TreatmentTalk – drug addiction

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie

The following is a guest post by Art Coburn.

It is not impossible to overcome addictions. Many people have done so, and moved on to happy, healthy lives. However, putting an addiction behind you is not a fast, simple process. There are a number of things you must do to succeed. A life of sobriety can be yours.

It Is Necessary To Acknowledge The Problem

If you want to overcome addictions, you need to realize they exist. While this may sound logical, you may be surprised at how many people cannot recognize they have an addiction even when it is very clear. For true recovery to begin, start by acknowledging that you have lost control over your drug or alcohol use. This is an essential step in getting substances out of your life.

Recovery Requires Complete Abstinence

If recovery is your goal, you need to abstain from drinking and using drugs. You cannot use smaller amounts, or switch to a different substance. Your mind and body must be completely free of all substances if you wish to recover. If your doctor has given you any prescription medication, ask him to recommend one that is not addictive, or a different form of treatment altogether.

There Is No One Method That Works Equally Well For Everyone

There are many different resources available to help addicts and alcoholics recover from addictions. Some of the most popular are inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, and 12-Step programs. The method that is right for you is the one that works for you. If you are not certain of which resource to choose, you can ask your physician for advice.

One of the most popular choices people use when choosing a rehab would be the conventional drug and alcohol treatment center. In this type of rehab setting the patient can be detoxed medically if necessary. They will also be monitored by trained staff members around the clock every day some of which are recovering addicts themselves. The clients will be required to attend 12 step meetings, group, lectures, and individual substance counseling sessions.

The most important thing one can do while they are in rehab is to keep an open mind and pay attention to the lectures and when you are in your counseling session be absolutely honest. I good rule of thumb is to talk about the things you will not talk to anyone else about and share from your heart.

Overcoming Addictions Means Many Changes

There is much more to recovery than getting and staying clean. While this is the first step, there is more you need to do to reach your goal of a sober life. The attitudes and behaviors you have had while drinking or using drugs must change. The people you associate with, and the places where you spend your free time, may also need to be changed. In addition to not associating with people who drink and use, you have to learn how to get along with individuals who have never had these issues. You may also have relationships, work, or other issues that require your attention. When full recovery is your goal, there are many changes you must make in your life.

Take Care to Not Develop New Addictions

When you have alcohol and drugs out of your life, you could be tempted to take on other habits. Whether it is sleeping all day, going overboard with exercise, or putting an unreasonable amount of time into a hobby, behaviors can become addictions. Some can even cause a chemical change in your brain. It is important to stay alert to any behavior that is claiming large amounts of your time. Your family members and friends can be greatly helpful with this aspect of your recovery process. If a certain behavior is obsessive and compulsive, you should take steps to break the habit. If you need assistance in doing so, ask for help.

Key Takeaways

When you want to overcome addictions, you must start by acknowledging a true problem exists.
Realize that you cannot recover without complete abstinence. You cannot substitute one drug for another if sobriety is the goal.
Whether you have tried to give up alcohol or drugs in the past, or only recently noticed the need to quit, reaching out for help is the way to succeed. Very few alcoholics and addicts are reaching their goals alone. You can give yourself the best start by asking for help today.

Art Coburn is the founder of the Drug Addiction Therapy Guy website. He has been in recovery and helping recovering addicts for several years.

take care,

Have you downloaded your copy of 101 Natural Highs for an Amazing Drug-Free Life? Click HERE to get your copy.

How to Help Yourself and Get Your Life Back

This is a guest post by Todd Branston.

Having a difficult time staying sober?? Maybe it’s not you – maybe it’s brain chemistry.

You know the drill: you have spent countless hours in meetings, on the phone with your sponsor asking endless questions about your desire to use. You have worked the steps and you’ve even consulted specialists. In a moment of desperation you found help by attending treatment.

You’re able to rack up six to twelve months, but eventually you find yourself in the throes of your addiction. None of this seems to work. You find yourself questioning your commitment and ability to stay sober. Maybe your sponsor was right when he said you lack willingness.

Not so fast….

What you are likely experiencing is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome or PAWS.

PAWS consist of a set of impairments that occur immediately and at times simultaneously after the withdrawal from alcohol or other substances. These impairments affect three distinct areas of functioning and last six to eighteen months from the last use of alcohol or drugs as your brain tries to regain homeostasis.

Some of these impairments include cognitive problems like racing thoughts, rigidity, numbing of emotions, difficulty with abstract thinking and poor attention span, all of which are prevalent during this time. Emotional difficulties include shame and guilt, as well as difficulties with resentments. Depression is common during this time and may lead to relapse as the addict is generally not prepared to deal with the wealth of emotions they experience. The dearth of emotions can lead people close to the addict to believe they might have relapsed.

While some counselors and organizations support 100% abstinence as the only way to resolve addictive behaviors, this approach tends to come across as a ‘one size fits all’ solution to dealing with these impairments. While recovering from addictive behaviors it is remiss to not include an alternative approach without the mention of anti-craving medication as a treatment for PAWS.

Anti-craving medications may be appropriate for some individuals. The use of medication does not represent a weakness in one’s ability to recover from addictive behaviors. If anything, it should represent the idea that there is ‘another way’.

There are various medications that have been found to have efficacy in dealing with alcohol/drug cravings:

Prazosin is often prescribed to deal with PTSD and night terrors. It has been found to be successful among Opiate addicts and individuals using Cocaine and Methamphetamine.

Acamprosate is used to treat Alcohol cravings. In addition to its apparent ability to help patients refrain from drinking, evidence suggests that Acamprosate is neuroprotective. It has been shown that it can protect neurons from damage and death caused by the effects of alcohol withdrawal.

Naltrexone has been prescribed for Opiate cravings but is largely recommended as a treatment for alcohol abuse. It is also available in a monthly injectable form under the trade name of Vivitrol.

Baclofen and Topiramate have found therapeutic utility for Cocaine and Alcohol cravings.

While Methadone and Antabuse have found success in treating addictive disorders, they are not seen as anti-craving medications. Antabuse is a deterrent to drinking as it prevents the breakdown of alcohol. Some 5–10 minutes after alcohol intake, a person will experience the effects of a severe hangover for a period of 30 minutes up to several hours.

Methadone is a synthetic Opioid and has been used as part of an Opiate substitution regimen. The drug has found success in supporting long-term Heroin addicts to wean off the drug. In addition, Methadone has been used as a pain management protocol due to its long duration of action.

There is a fair amount of controversy around Methadone for Opiate substitution as the detractors point to length of time a patient uses the drug, suggesting that addicts are essentially substituting one drug for the next. Conversely The Addiction Recovery Institute points out the following benefits of Methadone Maintenance Treatment:

Reduced or stopped use of injection drugs
Reduced risk of overdose and of acquiring or transmitting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B or C, bacterial infections, endocarditis, soft tissue infections, thrombophlebitis, tuberculosis, and STDs
Reduced mortality – the median death rate of opiate-dependent individuals in MMT is 30 percent of the rate of those not in MMT
Possible reduction in sexual risk behaviors, although evidence on this point is conflicting
Reduced criminal activity
Improved family, employment and pregnancy outcomes

It is important to reinforce the notion that an approach of 100% abstinence as a singular modality is not for everyone. Medications can provide additional support but they should not be seen as a complete solution. The goal of the medication should be to offset cravings and free up “emotional space” for the newly recovering person to add support in the form mutual aid groups, group or individual therapy, connection with a community of faith, exercise or involvement in an alcohol and drug treatment program.

Todd Branston has been working in the field of addictions for over 27 years, within the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as working in the Department of Corrections, the Director of Counseling for a large chemical dependency hospital, to where he’s currently employed doing in-home chemical dependency engagement with (mostly) seniors.

He is part of an experts forum on chemical dependency, and has a contract gig running the chemical dependency program for a long-term transitional program to support people to overcome homelessness. His sense is that sobriety is a skill and that recovery looks different for everybody. Feel free to check out his podcasts at askanaddictioncounselor.com.