How Long Does Cocaine Addiction Treatment Recovery Take?

How Long Does Cocaine Addiction Treatment Recovery Take?

Cocaine use has taken a serious toll on the health of Americans. In 2018, a national survey found that almost 1 million Americans meet the criteria for cocaine use disorder. Since that time, cocaine use has been on the rise–wreaking havoc in American communities and increasing deaths by overdose.

If you or a loved one is thinking about getting treatment for cocaine use disorder (CUD), determining what kind of treatments you need and how long they will take are primary concerns.

If you have spent time on addiction forums, you may have seen phrases like “inpatient”, “detox” or “residential inpatient treatment” being thrown around and wondered how these terms fit into addiction recovery. Today we will be discussing the timeline for cocaine addiction, recovery as well as providing you with useful information about addiction treatment programs for cocaine abuse and addiction.

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Cocaine addiction treatment

Addiction treatment for people with cocaine use disorder and other drug addictions is designed to address the needs of individuals as they continue their journey on the path towards recovery. People who first enter addiction treatment, might attend a drug detox program or go straight to an inpatient or an intensive outpatient program depending on what best fits their overall needs.

After the intensive phase of addiction treatment ends, addiction recovery for cocaine use continues. Many people find that a weekly outpatient program, joining a 12-step program, or attending some other weekly addiction counseling group helps to keep sobriety in perspective.

Cocaine Detox

Before the bulk of treatment can begin, it is important for the body to readjust to being without the drug. In medical detox, a person is evaluated to determine their physical and psychological condition. This helps to determine any potential complications to detox treatment early on.

In medical detox, trained staff are available 24/7 to consistently monitor the patient’s condition, keep them hydrated, nourished, and comfortable as the body experiences a range of cocaine withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine detox, despite being less physically intense than other abused substances, has some caveats.

  • There are currently no FDA-approved medications used for cocaine withdrawal.
  • Cocaine users often abuse other substances like alcohol or marijuana, sometimes in the same setting.
  • Initial withdrawal symptoms appear in the form of a crash whereby a person experiences extreme exhaustion.
  • Acute (or severe) withdrawal symptoms for cocaine users typically last 5-7 days.
  • People who abuse drugs commonly also have mental health conditions. These co-occurring disorders can cause additional discomfort and increase the likelihood of relapse as a post-treatment outcome.
  • Once these more severe symptoms have subsided, the individual experiences less severe post-acute withdrawals symptoms or PAWS.

Inpatient Rehabilitation for Cocaine Addiction

At a residential inpatient treatment center, patients live in a 24/7 medically managed facility usually for 1-3 months. While in treatment clients have access to:

  • Individually tailored treatment plans
  • A safe relapse-free environment
  • Set treatment end dates
  • Medication management services
  • Group and individual counseling (including 12-step and other alternative counseling programs)
  • Evidence-based therapies have been shown to improve recovery outcomes
  • Recreational and Holistic therapies (such as art therapy, yoga, and meditation)
  • Access to recreational areas (gyms, pools, and tennis courts)

After completing an inpatient cocaine detox program, patients are encouraged to step down to either a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program.

Sometimes if a person has financial constraints or does not need an intensive program, they may opt for a regular outpatient program. These programs can provide greater flexibility and a lower weekly commitment.

How Long Does Cocaine Recovery Take?

In the early stages of addiction treatment, programs have set start and end dates. Because of this, people tend to associate the end of recovery with the end of their rehabilitation program. This, however, is not the case.

Life can present challenges that put people at low points. When things are going well, sobriety is easier to manage. When it isn’t, self-doubt can find its way in. This by no means suggests that sobriety is unattainable, but rather that recovery takes a lifetime of commitment.

Rather than seeing recovery as the endpoint of addiction treatment and relapse as a failure to change or succeed, we are instead encouraged to view recovery as a life-long journey and commitment to avoid the self-sabotaging behavior of drug abuse.

Get Help Today with Overcoming Cocaine Addiction

If you or a loved one are looking for an addiction rehab or detox program for substances All American Detox Center is here for you. Call addiction helpline number. We are an accredited addiction recovery center serving Los Angeles County, California.

The Benefits of Family Therapy for Drug Addiction

Family Therapy for Substance Abuse

If you or a loved one is considering addiction treatment, you may already be familiar with group and individual counseling. But what about other forms of therapy? In this article, we will discuss what family therapy is and who benefits from it in an addiction context.

What is family therapy?

Family therapy emerged from psychotherapy in the early 1960s. But unlike psychotherapy, which focuses on resolving issues with the individual, a family therapist looks at how one or more individuals function, resolve conflicts and communicate within the context of their family unit.

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Who Benefits from Family Therapy

Family therapy shows remarkable flexibility in treating disfunction. Family units such as couples, parents with adolescent children, and even less conventional types of family units can benefit from this type of therapy.

In recent decades, many families deviate from the nuclear family norm. A practitioner may work with a family where some or all its members are unrelated. In another situation, cousins, grandparents, or siblings may play more dominant and important roles than is typical. And regardless of who comprises a family system, its members live and develop interdependently.

The Family as a Whole

Addiction is considered by many to be a family disease, and this is for many reasons. One reason is that addiction susceptibility can be inherited genetically. Also, when families succumb to addiction, it is more likely for an environment that perpetuates substance abuse across generations to be created.

The Family of The Addicted Person

If you have somebody in your family who has a substance use disorder (SUD) you are probably experiencing a range of emotions. In the throes of addiction, it is not uncommon for your loved one to engage in life-threatening behaviors, endanger others, become hostile and withdraw from family responsibilities. These behavioral issues can cause additional stress and even rifts in the relationship and may need to be resolved with family counseling.

The Person with an Addiction

A person with an addiction may resort to drug use in part to cope with the dysfunction in their family. They may feel, misunderstood, unloved, or stigmatized by family members. When treatment is underway, this loss of critical support can lead to negative outcomes and prolonged family dysfunction can worsen mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

Family therapy offers a way to address concerns on behalf of the patient, which can give them a more positive outlook towards the recovery process. This positively seems to be an important predictor of successful treatment. As one study noted, alcoholics who received family therapy were more likely to enroll in drug detox center and experience positive outcomes than those who did not.

If you are currently in addiction treatment, you may feel isolated or disconnected from your regular life. Family therapy provides a way for loved ones to be more visible and involved in addiction treatment which in many cases benefits the patient.

What are the Goals of Family Therapy?

During a family therapy session, the practitioner will interview and moderate family discussions in order to get a better understanding of how the family unit functions and determine what it does well and what problem areas need to be addressed. Specific goals include:

  • Solving disputes within a family
  • Improving honest engagement
  • Establish boundaries
  • Help families engage in healthy communication
  • Foster compassion and understanding between family members
  • Help individuals develop a greater awareness of family dynamics.

 

effect of addiction on family

How Family Therapy Works with Addiction Treatment

In the interest of getting everybody on the same page, it is important to educate family members on the realities of addiction.

Family members will need to adjust to understanding addiction is a disease so that they may develop realistic expectations for treatment. Addiction is the result of numerous factors, such as genetics, trauma, mental health, and others but its outcome strips away an individual’s ability to stop using.

Taking steps like these is important for developing empathy and helpful dialogue around the subject of addiction. As family members are often subjected to stress and negative experiences it’s important to channel that into healthy, productive discussion and refrain from blaming and shaming.

If you are the one in addiction treatment, education could mean learning about how attachment styles, mental wellbeing is deeply dependent on how your family functions. This newfound awareness can then be translated to solutions, like the development of boundaries, assertiveness, the development of independence and empowerment.

Where is it Offered?

As previously mentioned, family therapy has proven to be flexible in its ability to treat issues within family systems, but it is also favored for its ability to be purposed in a variety of treatment settings such as:

What Approach is Right for Me?

Family Systems Therapy

Treats individuals based on their role in a larger family system. Because families share a collective history, the behavior and sense of identity that makes one feel unique are interconnected and dependent on the other members.

In addiction treatment, a family systems counselor might help you to recognize how a person’s drug usage is tied to dysfunctional patterns of communication and help them develop tools to increase mindfulness, create healthy boundaries, and promote healthy communication with loved ones.

Family Behavior Therapy (FBT)

An approach suitable for both and adults and adolescents. In this approach, patients work with their family and a therapist to develop behavioral goals. Upon meeting these goals, they are rewarded with a reinforcer or something that encourages them to continue the behavior. For example, parents might reward adolescents for remaining sober or for increasing their school attendance.

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)

Typically lasting only 3 months split into 12-15 sessions, BSFT is an effective intervention treatment for parents with adolescents who are struggling with substance abuse and other behavioral issues. In this short but effective treatment, the therapist builds a relationship with each member of the family and learns their motives and concerns. Once this phase is completed, and mediation is underway, an action plan is developed to treat the issues and maximize the family’s overall health.

If you or a loved one is interested in learning more about addiction treatment options in the Southern California area– look no further. All American Detox offers premier detox and residential inpatient treatment. For more information, please contact us at the de-addiction helpline number

 

5 Benefits of Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal

Benefits of medical detox

What is a Medical Alcohol Detox?

Detox is the process by which your body rids itself of harmful chemicals. This process naturally occurs in our bodies all the time as we consume and come in contact with things that our body doesn’t need.

When somebody abuses drugs and alcohol regularly, however, toxicity builds up overwhelming the body. This in conjunction with physical and psychological dependence creates a need for medical detox treatment. Medical alcohol detox in a treatment setting is usually accompanied by medication, medical monitoring, and counseling.

All American Detox Center is a California-based drug detox center that offers a multitude of recovery options. To find more about alcohol detox centers or other addiction services, contact us at (844) 570-1301.

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If you are thinking about quitting alcohol for good, here are some of the Benefits of Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal.

Benefits of Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal

  1. Medical Detox is Safer

The stronger the alcohol dependency a person develops the stronger withdrawal symptoms will be. People with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) will engage in excessive drinking by drinking throughout the day or in large amounts within a short period of time; also called binge drinking.

Additionally, prolonged use of alcohol can lead to health conditions that could cause complications to the medical alcohol detox process. These include:

  • Liver Damage
  • Anemia
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Dementia
  • Hallucinations
  • Severe Depression and Anxiety
  • Infections
  • Heart Problems
  • Problems with eating and sleeping regularly

In an Inpatient drug rehab center, a thorough examination is run to guarantee that any methods used during the detox are going to be safe for the patient, and health problems or chronic health conditions can be considered and treated. During your stay, you will also receive 24/7 medical support and monitoring around the clock. This means that if at any point unexpected problems arise, trained staff can effectively respond. This is a huge contrast from home detoxes which can be risky and unsafe.

  1. Access to Critical Medications and Care

The second benefit of medical alcohol detox, Individuals that who suffer from more severe withdrawal symptoms in an alcohol detox program may be prescribed medication that both ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent them from escalating into more serious health problems.

It is also common for people with AUD to be deficient in several key minerals such as magnesium, phosphate, and sodium (pg. 32) Utilizing IVs, staff can administer appropriate dosages which contribute to the patient’s overall health.

One serious form of alcohol withdrawal that requires medications is delirium tremens. DTs are marked by agitation, aggressive behavior, confusion, seizures, fever, and hallucinations. Delirium tremens develops in 20% of AUD patients in detox and typically last 3-5 days or even up to 10.

The alcohol withdrawals of this disorder are potentially life-threatening and require constant monitoring by medical professionals. For individuals that don’t seek treatment, the risk of death from DTs increases by 15%. Unfortunately, it is fairly common amongst patients in detox; out of all individuals with an AUD that go to treatment, 20% will develop delirium tremens symptoms.

Here are some examples of trusted medications used in alcohol detox treatment:

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines such as Valium or Librium are sedatives prescribed during alcohol detox to treat both physical and psychological acute withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, nausea anxiety, and seizures.

Anticonvulsants

When seizures are the main symptom of focus, doctors can prescribe anti-convulsants. Medications like Tegretol or Neurontin have the advantage of having a lower potential for abuse than benzos and can either be used as a direct replacement for a benzodiazepine or in conjunction with one.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates like Phenobarbital have been found to be effective in treating seizures and other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal both alongside and as a replacement for benzos in alcohol addiction treatment.

Benefits of medical detox for alcohol withdrawl

  1. It’s Better for your Health

Putting your treatment in the hands of licensed professionals can maximize the recovery process that benefits your health in several ways including:

  • Treating nutritional deficiency with vitamins
  • Screening for health conditions common with alcohol misuse (i.e., health failure, disease of the liver and pancreas, nerve damage, and bleeding of the digestive tract) pg.
  • A peaceful, anxiety-free environment with kind and supportive medical staff pg.
  • Access to medications that can prevent severe withdrawal symptoms associated with AUD
  1. Access to a Sober Environment

One of the biggest issues with detoxing at home is the high potential for relapse. One of the biggest reasons for this is the lack of a controlled environment.

At home, a person is more likely to be surrounded by triggers. This could include things like unpaid bills, pictures, the presence of drugs and alcohol around the house, or friends and family who may be using themselves.

According to data by the PEW research center, almost half of Americans have a friend or family member who is presently or was at some point addicted to drugs. Considering this, and the fact that alcohol runs in families, we can infer that many people with an AUD live in compromised environments unfit to detox in.

Receiving treatment in a safe medical facility or alcohol detox center in California is the only way to guarantee a safe and sober detox.

  1. It Prepares You for the Next Stage of Treatment

The biggest barrier to recovery is getting yourself to treatment. Each step you take down the path to recovery helps you to build the resolve and master the skills needed to beat addiction and retake your life. Whether you decide to attend a residential inpatient treatment or an outpatient treatment program, detox is a crucial step in making recovery possible.

So, these are the benefits of medical alcohol detox. Enrolling in an alcohol detox program can be overwhelming at first. During treatment, withdrawal symptoms range from uncomfortable to painful.

Once the detox phase of treatment ends, however, you can take comfort in knowing that the worst is over. The withdrawals of the detox period are replaced with post-acute withdrawals or PAWS which are in most cases more manageable.

You can also read about: How Can a Healthy Diet Help Addiction Recovery?

 

Best Detox Center in Los Angeles: Here’s What To Expect

detox center in Los Angeles- What to expect

Getting rid of drug and alcohol dependence is a herculean task. Experts advise against cold turkey detox as it can be dangerous. Detox centers are the safest places to detox. Here’s what you can expect in the best detox center in Los Angeles:

Detox:

Detoxification is the first step towards recovery. Detoxing aims to thoroughly cleanse all the unwanted toxins from the body. After this process, the detox center undertakes holistic counseling sessions, therapies, relapse-prevention courses, continued education, and after-care.

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Best Detox Center in Los Angeles: Here’s What to Expect

Counseling: The detox process is accompanied by withdrawal symptoms which are painful. Counseling sessions are helpful to fight the pain and maintain sobriety. Drug addiction detox centers have expert counselors who meet you regularly to enhance your mental strength, tackle the physical pain and listen to your dilemma. There are individualized as well as group counseling sessions to help you recover from addiction.

Relapse Prevention Course: Detoxification alone does not ensure sobriety. In some cases, individuals have resorted to drinking or drugs even after a successful detox. These relapses often occur due to a familiar environment, painful triggers, peer pressure, and the like. Best detox centers understand these weaknesses and offer relapse prevention courses.  These courses are a significant part of the aftercare program. They ensure long-term sobriety after recovery.

Family Counseling: The problems associated with drug and alcohol addiction are not restricted only to the addict. It extends to the kith and kin. Detox and treatment should be a collective process. Good detox centers will include family counseling alongside individual counseling sessions. These sessions will help the family to support and respond to their loved ones through their journey in healing from addiction.

Other Therapies: The best detox centers provide holistic treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. The holistic treatment includes a wide variety of therapies. These therapies include yoga, pilates, music and dance therapy, art therapy, meditation, mindfulness, gardening, fitness activities, swimming, and other cognitive-behavioral-dialectical therapy. The drug detox center molds you into a healthy way of living that you can follow even after the treatment program.

Aftercare: Treatment for addiction is a gradual step-down process. The addicts take a long time to heal. Detox and Treatment is never a guarantee for sobriety. In fact, the real challenge begins when the individual revisits the familiar environment and encounters the past triggers. The best detox centers are aware of these issues. These detox centers not only hand-hold you through the process of detoxification and recovery, but they also walk with you through Aftercare. These centers organize regular follow-up sessions, through telephone, video calls, or offline meetings.  They also encourage the patients to meet them intermittently. They provide a minimum of 6 months of follow-up sessions, care, and assistance.

Best Detox Center in Los Angeles Here’s What To Expect

Choose to Detox at a Best Detox Center

All American Detox Center is one of the best holistic drug detox centers in Los Angeles. We provide 24/7 assistance to help you detox in a safe environment. We follow the gradual step-down method to ensure your safety and stability. Contact All American Detox on the helpline number- (844) 570-1301.

What are the Side Effects of Heroin Use?

What are the Side Effects of Heroin Use?

Heroin is a highly addictive substance. It is synthesized from morphine which comes from the seeds of the opium plant. Opioids are commonly used as medical painkillers. But Heroin as an illicit street drug is often combined with other substances and sold at varying concentrations, making it impossible to determine a safe dosage.

People who use heroin become fixated on the dopamine rush that it provides, but as use continues, and addiction develops, the brain becomes unable to produce dopamine without the aid of the substance, forcing them to use it continuously in order to feel pleasure.

Like other commonly abused substances, heroin impairs the brain’s center for decision making which results in a compulsive urge to use or an addiction. As use continues, tolerance also builds up. In order to maintain the same high, heroin users must increase their dosage, putting them at greater risk of overdose.

If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin use, you may begin to experience several side effects. In this article, we will discuss what these are as well as the treatment options available for heroin addiction.

 

Physical Addiction Symptoms

The physical symptoms associated with heroin use and withdrawal are numerous. Symptoms of a heroin high can impair an individual’s ability to focus on daily tasks and live life comfortably. While some of these symptoms are experienced by the individual, others are noticeable to others. These include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Heart palpitations
  • Irregular appetite
  • Flushed skin
  • Headaches
  • Breathing irregularities
  • Tremors
  • Lethargy
  • Feelings of itchiness
  • Runny nose
  • Slurred speech
  • Constipation
  • Chest pain
  • Poor hygiene
  • Lacking coordination
  • Bluing of the extremities (due to lack of oxygen in the body)
  • Finding drug paraphernalia like needles, syringes, pipes, and charred spoons in their personal spaces

Changes to the Mind and Behavior

  • Feelings of euphoria and intense pleasure while using, followed anxiousness and fatigue when the drug wears off
  • Brain fog: Inability to focus, problem-solve or follow basic instructions
  • Reclusive and/or secretive behavior
  • Money and expensive items go missing
  • The person acts hostile towards others
  • Impulsive spending
  • Making dangerous choices that endanger self and others
  • Problems at work, school, and other social engagements arise
  • Makes frequent requests to borrow money

What is Heroin Withdrawal Like?

With Heroin, minor withdrawal symptoms generally occur 6 hours after last taking the drug and major withdrawal systems occur after 2 days. Symptoms attributed to withdrawal are restlessness, insomnia, vomiting, bone aches, and diarrhea.

Heroin and Prescription Drug Misuse

Opiate-derived prescription painkillers, while effective at treating chronic pain, have highly addictive potential. Like other illicit drugs, tolerance forms and use steadily increases. When the person can no longer refill their prescription, they may turn to heroin as a cheaper more potent alternative.3

This is believed to play a large role in the rise of heroin use in the United States. According to an article from the National Institute on drug abuse, from 2002 to 2016 the number of people who could be classified by the DSM-V as being heroin-dependent had increased by 412,000, and today, heroin and opioid addiction continue to be a national health crisis.

Spotting and Preventing Potential Overdose from Heroin and Other Opiates.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, close to 50,000 people died as a result of opioid overdoses.1The opioid crisis has been fueled by the improper use and prescribing of opium-based painkillers. Because tolerance builds quickly, it is common for those who abuse pharmaceuticals to move up to harder drugs like heroin or fentanyl.

By learning to recognize the signs of overdose, it may be possible to save a life. Here are some things to look out for:

Pre-Overdose State
  • Pupils appear to shrink to a pin-like state
  • The person moves slow and appears droopy
  • The person may be “nodding out” or slipping in and out of consciousness
  • Speech is slurred or incomprehensible
  • The person still responds to loud noises or being shook
Overdose State
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Doesn’t respond to stimuli or answer to their name
  • Can’t speak even though they are awake
  • Heartbeat is abnormal (slowed, erratic, or not beating)
  • The skin is pale and clammy
  • Vomiting
  • Obstructed breathing (choking or gurgling)3

What to do if You witness an Opioid Overdose

If you believe that you or someone else is experiencing a drug overdose, don’t hesitate; call (844) 570-1301 right away.

Finding Help for a Heroin Addiction

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment rehabilitation programs are available for people seeking help for drug detox treatment.

Inpatient programs
  • Intensive treatment lasting 1-6 months
  • The patient lives in the facility while receiving treatment
  • Provide access to 24/7 medical care
  • Offers medically assisted detox
  • Less affordable than outpatient treatment
Outpatient Programs
  • More flexible scheduling but less intensive than inpatient care
  • The person stays at home and goes to treatment a few hours a week
  • More affordable than inpatient treatment
  • Treatment has no set length and is based on the patient’s needs
  • Has some detox services such as medication distribution services

As we mentioned earlier, the effects of heroin withdrawal can be formidable

While both treatment options have their strengths and weaknesses, it is highly advised that those suffering from heroin addiction detox in a medical environment. That way they have access to 24/7 medical support staff as well as medication that can ease the detox process.

With help from a recovery center and a fair amount of determination, a person can successfully recover from heroin addiction and go on to lead a happier life.

All American Detox Center is a recovery program based in Woodland Hills, California that specializes in addiction treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders.

If you or a loved one is suffering from dependency on heroin or another substance, contact us now at (844) 570-1301 to discover a range of recovery resources available to you

 

5 Ways to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Your Teen

5 Ways to Prevent Drug and Alcohol from your teens

Peer influence, irrational thinking, and a need for adventure are the features of teenagers. Often, these reasons also lead to alcohol and drug abuse in teens. It can become a grave concern for the parent and loved ones. You can prevent your teen from underage drinking and alcohol addiction. Read more on  5 Ways to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Your Teen:

Help Your Teen to Fight Alcohol or Drug Abuse:

Teenage alcohol or substance abuse has harmful consequences. Uncontrollable dependence at an early age demands immediate treatment. Call All American Detox and seek help for addiction treatment for your teen or family member or dear one.

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Factsheet on Teen Drug Abuse:

A 2018 study of teens between the age group of 14 to 18 shows that:

  • 30 % of teens use illicit drugs
  • About 12% abuse alcohol

Reasons for Alcohol and Drug Abuse:

Several factors instigate underage drinking and drug abuse. A few of them are listed below:

  • Desire to experiment with new things
  • Family history of alcohol or drug abuse
  • Peer pressure
  • Broken family (parental divorce)
  • Broken relationships (with friends or family or romantic partners)
  • Anxiety (due to issues concerning school, career,  money, parental death, making friend

5 ways to prevent alcohol and drug abuse in teens - All American

5 Ways to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Your Teens

1. Develop a Family bond:
Most teens crave attention and love. Studies show that teens with bad family relationships or broken families are highly likely to binge on alcohol or drugs. Give them the attention and love they deserve! Be available for them, have open talks, and device-free family time. Listen to them and understand their point of view. This rapport can allow scope for healthy conversations such as the perils of substance use disorder.

2. Monitor the Intake of prescription drugs and Alcohol
Opiates (such as Heroin, Methadone) and Benzos (such as Xanax) are the most abused prescription drugs among teens. Secondly, teens develop underage drinking due to its easy availability. Keep a close tab of the doctor’s prescriptions in your house. Keeping a check on their intake of pain killers and alcohol can prevent the teen from developing drug/alcohol abuse. Active parental involvement in their activities also helps. For alcohol and drug dependence issues, it is advisable to contact a reliable drug rehab center near you.

3. Teach coping mechanisms for stress
Teenagers are on a growth spurt due to puberty. This induces emotional and physical stress. Also, parents, school teachers, peers, romantic partners, and other loved ones can induce more emotional stress. Sometimes, these sudden changes can make them impulsive. Drugs or alcohol abuse most often begins as an impulsive trial. In these times, an understanding and friendly parent can make a whole lot of difference to help the teen tackle their stress or anxiety. Enroll your teen in a drug rehab center and benefit from individual and family therapy.

4. Practice what you preach
In most cases, a case history of teenage drug or alcohol abuse reveals a family history of alcohol or drug abuse. Lead your teen by example. Be their role model in the true sense. Be open to honest communication! Be ready to discuss your habits and behaviors. Enrolling in a residential inpatient program will also help!

5. Check on peer activities
Teenagers face huge peer pressure. Studies show that peer pressure is one of the major reasons for alcohol or drug abuse by teens. Develop a friendly rapport with your teen and educate them on ways to resist peer pressure. Know your teen’s friend circle and keep a tab on their activities. Set certain rules and reward your teen regularly for their good behavior! Opt for drug and alcohol addiction treatment that will counsel you to help your teen overcome alcohol abuse.

Addiction Treatment For Teens Struggling With Substance Abuse

If you feel your teen is experimenting with drugs or alcohol, or if their drug use is becoming more serious, it is time to get treatment. Speak with a counselor at your child’s school or one of our drug abuse counselors. Check out our other blogs to learn more about how to keep your teen from misusing drugs or alcohol. You can reach out to us by calling us on +1-844-570-1301.

Top 10 Reasons to Get Clean and Sober

Top 10 Reasons to Get Clean and Sober - All American

If you are interested in getting treatment for drug or alcohol addiction but are still questioning whether the tradeoff is worth it– you have come to the right place. If you have tried to get clean and sober alone with no success, this may have convinced you that sobriety is just too difficult to achieve. This, however, is not the case. Addiction is a disease. With treatment and enrollment into a sober living program, people vastly improve their prospects for lifelong recovery.  Additionally, everyone that chooses to commit to recovery does so because they see how it improves their quality of life. Here are many reasons to stay sober and clean and get your life back to normal.

Nobody should have to go through addiction alone. If you or a loved one is dealing with a drug-related disorder, contact us now at (844)-570-1301 to learn about a variety of recovery resources available to you in residential inpatient treatment California at All American Detox Center.

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Here are the top 10 reasons to get clean and sober that will change your life and make you a better person.

Top 10 Good Reasons to Get Clean and Sober:

  1. Regain Control

Control in the midst of an addiction is an illusion. That is why the“12 Step” program, requires individuals to admit that they are powerless over their use before they can heal.

Healing addiction requires the development of new skills. In drug rehab center, individuals learn how to gain the upper hand by identifying triggers, spotting patterns of use, and setting healthy boundaries.

Once the person has cleaned out their system and learned to manage their sobriety, they are finally able to get their lives under control.

  1. Sharpen Up

Extended periods of substance abuse can wreak havoc on a healthy brain. As one study outlines, one year of recovery drastically improves an individual’s short and long-term memory, attentiveness, and ability to focus.

  1. Get Motivated

It’s not just the newfound energy or the improved mood, people who get clean attest that colors appear more vibrant, smells are stronger, and flavors more intense. When you aren’t hung up on using, the world becomes a more inspiring place.

  1. Be More Productive

Addiction is both distracting and time-consuming. Getting sober enables you to break the endless cycle of chemical dependency that robs you of your focus and the most productive hours of the day. It also revitalizes your mental and physical health making it easier to tackle challenges and get more done.

  1. Build Better Relationships

Better relationships are one of the good reasons to get clean and sober. Everybody has at some time been in a bad relationship. It probably felt like such a relief to move on. But with addiction, there is a tendency to hold on to relationships that are permissive of drug use at the expense of harming healthy ones.

In recovery, individuals learn how to build healthy social support networks. When they finally transition back into their daily lives, they find that they are better able to maintain old relationships and build positive new ones.

For this reason, sober relationships:

  • Feature Safety and Security
  • Are Emotionally Supportive
  • Are Honest and Dependable
  • Increase Feelings of Meaning and Purpose
  • Are Supportive of Recovery
  • Foster the Desire to Self-Improve
  1. Heal Relationships with Family

Addiction rarely plays out in isolation. Being the parent, spouse, or child of somebody with a drug addiction can be very emotionally difficult. The person doesn’t want to hurt friends or family but will continue to do so until they get help. This can be lamentably true for dependents like children or older parents.

In the fog of drug use, you may have done things to break trust and damage your relationship with your family. While not all injuries mend with time, many do. What most families want above all else is for their loved ones to get well.

  1. Financial Security

Another reason to stay sober and clean is, Having a drug problem can be detrimental to your finances in many ways. When addiction directs your life, you come to work late and miss deadlines. If your employer isn’t happy with your performance, you could be passed over for raises and promotions.

Fueling an addiction is also extremely expensive. This can mean missing payments and racking up debts or even skipping meals to pay for your next fix.

  1. You Will Be Happier

Most people abuse drugs as a way of coping with mental health issues. By going to rehab they learn how to confront the root causes of addiction in treatment. This can be anything from depression or anxiety to trauma and PTSD.

Leaving addiction in the dust is extremely empowering. Having the self-control to determine your course in life is fundamental to the human experience. This is why people who maintain their sobriety report higher levels of personal satisfaction.

  1. Get More Out of Life

Living with addiction is stifling. So much time is wasted being hungover, obsessing over the next fix, or dealing with the endless cycle of drama that is created from it. Getting clean allows you to spend your free time actually having fun. You can go for a bike ride, spend time out with friends or family, or travel and see the world.

  1. You Will Live longer

The last reason to stay sober is, Just because a few rock stars are living to a ripe old age despite their pasts of excessive drug use doesn’t mean most other people will. In fact, long-living individuals who continue to use abuse drugs and alcohol are an exception to the rule.

10 reaaons to get clean and sober - All American Detox

According to research funded by the American Addiction Centers, people who use hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine even once a day could shave ten years off their lives. This dramatically increases based on usage. For instance, individuals who take these substances five times a day could reduce 30-50 years from their lives.

Abusing alcohol is similarly risky. A Nordic study found that those that heavily drank reduced their life expectancy by 24-28 years.

Rolling Back the Clock

Even if you have used drugs extensively in the past, getting and staying sober now can prolong your life. In addition to reducing the risk for diseases, people who stay sober: engage in less risky behaviors, are more financially secure and successful, and have better mental health outcomes. All of these things can help you live a happier and longer life.

Get help now so you may live a life free of drugs and alcohol tomorrow. Call to talk privately with All American Detox‘s team, if you or someone you know needs to get sober and clean.

Read: 5 Ways to Stay Sober During the Covid-19 Pandemic

 

5 Ways to Stay Sober During the Covid-19 Pandemic

5 Ways to Stay Sober During the Covid-19 Pandemic

For many, Covid-19 conjures up images of sleepless nights of Netflix binging, baren shelves of toilet paper, and routine headaches with the unemployment office––the quintessential lockdown experience. For those struggling with addiction and other mental health issues, sheltering in place has been especially hard.

As the world shut down, those who relied on their work and daily routines were suddenly unemployed and forced to shelter in place. To make matters worse, social distancing restrictions forced counseling programs online leaving thousands struggling to maintain their support systems at a time when feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression were at an all-time high. You can take quick guidance by calling on our addiction recovery hotline number.

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So, what does the new normal look like for somebody in recovery?

Last year the conditions of quarantine had caused the rates of relapse to sharply rise. For those that relapsed during Covid-19, it is important not to lose heart. According to AddictionCenter.com “40% to 60% of people in recovery have at least one relapse before reaching sobriety” (Hudson 2020).

Fortunately, with vaccines widely available– the worst of the pandemic is behind us. According to the CDC, those that are vaccinated and have passed the two-week period can resume pre-pandemic activities without having to wear a mask or observe social distancing guidelines (2021). Mass vaccination will no doubt improve the quality of inpatient treatment and outpatient care programs and allow for the return of in-person counseling.

If you feel like Covid-19 is affecting your road to recovery here is what you can do about it:

5 Ways to Stay Sober During the Covid-19 Pandemic

1. Spend more time talking to friends. Even if it isn’t in person, supportive friendships are good for your mental health. A recent study published in Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies found that those who used mediated communication: such as phones, video calling, and texting to regularly keep in touch with friends reported a greater frequency of emotions associated with “satisfaction with life” and “wellness” (Brown &Greenfield, 2021)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hbe2.246

2. Utilize online recovery resources. Even though Covid-19 has limited the availability of in-person resources, there are plenty of organizations offering assistance on the web.

  • 12 Step.org(informational and social resources including Online, face-to-face, and phone meetings) 12step.org/social
  • The Addiction Recovery Guide(Wealth of information about addiction and recovery) addictionrecoveryguide.org/resources/recovery
  • In the Rooms Global Recovery Community (Online and face to face meetings as well as blogs and articles) https://www.intherooms.com/home/category/community-and-meetings/
  • Narcotics Anonymous World Services. Video chat meetings, local meeting finder news and bulletins na.org
  • Never Alone Club (NA Chatroom Meetings and other recovery resources) neveraloneclub.org
  • Online Token Shop AA Meetings (hosts free online AA Meetings and seminars) (thetokenshop.com/Online_AA_Meetings)

3. Spend More Time Outdoors. Getting in touch with nature can be a great excuse to get out of the house as well as a great way to be around others while reducing exposure. According to an article by the American Psychological Association, a few hours of strolling through the park, or a modest hike can reduce anxiety, improve mood and lower the risk of mental disorders(2020). The article also mentions two studies: One which found that connectedness to nature led to feelings of an overall connectedness(Zelenski & Nisbet 2012) and another which suggests that “nature might help to buffer the effects of loneliness or social isolation(Cartwright et al., 2018)

4. Stay Occupied. Staying idle for long periods of time can be about addictive thoughts and urges. Activities such as reading, writing, working out, or engaging in a hobby can help puta troubled mind at ease. Planning daily activities that promote a healthy and sober lifestyle can make up for holes in your routine.

5. Know What Your Treatment Options Are. If you find yourself on a treatment plan, knowing what options are available to you can help you maintain your sobriety.

5 ways to stay sober during covid-19

Addiction Treatment Centers

An addiction treatment center or a rehabilitation facility is the first step on the road to recovery. As part of inpatient care, specialized medical staff administers a detox to cleanse the body of harmful substances. In the interest of preventing relapse, the patient is given around-the-clock medical care. Once the detox phase has been completed, clinical specialists design a treatment plan tailored to the needs of the individual. During their stay inpatients also benefit from daily on-site individual and group therapy.

Sober Living Programs.

For those that have found themselves in need of rehabilitation during the pandemic and are questioning what to do next, a sober living program can help ease the transition back into independent living.

There are Options for All Levels of Outpatient Care

A Sober Living Program takes place in a sober living facility. This is usually a Halfway House or a Sober Living House (SLH).

A Halfway Home benefits those who have completed a drug detox program, inpatient, or other kinds of outpatient rehabilitation but still need tools and guidance on their journey towards recovery. This option is a good choice for those who need treatment but are of moderate-income as it prices similarly to the monthly rent of a basic apartment.

Unlike Halfway Homes which limit residency to around 3-12 months, Sober Living Homes generally do not restrict the length of stay. It however is required that the resident stay sober and keep monthly payments on time

Detoxification: The Benefits And Why It’s So Important

What is Detoxification and it's importance - All American

You must know this, if you aim for recovery and sobriety from any form of addiction, the first step is detoxification. It involves the flushing out of drugs or alcohol from the physical body before moving towards counseling sessions, relapse prevention courses, continued education, and other social activities. Detoxification is a hard nut to crack! During detox, the individual is invariably trying to survive without drugs/alcohol. Also, this process demands physical and psychological pain endurance caused due to withdrawal. Let’s understand the importance of drug detoxification.

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Did you know about detoxification?

Who needs detox? What are the drug detox process and its side effects? Detox is most effective for individuals with addictions to heroin, alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

The withdrawal symptoms for detox include:

  • crippling anxiety

  • cold sweats

  • intense drug cravings

  • crawling skin

  • nausea

  • muscle spasms

  • goosebumps

  • vomiting

  • irrational thoughts

Planning on Detox in California? Can we look into the types of detox you could choose from?

You have three options for drug or alcohol detox:

  • Cold-turkey detox

  • Medically-supervised inpatient detox

  • Medically-supervised outpatient detox

Wanna know more about these detoxes? Here you go…

In a cold-turkey detox, the addicts typically attempt to detox at home independently without either proper medication or supervision from skilled medical professionals at the Alcohol detox center.

In a medically supervised inpatient detox, the addicts undergo detoxification by living in a staffed residential facility. Also known as residential treatment, in this medical intervention, you sleep, eat, and live on the residential campus even as you undergo detoxification and other interventions such as counseling sessions, and relapse prevention courses. Some good drug detox centers/alcohol detox centers offer highly customized, comprehensive, and holistic medical interventions for detoxification which include vitamin and supplement intake, drug therapy, and 24/7 supervision.

In a medically supervised outpatient detox, the addicts undergo detoxification and other medical interventions through customized and timely medical supervision of the skilled personnel at the drug detox center California. However, you don’t live on the campus. Instead, you are free to return to work or home upon completion of the treatment session.

Detoxification from drugs or alcohol comes with mild to acute mental and physical stressors. Hence, chances of quitting or relapse are higher with cold-turkey detox. We strongly advise you to undertake the detox under skilled medical assistance to ensure higher success rates. Especially for benzos detox prescription-pill detox or benzodiazepines detox, the chances of grand-mal seizure along with other fatal symptoms are higher when conducted without medical supervision. So pick up your phone and search for an Alcohol detox center near me and you will find plenty of options to choose from.

Detoxification - benefits and why its so important

Importance of Drug Detoxification:

Detox and Live Sober

You will agree that detox is not a cakewalk! Of course, detoxing puts you at the end of your comfort zone. You will crave more alcohol/drugs. You may want to give up. You may have muscle spasms and much more! But when you detox under medical supervision (inpatient/outpatient), even in your weakest moment, you have support from the medical staff that will boost your morale to recovery. Imagine living a life of long-term sobriety. Sober living is a happier living because you are no more craving for drugs/alcohol- you need not be stressed about an anxiety attack or muscle spasm! Detox is the first step to sobriety

Detox and Gain a Healthy Body

Trying to detox? The withdrawal symptoms and the desire to quit are given! But, hey, it is temporary! Detoxing will flush out all dangerous substances from your body. What you will be left with is a healthy body. Who better than a detox center to guide you in this process of transforming your body?

Detox and Boost Your Energy

Being under the influence of a drug/alcohol will surely give you an instant spike in energy and a pleasurable kick. This is so true about stimulants such as cocaine, crack, or amphetamines. But this energy is temporary and extremely dependent. The inability to get these drugs can make you go crazy, anxious, depressed, and whatnot! Instead, a medically supervised successful detox can help you stay energetic, independent, active, and cheerful through each day without depending on drugs or alcohol.

Detox and Boost Your Immune System

Being under the influence of drugs/alcohol can make you weak emotionally as well as physically. Detoxing via medical supervision is the first step to recovery from addiction. When the body has successfully cleansed the toxic addictive substances from the system, the immune system starts getting stronger by the day. Control over impulses and emotions also leads to better health of the immune system.

Detox and Have Healthy Relationships

Addiction can hamper you not just emotionally and physically, it can take a toll on your social life too. A known fact, addicts generally have strained relationships with their family, friends, and co-workers too. But, detoxing and sober living ensures a healthy social life. Sober living gradually prepares you for independent living, healthy relationships with family and friends, better work-life, and larger accountability for your own actions. Just imagine, detoxing can help you start afresh with your everyday activities such as participating in household chores, housekeeping, and socializing with friends and family!

Sign up for an alcohol/drug addiction detox program:

Detox is not a cakewalk! Detox is not impossible! Choose the right companion to help you detox. Choose All American Detox. You can reach out to us by clicking on this number +1-844-570-1301.

For Dual Diagnosis substance abuse and mental health see the Dual diagnosis treatment program: What you need to know. 

What is Addiction?

What is drug addiction?

Addiction is a complex condition. In the most basic terms, it is an overwhelming drive to use repeatedly use something in order to experience the desired result despite adverse consequences.

Symptoms of Addiction

Addiction leads to a physical, mental, and emotional reliance on that thing whether it be drugs, sex, gambling, food, porn, or any number of activities or substances.

It occurs at these three levels of mental, physical, and emotional because of the prolonged use or exposure which creates repeated results and a resulting dependence.

It begins with a pleasant effect when one engages in the behavior:

  • The mind goes calm
  • The body relaxes
  • Positive emotions are felt.

There is a release of dopamine and serotonin creating a euphoric effect. As a result of this pleasing experience, the user will repeat the behavior over and over to the point where the body and mind become accustomed to it.

Then, when not receiving this stimulation, the body and mind will struggle to perform even at a basic level. The same goes for emotions. A person will get used to having their emotions managed by using their addiction to the point where, when they don’t engage in the addictive behavior, their emotions feel overwhelming because they’ve gotten used to them being managed synthetically.

The distinction between an Addiction and a Dependency

Addiction implies that there are significant ramifications involved as it is a step above abuse or problematic behavior.

Although dependency does become present once an addiction is developed, a dependency can exist alone without an addiction. When someone develops a dependency on something it is typically in one isolated area of their lives, usually on something related to a physical aspect.

For example, someone can develop a dependency on opioid medication if they suffer from chronic pain, free from any real obsession, fixation, or improper use with it.

This isn’t the case with addiction. Addiction becomes an extreme mental battle and the individual craves and thinks about their fix almost constantly. Addictions move from a desire to a need. No longer is this engagement a mere preference or enjoyment, it’s an insatiable craving that cannot be released. Addiction is when you’ve made the shift from using something to enjoy yourself to needing something to sustain yourself.

How do we know if someone is falling into addiction?

There are many indicators to look out for when asking this difficult question.

When someone is experiencing addiction,

  • They begin to neglect various areas of their life in order to support their habit.
  • They may begin to drop obligations and responsibilities and their relationships will begin to suffer.

This is because, as stated earlier, addiction leads to extreme mental preoccupation and physical dependence. Therefore, nothing is more important than obtaining the fix for their addiction.

Warning signs of addiction include:

  • Change in one’s moods or behavior.
  • The person can become very irritable or exhibit mood swings.

When coming off of their fix, they may find it harder to function, concentrate, and to be patient and amenable towards others. Once they’ve re-engaged in the addictive behavior, they could become much more relaxed and seemingly present and focused. This is a very dangerous and exhausting cycle.

Another key component of addiction is that someone continues engaging in a behavior despite experiencing severe adverse effects of the substance use yet continuing to engage in the behavior regardless. This is when we would diagnose an addiction. Family, friends, and partners will begin to express concern regarding the change in behavior and possibly physically including weight gain/loss, poor hygiene, dull skin tone, and many other undesirable symptoms. 

Get Your Life Back

If you or someone you care about is showing any of these signs, it may be time to consult a professional team for an drug rehab center like All American Detox and seek treatment. You can reach out to us by calling our addiction recovery helpline number.  Resources for addiction treatment can be found at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline.