Drug Rehabilitation

Dependency on substance and or liquor extends to various aspects of a person. This means this affects the entirety of a person, not just a single one. Effects of substance dependency range from the physical to the mental to behavioral and right down to psychological. Those who haven’t experienced it before might scoff at the idea that recovering addicts are having a hard time psychologically trying to give up their addiction. The truth is that psychological dependency could be so strong it could drive a recovering addict insane.

You see, when someone who’s currently undergoing rehabilitation is faced with the urge to use illegal substance or to drink alcohol again, a snowball effect would happen. A single drought of illegal substance or just one bottle of beer would lead to another and then, another, until the rehabilitation is completely forgotten. To be able to curb the desire to go back to substance abuse, a psychological mindset should be in place. First of all, the recovering addict shouldn’t be allowed to mingle with those who’re still using illegal substance.

The idea that someone near to you is using something you’re addicted to and yet you can’t have it is very stressful. You won’t want to stress someone who’s trying to give up something they’re so inordinately obsessed with before. The process of recovering and abstaining from illegal substance or alcohol means you have to give the addiction up altogether. Moderation, in my opinion, is a no go. It’s easy to go downhill from having just a “little bit” of it. Deciding to recover from substance addiction means making a choice between all or nothing.

Psychological dependency is a big hurdle to overcome. Combined with the other angles of dependency, a recovering addict is up for a big battle. All we can do is to support them by the sidelines and ensure we do nothing to aggravate their conditions.

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Drug addiction can be a cruel enemy that each drug addict needs to fight in order to recover. There is simply no other way to stop drug addiction than to confront it head on. However, this is easier said than done because a drug addict has to deal with pain, shame, guilt, and hopelessness in the course of battling the addiction. You should always remember that nobody wants to use drugs for the sake of becoming addicted. Their first intention of drug use is probably recreational or they simply want to have a good time, experiment, or escape from their problems.

It is important to remember that there is simply no way to use illegal drugs safely because each person who uses it has an equal chance to get addicted. Some people can sometimes stop drug use at its roots before they become addiction but some people develop an addiction that will eventually strip them of their money, their self-esteem, their family, and their life. When drug addicts become addicted, it is also sometimes difficult for them to accept. It would be essential for people around them to understand that this fact and make no judgment because it can make the drug addiction worse since the victim would want to escape his problems even more.

But in the midst of all these problems, is there a way out? Yes, there certainly is but each drug addict has to work to get their life back. The road to recovery is different from one person to another so each drug addict must find his own way. Getting help from a reputable drug rehabilitation facility is proven to be helpful for many people especially if they have the support of their family and friends. There are various programs in drug rehabilitation facilities to suit the unique needs of each person but the responsibility of the drug addict to take advantage of the programs being offered to get his life back.

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When parents discover that their child is addicted the drugs, their first reaction would be denial then it would lead to anger. These feelings can be overwhelming especially if a parent has big dreams for their child. In most cases, parents can feel guilty and become angry at themselves as well for not being able to become “better” parents for their children.
Parents of drug addicts inevitably become disappointed when they observe how their child would lie, cheat and steal just to get money for their addiction. The mental, physical and emotional problems of the drug addict become the parents’ problem. Those coupled with the fact that parents tend to worry obsessively about their child’s health and future.

When do parents seek counseling?

If parents feel like the situation of their child is beyond their control, they should seek professional help to get their life back on track. But parents should be aware that it is not only the child who needs treatment because they need to go to counseling as well. You might be wondering why that is so. Counseling can give parents an objective and unbiased view of their child’s situation. When the parents are emotionally involved, their judgment would be clouded as well and this can have adverse effects on their child who needs their help. The counselor can also help the parents deal with the difficult emotions they are sure to feel with their child in therapy so that they will be able to support their child better.

In some cases, it is also recommended for a child to accompany their parents during the counseling session. However, this should be done on a case by case basis because the child who has drug addiction may take it negatively when they are forced to listen to their parents feelings about their situation.

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It is estimated that around 13 million in the United States use illegal drugs. But even with this staggering figure, you can be sure that none among these people actually intended to get addicted to drugs when they started using it. Drug addicts steal, lie, and do whatever it takes to get the “high” from drugs when they addicted. These signs are visible to anyone who is living with a drug addict and the sad part is, most drugs addicts are people who are creative and intelligent. Drug addicts usually have a great potential and they only used drugs as a form of escape from their daily problems.

So when drug addiction strikes, it only becomes more difficult for people around them to accept that such a thing can happen. People also turn to drugs when they feel that there is something lacking in their lives. Drugs can also be used to cope with depression, misery, or even the inability of a person to meet the stress of everyday life. There is actually no single reason why a person turns to illegal substances but situations such as a divorce, a bad break-up, the death of a loved one, and curiosity are seen as the culprit. Remember though that it is simply not right to justify your addiction because of these challenges.

You should note that it is not only drugs that are being abused. Other substances such as alcohol are also sometimes used as an escape. The irony of this situation is that drugs and alcohol have the potential to become his greatest problem in the future. The intention to use drugs or alcohol may sometimes seem reasonable especially to a person who is downright unhappy. But everyone should be aware that the dangers of drug addiction or alcohol addiction far outweigh any “advantage” it may bring momentarily.

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Being a drug addict is a very difficult situation to be in. You want to quit but you simply can’t because your physical and mental capabilities are affected when you try to stop using drugs. This is because most drugs affect the “pleasure center” of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens. When this area of the brain is affected, it would directly interfere with the stimulation of dopamine action in your body. So when you use drugs for an extended amount of time, the neurotransmitter becomes minimally active. You will then end up with drug withdrawal when you stop the drug usage due to the abnormally low amounts of dopamine on your brain. These activities on the brain results in negative results for the body as it tried to adjust to changes and restore the normal dopamine levels.

The withdrawal symptoms that a person will feel will depend on a lot of factors such as the amount of drugs ingested, the frequency of use, and the type of drug that was used. However, it should be noted that drug withdrawal would be at its worst when the drugs that are used affect the central nervous system. These drugs include nicotine, tranquilizers, narcotics, and stimulants.

Some symptoms of drug withdrawal can be mild but some can be as extreme as delirium and chronic seizures. So in the case when drug addiction is severe, professional help is recommended. The drug withdrawal should be supervised in a safe medical environment by a doctor or a capable staff. It is also important to remember that it would be dangerous for a severely addicted person to go “cold turkey” at once because his body has come to depend on the drug in order to function. Because of this, the processes of cleaning the body from toxins should be done slowly but surely.

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Bio-Physical Method

People have natural chemicals on their brain that produce the feeling of happiness. But when people use illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine, the natural process of happiness is abruptly interrupted. The result is that a person would feel a sudden feeling of intense happiness followed by heavy depression. Because of this, the drug user is tempted to use the drugs once again to get the “high”.

As you take these drugs, the toxins would be stored on the fatty tissues of your body. So even if you make an effort to stop your addiction, it would be difficult because the toxins would still create the cravings and depression that is associated with drug usage.

To get rid of these toxins, it is important for a drug addict to undergo bio-physical methods like the sauna. In addition, the patient should also take vitamins and exercise regularly to beat the addiction. With the bio-physical method, the body would be able to restore itself to its normal state at a faster rate so a patient can get his life back as soon as possible.

The 12 Step Program

This treatment is derived from an alcohol addiction program known as the Alcoholics Anonymous. The Alcoholic Anonymous is basically an organization where people get together to help each other beat their alcohol addiction. The same concepts are used to beat drug addiction.

Behavior Modification Programs

This type of treatment program is used primarily for teens that have problems with their family. These teens turn to drugs to cope with their situation. Because people at their age bracket have yet to establish their own sense of self, the behavior modification program is used to let them understand that they are doing harm to themselves and they will only become successful in destroying their own lives if they continue.

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Drug addicts are hazards to themselves but you might wonder, do they really know what they are doing? Well, surprisingly, they usually do. In nearly all cases of drug addiction, the drug addict had tried to break this habit at one point or another but it ends up in failure. This is because drug addicts do not ask for help when they need it. In addition, research indicates that long-term usage of addictive drugs can cause changes in the brain function even after the individual quits using drugs. You should note that the consequences of addiction can lead to changes in the behavioral pattern for the worse.

Using the drugs for a long time itself will create a compulsion in an individual to use drugs time and again thus, the addiction. Understanding that drug addiction has physical and emotional components will enable us to know why a person has difficulty quitting addiction by himself without any treatment. The psychological stress that a normal person usually go through such as family-related problems, work-related problems, and his environment (pertaining to any factor that will remind him of drug use) will hinder and can combine with physical factors that can most likely lead to a relapse.

For these reasons, it is important for a drug addict to be in an environment where he can be free from stress and interact socially with other people who have the same problem. But remember that the success of the treatment lies in retaining a drug addict long enough in a rehabilitation facility to get the full benefits of the said treatment. There are many factors that will influence a person’s inclination to stay at the treatment center including motivation, pressure, and the support of their family and friends. Research indicates that getting effective treatment will help even the most addicted individuals achieve better lives.

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While I had touched upon the harm drug addicts might cause upon the people around them, truth is that they’re also a hazard to themselves. Under the influence of illegal substance, they’re not in full sentient control of their consciousness. Oftentimes, they end up hurting themselves. How many times have you heard that someone who’s committed suicide has also been addicted to illegal substance? Following the behavioral and physical patterns of symptoms detailed here, if and when you suspect a loved one has been using drugs, always be on the alert in case he tries to hurt himself in any way.

When someone’s under the influence, they’re more prone to self-mutilate too, as an example. An effect of drugs on someone is a sense of daring one would not normally do. There are those who are in need of physical pain even without being addicted — those who have clinical psychiatric conditions which need attending to. However, when someone’s on drugs, they’re given this whole new personality which craves something out of the box, something that’s outside of the norm. The feeling of invincibility and the feeling of being able to do anything kicks in. These feelings might be the cause of permanent physical injuries or in worst case scenarios, even death. There are many possible scenarios which are the direct effect of drugs like accidents and injuries done on purpose but in the end it all boils down to the fact that drug addicts could cause themselves harm.

If you currently have a loved one who’s addicted to drugs, make sure to keep him safe from himself. It sounds hard (and it would be), but putting it in a more understandable context, always watch after this loved one and consequently, in time, convince him to be rehabilitated because it’s for his own good.

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Last time, I had touched upon the general symptoms of drug abuse. In this post, we will expound upon the behavioral changes and symptoms someone who’s addicted to substance would display.

1. Violence and Manipulation

Someone who’s currently addicted to drugs would display bursts of violence they might not be capable of before. They also get manipulative.

2. Secrecy and Dishonesty

When someone suddenly decides to isolate himself and becomes extremely secretive of his belongings and whereabouts, be on the alert. When you lose money without anyone around other than your loved ones, perhaps it’s time to observe more. A trait of the addicted is stealing money for their vice.

3. Denial

Denial plays a big part in the lives of the addicted and everyone around them. The addicted would always deny their faults and would insist that they’re not doing anything wrong. Think of it as a drunk who’d shout “I’m not drunk!” with spit dribbling down their chins and their lids half-closed all the while.

4. A Change in Company

If someone used to hang out with a good crowd before, you will a notice a change in company. A dozen new “friends” are suddenly around and you haven’t met them before.

5. Irresponsibility

Needless to be said, the addicted would often skip work or school and would most likely forget birthdays, anniversaries and anything similar — not that all your husbands are addicted, ladies, when they do.

6. Loss of Interest

When I say loss of interest, I mean in anything. Old hobbies and passions are forgotten. Interest in family, friends or anything else for that matter are all forgotten.

7. An Overall Negative Change in Attitude

When you can’t find anything good about the behavior of a person, something’s wrong. It’s not necessary that this someone’s on drugs, but it’s a possibility.

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A few days ago, I talked to the mother of a drug addict who’s currently in rehab. The mother was relaying how she was forced to take action and forcibly put his son inside the rehabilitation center. It made me think that sometimes, molly-cuddling someone or begging a loved one to change might not be the answer to your problems. There are times when you have to suck it up, forget all about being gentle and practice difficult but effective tough love.

Tough love is when you say “NO” and restrain the acts of your loved one. Tough love is when you use a certain amount of force to get someone to change. Tough love is when even if your loved one begs to be taken out of the rehabilitation center, you hold your ground and believe it’s for the best. Tough love isn’t easy — not for the recipient or the giver. There’s a reason why the word “tough” is used. It’s tough to the one put in rehab. Tough because no one’s giving you your daily drug fix. Tough because you’re forced to stay inside a rehabilitation center. And it’s tough on the one doing the tough lovin’. You have to endure being hated by your loved one, in the knowledge that it’s for their own good. It’s tough because you need to a bulwark of strength for someone who needs you.

By now, we know tough love is no cakewalk. However, allow yourself to walk that path if you deem it necessary. It might not, however, work for everyone. There are some, especially those who are contentious by nature that would go great lengths to spite you just for the heck of it. Don’t suddenly engage in tough love. It’s best if you try to understand your loved one better first and gauge what approach is the best.

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