Rehab Articles | The Crossing Point

Nutrition Tips to Help During Your Alcohol Addiction Recovery

nutrition tips, alcohol addiction recovery, relapse

There are some important nutrition tips that can help you during your alcohol addiction recovery. Substance abuse takes a big toll physically, as well as the psychological damage that occurs. Nutritional deficiencies and poor eating habits can cause a relapse for many people, and the following nutrition tips can help while you are going through alcohol addiction recovery:

Avoid caffeine whenever possible. This includes full versions of coffee, sodas with caffeine, and even teas that provide large amounts of this stimulant. Caffeine can cause your mood to fluctuate and make you more likely to relapse.
Minimize added sugars and sugary foods that are sweet. In addition to possibly causing alcohol cravings sweet foods also contain empty calories and few nutrients. These items take the place of healthy and nutritional food choices in your diet.
Make sure that you get plenty of protein each day. Protein helps to build and maintain muscle tissue and it is required for good physical health.
Work hard to get at least 64 ounces of water in your diet. When you feel the urge to reach for a soda or juice try drinking water instead. If you do not like the taste of plain water then spruce the beverage up with a slice of orange, lemon, or lime. Being even slightly dehydrated can affect the way that you feel, and may make you more likely to relapse.
Choose foods that are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients but that are low in fat and calories.

Why is Anger Management Needed During Substance Abuse Treatment?

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anger management, substance abuse treatment, recovery process

One of the important components of effective substance abuse treatment is anger management, but why is this so important and how does it help the recovery process? Anger management helps you to learn to control and defuse your anger before it can cause harm to you or others. Being angry is one of the most common relapse triggers when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse, and one of the most frequent answers given about why a relapse has occurred. In this type of therapy you will learn to recognize the signs of anger and how to short circuit this emotion before it can get worse or become explosive. Many people have never learned to control this emotion and it has had a destructive effect on their lives.

Anger management therapy is vital in order for the recovery process to go smoothly. During substance abuse treatment and recovery you may find yourself getting irate over even the smallest of things, and this emotion can be incredibly damaging. The same hidden wounds and invisible traumas that lead to substance abuse can also cause issues with controlling anger or feeling this emotion frequently. If you or someone you know needs substance abuse treatment then it is important to make sure that any rehab offers anger management therapy to help work through any anger issues during the recovery process. If a substance abuse treatment program does not offer this component then you may want to pick another facility instead.

What Causes Prescription Drug Abuse?

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Prescription drug abuse, drug addiction

Prescription drug abuse or drug addiction is not something that anyone wants to have. What causes prescription drug abuse though, and why do some people experience this problem while others seem almost immune to prescription drug addiction? There are social and genetic factors involved in addiction, and some people are more vulnerable or predisposed to substance abuse than others. There is no way to pinpoint who is at the highest risk for abuse and addiction when it comes to prescription drugs or even street drugs, and engaging in substance abuse is like playing Russian roulette. A family history of substance abuse can mean a higher risk for prescription drug abuse but this may not always be the case. Peer pressure and social issues also play a role in the abuse of any type of substance.

In many cases prescription drug abuse or drug addiction starts out with legitimate medications. The individual may need pain medications like Vicodin or codeine because they have been injured, had dental work performed, or undergone a medical procedure that makes prescription pain medication necessary. Over time prescription drug abuse occurs because the individual has developed a tolerance for the drug so more is needed to achieve the same effect. Eventually the user is taken off the prescription pain medication but the addiction continues, and the user starts to look for the drug on the street. Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem and treatment should be sought immediately if you or someone you care about has this problem.

5 Critical Principles for Substance Abuse Treatment That is Effective

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substance abuse treatment, substance abuse treatment that is effective

1. Substance abuse treatment requires constant monitoring and testing in order to be effective. Let's face it, you are in treatment for drug or alcohol abuse because you have a problem. Many who enter a rehab program will relapse and use the substance of choice while they are getting help so monitoring and testing is very important during the treatment process.

2. There is no single substance abuse treatment program that will offer everyone the same results. Each individual will start using drugs or alcohol for specific reasons, and these reasons are not always the same. Substance abuse treatment that is effective will examine the individual factors in each case and develop a customized treatment plan.

3. Addiction causes physical and psychological changes in the brain, and this can interfere with normal thought processes. Until you are clean and sober you can not usually make the best decisions, so detox can be a very important part of substance abuse treatment that is effective. .

4. Individual counseling is one of the forms of substance abuse treatment that is effective. This method is needed so that you can work through your unique causes and determine why you abuse drugs or alcohol. One on one therapy should occur along with group therapy each week.

5. Before you can receive substance abuse treatment that is effective any mental disorders that you have must be diagnosed, and these need to be treated along with the substance abuse. Many individuals have both substance abuse issues and one or more mental disorders, and a dual diagnosis is needed in these cases.

USFDA is Changing the Labeling Rules for Painkillers as a Result of Prescription Drug Abuse

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prescription drug abuse, prescription pain medication

The United States Food and Drug Administration, or USFDA, recently announced changes in the labeling requirements for long term prescription pain medications. These drugs are responsible for much of the increase in prescription drug abuse in North America. The changes are due to take effect at the end of 2014, and the new label requirements are designed to make physicians think carefully before prescribing a long acting opiate medication. Oxycontin, morphine, and Fentanyl are some of the drugs that will be affected by the new labeling requirements. Along with the labeling changes the government agency is also requiring the drug manufacturers to conduct studies on the long term effects of long acting prescription drugs. Until no there have not been any studies to show the long term effects of being on these prescription medications.

Safe prescribing practices have not been established with long acting prescription painkillers because there is a lack of data on the long term effects. The new labels will have modified language to help physicians determine when these drugs are required and lower the risk of prescription drug abuse. According to Dr. Douglas Throckmorton of the F.D.A.’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research “What is moderate to me could be severe to you. The new language will say that the drugs should be reserved for use in patients who do not have other treatment options, and be used for management of pain that is “severe enough” to require round-the-clock treatment.” Hopefully the changes will reduce prescription drug abuse in North America.

What is Bulimia Nervosa and How is it Treated? Is This Eating Disorder Dangerous?

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bulimia nervosa, eating disorder

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder, just like anorexia and binge eating, and it can be a dangerous condition for many reasons. If you suffer from bulimia nervosa then you typically binge and purge, eating large amounts of food and then getting rid of it by vomiting or using other measures. This eating disorder can cause malnutrition, and vital body functions may become impaired because of the lack of proper nutrition. Bulimia nervosa can include the following symptoms:

Compulsive overeating, often foods high in fat and sugar
Inducing vomiting after binging
An unhealthy and false body image
Exercise that is excessive
The use of laxatives
Frequent weight changes
Abnormal bowel habits and function
Constantly dieting
Injuries to the hands and knuckles from inducing vomiting
Teeth and gums that are swollen or damaged
Lack of menstruation
Irregular menstrual periods
Sores in the throat or mouth caused by excessive vomiting

Treating bulimia nervosa can be difficult, and this is true of most eating disorders. Individual and group counseling is necessary, but you should also receive nutritional counseling and learn stress management techniques and methods as well. Equine therapy can help you rebuild trust, and the individual sessions with a therapist can help you uncover the causes of bulimia nervosa or other eating disorders in your specific case so they can be addressed and then resolved. If you or someone you know has bulimia nervosa or any eating disorder then help and treatment are important. If left unchecked these disorders can be deadly.

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