for you to leave on a whim or give in to an impulse to check out early.
3. Relapse Rate- The relapse rate shows how many previous patients have required additional rounds of treatment. If a program has a high relapse rate then this shows the facility may not be as effective as other options, and it may not be the right choice for your rehab needs.
4. Treatment Methods Provided- Some methods used for substance abuse treatment are scientifically proven to be more effective than others. One method that is highly effective is individual counseling sessions several times per week.
5. Residential or Outpatient Facility- Before you choose the right rehab you need to determine whether you are looking for a residential program or if an outpatient facility may be a better choice instead. Residential treatment rehabs usually offer better results.
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binge drinking, immune system impairment
A new study shows that binge drinking results in immune system impairment for young adults, and is just one more reason why this type of activity should be avoided at all costs. Binge drinking is drinking 4-5 shots or an equivalent amount of beer or wine in a two hour period. This level is enough to reach the legal limit of intoxication based on a blood alcohol level of .08. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine researcher Majid Afshar, M.D., M.S.C.R. Performed the study using volunteers. Participants drank between 4 and 5 shots of vodka, and their blood and immune system function was analyzed after 30 minutes, two hours, and five hours. After 20 minutes the immune system of the volunteers actually increased, but this was not true at the two and five hour marks. At these later points the young adults showed immune system impairment.
Many young adults engage in binge drinking 4 times a month on average, and this can cause considerable immune system impairment. This activity greatly increases the risk of many types of traumatic injuries including falls, vehicle accidents and automobile collisions, burns, and even gunshot wounds and stab wounds. One in three people who go to the emergency room have some level of alcohol in their system. The immune system impairment caused by binge drinking makes it harder for any injuries to heal, and binge drinkers have a higher risk for infection and pneumonia as well. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism helped to fund the study.
Rehab Articles
New Years Day, substance abuse treatment
1. Physical Health- Spending New Years Day in a treatment facility is the best way to start the year if you have a problem with alcohol, drugs, or even other conditions like eating disorders, compulsive shopping or gambling, and sex addiction. Addressing the problem head on and treating it will ensure that you recover and stay in the best physical health possible.
2. Mental Health- Without effective substance abuse treatment your mental health can decline in the next year. In order to stay mentally stable and prevent mental illness any drug or alcohol abuse must be stopped, and the underlying issues that cause the problems must be addressed and resolved.
3. Financial Stability- Spending New Years Day in a treatment program can help you regain your financial stability in the new year. Addiction can be an expensive habit to maintain, and over time you will usually start to accumulate debt as your habit becomes more expensive.
4. Family and Friends- When you recover from substance abuse you are giving your friends and family the best gift possible, the real you back and not the person that you become when you drink or do drugs. This is something priceless that money can not buy, and something that these individuals want more than anything else.
5. A Brighter Future- When you take advantage of the right substance abuse treatment program you are giving yourself an opportunity for a brighter future. You deserve a complete and permanent recovery but this will not happen if you delay getting the help that you need.
Rehab Articles
substance abuse treatment, available treatment programs for drug or alcohol abuse
In some areas of North America truly effective substance abuse treatment can be difficult to find, and the number of available treatment programs for drug or alcohol abuse that actually provide a permanent recovery can be very scarce. Many regions offer government and charitable programs designed to be a temporary fix but few actually provide individual counseling several times a week or other scientifically proven treatment methods that give long term results. The best rehabs may be too expensive, insurance policies may only cover certain facilities or programs due to limited budgets and financial resources, and other issues can complicate getting the help needed if you or a loved one has a problem with substance abuse. This can leave you scrambling and facing incredible frustration, because help is needed but can not be found in the local region.
The best substance abuse treatment is not always the closest facility or the cheapest program, in fact both of these factors will work against permanent recovery. The available treatment programs for drug or alcohol abuse will limit your choices if you want to stay close to home, but this can backfire. Usually experts recommend getting away from your home and going quite some distance, because you will be less likely to just decide to leave when things get tough. If you are right across town then leaving is an option, but if you travel hundreds of miles away you will have to think about this decision more carefully and be less likely to leave on the spur of the moment.
Rehab Articles
Christmas, substance abuse recovery
The Christmas season can be a difficult time if you are going through substance abuse recovery, but this does not mean that you have to relapse. This season is a time of happiness and excitement for children but for some adults it can be stressful and hard to get through because of all the extra preparations, shopping, entertaining, and parties that occur. Few people get through the Christmas season without a few mental dings and a whole lot of stress, but this does not mean that you have to give up on your substance abuse recovery. During the tough holiday season you can stay on your road to recovery with a little advance planning, some smart choices, and plenty of support from those who want to see you sober and still in recovery.
Christmas is often a time of joy and of sadness, because you may remember loved ones who are gone and dear friends who are no longer with you. Substance abuse recovery is the best tribute you can give, both to yourself and to others. Many people relapse during this time of year because there is often alcohol at the holiday parties and other events, and everyone seems to be having a good time. It is normal to want to be like everyone else and enjoy the event but if you are in substance abuse recovery and you drink or use drugs you could set yourself back to square one. Make it a point to avoid events where you would be expected to drink, even if it is just a toast with a glass of champagne.
Rehab Articles
stay sober, holiday season, substance abuse
1. During the holiday season the need to stay sober is very important, but this time of the year can be difficult for anyone who struggles with alcohol or drug abuse. Parties, holiday dinners, and all of the stress that this time of year brings can be daunting. Take time to relax, treat yourself to a spa day ro soak in the tub with your favorite music playing and some fragrant bath products.
2. Avoid places and situations where substance abuse is likely to occur. Bring your own bottle and make it a non alcoholic sparkling juice instead of wine or liquor. This will help you abstain no matter what cocktails the host of the event is serving.
3. Sleep is more important than ever during the holiday season, make sure you get enough quality sleep each night. When you are tired you are more likely to relapse and slide backwards, a good night of rest can keep you strong in your recovery.
4. Make a plan to help you stay sober. Carefully consider event invitations and weigh the risks involved. It is okay to leave early so that you get enough sleep, and you should not feel bad about turning down invitations. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed.
5. Past substance abuse is a serious issue, and gift giving can cause incredible amounts of stress that could lead to a relapse. This year why not give gift cards? These are easy and convenient, making your shopping list easier to manage and your gifting requirements less stressful.
Rehab Articles
substance abuse recovery, relapse
Many people believe that relapse is a crucial part of substance abuse recovery, but this does not have to be the case when you choose the right treatment program and the best possible treatment methods. Before you make any final decision about a substance abuse recovery program take the time to find out what techniques and methods are offered, and then compare various programs to see which ones are the most effective and that have the lowest relapse rates. It is possible to get clean and stay that way without any back sliding or further rounds of treatment needed, but only when you make the right choices concerning the program and the methods used. Group counseling is an important part of treatment, but you also need individual counseling frequently in order to uncover and address the root causes of your alcohol or drug abuse.
Substance abuse recovery programs which have a high relapse rate will not help you get permanent results that last. In addition to group and individual counseling studies have shown that Christian rehabs typically have higher success rates, and there are some program components that can lower your risk for a relapse once you have finished treatment and you are well on your way to recovery. Nutritional counseling, anger management, even stress relief counseling can help you stay on the right path and prevent you from straying when you feel weak and you want to give in and go back to your old ways. Relapse does not have to occur when you are careful about which program you choose.
Rehab Articles
chronic pain, opioid use, mindfulness
Opioid use for chronic pain is a big problem in North America, and many who start out taking narcotic pain medications for legitimate pain end up with a substance abuse problem or even prescription drug addiction as a result of opioid use. A new study by the University of Utah shows that mindfulness techniques can help reduce the use of opioid drugs among people who suffer from chronic pain, and help prevent or minimize the risk of prescription drug abuse and addiction. The program that was developed by researchers at the university is called MORE, or Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement, and the results were very promising. The researchers use mindfulness techniques in order to help individuals who have chronic pain recover a feeling of meaning and a sense of accomplishment in their daily lives, and to lower the rate and the risks of prescription opioid use, abuse, and addiction.
The new study on mindfulness, opioid use, and chronic pain utilizes the latest developments and data on chronic opioid use and other types of substance abuse. Dr. Eric L. Garland was the lead researcher, and the results of the research can be found in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. The study participants received 2 months of mindfulness oriented training to decrease opioid use and treat chronic pain, and meditation was included in the techniques used. According to Dr. Garland “These findings are scientifically important because one of the major theories about how and why addiction occurs asserts that over time drug abusers become dulled to the experience of joy in everyday life, and this pushes them to use higher and higher doses of drugs to feel happiness. This study suggests that this process can be reversed. We can teach people to use mindfulness to appreciate and enjoy life more, and by doing that, they may feel less of a need for addictive drugs. It’s a powerful finding.”
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domestic violence between parents, effects of domestic violence
A new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University has shown that domestic violence between parents can have a different effect depending on the sex of the child. The effects of domestic violence can be devastating for any child when they experience abuse between parents, but these effects are not always the same. Female children tend to internalize the effects of this exposure while male children externalize this experience and are more likely to act out as a result. In both sexes the exposure to domestic violence between parents will usually result in social development that is poor. There were two different points which were examined for the study, one when children start preschool and one when children begin kindergarten. The behavior of the child and their exposure to violence was assessed at each point.
The study on domestic violence between parents and the effects of domestic violence exposure on children were studied in the hope of developing early intervention programs. The lead researcher of the study, Megan R. Holmes, Ph.D., M.S.W, explained “Most children fell within normal ranges for social development and aggression. The exposure occurring when the child was of school age predicted poor social skills for girls but not for boys.” The study showed an increase in aggression among boys exposed to domestic violence between parents but not among girls. Holmes explained that “This aggression tends to isolate and prevent healthy interactions with other children.” Early detection and prevention may help improve the outcome for children exposed to the effects of domestic violence.
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teen substance abuse, traumatic brain injury
A traumatic brain injury will increase the risk of teen substance abuse according to a new study performed at St. Micheal’s Hospital, which is located in Toronto, Canada. The study results show that traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of teen substance abuse significantly, making the individual 2-4 times more likely to drink alcohol or use drugs. The study results have been published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, and it can help physicians and other medical care providers screen patients more effectively. The lead study researcher, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Cusimano, explained “Overall, a teen with a history of TBI is at least twice as likely as a classmate who hasn’t suffered a brain injury to drink alcohol, use cannabis or abuse other drugs. But when you look at specific drugs, those rates are often higher.”
Teen substance abuse is a serious problem in Canada and the USA, and traumatic brain injury can play a role in this problem. Dr. Michael Cusimano, who also holds a position at the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science as a researcher, stated “On top of the other health consequences, substance abuse increases the odds of suffering an injury that could result in a TBI. And using some of these substances may also impair recovery after injury.” Cusimano also explained “Some people think of concussions as a less alarming injury than a mild TBI but this is wrong. Every concussion is a TBI. People should take every brain injury seriously because, as this research shows, the immediate and long-term effects can alter lives.”
