“Does my loved one need detox?” For those ready to get addiction treatment, recovery happens in stages. The first stage of treatment for many people is detox. Detox allows patients to cleanse their bodies of toxic substances. Addiction treatment is most effective when your system is clean and you can focus on getting better. Knowing…
Drug withdrawal can occur when a person quits using drugs or drinking. When dual diagnosis enters the picture, mental health issues complicate the situation and require dual diagnosis treatment. A variety of treatments exist now for people with dual diagnosis disorder, including group recovery, individual therapy, medication, and specific therapy just for people with addiction…
The body needs to get rid of drugs and other things from the system. Detoxing is key for individuals battling substance use disorder. To try and begin counseling people with substance abuse while the toxins are in the system is not going to work. That is basically setting them up for relapse. Drug detox is…
Social circles change when people are in recovery. There is a new opportunity to move forward and find new people and friends. One of the biggest hurdles when making a change is surrounding yourself with people who are positive influences. Not all social circles are positive. Toxic friendships and relationships can drag down recovery. Find…
Rehab is intense. Leaving a routine is hard, even if just for a few months to get straight again. Addressing complex and difficult issues related to addiction make it hard to focus and heal unless the person is ready in mind, body, and spirit. Detox can be the hardest part of the process but once…
Most people grow up with what they consider to be a “basic understanding of drugs”, based on many common myths. “Marijuana isn’t so bad,” they say. “Natural drugs aren’t as harmful as synthetic ones.” Here are 5 of the most common myths about drugs and addiction… and their startling truths. Sharing prescription medication isn’t really…
Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to remove any and all traces of drugs and alcohol. Many people are familiar with feelings of withdrawal, especially if they are coming off of harder drugs like heroin that cause extreme physical dependence. However, medical staff are able to address and treat symptoms of withdrawal as…
Many people have the experience of going through the difficult process of detoxifying their body of alcohol and drugs, only to relapse quickly after leaving treatment. It is not an uncommon situation– about 85% of people who seek treatment relapse on drugs within one year after discharge. This is because there is no cure for…
Ceasing drug and alcohol use abruptly is extremely dangerous. Our bodies have adapted to the increased intake of substances and made physiologically changes. When we abruptly discontinue drug and alcohol use, our bodies respond with painful withdrawal symptoms. Many drugs cause withdrawal symptoms that range from mild to extremely painful, but alcohol and benzodiazepines are…
Many men and women suffering from addiction feel that they would be more comfortable going through the detoxification process in the comfort of their own home. Self-detox, however, is an extremely dangerous prospect. Many substances can create such a strong physical dependence that the withdrawal symptoms could lead to major health consequences or death. To…