What to Expect at a 5 Star Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

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5 star rehab

You’ve made the decision to address your substance use disorder, and now you are on the hunt for a rehab. As you begin the search for treatment, you find yourself faced with endless choices, which can make you feel overwhelmed. Out of all these choices, you’re hoping to locate a 5-star rehab that is perfect for your needs. Once you do find it, what can you expect at a 5-star rehab?

What is Luxury Rehab?

There are many types of addiction treatment programs, ranging from standard care to top-of-the-line luxury programs. Luxury rehabs are high-end programs that go above and beyond to provide the best treatment experience possible. These resort-style programs feature premium amenities and are typically located in a breathtaking setting.

As with any quality rehab, a luxury program places the focus squarely on the treatment elements. These are the therapies and classes that can help you break the grip of addiction. These programs differ from average rehabs because they cater to people who are used to the finer things in life. Thus, the furnishings, meals, and services are top-notch.

What Are the Benefits of a 5-Star Treatment Program?

You may have unsuccessfully attempted rehab in the past; perhaps you’d enrolled in a lower cost standard treatment program. Maybe it was because you didn’t like sharing a room, or maybe the food was substandard, but you never finished. The staff may have lacked expertise, or maybe the rehab was disorganized, messy, or poorly managed. Any of these reasons may have caused you to leave the rehab and return to substance use.

This time as enter treatment, you know what you need and you also know what doesn’t work for you. You want to feel comfortable during your stay there, and you need to be assured your privacy is protected.

The luxury treatment setting provides the following benefits:

  • Upscale accommodations. 5-star rehabs are often located at a beautiful private residences. The limited bed capacity of residential treatment centers allows the staff to offer more personalized attention to clients. You can expect both the home and its furnishings to be high-end.
  • Stunning scenery. Nature has a soothing effect on us anyway, but when you are recovering from addiction, the gorgeous settings enhance healing.
  • Confidentiality. Small, private luxury rehabs prioritize confidentiality. You can rest assured that your privacy concerns are honored.
  • Expert treatment staff. Master’s level licensed therapists and addiction specialists are fully trained in the most effective treatment methods.
  • Spa-like services. Many clients choose a 5-star rehab for its resort-like amenities. These might include an infrared sauna, pool and spa, massage, acupuncture, and yoga classes.
  • Recreation. Luxury rehabs include outdoor activities, such as hiking, water sports, and cycling, as well as having a gym on-site.
  • Gourmet meals. Nutrition is emphasized at the premier rehabs. An on-site chef provides gourmet meal plans.

Features to Seek at 5-Star Rehabs

How do you discern which rehabs are at a 5-star level? Here are some of the key features to look for when researching luxury treatment programs:

  • Licensed and accredited. Make sure the treatment center is current on its state and local licenses. Also, it should be CARF and/or Joint Commission accredited. These agencies help ensure patients that the rehab adheres to industry standards, which protects patient safety.
  • Expertise. The rehab should be staffed with a team of licensed therapists and addiction professionals. If it offers dual diagnosis treatment, it should also have a psychiatrist on staff.
  • Evidence-based treatment. The rehab should utilize evidence-based psychotherapies. These are addiction treatment methods that have been studied and are shown to be effective for this purpose. Ask if the rehab also provides treatment for co-occurring mental health issues.
  • Clean and orderly. The residence should be well-maintained, clean, organized, and well-managed. The rehab’s ambiance should be calm, respectful, and positive.
  • On-site medical detox. The treatment center should provide on-site medically monitored detox services.
  • Customized treatment plans. The rehab should conduct a thorough intake assessment. From the information gathered during the intake, it should offer a custom treatment plan and case management.
  • Privacy. Ask the rehab about their privacy policies, and ask what protections are in place.

What to Expect at a 5-Star Rehab

The beauty of a premier rehab is the personalized treatment you receive. As you begin your journey toward healing, you will feel you are in good hands. Every effort will be made to ensure your comfort, starting with detox and through the entire program.

Here is what to expect during your stay in treatment:

Detox: The detox and withdrawal process takes a week or two to complete. The withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe, which is determined by the type of substance and the addiction duration. Medications and mental health support are provided to help ease the effects of detox.

Psychotherapy. Using evidence-based therapies like CBT or DBT, you are guided toward making constructive changes in thoughts and behaviors. Therapy teaches you new healthy ways to respond to stressors or triggers. In these one-on-one sessions, you are free to discuss any mental health concerns you have.

Group therapy: Meeting in small groups can provide an outlet for peers in treatment to get to know each other. Group sessions are all about sharing and learning from each other, and from the clinician who leads the group.

Education. Classes provide clients with helpful information about the brain science of addiction. You will also learn new coping skills to help you avoid a relapse.

Complementary activities. To enhance the effects of therapy, clients engage in art therapy, equine therapy, meditation, and journaling.

Aftercare. Aftercare actions help sustain sobriety after you complete the rehab program. These may include sober living, alumni events, outpatient therapy, and 12-step meetings.

Rehabs Malibu 5-Star Rehab

Rehabs Malibu is a luxury rehab that offers the highest level of care available. Relax in the comfort of a beautiful home setting as you begin your journey to wellness in style. To learn more about our program, please call us today at (424) 425-3541.

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How Long Do Opiates Stay in Your System?

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how long do opiates stay in your system

Opiates are fast-acting drugs that are derived from the opium poppy plant. Opiates include licit pain relievers, like codeine and morphine, as well as illicit substances like opium and heroin. Some may wonder how long opiates stay in your system.

Opiates are now wrapped into the opioid category, which includes synthetic analgesics. These include oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and others. Synthetic opioids are simply lab-engineered drugs that mimic the effects of natural opiates.

There are several reasons why someone might want to know how long do opiates or opioids stay in the system. These include:

  • Learning when it is safe to drive or operate machinery.
  • If they can safely take another medication that could interact with the opiate.
  • To avoid a positive drug test.

Factors that Affect How Long Opiates Stay in the System

There are several factors that influence how long opiates will be present in the system. The speed at which the body metabolizes and expels the substance depends on:

  • Which opiate or opioid was used.
  • The size of the dose.
  • Method of drug delivery.
  • Body fat
  • Age
  • Hydration level.
  • Genetics
  • Liver and kidney functioning.
  • Metabolic rate.

How Long Do Opiates and Opioids Stay in Your System?

The range of time that an opiate can be detected in the system ranges from hours to weeks. Consider these drug screening timelines:

Heroin: In urine for seven days, in blood for six hours, in hair for 90 days, and saliva for five hours.

Morphine: In urine for three days, in blood for 12 hours, in hair for 90 days, and in saliva for four days.

Codeine: In urine for 1-2 days, in blood for one day, in hair for 90 days, and saliva for four days.

Heroin: In urine for seven days, blood for six hours, hair for 90 days, and saliva for five hours.

Oxycodone: In urine for one day, in blood for one day, in hair for 90 days, and in saliva for two days.

Hydrocodone: In urine for three days, in blood for 12 hours, in hair for 90 days, and in saliva for 12-36 hours.

Methadone: In urine for two weeks, in blood for three days, in hair for 90 days, and in saliva for two days.

Fentanyl: In urine for one day, in blood for 12 hours, in hair for 90 days, and in saliva for four days.

How Do Drug Tests Work?

Today’s drug tests are available for testing blood samples, urine samples, saliva samples, or hair samples. Each of these tests registers the drug using different mechanisms, which influence how long the opiates will show up.

Drug screening tests are used for many reasons. These include:

  • As a condition for employment.
  • Condition of parole or other legal reasons.
  • To participate in sports.
  • As a continuing care tool in addiction recovery.

The different drug tests include:

  • Urine testing. Urine tests are the most often used drug screening test. A urine test can detect drugs in the system for a number of days, from a few days to weeks. How long prior to the urine test depends on the frequency of drug use and the type of drug.
  • Saliva testing. Using a mouth swab, the saliva test can detect very recent drug use, such as within a few hours.
  • Hair testing. Where other drug tests only reveal use within the previous days or weeks, hair screening detects a three-month period. Because hair screenings are more sensitive than other methods, they can reveal a person’s historical drug use.
  • Blood testing. Blood screening tests require a blood draw. The blood test is called the enzyme-multiple immunoassay test and is able to pick up a range of substances.

Detox: The First Step in Breaking Free from Opiate Addiction

When you are ready to embark on the recovery journey, the starting place is detox and withdrawal. This is a necessary first step, allowing the body to clear the remnants of the opiate and stabilize the mind. Detox is a prerequisite to entering treatment.

Withdrawal symptoms will vary in severity and scope depending on the opiate use history use and the level of dosing each day. The team of detox experts in charge of overseeing the process will closely monitor your vital signs and withdrawal symptoms. This allows them to provide medications to help reduce the discomfort and also offer emotional support.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating
  • Nodding out.
  • Chills; fever.
  • Muscle and joint pain.
  • Shakiness
  • Insomnia
  • Restless, nervous, or jumpy.
  • Agitation
  • Depression
  • Drug cravings.
  • Seizures

Getting Help for an Opiate Addiction

After detox, you will enter a structured treatment program that can help you overcome the compulsion to use opiates. This involves evidence-based interventions that guide you toward new ways of thinking and reacting. These include:

  • Psychotherapy. Therapy sessions, offered in both one-on-one and group formats, assist you in working through emotional issues. These include any past traumas or current life struggles that might be fueling drug use.
  • Addiction classes. Learning how brain chemistry responds to opiates can help you grasp why it is so hard to overcome addiction.
  • Relapse avoidance planning. An important part of rehab is to plan for the triggers that can challenge abstinence and lead to relapse.
  • Life skills classes. Life skills are taught to help you get back on track. These classes may assist in resume preparation, interviewing tips, and general job search planning.
  • 12-step groups. The A.A. blueprint for recovery helps you make steady progress in your recovery journey. The 12-step group meetings foster peer-based support and mentoring.

If you are asking, “How long do opiates stay in your system,” you may have an opiate use disorder. Do not hesitate to reach out for help.

Rehabs Malibu Provides Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment

Rehabs Malibu is a trusted provider of luxury addiction recovery services. If you or a loved one is struggling with an opiate or opioid use disorder, we can help. Call us today to get your questions answered at (424) 425-3541.

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What Is Inhalant Abuse?

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Inhalant abuse

Whip Its, huffing, dusting. These are just some of the terms used to refer to the practice of inhalant abuse. So, what is inhalant abuse exactly?

What Are Inhalants?

The term, “inhalants” refers to a broad range of products that can produce chemical vapors or fumes. When inhaled, these items produce mind-altering effects. The person inhales the fumes or gases in hopes of experiencing a rush or high. Effects include euphoria, relaxation, lightheadedness, hallucinations, feeling uninhibited, and a sense of calm.

Because the fumes from these products go straight from the capillaries in the lungs right into the bloodstream, the effects come on quickly but last only a few minutes.  Because the high is short-acting, the person often repeats the huffing action multiple times to create a long-lasting high.

Types of Inhalant Abuse

It is mostly teens and young adults who are more prone to high-risk, thrill-seeking behaviors that are drawn to inhalant abuse. TikTok and YouTube videos fuel the curiosity of young people who might be looking for a dare. In fact, about two-thirds of those who engage in inhalant abuse are under the age of eighteen.

Inhalants are also referred to as hippie crack, laughing gas, ballooning, noz, and chargers. These products are often used to achieve a high in social settings like raves, dance clubs, rock concerts, and parties. Often, these young people are not informed about the dangers that huffing can cause to their health and wellbeing.

The products used for inhalant abuse are household products that are widely accessible to young people seeking a high. There are four main categories of inhalants. These include:

  • Nitrous oxide: Propane tanks, Freon, whipped cream canisters, butane lighters, chloroform, nitrous oxide, and ether.
  • Aerosols: Spray paint, vegetable oil spray, hair spray, spray deodorant, and aerosolized computer cleaning products
  • Volatile solvents: Paint thinners, gasoline, glues, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, lighter fluid, and felt-tip markers.
  • Nitrites: Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, room deodorizer, leather cleaner, liquid aroma, and video head cleaner.

Methods used for inhaling these products include:

  • Inhaling the gas with a bag over the head is referred to as bagging.
  • Poking a hole in a whipped cream canister and sucking the gas out of it.
  • Sucking gas from a balloon.
  • Inhaling the vapors directly through the nose.
  • Apply the chemical, such as Freon, to a rag and inhale the vapors.

Signs of Inhalant Abuse

Keep an eye out for certain signs that a teen or young adult may be abusing inhalants. These warning signs include:

  • Finding rags soaked in chemicals.
  • Dazed appearance.
  • Mood swings.
  • Secretive behavior.
  • Finding empty cans of inhalants around the house or in their car.
  • Bloodshot eyes.
  • High-risk behaviors.
  • Avoiding friends and family.
  • Hanging out with a new group.
  • You notice that aerosol household products running out faster than usual.
  • Hoarse voice.
  • Chemical odor on clothing.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Clumsy, staggering.
  • Declining academic performance.
  • Change in hygiene habits.

If parents notice these signs in their teen or young adult, it is best to get them into treatment sooner rather than later. Abuse of inhalants can be deadly.

Dangers of Inhalant Abuse

Inhalant abuse can cause a spectrum of ill effects. The type of inhalant used will determine the side effects. Some of these include:

  • Respiratory problems.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Disorientation
  • Chest pain
  • Drowsiness
  • Lightheadedness.
  • Loss of coordination.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Headache
  • Garbled or slurred speech.
  • Tremors
  • Burning of the esophagus.
  • Bloody stool.
  • Impulsive and risky behaviors result in injury.
  • Limb spasms.
  • Heart damage.
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency.

When a person becomes addicted to dusting or hugging, they can experience serious health effects.  Long-term effects of huffing include:

  • Permanent brain damage.
  • Lung damage.
  • Irreversible neurological damage.
  • Kidney or liver damage.
  • Bone marrow damage.
  • Permanent hearing loss.
  • Damage to the central nervous system, impacting motor, sensory, and cognitive functions.
  • Seizures

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 100-200 people die each year from inhalant abuse. Even huffing at just one time can be lethal; it is something called sudden sniffing death. This happens when hugging causes a heart attack or hypoxia.

Treatment for Inhalant Abuse and Addiction

Huffing is not just some silly teenage practice. People of all ages have engaged in inhalant abuse. Actress Demi Moore was hospitalized at age fifty from inhaling the nitrous oxide chargers. The late singer Aaron Carter admitted to inhalant addiction until he was thirty. Drake Bell of Nickelodeon fame was caught ballooning at age thirty-six.

Inhalant abuse is very high-risk and can cause sudden death. If you have a loved one that is engaging in this risky practice, there is help available. A residential treatment program offers a chance to break the habit of inhalant abuse and start fresh in recovery.

Treatment involves various therapies that assist the person in gaining control back over their life. These include:

  • Group therapy. Small group therapy sessions allow members to share their personal struggles and discuss new recovery goals.
  • One-on-one therapy. Individual sessions provide a safe place to open up and share any mental health struggles that might be present. Therapists use CBT and DBT to guide the person to change dysfunctional behaviors that led to huffing.
  • Recovery meetings. Some rehabs include A.A. meetings and the 12-step program to help guide the recovery process.
  • Education. There are classes that teach clients about how addiction forms in the brain, and ways to avoid a relapse.
  • Holistic. With stress being a trigger for relapse, rehabs include holistic methods in the program. Yoga and meditation are techniques the person can use throughout recovery.

You may be a parent wondering, “What is inhalant abuse?” If so, you may be alarmed to realize that your son or daughter might be engaging in inhalant abuse. Do not hesitate to get them help for this dangerous practice.

Rehabs Malibu Leading Addiction Treatment Center

Rehabs Malibu is a premier addiction recovery program that offers support and treatment for inhalant abuse and addiction. If you suspect a loved one is abusing these products, give us a call today at (424) 425-3541.

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Opioid Relapse Prevention Methods

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opioid relapse prevention

When someone in recovery from opioid dependence or addiction relapses, it can be devastating. To manage opioid use disorder in recovery involves purposeful and active use of opioid relapse prevention methods. To learn more about how to avoid opioid relapse, read on.

Opioid Use Disorder Causes Changes in the Brain

The use of opioids over an extended period leads to profound changes to occur in the brain. This can happen when someone is using the drug recreationally. Also, people who are use opioids for pain control with a doctor’s oversight can also experience these same brain changes.

Opioids work by attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain. Once that happens, the person feels relief of any pain, as well as a sense of euphoria and relaxation. The brain records this effect as pleasurable, and the person then connects it with a situation or place. Later, when they revisit the associated place or situation they are triggered to relive the same effect as before. This then leads to continued opioid use.

What Triggers an Opioid Relapse?

After someone has completed a treatment program for opioid use disorder, they typically struggle with the brain mechanism that has triggered drug use in the past. Even after months of therapy, they may succumb to a trigger. In fact, the chance of an opioid relapse is higher than other substance use disorders. A study from Ireland reported that 91% of patients relapsed, with 59% of those relapsing within one week of discharge.

This occurs because the brain changes do not just correct themselves after treatment, and can persist for a very long time. The long-lasting alterations in brain chemistry due to opioid use disorder are difficult to overcome, but surely not impossible.

There are common triggers that can result in a relapse. These include:

  • Prolonged stress.
  • Dealing with emotions that were numbed with opioids.
  • Mental health issues.
  • Loneliness or isolation.
  • Exposure to drugs.
  • Being too confident.

Dangers of Opioid Relapse

An opioid relapse carries some inherent dangers. This is because while in active addiction, the body adapts to the drug as consumption increases. Slowly, it builds tolerance to the effects of the opioid. However, after a period of abstinence, such as while in treatment and beyond, that tolerance dissipates. A relapse may lead to the person taking his or her usual dose, which the body cannot handle. This results in an overdose.

The other danger is the drug supply itself. In recovery, the person may have lost touch with the drug connections they had in the past. When a relapse occurs, they may resort to obtaining the opioid from an unknown source. This can result in drugs that are tainted with fentanyl, which may also lead to overdose.

Signs of Opioid Relapse

Being aware of the warning signs of relapse is half the battle. There are some common signs that a relapse may be imminent. These include:

  • Avoiding sober support system. Someone in the process of a relapse will begin to avoid connecting with their recovery support network. They may avoid contact with their sponsor or stop going to A.A. or N.A meetings.
  • Isolating behaviors. Someone in recovery who starts skipping social events or staying away from friends and family may be veering towards relapse. A mental health issue may be making things worse, such as depression.
  • Forgoing healthy habits. The person might start neglecting personal hygiene or their general appearance. They may stop adhering to the healthy lifestyle habits they’d formed in recovery.
  • Longing for the substance. The person may romanticize their past opioid use, blocking out the negative history of the addiction. When they ignore the adverse effects it had on their lives, they create an opening for relapse.
  • Reconnecting with old crowd. A sign of relapse is when the person resumes contact with people they used to hang out with during addiction. This puts them back in the path of opioid exposure.

Relapse Prevention Actions

When you are aware of the signs of relapse and catch yourself in the process, you have a good chance of averting the relapse. Here are some tips for opioid relapse prevention:

  • Ask for help. Be proactive and reach out for help if you find yourself slipping. Contact your sober support group and make an appointment to see your therapist. Do whatever it takes to surround yourself with support.
  • Refine your relapse prevention plan. Address the sources of stress or potential triggers and make an updated list of steps to take. The relapse prevention plan helps you remain accountable to your recovery.
  • Be honest with yourself. Check in with yourself and conduct a personal inventory. Are you missing meetings? Have you been hanging out with old friends who use? Have you deceived yourself into thinking you are invincible?
  • Find new interests. Another protective measure is to discover new hobbies or interests. Look for meaningful activities that you can integrate into your weekly life. These can serve as a distraction from relapse.
  • Commit to more meetings. As soon as you feel yourself slipping toward relapse, recommit to daily meetings. Contact your sponsor, and if you don’t have one yet, get one.
  • Restore healthy routines. Lapsing back into old bad habits, like not getting enough sleep or eating junk food are signs of impending relapse. Notice if you have let these things slip and commit to restoring your healthy routines.
  • Learn to relax. Stress is a major trigger for relapse. Take steps to reduce stress in your life with massage, yoga, meditation, or keeping a journal to help you relax.

If a relapse occurs even after following these opioid relapse prevention tips, it is best to re-enroll in a treatment program. Returning to treatment helps you restart your commitment to abstinence.

Rehabs Malibu Leading Provider of Opioid Addiction Treatment

Rehabs Malibu offers a comprehensive program for the treatment of opioid use disorder. If you are struggling, or have relapsed, please contact us today at (424) 425-3541.

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Are You Addicted to Sleeping Pills?

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addicted to sleeping pills

Are you addicted to sleeping pills, like Ambien or Sonata? If so, you are not alone. The CDC reports that about 9 million U.S. adults use sleeping pills on a regular basis. Many people see these medications as harmless but keep reading to see why they are not.

What Are Sleeping Pills?

When someone has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, they may seek out a medication to help induce sleep. These drugs may be over-the-counter sleep aids or sleeping pills prescribed by a doctor.

Sleeping pills have been around in various forms since the 1950s. Each time a new drug is introduced to improve sleep there is great hope that it will be safe and effective. Over the decades, there have been barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and hypnotics used, all effective at aiding sleep. However, with prolonged use each of these drug classes has the potential for dependency, abuse, and addiction.

In recent years, the hypnotic or hypnotic-sedative class of sleep aids has become the most popular. These drugs include:

  • Ambien
  • Restoril
  • Halcion
  • Flomax
  • Lunesta
  • Sonata
  • Doral

Sleeping pills are not meant to be taken on a long-term basis. Read on to learn more about these drugs, and how you can become addicted to sleeping pills with chronic use.

How Do Sleeping Pills Work?

The two types of hypnotic drugs, with or without benzos, induce sleep in slightly different ways. The benzos work by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain at the benzo receptor sites. This causes decreased activity in the amygdala, where the brain controls the fear response, which reduces stress and increases relaxation.

The hypnotic drugs, called the “Z” drugs, also enhance GABA activity but at a different site and using a different mechanism. This action causes a drowsy effect and induces the onset of sleep.

What Causes Dependency or Addiction to Sleeping Pills?

Daily use of sleeping pills often leads to an increase in tolerance to the drug’s effects. This means that the person does not enjoy the same level of sleep enhancing effect after prolonged use. This signals that the brain has adjusted to the effects of the drug and has become less sensitive to it. A typical response is to double up the dosing.

With continued use, two things can occur dependence or addiction, if not both. Dependence happens when the body is expecting the daily dosing, and when that doesn’t happen, withdrawal symptoms ensure. Addiction occurs when the person has become psychologically needy, meaning they come to believe they must take the sleeping pills. The use of the drug then becomes compulsive.

The other scenario is when someone abuses these drugs simply for the sake of getting high. They may crush the pills and inhale the powder to feel a more potent effect, or drink alcohol with them. This can lead to a sleeping pill addiction or a poly-substance addiction.

What Are the Signs of Being Addicted to Sleeping Pills?

The signs of a sleeping pill problem may creep up slowly. Here is a list of the most common signs that a sleeping pill dependence or addiction has developed:

  • Feeling drowsy the next day.
  • Taking these drugs during the day.
  • Rebound insomnia.
  • Doctor shopping to obtain refills for the drug.
  • Using the drug recreationally, such as inhaling the drug or taking with alcohol or other substances.
  • Having a compulsive need to take the sleeping pills.
  • Taking higher doses than prescribed.
  • Trouble concentrating.
  • Memory problems.
  • Stealing sleeping pills from family or friends.
  • Unable to cut back on the sleeping pills.
  • Feel anxiety when the supply runs out.
  • Experiencing mounting negative consequences, such as accidents, unexplained weight gain, or a DUI arrest.
  • Having withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit taking the sleeping pills.

The Dangers of Being Addicted to Sleeping Pills

There is a multitude of risks linked to long-term sleeping pill use. The sedating effects, the habit-forming features, and many other serious problems can arise when taking sleeping pills.

Some of these risks include:

  • Injuries. Sleeping pills can impair balance and lead to falls and injuries. Reaction times are also slower when taking these drugs. Head injuries, broken bones, and even death may occur due to sleeping pill-related sleepwalking or falls.
  • Impaired memory. When taken over long periods, sleeping pills are known to cause memory problems during the day. The drugs have also been linked to higher rates of dementia.
  • Overdose. People may not take seriously the label warnings on these meds and may drink alcohol or use other drugs. The sleeping pills already slow the central nervous system so adding alcohol can cause an overdose.
  • Addiction. Long-term use of the drugs can cause the person to develop an addiction, especially to the benzos. Benzos are very difficult to get off of once dependence and/or addiction has occurred.

How to Break the Grip of Sleeping Pill Addiction

To successfully detach from chronic sleeping pill use you will need the help of an addiction treatment program. The first phase is detox, followed by a treatment program that helps you retrain your thought and behavior patterns:

  • Detox. Recovery begins with detox, which can take up to 2-3 weeks in some cases. This is because the only safe way to eliminate the drug from the system is by a taper program that steps down the dosing over a period of weeks.
  • Psychotherapy. Therapies like CBT, DBT, contingency management, and others are core treatment strategies for addiction recovery. You will engage one-on-one with a licensed therapist to discuss underlying issues that may be factors. Behavior choices and how to change them are also a focus of therapy.
  • Group therapy. Small groups discuss topics pertaining to addiction and recovery. Group sessions encourage open and supportive discussion, which is a valuable source of peer support.
  • Psychosocial skills. You will learn new coping strategies that will assist you in recovery. These become key skills to help you resist relapsing back to the use of sleeping pills. You will create your own relapse prevention strategy, which becomes a tool for managing triggers.
  • 12-step groups. Recovery meetings, such as A.A., N.A., or SMART Recovery offer helpful skills to help protect the recovery.
  • Holistic. Learning how to relax at bedtime is essential in recovery. To achieve this, you will engage in various holistic activities that you can also use beyond treatment. These might include yoga, mindfulness, art therapy, deep breathing, and journaling.

If you have been wondering if you are addicted to sleeping pills, chances are you could use some support. Reach out today for the help you deserve.

Rehabs Malibu Provides Treatment for Sleeping Pill Addiction

Rehabs Malibu offers a safe, supportive space for breaking free from sleeping pills. Our dedicated team is here for you. Please reach out today at (424) 425-3541.

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What Is the Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism?

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what is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism

Although people often use the terms alcohol abuse and alcoholism to describe problem drinking, they are not the same condition. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the term that refers to the full range of alcohol misuse and eventual disease. If you wonder what the difference is between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, read on.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

According to the CDC, alcohol abuse is the pattern of heavy drinking that causes harm to someone’s health, relationships, and work. Many people pick up these drinking habits in early adulthood, such as at college. While most will adjust their drinking as they mature, some will go on to develop alcoholism in the future.

A person may engage in alcohol abuse for various reasons. Some people are influenced by their peers, and go along with binge drinking for social reasons. Others may abuse alcohol as a way to escape some troubling issues. Still, others use alcohol to numb a mental health challenges, like depression.

The CDC has provided guidelines to help people gauge their alcohol consumption. It states that men should limit their alcohol to no more than two drinks per day. For women, a safe level is one drink per day. Binge drinking results when a person consumes five or more drinks in a two-hour session.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a disease that can result from prolonged and chronic heavy drinking. The AMA defines alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease influenced by genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Alcoholism often involves both dependence and addiction.

The compulsive need to drink alcohol is triggered by cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This keeps the person in a never-ending cycle of drinking, which is very hard to break out of. The adverse effects of alcoholism on the body and mind are immense. It can affect all organs and body systems, causing disease and mental distress.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is the term used in the DSM-5 to diagnose alcohol abuse, dependence, and addiction. The number of signs and symptoms present will determine how severe the AUD is: mild, moderate, or severe.

Signs and symptoms of AUD may include:

  • Not able to limit or stop drinking.
  • Drinking takes priority above all else. Much time is spent getting the alcohol, drinking, and recovering from drinking.
  • Alcohol cravings.
  • Hiding alcohol; lying about how much you drink.
  • Having memory blackouts.
  • Falling behind on obligations at work or at home.
  • Keep drinking despite mounting problems caused by the drinking.
  • Engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as driving under the influence.
  • Withdrawing socially, giving up hobbies, and avoiding social events.
  • Increased tolerance to the effects of alcohol.
  • Have withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wear off.

Why Does Alcohol Abuse Lead to Dependence or Addiction?

Chronic alcohol abuse causes the body to adjust in response to its constant presence. Little by little, the body becomes used to alcohol. As tolerance to alcohol increases, so does alcohol consumption. Over time, it takes more and more alcohol to achieve the desired effects. This is a key difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Alcohol has a direct impact on the brain. At first, the brain’s reward center records the relaxed, pleasant effects of alcohol as a good thing. This positive message is etched into the reward system as something that should be done again. Over time, the brain’s neurotransmitters become altered in response to the alcohol, and the neural pathways are remapped.

The first signs of alcohol dependence are the withdrawal symptoms you have when the alcohol wears off. You may feel nauseous, or find yourself sweating or your hands trembling. This is the body telling you that it now needs alcohol, as it has become dependent on the substance.

Alcohol addiction occurs when you can no longer control the drinking. Drinking becomes compulsive, with strong cravings and a need to drink. Addiction is the most severe stage of alcoholism.

How to Break Free From Alcoholism

Breaking the grip of alcoholism will require lifelong effort and commitment. To begin the process, you must complete a detox and withdrawal. Alcohol detox should always be done under medical supervision. This is due to the rare but deadly delirium tremens that can arise without warning a few days into the detox.

A team of trained detox experts observes your progress, vital signs, and withdrawal symptoms throughout the detox process. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, which depend on the duration and stage of the AUD. Other factors that influence the symptoms are health, age, history of detox attempts, and mental health.

The team will provide medical support to help reduce the effects of the symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Sweating
  • Hand tremors; shaking.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Shaking
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Irritability
  • Headache
  • Confusion; disorientation.
  • Elevated heart rate.
  • Elevated blood pressure.
  • Fever
  • Insomnia
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Delirium tremens.

What to Expect in Rehab

The difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism helps to determine the proper level of care. For instance, outpatient care is fine for someone in the early stages of alcohol abuse. A residential setting, however, is the best level of care for moderate to severe AUD. These programs provide 24-hour support and a more intensive approach to treatment than outpatient programs.

Treatment elements include:

  • Therapy. Individual and group therapy is at the center of alcohol rehab. You will engage in various therapies, such as CBT, DBT, and MET. Through therapy, you are guided toward learning new ways of managing triggers and stress.
  • 12-Step Program. AA’s 12-Step program is often integrated into the treatment elements.
  • Education. You will acquire a better understanding of how alcohol addiction occurs, and learn new coping skills to help sustain sobriety.
  • Holistic activities. Activities that enhance the effects of therapy include mindfulness training, yoga, art therapy, acupuncture, massage, equine therapy, and recreational therapy.

AUD is highly manageable with an ongoing commitment to sobriety, and a solid support network at your side. Reach out for help today.

Rehabs Malibu Offers Treatment for All Levels of Alcohol Use Disorder

Rehabs Malibu is an upscale residential addiction recovery center that provides evidence-based treatment for alcoholism. The difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is just time, in most cases. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, please reach out to our team today at (424) 425-3541.

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How Does Addiction Affect the Brain?

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how does addiction affect the brain

For decades, science has been slowly learning the mysteries of addiction; both how it forms and how to treat it. The focus of the study remains on the reward system and how does addiction affect the brain. Read on to learn more about this important topic.

What is Addiction?

The Surgeon General states that addiction “ is associated with changes in the function of brain circuits.” Chronic use of a substance, whether it is nicotine, drugs, or alcohol, results in the brain’s reward system being trained to need it. It becomes a sort of push and pull between the desire for pleasure while also avoiding pain.

The reward system and its neurotransmitters slowly adapt to the presence of the substance and reinforce a desire to continue using it. Over time, the person feels compelled to seek and use the substance, despite the harm it may be doing to them. It is when the substance use becomes compulsive that an addiction has developed.

The Difference Between Addiction and Dependence

Some thing the two terms, addiction and dependence, have the same meaning, but they do not. You can become dependent on a substance, such as pain pills after having surgery, without being addicted. Some people, though, who have become dependent on a substance may later become addicted.

Consider the different definitions:

Dependence. Chronic use of a substance, such as the long-term use of an opioid, may result in dependence. This happens through a process caused by increased tolerance, as the body adapts to the presence of the substance. After a while, to be able to achieve the desired effects, the individual must increase the dosage. Physical dependence becomes apparent when the individual experiences unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction. Addiction to a substance is a behavioral disorder and a brain disease. When someone becomes addicted they have a loss of control over the substance, leading to compulsive substance use. This loss of control is the core difference between addiction and dependence.

How Does Addiction Affect the Brain?

Most people are not able to grasp the way addiction can hijack a person’s will. Learning how addiction affects the brain, it helps you see how substances can devastate someone’s life.

As the brain adapts to the substance, the brain changes producing long-term effects and damage. The altered neural pathways can remain altered long after someone has stopped using drugs or alcohol.

In addition to the neural changes made within the brain, alcohol, and drugs also cause brain damage. Addiction can cause:

  • Reduced neuroplasticity.
  • Psychomotor impairment.
  • Decreased gray matter volume.
  • Diminished reflex response.
  • Impaired memory.
  • Reduced respiration and heart rates.
  • Interference with the production of chemical messengers in the brain.

What is the Addiction Cycle?

To better understand addiction, you must know how the cycle of addiction works. Once addiction takes hold, it creates a behavior pattern that is very hard to break out of. The addiction cycle involves:

  • Substance abuse. Repeated exposure to drugs or alcohol over a length of time sets up the foundation for addiction to take hold.
  • Tolerance. As the brain adapts to the daily presence of the substance, the substance no longer has the desired effect. In response, the person begins to use more of the substance to achieve the prior results.
  • Dependence. Once the body forms dependence on the substance, it leads to withdrawal effects when the substance wears off.
  • Addiction. Some people will go on to develop a psychological addiction to the substance. Their days become focused on obtaining, using, and recovering from the substance.
  • Withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are so unpleasant and painful that the person feels the need to return to the substance for relief.
  • Cravings. Powerful cravings, triggered by the brain’s reward system, can spur the person to seek the substance.
  • Substance seeking. Once the substance has been obtained, the individual returns to substance use, and the cycle repeats.

How to Overcome Addiction

To break the cycle of addiction, it requires a strong desire to make lifelong changes. Patience, commitment, and a strong support network are necessary to sustain recovery.

Even so, without first doing the work to make major changes in thought and behavior patterns, it is not going to work. Reaching your recovery goals takes active engagement through the work of therapy, as well as social and family support.

To be able to successfully rewire the brain toward sobriety, health, and wellness a comprehensive treatment approach is needed. This will include:

Detox and withdrawal. To start the recovery process, you must first go through substance withdrawal. Symptoms will be closely watched and treatments provided to help minimize discomfort.

Psychotherapy. Therapy involves meeting with a counselor to discuss any underlying factors and ongoing behavior challenges. Therapies used include CBT, DBT, and other evidence-based therapies. Through the therapy process, you learn to change the way you process thoughts and triggers.

Group therapy. Peer support is a key treatment element in addiction recovery. These small group sessions with peers can help you process emotions and practice new coping tools.

12-step program. The 12-step program is woven into many treatment programs as a source of social support. The program walks you through the steps toward achieving freedom from the grip of addiction.

Education. Participating in the treatment process involves becoming informed about how addiction affects the brain, and how to avoid relapse. Classes teach new recovery skills to help you cope with triggers like cravings and stress.

Holistic. To add an extra layer of support, you will learn some holistic methods to help manage stress. These might include mindfulness, yoga, art or music therapy, massage, and keeping a journal.

Knowing how does addiction affect the brain and its reward system can act as a deterrent to relapse. If you are battling addiction, reach out for help today.

Rehabs Malibu Luxury Addiction Treatment Centers

Rehabs Malibu offers luxury and effective treatment for substance use disorder. Our dedicated clinicians are here to help you move beyond addiction. Call us today at (424) 425-3541.

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Is Tramadol Addictive?

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Is Tramadol Addictive

How Addictive is Tramadol?

Tramadol isn’t one of those drugs you hear about in the news, so people may wonder, “Is tramadol addictive? Quick answer: yes, it is. Keep reading to learn all about tramadol.

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a prescription pain medication that works in a similar way to other synthetic opioids. Tramadol blocks the pain receptors in the brain, helping to manage moderate to severe pain. It also works as an SNRI antidepressant, as it inhibits the uptake of neurotransmitters.

Tramadol is prescribed for treating pain that results from diabetes, injuries, or stroke. It is also prescribed for chronic pain conditions. Tramadol is also used in vet medicine as well.

Among the opioid class of drugs, tramadol is thought to be less prone to abuse and addiction. For this reason, it has given a DEA Schedule IV status, instead of a Schedule II status like other opioids. Tramadol is about as potent as codeine, but has only about one-tenth the strength of morphine.

Even so, tramadol use can result in a substance use disorder. Not only does tramadol pose the danger of addiction or dependence, it also known to cause several adverse health effects.

Tramadol comes in standard and extended release options. It’s also sold as a version that combines tramadol with acetaminophen under the brand name Ultracet.

Is Tramadol Addictive?

Tramadol is, like all opioids, an addictive drug. In fact, the FDA has placed a Black box warning on the drug. At the top of the list of possible risks is “Addiction, abuse, and misuse.”

For years, doctors have been prescribing tramadol for pain management, assuming that it had a lower risk for addiction. Although it was designed to be a safer alternative to more potent pain relievers, tramadol abuse and addiction still occurs. Tramadol has the same potential to induce substance-seeking behaviors as other opioid drugs.

As a person’s tolerance to the tramadol increases, the need to increase the dosage also rises. This occurs because the brain has made adjustments and needs more tramadol to achieve the desired effects.

Signs of Tramadol Addiction

There is a difference between addiction and dependence. Someone who is prescribed tramadol for pain management will become dependent on this drug over time. This means that his or her system will depend on the daily dose, and without it they will have withdrawals.

These patients are not abusing the drug, but their body has become dependent on it. Someone can develop an addiction once they are dependent on it, however, which is called an opioid use disorder.

Tramadol addiction is more about the recreational use of the drug. The person may have a psychological addiction to the drug, and will exhibit certain actions along those lines. These behaviors reveal the compulsive aspects of addiction. Some signs of tramadol addiction include:

  • Doctor shopping to obtain more refills.
  • Buying the pills on the black market.
  • Taking higher doses of the drug than prescribed.
  • Being obsessed with obtaining the drug and taking the drug.
  • Stealing pills from friends.
  • Not following through on responsibilities due to the tramadol abuse.
  • Lying about the tramadol problem.
  • Still taking the tramadol despite the negative impact on one’s life.
  • Using the drug to get high.

Some of the effects of a tramadol addiction include:

  • Mood swings.
  • Depression
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Trouble concentrating.
  • Weakness
  • Sweating
  • Depression
  • Drowsiness
  • Chronic constipation.
  • Sleep issues.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Heartburn

Another danger is to take tramadol with other drugs. When tramadol is taken with NSAIDSs, other opioids, or antidepressants it can cause seizures and breathing problems.

Tramadol Withdrawal

Tramadol detox can be very uncomfortable and should be attempted only under a doctor’s watch. A doctor is likely to schedule a tapered dosing protocol, and then monitor the symptoms over a period of a few weeks.

The detox timeline will look something like this:

Days 1-3: Onset of withdrawal symptoms including sweating, feelings of pins and needles, nervousness, nausea, palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, and drug cravings.

Days 4-7: Drug cravings persist, along with insomnia, mental confusion, and blurred vision.

Days 8-14: Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irrational thoughts persist.

After Day 14: Sleep disturbances, irritability, and depression may continue.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS, can occur, which are symptoms that may persist for many months. The PAWS symptoms include restlessness, sleep problems, and dysphoria.

Breaking Tramadol Addiction

To continue on the recovery journey, you will enroll in a residential drug treatment program. The duration of your treatment is based on how severe the tramadol addiction is, but is about 30-90 days.

While in treatment you will engage in therapies, classes, meetings, and activities during a given week. Programs are designed to help the person break the compulsion to use tramadol, and to commit to sobriety.

While each rehab is slightly different in scope and will have its own unique approach, most will include these elements:

  • Psychotherapy. These are one-on-one talk therapy sessions. Using CBT, DBT, and CM, these evidence-based therapies can help the person make lasting changes in drug-seeking behaviors.
  • Family therapy. Family members join their loved one to work out issues that may hamper recovery progress. Family sessions also help them better understand what they can expect in the loved one’s recovery.
  • Peer group therapy. Peers in recovery gather in small groups to discuss feelings and topics related to recovery.
  • 12-step. The A.A. themes in the 12-step program are woven into the program.
  • Education. Classes teach clients the new coping techniques they will need to access in early recovery in order to avoid relapse.
  • Holistic. To help manage stress, clients will engage in holistic methods such as meditation and yoga.
  • Nutrition and fitness. To help restore health and wellness in recovery, clients will be coached on nutrition and the value of regular exercise.

If you or a loved one is finding that tramadol is addictive, reach out for help today.

Rehabs Malibu Premier Treatment Center for Tramadol Addiction

Rehabs Malibu offers the utmost in luxury rehab treatment for people struggling with a tramadol problem. We feature the most current and effective opioid treatment methods available to help you rise above a tramadol addiction. For more info, please call us today at (888) 429-7279.

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Can You Work While in Rehab?

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Can You Work While in Rehab

Break down the barriers to treatment. If you are wondering, “Can you work while in rehab?” worry no more. The answer is “yes!”

A common deterrent to getting help for a substance use disorder involves the question of being able to work while in treatment. Many people are not able to take a lengthy leave of absence from work. This is especially true for busy professionals with demanding jobs and packed schedules.

Thankfully, there are executive and luxury programs that have addressed the need for someone in treatment to have some degree of access to their jobs. These upscale rehabs provide customized programs that are tailored to these specific needs. The program allows people with work obligations to have use of their smartphones so they can remain engaged at work.

What is an Executive Treatment Program?

No matter how successful someone is at their job, they are not exempt from the harsh effects of substance abuse or addiction. Addiction affects all social strata and plays no favorites. As smart, talented, or gifted as a person might be, they can still feel the impact of drug or alcohol abuse.

With this in mind, it is clear that rehabs had to make some provisions for executives who needed help. Their preferences also happen to skew toward upscale tastes, so they also desire the very best in treatment. Luxury executive programs have thus created a special niche to provide these professionals with just what is needed.

By allowing cell phone use, the professional is able to continue to engage at work and to manage their workload. Luxury programs provide a higher level of discretion and privacy, as well as a menu of high-end amenities.

Signs You Have a Substance Problem

With busy work lives, it is easy to lose track of substance use. Someone under intense pressure at work may find that alcohol or drugs help them to relax, or to increase energy.

A substance use disorder can sneak up on someone without warning, no matter how successful that person might be. Once it takes hold, continued use of the substance leads to increased tolerance, and that results in higher consumption.

So what are the warning signs that you might have a problem with drugs or alcohol? How do you even know?

Here are some classic symptoms that start showing up:

  • You may try to cut down or quit the substance but can’t.
  • You keep using the substance even though consequences mount.
  • You have lost interest in activities you once enjoyed.
  • You are missing more and more work due to hangovers.
  • You isolate from friends and family in order to use the substance.
  • You begin to neglect work and family obligations.
  • You become obsessed with using the substance.
  • You engage in risky behaviors.
  • You lie about your substance use and hide the substance around the house or at work.
  • Your relationships have begun to suffer.
  • You have withdrawal symptoms when the substance wears off.

As these signs become more apparent, it is time to look into getting some help. It is helpful to know that you do not have to cut ties with your job just to get treatment.

Overcoming Hurdles to Treatment

It is easy to put off getting help for a substance problem. Sure, there are plenty of roadblocks that might stand in the way, but delaying treatment is a mistake. The longer you put off sobriety and a new healthy lifestyle, the harder it is to achieve them.

Being worried about how to take a long leave of absence from work is one such hurdle. Other barriers to treatment include:

  • Being stuck in denial that you even have a drug or alcohol problem at all.
  • Feeling like there is no way to pay for treatment.
  • Worrying about the fallout to your reputation if you admit to having a substance problem.

So, how do you cross these hurdles and get the treatment you need? First of all you must accept that change is needed, and then commit to it. After you have reached this stage of acceptance, then it’s time to research rehab options. As you look into treatment options, the information you obtain can help you resolve the other barriers.

For instance, you may learn that your insurance plan will cover a good chunk of rehab costs. Also, many rehabs offer financing plans and even some scholarship funds. As far as any work concerns you might have, look for a rehab like LifeSync Malibu that allows smartphone use.

What to Expect at an Executive Rehab

While no one relishes the thought of going to rehab, treatment programs are surely not all equal. Staying at a premier rehab offers a number of creature comforts that you would not find at standard rehabs.

After the detox stage is completed, treatment will encompass a multi-modal program of integrated therapies. These include:

  • One-on-one talk therapy,
  • Group therapy.
  • Family therapy.
  • Holistic therapy.
  • Recreational therapy.

What sets a luxury rehab apart from a standard one are the perks. These include spa amenities and a retreat-like setting. There are often premium rooms and gourmet meals, as well as a beautiful setting.

Executives will enjoy having access to their electronic devices so they can still conduct their business while in the rehab setting. Can you work while in rehab? Absolutely.

After Rehab, Then What?

Once the detox and treatment phases are complete it is time to adjust to the lifestyle changes that come with sobriety. This takes some time to get used to, and some bumps in the road are to be expected.

To help smooth out the bumps, it is vital to have a strong support network in place. This is why it is so important to find a recovery group nearby where you can meet new friends. Also, outpatient classes and group therapy are very helpful as you adjust to a new sober lifestyle.

If you wonder, “Can you work while in rehab?” you are hopefully thinking about getting treatment, and that’s awesome. It is the first big step toward starting your journey to renewed health and wellbeing.

Rehabs Malibu Offers Luxury Treatment Options for Executives

Rehabs Malibu provides the type of tailored program that helps busy professionals manage their work life while getting treatment. Our program is designed just for your needs during your stay in rehab. Reach out to our team today at (888) 429-7279.

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Reasons People Don’t Seek Help for Addiction

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help for addiction

No one wants to admit they need help for addiction to drugs or alcohol. Let’s look at the common reasons people hesitate to get the help they need.

Let’s face it. The prospect of leaving your home, job, and family for a month or more in order to get help for addiction is quite daunting. Indeed, just a fraction of those who would benefit from treatment never receives it, for one reason or another.

The list of reasons why someone would resist seeking help is long. There are always going to be perceived roadblocks to getting treatment, even if they are easily overcome with some effort.

The fact is, no matter what reasons someone may come up with to deny their need for treatment, getting such help is the ticket to survival. Learn how to overcome a loved one’s objections to rehab, and make a profound difference in their lives.

How Do You Know Someone Needs Help for Addiction or Dependence?

When someone you know is in the early phase of addiction it isn’t always something you would even notice. The symptoms are barely perceptible if even noticed at all. This is what makes addiction so hard to treat, in that the disease doesn’t really become visible until more advanced.

Still, even the early phase will provide clues that there is a substance problem. The person may be slipping up at work, acting secretive, having mood swings, or being irritable. Sure, these are not odd behaviors, but if they are out of the normal range for this person it could be a sign.

In the chronic stage of addiction, there are clear red flag warnings that the person is struggling with a substance problem. These might include:

  • Excessive absences at work or school.
  • Missing important appointments or meetings.
  • Visible signs, such as tremors, sweating, pinpoint pupils, bloating, sudden weight changes.
  • Avoids social events; isolates.
  • Has sudden onset of money problems.
  • Hides substances around the house or at work.
  • Is intoxicated at work.
  • Neglects appearance and hygiene.
  • Neglects obligations.
  • Loses interest in hobbies in favor of substance use.
  • Visible withdrawal symptoms.

If your loved one displays a cluster of these signs, gently approaching them about it is caring and prudent.

How to Approach a Loved One About their Substance Use

One of the most difficult things is to know the right way to approach someone with your concerns. When you decide to approach the loved one, it can feel like you are walking a tightrope. You want to strike the right balance of support, concern, and guidance—without a whiff of judgment.

Here are some tips for starting the conversation with your loved one:

  • Before you approach him or her, do some research. Know about the signs of addiction and treatment options so you can offer tangible guidance.
  • Wait for a private moment to approach them, versus bringing it up at a family gathering or work party. Pick a time when you can have a quiet, calm chat.
  • Resist judging them for their substance use at all costs.
  • Be compassionate in tone.
  • Suggest they start with getting a simple physical exam with their doctor. For some, this is less intimidating than going straight to rehab. Their lab work is likely to reveal the problem and the doctor can then advise them to go to rehab.
  • Offer to assist them in finding out their insurance benefits.
  • Offer to go with them to tour rehabs or to help them sift through rehab options.
  • Assure them that you will be there for emotional support throughout their treatment journey. If you are a family member, offer to participate in family activities at the rehab.

If you find that even when using these tips you cannot make headway, consider holding an intervention. Treatment programs offer intervention services.

Common Reasons People Don’t Seek Help for Addiction

So, what is it that keeps someone from getting the help they need for a substance use disorder?

These are the most common roadblocks to treatment:

  • Denial. No one wants to admit they might have a problem with a substance. There are reasons for this. They may not want to appear to be weak or lacking in control over their lives. Also, they might deny the problem so they have an excuse to keep using the substance.
  • Stigma. Even though there is much more open discussion about substance disorders these days, there is still a stigma attached to them. The person may worry about the affect rehab might have on their personal or professional reputation.
  • Cost. Treatment can be costly. Insurance plans, though, do tend to cover a portion of the rehab costs. Checking out the plan benefits is a good starting point. Beyond that, there may be some scholarships offered or a monthly payment plan.
  • Time. Someone with a demanding job may ignore their need for treatment simply because they can’t take a long leave of absence. When this is the case, an outpatient treatment program offers more flexibility and freedom.
  • Fear. There is a common fear of stopping the substance and gutting out the detox and withdrawal process. Most people with substance problems know full well how painful withdrawal symptoms can be. But there are drugs that are offered to help provide comfort and reduce much of the pain during detox.
  • Obligations. People may resist getting treatment because they worry about their parenting responsibilities or their pet’s needs. In most cases, a friend or family member can assist with this and cover for the person.

When you need help for addiction, but just don’t know which way to turn, reach out to a trusted friend. They can be your support and help guide you to the treatment you need to turn your life around.

Rehabs Malibu Luxury Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Rehabs Malibu understands how hard it is to take that huge step and enter recovery. Our caring and dedicated staff is here to guide you through every step of the process. We are here to help you succeed and live your best life. Please give us a call today at (888) 429-7279.

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