Category Archives: Drug Addiction

Xanax Abuse

Xanax dependence among teenagers is a growing concern in the United States and around the world. It’s becoming easier than ever to obtain for young adults who want to experiment with the drug or have grown too reliant on its “benefits”. High schools and colleges are more rampant with cases of Xanax abuse from a normalized idea of using it. Abuse of this anti-anxiety drug is threatening not only teen and adult mental and physical health, but their careers and futures overall. In the worst cases of Xanax abuse, an addict can even face an overdose that leads to death.  According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2016 report on drugs and alcohol, nearly seventy percent of adolescents who try an illicit drug before the age of thirteen will develop an addiction within seven years. That’s a scary statistic to think about when you place it in the big picture of teen health in America.

Signs and symptoms of Xanax abuse or benzodiazepine addiction are hard to spot at times. For some people covering up habits of addiction becomes easy while others fall behind as the cope with withdrawal symptoms. Anyone who is abusing Xanax on a regular basis must learn how to taper off the medication instead of stopping cold-turkey. Since the drug is used to treat issues like anxiety or insomnia, an addict’s body needs to learn how to taper off the chemicals its grown accustomed to and take on therapy. Therapies that include natural and healthier non-drug alternatives include meditation, yoga, exercise, art therapy, etc. Let’s dive into the best ways to overcome Xanax abuse before it’s too late.

Xanax abuse is effecting thousands around the country.

 

Signs Of Xanax Abuse

A person addicted to using Xanax will show different signs in their physical and mental health over time. As a fast-acting drug, the majority of the benefits are established within an hour after use, with the total duration of effect being at least 6 hours. A person will show physical signs of mood shifts, low energy levels, a worse off hygiene level, changes in weight, and even signs of low amounts of sleep. They may portray signs of high anxiety, depression, headaches, obsessive thinking about the drug, and frequent isolation from their normal behaviors. In addition to physical and mental symptoms, Xanax abuse also brings long-term psychological consequences, such absences and poor performance at work or school, loss of family relationships and close friend, an increased risk of injury or fatality due to accidents, and a higher rate of abusing more than one substance in general.

As for withdrawal symptoms, Xanax abuse brings worse off sleep, an increased heart rate and blood pressure, excessive sweating, muscle and hand tremors, occasional hallucinations, and even seizures in the worse cases. For someone who may be a student in school or working at one of their first jobs, a teenager can’t risk experiencing constant withdrawal effects because of the huge disturbance it brings. If anyone wants to improve their health, they must seek profession drug addiction treatment immediately for their Xanax abuse.

Seeking Treatment

The most important thing to remember when getting over Xanax abuse is to taper off the drug. Some people may preach about quitting the drug completely, but their pride may cost you your health. It is never recommended for someone who has developed a dependence on Xanax to suddenly stop taking the medication since it leads to even more severe and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Since the worst symptoms include heart tremors and seizures, any rehab professional will put a client on a program that slowly wakes their amount of Xanax consumed. Over a period of a few weeks to a few months, their bodies can grow into being sober from the drug and jump back with the right nutrition plans to stay strong.

Treatment for Xanax abuse can come in many forms like trauma therapy, community support groups, group therapy, and individualized therapy. Choosing which therapy is right depends on what the social style and daily schedule a patient has. Someone who is introverted and busy during the week may want to do private counseling while someone extroverted and likes meeting new people will benefit from a in person rehab group. Any professional treatment center can point you to the right choices if you take the time to explore what you like and don’t like. Be patient with the process and trust in a professional’s recommendations since they have experience in helping people overcome Xanax abuse. Even if you don’t agree with what they’re saying, it’s better to follow their lead than try to independently solve the issue yourself.

Moving Forward

It takes time to overcome addiction when you feel like you’re alone and not sure what to do. Instead of going to a neighbor for advice or aimlessly looking for answers on Google, go to a local expert in drug rehab who can point you in the right direction for getting help. They will listen to your story and help give you support for therapy in a way that your parents, friends, and teachers may not be able to. As a result, it’s important to keep up with therapy and finish it to the end to ensure that your treatment will be effective and long lasting. Relapses can always happen, so it’s important to know from therapy what your triggers are and form a battle proof plan to combat them. A luxury drug rehab could provide a hands-on treatment for patients that need extra help when they overcome addiction. Finding customized support is key for an addict to not rely on a cookie-cutter solution, so make sure you observe what possibilities are out there!

Relapse Prevention

Why do many people end up overdosing when they relapse? Why is relapse still happening and how can we prevent it? These are only a few of the questions that are running through people’s minds as they go through drug treatment. Addiction education is in place to help people find the right answers and create a battle proof strategy to navigate life’s toughest temptations. Having a relapse prevention strategy in place is necessary for those trying to stay sober after detox.

For anyone to stay sober after an intense addiction understanding all of their “triggers” is a must. A “trigger” could be a sight, sound, location, person, or even an old memory that can ease someone’s mind back to their previous highs. It may tempt them to go back to using the drug of their choice and undo the hard work they put into staying sober. Every addict faces this and must learn how to deal with them as soon as possible. Let’s walk through how to successfully plan relapse prevention and common mistakes addicts can make throughout the process.  Treatment forces people to take things one day at a time, but the outcome of sobriety isn’t impossible!

Relapse prevention is key for former drug addicts.

What Is Relapse?

Everyone experiences relapse differently and may be more prone to having one in different stages of their sobriety. In order to understand relapse prevention you have to understand the different stages of relapse at first. Experts say that there’s three stages of relapse include emotional, mental, and physical relapse in addicts who are learning how to stay sober. Signs of addiction relapse may be subtle or profound so keep a close eye on what you know is normal for your body. You know yourself best and are ultimately the one who can control your actions.

Emotional relapse can start a few weeks or even a few months before the event of physical relapse. Emotional relapse signs can include being angry, irritable, discontent, feeling isolated, experiencing stress and anxiety, depression, and overall intense mood swings. Relapse prevention at this stage means recognizing that you’re in trouble and need to start changing your behavior. Remind yourself that it’s okay to ask for help and practice relaxation techniques to soothe your mind. Recognize that you’re anxious and practice relaxation techniques. Also look into changing your sleep habits and improve your nutrition if you haven’t been eating the best. Most of times, our diet and exercise plays a huge role into how we feel from day to day. If you don’t change your behavior at this stage and you wait until the point where you become exhausted, your body may shift into mental relapse which comes with larger risks to deal with.

Mental relapse is the second stage of addiction relapse overall. At this time you’re just idly thinking about using drugs, but in the later phase you’re more convinced than ever to start again. . A common mental urge is you’re getting away with using drugs because no one will know if you relapse. Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend is away or you have a long break off work to do so. This is the time when your addiction is trying its best to convince you the drug is okay to take again and that you’re doing no harm. Key signs of mental relapse are thinking about the people, different places, and variety of things you used with drugs. You could be thinking romantically about your addiction in the past, lying about your behavior, and hanging out with old connections who once praised your highs. Any friends who judge your new behavior are probably the people who got you involved with drugs in the first place. They may be encouraging you to use drugs again and you could easily find yourself back to your previous habits in no time. To combat mental relapse, remind yourself of any negative consequences that you suffered and tell someone what you’re struggling with. Most studies show that telling someone about what your goals are and what you struggle with keeps you more accountable. You’ll be less likely to fall off the bandwagon and encouraged to find healthy distractions like going for a walk, playing music, working out, or anything that keeps you away from drugs.

The last stage of relapse is physical relapse. This means that the addict goes one step further and drivers to their weed dealer, the liquor store, or connects with old friends to consume their vice. It’s hard to stop the process of relapse at that point. That’s not where you should focus your efforts in recovery. If you do catch yourself at this point, tell someone and check into your treatment counselor as soon as possible if you’re truly serious about help. It’s up to you to control your mind and body in the end.

Lifelong Healing

With the right addiction education you can prevent any addiction relapses and learn how to deal with them if you do find yourself falling short during drug treatment. Take time to learn about how you think during times of temptation and what prevents your mind from falling off the bandwagon. If you have to cut off certain friends or stop going to certain places, take the leap. You’ll thank yourself for bettering your social circle and spending your time more wisely in the long term. Remember that experiencing a relapse is also extremely common and that it isn’t the end of the world. Relapses remind you that you aren’t perfect and have room to improve mentally and physically. Brush yourself off and think about tomorrow. Vow to make better choices for your mind and body the next time around so you aren’t making the same mistake twice!

 

Art Therapy For The Young

The young kids of today are hooked to their Snapchat, IPads, and even Fortnite. While these activities are fun and help them communicate with their friends, what is a kid supposed to do if they are having troubles with a mental disorder?  For children who already have mental illnesses like anxiety, PTSD, or depression, the answers can become even more vague since they won’t know all the words or terms to describe what they are going through. Some kids are very talkative and will have no trouble describing what thoughts they have, while others are quiet and might be shy to open up to even their parents.

As a form of holistic medicine, art therapy is a great way to get children to open up and connect without being afraid to be judged. They can freely express what is going through their mind to a therapist who intently listens to what they have to say. Learning about their thoughts and environment will crucially improve their social skills and personal sense of responsibility.  Let’s look at the ways art therapy is well suited to help our young kids!

Art therapy takes on many forms!

Using Art Therapy

Art therapy is a great way for young kids to let out their creative side, fear no judgement in a safe environment, and learn how to communicate easily about their feelings. This form of therapy is unique because it involves no medicine, can take on many mediums, and is welcome to patients to not only kids but adults of any age who have trouble processing their thoughts. Like any other therapy, the patient and the therapist have to form a bonda and stay patient with each other. Frustration and confusion is bound to happen, but sorting through these roadblocks together will make the patient learn many new things about themselves. Some ways art therapy is a great choice includes:

  • Art therapy allows clients young and old to take part. Children love that they can draw anything about their world, while adults tend to love the stress relieving benefits that free drawing brings. Art therapy is available in almost every treatment center that is based around the idea of holistic therapy. Holistic therapy encompasses healing the body, mind, and the spirit at once rather than using medications to cover up a person’s problem. Do some digging into what centers are around your area to sign up for a great art therapy program near you.
  • Some of the most popular art therapy methods are active imagination therapy, gestalt art therapy, and third hand. Gestalt is a form that I have firsthand experienced even in grade school. Being able to draw whatever I wanted helped me process my thoughts and calm down my mind during the school day. On the other hand, active imagination allows patients to practice free association with words or images that come to their mind while they create their form of art. For those who have problems with anxiety, this is great so they can better reflect on their own feelings instead of reacting to people in an unhealthy way. Lastly, third hand allows the client and the therapist to form a team and produce artistic images together. Through this method, the two parties learn more about each other and a strong sense of trust is built for the client to feel comfortable to share more.
  • Art therapy is available on multiple mediums. Over one hundred years ago, the early stages of art therapy strictly used what tools were available at the time. Children would take paints, crayons, and charcoal to draw what images helped express their dreams, thoughts, and environments. Today, thousands of art tools are available and can range from colored pencils, knitting, water colors, to clay sculpting and magazine collages. The way a patient will choose their medium is to tell the therapist more about themselves and what kinds of art they enjoy doing. If the child has a hard time communicating, usually parents will step in and help point the therapist to mediums that they have observed the child doing in their spare time. Today, with the amount of digital mediums in our toolkit art therapy can include digital collaging by online software, 3D printing various objects, and creating animated drawings.
  • Kids learn how to build better communication skills. There are some things that can’t be taught through a textbook, especially when it comes to building stronger emotional intelligence. Art therapy a natural method of treatment that helps children build self-expression, a more positive perspective on their world, and a stronger sense of self independence. They learn to understand what emotions like anger or fear are, and what to do when they come across a strong feeling like it again in the future. A child can also work through any difficult experiences they went through by drawing about them. This is much more stress relieving than trying to every detail and relieve negative memories.
  • Art therapy is full of variety and is always changing. A patient will never have a boring session where they don’t’ learn something new about themselves. Since art is so versatile, their creations will always be different and may show a different side of their personality. This is enjoyable for the therapist to learn about a patient’s experiences and helps the child look forward to sessions instead of dread them. Parents also can rest easy that the child will view therapy is a fun activity to participate in rather than worry than they may take out their depression or anger somewhere else.

Art Therapy In The Future 

Art therapy was much different one hundred years ago compared to today. Our world is changing and our technology acts as almost an extension of our bodies at this point. Social media is everywhere, and the kids of today are quite familiar with being on it frequently throughout the day. As art therapy gains traction and slowly welcomes more digital mediums, children will benefit from its benefits of allowing them to decompress, let go of their fears, and gain self-awareness. Since younger children also usually have a lot of questions about new programs, make sure that you listen to them and allow them to learn from your answers. Don’t be impatient or annoyed if they are skeptical at first, you may have felt the same if you once started a new program for you mental health. If you want to learn more about what art therapy services are running in your local community, check out what is located in nearby schools and counseling locations. Some therapists might specialize in art therapy for younger patients like children or teenagers. Ask questions and never be afraid to try something you haven’t thought of before!

Art therapy is great for recovery.

Club Drugs

Club drugs are taking the lives of young adults who enjoy partying, music festivals, and letting loose by storm. For some people there is no better feeling than heading out with friends to enjoy live music and the pleasurable effects of drugs like molly, MDMA, marijuana, and cocaine. In most cases, club drugs are used for the stimulant side effect that tends to keep people awake for a long time. It may also cause hallucinogenic effects forpeople to enjoy the concert or the party more intensely. Since most club drugs tend to be used with heavy drinking, one night out can quickly turn into a dangerous activity that puts one’s life at risk.  Since music festival is right around the corner, it’s crucial to know how to keep yourself safe and what drugs you should be staying away from.  Let’s look at the ways club drugs are being used and how it can lead to addiction or even overdose over time.

Club drugs are popular in concerts.

Club Drugs Effects And Addiction

Club drugs are highly addictive like any other kind of illegal drug. Many people will grow a dependency on club drugs as they might feel like taking them is the only way to have a good time. One night of extreme euphoria from molly or MDMA will lead to several more experiences sought out by the same person. Molly drug side effects cause a greater release of serotonin in our brain. Serotonin is a type of neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the regulating our overall mood, sleep, pain, appetite, and other behaviors. This is why many music festival goers take molly to feel a rush of pleasure and joy. What many people don’t’ realize is that taking MDMA seriously depletes the standard amount of serotonin in the brain over a long period of time. This leads to high irritability, poor memory abilities, feelings of depression, fatigue throughout the day, high anxiety, impaired motor skills, and troubles sleeping as well. In order to combat these disturbing symptoms, a person will be even more inclined to take MDMA again so they feel “normal” again. And the cycle begins.

Other hallucinogenic club drugs can include LSD and ‘magic’ mushrooms. They play heavily into our sensory perceptions and often lead to the crazy “trips” that you often hear people in college raving about. The drug works by simply altering the way our environment is sent and received by the brain. Most people take the drugs by eating stamps, ingesting it in pill form, or cooking it into edibles. Combined with alcohol, all of these drugs pose a huge threat to our bodies and leads to hangovers, black outs, and worse conditions. The dreaded hangover is full of nausea, headaches, sore muscles, and severe dehydration. For most people who mix hardcore drugs and alcohol, a hangover is likely the best condition to wake up in since it means that their body somehow processed all the chemicals it was fed from the night before. But what about the long term effects? The long term effects of continued alcohol consumption with drugs include alcohol poisoning, nerve damage, lowered memory function and liver diseases as well. You may also wake up to doing things you may regret for a long time. Drunk driving, domestic violence, and unwanted contact with people are all activities that tend to link with being heavily under the influence. You definitely don’t want to find yourself stuck dealing with any of them.

The Road To Addiction

Even though many people start using club drugs once in a blue moon, it doesn’t take long before they form a serious problem with addiction. People tend to forget that their bodies are not infinite and invincible against all outside forces. No matter what background, age, or gender you are your body is vulnerable to building an addiction to the strong chemicals in club drugs that bind to “pleasure” receptors in our brain. We can start to justify our behavior over time and lose track of how the drugs are taking a toll on our body. Over time, people fail to draw the line of when things get too far and could suffer from an overdose because they simply took too much.  For people who are addicted to MDMA, they may suffer from a risk of kidney damage from using the drug too often, dental issues from grinding issues on their teeth, and losing out on cognitive abilities. Some users take even several months to recover mentally from a trip due to loss of concentration done from the unusually high production of serotonin in their minds.

Get help for club drug addiction.

Getting Help

There’s much more to life than taking club drugs and suffering from the long term consequences. We only have so much time on Earth and we want to make sure we can live every day to the fullest. If you feel that you’re suffering from club drug side effects or know a friend who is, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The sooner you take action the better chances you will have to recover your body and mind. Look up what treatment centers specialize in rehab for MDMA addictions and other related issues. You’re not the only one who is going through your situation and may find solace in a support group with others trying to overcome an addiction. Once you enroll in a program, ask your family and friends for support. If your friends are the ones condoning drug use, it may be time to make new connections with people who believe in other activities. It doesn’t hurt to let go and move in if you’re making the best choices for your body in the long run!

 

Smoking Weed And Sports

Smoking weed and playing sports have long been two activities that were prohibited to become mixed together. In almost every case an athlete who is caught smoking marijuana is either put on probation or may be kicked out of their sports team entirely since it violates the code of conduct. However, whether or not it’s done behind closed doors, more athletes than ever are turning to marijuana to benefit their sports performance or recovery. Times are changing and weed is becoming more common and legal in many states throughout the country. Even though you might be against to marijuana in sports, it’s worth being ware of the reasons why athletes are more prone these days to using it. Let’s walk through some ways smoking weed and playing sports may actually work for some athletes.

Marijuana in sports is a growing trend.

Benefits Of Smoking Weed For Athletes

Now that cannabis is legal in many parts of the U.S., researchers are starting to debunk several myths about marijuana about the drug.  At the same time, the social stigma is beginning to loosen to point that many athletes are challenging the stereotype of the “stoner look”. But is marijuana truly a miracle drug? Some signs of benefits of marijuana in sports include:

  • It helps athletes with their recovery. Reducing muscle and joint inflammation is one of the most promising areas of cannabis research at this point in time. Several studies have found that CBD, the non-THC containing property of marijuana helps ease levels of anxiety and inflammation form intense training. CBD is completely legal and is in fact manufactured by “gummy” form, by vape pen form, and by oil form by several health companies now. Now, researchers believe that it can even become a natural way to treat autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease, lupus, and depression. The possibilities seem to be endless with the property. One cannabis start up founder even stated that using cannabis believes it helped in many ways by stating that “since treating with cannabis I’ve learned that not only does it help with the physical pain, it helps me mentally—it has greatly increased my quality of life.” It’s only a matter of time until more states pick up on the benefits that marijuana provides.
  • Marijuana in sports may provide the benefit of treating painful muscle spasms as well. Spasms are very common in athletes who train for several hours every day and regularly break down their muscle tissue. One M.D. stated recently that studies in rodents showed some beneficial effects in muscle recoveryand reduction of muscle spasm after consuming small amounts of cannabis. Lots of research still needs to be done but the potential to treat patients who also suffer from Parkinson’s disease and anxiety attacks can make a huge difference.
  • Marijuana can help athletes deal with their insomnia and daily stress levels. It’s no secret that THC induces sleep in most people, but studies have also found that it can does people with sleep apnea and even suppress dreams which are caused from long term symptoms of PTSD. Most experts recommend that athletes can use CBD to ease REM sleep disorder and reduce daytime fatigue. Everyone knows how important sleep is to overall performance and how legally dangerous smoking weed and sports is, so trying different forms of CBD can be extremely beneficial. Additionally, taking CBD comes with less side effects that traditional sleep medications cause like long term fatigue, mood swings, and even headaches in some people.
  • Taking low levels of THC or taking CBD is shown to improve the mental clarity of thousands of people. For athletes, this can benefit their focus during important workouts and other tasks throughout the day. In some athletes, they have been open about cannabis providing a type of “meditative flow” that they rarely experience during their stressful schedules. Marijuana in sports still has a long way to go, but experimenting with low doses of 5mg to 10mg at a time can provide great benefits for top performers. However, it’s highly important to abide by the rules of the team and especially of the state if THC is strictly prohibited.
  • It helps athletes who have a long term struggle with ADHD. It turns out that the amount of professional athletes who have ADHD is double that of the general population. In fact, at least ten 10 percent of these athletes who are reported to have ADHD says cannabis has helped a major amount. People with ADHD can easily focus on what topics capture their interested, so the challenge lies in maintaining that focus when distractions come in their way. Using all natural and organically strained cannabis can help enhance their focus in these situations. However, different strains are used to help people with general focus issues and for treating sore muscles so asking the right questions is crucial here. You don’t want to take too much of a strain or take the wrong type of a strain for your personal problem.

Marijuana And Sports Of The Future

It’s hard to tell how many athletes will be able to start smoking weed to help with their issues of focus, muscle strain, insomnia, or anxiety, but the research that points to the benefits it provides is highly thorough. It’s much better to deal with an issue in the natural way than take a medication that doesn’t work to fix the root of the problem. At the same time, if you are an athlete who wants to start using cannabis or CBD to improve your health or boost your performance, make sure you’re aware of the risks that come with the substance and the legality of it in your state. Every state has its own set of rules, so just because the weed is sourced from California doesn’t make it legal to take when you live in Illinois. Watch out and use your best judgement so you don’t sacrifice your future!

Marijuana and sports recovery is highly controversial.

Workplace Addiction

For many people, working in a high-stress job contributes to having poor mental health symptoms and addiction issues in the long run. Having plenty of work-life balance is important to anyone during their career so they aren’t feeling overworked, highly stressed, and unmotivated. Not having enough work-life balance in the office can lead to potential addictions as employees try to find a way out of their high anxiety and stress. Just watch the movie Wolf of Wall Streetand you will understand what having little work-life balance looks like. While working in Jordan Belfort’s stock brokerage firm, many of his workers including him developed and even encouraged heavy use of marijuana, cocaine, and heroine at times to stay mentally afloat. By the end of the movie, many of his employees seem to go wild and Belfort suffers from an overdose that becomes the last straw for his wife at home.

It’s easy to turn a blind eye to his drug-fueled story as fiction, old school, or even overly dramatized for the theater. Yet, the data from research done now can’t be ignored since statistics are telling us that over 50% of people know business executives who have abused drugs at work.While not every corporate company today is as extreme, many workers are hiding their stress and addiction behind closed doors. Let’s explore how workplace addiction develops and ways addiction treatment for professionals can help their symptoms.

Workplace addiction is induced by consistent stress.

Dealing With Stress

Stress can be a healthy sign that we recognize our responsibilities, upcoming events, and interactions are important. However, dealing with stress in the extreme level is dangerous since it can push people to taking dangerous actions to release their pent up tension. Some things you may have not known about workplace addiction include:

  • Signs of addiction in the workplace might be hard to spot. Yet, nearly twenty million workers across the country reported having alcohol-related impairment at work at least once in the past year.In 2016, more than one in twenty-five Americans tested positive for illicit drugs in workplace drug screens as well. Workers are becoming at hiding their workplace addictions as they’re dealing with stress, upcoming deadlines, and possibly a tough boss. The consequences of these positive reports are dangerous, since it negatively impacts their job attendance, performance, increases the risk of job related injuries or fatalities, and sometimes leads to immediate job loss. Most companies enforce a strict zero drug tolerance policy and give employees one second chance before they are let go entirely.
  • Beyond the strict enforcement organization’s drug policy and the health of employees, workplace addiction can begin to affect the attitudes and culture of an organization overall. What was once an innocent brand can become tainted with scandal if a worker or an executive who is well known is caught red handed with an intense workplace addiction. It easily weakens workplace relationships, lowers the moral of the workforce overall if news gets out, and decreases trust between all branches of the organization.
  • People who show up to work impaired will show weaker signs of mental health over time. They may arrive to work more late over time than before, seem “out of it” or temperamental, look unprofessional, and lack awareness of current projects going on. They may also express anger if other coworkers ask about their whereabouts or why they look so exhausted from the night before. On the flip side, someone who has a high functioning workplace addiction may appear completely fine to the naked eye. They could be dressed well, get their work done, and cover up their inner turmoil was a smile. However, they might be seen longer bathroom breaks than others, disappear during lunch breaks, and tell white lies about their personal life that just don’t add up. If you know a coworker fairly well and start to notice odd behavior, it’s time to start asking questions or report them to a higher up if necessary. While it’s unfair to immediately assume someone has a workplace addiction, it’s better to tell a manager about their absence so awareness can be built about their behavior.
  • Accessing an online addiction recovery resource is great for all workers who risk developing a workplace addiction. Informing workers about the symptoms of addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and consequences of drug or alcohol abuse is essential so they aren’t as prone to take part. Research has shown programs addressing alcohol and other drug use in the workplace to be highly effective. It not only contributes to the health and well-being of the employee and organization overall, but it helps organizations build their morale during a time where the addiction epidemic is growing quickly. Managers can point their workers to accessing online addiction recovery resources from the comfort of their own home and even require it as onboarding training. This helps organizational awareness and managers can increase support to staff through employee assistance programs (EAP) if they choose to do so. The long term cost to prevention rate is worth the extra time taken to finish these programs.

Accessing Online Addiction Recovery Resources

If you feel that you face the risk of workplace addiction or know someone who is, find out what the resources are now before it’s too late. Online resources are abundant to help workplace addiction and provide tips for dealing with stress over long periods of time. Work stress may be different from stress caused by other parts of our life, but all kinds can end in havoc to our mind and body if it’s not dealt with properly. Treat your body with kindness and allow yourself to take a break from the hustle of work before you feel like you’re going crazy. You’ll appreciate the time spent reflecting than working and learn more about balance for the better.

Don’t let workplace addiction take over your happiness.

Should You Have A Recovery Companion?

Drug addiction can be a very lonely experience despite what some people might think. It comes with emotional highs and lows, financial pressures to keep up with substance purchases, and lies being told to loved ones. People may turn their back on you when they realize that you have a serious addiction problem and don’t know how to get out of it. Behind closed doors, people with addictions don’t know who to turn to and they could wonder if they will have to hide their habits for the rest of their lives. If you’re someone who is suffering from an addiction, remember that you aren’t a bad person. Anyone is vulnerable to building addictions, especially if their family has a history of addictive personalities who regularly get caught into trouble. People with addictions still need help, just as much help, and ample love from others who genuinely care about their well-being. But how is that accomplished if the people around them don’t’ understand their experience?

In order to live a life not needing drugs or alcohol, a person with an addiction problem can take out a recovery companion to gain the emotional support, reliable advice, and companionship they crave for. Their parents won’t know how to deal with withdrawal effects to recognizing triggers of addiction, but their recovery companion will. Their friends may leave their door stop with disappoint and vow to cut ties, but a recovery companion vows to be there for the addict no matter what throughout the entire treatment process. In fact, a recovery companion’s job is to make sure that an addict stays away from people who influence them negatively, rebuild their sense of self confidence, and connect them to local support systems outside of themselves. They help the addict build the bridge to cross over from feeling isolated and defeated to strong and capable. Without that help, an addict could feel like they have no hope and their lifestyle could fall into an even deeper hole than before. Let’s discuss key benefits of getting connected to a recovery companion and whether or not it’s the perfect choice for you during treatment.

Drug addiction can be overcome with a recovery companion!

Support Group, Recovery Companion, Or Both? 

With the stress of having to deal with addiction, people may not know what actions to take first. If you are seeking treatment you need to weigh your options of whether a support group, recovery companion, or accessing both will help you the most. This comes down to your personality type, your lifestyle, and your time commitment to participating enough with resources. If some key things to remember when you are making a decision include:

  • How much time you have during the week. While it sounds great to have access to a support group and a recovery companion, you may need to choose the outlet that best suits your socialization style. If you only have a few hours to spare and can’t make meetings because of family responsibilities, a long commute, or a demanding job, having a recovery companion will be better since they can be reached nearly all the time by the phone. You don’t have to meet them at a pre scheduled time in some facility when you need to get into contact with them. If you of have a lot of free time and thrive in socializing with larger groups of people, a support group may be more beneficial since you’ll get to meet people from all walks of life. Together, you can benefit from diversity of thought, shared tips to battle withdrawal symptoms, and hopefully become a strong knit group of friends as you go through treatment.
  • How dependent you are on others. If you are someone who regularly calls your mom when any problem arises, you may benefit more from a recovery companion. While calling you mom is great and isn’t sometime be looked down on, she can’t be solve all your problems like anyone else in your life. With a recovery companion, you can reach out whenever you stumble across an issue with your treatment.
  • How many symptoms you have. This is a grey area since you should be in contact with a doctor if you have serious withdrawal symptoms. However, more often than not we don’t have the time to go to the hospital. More simple issues and questions can be probably solved with the help of a recovery companion since they were right in your shoes. If you don’t know what counselor is best in the area, don’t know why you are having a terrible headache, or don’t know what foods to eat to feel physically better, they may know the answer. Their job is to make you feel comfortable and supported no matter what happens. They need to gain new ways of thinking, a new perspective on handling problems, and form healthier habits that will last a lifetime.
  • How many temptations you have. Drug addiction is a long and bumpy road without knowing how to strategically deal with your triggers. This is exactly why having unwavering support is so important beyond the scope of treatment itself. Our friends and family will have their own problems to handle and can’t help you identify what people, smells, sights, or sounds are best to stay away from as you go through treatment. Your companion will help you write down a list of everything you feel is unhealthy from you and develop a custom plan to deal with them in the long run. These behavioral adaptations take some time to become habit, and that’s why support beyond treatment is so important.
  • How you like to talk to people. If you prefer face to face interaction, support from counseling and therapy for addiction are great so you gain more intimate conversations with people who truly understand what you are going through. You can find group therapy, individual therapy, and more to see which one works best for your recovery. In the larger discussions, you learn more about everyone’s experiences and can shoot of ideas easily to the leader. With a recovery companion, you likely will be texting or calling them more than seeing them face to face. But that is entirely up to you. Some younger adults like having a digital conversation more than a traditional one, especially if they’re extremely busy or feel shy at times around new people. For example, someone who is in college and is dealing with twenty credit hours of classes may benefit from a recovery companion more than a mother who’s staying at home to take care of her child. Both are equally capable to gain treatment successfully, but one may have different preferences over the other.

Recovery Companion For Success

If you want to be in connection with more than just one person while you go through recovery, joining a support group may be better for you. If you like building fewer but closer relationships, a recovery companion is a great step. You know better than anyone one else what you like so take that into account as you begin choosing between treatment support options. Never hesitate to reach out for help as you won’t know all the answers either. Approach problems with a clear head and try to remain as relaxed as possible if you are dealing with annoying withdrawal symptoms. Your support group will help you navigate the waves and come out successful if you stick it out!

Having a recovery companion increases your chances of treatment success.

Addiction in San Francisco

Combating addiction in San Francisco has been a hot topic as more people than ever are suffering from drug addiction and mental illness in the state of California. In order to deal with the issue and introduce the idea dual diagnosis to people who may not know about its benefits like the homeless, San Francisco is introducing new within the city’s most dense areas. They hope to combat addiction and substance abuse in the city by educating low income areas that tend to show higher rates of drug violence, abuse, and other related crimes. By providing free of charge medications, family counseling, and withdrawal effect management help, the city has big plans for the new few years and are eager to improve their condition. Let’s walk through how San Francisco is planning to introduce dual diagnosis and how it’s following the chain of other large metropolitan areas who are establishing similar programs.

Combat substance abuse and addiction in San Fransisco.

Introducing Dual Diagnosis Treatment 

To help people who have a hard time overcoming drug addiction and mental illness, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both issues at once so they can sustainably switch to a healthier lifestyle. Experts describe dual diagnosis as a term that describesa person who has a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder and a problem with alcohol or drugs. As a result, the person who has a dual diagnosis will have to deal with two separate illnesses which need two separate treatment plans so they don’t relapse to their old habits. Any combination of mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and drug or alcohol addictions can qualify someone as a dual diagnosis patient. Since it’s hard to pinpoint where someone’s symptoms are coming from, normal drug rehab facilities may not be completely equipped to deal with their problems and provide no “quick fix”. Treatment could take a few months to even a year depending on the situation. The good news that integrated treatment is highly successful when medication and thorough counseling is provided to a patient.

Addiction in San Francisco has been getting worse in the past decade, which is why San Francisco’s mayor is introducing a first-of-its-kind plan to bring treatment for drug addiction directly to neighborhoods. The program aims to help drug addicts with buprenorphine, a medication regularly used to help patients quit their opiate addiction and stop cravings. Buprenorphine is usually taken as a film placed on the tongue or in pill form generally dispensed by doctors or other providers. Doses are provided in bunches so patients don’t need to keep returning throughout the month.  The program is a follow-up strategy to a 2016 pilot program where city workers stopped into homeless shelters to hand out buprenorphine to people in need. They reported that at least 60% people who got the medication stayed clean after use. The new program will commit $3 million and 10 new employees in the medication team to being offering people buprenorphine. Mayor Farrell said the huge amount of money needed for the program would be resourced from the city’s general fund, while at least a third of the funds will be carried about by Medi-Cal. Over the next two months, the program is expected to be rolled out and Farrell has high hopes that it will leave a major difference in the community.

Homelessness And Addiction

Although the new San Francisco program is expensive and will require a lot of labor, it has already treated nearly 100 people who are staying with treatments in the long run. and labor-intensive. Twenty-two percent of those people also kept taking the medications and reported having less withdrawal symptoms than before treatment started. By the next spring, the addiction in San Francisco should be improved with a goal of over 250 people in treatment. Since patients can have withdrawal effects nearly every 12 hours, having that medication on hand is crucial so they don’t fall back into drug addiction. San Francisco is among a handful of large U.S. cities making plans to open supervised drug consumption sites so users are given the help they need. Monitors will be equipped with tools and medication to quickly administer the drug naloxone, which helps combat overdose symptoms in case any emergencies arrive to the scene. Such programs like the one in San Francisco are now widespread in Canada but have been having trouble gaining as quick traction in the U.S. With enough political support and success stories from the community, there’s a hope for our country to get a grip on our opioid epidemic and treat more people directly on the home front.

Future Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The future of addiction in San Francisco is looking bright as the program will be continued into this year. With the high amount of success stories from past patients, more people who are low income and are dealing with drug addiction, drug related crimes, and withdrawal symptoms can get the help they need. It’s rare to be able to receive free healthcare in this country, so even being able to fund and manage a program like this successfully is a huge feat.

Any person struggling with a drug addiction and mental illness will not be able to afford his or her substance of choice over the long run. The time and money spent to support their habit can quickly spiral out of control, so it’s essential that they have close access to treatment tents to demolish the pull they have towards the substance of their choice. If you know someone in the San Francisco area who might benefit from the program, let them know about it so they can measure how far they are form a treatment center. Time is of the essence when it comes to dealing with drug addiction so should take action as soon as possible.

Painkiller abuse and marijuana abuse are contributing to crimes in San Fransisco.

Gender And Addiction

Everyone may face unique issues when it comes to their substance abuse disorder. Maybe you’re a stay at home mom who has a tendency to smoke to destress from the day, an accountant who uses drugs after work, or a college student who uses drugs to bond with her sorority sisters. No matter what place in your life you’re at, being a woman can make a huge difference in how drugs affect your brain, your blood flow, and your hormones.  While the NIH is working to extend their research on how gender differences correlate with increased use of certain drugs, current evidence show that there’s certain traits that women should be aware of before they partake in drug use. Let’s walk through the most key ways women experience and use drugs differently than the men in our lives.

Female substance abuse disorder is a common problem.

Female Substance Abuse Disorder

Your gender can significantly impact your drug experience, especially if you’re a female. Our bodies are beautiful, strong, and capable of doing amazing things. Yet, there are certain drawbacks from our biological makeup that can cause drugs to leave more lasting damage on our system than our male counterparts. Drugs tend to affect us differently in the following ways:

  • Women have it worse when they want to quit smoking than men. This is due to our body naturally processing the nicotine ingredient much faster than men in general. Quicker metabolisms also explains why nicotine replacement therapies, using a drug store patch and even nicotine gum works better in men who use it. Be cautious and research your options if you’re trying to quit your habit of smoking. Sometimes our relatives or friends who have quit “cold turkey’ found success, but that doesn’t mean that the method will work for you. All of our bodies are different due to our makeup and environmental factors in addition to our gender.
  • Women who have a substance abuse order damages their reproductive system. Certain drugs can increase the likelihood of infertility, having a child who is disabled or with other mental complications, and even early onset of menopause. Pregnant women are regularly using drugs like tobacco and have higher rates of alcoholism are the most vulnerable to these risks.
  • Women face larger social stigma with their substance abuse disorder than man. The sad reality is that women, especially if they’re in a relationship or are a mother, are judged much more harshly for illicit drug use than men. Fearing any judgment or loss of important relationships prevents many women who are addicted to drugs from seeking help. Some are worried that seeking help while being pregnant or after having a child could cause them legal problems that could tear their family apart.
  • Women tend to react more strongly to drugs that are becoming legalized. The legalization of marijuana has become a double edged sword as its medical effects are helping thousands yet encouraging addiction in thousands of more people. While I agree that legalizing marijuana will help our security and economy as a country, not enough people are being educated yet on how to use it responsibly. Unlike men, women tend to experience more panic attacks, depression, and develop an abuse disorder more quickly after using marijuana more frequently. Yet, the reported rates of seeking treatment for marijuana use disorder are low for both sexes.
  • Some research shows that women are more sensitive to pain than men and may have more incentive to use opioid prescriptions to cope. Women also may be more likely to take prescription opioids without a prescription and take a larger dose over time. Since the drug also helps with anxiety or high stress levels, it can become very difficult for woman to stop their addiction to opioids if they become too reliant on it in their everyday life. With the growing opioid epidemic it is crucial to know about what the symptoms of opioid addiction is if you happen to be prescribed the common drug by a doctor.
  • While men generally will have higher rates of alcohol use, younger girls from the ages of 12 to 20 have slightly higher rates of alcohol misuse than other female age groups. Women also have a reportedly higher risk than men from binge drinking that stems from mental health issues, alcohol-related car accidents, heart disease, a sudden stroke, and liver failure. In addition, there are also female related health risks like having unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancy or transmitted disease, and the increased possibility of becoming a victim of domestic violence and even sexual assault. If you find yourself at a social function or a party at college, practice safe judgement and only go with a group of people that you truly trust to have around you. If you feel any bad feelings from a certain person or the place the alcohol is being served at, remember to protect yourself first and foremost.

Combating Drug Abuse In Both Genders 

We may have discovered that being a female can cause a longer list of unwanted after effects from drug use, but don’t let those warning signs discourage you. If you are a woman who needs help with her drug addiction or know someone going through a similar experience, make sure you give them a helping hand by listening to their problems, offering an open mind, and referring them to a professional treatment center in the area. If you’re a male, you’re still not invincible from substance abuse disorder as the need for new experiences, the pressure from society to perform, and the stigma of showing weakness is constant. Bite the bullet of your ego and talk to someone you trust before it’s too late. Sometimes the hardest step to fixing our addiction is admitting there’s a problem. All of us have problems in our lives that come in different forms. Do your homework on what center in your area sounds right for you and you won’t be disappointed by the impact even one visit leaves.

Combat substance abuse disorder in both genders.

 

Today’s Drug Culture

The world we live in seems to be glorifying the use of drugs across several industries. Even though using drugs is highly risky, expensive, and leads to potential long term addiction, thousands of people are influenced by popular pop stars and rap legends that grace our music charts. In fact, the music industry’s approach to substance abuse is only leading more vulnerable people to become addicted. Radio played songs that discuss heavy Xanax abuse, drinking “purple”, popping pills, and smoking weed come at a price. Anyone has the right to listen to whatever music they want, but if they actually start acting on what the songs are encouraging, they could be influenced to partake in the same activities in the future. Let’s look at the role music figures play in our society’s rates of addiction and drug stigma overall.

Each music genre has its own drug culture.

Drug Stigma In Music 

Throughout the past 15 years, controlled and addictive substances mentioned in the lyrics of various pop, rock, and rap songs have dramatically increased in frequency. It would almost be difficult to find any rap song today in particular that doesn’t include some type of drug or alcoholic beverage mentioned. As drugs like marijuana skyrocketed in the early 1990s to social popularity and is now becoming more accepted, many don’t stop and think about the repercussions certain lyrics can have on our youth today. In addition to marijuana, a study conducted in 2013 found that drugs like “lean”, “sirrup”, “purple”, “drank” and “henny” are exponentially being mentioned more in songs since their pop culture appearance in the 1980s.

For some people, this growth may not be quite alarming, since rap tends to be correlated to individuals who live aggressive lifestyles. While the genre of rap doesn’t deserve to be stereotype many rappers have been charged guilty of drug abuse or possession such as Lil B, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, and more recently younger newcomers like Fetty Wap and Chief Keef. All rappers are widely popular among teens and college students who regularly play their music and quote lyrics from their songs as a joke. I, for one, was a huge Fetty Wap fan during college because of the catchy beats and laid back melodies he produced. Although I was aware of his mentions of drugs, I made the mistake of not thinking about how constant exposure to that ideal could sway my own beliefs over time. What could start as a joke or a slang term can eventually lead to someone slowly accepting the use of a drug and eventually using it during their own time.

Music’s Substance Abuse 

While some of us have possibly tried drugs at some point in time, the majority of everyday people are not struggling with a potentially life threatening substance abuse problem. As for the rich and famous, drug related injuries, assault cases, and fatal overdoses are happening more times every year. Beloved names like Mac Miller, Avicii, and Lil Peep have all suffered the consequences of their substance abuse within the past year. What’s sad is that all of these people have shown the world that they have incredible talent, a joy for entertaining others, and communicating amazing stories with their music. Lil Peepin particular had a highly loyal fan base that consistently supported all of his projects. While they knew he routinely rapped about his drug use, it wasn’t long after releasing songs that mentioned hearing voices in his head to quit, finding bottles of Xanax by his bed, and taking the drug to fall back to sleep midday that he passed away.

However, the popularity and almost expectation for musicians to turn to drugs created an unhealthy outlet for them to let go of their biggest stress issues. Maybe one of them felt that drugs were the only method of receiving inspiration for creating their next big hit. Maybe they felt scared of the judgement that could come from other celebrities who heavily encourage drug use. Either way, it’s important to know that musicians create songs for many different reasons and their promotion of a certain ideal doesn’t necessarily make it cool. Please don’t try a drug that you don’t know anything about because it looked thrilling or “out of this world” in your favorite music video.

Learning About Types of Drugs

With all the outlets that are promoting drug use or misinforming the public these days, it’s crucial to know the true facts for yourself before you or anyone you know gets hurt. Drugs can cause a variety of different physical reactions, withdrawal effects, and risk for addiction. Luckily, we live in an age where we can access information on almost anything we want. The best way to learn about the similarities and differences between popular drugs like marijuana, Xanax, cocaine, or other substances is to use a drugs glossary. Instead of spending hours to look up facts about each drug individually, you might as well save your time with the glossary. It works as an efficient tool to pinpoint the drug you want to research on and find a summary about its effects on our body. A drugs glossary will include information on almost every drug known to health experts, so you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for.

Moving Forward 

Life is all about enjoying yourself, working hard to reach our goals, and making impactful connections with others. Don’t let the pull of substance abuse get in your way of that responsibility, even if you favorite musicians seem to rave about its effects. You’ll sleep more soundly at night knowing that you are not putting your life at risk for the sake of a two or three hour high. The choice is yours!

Drugs aren’t worth the withdrawal effects.