Category: International

crystal meth fergie

Fergie, Former Crystal Meth Addict

Articles, Australia, Celebrity Rehab, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Fergie, former Crystal Meth Addict and world famous female singer of the band Black Eyed Peas, recently stated during an interview with i News:

 “At my lowest point, I was suffering from chemically induced psychosis and dementia. I was hallucinating on a daily basis. I’d just be sitting there, seeing a random bee or bunny.”

Chronic methamphetamine abuse has a devastating effect on the central nervous system and the most effective way to treat the problems associated with chronic methamphetamine abuse is total abstinence. Whether snorted, smoked or injected, methamphetamine quickly crosses the blood/brain barrier where it can exert powerful effects on several neurochemical systems.

Crystal Meth also puts a strain on relationships and breaks down family systems, through the chronic and compulsive desire of the addict to use the drug regularly. Potentially making them hide this secretive self from those they love, so they can continue with the behaviour which is breaking down the very thing which they hold dear.

Whilst abusing drugs a person does not stop to think about the consequences of their actions and the affect their behaviour and mental state is having on those important to them.

“It took a year after getting off that drug for the chemicals in my brain to settle so that I stopped seeing things.”Fergie

 Having an extended half-life, crystal meth allows addicts a longer and more sustained high. The complex physiological responses involve excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. With repeated use, it depletes the brains dopamine stores and damages dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals. The User may then have a reduced ability to experience pleasure which can cause them to slip into a deep depression.

‘It has been estimated that 40% of methamphetamine users have abnormalities on neuropsychiatric tests.’ NCBI

 There can be long term effects from meth use which can last for several years.

As well as hallucinations it can also bring on persecutory delusions – which can be one of the lasting consequences of using the drug. It also affects the addict’s ability to determine consequences and skews rational thinking.

Other Potential Symptoms of Crystal Meth Abuse:

Auditory hallucinations

Strange or unusual beliefs

Thought reading

Visual hallucinations

Delusion of reference

Thought insertion

Negative psychotic symptoms

Disorganized speech

Disorganized or catatonic behaviour

Do you recognise any of these symptoms in those you love or within yourself?

Part of the program which DARA offers, focuses on how to reorganise thoughts through re-structuring the cognitive function, whilst participating within the program as an inpatient.

The goal of CBT is to enable people to replace unhelpful and self-defeating thoughts with more realistic and helpful ones.

DARA uses CBT techniques to address clients’ harmful thought patterns and help clients, recognize and practice alternative ways of thinking and regulating distressing emotions and harmful behaviour.

The qualified and experienced Clinical Staff will build a trusting, therapeutic relationship with each of the clients they work with and will also be around for quick check-ins and informal chats, during the day within the facility and each client will be supported and encouraged in various ways. Through the psycho-educational program, during one to one counselling sessions and then they will have the opportunity to put their new skills in place, within the community with the other clients, during their stay.

It’s helpful whilst developing and integrating a new way of thinking to be somewhere where what you are doing and trying to achieve, is understood and those around you – both clients and staff are there to not judge but offer support and assistance in the process. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR RECOVERY.

Five of the many ingredients that fuel Meth mayhem:

Acetone: This is used in paint thinner and nail polish remover and is extremely flammable.

Acids: Think Hydrochloric and Sulfuric

Lithium: Used in the production of batteries. If lithium comes into contact with the skin serious burns are guaranteed.

Pseudoephedrine: A very common ingredient. It is a decongestant found in medicines for colds and flu.

Toluene: An essential component of brake fluid. DARA Rehab

Within the supportive environment of DARA Rehab, a Methamphetamine User can make the commitment and develop the resolve to remove the use of this invasive and devastating drug from their lives.

What DARA will offer Clients on an Inpatient Basis:

  • A personalised and tailored treatment plan created with the insight and professionalism of one of the highly trained Counsellors
  • Non 12 Step Rehab Program
  • Psycho – Educational Topic Groups
  • Group Therapy Sessions
  • Wellness and Wellbeing behavioral activation, advice and skills to take away
  • A Sense of Community

Call our 24 hour hotline now for a confidential assessment:
Thailand direct number: +66 600 035 158

Dating and Sobriety

Dating and Sobriety – How to Navigate the Process

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Dating and Sobriety – Dating can be one of the most difficult things to do when you’re sober. Chances are, when you were drinking, you weren’t very successful in relationships. Your alcoholism always overshadowed romance, intimacy, companionship and all the other aspects that are supposed to accompany a healthy relationship.

Dating and Sobriety – Now that you are moving toward a place of health and wellness, you may feel as though you are ready to start dating and find a special someone. Here are five things to keep in mind as you navigate the process of sober dating:

  1. It is recommended that you don’t get into a relationship the first year of your sobriety. This may seem like a long time, but this suggestion is there for a reason. It is difficult enough to manage yourself in that first year of recovery. Throwing someone else into the mix makes things a lot more complicated and hard to manage.
  1. Your sobriety has to come first. When you get into a new relationship when you’re sober, it’s easy to let your recovery slack. Don’t let this happen. Remember, without sobriety, you are a hopeless drunk who cannot manage your own life. You have to make sobriety your number one priority and not allow yourself to get swept away by your new relationship. Keep going to meetings, stay in touch with your sponsor, and continue to work the steps.
  1. You have to decide if you are willing to date someone who drinks. Of course, you don’t want to get into a relationship with someone who is a practicing alcoholic. However; most people who drink do not have a drinking problem. Are you strong enough to go on a date with a person who might order a drink at dinner? Can you be in a relationship with someone who might drink socially on the weekends? If you think so, you need to be upfront and let the person know that you are a recovering alcoholic and that you can’t drink under any circumstances.
  1. It’s a good idea talk to your sponsor and ask him or her if they think you are really ready to manage a healthy relationship in sobriety. It’s not that you are asking your sponsor for permission to date – after all, you are a grown up who is capable of making your own decisions – however; your sponsor will be able to shed some light on your sobriety. He or she can tell you if they think it’s a good idea. If they don’t think you are ready, you might want to wait a little while longer.
  1. Remember that romantic relationships are very complicated. They involve intense emotions that can be difficult to navigate. Many people believe they are ready to get into a romantic, sexual relationship only to find the feelings that accompany them are far too difficult and frustrating to manage. You need to have a solid foundation in recovery, a strong relationship with your sponsor, and a firm practice of the steps to undertake a romantic relationship.

Dating and Sobriety – When you decide you are ready to start dating, take it slow. There is no hurry. Relationships aren’t a race. Remember to keep your recovery first and don’t drink no matter what. If you always keep your sobriety as your number one priority, no matter what happens, you will be equipped to handle whatever comes your way in the process of dating and establishing a romantic relationship.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use

Why LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use?

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use – Realizing that you are LGBTQ can be traumatic, stressful, and freeing. Learning about who you are should be an experience that brings about growth, but learning you are part of a smaller, often stigmatized population can lead to a host of problems if not faced directly. Stress triggers are common in the LGBTQ community. Some of these stress triggers include fear of persecution, isolation, emotional trauma, internalized homophobia, religious intolerance, social discrimination, frustration, and loneliness. Each of these will be reviewed, explained, and related to substance abuse below.

Fear of persecution is a big factor in many hiding their LGBTQ status. Though it is more acceptable to be LGBTQ at this time in history than ever before, the stigma is still attached. Many people fear this stigma and end up leading a double life. The life presented to others as a happy person in a typical heterosexual lifestyle and a life in which sexuality in other manners is acceptable. The hidden lifestyle means secrets and lying. The stress of having two very distinct lifestyles can lead to drug use. The drug use seemingly makes it easier to lie about one part of life and handle the stigma attached to the other. This is one reason why LGBTQ people are more likely to use. Unfortunately drugs tend to confound the issues more than help.

Isolation that arises from public ridicule and rejection. For those that do choose to make their sexuality public, isolation and ridicule may ensue. This rejection can come from those close to the individual or the public at large. This ridicule creates a great deal of stress and those wanting to escape the distress may turn to drugs and alcohol. These substances will simply numb the stress, not remove it, but for many they are an option that can ultimately lead to more stress and disturbing behavior.

Emotional trauma and internalized homophobia are also concerns. When some individuals make their feelings known it can lead to an abusive situation. This can be for those of any age. Family members and friends may make the LGBTQ individual feel bad for how they feel or make them believe homosexuality is a horrible plague on those who take part in the lifestyle. This can lead to internalized homophobia. This internalization can make the person feel terrible in their own body, leaving drugs as a seemingly viable option for escape. The intolerance may also be religious based as some in the LGBTQ community may be members of religious groups or brought up in faith. These people may feel that they are terrible for their feelings and need to find a way to numb those feelings.

Finally, social discrimination can lead to difficulty finding jobs and love interests. This creates loneliness and isolation that can be difficult to overcome. All of this fear and isolation can lead to the need to escape reality, even for a moment. Drugs and alcohol can temporarily offer this escape, but can create problems on their own. Once the user has reached a low point and decided to take a chance on recovery, the real work begins. If you are ready for this step than treatment is right for you. Just remember that the outcome is totally up to the person in treatment and the work put into recovery will make a difference on the outcome.

LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use – CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

LGBTQ Addiction

LGBTQ And Addiction

Articles, Australia, International, LGBTQ, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

LGBTQ Addiction – Addiction is defined as the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. While most addicts will tell you they are addicted to a particular drug or drugs and alcohol, many are also addicted to the lifestyle that drugs and alcohol bring. This may be especially true of those in the LGBTQ community. It is often believed that the LGBTQ community is synonymous with drug and alcohol abuse. While the rate of drug use is higher in the community it is often related to issues other than simply use. Many in the LGBTQ community have had to hide their lifestyle and in order to take time to relax and truly be themselves an outlet must be found. This outlet if often drugs and alcohol.

Legal and illegal substances can numb emotions and feelings, while lowering inhibitions. This allows those who have had to hide their lifestyle to take part in it without concern. The freedom itself is intoxicating and can lead to further drug use and abuse. The use becomes a part of who the person is and can quickly become a problem. When using the social stigma and discrimination, as well as stress levels around being LGBTQ can fade. The focus becomes the addiction and the freedom is seemingly brings. This does not mean that those who are using are lost causes, simply that once the addiction is discovered and the person is ready for help, the addiction is just a small part of the problem when compared to the heterosexual population.

LGBTQ Addiction – Understand that being LGBTQ does not necessarily mean that drug use is a definite, just that it is more likely than in the general population. In fact, being LGBTQ does not predispose a person to drug use, it is simply an issue that could lead to drug use. This is also not to say that there is a problem with being LGBTQ, but there is still a strong stigma attached to such lifestyles for many. Many who are LGBTQ come from families or fear they are part of families that will not accept their sexuality or the questioning of sexuality. These individuals may feel that drug use is the only way possible to let down their guard enough to explore their sexuality or to deal with the stigma attached to that sexuality. This is a topic that needs to be addressed when in recovery. The statistics of those who are homosexual or questioning sexuality are overwhelming as far as drug use when compared to heterosexual counterparts. Rates of use are 10 to twenty percent higher for many substances. While it seems the answer may simply be rehab, this can be trickier with the LGBTQ community. This could be due to denial of rehab because of sexuality, but could also be due to feeling like an outcast in recovery due to their beliefs. Fortunately, there are rehab centers specifically designed for LGBTQ users. Dara Rehab in Thailand specialises in addiction treatment for LGBTQ individuals. So the excuses to go into rehab have been removed, there are centers and people trained to help regardless of sexuality. Will you make the choice to get help or find help for those in your life who want it? A few keystrokes or a phone call could change a life.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential LGBTQ Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

detox symptoms

Detox Symptoms

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Many people entering treatment will find that their addiction is severe enough that they will go through some for a detox symptoms. Many of these symptoms are dangerous and require medical assistance. Alcohol addiction, for example, can be extremely difficult to completely let go of without medical help. The most common symptoms of detox are shakes, night sweats, anxiety, and sleeplessness. These symptoms generally abate within 3-10 days but tremors and anxiety can persist longer in some people. More severe detox symptoms will include seizures and hallucinations. Detox symptoms of this order require medical attention. The consequences for some people can be fatal. If you are going through an alcohol detox make sure to see a physician to make sure you can be properly monitored as you move into treatment. Many treatment programs include a medical detox, but not all.

For drug addictions such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine the detox may be difficult but is not generally considered dangerous. Flu-like symptoms, lethargy, anxiety and nausea are common. Here again, a medical detox will assist with these symptoms. The more far-reaching problem for addicted people is the severity of these detox symptoms can make it impossible for them to stop using. This is why a medical detox is often necessary. Once you make it through these detox issues which usually only last a few days, you are well on your way to sobriety.

It is important to remember that detox symptoms are temporary. They will pass. Make sure to work with either a support group or with a qualified addiction treatment professional. Support groups such as AA and NA know exactly how these symptoms unfold and members of these groups have been through the same ordeal. They know exactly how it feels and how to get you through the tough times. Obviously, a trained addiction treatment professional, with the help of a physician, can prescribe medications which will alleviate the severity of the symptoms.

Some general rules regarding withdrawal and detox:

Alcohol withdrawal can be severe and potentially fatal. One should work with a medical detox facility.

Heroin detox is most often a matter of feeling extremely ill. It is not considered life threatening.

Methamphetamine can require medical assistance due to the extreme mood swing which may attend detox.

Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium withdrawal can be fatal. Consult a physician before you stop using these drugs.

Cocaine withdrawal and detox may require assistance with the extreme mood swings.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that all of these detox symptoms can be managed and alleviated. As stated above, many treatment facilities include a full medical detox as part of their treatment program. Keep in mind that the illness you are battling is far worse than the brief period of detox. Nearly all of these detox symptoms last no more than about a week. If you have any doubt whether or not you will encounter these detox symptoms, consult your doctor or make sure to go through a medical detox facility. The key thing to remember is that once you pass through the phase you are the road to health.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.