The 12 step model works for some, but many addicts are left still struggling with their addictions after completing the 12 steps. One reason may be that the acknowledgment of a higher power, one of the 12 steps, does not go over well with atheists. Once you start pretending on one step, why not pretend through the rest as well?

Non 12 step alcohol rehab and non 12 step drug rehab also do not consider all addictions a disease that the addict “caught”. Non 12 step programs stress personal responsibility and recovery, not lifelong counseling and constantly being a recovering addict.

Not everyone wants to be considered a recovering addict for the rest of their lives. Some people find that an addiction was brought on suddenly, perhaps by a major, life changing event. They need to know that they can be cured, and not live with the sigma of being an addict for the rest of their lives. For these people, a non 12 step program may be the answer.

Other choices for addicts include biophysical. This involves cleansing the body of build up toxins from drugs or alcohol. Once the toxins are removed from the body, biophysical program claim that the cravings for drugs or alcohol are reduced. When toxins are left in the body, residual traces may find their way into the bloodstream, causing intense cravings and relapses.

Whichever program an addict decides upon, it should be an informed choice. Non 12 step alcohol rehab and non 12 step drug rehab and biophysical drug rehab are simply less well-known treatment options that deserve consideration. When traditional methods continuously fail, perhaps the addict is not to blame. Another treatment program may work instead. All individuals are different, and their addictions require different types of treatments.

Drug Rehab education, referral, addiction treatment, drug rehabilitation, and professional intervention services. We can help find an effective non 12 step drug rehab.

There are many types of support available for drug recovery. Although the choices can be overwhelming, it is important to only make the right choices. (It was the bad choices that got you there in the first place.)

There are faith based recovery programs, medical rehab centers, inpatient recovery programs, and outpatient counseling treatment. There are so many choices that an addict may feel frustrated. Choosing the right drug recovery program requires something very important: help!

As you examine your options, involve a close friend or family member who you trust to make the right decisions for you. Even if you are not a religious person, you may benefit from a faith based recovery program, especially if there has been something missing in your life.

In any case, you should always begin with detox, followed by the right counseling programs that work for you. Until you are ready to live sober, you should continue to participate in these programs. In fact, even when you are ready for sober living… ongoing support should still be participated in completely.

A recovery home is for those who have an especially difficult time staying sober. Severe cases of addiction tend to take longer to recover from, or are more difficult to treat. The best kind of support is one that will help you to become self sufficient, so staying sober temporarily does not mean you can live sober.

A drug recovery home will extend your full-time treatment, including (but not limited to:) supervised restriction from relapse, positive activities and nutritious meals, counseling and treatment for any underlying disorders or causes for addiction, training and exercises that prepare you for the act of sober living, and even career training. (Some drug recovery homes will even have a job placement program.)
It is not always the best option for everyone, and the person you choose to help you find the best recovery program should also communicate (with your permission) with your primary addiction counselor to help decide on the best course of action.

Typically, this is an inpatient and residential treatment program providing ongoing support after you have detoxified and participated in rehab counseling. A drug recovery home is for those still having a hard time adjusting to sober living, including severe cases of addiction and those who only went to rehab for medical or legal purposes.

Your own strength and will are vital elements that determine your ability to stay sober after rehab. If you have the strength and will to live sober, then you may not need a drug recovery home. Other options, such as sober companionship or sober coaching, are alternatives to consider over a drug recovery home.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and you need help finding the best drug recovery home, please contact your local rehab center today for a free, no obligation consultation.

More Information about Axistreatment for visit:
Sober House California
Transitional Housing California

With both types of addiction, the individual loses control over choices, and ultimately, life situations. One of the challenges of using the more traditional type of treatment for these addictions is that the body may not being provided with proper support once it has gone through withdrawal. Neurofeedback, in addition to helping the person end their addiction to drugs and alcohol, may also help keep the person sober.

Neurofeedback, or ‘biofeedback for the brain’, can be used in conjunction with other therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The attending doctor or clinician may also recommend getting involved with a good support group.

Although numerous therapies support the recovery and maintenance of the person addicted to drugs and alcohol, the following treatments seem to be the most effective, whether as individual therapies, or in combination with other forms of treatment.

- Neurofeedback – With this, the individual has the unique opportunity to retrain the brain so that the stressful situations, which would previously cause the person to turn to an addictive substance for relief, may no longer have that effect. Often, biofeedback and/or neurofeedback would be used along with various techniques of relaxation to help during withdrawal, and then to curb cravings.

- Homeopathy for Addiction – A number of treatment options are available using homeopathy – and often this would be coupled with neurofeedback for the best results.

- Meditation – Another excellent method for helping addicts get through the withdrawal phase and maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle is with various meditation therapies. Yoga, visualization, and imagery all work well as individual therapies, but when coupled with neurofeedback, the results can be astounding.

- Hypnotherapy – Some holistic doctors also recommend hypnotherapy as a means to end drug and/or alcohol addiction. Again, this can be highly beneficial for its purpose but when used along with neurofeedback, the results may be better, recovery quicker, and cravings dramatically reduced to help the person stay clean.

- Nutritional Therapy – It is common for doctors to have the addict go through nutritional therapy when using neurofeedback for drug and alcohol addiction, since dealing with some degree of malnutrition is quite possible for those in recovery. After all, both drugs and alcohol wreak havoc on the body, so the goal is to let neurofeedback help with the mind and nutritional therapy help with the body.

Anyone trying to overcome an addiction with drugs or alcohol needs to know that they have viable solutions that are 100% natural and safe. After making the decision to ‘come clean’, knowing that there are methods for getting through the withdrawal phase and then living a healthy life without depending on drugs eliminates a tremendous amount of stress. It is never too late to begin anew, and neurofeedback, with or without other forms of therapies could be the perfect answer.

For more information about Neurofeedback, go to http://www.NeurofeedbackBook.com

Dr. Clare Albright is a psychologist (CA License PSY11660) and a Neurofeedback practitioner and can be reached at (949)454-0996

In the case of drugs such as heroin or cocaine, using is definitely a morning to night occupation. The addict will wake up and look to see how much drug there is for that day’s consumption. If the supply is low, the planning of how to get more of the drug takes up the morning’s activities. Faked prescriptions, phone calls to borrow money, scams, and other methods of getting the price of drugs together is always first on the to-do list.

A professional, a regular father or mother with an addiction to prescription drugs must spend huge amounts of time and energy getting, using, and then hiding their activities.

Removing drug addiction from your life has the magnificent benefit returning all that attention and time. Freeing up the actions and the communication feels wonderful. All the feelings of guilt and shame begin to heal and the future is wide open.

Strategy 2

Get busy and use that new free time!

The first few months off of drugs is a very delicate period for anyone. The urges can come often and sometimes hard. Thoughts of using will be occurring at the most inopportune times.

What’s the old expression? “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Free time is NOT a good thing right now.

A new project, a hobby or plunging into work with a vengeance can make this period go by faster and much easier. Everyday you stay off drugs brings you closer to the time when your addiction is just a memory.

You might not feel like doing anything at all, but you need to pour the effort into it and get your but up and make something happen. Being drug-free is great, even if it doesn’t feel so great yet. But it isn’t worth much if you don’t actually go out and accomplish something, something that you can be proud of. A little overwork could be a good thing to take your mind off drugs.

The pull of addiction will be much less if your attention is fully outward and you are focused on something that you are doing that is worthwhile. Remember, you have a life to rebuild and you can’t rebuild it when you’re sitting around, trying to resist. You are actually intensifying the urges by wallowing in your cravings. The sooner you let those go, the sooner they will begin to let up.

Keep your attention outward and forward. More on that in the next article:

Next in this series: How to Keep the Urges at Bay

Tony Bylsma CCDC, is a rehabilitation counselor and drug prevention speaker in Los Angeles

tony@TheRoadOut.org

http://www.TheRoadOut.org

Think of it like this; if you broke your leg and there were serious complications that kept you from walking for a very long time, your doctor would prescribe a therapy program to help you regain strength in your leg and help you walk again, and you would defiantly undertake and follow this therapy program, but for the chronic alcoholic and drug addict, one of the ugly effects of this deadly disease makes the alcoholic think he is OK, and doesn’t need help, and even after quitting drinking without aftercare this hideous disease will soon take over and he or she will again drink.

Depending how you got sober, there are many different ways that you could develop a recovery plan to continue and maintain your sobriety so that you can reenter your life and build upon the sobriety skills you have recently learned that help you to not drink or use drugs one day at a time.

If you detoxed in a private care facility, then you will have an aftercare specialist that will work with you to build a aftercare plan that you will use when you leave the detox facility. The aftercare specialist will go over options for continuing your sobriety, such as AA or NA meetings, attending private counseling sessions, and securing a sober living home. Each part of your sober recovery plan will help you slowly regain your physical, emotional, and spiritual strength while you build a new foundation in your new world of sobriety with healthy structure for every part of your new sober life, and with each new day you continue to stay sober you will see how important your recovery plan was.

By going to 12th step meetings, you will be building and maintaining a support group of individuals that have had the same problems and issues and know how you feel. Your support group is always there for you, and even late at night when the urge to drink or use drugs can be extremely hard, you will have phone numbers of your new friends in sobriety you can call to help you get through that tough situation.

Choosing to move into a sober living home will also help you with your day to day transition into your new sober life, by having people close to you who can help you when you have questions or issues pop up. Sober living is also very important for men and women who were once in abusive living situations, or when the place there were living before they got sober is not a safe environment and where a spouse or loved one is still drinking or abusing drugs.

Your commitment to staying sober one day at a time includes everything you do in your new sober life as well as following your recovery plan that will help you strengthen and reinforce your new life in sobriety…One day at a Time!

To find a Sober Living home in Southern California visit Orange County Sober Living Rob Fleming is a freelance writer for hire whose articles appear on many popular blogs and websites. He has authored hundreds of articles on website promotion using article marketing. Visit his blog at http://www.rlfleming.com.

Drug-Addiction-Support.org

Admitting that drug addiction is a disease seems trite on the surface, but people look at drug addiction differently than they view heart disease, or cancer, or the common cold. There is always blame attached to drug addiction. There is always an accusatory finger to be pointed at the one who suffers from drug addiction disease.

Many in society assert that the addict is entirely to blame. There is not the same kind of sympathy for drug addicts that there is for smokers with cancer, or people with diabetes and heart disease. They are not viewed as people suffering from a disease.

The reasoning for society not being sympathetic to the addict is simple. People get hooked because they chose to take the drug in the first place. John Q. Public sees it that way and he can take the moral high ground because he didn’t take drugs and somebody else did. Maybe John Q. took the drugs but didn’t get hooked. People seeking a thrill might try a street drug like crack cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin because of the “rush,” the “high” they produce and chronic users are those who have developed a need far beyond merely wanting a thrill.

Prescription medications that are abused, such as OxyContin, are coveted because the effect is intense and even greater than the heroin they get on the street. Even if they don’t want a thrill, people can still become addicted to prescription medications just because they take more than the prescribed amount to feel better. In either case, nobody asked for their life to be ruined.

It may start innocently enough, but people get out of control. What started as a lark ends up as an albatross around their neck. It hangs there and the user can’t get rid of it. Regardless of how the disease started, the person is no longer in control of it and cannot break free of the disease’s power. People may have a few drinks, or enjoy a couple of trips to the buffet table, but sooner or later their body says it’s time to stop. With the addict, that “thing” that says stop isn’t there. They don’t get enough and continue, even long after another person has stopped. It’s the inability to stop that causes so much pain and suffering.

Whatever the drug of choice, intervention and treatment are necessary for the addict to return to a healthy lifestyle. The problem for the addict is that society has attached a stigma to the disease. Bad people are drug addicts. Weak people are drug addicts. Undesirable people are drug addicts. No, people become addicts; good people, nice people. The well-educated, the blue collar, the rich, the poor, all colors and types are all potential addicts. They can all contract the disease. No one is exempt.

Rev. Ned Wicker is a certified hospital chaplain working with drug and alcohol addiction. His website is: Drug-Addiction-Support.org

]]> http://helpdrugabuse.com/drug-addiction-is-a-disease/feed/ 0 http://helpdrugabuse.com/what-are-drug-addictions/ http://helpdrugabuse.com/what-are-drug-addictions/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:29:52 +0000 admin http://helpdrugabuse.com/?p=1032 A drug addiction is a compulsive disorder. Addiction can be of varied kinds, namely drugs, alcohol, gambling, spending, smoking, sex, eating or any other behavior. A person hit by this is often unsatisfied and restless. Drug addiction in layman’s terms would be dependence on chemicals or on unwanted plants for the sake of getting high. This disorder requires very high consumption of drugs in order to fulfill drug seeking behavior, and is very vulnerable to relapse.

The following are some of the most common drugs that are physically and mentally addictive.

1) Marijuana

Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs. The drug is excessively popular amongst teenagers. Commonly known as pot, weed, grass, herb, Maryjane, and the devil’s cabbage. The effects can last for around 1-3 hours. It can cause a lot of harm to the lungs and a person loses his or her concentration power. It causes severe smoking habits that are difficult to quit, and prolonged consumption can also lead to cancer. There are few addiction treatments available for marijuana abusers, because it is not considered physically addictive.

2) Alcohol

The general concepts of alcohol abuse are wrong. Alcoholism is “alcohol dependence.” Alcoholics are the ones who seek help for a problem related to his or her drinking. Symptoms are craving (a strong desire to drink), loss of control (the inability to save oneself from drinking any time), physical dependence (the aftereffects of quitting alcohol, such as nausea, sweating, and shakiness), and tolerance (the need drink more and more to get “drunk”). Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking or physical dependence. There are a lot of treatment facilities that treat alcoholism. Drug rehabilitation centers are also present, and most importantly an alcoholic requires emotional support from the near and dear ones.

3) Ecstasy

One of the more dangerous drugs, it can bring about deadly reaction in the abuser. According to some users its one of the hottest drugs around. Ecstasy is often referred to as disco biscuit, go, “X”, love drug, and hug drug. Ecstasy is one of the harshest drugs around, as it causes accelerated dehydration, overheating, and may eventually lead to death.

4) Cocaine

Also known as “crack” in layman’s words. It is a strongly addictive stimulant that affects the brain directly. It is one the most popular drugs. And is consumed in great amounts. Cocaine is consumed by either chewing, snorting, mainlining, injecting, or smoking. It’s effects include; increased energy, decreased appetite, mental alertness, high blood pressure, addiction, restlessness, and hallucinations. There has been an enormous amount of cocaine used over the years. It is one of the most common cited drugs around. As cocaine is a strong drug, it causes harsh effects on the mind and body so the treatment process is very harsh.

5) Methamphetamines

Methamphetamines are often called speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, crank, and glass. They are a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the central nervous system. It comes in many forms and can be snorted, smoked, orally ingested, or injected. Their effects are; increase in activity, hyperthermia, paranoia, hallucinations, stroke, and weight loss. It will usually remains present in the brain for a longer duration, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects.

6) Hallucinogens

These are drugs that causes hallucinations (illusory perception). Hallucinogens cause their effects by by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and then spread throughout the body. They are commonly known as acid, blotter, and blooter acid, dots, pane, and zen They generally react on the mind for around 12 hours within a span 30 minutes of administration. Prolonged use causes neural disorders and malfunctions of the brain.) It is one of the most highly addictive drugs. There is a misconception about this drug that it does not lead to addiction. Heroin is a processed form of morphine. It is often called smack, skag, and junk. The effects include; a rush, depression, abscesses, arthritis, and collapsed veins.

Addiction Forums

Meth Mouth

Drug Rehabilitation

]]> http://helpdrugabuse.com/what-are-drug-addictions/feed/ 0 http://helpdrugabuse.com/how-do-i-help-a-drug-addicted-person/ http://helpdrugabuse.com/how-do-i-help-a-drug-addicted-person/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:27:33 +0000 admin http://helpdrugabuse.com/?p=1028 Drug addiction perhaps is the worst thing a person could do to his life. It does not only ruin his physical appearance, his psychological, emotional, financial and social well being. And the sad part here is that drug abuse and addiction does not classify, it affects men, women and children of all ages, races, cultures and socio-economic strata.

The trail to drug addiction begins with that first act of taking drugs the next thing you know your addicted to it! Over time, a person may need more of the drug to get the same effect. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behaviour. Drug addiction makes drug use a compelling need, not a casual choice.

For the past years drug addicts were labelled as flawed people with weak moral characters who withdraw from life’s difficulties and pressures by getting high and disappearing into their own psychedelic worlds as an author said. But I would have to disapprove that drug addicts should be regarded as like that…I knew a lot of drug addicted people out there. Discrimination is not what they needed …help is what they really need in situations like that.

First thing you should do if you are suspecting a friend, a relative or a loved one as being drug addicted is to assess the signs and symptoms of drug abuse. Once you are sure that somebody is hooked with addictive drugs, never confront him directly. Explore his feelings, find out what’s going on with him…find out if he has problem or what. Emphasize the importance of getting help from a rehab centre. Drug rehab is available nowadays in a wide array of shapes and sizes, from very basic outpatient detox through fully immersive and involved rural retreats in beautiful locations. Some people naturally assume one is better than the other, or that the length and price of that stay should be key indicators of their effectiveness. In fact, the only true measure of a drug rehab treatment centre’s value is its success rate with addicts. Finding the best and most suitable drug rehab centre is a must. There’s nothing as great as being a help for someone who thinks he is helpless with his drug addiction.

Rehab Today (Perry Clayman Project) is a detox and addiction recovery clinic that caters to various forms of addiction like alcohol, drugs, gambling, cocaine, crack and more. This Addiction Rehab centre provides detoxification and treatments that targets the root cause of Alcohol Problem, Drug Abuse, Gambling and more.

]]> http://helpdrugabuse.com/how-do-i-help-a-drug-addicted-person/feed/ 0 http://helpdrugabuse.com/drug-addiction-uncontrollable-repetition-of-a-behavior/ http://helpdrugabuse.com/drug-addiction-uncontrollable-repetition-of-a-behavior/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:26:24 +0000 admin http://helpdrugabuse.com/?p=1026 Drug addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior that is regardless of its negative consequences. A person who gets addicted to drug is called an addict. There are three types of drug addiction:

§ Physical dependence – physical dependency addiction refers to appearance of a special withdrawal symptom that occurs when the drug is suddenly discontinued. Drugs like benzodiazepines; opioids, barbiturates, alcohol, anti-depressants, cortisones and beta-blockers are examples for causing physical dependency.

§ Psychological addictions – show dependency of mind and social dysfunctions that lead to psychological withdrawal symptoms.

§ Eating disorders – sometimes these are also considered to be psychological disorders and are treated as elements of addictive behavior. It happens with items like chocolate, caffeine, and sugar and makes the sufferers experience elements of addictive behavior.

Side effects of the drugs

The side effects of drugs are huge and they often cause serious problems in human beings. The side effects include inability to sleep, loss of appetite, pupil dilation, stress and anxiety, stomach ulcers, constant drowsiness and blood circulation problems.

Following are the effects of other drugs:

§ Amphetamines – makes the addict face heart and circulatory risks, paranoia, distortions of reality and even at times hallucinations.

§ Cocaine – effects are it sends the body into overdrive, speeds up the heart rate, results in nausea, high body temperature, muscle reflexes, cramps, sudden heart attacks, severe mood swings, corrosion of nasal cavity and schizophrenia.

Drug addiction treatments

There are various drug addiction treatments that help people to escape from chronic addiction problems.

Following are the treatments:

§ Matrix model – the strict and personal therapist acts as your friend and performs intense drug addiction treatments.

§ Relapse prevention – this treatment offers you to control your behavior, learn to identify dangerous situations and avoid them. It helps you to increase your learning processes and developing your defense skills.

§ Supportive-Expressive psychotherapy – it works through interpersonal links that creates your sphere of comfort and teaches you to trust in other people’s support. It is specially helpful and comfortable for heroine and cocaine addicts.

§ Behavioral Therapy for adolescents – it provides schemes for rewarding people who stop taking drugs.

§ Multidimensional Family Therapy [MDFT] – it offers interesting approach for addicts who suffer from dysfunctional family problems.

§ Motivational enhancement Therapy – it tries to concentrate on the addict’s will that help them to fight infection.

Individualized drug counseling is a drug addiction treatment that not only concentrates on drug addiction but also on related subjects like family problems and employment status.

Author Barney Garcia is a proud contributing author and enjoys writing about many different topics. Please visit my web sites @ www.drug-addiction-help.info and www.drug-free.info

]]> http://helpdrugabuse.com/drug-addiction-uncontrollable-repetition-of-a-behavior/feed/ 0 http://helpdrugabuse.com/a-look-at-drug-addiction-2/ http://helpdrugabuse.com/a-look-at-drug-addiction-2/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:25:20 +0000 admin http://helpdrugabuse.com/?p=1024 Drug addiction is a complicated disorder which may involve practically every aspect of an individual’s life in the family, at work, and amongst friends. It is actually a brain disease as the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and the functioning of the individual’s brain. Drug addiction costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year and is a major public health concern for all of us, as it is a chronic relapsing disorder, which means that it lasts a long time and individuals who are trying to quit are apt to start using drugs again.

Addiction

Drug abuse causes changes in the brain, which then leads to certain behaviour, like taking the drug compulsively, but drug addicts can learn to change their behaviour. This addiction is influenced by a range of factors which involve one’s genes, environment, and the age of the person when drugs were first used. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a vicious cycle that can destroy lives, families, friendships, and anything else it comes into contact with, and the individual can become addicted to many drugs, not just so called street drugs like heroin. It should be understood as a chronic recurring illness.

Treatment

Drug addiction treatment is for people who find themselves not able to cope with life without drugs or alcohol and can be described as the therapeutic and educational process of initiating recovery. When it comes to prescription drug addiction, one of the main problems is that it is a hidden disorder. The treatment of drug addiction can vary widely according to the sort of drugs used, amount of drugs involved, duration of the drug addiction and any medical complications that occur.

Any treatment also has to take into account the needs of the individual concerned. Treatment for drug addiction is administered in many different settings, employing a selection of behavioural and pharmacological approaches and can be tailored to each patient’s drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems they may have. This can then hopefully lead to sustained recovery and a life without drugs. Treatment medications, such as LAAM, methadone, and naltrexone, are available for any patient who is addicted to opiates.

Conclusion

It’s a sad fact that drug addiction along with alcohol addiction is the number one cause of death among young people. The good news is that although breaking a drug addiction can be extremely difficult, it is by no means impossible. Obtaining the correct treatment is absolutely vital in an effort to end this compulsive behaviour.

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