Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers

Rehabilitation is the term used to refer to the restoration of lost capabilities or the treatment used to heal a body from ailments. Alcohol addicts are usually admitted to an alcohol rehabilitation center. Alcohol addiction begins with a casual curiosity or peer pressure. It affects the brain and creates a desire to consume more alcohol resulting into addiction. Typically, a person starts consuming alcohol to obtain relief from his problems. Alcohol addiction affects a person's life in all spheres.

A rehabilitation center begins treatment by studying all the psychological factors of the patient, including their social background and the degree of addiction of a patient, to decide a course of treatment. A patient is counseled, and sometimes given medication. There is a whole range of treatments to choose from. The time required for recovery varies from one person to another. Money can be a major constraint for treatment. Apart from a few charitable centers, most treatment programs are expensive.

While choosing a rehabilitation center, it is of prime importance that the patient is kept away from the people or surroundings where this addiction began. In the initial stage of addiction, an outpatient treatment program may be sufficient. Patients with an acute history of alcohol addiction may require an inpatient treatment program wherein a patient is supervised and his progress is monitored 24 hours a day. This treatment may be in a hospital or a residential surrounding which offers supervision like a hospital.

Almost all major cities have well-equipped rehabilitation centers. Rehab centers not only work towards treating a patient, but also towards ensuring that the patients do not revert back to the addiction. They restore the addict's lost faith and confidence. These patients come out as confident individuals ready to face life with renewed vigor.

To discover more about rehabilitation center visit http://www.paxhouse.org/

Fighting Against Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a growing menace in the society. Anyone can be a victim of it, disregarding age, gender and ethnicity. Substance abuse can be broadly defined as the situation in which the use of a substance causes a detrimental effect on the physical and mental condition of an individual. Further, substance abuse can also have devastating effect on the financial, social and even legal standing in the society of a person.

The 'substance' in substance abuse can be almost anything. It can be either legal or illegal. Even the non-prescribed use of prescriptive medicines has and can be termed as substance abuse. In cases of substance abuse, injections, inhaling and oral usage of the substance is common. However, sniffing and smoking of the said substance is also seen in some cases.

Maybe the most common way of substance abuse is the non-prescribed use of prescribed medicines. Simply put, an overdose of sleeping pills prescribed by a doctor is substance abuse. Alternately, taking any substance into the body in any other way than as prescribed by the doctor is substance abuse.

Other than prescribed medicines, alcohol, drugs and other intoxicating substances have been abused commonly. Drug dependency, drug addiction, and drug addiction are examples and also results of substance abuse.

Some of the most common substances people are dependent on are alcohol and nicotine. Alcoholics Anonymous is perhaps the most famous alcohol de-addiction support group. Alcoholics Anonymous is an informal de-addiction center for smokers who wish to quit smoking. The groups are locally found and their numbers may vary depending on the area and the regions. Alcoholics Anonymous has a program that it popularly calls as the 'twelve step' program, which has been known to be very effective and actually instrumental in helping alcoholics combat their alcoholism.

The reasons behind substance abuse are many. Some people may take to substance abuse simply because of peer pressure, while others may take to substance abuse to combat stress. There have been some cases where individuals have taken a liking to a taste of a certain medicine, and continued using them even they were no longer needed to be used.

The results of the consequent substance abuse are too serious to be neglected. Substance abuse seriously hampers the social life of a person. Substance abuse also comes between the family and work obligations of a person. Depending on the depth and type of substance abuse, it can also hamper the financial standing of an individual.

Substance abuse rehabilitation is therefore important for a person who is dependent on any controlled substance. It can eliminate the addiction of the person and lead him or her to a more enriched life.

To discover more about substance abuse visit http://www.paxhouse.org/

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Pax House - Facts About Teens And Drug Use

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What to Look for in a Rehab Center

If a loved one of yours has suffered from substance abuse and addiction, the kindest help you can offer is to put him in a rehabilitation center where the most knowledgeable professionals can treat him with his condition. A rehab center is a venue where medical or psychotherapeutic treatment is done, for individuals who have been dependent on psychoactive substances, including alcohol, prescription drugs, and street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines.

When looking for a rehabilitation center, there are several factors you need to consider as suggested by a rehab in Los Angeles.

1. Location – The location of the rehab center has a major effect in the treatment process of the victim. Choose one that is located in a serene, calm place and away from the everyday troubles and worries of life that may only add to the stress of the victim. Most ideal rehab centers are located in the country side, foot of the mountain, or similar places.

2. Treatment Program – Different rehab centers present different treatment programs. Before signing up in one, make sure that you were able to review and evaluate each program from each center. Choose one with the a well-studied plan and program and worth every penny you will spend. The most ideal rehab treatment programs do not only include counselling and therapy, but sports, physical conditioning, art, music, and other leisure activities.

3. Therapists, Doctors, and Counselors – The professional staff of a rehab center plays a big part in the overall success of the treatments for the victims. Check the list of the center’s staff and evaluate their credentials. If you need to do research and background investigation, do so in order to make sure that the rehab center you will choose is a legit organization.

These are just some of the important factors that you need to keep in mind and consider when choosing a rehab center for a friend or a loved one. Remember, the success of the treatment depends highly on the quality and excellence of rehabilitation center. For more information about rehab in Los Angeles, visit http://www.paxhouse.org/Los_Angeles_Rehab.html.

What You Need to Know about Substance Abused Drugs

Drug abuse occurs most among adolescent and young adults who are looking for new sensation and hope that these substances will increase their mental functioning and develop an ability to understand themselves better. According to a California rehab facility, many people take drugs incorrectly because they are very unhappy or discontented with their life.

Substance or drug abuse differs among cultural group, ethics, and socioeconomic, and is broadly defined as excessive self-administration of a drug that could result in addiction, physical dependence, and even harm to the individual’s health. A cancer patient who takes large doses of opiates to control pain, for example, is not considered to be a drug abuser. However, an otherwise healthy person self-administering large doses of opiates is.

Categorizing Abusive Drugs

Central Nervous System Depressants – These include alcohol, marijuana, narcotics (opiates), and Analgesic like pentazoacine (Talwin), sedation, hypnotics, antipsychotic and antianxiety drugs

Central Nervous System Stimulants – These include cocaine, amphetamines, and caffeine among others.

Mind-Altering or “Psychedelic” Drugs – These include lysergic acid, diethylamide, and mescaline.

Characteristic of drug addiction include compulsive drug use, drug craving, and drug seeking. Addiction is physical dependence.  A person who takes a drug for a while may not be able to stop taking it without experiencing dangerous physical effects that may even end in death.

Symptoms of Drug Withdrawal

Withdrawal is the physical side effects, such as nausea and consciousness, which results when the drug is discontinued. Not all drugs cause addiction. Many people find that they very much want to go on using a particular drug even though they are not physically dependent on it. They will not be ill if they do not get the drug. But if they can get it, they find it difficult or impossible not to take it. These people are psychologically dependent on drug.

Tolerance is another problem relating to drugs. Psychological dependence is an intense desire or craving for the drug when it is not available. 

Many people who take drugs and associate a great deal with others who take them become very careless about their personal appearance and physical health. They do not get enough sleep or proper food and they are likely to suffer from infectious illness.

The best way to treat a drug abuse victim is to bring him to a California rehab facility where the right programs, treatments, therapies, and approaches are done by professional counselors. Pax House is a residential California drug treatment center that helps drug abuse victims recover from their problems. For more information, visit http://www.paxhouse.org.

Understanding Narcotics Problem

Billions of dollars are spent every year for the purchase of narcotics. Almost every government in the world prohibits its use because of its effects and consequences are too much of a risk and drug abuse is almost ambivalent to committing suicide. With the government’s concern with the wellness of its people, they pursue the perpetrators of this hazard and try to free the world from the firm grip of narcotics.

What do narcotics do to the human body and psyche that makes the world so concerned with the spreading epidemic?  We will try to explore the different kinds of narcotics, its effects, and possible solution if a person is addicted to it using information from a reliable California rehabilitation center.

Major Types of Drugs

Drugs have two major categories – stimulants and sedatives.  Stimulants, as the name implies, stimulates the body wherein it prevents sleep and gives emotional excitement.  Sedatives relieve pain and usually produce sleep.  It also reduces emotional anxiety in a mentally upset person. Examples of stimulants are cocaine and benzedrine.  Examples of sedatives are morphine, codeine, and various barbiturates. These drugs are usually medically used and thus the acquisition of which without medical prescription is strictly prohibited. 

Causes of Drug Addiction

Some of the possible causes of drug addiction are as follows.

Accidental Addiction – This occurs when a patient had a disease which required them to take a certain prohibited drug to relieve pain. Accidental addicts become addicted to the drug which they previously taken and thus continued to buy and take it into their system even when it is not necessary. 

Neurotic Addicts -- These people are the ones who take in drugs deliberately and the main reason is that they want to escape their world and find another that may let them forget about their problems that makes them sad, insecure and scared.

Psychopathic Addiction – Compared to the previous 2 addictions, this is considered as the hopeless cases of addicts.  These are the people who have personality disorder who are antisocial and cannot distinguish right from wrong.

Drug Abuse Treatment

The treatment for drug addiction involves committing himself or his family to facility where withdrawal symptoms can be treated, such as California rehabilitation centers. To learn more how these facilities help drug abuse patients recover their mental and physical health, visit Pax House website at http://www.paxhouse.org/CA_Drug_Treatment.html.

The Importance of Support Groups in Treating Substance Abuse

The complexity of the treatment of drug abuse paved the way for support groups to be established. Over the years, support groups have proven their worth in making sure that the patients are able to cope up thoroughly with the treatment. By definition, support groups are organizations of people who share the same sentiments on a particular substance. They meet together to discuss to one another their addiction and share experiences of its cause and other issues. In California rehabilitation centers, support groups are recognized as core element in the treatment of substance abuse.

Benefits of Support Groups

Aside from having someone who can relate to one’s sentiments, support groups do more than that. The biggest benefit of it is that it helps the patient feel that he or she is not alone in the whole process. Being in a group will develop new skills in coping up and patients can relate to the actual stories of others. As a result, the group with the same problems can support each other to make sure that their problem is dealt with certainty.

A person who is not fond of sharing personal information to anonymous people usually is uncomfortable at the start of the program. However, the fact that more people share their own personal stories, the patient will voice out his or her feelings eventually. Everything that happens in the support group will be kept confidential.

Support groups are small organizations. They will provide intimacy in knowing that the patient’s story is well-heard and the moderator can better organize its members. Typically, a support group consists of 10 members. They meet on a regular basis to discuss their actual experiences in coping up. The group leader, or the moderator, will initiate the meeting and see who among the members need further support.

Every substance abuse victim is a candidate for support group. By having an emotional support, aside from trusted loved ones, the patient can easily cope up with the addiction and all the problems that go with it. That is why it is highly recommended by all California rehabilitation centers. To know more, visit http://www.paxhouse.org/CA_Drug_Treatment.html.

Harmful Substances in Tobacco

Tobacco can be the safest substance among cocaine and other drugs, but it still imposes different health threats for individuals consuming it. In fact, not only are the users being at risked of developing diseases, even the people around them can acquire health problems by just inhaling the smoke. Tobacco is considered as an addictive substance since the body can be dependent on it. Tobacco addicts find it hard to quit, and they usually go through a California detox just to quit smoking.

Why tobacco is addictive remains to be a question to many. While most people know how it works inside the body, only a few are familiar with the specific substances it contains. Here are the substances in tobacco that makes it addictive and harmful.

·         Acetic acid is a powerful substance used in chemical plants. It is also chemically present in the body and causes health threats when the body produces too much of it. Inhaling tobacco means consuming more acetic acid which will make the blood become acidic. It also contains acetone, a known substance to remove nail polish, and ammonia which is a common ingredient in household cleaners.

·         Tobacco is found to contain arsenic, which is poisonous when taken in large quantities. Benzene and butane are also found in tobacco. The former is used in rubber cement, while the latter is used to produce fire. Carbon monoxide is a known substance to cause pollution, and cadmium is a mineral that is used in manufacturing batteries. All of which are contained in one stick of tobacco.

·         Other substances include formaldehyde, lead, hexamine, naphthalene, nicotine, tar, and toluene. Each of the ingredients will cause harmful effects to the body especially when taken in excessive amounts.

These substances contribute to the addictive nature of tobacco, and will cause health problems in the long run. Tobacco may seem harmless, but it does allow the body to be dependent on it. A person can smoke more than ten sticks a day, while others go beyond numbers. To know more about tobacco and how to quit smoking via California detox, visit http://www.paxhouse.org/Residential-Treatment.html.

How Support Groups Are Vital To Drug Abuse Recovery

In the treatment and intervention of drug abuse, the whole healthcare team is involved. The treatment process is so diverse that all personal issues have to be addressed. A drug abuse victim needs to cope up with issues regarding mental, behavioral, and even spiritual issues. The common treatments include medications, consultations, and of course, the support groups. Support groups are necessary as a patient can actually relate to the story of someone. In this way, coping up may seem to be more possible.

In a California rehab, support groups are considered vital to drug abuse recovery. Some facilities include it in their after-care program to ensure that all patients will live a life of sobriety. Support groups have far more advantages than medications and one-on-one consultations. A solid support system can be from new social network, family, friends, and other trusted individuals.

·         The influence of family and friends: The influence of the patient’s close social circle will make a big impact on recovery. This is an invaluable asset since the patient commonly trust family and friends more than anyone else. Turning to the loved ones, who will support the patient without judgment, is one of the greatest support groups that can help out in drug abuse recovery.

·         The support from new social circle: New connections are a great way to increase the influence of positive recovery.  A patient can be encouraged to join different groups such as in charities and non-profit organizations. Taking a class do to hobbies and sports is also a great way to meet new influences and pre-occupy the mind away from substance abuse.

·         The advantage of living in a sober home:  Sober homes usually are the last option, especially when the patient has no one to turn to, or when the living environment is not ideal for recovery. Sober living homes are well-operated by healthcare groups and the patient can relate from the story of fellow patients.

Support groups are very crucial in drug abuse recovery. This is also the reason why many California rehabs are requiring their patients to participate in such groups. 

The Truth about Opiates

Opiates are one of the most common substances of drug abuse. It is a narcotic drug responsible for altering the functions of the central nervous system. Humans have opiate receptors located in the brain. When these are taken, it can result to relaxation, sleepiness and decreased inhibition. These substances are created initially for medical purposes but due to its relaxing effects, it becomes a source of drug abuse. There are different kinds of opiates. These include heroin, morphine and codeine.

Despite the initiatives done by the government and other institutions, opiates remain to be overly consumed by millions of people. It contributes to the alarming rate of substance abuse in California. These are the truth behind opiates:

Opiates Are Were Made Safe

The use of opiates trace back from hundreds of years ago. In fact, it was used as a medicine by the ancient people. Opium plants were cultivated thousands of years ago (3400 BC) in the countries of Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Sumer. After many years, opium has gone through massive development and in the nineteenth century, morphine was discovered by Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertuner. The rest, as they say, was history. Over time, different kinds of opiates emerged and some of which are considered illegal, like the heroin.

The Addictive Process in Opiates

Opiates work by releasing more endorphins, which will provide a deep relaxing feeling. It stops the brain from producing its own endorphins and makes one for the body instead. This ‘switch’ of function is the reason for the addiction. The brain will shut down and the body will automatically search for other sources of endorphin. In this case, the huge craving to take another dose becomes strong. The impact of opiates is stronger than what the brain secretes. In fact, there are opiates that produce 100 times more endorphins and this imposes huge impact on the cells in the body.

Substance abuse in California includes the use of opiates. Every day, thousands of people are put into rehabilitation center due to addiction. This destroys health, personal perspectives and social relationships. Be sure to talk to the experts if you know someone addicted to opiates.

Commonly Prescribed Medications for Substance Abuse Treatment

Medications are important factors in the treatment of substance abuse. That is, aside from the therapy that the health providers do. There are different kinds of medications for a particular case but there are medicines prescribed for a certain substance. Every medication has a specific mechanism of action. It is good to know how certain medicine affects the body, keep in mind that its usage should be prescribed by doctors in rehab centers in California.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram has been prescribed by doctors over the years. It is specially formulated to help the patient cope up with alcohol addiction. This drug works by providing unpleasant effects to the body every time the patient drinks alcohol. Once the alcohol enters the body, Disulfiram will break it down immediately creating different reactions like nausea and flushing. Eventually, the patient will get tired of it and the addiction is treated.

Methadone

Methadone is commonly prescribed to treat patients with opiate addiction. This is often used when the patient has to undergo extensive treatment of drug abuse in which opiate withdrawal is experienced. The treatment process usually involves visiting the drug rehabilitation clinic to receive a dose of Methadone. This is done with psychological counseling and interventions. Methadone provides long-term maintenance as it eliminates withdrawal symptoms – that is, with continued after care program and monitoring.

Buprenorphine

This drug is fairly new in the market as it gained approval in 2002 for office-based treatment of opioid abuse. Basically, there are two forms of buprenorphine, the Suboxone and the Subutex. These drugs are used during the detoxification process and maintenance. Like any other drugs, it has to be in-line with regular psychological intervention to make sure that the patient will achieve a permanent drug-free life. One of the great advantages of buprenorphine is that the patient is not required to visit the rehabilitation clinic a few times a week. It can be administered right in the comfort of the patient’s home. However, the administration can be a taken for granted especially when it is not coupled up with after care programs.

 Other drugs are Naltrexon, Acamprosate and Levo-alpha Acetyl Methadol. These are prescribed according to the patient’s case by the health experts at rehab centers in California.