Do you know there are ways to help individuals with their abuse of opioids? Have you ever heard of medication-assisted treatment (MAT)? MAT is provided for individuals who want help with their drug use. MAT comes in various forms. From oral tablets to injections. Let me say it does not matter how you get clean if it comes from MAT to using a 12-step program.

Several different forms of medication can be used to help individuals. The first that most are familiar with is methadone and suboxone. Several others can be used. You need to go with your doctor and see what will be best for you. Other options for MAT are buprenorphine, naltrexone, and zubsolv. 

Do not be afraid to open up to your doctor. I can tell you it is the best thing that I ever did. I decided I had had enough, went to my doctor, and got the medication I needed to beat my drug addiction. Medication is not the only thing I used; I also chose to do counseling and look for effective treatment support. I can tell you it was the best thing that I did. Remember this, just because you use a medication does not mean you are sober.

Also, remember that you might not need to take this medication for life. It depends on the work you put in for your recovery.  

You are worth your recovery, and someone is cheering you on. One day at a time. Let us take the first step!

References:

CDC. (2021). https://cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm 

Written By: Melissa Pena

For myself, I decided that I wanted to start detoxing at home, and the first few times, it was a failure. The withdrawal symptoms were terrible, and I felt like I was dying. I had become a 24-year habit of multiple types of drugs. The one drug that held on for a long time was methamphetamine. Finally, in October 2014, I decided this was the time and would fight for my life.

Coming down at home was the worse feeling. I can remember the pain I felt. I can remember yelling at my kids and treating them terribly. Some acute symptoms I experienced were fatigue, bad irritability, and lack of energy. I can remember just wanting to get up and feel normal. I now felt like death and wondered how long these effects would last. I went from an addict with no sleep to a hypersomnia person. I was oversleeping and lacking any hydration or food. Today, if I had to redo this walk, I would have checked myself into a facility to help with these acute symptoms.

I still have post-acute symptoms today, but I would not change my life for anything. Today, I struggle with depression, anxiety, and mood swings. I also look at myself and hate the weight I have gained, but on the other side of the weight gain, I am now a much healthier person. I am more beneficial for myself and my children.

Just know that if you are struggling, there is help, and you do not have to do detoxing as I did. Find you an inpatient facility and make the change. Recovery has a much more peaceful mindset.

If you or someone you know needs a drug detox facility or interested in detoxing, please visit www.Sober.com for all your addiction recovery resources.

Written by: Melissa Pena

Upon entering, I was assigned a room and given a schedule. I was also assigned a therapist that I was to meet with once a week and a psychiatrist that managed the psych medication I needed to detox. The addiction treatment facility had the capability to detox in house, which may not be found in other addiction programs. I also had mandatory groups to attend on a daily basis and it was the first time in my life I was introduced to having a daily regimen that was healthy.

In active addiction I would stay up for days at a time or sleep all day so I could stay up all night. If it were not for the strict guidelines created by this rehab facility, I would have the same schedule today. This addiction treatment center helped to assist in me living life on my own. There were many life skills that I learned without realizing it later on that they taught me such as making my bed, being on a set schedule, and learning how to interact with other humans, and so much more.

If you have never been to an addiction treatment facility, and need help staying sober, I would suggest giving yourself a break and getting admitted. You never know how much of an impact it could make within your life and it may be exactly what you need. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, please visit www.Sober.com to find facilities nationwide.

Let me say this if you are stuck in the depth of addiction; there is help for you. I can say that I first got sober and spent my first nine months of recovery stuck in my home. I was afraid to leave my house, worried I might run into an old buddy, and my daily anxiety was unbelievable. How would I ever bring in a New Year and enjoy what I once lost?

After struggling for nine months and being a dry drunk, I climbed out of my hole and went to Celebrate Recovery. Celebrate Recovery is where I found myself and realized I was not walking this walk alone. For the longest, I believed there was no help. Know there is help, and we want to walk this thing we call recovery with you.

At Celebrate Recovery, I found a place that I call home. I feel welcomed, I found my forever family, and I am loved and supported. I now realize that I am not tied down to a title as an addict. My title at Celebrate Recovery is “my name is Melissa, and I am in recovery for drug addiction and alcoholism, and I struggle with depression and codependency. Do you know how great it feels not to be tied down by a title or walk alone?

If you are still struggling with addiction of any form or any hurt, habit, or hang-up, I recommend you look up Celebrate Recovery; thousands are located all over the United States. Please do not sit another day tied down to the addiction that is taking you away from your family. Your family loves you too much to watch you suffer another day.

Written by: Melissa Pena

Is Drug or Alcohol Addiction a Problem?

Perhaps the easiest way to tell if a person needs detox is to determine whether they are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Individuals can be addicted to opioid prescription medications, heroin, cocaine, alcohol and countless other substances, but it is not always easy to tell from afar.

Addiction might be classified by an increased use of a particular substance, whether that is in frequency or in dosage. This happens because with addiction comes an increased tolerance. In order to feel the same buzz, euphoria or high, individuals will need to use addictive substances more often or in larger amounts.

Individuals may also be facing addiction if they continue use despite negative consequences. These consequences can be varied, but some of the most common include losing a job, breaking up a marriage, losing custody of children or facing bankruptcy. If substance abuse continues despite these consequences, then it is almost certainly a sign that a person requires intervention and detox in order to turn from the addiction.

Has Quitting Been a Problem in the Past?

Detox is the best solution for those who have tried quitting but have been unsuccessful in the past. This lack of success could be a result of inadequate accountability, proximity to temptations or uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

One of the most important aids in detoxing from drug or alcohol use is accountability. Detox takes an average of one week, and that week will typically be a serious challenge. In a detox facility, however, patients will be accountable and receive support throughout the process. This can often make them more likely to succeed with detox and keep moving on the path to lifelong recovery.

Those who try to quit drug or alcohol use at home cold turkey are often faced with tremendous challenges and temptations. To start, many people will be in an environment where their friends, partners or neighbors are still using substances. Having these temptations so close only makes it harder to detox, and in some cases it can be too much to handle.

It is also important to address the issue of withdrawal and how it can be an obstacle for those trying to detox. Without guidance and medical support, withdrawal can be dangerous as well as painful. In a medical detox, however, patients will get medications, resources, and support to ensure that the process is as comfortable as possible and sobriety is achieved.

Are Withdrawal Symptoms a Concern?

Unfortunately, some individuals who struggle with addiction don’t attempt sobriety because they are worried about unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If these side effects are a concern, then remember that detox can offer solutions.

One of the ways that a detox mitigates discomfort is by administering prescription medications. These can range from ordinary painkillers to more potent sedatives that enable sleep. Most importantly, medical professionals in a detox center will understand the potential risks of these medications, and they will know which prescriptions are contraindicated for specific addictions or medical conditions.

In addition, some medical detox facilities can use weaning techniques, which involves replacing one addictive substance with a synthetic version. This is a temporary technique, and patients are then weaned from the synthetic drug as well. This can greatly reduce withdrawal symptoms, particularly for those who are struggling with opioid addictions.

Is There a History of Trauma or Mental Health Disorders?

Statistically, there is a high correlation between those dealing with substance abuse disorders and those with either a history of trauma or a mental health disorder. In detox, patients can receive better care and diagnoses for these conditions, which can be critical when working toward recovery.

Although patients may not receive a significant amount of behavioral therapy during detox, they can receive a diagnosis regarding mental health or trauma. This is key, because it can help patients see some of the factors leading to the development of their addictions. Furthermore, it can ensure that patients continue on from detox and receive appropriate treatment and therapy. Detox is just the first step, and dual diagnosis treatment may be necessary for lasting recovery.

Are There Physical Health Complications?

Quitting an addictive substance is a stressful process, and not just psychologically. It can also be physically stressful. As a result, individuals with any health conditions should quit taking drugs or alcohol only in a medical detox setting.

While less common, it is possible for patients in withdrawal to experience symptoms such as seizures or even cardiac arrest. Those with pre-existing health conditions or weakness may be at increased risk. In a detox facility, these health conditions can be addressed and patients will be closely monitored for emergency situations.

Is Lasting Sobriety the Goal?

Individuals may need detox if the ultimate goal is lasting sobriety. Without detox, achieving sobriety even in the short term will be challenging. With detox, patients will receive medical attention, support, therapy and recommendations for ongoing recovery and treatment.

One of the key ways that detox can aid in lasting sobriety is by including educational elements. Patients in detox will learn that moderation isn’t an option after struggling with addiction, for instance. Patients will also understand that addiction is an illness, not a choice or a flaw.

Detox can also help give patients recommendations for ongoing treatment or therapy. Getting professional opinions can ensure that patients make the right choices for their health and sobriety moving forward.

By answering these important questions, you can determine whether you need detox. These questions can also be applied to a loved one, ensuring they receive the help they need to fight addiction.

Defining Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

A brief definition of holistic rehab might be a treatment program that seeks to treat patients in their entirety rather than trying to exclusively focus on the treatment of the disease. By widening the parameters of treatment, holistic drug rehabilitation offers a much larger number of therapy options, and it may also be more customized than traditional rehab programs.

It is important to note that holistic and traditional drug rehab programs still have a lot in common with one another. Both, for example, will typically offer individual behavioral therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy. This seeks to make positive changes to behavior that can reduce harm and avoid substance abuse. Group counseling is something that both traditional and holistic rehab programs also have in common.

What makes holistic rehab unique is that it utilizes many different approaches to achieve total wellness. At a holistic rehab facility, patients aren’t recovered just because they are sober. Instead, they are recovered once all their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs have been met, lingering issues resolved, and life skills education learned.

When it Comes to Drug Addiction, What is Successful Recovery?

When asking whether holistic drug rehabilitation is successful, it is important to define success in the context of addiction. Far too often, success is viewed as achieving sobriety. However, that is just the very tip of success, and true recovery is a much more complicated process.

Success in the treatment of drug addiction is having the tools to prevent a relapse. It means understanding the very nature of addiction and being prepared for cravings and temptations to appear for years to come. Success is accepting these eventualities and creating plans for overcoming them and coming out stronger as a result.

In this context, holistic drug rehabilitation can absolutely be successful. Not only will rehabilitation help patients achieve sobriety over those first 30 or 60 days, but it will help create overall wellness. In addition, it may spark a sense of purpose, belonging or fulfillment, all of which can make it easier to stay sober and achieve goals and objectives in the future.

Holistic Rehab Looks Forward as Well as Back

One of the problems with traditional drug rehab is that it focuses exclusively on the present. The goal of a traditional rehab might be to stop consuming drugs right now, and to learn how to avoid drugs tomorrow and in the days that follow. Holistic rehab, however, understands that addictions aren’t created in a vacuum, nor do they disappear overnight. For comprehensive recovery, it is important to look to both the past as well as the future.

Holistic drug rehabilitation takes a look at the underlying causes of addiction, and identifies whether trauma has played a role in its formation. For some patients, experiencing or witnessing a personal trauma could be what has sparked the desire to abuse drugs, and dealing with those emotions may be critical for recovery.

Holistic drug rehabilitation also focuses not just on the weeks ahead, but the decades ahead. Patients should leave rehab with a renewed sense of self and a list of goals they want to accomplish. Life skills, nutritional therapy and self confidence can make it easier to tackle these goals and succeed in the practical aspects of independent living.

Holistic drug rehabilitation also places a focus on learning how to find the right resources. In some situations, patients will need to think critically and identify support or help for their health, and learning where to look and how to ask may be key.

Exploring Common Therapies Used in Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

Holistic rehabilitation utilizes a number of different treatment methods and therapy types. It is important to note that these methods can vary from one rehabilitation facility to the next, and the therapies may be tailored to meet the specific needs of the patients.

To help patients feel centered, and to relieve stress and focus on goals, therapies like meditation or yoga may be utilized. These can be led by teachers who are experts in these fields, but they can also simply be encouraged in group settings. Fitness classes can also increase circulation and boost mood, which can ward of depression and increase the likelihood of avoiding relapse.

Some of the other types of holistic therapies that might be offered in rehabilitation program can include the following:

• Aromatherapy
• Acupuncture therapy
• Sauna therapy
• Massage therapy
• Nutritional therapy
• Tai chi
• Chiropractic therapy
• Light therapy
• Herbalism

Reasons Behind the Success of Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

When examining the reasons behind the success of holistic drug rehabilitation, one thing becomes abundantly clear: Holistic rehab offers more approaches to recovery than traditional rehab programs.

In many traditional, standard drug rehab programs, the only treatment methods used are evidence-based and highly scientific. While this is important, and should be the bedrock of any recovery program, it doesn’t take into account the varied and fluid nature of patients and their recovery.

For some patients, stress relief is the biggest obstacle to staying away from drugs. For these individuals, drugs are a way to reduce anxiety and eliminate worry. By developing a passion and routine for something like yoga or tai chi, stress can evaporate rather than build up over time.

Similarly, some patients crave direction and purpose. They may feel that even when sober, something is missing. Spiritual development or meditation might fill a void or help patients see clearly, eliminating the need for substance abuse.

Holistic drug rehabilitation can be an incredibly successful approach to recovery. By offering a range of treatment methods and looking to the past for underlying issues, holistic rehab can offer patients a comprehensive approach to lasting sobriety.