Showing posts with label drug rehabilitation pennsylvania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drug rehabilitation pennsylvania. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Clearbrook- Our Beginning

Thank you Clearbrook. Thank you for starting a new life for me and countless others. The dedication you have shown to your patients in unwavering. I never believed that I could have friends again. Everyone was sick of my "I'm sorrys", "I won't do that again", and "It's your fault".

That's why we talk about the fellowship of AA. The people that make up AA are a vital part of our sobriety. When we go to a drug and alcohol rehab like Clearbrook, the fellowship starts there. We now have finally found some people who know what our problems are. At first the problem is what we use for a solution. That solution is our alcohol and drugs. The real problem lies within us. The way we think and then act on those thoughts is the problem. Booze and drugs were our only answer to our problems. WE HAVE A NEW WAY OUT, THANK GOD.

How has the fellowship of AA/NA pulled you up and out to a productive life?

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for the pain that brought me to my knees. Today I will remember the pain brought on by alcohol and drugs. I pray that I treasure the result of my pain.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Drug Rehab Pennsylvania

Most individuals who suffer from the disease of addiction have made numerous attempts to stop the downward cycle that results from drug and alcohol abuse. For the vast majority that struggle with addiction, professional help through the means of therapist and certified addiction professionals is needed if there is going to be any chance of obtaining long-term, quality sobriety.

A life addicted to drugs or alcohol is often filled with chaos and drama. Inpatient drug rehab will provide its clients with the support and guidance that is pertinent during the very beginning stages of recovery from drugs and alcohol. During a client’s stay at an inpatient drug rehab, they will have the structure in their life that was missing during their active addiction. In order to overcome addiction it is essential to build a strong foundation. A quality inpatient rehab can make this happen. With the help of a professional staff, as well as his or her peers, an individual will learn the necessary actions needed in order to achieve long-term abstinence from drug and alcohol.

For those who have had failed attempts to stop their abuse of drugs and alcohol on their own or have had failed attempts at an outpatient rehab program, inpatient addiction treatment may be the ideal next step. Inpatient treatment will cater to the individual needs of each client as well as provide a safe environment that is isolated from the outside world.

Simply put, recovering from the disease of addiction is extremely difficult. Inpatient addiction treatment offers the round-the-clock support needed.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Drug and Alcohol Detox in Pennsylvania

Detox is an essential first step on the road to drug and alcohol recovery. Detox centers and their programs are both crucial components of the drug rehabilitation process, for the simple reason that addiction is at root a physical disease. Drug and alcohol detox helps recovering addicts get free of the physiological dependencies that underlie substance abuse, thus preparing them to face the emotional and psychological rigors of the drug treatment process. Detoxification that works, simply stated, is one that helps you achieve meaningful, lasting, and long-term sobriety. Detox matters because no addict can get better without it, and because detoxification from drug and alcohol addictions is crucial to your prospects for lasting health. At Clearbrook's exclusive detox center, we can make the detoxification process work for you. Our new building in the mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania provides you the ultimate in luxury in the most private and exclusive detox center in Pennsylvania. A full team of medical doctors and medical staff will make sure your stay with us is effective and comfortable.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Clearbrook Treatment Centers-Pennsylvania Drug Rehab

Addiction treatment changes everything. Whoever you are, however hopeless you believe yourself to be, a private addiction treatment program can help you rediscover life as you used to know it, before your disease turned you into the person you are today. The catch, of course, is that you have to be willing to seek help from the professional caregivers at a private addiction treatment facility. Under the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine that the right choice could ever be more obvious.

Addiction is a disease. Like any disease, it can only be overcome with medical help. Addiction treatment will give you the strength you need to get sober on your own terms, in a way that will help you remember why you ever believed tomorrow to be a thing worth waking up for. All that remains, now, is for you to take the first step, by trusting your health to an exclusive addiction treatment clinic. With so much to lose, and so much more to win, you can’t afford not to act.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Clearbrook- Pennsylvania's Rehab Choice

Substance Abuse is a growing problem worldwide. With unsecure borders and ever growing drug cartels, the availability of drugs is greater than ever. However, with the help of addiction treatment many former addicts are able to go back to leading happy, successful lives. Although, one can’t help but wonder what would happen if such treatment was no longer available? What kind of strain would it put on the economy and society as a whole?
One obvious consequence of a world without addiction treatment is that there would be more drug addicts. More addicts would mean more money going to drug dealers and cartels, as well as funding terrorism. That would also mean there would be less money going to help to legitimate business and our communities. There would be less money going to schools for extracurricular activities or to keeping national parks open or improving roads. Not to mention increased wealth, could also mean an increase in power and control for those selling the drugs.
On a societal level, we would see a dramatic increase in drug related crime; more fights and deaths over drugs, as well as accidents caused by addicts driving under the influence. There would also be an increase in drug related deaths and suicides as the drugs slowly take control over people’s brains . We would also see a dramatic rise in health care costs as liabilities and health care costs associated with drug use go up. More people would either on the street or in state or privately run facilities once their bodies, and more specifically their brains, could no longer take the consistent drug use.
Without addiction treatment our country, even our world, could not handle the health implications much less the financial burden that such a situation would create. Substance abuse treatment is an important part of our global society; to help keep our communities in check and give deserving people a second chance.

Pennsylvania Drug Rehab- Clearbrook Treatment Centers

A common mistake made by many individuals and families seeking drug and alcohol rehabs for themselves or a loved one is believing that “rehab is rehab” and that the main differences are only in the cost, location and setting.

However, those are actually only of secondary importance compared to what type of treatments are offered and what rehabilitation philosophies are followed by the facilities.

For example, one major difference is whether the drug rehab centers believe that addiction is an incurable brain disease or if they can demonstrate that people can actually become permanently cured with no further relapse or symptoms of the addiction.

Another difference is if they prescribe drugs to patients or if they use healthier alternatives to address the symptoms often associated with addiction. Many medications given in treatment centers today either have heavy side effects or potentially cause relapse because of their abuse potential themselves. After all, prescription drug addiction is one of the biggest problems in America today.

So, before you choose a drug rehab program based on cost or location alone, call us to speak with someone who can go over all of your options so that you can make an educated decision.

Prescription Drug Abuse Up 400% in Pennsylvania

While it’s not shocking news considering we have been tracking this for years, but a recent survey confirmed that the number of people in America abusing prescription drugs increased by more than 400% between 1998 and 2008. Although data isn’t available yet for last year, I am sure it will show yet another increase.

The report from the Treatment Episode Data Set also revealed that the number of opiate users admitted for addiction treatment centers who were on prescription painkillers had increased from 6.8% to 26.5% during that time. Many long-term drug treatment programs we work with echo these results.

There is no question that prescription drug addiction and abuse is a national epidemic – way more than any type of flu has been, yet swine and bird strands caused millions of people to get shots unnecessarily and drug companies raked hundreds of millions of dollars in sales from those “outbreaks”. Maybe that is the real connection – it’s not the number of lives lost that counts to them, but how much money winds up in their bank accounts each year. Both situations are directly related to drug companies and their bottom lines – though each has very different story lines.

Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin addiction treatment tends to be more effective when the subjects are diagnosed with the problem at an early stage. There are a variety of heroin addiction treatments available. Few of the options are quite effective. Depending on the patient and the sort of facility that they would like to enroll themselves in, an individual can choose the following therapies:

• Medicinal treatment
Detoxification• Behavioral therapy

Medicinal treatment: The most popular medicines available in the market are directed towards treatment of the abusers during the detoxification stage and also when they are out of the facility and trying to restrain themselves from the reuse of the drugs. Over and above a lot of individuals enroll to outpatient facilities for heroin addiction treatment. This provides them opportunity to remain under supervision of relatives or the member of their family.

Detoxification: Detoxification is one of the major steps of treatment in both outpatient as well as inpatient treatment facilities. Patients are required to follow a strict regimen, where they are put out of dependency from substance. The patients are also trained about steps to quit heroin for their entire life. Medicines are applied during the process to minimize the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. The subjects are also kept under the supervision of an able subject who would provide them with nutritional diet and proper food. Subjects are also required to intake a massive amount of fluids during this stage. Soup and other vegetable recipes are ideal at this stage as it is accurate for the patient. Detoxfication last for about 3 weeks or more. The subjects are then put under a program to learn about skills to quit heroin.

Behavioral therapies: Behavioral approaches are extremely useful with other treatment approaches. This therapy is effective against the heroin addiction. It is included for residential facilities as well as in various outpatient programs. The sole aim of the treatment during this stage is learning skills and approaches to quit addiction.

Moreover, several novel approaches in behavioral therapies, are put into the facilities which include cognitive-behavioral interventions and contingency management therapy. It increases the skill to cope with the stresses of life when they are out of facility. It also teaches them the strategies that can be applied when they are put into situations where they are being re-exposed to use of drugs. Pharmacological treatments to with behavioral therapies help to restore a degree of normalcy in the patients.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Making the most of a Pennsylvania Drug Rehab

Substance abuse issues can occur in someone’s life in many different ways. If you are looking for help with an issue in your life, then this article can help. Below will be given information on researching and finding an addiction treatment center that will work for you. Not all programs are the same and there are actually some major differences between centers that you should be aware of. If you are addicted to drugs and or alcohol, this will also make a difference in the type of program that you should attend. Making the decision to stop your substance abuse can be one of the most important decisions that you ever make. You want to make sure you do the right thing and attend the best addiction treatment center for your particular needs. You’ll need to research the options that are available for you. Sometimes, a person isn’t aware that programs offer different resources and this can influence their rehabilitation. The best things you can do is contact a program immediately. It will help to begin talking with counselors about the types of substances you are using and the type of care that they think will be best for you. By contacting a range of different addiction treatment center programs, you’ll be able to gain an understanding of how they will treat for your dependency. There will be some similarities, but also differences. You want to choose a program that will work for you and by being knowledgeable; you can ensure that this can occur. Many times, a center will be able to give you resources to utilize before you even begin getting help. This can be very beneficial. Also, make sure you talk to them about the drugs and or alcohol that you are using. The journey ahead can be very long and difficult. Luckily, you should be able to succeed if you put your mind to it. If you have a drug problem, then an addiction treatment center will have certain ways to help you. Different drugs need different methods of care. Being knowledgeable of how the different methods can help you can make a big difference in your recovery. There is also the consideration to make if you have an alcohol problem. Different addiction treatment center programs will offer different methods of healing for alcohol. You’ll want to be at a program that has the ability to help you through your dependency. Taking the time to research different programs can be very helpful for your journey into getting aid for your substance abuse issues.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What to Expect from Drug Rehabilitation

Drug Rehabilitation is actually a term used to describe a series of events and milestones in the recovery of alcohol and/or drug addiction. The very term can send shivers down the spines of drug addicts. They know that it is not just a matter of ridding the body of the effects of drugs, but learning to deal with life all over again. Although they may not understand every phase of rehabilitation, they realize it will be hard work.

Normally, some type of consultation is done before being admitted to rehabilitation. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule, but normally, the drug addict or a loved one has spoken to a counselor or drug addiction specialist. They should be highly congratulated and praised for their decision to become rehabilitated. It can be a very frightening concept to drug addicts. Even though their moods may darken during some of the phases of rehabilitation, support is always an added incentive for the addicts.

The first thing to expect from rehab is detoxification. It doesn’t matter if there is one addiction or perhaps a dual addiction, detoxification will be necessary. This is the process of ridding the body of the offending drug or drugs. This is done in a supportive and caring atmosphere where staff understands what the addict is going through. This process heals the physical side of drug addiction. However, since drug use affects people not only physically, but mentally and spiritually, these issues must be addressed as well.

After detoxification, rehabilitation takes the form of different types of therapy including individual and group therapy. This is important so the addicts can address their own issues, and yet see that there are others going through the same ordeal. It often helps to know you are not alone in these situations. The time length for this part of rehabilitation can vary, but it is not a slam dunk procedure. It takes time to work it all out. It can takes months of therapy just to begin to scratch the surface of the problem. The goal of rehabilitation is to help addicts to realize and accept their past behaviors and to learn how to form new behaviors.

There are some very frustrating times during rehabilitation but drug addicts must learn how to get through them without the use of drugs or alcohol. Drug Rehabilitation is the cornerstone to learning how to cope with stressful situations in the future. These frustrations are normal and expected by the rehabilitation staff. Addicts can and do make it successfully through rehab to go on to lead happy, healthy lives.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

There is Help for Drug Addiction

People who notice a loved one acting differently might want to take a closer look if there is knowledge that they dabble in drugs. The person might need drug treatment or alcohol rehabilitation so that they are on the road to drug addiction recovery.

Do not get disheartened; there is a way out. There are many avenues to drug treatment, but identifying the substance that is being abused is the first step. Hard and soft drugs are vastly different from each other because hard drugs such as heroin, Oxycontin and crystal meth have very severe withdrawal symptoms which make drug addiction recovery more difficult. Soft drugs such as marijuana, valium and other medical prescription drugs, although dangerous and addictive, are easier to treat.

As with any other addiction, the first step toward drug treatment and drug addiction recovery is for the individual to admit that they have a problem. Denial will curtail any efforts toward recovery. An intervention is necessary is when there is a drastic and dangerous drug problem in need of immediate drug treatment and the person does not realize or will not admit that their addiction and actions are ruining their lives. Secondly, it’s vital if a full drug addiction recovery is desired, to check yourself or your loved one into a drug treatment center. If the person is a teen or young adult, it’s best to locate a rehabilitation center that specializes in this age group for a greater chance at their recovering.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.



Tuesday, May 25, 2010

What has Clearbrook done for me??

When I needed help I was looking for a drug rehab in Pennsylvania. A drug rehab in New York or a drug rehab in New Jersey would have suited me fine too. Clearbrook has changed my life. The staff there helped me realize that I needed help with my alcohol and drug problem. Today and now three and a half years later my life does not compare to the way it used to be.

Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Drug Rehab Centers

You may be considering to enter a drug rehab in New Jersey to fight more seriously and effectively your addiction trouble with substance abuse. As such, you are making a good decision and you will also need determination firstly to find the appropriate drug rehab center New Jersey and also to spend months taking a professional medical assistance. Finding the drug rehab facility is a part of the game you may notbe comfortable in doing as it not an obvious task and could easily take you weeks while your pain with addiction is growing day after day.

Not all drug rehab programs New Jersey are for you as each addict has a different situation only a doctor who knows what he does could address for yourspecific need. So, to in your search you should look into treatments having a proven professional approach tailored to each patient.You will know this only by reaching the center or gather information from old patient and the results they got along the past years, their reputation and so on.

An important feature in a successful drug rehab New Jersey is about group and individual counseling sessions. This is a fact that these sessions increasethe rate of a successful rehab especially for teens who depends of peers much more than adults patients.

When looking for the drug rehab New Jerseyit is generally advised to figure out if the center has an affiliation with a major insurance companyto benefit from cost reduction as following a drug treatment could be very costly if you don't have a dedicated financial source. You should call the rehaband ask them about this key question and have clear answers to avoid later bankruptcy. To make things simpler you can also just look for a christian drug rehab center to get a free professional treatment.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Science of Addiction

The Science Behind the Brain and Addiction Relationship Pennsylvania

Scientifically-based research on the brain and addiction relationship has demonstrated to us that drugs, alcohol and specific behaviors have a significant impact on the reward center located in the brain. Levels relating to certain neurotransmitters, send messages to the brain. These neurotransmitters include serotonin and dopamine. Chronic use of drugs and alcohol tends to over-stimulate the brain until it must depend upon substances and behaviors to produce the needed chemicals. This chemical dependency is what leads to tolerance and addiction.

Most people believe that drug addiction Pennsylvania lies in the additional use of drugs or alcohol when it truly is related to chemical imbalances in the brain and the compulsion to use, regardless of the consequences. In light of all of this scientific research, we still find professionals who adopt the philosophy that addiction is due to a lack of willpower and/or moral imperfections.

Brain Chemistry and Addiction

Most individuals suffering from addiction use drugs or alcohol to feel "good" or to self-medicate physical or emotional pain. Substance use and addictive behaviors stimulate and increase the brain's production and use of REWARD chemicals such as dopamine. Depending on the dose of the drug, the brain accepts neurotransmitters that are significantly more intense than they would experience during the "natural" highs produced by the brain normally. In basic terms, this is why addiction takes place physically and emotionally.

Addiction Alters the Brain

Over time, the continued use of a drug alters the way the brain functions. A person's brain becomes dependent on receiving the substance. These changes in brain chemistry create the addiction and create the tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The only "good" part regarding drug addiction Pennsylvania is the disease is treatable and recovery is possible.


Monday, March 8, 2010

Cocaine Addiction

Using cocaine may be compared to a roller coaster. The person using this drug experiences a pleasurable "high," but that good feeling only lasts for a short time before the user starts to come down again. The cocaine addiction in Pennsylvania continues to use the drug to attempt to recreate the experience they enjoyed so much.

What is Cocaine Addiction in Pennsylvania?
Cocaine addictions can start off by the person being introduced to the drug at a party. They use the drug and enjoy the feeling of euphoria that it gives them. The individual may continue to use the drug as part of their social activities, and not realize they are falling into a cycle of cocaine abuse.

Signs of Cocaine Dependence
This is not a drug that causes a physical dependency; instead, it causes a psychological one. Other symptoms of cocaine use include:

Using the drug more often
Needing to use more coke to get a "high"
Neglecting paying bills so that you can buy cocaine
Selling or disposing of possessions to get more
Continuing to use the drug in the face of negative consequences, including not being able to sleep, poor work performance, or difficulty in personal relationships

Causes of Dependency
Cocaine addicts in Pennsylvania continue to use the drug because using it makes them feel good. The person using it feels energetic and has a tremendous sense of well-being. They keep using in an attempt to recreate the pleasurable sensations that cocaine gives them. Coming down from a cocaine "high" is not pleasant, since the user feels depressed. Cocaine abuse involves a vicious cycle of using the drug, coming down, feeling lousy, and then using again to feel better.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Asking for Help is not Shameful

When you admit to yourself that you have an alcohol and/or drug problem, that’s the first step. And it is a big one, make no mistake. But just telling yourself you know something isn’t going to remedy the problem. You need help to do that – and you won’t get it if you don’t seek it. Don’t think that asking for help with drug or alcohol addiction is shameful. It’s far from that. Here are some things to think about.

Asking For Help Shows Courage

It’s common for anyone with drug or alcohol dependency to think that asking for help shows weakness of character. Men have an even more difficult time asking for help with their addiction than women, remnants of the whole macho self-view that’s so yesterday. We are all human beings with complicated emotions and psychological makeup – and we all are deserving of assistance if we ask for it. When you reach out and request help to deal with your alcohol or drug problem, you’re actually demonstrating great courage. Acknowledge this fact and then go on to get the help you need.

Don’t Let Pride Stand In The Way

Naturally, you want to be proud of your accomplishments, of the way you live your life, of having strong relationships and being a loving partner, father, mother or sibling. When you’ve destroyed your life and your relationships due to your alcoholism or drug addiction, you know you’re not in a very good position as a role model. The tendency in these situations is to clam up and not ask for help out of a sense of pride. You may feel you should be able to handle this problem on your own. Trouble is, it won’t happen. You simply cannot undo all the harm that’s been done, or learn new and appropriate behavior, without the help and support of professionals trained in dealing with alcohol and substance abuse. Forget your pride. That’s a false roadblock, an excuse your subconscious tells you in order to keep on drinking and using. Instead, admit to yourself (you don’t have to say it out loud to anyone else) that you don’t feel very good about what’s happened. Then locate a support group or treatment facility and get started on the road to recovery.

Fear Of Being Dependent On Others

Along with being too proud to ask for help, you may also fear being dependent on others for your care as you try to kick alcohol or drugs. No one likes to think of themselves as dependent on others. You need to face the fact that there’s no way you can go through this alone. You absolutely need the support, counseling and guidance that you get with drug and alcohol treatment and rehab. During the course of your treatment, you will learn new coping skills and techniques so that you will be able to steer clear of the drugs and alcohol that has so compromised your life. You will get to the point where you have the confidence to live your life again, and will be bolstered by the support of allies and friends you meet in your recovery.

Emotions Are Important – But Don’t Let Them Get In The Way

Recognize that when you ask for help, you are at a vulnerable stage. While you are in treatment, you will at first feel a flood of emotions. These may peak and crash with varying intensity. You will rediscover emotions that you’ve long kept buried as a result of chronic drinking and/or drug use. You may feel like you don’t deserve to be loved or that you don’t even deserve to love another back. Feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, anxiety, depression, fear of rejection and abandonment – all are common during the first stage of treatment which is detoxification. Accept that these emotions will be part of the process, and you will get help to move past them. Yes, you will feel hurt at times. Part of the side effects of detoxing from alcohol or drugs is that emotions swing back and forth wildly as the chemical substances leave your body. But the fact that you are feeling the emotions is a very positive sign that you are on the road to recovery.

Embarrassed? Don’t Be

If you feel embarrassed about asking for help, afraid that you can’t tell your parents or husband or wife or significant other – don’t be. They certainly won’t be surprised, given the length of time you’ve probably been abusing alcohol or drugs. And if you’ve been successful at somehow keeping it from them, after initial surprise, they’ll more than likely want to help you overcome your addiction. Don’t forget that while you are the one who is addicted, they are also affected. Part of your recovery means that they will need help and support to learn how to deal with the situation in order to be of assistance to you as well as them.

Asking For Help Is Constructive

After months or years of dependence on alcohol and drugs, you need to do something constructive with your life. Asking for help to rid yourself of these substances that are, in essence, killing you, your relationships with friends and family, your social standing and your job, is the best action-oriented decision you can make.

Addiction Treatment Is Hard Work

There’s no denying that addiction treatment is the hardest personal work you’ll ever undergo. But the light on the other side is more than worth it. Know that asking for help and taking it means the difference between a life of pain and one of joy. Every day you will become stronger, have more self confidence and be able to live up to more of your responsibilities. Yes, there will be difficult days. That’s why you have your support group and friends who are in the same position as you – working on recovery, working for the goal of a new life that’s clean and sober. After treatment and rehab, groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous, among others, can help you with continuing support and friendship as you get even stronger in your newfound sobriety.

It’s Never Too Late To Ask For Help

Perhaps the most important thing about asking for help is that you can always do it. It is never too late to want to become clean and sober – no matter what’s happened in the past, how many times you may have relapsed, how awful of an existence you’ve had. Get up, go to treatment, and say you need help. That’s what treatment is all about: Helping you to recovery

Monday, February 15, 2010

Receiving Help for Addiction Advice


Here is some advice if you are seeking a way to recover from your addiction:

Be prepared to have to fight the addiction. At some point you will feel tempted to return to the addictive habits. A doctor or support service will be able to advise you on how to deal with withdrawal symptoms.

■ Have someone you trust that you can talk to at times of weakness or temptation. It also helps to write down the reasons you want to beat the addiction- remind yourself of these reasons when you are going through moments of doubt.

■ Plan ahead- if you know there are situations or times when cravings are likely then have a plan established that will keep you busy and distract you at such times.

Consider counselling. Talking to a trained counsellor may help you realise why you have an addiction and help you overcome any personal problems or worries.

■ Tell others that you have decided to beat your addiction. Ask close friends or family to stand by you and be there for you when you need to talk or if you need a distraction.

■ Friends should be supportive of your decision, if you think that the people around you are a bad influence then it's time to find a new group of friends.

■ Avoid situations and people that could tempt you to use the addictive substance. For example if you are addicted to alcohol, don't go to the pub or clubbing at the weekend. Instead, have friends round to watch a DVD or for dinner (reminding them not to bring alcohol). The same goes for drugs: avoid parties or places where people will be taking drugs.

■ Stay busy! Take up new sports or past-times to prevent you from getting bored or tempted to lapse.

■ Recovering from addiction is a slow process- it can help to join a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous.

Take your recovery one day at a time; don't think too much about the future, just concentrate on beating the addiction right now.

■ If you have a relapse and return to the addiction- recognising the problem as soon as possible is crucial. Ask for help straight away so that you can get back on the road to recovery. Never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help or support.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

AA and NA Sponsorships


Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is a potential sponsor of a new member and should clearly recognize the obligations and duties of such responsibility.

The acceptance of an opportunity to take the A.A. plan to a sufferer of alcoholism entails very real and critically important responsibilities. Each member, undertaking the sponsorship of a fellow alcoholic, must remember that he is offering what is frequently the last chance of rehabilitation, sanity or maybe life itself.

Happiness, Health, Security, Sanity and Life of human beings are the things we hold in balance when we sponsor an alcoholic.

No member among us is wise enough to develop a sponsorship program that can be successfully applied in every case. In the following pages, however, we have outlined a suggested procedure, which supplemented by the member's own experience, has proven successful.

No one reaps full benefit from any fellowship he is connected with unless he wholeheartedly engages in its important activities. The expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous to wider fields of greater benefit to more people results directly from the addition of new, worth-while members or associates.

Any A.A. who has not experienced the joys and satisfaction of helping another alcoholic regain his place in life has not yet fully realized the complete benefits of this fellowship. On the other hand, it must be clearly kept in mind that the only possible reason for bringing an alcoholic into A.A. is for that person's gain. Sponsorship should never be undertaken to -

1. Increase the size of the group.
2. For personal satisfaction and glory.
3. Because the sponsor feels it his duty to re-make the world.

Until an individual has assumed the responsibility of setting a shaking, helpless human being back on the path toward becoming a healthy useful, happy member of society, he has not enjoyed the complete thrill of being an A.A.


Tips for Successful Addiction Recovery

The following represent a series of tips and things to consider before, during after an individual has engaged in a potential drug rehab program.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Many times, individuals who are caught in the depths of drug addiction will not reach out to family and friends for help. Whether this is because of feelings of shame or the lack of an admission that they have a serious problem, many will not see the people who can help them the most are standing right in front of their eyes.

•Understand that detox is NOT recovery. Some detox programs will make big promises about the effectiveness of their detoxification programs. And while drug detox is a crucial element of addiction treatment, it only addresses the physical component of drug dependence. For most people drug addiction is a psychological condition that must be treated by the counseling that forms the core of a rehab program.

•Work with the program, not against it. Many recovering addicts going through drug rehab expend a tremendous amount of energy rebelling against the very program that is trying to help them. Individuals are encouraged to listen to the advice of their counselors and allow the program into their lives so that they may begin to heal.

•Open up to others in the program. Group therapy and community time during rehab is an outstanding way to remove the isolation caused by drug addiction and experience real breakthroughs. Listen to other recovering addicts tell their stories is an important way to come to the understanding that other people are going through like circumstances.

•Don't get discouraged. Relapse is a common occurrence among those attempting to overcome drug addiction. And while it can be discouraging, it is important to stay healthy and get back into a drug rehab program as soon as possible for another attempt.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Rules for Sober Living

1.Take Care of Yourself. This may sound pretty simple; however, for most drug addicts this was never high on the priority list. More than likely eating right and getting a good night’s sleep didn’t happen until you were in a drug rehab facility. Now that you are back in the real world, you must continue to eat healthy and sleep well. Adding exercise to your daily plan will also increase your chances of staying sober. Many doctors say that exercise produces a better effect on one’s mood than anti-depressants.

2.Stay Close to Your Family. This will look different for each of you as you define who your family is. If it’s your husband, your mother, your children, or your closest friends, keep them near. Those who helped you get to a drug rehab facility and succeed will be the ones who will want to see you stay clean. Foster those relationships. Remember those that love you and have helped you clean up are the best people to keep in your inner circle and your spending time with them and helping them will help undo any past harm and damage from drug use or alcoholism.

3.Pay Attention to the People You Hang Around. If you are hanging around with people who are using, even socially, you are setting yourself up for failure. You already know this. However, this rule extends outside of just your peer group. Remember the groups of people in the drug rehab facility. There were those who really wanted to be there and worked hard at the program, and then there were those who remained negative, who were only there because someone has forced them to attend, or because they were avoiding jail time but were not really ready to quit. Choose, even now, to befriend the positive people. Surrounding yourself with negative people can have destructive consequences, so make sure you pick your groups wisely at work, school and in your free time.

4.Realize that You Are Not Alone. You are part of the human race. Drug addiction does not differentiate between race, religion, or gender. As you may remember from the drug rehab facility that you attended, everyone who was there came from a different place, but you were united in the pain and destruction that drug addiction causes. Remember that even now you are connected, not just to other drug addicts, but to everyone. If you live as though you are connected to everyone, then you will find that you truly are not alone in this world, and your chances of staying sober will increase. Helping others is an incredible cure for boredom and restlessness, and will fill you with accomplishment and pride. Make sure that you spend time giving of yourself in some way to others