Can You Cope With Withdrawal Symptoms Without Medication?

The detoxification process in early drug rehabilitation can be a difficult time for many addicts.  Depending upon the drugs used, an addict may experience many severe symptoms that can bring great risk to the individual sufferer.  Because of these factors and the overall painful side effects of withdrawal, many facilities use medication-assisted detoxification as the first step in the recovery process.

Not all addicts wish to introduce more medications into their systems.  There are ways to cope with the serious symptoms of withdrawal without using prescribed or over-the-counter medications.  However, choosing to undergo detoxification without the help of medical professionals and medication can be unnecessarily harmful in some cases.

Meditation

One of the most basic truths about the human condition is that the human mind is a powerful instrument. Focusing attention and creating an atmosphere of quiet can bring an attitude of calm to an individual through the use of meditation techniques.  It is important to remember, however, that someone not experienced with meditation might have more difficulty implementing it during the difficult detoxification process.  Many facilities that offer alternative therapies will have meditation guides and experts on hand to help the addict through the difficult moments.

Relaxation Techniques

There are many forms of relaxation techniques that have been shown to help individuals suffering withdrawal.  Reiki, therapeutic massage and other techniques can help soothe the person going through withdrawal, combating the sleeplessness and restlessness that are common during the first few days of detoxification.

The individual addict should make the decision of whether to use medication or relaxation techniques based upon how well they know themselves.  However, the individual should listen to the advice of others based upon the addict’s history of drug use and the memory lapses that may have occurred. Many addicts do not know themselves as well as they might like to simply because they have been operating under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Education and Understanding

It has been said that knowledge is power.  Learning as much as possible about their addiction can help an addict fight through those first, intense days of life without drugs.  Understanding that the withdrawal phase is temporary and that once the drugs have metabolized out of the body, the immediate and acute illness will pass, can give can them strength to make it through.

The choice of whether to use medication during the detox period is a very personal one.  The important aspect is that the addict receives the treatment that is right for them.  If they are more likely to successfully complete detox through the use of medication, it is important that the option is available. If they are adamant that they will defeat their personal demons without that help, it is still important that the properly trained experts are available for assistance and guidance.

None of these alternatives to medication will completely alleviate the symptoms associated with withdrawal. Like medication, unfortunately, they can only help the individual sufferer make it through those harrowing hours.  Rather than eliminating medications altogether, an option may be to prepare a contingency plan for specific withdrawal symptoms and how each should be addressed-either with or without medication.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Drug Interventionist

When a family decides to intervene in the overall health and welfare of a family member or friend who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the steps taken can truly save the addict’s life.  The notion that a person suffering from addiction must “hit rock bottom” has been replaced with the concept of “raising” the bottom to meet the addict.  In order to do this effectively, however, it is important to understand the risks involved.  In fact, it is a good idea to hire a professional drug interventionist who has experience and training in the process of intervention.

Trained in Drug and Alcohol Counseling

When you choose an interventionist to help your loved one, you should look over their training and certifications.  One group, The National Association of Drug and Alcohol Interventionists, required as many as 300 education hours and 6,000 hours of experience as well as a bachelor’s degree in a related field of study before they will include a member in their organization.

Training for the Family and Friends

One of the most important aspects of helping an addict enter recovery is to truly understand what the addict is going through.  What is addiction?  How does addiction affect the way a person thinks and feels?  Once the family members and friends of an addict can understand the illness that is addiction, they can better help their loved one.

A trained interventionist will teach the members of the intervention group about their loved one’s disease. This helps the family members and friends to become far more productive during the actual intervention.

The Experience to Know Where to Find Help

Until an individual has experience in the drug and alcohol recovery community, he may not know where the resources for help are located.  A professional interventionist is familiar with a wide range of resources that can help the addict enter recovery. They can also point the family and friends towards the help they need so they can remain strong for their loved one.

An Interventionist Knows What “Not” to Say

While the individuals who are performing the intervention have the purest and most productive intentions, it is possible for the intervention group to scare the addict into becoming a recluse from family and friends as a defense mechanism.  A simple statement of fact may sound to the addict like an accusation.  A declaration of love might become an admonishment of guilt.

Sitting down to confront someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol can be an emotionally risky endeavor.  A trained professional interventionist will teach the intervention group the right way to talk to someone who is in such a fragile and emotional state.

Often, the family and friends of someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol will be at their wit’s end, unable to speak with their loved one without becoming angry.  It is important that the positive aspects of health and healing are the forefront of the discussion.  A professional interventionist is just far enough away from the immediate emotions that they can control the discussion and make sure it is productive, rather than destructive.

A trained interventionist can spend time with the family and friends prior to the date of the intervention to help them focus their thoughts and words into productive and intelligent communication techniques.  You may only have a few minutes of time to make your point before the addict rebels and uses artful manipulation to change the course of events.

What Is the Human Cost of an OxyContin Addiction?

Prescription drug abuse is one of the most common types of drug abuse today. People of all ages, from school children to the elderly, are susceptible to the use and abuse of prescription drugs like OxyContin. The definition of prescription drug abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland, is the “taking [of] a prescription medication that is not prescribed for you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed.”

The description of prescription drug abuse is fairly broad. When we think of a drug addict, we generally think of someone who is out of control and making poor decisions, sacrificing everything to obtain more drugs. With the use and abuse of prescriptions like OxyContin, the stereotype is lifted. Abuse is just as likely to occur with an elderly grandmother who would never dream of breaking the law yet finds herself content to take her pain medication more often than she should.

The human cost of an OxyContin addiction can be measured in varying degrees across every walk of life and includes:

• Changes in quality of life
• Disregard for health
• Destruction of family relationships
• Legal problems and more

Why Is OxyContin Abuse a Problem in the United States?

Many times, an individual who is prescribed a powerful drug like OxyContin has no idea how dangerous the drug can be. Even when taken correctly with strict adherence to the directions and prescription, the drug is powerful enough to create a physical dependence.

OxyContin is in a family of drugs known as opiates. Opiates are opium-based narcotics that affect the opiate receptors in the brain. These receptors have control over emotion, pain, and automatic features such as breathing and coughing. One of the reasons that OxyContin and other opiates is such a huge problem in the United States is because it prescribed for so many varying medical issues, including:

• Severe cough
• Chronic pain
• Acute pain
• Post-surgical pain

Even short-term use of a drug like OxyContin can create a physical dependence. Once dependence has been established, the human costs begin.

Changes in the Quality of Life

Because OxyContin and other opiates create a euphoric, sleeping feeling, an individual addicted to them may tend to sleep far more often than is necessary. The vicious cycle of abuse is one that convinces the addict they are simply “taking medicine” – that they are ill.

The addict may discover they are no longer enjoying activities that meant a considerable amount them, like playing with their children or participating in hobbies with friends and family.

Disregard for Health and Health Effects

The OxyContin addict, especially one who has become dependent through legally prescribed medication, is well aware of the long-term risks of opiate use. However, because of the euphoria caused by use of the drug, and the pain that comes from discontinued use, they are more willing to risk the long-term health effects.

Destruction of Family Relationships

Normally well-adjusted, law-abiding citizens can become desperate to obtain OxyContin and other opiate-based drugs. They will often cut off ties with important members of their family, or begin to lie and steal property or money to obtain more drugs.

Legal Problems Associated With OxyContin

Obtaining prescription drugs without a legal prescription is a crime; however, many addicts choose to write prescriptions or otherwise forge a means to obtain the drugs they need if their doctor is unavailable. The addict is often willing to risk jail in order to relieve the pain caused by withdrawal, as well as to achieve the euphoria that comes from overuse.

New Years Resolution : Stop Taking Prescription Drugs

January 1, 2009 and you are thinking of quitting prescription drugs for good?  It is your New Years Resolution?  Follow these quick tips and get yourself off those nasty prescription drugs and start a new year fresh!

Often times people are prescribed drugs for a problem or injury and don’t realize the prescription addiction that may follow.   It is best to consult with a doctor or rehab facility if that is required but many times it just takes you putting down the medicine – and stop getting the medicine refilled if you feel a dependency towards the prescription.

If you are a victim of prescription addiction it is best to consult with a doctor for the best results for YOU – but overall you know you can do it!  You are stronger then the addiction – we know it.  We’ve seen it a thousand times and we know that humans have the capability to overcome addiction with determination.
This New Year’s Resolution is up to you and we know that if you feel  you have a prescription addiction or are in need of a drug rehab – YOU WILL GET BETTER!
Here is some tips to sticking with your New Year’s Resolution:

-    Be Realistic.
-    Do it with a friend or family member.
-    Set a calendar and track your progress.
-    If your New Years Resolution involves drug addiction, consult a doctor for the best path for you.  Often times they will personalize a program for you to wean you off a prescription medicine.

*This is not medical advice and we are not your professional doctor.  If you are interested in professional medical help that is familiar with your medical history please consult your doctor.*

TV Shows about Drug Rehab / Addiction

It is a fact that television is bring more attention to drug rehabs then ever before. It is without a doubt that you can turn on many of the popular television shows and witness the realities that people live with everyday. Shows such as INTERVENTION or CELEBRITY DRUG REHAB are two prime examples. Do these shows do justice and show us what really is going on?

In a recent article released 12/15/2008 from a prominent rehab facility in Malibu, California says

The success or failure of a rehab program is ultimately a function of the environment in which it’s administered. A treatment center that fails to maintain an atmosphere conducive to the healing process will generally fail to help its clients get where they need to go. A treatment center that aims to preserve the privacy and dignity of its residents while ministering to their individual needs, on the other hand, will typically affect real and lasting recovery.

Therefore, if the success is determined by the enviornment is a TV-show a good enviornment to seek rehabilition for your drug addiction - experts would easily say no.  But - in all fairness if it changes just 1 person - in our opinion at Drug Rehab Costs.com is that it did its justice.

Myths about Rehab

There are many misconceptions and myths surrounding rehab. Some of the most common ones are that there is only one right way to treat addicts, drug rehab doesn’t work, involuntary rehab is a waste of time and that if you have been to one rehab, you have been to them all. While some of these myths may hold a grain of truth, they are largely false. We will discuss each one in more depth below.

1. There is only one right way to treat addicts: This is patently untrue. Because people are different and the situations that have contributed to their drug or alcohol abuse is likely different, the help they require to get off drugs will likely be different for each person. A program that may be very effective in treating 30% of addicts, may fail miserably treating the other 70%. This is one reason why it takes individuals several attempts at rehab before they find one that works. Because ultimately, to free themselves from the addiction, they will need to find a program that speaks to them and helps uncover why they started taking drugs and continue to do so.

2. Drug rehab doesn’t work: People become addicted to drugs for both psychological and physical reasons. Because drug use affects the brain, it becomes very difficult to stop without help. Sometimes this even requires medical intervention. Because there are also psychological and social factors that contribute to why a person takes drugs, it may take the more than one try before they figure everything out and they are able to break the ties that keep them using.

3. You have to be desperate in order for rehab to be effective: While this is true in some cases, it’s not true in all of them. Some people recognize early on that if they continue their behavior they will end up having long-term problems with drugs. Therefore, they check themselves into rehab so that they can do the work necessary to stop taking drugs. This can be very effective and people can successfully turn their lives around. A person doesn’t have to hit rock bottom, although it is necessary for some people, before they finally get the help that they need and respond to rehab.

4. Involuntary rehab is a waste of time: This is also another myth. Some people are forced into rehab by family and friends and others by the courts. If they find a good program and if somewhere deep inside they’re ready to stop drugs and then they can do so. It doesn’t necessarily have to be their idea to enroll into rehab program. But if they have the opportunity to and they respond, then they can get off drugs.

5. If you have been to one rehab then you have been to them all: This is another huge myth. There are different types of rehab with a variety of philosophies. It is very important that when a person is looking into rehab for themselves or a family member that they really take the time and see what’s out there. It is best to find a program that will best fit themselves or their loved one’s personality and temperament.

Drug Addiction

When most people begin to experiment with drugs they never think that they will one day be addicted to them.  However, emotional, psychological and physical factors can make some individuals more susceptible to drug addiction then others.

Some symptoms of drug addiction include a dependence on a particular drug or drugs, going to great lengths to obtain drugs and get high, physical cravings and the willingness to take risks to obtain the drugs even with there are negative consequences.  Persons who become addicted to drugs have constant cravings and thoughts about buying and taking drugs.

Persons can be addicted to both legal and illegal drugs. The number of individuals who are taking legal drugs, those prescribed by their doctors and over-the-counter, to get high is growing at an alarming rate.

When there is long-term use of drugs, pathways in the brain become altered. It is at this point that the drug addiction becomes a disease.  When the pathways and nerve cells in the brain become changed, physical addiction occurs. The brain reacts differently to the types of drugs that are taken and will be altered accordingly.

Drug addiction can be influenced by both genetics and the environment in which one lives. A person can be pre-disposed to drug addiction based on their family history.  The environment can also play a major role in drug use and drug addiction.  Individuals who have a lot of life stressors or who are around people who abuse drugs may be more tempted to use them themselves.  Some drugs are also much more addicting then others. Heroine and cocaine are two such drugs that often quickly entrap the persons who try them.  Others are less so such as marijuana.

One’s personality type may also influence whether or not they become addicted to drugs.  Individuals who have problems with depression or anxiety may use illegal or legal drugs to self medicate and may become addicted in the process.

It is believed that nearly 20 million people in the United States over the age of 12 have taken some sort of illegal drug.  24% of men and 16% of women in the U.S. have used drugs, with marijuana being the one most commonly taken. Drug-Rehabs.org reports that one in four Americans between the ages of 26-34 have tried cocaine. According to the Mayo Clinic 19,000 deaths from drug use occur every year in the United States.

Most people recognize that drug addiction can take a serious and even deadly toll on an individual.  It can cause them to lose the things that are most important to them such as their family, friends, job and money. Some people are more susceptible to drug addiction and everyone who takes drugs does not become addicted to them. There are individuals that are able to only take drugs socially. The problem is, one doesn’t know until after they have become addicted if they are one of those individuals. By then, it is impossible to turn back the clock.

Whether or not an individual becomes addicted to drugs depends on several factors.  A person’s genetic makeup, their environment and what is going on in their lives will either contribute to or insulate one from drug use. Drug addiction is very serious and can be a very ugly disease because it robs the individual, the people that they love and those who love them of a whole and healthy human being.  Family and friends suffer because they have to watch, often helplessly, someone that they care about deteriorate right before their eyes. Drug addicts suffer because they often alienate and hurt those people closest to them.