Category: Treatment

Teenage Addict

5 Ways to help Get Your Addicted Teen into Rehab

Articles, Education, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

If you have a teenage son or daughter who is addicted to drugs, no doubt you are full of emotions, desperately hoping that they can get better and live a life free from addiction.

Firstly, you need to realise that it is just as important that you look after yourself as you try and help your child. Naturally, as a parent you will probably be feeling very stressed, as well as other emotions such as fear, anger and sadness. The key is not to try everything by yourself; it is ok to ask for help and accept any help that you are offered. There are often support groups locally for parents in exactly the same position as you are.

Being strong and knowing what to expect will also help you be able to get your child into a rehab program. But how exactly can this be achieved?

Below are some tips that you should consider before you approach the subject.

I Don’t need to go to rehab

Most teenagers will feel that they don’t need to go to rehab. They may think that they are not an addict or are just experimenting and can stop at any time, however, this is usually not the case. Your job as a parent is to help them see the benefits they will get from rehab.

Explain to your child that they will need help with physical, psychological and social aspects of their addiction, all of what will be covered at a rehabilitation facility.

Speak about the fact that addictions can be unique to individuals and that some are genetically wired to be more addicted than others.

The important thing for them to understand is that addicts need professional help with their addiction and they won’t be able to beat it by themselves.

Please don’t make me go – rehab is scary

The first thing that comes to mind when rehab is mentioned to your teenage child is that it compares to some sort of prison. They will also be worried about leaving their friends behind and having to spend their time alone without any loved ones.

If your child expresses these negative views you need to be patient with them and help them understand more about rehab facilities. Most facilities have brochures or websites that you can sit down with your child and look through together.

Reassure them that you are on the path of recovery with them and that you will work your hardest to support them. It is important that your child feels as though they have made the decision to enter rehab as feeling forced to go will likely result in a less than positive outcome.

Your concern is an act of love.

Remember that teenagers can be intense at the best of times. It can be hard to come across as caring when your child is showing anger, bewilderment, sadness and tears. However, you need to remember that your child will be looking for stability in the storm and you need to be able to offer it. Always be prospered and remain calm in your discussions. Tell them that you love them and that you just want to see them get better.

Remember you are the parent

Teenagers and young adults most often benefit more from treatment when they decide to go on their own free will. Whilst in some places in the world, a person under the age of 17 can be forced into rehab, it is always better if they are willing to go.

It is likely going to be very frightening for them at first, so you need to be supportive every step of the way, including when they return from rehab.

Most rehabs will let you see the facilities first before making a decision so it can be a good idea for you to attend some facilities with your child and see which one they like the most.

Also Remember….

Your child will benefit the most from early intervention in their addiction problem. Often times a parent will believe their child when they say they are just experimenting or they promise you they have quit already. Research shows that this is very rarely the case!

alcohol and your brain

Alcohol Dependence Driven By Surprising Brain Change

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

A recent study which has been conducted by The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) might be able to help develop new treatments for alcohol misuse and dependence.

The study that took place surprisingly revealed an important difference when comparing the brains of rats who were dependant on alcohol with those of nondependent rats. Both groups, when consuming alcohol, showed an increase in activity in part of their brain known as the central amygdala (CeA), however, this was due to different brain signalling pathways.

Marisa Roberto, TSRI professor who conducted the study has said that findings will enable researchers to develop personalized treatment plans for those who are dependent on alcohol as they should be able to evaluate how someone’s brain responds when differing therapeutics are given.

Found! The Brains response ‘switch’ to Alcohol

This new research has built on a previous study carried out by the same team which found that neuronal activity is increased in a rats CeA when alcohol is consumed. The team saw increased activity in both dependant and non-dependant rats.

As this phenomenon was investigated further in their new study, the team were excited to discover the mechanisms involved in the increased activity were actually different between both groups.  

When a non-dependant rat was given alcohol, the team engaged a set of protons known as calcium channels which resulted in heightened neuronal activity. The calcium channels increased the release of the neurotransmitter GABA causing neurons to fire. Blocking these calcium channels reduced the voluntary alcohol intake amongst the rats.

However, in the rats which were dependant on alcohol, the team discovered a decreased amount of calcium channels on cell membranes therefore causing disruption to their usual capacity to drive alcohols effects on the CeA activity in the brain. Instead, the increase in activity was actually driven by the stress hormone known as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF-1, its type 1 receptor. The team discovered that when they blocked CRF1’s, alcohol consumption (voluntarily) in the dependant rats was reduced.

By studying both of these groups, a light has been shed on how alcohol can alter the brains functions.

Roberto Explained:

“There is a switch in the molecular mechanisms underlying the CeA’s response to alcohol (from LTCC- to CRF1-driven) as the individual transitions to the alcohol-dependent state,” she said.

The researchers who conducted the study hope that the findings will lead to increased and improved ways to treat alcohol dependency. There are many root causes of alcohol abuse, but this research suggests that health professionals could analyse symptoms or genetic markers and determine if a patient has CRF–CRF1 hyperactivation. If a drug is developed that blocks this activity then it could be a game-changer.  

Drinking Problem

Drinking Problem – What are the Signs?

Articles, Treatment, Understanding Addiction

Are you worries that your drinking has become a problem? Or maybe it is someone else that you are worried about? Either way, drinking problems usually manifest predictably.

Below we will detail some of the common signs that appear when someone has a drinking problem and also how you can deal with it.

The Warning Signs

Although there are many ways that the signs of alcohol addiction can show themselves, there is one main warning sign that appears in most situations. Regularly drinking more than 2-3 units of alcohol each day is the most common sign, however, most addicts will drink considerably more than this. Drinking this amount every day can be seriously damaging to a person’s health.

10 Common Signs of a Drinking Problem

Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs you can look out for.

  1. People around you are concerned about your drinking habits

Having others express their concerns can be far clearer than self-reflection. People addicted to alcohol will always make up excuses about their drinking habits, whereas their loved ones will see it much more clearly.

  1. Mood and concentration levels affected by cravings

If you are craving alcohol and becoming distracted easily it is a clear sign that your body is becoming dependant on alcohol and needs to find more to stave of withdrawal symptoms.

  1. Self-medicating with alcohol to deal with problems

Drinking as a coping mechanism for problems you face will often lead to a person drinking more and more. This is because it will only offer temporary relief, however, in the long run it will only make the problems worse.

  1. Trying to cut down on your drinking but failing

If you are trying to cut down on alcohol but failing; this is a sure sign of a drinking problem. The inability to cut down or stop completely is a strong sign of dependence.

  1. Lying about the amount you drink

Dishonest or secretive behaviour in relation to your drinking shows that a person is aware that they are drinking too much but feels the need to hide it from those around them.

  1. Physical changes and weigh loss

Physical deterioration and weight loss can occur from heavy drinking. Also a person’s attitude towards their appearance will likely change in that they care less about how they look.

  1. Drinking until passing out

Blackouts are a common feature of the “binge drinking” culture and are also a sign that too way much alcohol has been consumed which has in turn caused the brain to stop functioning its memory section. If this has happened to you then you are certainly drinking too much.

  1. Drinking first thing in the morning

When someone starts drinking in the morning it will soon become hard to stop this routine and you will find that you need alcohol just to start the day after a while.

  1. Spending too much money

Often, a person will start to suffer financially as they are spending all their money on the next lot of drinks.

  1. Drinking causes problems at home or work

Small accidents at home or frequent mistakes at work are likely to start occurring when someone has a drinking problem.

 

Knowing the above signs should allow you to help yourself or a loved one combat their addiction before it gets too out of hand. Early intervention is the best way to ensure that someone does not become a hardened alcoholic at which point it can become a very hard addiction to beat.

Rehab abroad

Overseas Drug Rehab Benefits

Alternative Treatment, Articles, Education, Treatment, Understanding Addiction

Anyone currently dependent upon drugs to help get them through the day must realise that the problem will not disappear on its own.

Indeed, continual denial that professional help is needed will simply send a person deeper into dependence. The more reliant a person become on their drug of choice the more difficult it is to let go.

A Clean Slate – A New environment:

There are several options to consider in terms of seeking drug rehabilitation assistance. These include your health practitioner as well as outpatient and inpatient rehab establishments in your own country.

While any assistance must be seen as a positive step in the right direction, many fail to consider the benefits of choosing a respected overseas rehab establishment to assist them through recovery.

One such country that offers sterling facilities, proven treatment methods and prices that knock those of your own country into a cocked-hat is Thailand.

Why consider overseas treatment:

We have touched on this briefly, but let’s give 7 reasons why this consideration is a must for anyone trying to beat a dependence that is currently ruining their life:

  • Well-established: The number of first class inpatient rehabilitation facilities in Thailand runs into double figures with many years of experience behind them.
  • Stunning locations: Whether your choice is a remote mountain setting, or an idyllic palm-fringed beach, Thailand offers beautiful settings in calm surroundings that are completely conducive to healing.
  • 1st Class accommodation & Facilities: The accommodation on offer is first class. Private, fully self-contained living with personal outdoor space blend perfectly with landscaped gardens, relaxation areas, communal dining sections and leisure facilities that include swimming pools and fitness areas. Many also provide yoga/meditation rooms.
  • Professional/Approved: Staff employed at these first rate facilities are qualified to international standards. They employ healing and treatment techniques that are internationally approved with the added benefit of some trademark treatments. In short, the treatment methods offered at home are yours in Thailand with additional benefits.
  • Individual/Focussed treatment: The fully qualified, committed staff at these luxury rehab resorts are there to ensure a comfortable, successful stay. The counsellors are fully aware that every individual is different and as such will tailor a recovery package specifically with you in mind.
  • Challenging but achievable: Whatever form of dependence treatment a person opts for it must be understood that it will not be an easy route to leave their drug dependence behind, but the methods, techniques and environment offered by professional rehab establishments in Thailand gives each individual an excellent chance of overcoming their issues.
  • Costs: This is surely the icing on the cake. The services and treatment offered for inpatient stay are far lower than those offered in your own country. In some cases a 4-week stay can cost just one-third of what you would pay at home. It must also be remembered that these establishments are approved by major health insurance companies.

Consider overseas treatment closely:

The rehab establishments in Thailand offer benefits galore to those seeking treatment and healing. Please take a close look at what is on offer. Deciding on this location for professional drug rehab assistance may be the best decision you ever make.

Feel free to contact one of our advisers to discuss rehab options with you. 

alcohol addiction out of hand

Don’t Let your Drinking Get Out Of Hand

Articles, Education, Treatment, United Kingdom, United States

Millions of men and women enjoy a drink, and when alcohol is consumed at sensible levels and on an occasional basis it is something that can certainly enhance a social gathering, but what happens if consumption continually increases?

It is relatively easy for a person to increase their drinking, but it is also vital that they do not let things get out of hand.

We will look at some key warning signs that show a person is heading towards a dependence upon alcohol and that should not be ignored.

  • Constant thoughts and actions: If alcohol is becoming increasingly evident in your thoughts and actions this must be seen as a potential problem regarding the amount being consumed. Those who are regularly considering where their first drink will come from, or while drinking where their next watering hole will be, need to recognize this as a serious sign that alcohol is getting the better of them.
  • Lying to those around you: Anyone who tells their loved ones or those around them that they are drinking far less than they actually are is maintaining a stance of denial. Denial is a major tool used by those who know they have a drinking problem but refuse to acknowledge it.
  • Drinking to deal with daily life: It may seem acceptable to have a drink in order to cope with life’s challenges, but this is a very dangerous approach. Those who need a drink to cope with the day ahead, or drink excessively after a day at work are using alcohol as an emotional crutch. While this may seem a good idea at the time, the reality is it will only compound a person’s problems.
  • Missing work or habitual lateness: Heavy drinkers regularly awake in a state of confusion, and the last thing on their mind is a day at work. This leads to excuses of being unable to attend work due to illness, or regular late arrival. Maintaining this type of behaviour does little for a person’s self-esteem and even less for their employment prospects.
  • Forgotten episodes: If the amount a person is drinking leads to loss of memory relating to events during their last session this is a dangerous pointer that dependence is getting the better of a person.
  • Relationship difficulties: There are times when difficulties with a partner will occur, but seeking to resolve these problems by drinking is not the way to go. Such actions will only serve to increase the tension and highlight relationship difficulties.

Seeking help should not be seen as an embarrassment:

Many people who have a problem with the amount of alcohol they are drinking see this as an embarrassment and therefore keep the problem to themselves.

This most definitely should not be the case. There is no embarrassment whatsoever attached to admitting that alcohol currently has the better of you, indeed, it is a very courageous thing to do.

Professional rehab counsellors are not in place to judge, they are there to help. Once contacted a person with alcohol problems will see just how effective this help can be.