Category: Treatment

Recovery From Substance Abuse

What To Expect In Your First Ninety Days Of Recovery From Substance Abuse: Part One

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This is part-one of a two-part series about the first ninety days of recovery from substance abuse.

The First Ninety Days Of Sobriety Are The Most Difficult

If you have been struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, and you’ve made the decision to get clean and sober, good for you. We celebrate your awesome choice! You are on the right path and you can rest assured that good things are coming your way.

However; it is important to understand that the first ninety days of recovery from substance abuse are difficult. We won’t sugarcoat it. Breaking an addiction to mood and mind-altering chemicals is uncomfortable and challenging – to say the least.

Many People Relapse During The First Three Months

Statistically speaking, most people do not make it through their very first ninety days of sobriety without returning to drugs or alcohol. But, you don’t have to be a statistic. You can make the decision right now that you are going endure the first few difficult months of sobriety and make it. Just because sobriety is uncomfortable at first doesn’t mean you can’t deal with the discomfort and get through it.

However; if you do relapse, don’t give up hope and return to active addiction. After a couple of attempts at continued sobriety, most people find that they can get through it. It just takes some practice. The first three months are painful, so don’t beat yourself up if your first try at sobriety doesn’t work out. Just get back up and try again.

You Must Be Mentally Prepared For Those First Ninety Days

In the meantime, we want you to be prepared for the road that lies ahead. Knowing what to expect in your first three months of sobriety will help you get ready for the rollercoaster you are facing – and trust us when we tell you, it is a rollercoaster. If you are mentally prepared, tackling the daunting task of staying sober through those first grueling ninety days will be much easier.

You should expect the next couple of months to be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Quitting drugs and alcohol takes a toll on even the strongest person. If you understand this going in, you won’t be surprised when you feel out of whack. You will think, “Ah, yes, this is hard. It’s uncomfortable and I don’t like it. I was warned about this. I can do this. It will pass and things will get better.”

What To Expect In Your First Ninety Days – The Pain Of Withdrawal

When you stop abusing mood and mind-altering chemicals, your body and mind have to go through an adjustment period. It is important to understand that drugs and alcohol take their toll on the brain and the body. When you stop drinking and drugging, your system has to get re acclimated to operating without chemicals.

This is known as withdrawal. There are two phases to withdrawal – acute withdrawal and post-acute withdrawal. We will talk more about these two phases in part two of this blog.

Be sure to check out What To Expect In Your First Ninety Days Of Recovery From Substance Abuse: Part Two.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

DARA Rehab Thailand

Dara Rehab Thailand

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Facing an addiction and making the decision to seek treatment is not easy for anyone. The tendency is to deny there is even a problem for as long as possible which is why so many people reach a state of near total devastation before they enter treatment. But once someone makes that critical decision that they have a substance abuse problem and they need treatment, the next step can be almost as terrifying. At Dara Rehab Thailand, the decision is made easy.

First of all, Dara is a not a 12 step recovery program. We recognize that the 12 step program is not for everyone and that is why we have built our recovery program on scientifically proven methods for addiction recovery. What is more, Dara offers a comprehensive program of recovery. One that does not rely on any single method for treating addiction.

Since addiction is a complex issue, one that is physiological and psychological. We offer a range of treatments which address all of these aspects of addiction treatment and recovery. Dara Thailand utilizes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Person-centered Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy depending on the individual needs of each patient. We recognize that no one comes to treatment with exactly the same set of problems. Patients are wrestling with addiction to different substances, for one thing, and the treatment program for one substance addiction will not necessarily be adequate for another substance addiction. Each of these therapies addresses different aspects of the emotional and psychological distress of addiction. There are a host of other psychological therapy options depending on the individual needs of the addicted person. All of these therapies are aligned with mindfulness and meditation in order to facilitate the psychological and emotional needs of people struggling with addiction.

Dara Rehab Thailand also offers a full physical evaluation. We determine the individual medical needs of patients as the enter treatment. The range of physical rehabilitation includes Thai massage and a physical activity program which takes account of the abilities and needs of each patient.

Treatment at Dara also includes psycho-educational programs which are geared toward addressing other physical and emotional needs patients may contend with such as chronic pain, diabetes, and other physical issues. Some of which may have contributed to the addiction problem in the first place. These are coupled with individual counseling and one-on-one therapy programs so that patients are able to work in group counseling. As well as deal with some problems and issues in a private consultation with health care professionals.

Finally, Dara includes family counseling as an integral part of the overall treatment program. Addiction impacts all aspects of a person’s life and often the family has suffered the most during the course of a person’s substance abuse problems. Family counseling at Dara works with the other psychological counseling programs so that the damage to the family can begin to be repaired. Addiction treatment is a long-term program and it includes much more than just the addicted person.

Needless to say, the tropical island environment of Dara Rehab Thailand in itself offers an ideal place to find the peace and calm necessary for addiction recovery.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Marijuana

Marijuana Addiction and Teens

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Marijuana, weed, Mary Jane, grass, pot, dope, herb, joint, blunt, and stinkweed are just a few of the terms used to discuss marijuana and the use of it. Marijuana is probably one of the most commonly tried and used drugs in the world. Some places have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes if someone is of age or has a prescription. Many people do not consider pot to be addictive. But for those who start using in their teens, a quarter to a half become addicted and continue to use on the daily basis. In fact those who use long term often have withdrawal symptoms when they do try to stop. These specific symptoms will be described in a bit.

Marijuana is a commonly abused drug, but it is most prevalent in the teenage population. Pot has the ability to disrupt lives and families in ways that are often unexpected. Teens often struggle with motivation, memory, schoolwork, and beginning careers due to overuse of weed. In addition, physical symptoms such as heart and lung damage can occur. Teens who are smoking weed have a higher rate of depression and anxiety which is often why pot was tried in the first place. Smoking often can also trigger psychotic episodes. As marijuana impairs learning, judgment, and memory, teens are especially vulnerable as their brains are still developing. Pot use disrupts normal development of white matter that brain cells need to communicate and make it difficult for the user to use reasoning skills. New research also suggests that marijuana use can change the working memory part of the brain and make it difficult to recall basic information such as phone numbers or addressed. While most teens are likely to try pot at least once in their adolescent years if it becomes habit than help will be needed.

If you suspect someone is addicted to marijuana then look for the signs. The most obvious, if pot is smoked is the distinctive smell that will be present. Ask whether the person’s motivation, memory, or ability to concentrate has lowered. Try to determine whether they have lost interest in hobbies or other activities they used to enjoy or had a noticeable change in behavior. Ask the person if they feel their quality of life has changed for the worse. Once someone has admitted an addiction then treatment can become effective.

Some people may be able to quit using with outpatient counseling. This will involve looking at the reasons that pot was being used and finding ways to change that behavior for the better. Life skills on how to appropriately cope with problems, cravings, and new ways of thinking may also be taught. Some people will require inpatient treatment in order to take the enticement of using away for a time. This can be a beneficial change of environment until the user is ready to face ‘real life’ without the use of pot. If you or someone you know is addicted to marijuana, know you are not alone and help is available. Do not be afraid to ask for that help.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Dara and CBT

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The realization that one has a problem with drugs and/or alcohol is often a crushing moment. Usually there is a litany of problems which attend this moment of realization. The general state of one’s life can be utterly demoralizing and hope can seem a distance thing. But coming to this realization and making a decision to do something about it is in itself reason for hope. This crisis moment is the point at which we stop digging the hole we are in and begin to move toward healing and recovery. There are numerous options for treatment, so many in fact that the choice itself can be dizzying. Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab of Thailand stands out for a number of reasons. Just one thing to consider are the specific treatment options available at Dara.

One of the first things that will strike you about Dara is that it is not a 12 step recovery program. Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab offer a treatment option that is distinct from the standard model of the 12 steps. A program which is based in science and practice. 12 step may work for some people, but for others it is off-putting. For those who have been offered nothing but 12 step, they may feel a distinct lack of options. This is one of the tremendous advantages of Dara’s treatment programs.

Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab utilizes a combination of treatment models and therapy systems to create a treatment system which is best suited for the patient. There are a number of programs which can be treated in more detail in another post, but suffice to single out just one such therapeutic model practiced at Dara which is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, works by interrupting negative thinking patterns and habits and destructive emotional behaviors. It creates more constructive and positive modes of thinking and feeling in their place. What this means, for example, is that CBT will isolate destructive patterns of thinking, patterns of thinking which are often the root of substance abuse, and creating new modes of thinking which are conducive to a more healthy emotional state.

Many of our thought patterns are learned early in life and the way we process situations, especially difficult situations. Old habits of thinking and feeling that we are only dimly aware of. Rather than focusing on the childhood traumas or early life experiences that produced these emotional habits, CBT seeks to replace the habits of thinking and feeling altogether. As people come to Dara for drug and alcohol treatment, they will find that in some cases, the negative modes of understanding their world are merely habits which can be unlearned and replaced. Thus the emotional triggers which lead to drug and alcohol abuse are redirected into more positive and healthy life skills. In this way, substance abuse becomes less of a temptation or even an option as the thoughts and feelings which drive substance abuse are removed.

This is just one feature of Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Thailand which sets it apart from old-fashioned models of treatment. Patients at Dara are led through new forms of emotional therapy which remove the root causes of drug and alcohol abuse. They do this without having recourse to methods and models that some find inconsistent with their beliefs. These are treatment models based on science and practiced by experienced professionals.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Krokodil

Krokodil – A Powerful and Dangerous Drug Sweeping Russia

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Krokodil Takes Russia By Storm

A devastating drug is sweeping Russia and taking out addicts one by one, but not before bringing about a slow, painful, flesh-eating death. Desomorphine, known by its street name krokodil, delivers a very powerful high similar to that of heroin. It is highly addictive. Many addicts use the drug just once and they are hooked.  

Krokodil is a very toxic and dangerous drug that gets its name because it produces dark, scaly patches of skin on the user that resemble that of a crocodile. It is made at home by cooking codeine, paint thinner, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, iodine and the red phosphorous from matchbox strike pads. Because codeine is sold over the counter in Russia and the other ingredients are easy to obtain, making krokodil is easy for those who know how to whip up the concoction. The liquid produced by a batch is injected using a needle.

The drug hit the scene in Russia in 2002 and has since spread across the country. It’s no secret that heroin is a major problem in Russia, but it is quickly replacing heroin as a drug of choice among users. The drug has a more powerful high, which lasts between an hour and a half to two hours, and it costs about a tenth of what heroin costs.

The Negative Effects of Krokodil – The Drug Is Extremely Dangerous

Krokodil is so toxic, it actually creates a flesh-eating disease among those who abuse the drug. The drug eats away at the skin and creates terrible abscesses. It also causes teeth to rot and fall out and it attacks the liver and other internal organs.

This is not surprising when you consider the ingredients. Anyone who ingests gasoline, paint thinner, and red phosphorous is signing their own death warrant. In fact, the life expectancy of those who abuse krokodil is one to two years. Also, many people who abuse krokodil share dirty needles, which increases the spread of diseases like HIV.

Withdrawal From Krokodil Is Extremely Painful

Once someone has been using krokodil for even a short time, they will go through the excruciating process of withdrawal if they try to stop taking the drug. While heroin withdrawal lasts about one to two weeks, withdrawal from krokodil lasts from four to six weeks and it is unbearably painful. Most users will quickly return to the drug to be relieved from the withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Chills
  • Tremors
  • Fever
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Head-to-toe body aches
  • Seizures
  • Coma and death in extreme cases
Medical Withdrawal Is Recommended For People Addicted To Krokodil

Those who are addicted should not attempt to stop taking the drug on their own. Withdrawal from this drug is not only extremely unpleasant, it can be deadly. A professional medical detoxification is recommended for people who want to stop using this deadly drug. A medical detox happens in a medical facility or an inpatient treatment center where medications are administered and progress is evaluated.

If you’re addicted to krokodil, get help now – before it’s too late.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.