Category: LGBTQ

Heroin Addiction Rehabilitation and Recovery

Heroin Rehabilitation and Recovery

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

Heroin seems to be the addictive plague of our time. Around the world, use of heroin has steadily grown and the devastating consequences of addiction and overdose are seen every place heroin is found. In fact, 1 in 3 overdoses in Europe have been in the U.K. and the majority of these overdoses have been from heroin and other opioids. The use and abuse of heroin is at epidemic proportions.

Heroin Addiction

Since heroin is so highly addictive there really is no such thing as a “casual user”. There emphatically is no safe way to use heroin and addiction will inevitably take over anyone who uses heroin more than once. As users “come down” from the high of heroin they often experience nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and itching. In fact, general itching is sign of opiate and opioid use in general. This is the set of symptoms often referred to as being “dope sick”. After a period of time, a secondary set of symptoms will emerge. These include extreme drowsiness in which the user/addict will need to sleep for hours at a time. They will also feel a foggy mental state, unable to focus. Users will begin to ‘nod off,” falling asleep and waking up over a long period of time.

Heroin Withdrawal

Severe heroin withdrawal symptoms include muscle pains, inability to sleep, rapid heart rate and hypertension, depression, and a severe craving for the drug. Heroin addicts will crave the drug so badly that they will be driven to obtain it. In this way the cycle of addiction become firmly established and can be difficult to interrupt. To complicate this further, the more heroin users go through this painful cycle of withdrawal and getting high, the more they crave the drug. And the more of the drug they tend to use. Heroin users will use more and more of the drug to obtain the same effects. This will further increase the risk of overdose.

Heroin Rehabilitation

Heroin addiction requires treatment. Most heroin addicts will likely require in-patient treatment. The withdrawal form heroin is so difficult and pernicious that any attempt to stop using the drug seems to send the addict straight back to using. Dara offers the full range of professional treatment for heroin addiction. From medical detox to the a treatment program which heals the addictive patterns and underlying psychological problem which lead to and contribute to heroin addiction, Dara offers everything that current science can provide.

Heroin Recovery

One of the more insidious aspects of the current heroin addiction problem is the fact that so many users began by using prescription opioid pain medications. Opioids are highly addictive in the same way as heroin. Once a person is addicted, heroin can become an easy and cheap alternative to prescription medication. This too can be addressed in the recovery programs at DARA. The addiction treatment professionals at DARA have a complete understanding of the complexity of the current opioid/heroin problem. The recovery programs at Dara are made to fit this complex set of medical and psychological needs.

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

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

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

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction – If you have an addiction or know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol then know that help is available. Some people have the ability to simply walk away from an addiction, but this is a rarity. Most people need a bit of extra help and that help is available in many forms. One of the best ways to get help is to remove yourself from the environment in which the addiction happens for a time until your body has detoxed and you have had time to create a future plan for long term recovery. One place that such treatment is available is DARA of Thailand. DARA offers treatment for a variety of addictions, but for the purposes of this article heroin will be discussed.

Heroin is Highly Addictive

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is manufactured from the opium of poppy plants. Unfortunately heroin is highly abused due to the euphoric feeling it can produce. There are different forms of heroin and it can be snorted, smoked, or injected. The drug itself is potent and the effects hit quickly. Heroin is a choice drug for many because of the immediate pleasurable feelings that hit in a surge called the ‘rush’. The feeling is warm and calming and creates a heavy slowed feeling in the legs and arms. The outcome is a sense of well-being and confidence that does not naturally occur. If this seems like something a loved one may be addicted to or you simply want to know the signs than you have come to the right place.

Heroin Use

Heroin users often have spoons, bent to use for smoking, lighters, and syringes. Some heroin can have a distinct odor, much like vinegar, but in the purest form heroin has no odor. The symptoms of heroin use can vary depending on amount and how long the person has been using. Some negative symptoms such as itching, dry mouth, and nausea are common and are usually immediate. However, delayed symptoms like feeling drowsy for hours, slowed breathing, and a foggy mental state may be delayed. Frequent heroin users may also display ‘nodding’. This is where the user goes back and forth between being awake and asleep often while sitting up or standing. Long term users may also have signs such as needle marks and bruising, heart, live, or kidney problems, and collapsed veins. Skin sores and infections are also common. Unfortunately heroin use only has three likely outcomes, addiction, tolerance, and dependence. All can quickly lead to overdose that can cause brain damage, coma, and death. None of these options are healthy and all will require help to end the use of the drug. Help is available.

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

At DARA Rehab heroin addiction can be treated effectively. The first steps are detox and a highly trained staff will help the user to successfully treat this part of the addiction and then help toward further recovery. DARA accomplishes this with individualized treatment plans and an overall wellness approach to mind, body, and spirit. DARA Thailand offers the added bonuses of being in a tropical setting at a redesigned resort that is still highly affordable. Anyone can seek treatment at DARA and should if heroin is a problem. This change in setting can make the actual recovery process much easier. When the first parts of recovery have passed DARA will help each person design a recovery and discharge plan to continue moving forward on their journey. If you or someone you love needs help, waste no more time and check out DARA Thailand today.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction Assessment.

addictions

Addictions – People, Places, Things

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

Addictions do not discriminate. Addiction does not care if you are black, white, fat, thin, rich, poor, male, or female. Addiction will touch every family in the world in some way, whether through the community or a friend or family member. Someone who is an addict may have a very difficult time coming to the realization that they are addicted and that this has a negative effect on their lives (or your life). When you or your loved one is ready to admit a problem exists a large breakthrough has been made in the recovery process. Now the next step is seeking treatment. Some with addictions may choose inpatient treatment and others may function well with out patient counseling. Regardless of what one chooses there are a few things that either choice have in common.

Help For Addictions

When choosing which type of help one wants to get into and stay in recovery long term there are many things that must be considered. The person must truly assess their addiction to determine whether in-patient or out patient would work best. Out patient counseling is typically beneficial in behavioral addictions and in some cases where doses of medication need to be tapered down. However, all types of addiction can be treated in-patient. It sometimes takes days or weeks to get into an in-patient program and during this time it can be tempting to use again so some basic steps should be taken to limit this temptation.

People

These basic steps are focused on being aware of oneself and the surroundings. In fact the awareness falls into three categories: people, places, and things. The first, people is very important. As you are just beginning the road to recovery there will be people in your life who are angry that you have stopped using. These could be dealers or just friends who have gotten used to sharing your addiction. These people may be rude or pushy trying to convince you to use again. Stay strong in your resolve and avoid these people as often a possible.

Places

The second area of concern is places. Just as people, there are certain places that will entice an addict to use. This may be a favorite place to drink, a certain house in which using is acceptable. Or even a street where you typically bought drugs are places that should be avoided. This may mean taking a different route to places or avoiding some areas altogether for a time.

Things

The final area of concern are things. This may seem like an odd addition, but for addicts this will make sense. Remove any drug related items from your home and anywhere you spend a significant amount of time. This includes things like needles and tubing, but should also include any item that was always or often present while using. Perhaps you turned the radio up in the bathroom when shooting up, remove the radio immediately. Maybe you enjoyed listening to a particular selection when getting high, remove these songs from your playlist. It may seem odd at first but simple things can become triggers, especially in early recovery.

If you can avoid your triggers and the people, places, and things that can cause you to fail in your early attempts until you can get professional help then you are more likely to be successful. Stay strong in these early days of fighting your addiction and get the help that is needed and desired. Your life will be much better for the work you are putting into your future.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

LGBTQ Community

LGBTQ Community and Addiction

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

It is estimated that 30 percent of the LGBTQ community abuse substance of one type or another. This compares to about nine percent of the general population. Substance abuse and substance addiction is a particularly troublesome issue for the LGBTQ community. The reasons for which which I will discuss below. That rate of substance abuse, that is more than three times that of the general average, should raise some eyebrows.

For many people who identify as LGBTQ, there are stressors and triggers which precipitate substance abuse which the straight community never has to deal with. For example, LGBTQ people often live with a general fear of persecution from the straight community. The fear of being judged as abnormal in a straight-dominant world can lead people to feelings of oppression and persecution. These people live with a constant fear of rejection in the work-place, in their own families, and in society in general. Manny LGBTQ people feel compelled to live a double life in response to this fear. Presenting themselves to the public or to their own families in a way which denies themselves who they really while trying to live their lives in a way that is consistent with their own self-identities.

This combination of fear and living a double life creates enormous stress; many people who live this way will attempt self-medication with drugs and alcohol to relieve this stress.

Another factor that leads to the high rate of substance abuse among LGBTQ people is the emotional trauma many of these people live with as a result of abuse for who and what they are. Many of these people have been victims of homophobia and other forms of abusive discrimination. Many are victims of violence from society and even from family members who reject who they are. The trauma, often unresolved or even properly treated, that persists from this type of abuse can lead to excessive drinking and drug abuse. It is well known that victims of trauma frequently seek relief in drugs and alcohol. The temporary numbing that comes for booze and drugs may be the only outlet some of these people have to deal with trauma.

These two things combined, fear of persecution and trauma, often lead to profound isolation. Isolation alone is a serious trigger of drug and alcohol abuse. Anyone who feels isolated from society is prone to substance abuse. Isolation, fear, and trauma are a deadly combination. This issue becomes even more complex for members of the LGBTQ community who may find companionship in people who are living with the same issues. Thus they not only succumb to substance abuse but find a community of people who are also caught up in the cycle of substance abuse.

Members of the LGBTQ community can find help. They can find communities of their own who are in recovery and have lived with the same or similar struggles. They find understanding listeners and communities of people who know about the struggles they have endures. There are treatment programs especially for the LGBTQ community also. Even as the statistics can be alarming, there are also signs of hope and recovery.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

DARA Rehab Thailand

Dara Rehab Thailand

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

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.