Five Criteria for Choosing a Drug Rehab

By Jeff Molenda

Recovering from drug addiction needs commitment and determination from the part of the individual. Choosing the right rehab center is another factor that will greatly help in the success of the treatment. A good rehab center provides a perfect environment where the individuals can relax and focus on leading a normal life, away from the claws of addiction. The place should have a clear and effective treatment program and able personnel who can keep inmates motivated.

Choosing a drug rehab could be a daunting task since there are many centers out there offering different programs. Here are 5 ways that will help you in choosing the one that would suit your needs.

1. Cost of the Rehabilitation Program

Many private rehab centers tend to be pricey and are made for the rich and famous. But if you search hard enough you could find a private rehab that suits your budget and offer a good program. High end rehab centers come with many comforts like swimming pool, gym and luxuriously furnished rooms etc...

Having a great health insurance which covers a substantial amount of the costs could help you in getting into private facilities. So the first thing to do is to approach your carrier. They will help you in finding out your treatment options and plans.

If you do not have insurance or your carrier does not cover rehab costs, there are many public and subsidized facilities that you may approach.

2. Location

A rehab center which is closer to home would be the best choice. The support of the family is very important in drug rehabilitation and having your house at a close distance would make a lot of difference. Family visits and family therapy sessions can be easily organized with a rehab center that is situated close.

3. Methods of Treatment

There are many treatment methods used by rehab centers in treating addiction. Choosing a rehab that uses methods that is not suitable to you could ruin the entire program.

Most of the facilities use the traditional 12-step program in treating addiction. This method is has its base in spirituality and religion. If you are not comfortable with this approach, try centers which use other treatment methods.

4. Therapy and Aftercare

The most important part in choosing a drug rehab is analyzing their treatment program. You can assess the program personally by going through their program outlines or request someone's help in doing so. Talking to individuals who have already gone through rehab and getting opinions from support groups also help.

The two main things apart from the general treatment methods are the individual counseling and aftercare therapy. The availability of a psychologist to conduct regular one-on-one sessions has proved to be beneficial in the recovery process. A rehab center with these two facilities could be a better choice.

5. Comforts

Drug rehab is a grueling and intense task. A rehab center where even the minimal comforts are lacking could make the journey tougher. This is a place an individual might be required to stay for long periods. So, wanting to get out of the rehab quickly could ruin all your efforts done in getting better.

If you're looking for a drug rehab with a high success rate, visit Drug Rehab in Chiang Mai.

Are Drug Detox Programs Really Effective?

By Jeff Molenda

For those who have suffered drug withdrawal symptoms or seen their loved ones go through it, know how tough it can be. In fact, it has been cited as one of the major hurdles to giving up drugs altogether. Once physical dependence on a drug has been established, a person cannot overcome his addiction without professional help. Drug detox may take several forms and should be chosen carefully taking all factors into consideration.

Drug Detox Methods

The process of drug detoxification rids the body of all traces of the drug and helps to adapt the body to its absence. It may involve a quick detox in which you stop taking the drug altogether. In some cases a gradual tapering off the drug is introduced till the person is drug free. In some cases another drug is used in lower doses to slowly reduce the body's dependence on a particular drug. Often the pattern of treatment to be followed depends on a careful analysis of the patient's condition and the drug to which he may be addicted.

Risks Associated with Rapid Detox

A rapid detoxification can prove dangerous for long term addicts and should never be tried at home. Drug detox is always undertaken on an in-patient basis to contain any possible withdrawal problems. There are always trained professionals available in a detox center to alleviate pain and discomfort. In some cases, there are chances of a seizure or nausea and vomiting. In such situations one may need medical help to stabilize and manage these or any other unexpected problems that may crop up.

Kinds of Withdrawal Problems

Withdrawal problems may not always consist of physical problems but often consist of psychological problems like depression or suicidal tendencies. Therefore, drug detox is always followed or accompanied by psychotherapy to help the patient to overcome the psychological barriers to de-addiction. It also helps to develop coping strategies to overcome emotional compulsions for drug indulgence.

Reasons for Addiction

Drug addiction is not always the result of deliberate misuse of drugs. It can also occur when patients fail to follow the doctor's instructions carefully for prescription drugs or may continue taking it beyond the prescribed duration. In rare cases, some people are more susceptible to addiction to a particular drug and may need detoxification to help them rid of their dependence. In all cases, the process should always be under medical supervision.

Factors Affecting Successful Detoxification

The success of a drug detox program depends to a great extent on the motivation levels of the addict along with the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program chosen. In itself it will not help the patient to kick the habit and there is considerable risk for a relapse. An effective program takes individual differences into consideration and chalks out a program accordingly. Some people need more time to adjust to a life free of drugs while some respond more quickly. The situation can be compounded by underlying medical conditions and malnutrition which is so common in long term addicts.

In the long run it is cheaper and safer to begin a drug detox program in a proper de-addiction center that offers residential facilities to its patients.

If you're looking for a good drug detox program, visit Drug Detox at The Cabin.

3 Triggers to Avoid Addiction Relapse During the Holidays

By Dave Dixon Long

In earlier articles about how to avoid a relapse, we mentioned that you need to have a plan when tempting circumstances and difficult challenges arise.

With that in mind, the holidays present a whole new set of circumstances that can trigger a relapse, and you need to recognize what they are so you can be ready for of them.

Here are 3 major holiday circumstances than can trigger a relapse of alcohol or drug addiction along with how to avoid or prepare for them.

1. Stress from holiday shopping

Stress is especially prevalent during the holidays because of all the shopping and traveling involved. It might be tempting to cope with the hustle and bustle by going back to drinking or drugs.

To avoid this temptation, follow these tips to keep from stressing out during the holidays:

• Lower your expectations - You may want to be in 20 places at once, but don't take on more responsibilities than you can handle. Don't be afraid to say "no" when someone invites you to a holiday event. Take some time for yourself and relax.
• Set a schedule - Keeping yourself organized during the holidays will keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed. So put it all on paper instead of your head.
• Get plenty of sleep - It might be tempting to push your bedtime back one more hour to get something else done. But if you're tired and stressed, you'll get less done and be tempted to fall back into old addictions. Get eight hours of sleep to keep your mind fresh and able to resist temptations.

2. Depression due to public expectations

Every form of advertising you can think of shows a consistent message during Christmas time: the holiday season is a time of happiness with family.

But life isn't like what we see on TV. Some people either have family they won't be able to see for the holidays, or family they will see but have drama or conflicts with.

Seeing all these happy images that you can't experience may lead to depression, which can lead to seeking comfort in alcohol or drugs.

If you're away from family or have a drama-filled family, make sure you find a loving group of people you can surround yourself with.

If you're going through a 12-step program, which normally has accountability groups, have a list of friendly people you can call from that group to meet up and keep you accountable.

There are a variety of other things you can do to fight depression as well.

3. The "wrong" holiday parties

Avoid parties where people who encouraged you in your old habits are attending. They have an influence on you and can cause you to relapse.

If you're a recovering alcoholic, it would be best to avoid parties that serve alcohol. But if you do go to one that does, let people there know why you're avoiding alcohol so they can hold you accountable.

Always be on guard!

This obviously is a short list of holiday-related relapse triggers but they are common among most people. When it comes down to it, only you know what causes you to relapse. Know yourself and your weaknesses, and then plan accordingly.

Dave Dixon Long is Business & Marketing Director for Gallus Medical Detox Centers which provide upscale drug and alcohol detox, medically assisted to alleviate withdrawal symptoms with monitoring 24/7 by Registered Nurses, luxury private rooms, gourmet meals, Wifi, HDTV and patient confidentiality. This proven detox method was developed by Dr. Patrick Gallus after 15-plus years as an emergency room physician caring for alcohol and drug addicted patients.

Learning More About Meth Addiction

By Jared K Friedman

Methamphetamine is a dangerous and addictive drug which is a problem not only for the user, but for society as a whole. Methamphetamine addiction leads to an increase number of crimes and criminal activity ranging from theft, DWI, endangering of children and more. Production of meth has increased dramatically in American since the mid-1990s. According to Wikipedia Indiana state police found 1,260 labs in 2003 to only 6 in 1995. Methamphetamine production ranges from large scale production in super labs on foreign soil to domestic small time labs in trailer parks. In the United States of America, methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it is legally only available by a doctor's prescription. Prescribed uses for methamphetamine include attention deficit disorder, obesity and even in some cases narcolepsy.

Crystal, crank, ice, speed, whatever you call it methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that has damaging side effects when abused. The frequent use of methamphetamine can lead to long term damage to the central nervous system. Brain images of meth addicts show that users dopamine transporters and receptors have been permanently damaged. After the dopamine system has been damaged users can experience anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure. After the addiction has been addressed and the person is sober, it can be months before the brain begins to effectively produce and regulate dopamine.

The pleasurable side effects from meth are what lead users to develop their meth addiction. Patients describe an intense pleasurable rush that hits them once the drug has been ingested. Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted or injected which can compound the health side effects from the drug use. Smoking provides the quickest fix for the user, whereas snorting provides effects that can last for a longer time. This intense rush can lead to addicts becoming hooked even after their first use of the drug. Meth mouth is an additional adverse health side effect associated with meth addiction. Meth mouth is a condition where methamphetamine users have a profound and quick loss of teeth. The American Dental Association believes the tooth loss is the result of a variety of factors induced from meth use including, poor oral hygiene, poor diet, poor sleep habits and excessive teeth grinding.

Besides the health issues facing the meth users themselves, methamphetamine creates a number of public health issues. The production of meth and the exposure to dangerous chemicals are a common risk created by meth. The meth labs are often run by people high on drugs themselves resulting in dangerous fires and explosions. The rush of methamphetamine can lead to risky sexual behavior which continues the spread of STDs like HIV/AIDS. Meth addiction is so strong that pregnant women often times pass the addiction on to their unborn child.

Meth addiction is a problem that often times requires clinical intervention to successfully reach a full long term stable recovery. A drug rehab center that specializes in handling methamphetamine cases would be an ideal solution. Nearly 90% of meth users will experience some sort of symptom when withdrawing from methamphetamine, which often times leads to a relapse, which is why many doctors would recommend a detox program in a clinical setting.

Jared K Friedman is an addiction counselor at Sovereign Health. Sovereign Health are experts at providing meth treatment for people dealing with addiction as well as providing mental health solutions.