Articles Archives - Page 130 of 138

Aug132015Jan272016

Seven Ways Culture Contributes to Addiction

Seven-Ways-Culture-Contributes-to-Addiction If individual responsibility has any meaning, then a person suffering from addiction bears responsibility for his or her recovery, once the opportunity for recovery is presented. However, we are all products of our respective cultures, and there is a fair argument that culture can be a contributor to the dynamics of addiction.

To anyone who says, “Well, drug use is an individual problem; most people either choose not to start or find a way to moderate their use,” we could point out that there are cultures where addiction is unknown, and others where it is minimal. Similarly, there are cultures that have an extremely high incidence of alcoholism and addiction. A clear example would be Native Americans, who did not exhibit a particular tendency toward alcohol or substance abuse when their primary challenges were dealing with survival in nature and the occasional skirmish with rival tribes. Once European culture encroached on the land and relentlessly marginalized Native Americans, the stresses imposed on the culture expressed themselves in—among other things—a predisposition for alcohol and substance abuse. One Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article states that a “crucial individual motive is that drunkenness can provide short-cut gratification by providing fantasy solutions to culture-bound problems.”

There are a number of ways in which culture contributes to addiction. These include the following:

Peer pressure to conform among adolescents
Stressors in the social environment of adolescents
Popular culture and its promotion of alcohol as glamorous
Advertising and its promotion of alcohol use
Advertising by the pharmaceutical industry and its promotion of the idea that drugs are a cure-all for all manner of psychic symptoms, especially depression and anxiety
The criminalization of drug use, such that drug users, once involved with the criminal justice system, become labeled and marginalized, usually becoming exactly what the system ostensibly wants to prevent.
Treatment availability – A culture’s ongoing preference for treating addiction as a problem of criminal behavior rather than as a public health issue determines that individuals needing medical help are instead locked up. In terms of cost as well as effectiveness, treatment offers tremendous benefits over incarceration, which tends to reinforce, rather than reduce, tendencies toward further substance abuse and consequent criminal behavior.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Aug072015Jan272016

Need for Addiction Treatment Rising In Middle East

Articles, International, Understanding Addiction

Need-for-Addiction-Treatment-Rising-In-Middle-East Civil unrest and violence in Middle Eastern countries are having far-reaching effects in terms of rising incidences of drug and alcohol addiction and the need for effective treatment. Our internationally certified staff makes it a point to stay on top of current affairs worldwide. We are prepared to offer needed services to individuals in the Middle East who are suffering from addiction. Reports from Baghdad, Iraq, in particular have shown that the high rate of personal loss among families as the result of war and related violence has contributed to substance abuse. The emotional trauma of grief and loss has caused people to seek solace in drugs and alcohol. Dependence on chemicals to ease the pain has reached alarming rates. Of equal concern is the number of children who are using illegal drugs. When they experience the psychological stress of violence, they, too, are turning to drugs as a way to cope with the loss of family members. Officials have noticed the uprisings that have occurred since 2011 seems to have sparked drug-related problems, including incidences of smuggling and dealing.

DARA Prepared To Help In International Setting

As a highly reputable provider of addiction recovery treatment in the international community, DARA has set processes in motion to help alleviate the repercussions of increased substance abuse in the Middle East. We already are serving clients from these war-torn areas, and we are taking steps to increase our capabilities. We want these people who are traumatized by the violence and upheaval in their countries to understand that we have compassionate solutions to their substance abuse problems. Starting August 1, we will have an Arabic-speaking counselor on our team as part of our recognition of the needs of this growing segment of the population. We also offer Halal foods, in accordance with the spiritual beliefs of many clients from the Middle East.

Jul302015Jan272016

The United Kingdom’s Binge Drinking Problem

Articles

The-United-Kingdoms-Binge-Drinking-Problem Binge drinking is out of control in the Northern England city of Newcastle. Studies show that 36 percent of the population dangerously binge drinks and drinks more on a daily basis in comparison to the rest of the nation. Some officials state that the price of alcohol is too low and accessible, that a standard and higher unit price needs to be set, and that health information needs to be added to each individual unit of alcohol sold. Yet, there is another way.

Many would say that the best way to deal with the issue of binge drinking is not to raise the price on alcohol products, it is to educate and treat the afflicted and effected. When prices are raised in such a fashion, alcoholics and binge drinkers will only find a way to fund their addiction in illegal or dangerous ways instead of discouraging them to continue drinking. Education and prevention programs are the best way to reach out to those addicted to any substance, alcohol included. Drinking at this rate has become part of the fiber of this part of England. To change this, outreach has to start young before minors begin to illegal drink because drinking early as a teen may turn into becoming an alcoholic once beer and liquor is more accessible after reaching the legal drinking age.

The best way to combat such high and dangerous binge drinking statistics coming out of Northern England is to start with community outreach. When people are educated at a young age in schools with programs plainly laying out the dangers of abusing alcohol the way students receive education on illicit drug use, the region will see statistics drop. Unfortunately when the hidden dangers of abusing alcohol are treated casually and not as dangerous as drug use, statistics like these will only continue to rise.

Jul232015Jan272016

Iran Plans 150 Alcoholism Treatment Centers

Articles

Despite Iran’s hardline rule against alcohol consumption, the Iranian government is planning to open 150 alcoholism treatment centers. Even though alcohol is banned in this Islamic country, the Iranian regime is taking commendable steps in recognizing the need to accommodate treatment for its vulnerable demographic.

Iran-Plans-150-Alcoholism-Treatment-Centers True, alcohol was banned in Iran since 1979. However, banning alcohol does not mean Iranians do not consume alcohol at home or in other private locations. Alcoholism isn’t prevented by territory lines or faiths. Some Iranians, just like many other people around the world, are secretly suffering with alcoholism. Many Iranians needing help for alcohol and other substance use issues look for highly discreet professional treatment centers outside of Iran. However, these private options are not always possible for people unable to travel outside of Iran; the Iranian government recognizes the need for alcoholism treatment centers within its borders.

According to Iranian government estimates, at least 200,000 of its citizens may be alcoholics. The number is likely much higher. Alcoholism is a global problem, and never a geographic no-man’s land. Many of the underlying causes of alcoholism stem from human circumstance or condition, including including anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, fear, loneliness, and frustration. These, too, find a home within all cultures and corners of the world.

Take a look at these global statistics compiled by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

In 2012 5.9 percent of all global deaths were connected to alcohol consumption
1% of the burden of disease and injury worldwide is attributed to alcohol abuse (including liver cirrhosis, cancer and injuries)
Globally, alcohol misuse is the 5^th leading factor for premature death and disability—and it takes the lead for those between the ages 15 and 49

Iran’s 150 planned alcoholism treatment centers, of which six include inpatient rehab, will provide services to the individuals and families who need professional treatment closer to home.

If you are seeking alcohol rehab that is clinically expert and extremely protective of your privacy, we encourage you to contact DARA. Day or night, you will be connected to an experienced clinician, and never an impersonal call center.

Jul162015Oct222019

5 Questions To Ask about Overseas Addiction Rehab

Articles, Australia

5-Questions-Australians-Should-Ask-about-Overseas-Drug-Addiction-Rehab Many Australians are considering overseas rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. Two major reasons for this are:

Difficulty getting finding an affordable treatment program in many parts of Australia
Unable to be admitted quickly, when someone finally asks for help

Many overseas programs are extremely inexpensive as compared to those in Australia, with a quick admission process. As the most highly regarded drug and alcohol treatment center in Asia, DARA has an expedited intake process and an all-inclusive program that is evidence-based and highly credentialed. Unfortunately, this is not true for all overseas rehab centres. DARA wants to make sure that Australians seeking this type of option have five solid questions to ask when evaluating a Thailand-based drug and alcohol rehab program.

The 5 Crucial Types of Questions to Ask Overseas Rehab Centres

Here are the five top questions we encourage you to ask. Make a comparison between the centers you are considering. At DARA, we can assure you our quality of care is so superb, we are consistently one of the top ten rated facilities worldwide.

Ask for a written copy of everything that falls under the phrase “all-inclusive”. It should include much more than just group treatment and lodging. Request a list of what out of pocket expenses to expect, including items you might not think about such as transportation to the center from the airport, laundry services, and sober outings expenses.
What credentials does the facility have, and the staff? Do they include internationally recognized credentials?
Does the clinical staff work and live and work full time in the overseas rehab country? This may sound like an odd question to ask, but there is a reason you must. Treatment centers in resort-like settings may provide a short-term working vacation in paradise to individuals with clinical treatment skills. This shows a lack of commitment to the the client’s best interests and does not offer the continuity of care that is so essential for success recovery. It also does not ensure that the therapist has the skills needed to treat the variety of individuals who come for help with an addiction.
Are there aftercare and discharge planning services? One concern many Australians have is after finishing treatment in Thailand will resources and support will be waiting for them back home. Not all overseas rehab centers offer this service to the high degree that DARA provides.
Ask them to describe their mix of group therapy and individual therapy. How customized is it to the needs of the client? Will you be forced to fit into a rigid program that may not see you as a unique person with a unique history? Will you be helped with any associated issues such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress issues?

Still not sure where to start or whether coming from Australia to an overseas rehab is the best and most affordable option? DARA is happy to clarify your concerns and questions. You’ll be connected directly with a clinical staff member who understands your fears about not being able to receive the right kind of care now when you are ready for it. DARA assures you that it can be both affordable and of the highest quality.