Posted on Dec 23, 2011
When dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction, loved ones and family member are often overwhelmed with the massive amount of information out there. And while they are desperately seeking answers, they are left with more questions. This article will explain the different types of treatment centers available, and the pros and cons of each.
Outpatient rehabs are probably the most common type of facility that addicts will seek out. Originally, outpatient treatment centers were developed to help those who had a DUI, or who were struggling with drugs like marijuana. Over time, the insurance companies began to only pay for outpatient treatment. So people struggling with longtime heroin addictions or dangerous alcohol addiction are going to outpatient therapy and continuously relapsing. Outpatient rehabs are meant to educate, not detoxify and handle a person’s life. However, even with this information, some people still insist that they will go to an outpatient rehab. If this is the case, make sure that they are getting drug tested every few days, monitor what they are doing in their free time and get involved in their recovery. While outpatient rehab is the harder road, it is still a step in the right direction.
Free or state funded rehabs are available to addicts as well. These government programs were designed to help those who would not otherwise be able to pay for treatment. Because these facilities are funded by the government, they are often filled with people who have been in and out of the prison system, transferred straight from jail, or have gone in and out of rehabs their whole life. Essentially, these people are not there to get clean, they are there because they are forced to be there.
Long term, inpatient rehabs are by the far the best solution to a drug and/or alcohol addiction. These types of facilities provide more clean time for the individual, they are staffed with individuals who have also handled their addictions, and they allow the person to really handle their addiction, without the fear of relapse.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011
Addiction has always been the wrong side of a coin. It has been observed among the women consuming high percentage of alcohol and drug leads to other co-occurring disorders also such as PTSD, ADHD, anxiety or depression. Consequently, this weakens her confidence, self respect and determination. This is the reason why it becomes so hard to recover from the addiction.
Women’s dual diagnosis treatment center in Orange County has 23 years of experience in treating addiction and alcoholism. They are well aware of these consequences and have designed a Dual Diagnosis Program for women requiring help with emotional and psychiatric problems. They provide specialized individual and group therapy for the concerning issues along with treatment for chemical dependency.
The treatment program includes effective and personalized counseling from highly skilled counselors, constantly monitoring the progress as well as making coordination with our clients and their families. It is understood that such clients needs proper care and complete observation. The specialized staff helps client in this areas of trauma resolution, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression. Every woman is frequently reviewed by an entire team of clinical staff. As it is found that a woman’s progress is best determined when a multidisciplinary team approach is used. In any case if she needs any assistance, she is referred to the appropriate individual or group counselors for therapy sessions.
The dual diagnosis treatment center has been successful in addressing the addiction and the co-occurring disorder for 23 years. Women have been a major contributor in the society and so it becomes our prime responsibility to take care of them and give them a proper treatment in their needs.
Posted on Dec 15, 2011
Vicodin addiction can be one of the most difficult addictions to accept and extremely uncomfortable to detoxify from.
Unlike with many other addictions, many people who become addicted to Vicodin do not begin using the drug for recreational purposes, nor do they intend to abuse it when they begin taking it.
Vicodin, also known as Hydrocodone(generic), Lortab, and Norco is commonly prescribed by physicians as a pain reliever. The fact that it is legally prescribed by a doctor can be part of the reason people have trouble accepting the addiction when they become dependent on the drug. Although there are warnings on the prescription label or accompanying prescription literature and it is routine for medical staff to verbally precaution patients, many people do not anticipate how addictive Vicodin truly can be. Doctors are becoming more cautious about prescribing Vicodin due to the increasing amount of cases in which patients are becoming dependent on this drug, as well as prescribing Vicodin for only a specific length of time, usually no more than 10 days.
Once addiction does occur, the disease is devastating. As with any other addiction, it affects every aspect of the person’s life. The first sign of Vicodin addiction is the need to use more and more to feel relief. This can often lead a person to go to multiple physicians or worse seek and purchase the drug off of the streets, thus creating more risk for danger simply by having to venture into unfavorable environments. As Vicodin addiction becomes more severe, the physical craving and need to take the drug becomes necessary in order to avoid and/or relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Physical Vicodin withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating, sometimes accompanied by fever. In addition to the physical symptoms, depression, agitation, and insomnia are also common during Vicodin withdrawal. The length of time it takes to completely detoxify from Vicodin varies with each individual and depends on how long the individual was dependent on the drug and the amount they were taking. Sometimes those suffering from Vicodin addiction prefer to wean themselves off of the drug by gradually taking smaller doses and spreading out the doses. However, as with alcoholism and other addictions, this can be extremely difficult, even impossible for some people due to the fact that it is an addiction and sometimes it is not a matter of will power. Even the strongest of people may need assistance in going through the detoxification process, which usually includes a stay within a medical detoxification facility in which professionals can monitor and assist an addict, as well as dispense prescribed medications or supplements used to relieve some of the discomfort.
It is also favorable for those with severe dependency to follow up with a stay in a drug rehabilitation program. Statistics have shown that long term abstinence tends to be higher among those who complete a treatment program. There are various programs available to people suffering from Vicodin addiction. Some of the methods used in assisting addicts with long term abstinence from Vicodin include 12 step programs, counseling, and psychiatric treatment.
Recovery from Vicodin is possible. Many people have gotten clean from this drug and learned how to live free from their addiction to Vicodin. All forms of addiction are heartbreaking and destructive, whether it be addiction to crack, gambling, eating, alcohol, or Vicodin. Not only is Vicodin addiction devastating for the person suffering with it, but addiction also takes a toll on family members and those closely associated with the person dependent on the drug. When the individual suffering from addiction is honest and willing to accept that they have a problem and need help, this is the first and most important step toward achieving recovery. As stated in many recovery groups, addicts have to “hit their bottom.” For some people this bottom can simply be not wanting to feel the need to have the drug in order to function anymore. For others, a bottom can be much more intense and may include going to jail, being involved in serious accidents, losing their marriage, job, home, and other such tragic events. Sometimes people don’t ever hit a bottom and die as a result of their addiction in the form of health problems, overdose, or accidents while under the influence.
It is important for loved ones of a person suffering from Vicodin addiction to not take it upon themselves to feel they can cure the person who is addicted or attempt to fix them. It is wise to seek outside help in how to approach the individual. If the loved one with the addiction is not ready, the best thing to do is not enable them to continue their addiction by giving them money or making excuses for them. Enabling only encourages the person with Vicodin addiction to continue to use rather than taking responsibility and realizing they have a problem.
Addictions change a person’s personality and cause them to do things that they would not normally do, including lie in order to minimize or hide the addiction, steal in order to buy the drug, and miss appointments or work as a result of being impaired or sick from withdrawing from the drug. Therefore, people in the grips of Vicodin addiction usually need outside help, because they cannot help themselves.
With proper education about Vicodin addiction, utilizing available resources, and willingness to get help there is hope for each person who has had the misfortune of becoming addicted to Vicodin and for the family of those afflicted.
