Answer Addiction

Tag: addiction recovery

  • North Dakota's First Lady Shares Her Addiction Story At Recovery Event

    North Dakota's First Lady Shares Her Addiction Story At Recovery Event

    The First Lady says she became a recovery advocate because of the stigma around addiction.

    Education, advocacy and empowerment were among the key topics of discussion at Recovery Reinvented 2018, a daylong event devoted to drug and alcohol dependency in Fargo, North Dakota.

    A host of speakers were featured at the event, including news anchor and recovery advocate Laurie Dhue and Addiction Policy Forum founder/CEO Jessica Hulsey Nickel, as well as a figure known to many North Dakotans, both in and out of the recovery community: Kathryn Helgaas Burgum, the state’s First Lady, who with her husband, Governor Doug Burgum, is a key sponsor of Recovery Reinvented.

    Burgum is also in recovery from alcoholism and fully understands the importance of such events. “I’m very passionate about addiction because it affects me personally,” she told the Fargo-based Forum. 

    Prior to her marriage to Governor Burgum in 2016, Burgum was a successful human resources and marketing professional for various companies. But her alcohol dependency required even greater time and attention than her employment; a self-described “high-functioning” alcoholic, Burgum told the Forum that she was “going to work hung-over almost every day and trying to conceal that.”

    Burgum sought recovery from the Mayo Clinic, but it took a relapse that lasted eight years for her to devote herself fully to gaining sobriety. “That’s really the miracle that happened for me,” she recalled.

    When her husband was elected governor in a landslide victory in 2016, Burgum decided to focus on advocacy for dependency and recovery. Chief among these was Recovery Reinvented, part of an ongoing series of initiatives that operates as a non-profit in association with the Dakota Medical Foundation; the event itself is produced in partnership with the state’s Behavioral Health Division.

    Its goal, as the website states, is to “eliminate the shame and stigma of addiction in North Dakota” through “proven prevention, treatment and recovery approaches.

    Among the issues that Burgum supports: increased access to the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, which will be provided, along with training in its use, to attendees at the event. Burgum also supports public-private partnerships to assist individuals in returning to society after treatment through providing them with places to live.

    “There are people that are willing to spend money sober houses,” she told the Forum. “Because at some point when people start getting sober, they start paying rent. They start becoming members of the community.”

    Most importantly, Burgum said that she wants to change North Dakotans’ perspective of people with dependency issues from, as the Forum noted, flawed or damaged individuals to ones with a chronic disease that needs treatment. 

    “Part of the reason I [got into recovery advocacy] was that there was so much stigma aroud the chronic disease of addiction, which affected me as well because I didn’t talk about it for 16 years,” she told Fargo Monthly. “I just decided that if I could help other people reach out for treatment and seek help and find recovery by talking about my experience, then I felt like it would be worthwhile and to be grateful for that opportunity.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Mom Starts Addiction Recovery Photo Project After Son’s Overdose Death

    Mom Starts Addiction Recovery Photo Project After Son’s Overdose Death

    The photo documentary project aims to promote recovery and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. 

    Simone Ochrym lost her 26-year-old son the same day that she had begged for him to return to treatment for his opioid addiction.

    After a decade of drug abuse, recovery “was not in the cards” for Ochrym’s child. The Democrat and Chronicle interviewed Ochrym about her new photo project that includes 15 portraits and narratives of people in recovery from addiction.

    The project, entitled “ChasingNirvanaClean: The Addiction Recovery Project,” was birthed from a question: “I wanted to know, ‘How and why did you go from being an active user to wanting to go into recovery?’” Ochrym said.

    The photo documentary debuts September 7th, nearly two years after her son’s death. The photos are displayed at Flower City Arts Center in Rochester, New York.

    The project’s website states: “The purpose is to explore the how and the why people enter and stay in addiction recovery. It is by exploration of those in addiction recovery that we will find the answers to fight emerging and chronic addiction in our communities.

    The goals of the ‘ChasingNirvanaClean’ project are promoting that recovery is possible for all types of addiction, reducing the social stigma of addiction, and promoting peer-mentoring models of addiction treatment, 12-step programs, and old and new diverse methods of addiction recovery.”

    One documentary subject is Jeff Williams, who lost both his older brother and an uncle to opioid overdose. Jeff began using at age 12 or 13, and his addiction progressed rapidly. After gaining sobriety through a rehabilitation outpatient program, Jeff began drinking again in his early 20s. It was when he lost his best drinking buddy that he realized how isolated and self-destructive he felt.

    On “ChasingNirvanaClean,” Jeff says, “I had one last drink the night before I got sober. I went to a psychiatrist and told him I needed help. He gave me some medications for depression and generalized anxiety. That was when I got sober.”

    Jeff continued to struggle with mental health issues and it was not until he fully embraced therapy and medication that he was able to achieve sobriety and stability.

    Jeff’s imparted advice to the loved ones of someone with active addiction, “The best thing you can do is show your love, your compassion, and if they made that decision to become sober, they can come to you for that help. Showing that you will accept all of them, even the bad parts, makes it less scary for them to ask for help and can encourage them to get the help they need.”

    “I always see people either working in prevention or working in crisis, but I think the only way to figure out prevention is to hear the stories of people who have achieved long-term recovery,” Ochrym told the Democrat and Chronicle.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How Racism Brought About Acupuncture For Addiction Treatment In The US

    How Racism Brought About Acupuncture For Addiction Treatment In The US

    Community leaders in the Bronx in the ’70s were wary of using methadone to treat addiction so they opted to take a holistic approach.

    A distrust in the profit-driven pharmaceutical establishment formed the roots of acupuncture for addiction treatment in the United States, according to a report in The Atlantic.

    According to writer Olga Khazan, it all began with community activists in the Bronx. During the 1970s, the northernmost New York City borough faced a daunting drug problem with few resources to fight it.

    Community activists the Young Lords and the Black Panthers, and their supporters, rallied for the creation of an in-patient drug treatment program at Lincoln Hospital, and won.

    About 200 people were in line at the opening of Lincoln Detox, but according to Khazan, the community, including detox staffers, were not convinced that methadone was the answer to the Bronx’s drug problem.

    As Samuel Roberts, professor of history and sociomedical sciences at Columbia University, explained, this sentiment was rooted in a distrust for the establishment disseminating the pharmaceutical drug. “Methadone was highly regulated—it’s run by white doctors, in white coats, in white hospitals,” Roberts told Khazan.

    This fueled a growing interest in acupuncture—a staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves inserting thin needles at strategic points to balance the body’s flow of energy—because it did not require medication and facilitated the idea of community members treating one another.

    Some traveled to Montreal to receive training in practicing acupuncture, which they would bring back to Lincoln Detox. (Tupac’s stepfather Mutulu Shakur was among these people. He’d later found his own organization, the Black Acupuncture Advisory Association of North America.)

    Lincoln Detox would later drop methadone altogether, opting instead to offer acupuncture treatment and other holistic treatment instead.

    Bob Duggan, who founded Penn North, a recovery center in Baltimore, learned about acupuncture for addiction recovery from Lincoln Detox, and brought it to Baltimore. Daily acupuncture is a mandatory part of the center’s recovery program.

    There are currently more than 600 recovery programs in the United States that use acupuncture, according to the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).

    While there’s no clear consensus among the research community in the efficacy of acupuncture for addiction recovery, Sara Bursac, executive director of NADA, says the practice is effective as part of a multi-faceted program that includes counseling and 12-step meetings.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Teen Anger Management | Managing Emotions in Addiction Recovery

    Teen Anger Management | Managing Emotions in Addiction Recovery

    Help Your Teen Manage Anger the Right Way

    If you are a parent of a child in addiction recovery, you may feel like you are walking on eggshells. For example, have you noticed that your teen is glued to their cell phone? When you ask your loved one a question, are you met with eye rolls and an angry attitude?

    Before the teen years, you were probably able to talk with your child about almost anything. However, as your child grows older you might encounter anger problems. When not handled appropriately, a teen’s angry feelings could prevent them from having a meaningful career, thriving relationships, and successful educational pursuits.

    Even though anger is a valid emotion, your teen should still know how to handle this feeling the right way. Teen addiction rates are on the rise. If you are wondering how to help your teen with their anger issues, here are some great ways to teach your teen successful anger management skills.

    Create a Household with Appropriate Rules

    Every household has different ground rules concerning anger. Some families may prohibit loud voices in the house, whereas other families find this mode of communication normal. What are your expectations about how anger should be handled?

    Make sure that you create rules that clearly state the appropriate household behaviors, as well as those that will absolutely not be tolerated. Some examples of inappropriate behaviors are:

    • Verbal threats
    • Physical violence
    • Name calling

    Don’t forget to establish consequences for not following the rules.

    Role Model Appropriate Behavior

    When it comes to teaching your teen effective angry management skills, your everyday behavior is everything. Do you yell, swear, and break things when things don’t go your way? If this sounds like you, there are some changes you have to make first before you can expect your teens to control his/her anger.

    Lead by example and show your child the right way to manage and express angry feelings. For instance, if you are upset that your loved one didn’t take out the trash, you might tell them that you are really angry that he/she didn’t complete the chore today. Then go for a brisk walk for ten minutes before discussing the consequences.

    Explain Angry Feelings Vs. Aggression

    Does your child know the difference between anger and aggression? While angry feelings every now and then are completely acceptable, aggressive behavior is simply not ok. Whenever your child feels angry, he/she should know that it’s never appropriate to throw objects, slam doors, or hit people.

    Make it clear that verbal aggression will also not be tolerated in the house or elsewhere. The ramifications of such behavior will not only result in at-home discipline but also legal consequences in academic or social settings.

    Communicate the Common Signs of Anger

    Most teens are also unaware of when angry is on the rise. They may often grow so angry in intense situations that they can’t help but lash out at someone. Instead of letting your loved ones repeat this destructive behavior, why not teach your teen the ways to recognize the physical warning signs of anger?

    During a conversation with your teens, pose this question to them “How does your body feel when you are mad?” Let them know that the most common signs of anger include:

    • Rapid heartbeat.
    • Racing thoughts.
    • Flushed face.
    • Clenched fists.

    Whenever your teens experience these signs of anger, encourage them to take a break from the situation and breathe deeply for about ten minutes.

    Encourage Self-Timeouts

    Everyone needs a break every once in a while. The same is true of a teen who is struggling with anger issues. If a conversation is becoming heated, encourage your teen to retreat to their room to gather their thoughts. After 15 minutes, your teen should be in a better frame of mind to continue the conversation.

    Demonstrate Assertive Skills

    Often times, teens become angry when they feel like others are taking advantage of them. Because of this well-known fact, you should teach your teen assertive skills. For instance, when your teen feels like their rights are being violated, they should know how to speak up for themselves in an appropriate manner. These excellent assertive skills will come in handy when a classmate cuts in front of them in line or a friend consistently calls them names.

    Teach Effective Problem Solving Skills

    If your teens lack effective problem solving skills, there’s a good chance that they might resort to aggressive behaviors. Whether they are struggling with their favorite sport or trying to sort out issues with their best friend, encourage them to identify a few potential solutions to the problem.

    Before choosing the best one, they should thoroughly review the pros and cons of each solution. Don’t be afraid to gently offer your personal thoughts about your teen’s problem while they are brainstorming. The purpose of this exercise is to help your teen see that there are many ways to solve a problem without lashing out. You might even support them as they try to let go of resentment. As time progresses, your teen will grow more confident in their problem solving skills. He/she might even come to you for occasional help.

    Share Successful Social Coping skills

    There are many socially appropriate ways to handle angry feelings that your teens should know. While some teens may prefer playing a musical instrument, others might enjoy going for a brisk walk outdoors. Some other proven coping skills are:

    • Drawing
    • Cooking
    • Reading

    Brainstorm with your teens to identify the specific coping strategies that’ll help them diffuse anger appropriately.

    Always Keep Communication Open

    The lines of communication between you and your teens should always be kept open. Every day when your teens come home from school, remember to ask them about their day. Throughout the conversation, encourage them to talk about their negative feelings. Allow them to fully express how they are feeling by complaining, disagreeing, and disapproving. Keep in mind that the best conversations are ones where they will not feel criticized or judged. Instead of blaming them for their feelings, consider providing a listening ear and solutions when appropriate. The ultimate goal is to make them feel important and loved.

    View the original article at

  • Sober Joe Supports Recovery, One Cup Of Coffee At A Time

    Sober Joe Supports Recovery, One Cup Of Coffee At A Time

    The national coffee brand raises money for non-profits offering recovery services and funds monthly sober living scholarships.

    Coffee and recovery go hand-in-hand, whether the beverage is being served at 12-step meetings, or just helping someone start their day in the morning. Now, a small-batch, craft coffee company is working to support recovery efforts, one cup at a time.  

    Frank Kerker worked in the beverage industry for 25 years, doing sales and marketing for national brands. However, when Kerker started working a recovery program in 2005 after realizing he was drinking too much, he realized that there was a natural opportunity to use coffee as a fundraiser for recovery. 

    “This was the perfect intersection for me: beverages and recovery,” Kerker told The Fix in a recent interview. 

    Not only was it a good fit given Kerker’s professional past, but there was also a well-established connection between coffee and recovery. 

    “I don’t know why there is that connection, but there is,” Kerker said. “Coffee is mentioned a half a dozen times in The Big Book and 12 & 12. It’s the beverage of choice for 12-step meetings everywhere. It’s ubiquitous, part of the culture. Making coffee is even suggested as a way to perform service work.”

    Last September, Kerker began to use coffee as part of his service work, although he went far beyond making a pot for friends. He launched Sober Joe, a coffee brand that raises money for non-profits offering recovery services. 

    Initially, Kerker was planning to just test the concept, but the positive response was overwhelming. 

    “Virtually everyone is touched directly by addiction and people want to help but don’t know how,” Kerker said. “Buying a product that you use everyday is an easy way to help. Plus, it’s really good coffee.”

    Each month since September, Sober Joe has funded a scholarship to Courage to Change Sober Living, a local halfway house in Bloomington, Indiana, where Sober Joe is headquartered. Kerker estimates the scholarships totaled about $3,000. 

    More recently, Sober Joe partnered with Compassion4Addiction, an organization that aims to change the perception of addiction through compassion and science. Sober Joe is now launching nationally, and proceeds from national sales will be donated to Compassion4Addiction.

    “Shame and stigma can’t coexist with compassion,” said Vicky Dulai, the cofounder of Compassion4Addiction. “If you create a place for compassion, then you can create a space where people can actually heal.”

    Kerker agrees that cutting down on stigma is essential to advancing treatment for addiction.

    “Accurately understanding the problem is the first step in solving the problem and loosening the stigma that stands in the way of effective treatment,” Kerker said. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "The 13th Step": Inside AA's Subculture Of Sexual Predation

    “There are groups in AA where you could call it a meat market,” says one former AA board director.

    Sexual predation in Alcoholics Anonymous is a troubling and common occurrence, according to The Orange County Register.

    The “avalanche” of allegations against former Hollywood power players like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey “have been a horrifying reminder of the prevalence of sexual assault, harassment, exploitation and abuse in American society,” the Register noted—and AA meetings are no different.

    Some men there, too, use their stature and influence to prey upon unsuspecting women who are otherwise simply seeking recovery. (It happens so often, in fact, that it’s commonly referred to as “The 13th Step.”)

    Unfortunately, “there is something uniquely heartbreaking” about sexual abuse in AA, Vice noted, as their members are routinely encouraged to “look for their part” in the events that have transpired. 

    Many argue that AA, by its very design, is to blame.

    “Victims, former officials and some members say the culture of the organization—unregulated and loosely organized—puts vulnerable alcoholics at risk to predatory leaders whose only credential is their longtime sobriety,” the Register reported.

    Additionally, some members of AA are sexual offenders whose presence in the rooms is court-mandated. Unless someone volunteers their criminal history, no one would be the wiser.

    Offenders, thanks to the program’s core tradition of anonymity, can hide in plain sight. While a representative for AA’s General Service Office in New York told the Register that each local group operates independently, AA leaders in the U.S. and Canada have since developed guidelines and literature that specifically acknowledges the inherent danger of sexual predation.

    As such, the fellowship created a “safety card” that reads (in part): “We request that members and others refrain from any behavior that might compromise another person’s safety.” 

    Still, many critics insist that AA’s General Service Board can do far more to protect its members than printing up a small yellow card: “Each group is autonomous. That’s… an excuse not to use the power the board has to stop abusive behavior,” James Branscome, a former AA board director, told the Register. “There are groups in AA where you could call it a meat market. You have older guys hitting on newcomer women. Some groups are hijacked by gurus, and AA will claim they have no power to do anything about it.”

    Meanwhile, sexual attacks involving AA leaders keep mounting in California, the Register reported, detailing several cases of abuse, rape and murder that have occurred in recent years. Sexual predation, however, remains a thorny cultural issue within the walls of AA meetings.

    As some men take dark advantage of anonymity and vulnerability, the women who’ve been victimized continually find themselves in an outrageously precarious position.

    One woman, for example, told her sponsor about a rape and was quickly discouraged from going to the police. Sadly, that became a common refrain for the victim, as fellow AA members told her that she was scaring off newcomers with her story.

    “They said I was ruining people’s chance to get sober,” she said. “Rape was an outside issue.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Innovative Discharge Planning for Addiction Treatment Aftercare

    Innovative Discharge Planning for Addiction Treatment Aftercare

    Harold C. Urschell III, MD, MMA – Chief Medical Strategist at Enterhealth

    Successful Solutions to Long-Term Recovery

    Treatment for drug or alcohol addiction isn’t finished when a patient leaves a residential or outpatient treatment program. In reality, life after treatment is when a person’s recovery genuinely begins. After all, this is when the skills learned in recovery are really put to the test.

    At Enterhealth, our individualized programs are designed to teach our patients the skills necessary to stay cognizant of their own behaviors (the good and the bad), better recognize and regulate their emotions and, ultimately, prevent relapses before they occur so that the person can live a healthy, fulfilling and independent life in recovery.
    So, what should an innovative addiction treatment discharge plan include? Ideas here. Then, we invite your feedback or comments at the end.

    When does discharge planning start?

    Discharge planning begins early in the beginning of treatment and is a critical component of a patient’s personalized treatment plan. It’s basically a roadmap for how they are going to live life after inpatient or outpatient treatment, and it includes things such as:

    • Additional or ongoing therapies
    • Ongoing medication management
    • Drug testing
    • Support groups

    …and more. Due to the fact that each patient will have their own individualized treatment plan, Enterhealth’s discharge plans are also unique to each patient.

    But even more, treatment needs to account for a person’s need for physical, emotional, and social support. In this light, some of the more successful lifecare (our version of aftercare) treatment components include:

    Transitional Living or Sober Living

    Transitional housing – also commonly referred to as “step-down housing” or “sober living” – is a type of living arrangement which helps patients (typically those who go through inpatient treatment) slowly ease back into life at home, school and/or work. With staff onsite 24 hours a day, patients are carefully monitored and must adhere to curfews and random drug testing. Transitional living homes also typically provide things such as emotional support, life coaching and other supportive elements and programs. patients are also required to re-engage with society again, whether through employment, volunteer work or education.

    Medication Management

    Many of those in recovery require maintenance doses of anti-addiction medications to help curb and control cravings both during and after treatment. These medications – when taken properly – are safe and effective. We have to remember that addiction is a lifelong disease of the brain, and many people will require medication to keep this disease under control. Others will have the ability to taper off their medication as their brain begins to heal over the course of many months/years.

    Other patients take medications for psychological/behavioral issues such as anxiety, ADHD, insomnia or depression. It is critical that patients are taught the risks and benefits associated with any prescription medication, as well as ways to prevent misuse and abuse.

    12-Step and Support Groups

    In order to develop a robust support system and learn practices to improve and maintain their recovery, 12-step meeting and support groups are extremely helpful. Groups such as these provide a new sober group of peers, encouragement, and help individuals find the motivation to stay in recovery for the long term.

    Some of the more popular 12-step meeting and support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery and SMART Recovery.

    Whenever possible, family involvement should be a major component of a patient’s circle of support. Whether they are involved in family counseling through Enterhealth or another psychiatric treatment provider, or even with groups such as Al-Anon/Alateen and other Al-Anon Family Groups, family support can be a major component to a successful recovery.

    Recovery Coaching and Sponsorship

    Sponsors and recovery coaches are usually individuals who are in recovery themselves. Their primary function is to help people new to recovery transition to life after treatment. Not only are they a friend to lean on in recovery, but they’re also someone to hold the individual accountable and help them make wise choices, attend their outpatient treatment appointments and stay on their recovery plan. It is also common for recovery coaches or sponsors to attend various support meetings with the person they are mentoring in recovery.

    How to Best Approach Discharge Planning

    Enterhealth believes that an evidence-based holistic approach to drug and alcohol addiction treatment is the best way to ensure that patients receive the best care and get the best outcomes for recovery, and this approach extends to our discharge planning as well.

    A successful recovery is most often the result of multiple components working together to treat not just the addiction, but also the underlying psychological issues, physical ailments and real-life stressors which may have shaped the addiction in the first place.

    For this reason, board-certified psychiatrists and therapists should combine their expertise to create treatment and discharge plans that address each patient’s needs from start to finish. They should also try work closely with the family (when possible) to get them involved in the discharge process as soon as possible, as they can be instrumental in keeping a patient on the right track for recovery.

    Your Questions

    We hope to have provoked some thought about critical components of aftercare for addiction treatment. But you may still have questions. Please leave any questions or comments in the section below. We love to hear from our readers! And we’ll try to respond to you personally and promptly.

    To learn more about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or to inquire about using Enterhealth’s services for you or a loved one, please be in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

    View the original article at addictionblog.org