What Are Drug Rehab Programs

Drug rehab refers to all kinds of medical and psychotherapeutic treatments for psychoactive substance dependency. The primary intent of rehabilitation is to ensure that patients cease substance abuse in order to avoid legal, psychological, social, financial, and physical consequences of extreme abuse. There are a broad range of substances that people abuse including prescriptive drugs, alcohol, and street drugs (heroin, cocaine, amphetamines).

Addressing Psychological Dependency by Drug Rehab Programs

Many drug rehabilitation programs have to deal fundamentally with the challenges of psychological dependence. Generally, patients are taught new methods of relating with other people and the environment in order to ensure they thrive in drug free surroundings. They are encouraged to cut ties with friends who still abuse drugs, drug sellers, and any activities that may diminish their resolve to ditch drug abuse. In Twelve-step Programs, for example, addicts are encouraged to shun both drugs and habits that relate to addictions. Most programs also emphasize that permanent recovery is a process without culmination; hence, encouraging addicts to try harder to give up addiction even when there are false starts. However, programs that rehabilitate addicts from legal drugs usually emphasize complete abstention instead of moderation.

Types of Drug Rehab Programs

There a variety of drug rehabilitation programs, from residential treatment, outpatient, extended care centers, local support groups, sober houses, mental health, addiction counseling to orthomolecular medicine. Some programs are even gender or age specific. Effective treatment programs will also focus on a variety of needs of the addict instead of focusing on addiction alone.

Generally, drug rehab programs will run from detoxification, medication (if applicable), behavioral therapy and relapse prevention. The programs will usually focus on the mental health and medical needs of the addict and follow-up every treatment with support systems, such as family-based or community-based support. In all the rehab programs, patients are motivated and supported to ensure that they persist to recovery.

Addiction to some prescription drugs can be treated by administration of other drugs. For instance, buprenorphine and methadone are effective in treating addiction to prescription opiates. Conversely, addiction to prescription stimulants and benzodiazepines is effectively treated through behavioral therapies.

Behavioral Therapy Drug Rehab

There are different types of behavioral approaches. Cognitive behavioral treatment helps the addicts to identify, keep off and cope with all kinds of situations that expose them to relapse. Motivational interviewing is fashioned to motivate patients to enter treatment, change behavior and adhere to therapeutic approaches. Motivational incentives are used to reinforce the addict's commitment to abstinence from substances of abuse while multi-dimensional family therapy focuses on improvement of family functioning as the basis of recovery.

In behavioral therapy, emphasis is placed on problem solving techniques. The addicts are empowered to recognize their problem and work with therapists to overcome their problems. Behavioral therapists analyze the addict's behavior before developing workable models for dealing with the addict, family and community to overcome the addiction.

Cognitive Therapy and Addiction Recovery

Central to cognitive therapy of drug abuse is the belief that addicts have certain feelings, fears and beliefs that make them more vulnerable to drugs. Some addicts think of themselves as undesirable failures and losers in society who need to "cool down" their minds and depressive states by taking drugs. Drugs, therefore, have anticipated benefits to most abusers. From the outset, drug users believe they can handle their situation and even after deciding to avoid drugs, they still harbor the view that they can control progression into worse addiction. With the development of a package of permissive beliefs the individual will perpetually seek drugs and ingest them ceaselessly.

Cognitive therapists endeavor to uncover the addict's beliefs, analyze them critically and demonstrate their uselessness to the patient. The therapist discusses a great deal with the addict, giving homework assignments to aid in solidifying the gains of the therapy. By changing the addicts' system of beliefs, strengthening the ability to face relapse provoking circumstances, and the power to make correct decisions, the therapist helps the addict to recover.

Inevitability of Counseling in Drug Rehab Programs

Counseling is critical in identification of problems and behaviors that trigger and promote addiction. Counselors talk directly to addicts, helping them to return to healthy behaviors and resist temptations to relapse. Rehabilitation counseling can be daily or weekly, crisis or drop-in, initiated by friends or family. Counseling is invaluable in breaking down denial (patient or unwillingness of the patient to accept, take action or improve on the addiction problem). Usually, it is the counselors who link addicts to the best drug rehab centers.

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Effects of Drug Abuse on Your Emotional Health

The effects of drug abuse on the body are many and varied. These effects are both physical and psychological. Often there is an underlying mental health condition that has not yet been diagnosed that can be linked to drug abuse. Although using harmful substances may appear to alleviate symptoms in the short term, one of the effects of drug abuse is making emotional health worse. Also, abusing drugs can actually cause certain mental health disorders. This is especially true if an individual has certain hereditary or environmental risk factors that could lead to mental illness. The use of drugs can push these individuals into a mental illness.

Effects of Drug Abuse: The Impact

Overall Effects of Drug Abuse

When an individual abuses drugs over a long period of time, the brain actually changes the way it functions. This is because the drugs have taken the place of naturally occurring chemicals in the body that affect brain functions, including emotions. Drugs attach themselves to certain receptors that work in the brain to regulate mood. Normally these receptors are attached with certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which work in the brain to raise mood and make a person feel good. That can explain the general feeling of euphoria shortly after taking a drug, as that substance works in a similar manner on receptors as the naturally occurring chemicals.

Effects of Drug Abuse on Mental Illness

Approximately half of all people with mental illness abuse drugs. Those who suffer from mental illness have an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, which is why they may turn to drugs as a form of self-medication. Once drug use begins, the body stops producing certain chemicals, as the drugs fool it into believing that enough are already present in the body. When the drug is stopped, the individual's mental illness symptoms are usually worse than before, as the chemicals are even more out of balance than before the abuse of drugs. Alternatively, a new chemical balance could be the result, leading to mental illness where none had previously existed.

Drug Abuse and Emotional Health

When quitting drug use, many withdrawal systems mimic mental illness symptoms. This makes it hard for those who suffer from dual diagnosis to quit, and the effects of drug abuse can be seen very clearly. Dual diagnosis is when a substance abuse issue presents itself concurrently with a mental health issue; this can be very difficult to diagnose and treat. Professional treatment by a provider who is familiar with treating dual diagnosis could be effective, as they will likely be able to treat both disorders at the same time.

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Five Ways to Celebrate Your Recovery From Drug Abuse

Recovery from drug abuse can last a lifetime, but that doesn't mean waiting until the end of your lifetime to celebrate. You can celebrate reaching milestones that have significant meaning to you. For instance, you may choose to celebrate your drug-free life on each yearly anniversary. Today we'll give you some ideas for how you can celebrate your accomplishments!

Celebrating Your Recovery From Drug Abuse

1. Appreciation Celebration

Hold an appreciation celebration in your home for close friends and relatives who helped you through the toughest moments of your addiction and recovery. Showing your love and appreciation for these people can reinforce the changes you have made so far.

2. Bucket List

List all of the things you would love to do in your lifetime. To celebrate your recovery from drug abuse, select an item from the list, and go do it!

3. Volunteer

Give back to the community. By helping others, you are also helping yourself. It may remind you of how far you've come, and celebrates your achievements and commitment. You can work with people, the environment, animals - it's your choice.

4. Relieve Stress

Take a spa weekend. If that is too expensive, simply book a 30-minute massage or ask someone special to give you a massage in honor of your recovery from drug abuse. Some beauty parlors offer complete makeover services, which could make you feel like a brand new woman in just a few hours.

5. Write a Letter to Yourself

Document how you feel at this point in your recovery from drug abuse. Put this away like a time capsule, and read it next month or next year. You will see how much progress you make each year you are in recovery.

You may even choose to celebrate your recovery on a monthly basis. Give yourself a small reward each month, such as a manicure and pedicure. You don't have to spend money on your celebrations. Make yourself a homemade card for sentimental value.

Why Celebrate Recovery from Drug Abuse?

Celebrate your recovery because rewards are more powerful than punishments. Recovery is a lifelong journey that can feel overwhelming at times. Celebrations give you something to look forward to, and they reward the hard work you have pushed through in order to achieve your recovered status.

Not every woman makes it through the first month of recovery, let alone the first year or the first five years. By celebrate, you may lighten the load and give yourself the credit you deserve.

If you or a woman you love is having problems with alcohol abuse, chemical dependency or addiction, a recovery from drug abuse program for women may be the answer. Remember that recovery from addiction and alcohol abuse treatment means learning how to cope with intensely emotional situations, and identifying when you need help and support.

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Drug Rehab Doctors' Qualifications

Drug rehab facilities and centers are places where people with substance abuse problems can go to seek resolution and help for their issues. These are important facilities in patients' recovery because these are where they get the support and encouragement that they need to get over their addictions. One of the more important things that these places should have is a qualified doctor and expert in the field. This is not to say that the expert needs to be an expert in chemical and substances but he or she needs to be experts in helping patient get over the addictions. Of course, the expert, preferably a doctor, should be aware of the steps. Methods and techniques in helping people steer clear from chemical substances and drugs that may be addictive. Since there are many different techniques and methods, it is imperative that the doctor be constantly updated and aware of the new developments.

Doctors and Counselors

Experts or doctors who supervise drug rehab centers needs to have a lot of know-how with regards to the relatively wide field of psychology that centers on substance and chemical addiction. For the most part, there are supervisors who are medical doctors and there are also counselors who are experts in the field of addiction. There are addiction specialists from the medical field who actually seek qualification and recognition for this very specific field. Once they are recognized in this field, they are allowed to dispense medicines in relation to the addiction that the patient suffers from. Counselors, on the other hand, are psychiatrists who are also well versed in the techniques and methodology of treating an addiction through psychology instead of purely through medication. Counselors can handle patients with addictions even if they are not medical doctors who are allowed to dispense medicines to their patients.

Compared to medical doctors who believe that they can treat their patients through the use of medication, counselors believe that the addiction can be treated through sessions of psychotherapy. Some experts also believe that introducing the desire to leave a healthy life can be a positive way of getting the patient off his or her addiction. The techniques that experts use to treat patients can differ widely and be dependent on the severity of the person abuse of the substance or chemicals. Certification to practice as addiction specialists in drug rehab clinics can be issued to those who undergo the right education or seminars in order to be considered as addiction specialists. Since there are several techniques and methods that these experts believe can treat addiction, choosing among them can be tricky. It is important to pinpoint the need of the patient as well as the root of the addiction. This can be difficult to do when the person who is doing the assessing is not an expert. Therefore, family and friends who care for the patient should initially assess the drug rehab clinic before bringing the patient over for his or her initial assessment with the expert.

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Heroin: The True Story

There was a time and not too long ago when a heroin addict was looked at as the scum of the earth. Sure, many people would never openly admit that because it wasn't politically correct or maybe it was just fear that stopped them. Whatever the case was then, things have sure changed, which is odd since the potency of today's heroin is so much stronger than it was just a few decades ago.

The heroin addicts of today are different in almost every sense of the word. The number of them has increased dramatically and what used to be an early detection is no longer the case. Today's heroin addicts or junkies, if you will, can be anyone. Most of the time, the addiction begins with prescription pain pills and when those become harder to get it is almost a guarantee that someone will step forward to share how easy and cheap heroin is to get.

In fact, most of the heroin addicts of today are people that swore that they would never end up chasing the dragon, but they did. Considering that the U.S is in the midst of a pain pill abuse epidemic, it only stands to reason. Officials have been trying to reduce the number of prescription pain pills that are made available and in addition, people are receiving more education on the proper disposal of expired or unused medications and they are also being urged to keep medications under lock and key.

With these efforts, it has become harder to keep a pain pill habit alive. It is still not too difficult to birth the habit but in a shorter period of time the well is sure to dry up. That's where the heroin comes into play. So, the people that vowed never to touch heroin are now forced to give it a shot or get sick without. Unfortunately, this is where the addiction aspect gets really ugly. Someone that tells you that the heroin is cheap and easy to get fails to tell the whole truth.

They do not mention the fact that the heroin is only cheaper for the first week or so and just like with anything else as the tolerance develops the need for more increases. Because the heroin is more potent than ever before, most will start snorting it, which doesn't seem as bad to most as injecting it. The problem is that it doesn't take long before snorting it just isn't cutting it anymore.

Someone else is sure to cross your path that will ensure you how great it is to shoot it and most of the time if your too chicken to do it they will be quick to give you a hand and teach you the ropes. There is always someone who wants to make sure that you get the right drugs and do them correctly. These are the friends that, in the long run, are just happy to help you kill yourself. Why not, there isn't anything that a heroin addict won't do in the name of addiction.

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3 Ways NOT to Kill Yourself

Have you ever heard this saying 'You are what you eat' that is so true in so many ways. We have to be care about what we put in our mouths. But it would all depend on what you want. Well, is what you want Real or Fake? Lets explain things in this term.

Love. There can be Real love, and there can be Fake love. Which one would you chose? Real love would mean that you don't to lie or hide, neither would you be lied to, or things be hidden from you.

Or, you can chose Fake love. Where all people want, is what you have, and not you. They want to use you for their own personal gain.

Which love sounds the best?

Being real, is likened to being original, or organic, nothing to hide to cover up.

Being fake is likened to being sneaky, and lie, and usually things does not turn out right.

So being real sound likes the best option. So if you like being original, organic, and let me add, honest? Wouldn't you want to eat real? Yeah, makes sense.

There are different foods we can eat. Organic or Processed foods.

Organic foods- Raw foods that are natural nutrition, and do not have any preservatives.

Processed foods- Food that is created and DOES NOT have the full amounts of nutrition a human should intake.

Processed foods are dangerous. They cause so many diseases and so many problems. These processed foods are what people are dying of. It is said to be that America is the most well fed country but has the lowest nutrition value.

If you not nourished and have supplements for your body you can die and your body would give out too soon. Food is like fuel to your body, just like your fuel to your car. If you don't put the right fuel in you car, your car can give out and probably won't start again.

Processed foods can come in many different arrangements here are 3 them.

1. Partially Hydrogenated Oils- This material is very deadly. It almost found in every food item you buy at the grocery store. This is like a poison, and don't get deceived when it says 'Oils'. This material is nothing close to oil. The natural form of this oil is very healthy. But if you were to put poison in water, what would it be poison, or water? This oil starts off being healthy. Once the process starts they heat the temperatures high enough to a mental melting point. Once hot enough, they add catalyst to the oil (catalyst is found in nickles, and aluminum) this give it a thick appeal. Making it almost solid. This can effect you, terribly. Once inside your system your heart pumps harder that normal, the thickness of the oil is making your blood as thick as the oil. Creating high blood pressures, and heart attacks.


2. (MSG) Monosodium Glutamate- Monosodium Glutamate is a salt that is converted in a flavor enhancer. This is mostly put in processed food (MSG is a processed material). They injected it into animals which caused weight to be gained to those animals, by disturbing the process hypothalamus (The part of the brain where you determine your appetite level) this cause a leptin resistance, (This is a hormone that controls what the person amount of food it consumes.) Once this MSG is lost it causes the person to want more. Leaving you an addict to it. Basically, a drug.


3. High Fructose Corn Syrup- This was said to be healthy to the human body. Don't believe this myth., High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) can cause heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, and even tooth decay. No part of this is considered healthy. You can usually find HFCS in sweetened drinks and sweet snacks.

If you don't eat wisely you die too soon.

You don't want to be that person who, won't take care of his or her health, until he or she has some type of disease or heart conduction. Or that person who have 4 bypass surgery because they were 99.9% clogged in 4 arteries. Be wise.

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