Answer Addiction

Tag: addiction treatment

  • Connecting With The Police Helped Her Get Sober

    Connecting With The Police Helped Her Get Sober

    Sending a single text message helped one woman living with addiction get the help she needed to start her sober journey.

    When Shannon McCarty realized that she wanted to start living life—and not just try to escape it by using meth and heroin—she knew that she could turn to a police officer who had slipped her a card and said to call when she was ready for help. 

    So, McCarty mustered the courage to send the following text to Officer Inci Yarkut, a member of the Community Outreach and Enforcement Team with the Everett, Washington Police Department, according to NPR.

    “Hello Inci, I tried to send you a message a few weeks ago I’m not sure if you got it … I was hoping to set up a time to meet with you for your help on the stuff we had talked about. I don’t want to go to jail or have a record as I am just the lost, depressed, hurt woman who has made a few poor choices, basically trying to end my life because I can’t take pain and hurt anymore … I have lost a lot over the last three years including my will, it seems. I don’t want to be this judged person anymore. I just need some help and I am not usually one to ask for help, but I want to be me again. I am sorry and thank you for listening, and I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time. Shannon.”

    That message set things in motion, and today McCarty has been sober for 10 months. Along the way Yarkut has helped her navigate sobriety, connecting McCarty with community resources like a local bus pass. 

    Yarkut said that success stories like McCarty’s show that community policing can have a big impact on helping people stay sober. Since the Community Outreach and Enforcement Team was founded in 2016, it has helped the department connect with people struggling with substance abuse, rather than just arresting them. 

    “The idea behind our team was to really focus on that outreach piece because just continually putting people in jail, putting people in jail, putting people in jail and having them come out and repeat that cycle of their drug use, that’s not doing anything for them,” Yarkut said. 

    The interaction between Yarkut and McCarty shows how a different approach to policing addiction can work. Yarkut first met McCarty when someone called the police because McCarty was shooting up in a car. But instead of arresting her, Yarkut opened a door. 

    “I explained who I was and what my role in the police department was,” Yarkut said. ”[I] said, ‘Hey, if there’s something that we can do for you—because I think there are things that we can do for you, that we can help you—give me a call.”

    Today, McCarty is a far cry from the skinny and pale woman who Yarkut met that first night. 

    “She looks healthy,” Yarkut said. “She has a big old smile on her face. You can just see in her face what a changed person she is, and it’s pretty awesome.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Does The Disease Model Of Addiction Empower People To Get Help?

    Does The Disease Model Of Addiction Empower People To Get Help?

    A new study examined whether the messaging that addiction is a disease made people more or less likely to get help. 

    New research compared how differing approaches to substance use disorder affect how a person manages their addiction.

    For the study, 214 participants with substance use disorder were placed into one of two groups—a group that was exposed to a “growth mindset” and a group that was exposed to messaging that emphasized addiction as a disease.

    “The growth mindset message stresses that human attributes are malleable, and we know from previous work that it encourages better self-regulatory strategies such as seeking help from others,” said Jeni Burnette, associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and first author of the paper published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 

    The growth mindset group read an article that explained the various roots of substance abuse and emphasized that there are multiple pathways to recovery, while the disease mindset group read an article that explained the effects of addiction on the brain.

    After reading the articles, members of each group completed a survey asking them about their approach to dealing with their addiction.

    The findings suggest that the disease messaging limited the participants’ approach to managing their addiction, while the growth mindset made participants feel more empowered to handle their substance use problem.

    The growth mindset group reported feeling more confident in dealing with their problem, and reported “stronger intentions” to seek counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

    “When we began talking about addiction as a disease, the goal was to decrease stigma and encourage treatment,” said Sarah Desmarais, associate professor of psychology at NC State and co-author of the paper. “That worked, to an extent, but an unforeseen byproduct was that some people experiencing addiction felt like they had less agency; people with diseases have no control over them.”

    The study found no difference between the groups when it came to how much they blamed themselves or whether they would seek medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

    “It’s promising to see the growth mindset group express a greater willingness to seek treatment via counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy,” said Desmarais. “And the lack of difference between groups on medication treatment is also good news, because it reflects the fact that both groups equally appreciate the medical aspects of addiction.”

    The authors conclude that their findings support “moving away from messaging about addiction solely as a disease.”

    “It’s more complicated than that,” said Desmarais. “Instead, the finding suggests that it would be more helpful to talk about the many different reasons people become addicted.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • What Are the Best Options for Dilaudid Rehab?

    What Are the Best Options for Dilaudid Rehab?

    Are you trying to find treatment for Dilaudid use? We can help you find the best luxury rehab.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Dilaudid and How is it Used?
    2. Development of Dependence
    3. Development of Addiction
    4. Potential Abuse and Addiction Symptoms in Users of Dilaudid/Hydromorphone
    5. Detox Begins the Road to Recovery
    6. Follow-Up Care is Essential
    7. Types of Dilaudid Recovery Programs
    8. Appropriate Treatment Plans
    9. Choosing the Right Facility for You

    If you’re suffering from Dilaudid addiction, help from trained professionals is a must for recovery of your sobriety. The only reliable places to find these professionals are specialized, high-quality opioid rehab programs. Such programs exist across America, but you must know how to find them.

    To identify the best addiction programs, you must first understand how an addiction to Dilaudid alters your brain and body. You must also gather information about the treatments known to help you halt your substance abuse. In addition, you must learn a bit about what separates average programs from exceptional programs. With this knowledge at your fingertips, you can find the shortest possible path to a stable, substance-free lifestyle.

    What is Dilaudid and How is it Used?

    Dilaudid is the brand name for a prescription opioid medication that contains hydromorphone (hydromorphone hydrochloride) as its active ingredient. It comes in several forms, including tablets, an oral solution and an injection. Hydromorphone is also known as dihydromorphinone. The medication bears a close chemical resemblance to its parent drug, morphine.

    As an opioid, Dilaudid provides pain relief by changing the way in which your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) interprets nerve signals from your body. At the same time, the medication slows down your central nervous system, sedates you and increases your perceptions of pleasure.

    Doctors should follow certain criteria when prescribing Dilaudid for their patients. Before receiving the medication in the form of a tablet, oral solution or standard-strength injection, most patients must have tried other, non-opioid pain relief options. In addition, these options must have failed to provide sufficient relief. Your doctor may also prescribe tablets, oral solution or standard injection if your system won’t tolerate non-opioid pain relievers.

    To qualify for a high-potency injection of the medication (Dilaudid-HP), you must already be tolerant to the effects of opioid substances. This tolerance may result from previous treatment with opioid medications. It may also be the product of previous consumption of an opioid street drug.

    These precautions are in place because hydromorphone is a Schedule II opioid prescription drug. This designation means that use of hydromorphone products carries a very high risk for abuse and addiction. It also means that products in this category have a high potential to depress (i.e., slow down) your normal lung function and trigger life-threatening health consequences. Risks for breathing problems are especially high in two situations: during the first one to three days of use and whenever your doctor increases your medication dosage.

    Besides Dilaudid, the only hydromorphone-based medication currently available in the U.S. is Exalgo, an extended-release tablet. When sold and/or used illegally, Dilaudid and hydromorphone may go by street names that include:

    • Juice
    • Dillies
    • Smack
    • Footballs
    • D

    Development of Dependence

    If you’re dealing with pain that doesn’t respond to non-opioid medication, Dilaudid may prove very useful. However, continued use of hydromorphone or any other opioid can lead to the onset of something called opioid dependence. Dependence occurs when certain areas of your brain come to rely on the effects of Dilaudid. If you stop taking the prescription drug at this point, or make a significant reduction in your intake, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal.

    Opioid withdrawal runs a characteristic course. It begins with the appearance of symptoms such as altered sleep, excessive yawning, abnormally high sweat production and abnormally high output of tears and mucus. As the absence of hydromorphone continues, further possible symptoms of withdrawal include gut/abdominal discomfort, altered bowel function, widened pupils, nausea, vomiting and persistent goosebumps.

    It’s important to note that opioid dependence is not the same as opioid addiction. Many legitimate prescription holders who take opioids for a long time become dependent. However, with help from their doctors, they maintain their ability to function and avoid any destabilizing changes in their daily lives. Current evidence also shows that opioid dependence affects different areas of your brain than opioid addiction.

    Development of Addiction

    While dependence on prescription opioids is a medically manageable state, addiction presents another picture altogether. One of the hallmarks of addiction is loss of control over your substance intake. In turn, this loss of control seriously damages your ability to lead a functional day-to-day life.

    Your chances of progressing from dependence to addiction rise steeply if you take part in any form of Dilaudid abuse. People who hold prescriptions for addictive medications can cross the threshold of abuse by taking amounts that are higher than their prescribed dosages. They can cross the same threshold by taking their medication too often. If you take Dilaudid/hydromorphone without a doctor’s approval, you automatically meet the definition of prescription drug abuse, no matter how much of the medication you consume.

    In addition to loss of control over your medication intake, you may have other symptoms of hydromorphone addiction (or damaging, non-addicted abuse.) The diagnosis given to people affected by at least two abuse/addiction symptoms in a year’s time is opioid use disorder, or OUD.

    Potential Abuse and Addiction Symptoms in Users of Dilaudid/Hydromorphone

    • Recurring use of the medication in situations where you can physically harm yourself or others
    • Recurring urges to consume the medication when engaged in other activities
    • Dedication of significant parts of your day to hydromorphone-related concerns (i.e., acquiring, using or recovering from the medication)
    • Tolerance to the drug effects of any given dose of the medication
    • Turning to medication abuse as a replacement for other hobbies or interests
    • Failure to alter your medication consumption when you know it hurts you mentally or physically
    • Failure to alter your medication consumption when you know it hurts your ability to maintain key relationships
    • The appearance of withdrawal if you stop taking the medication or take it in smaller amounts

    Depending on how many of these symptoms affect you, you may have mild, moderate or severe OUD. The seriousness of your symptoms also has an impact on your diagnosis and treatment.

    Detox Begins the Road to Recovery

    Before you enter Dilaudid rehab, detoxification (detox) is an essential first step. This medically supervised process gets its name because it gives you time to purge an addictive substance and cease its immediate, toxic effects. For any person addicted to an opioid medication or street drug, detox will trigger the onset of withdrawal symptoms. The length and severity of those symptoms depend on two main factors: the duration of your addiction and the amount of hydromorphone you habitually abuse.

    If you only abuse a single opioid, the withdrawal process will probably not have life-threatening consequences. However, certain complications may occur. For example, you can develop a serious lung infection if you vomit and inhale any particles into your lungs. If your withdrawal-related vomiting and diarrhea go untreated, you can also develop a dangerous, potentially lethal form of dehydration.

    However, the number one health concern for anyone going through opioid detox is a relapse back into active medication/drug abuse. Why? Because detoxification lowers your tolerance to the effects of opioids. If you relapse and take your previous regular dose of Dilaudid, you can overwhelm your system and experience an overdose. Opioid overdoses are now one of the most common causes of death throughout the U.S.

    During detox, your doctor should also check for any other health issues that can make relapses or other problems more likely to occur. One potential problem is alcoholism. The presence of alcoholism can make safe detox more difficult. And if you relapse simultaneously with opioids and alcohol, your risks for overdose and death can skyrocket.

    Detox programs should also check for the presence of mental health issues not related to substance use. That’s true because depression, anxiety and other serious illnesses add a further layer of complication to successful treatment. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are among those groups with the highest risks for overlapping mental health and substance problems.

    Follow-Up Care is Essential

    Once you’ve completed your stay in a detox program, your ability to establish lasting sobriety rests upon enrollment in Dilaudid rehab. There are two main reasons why rehab participation is so critical. First, when you finish detox, your opioid tolerance will be low. If you relapse at this point in your recovery, you have a very strong chance of overdosing and possibly dying. By continuing on to rehab, you can safeguard your health and make the hard work of detox count for something.

    Just as importantly, rehabilitation programs are the only place you can really come to understand your motivations for getting involved in opioid abuse. They’re also the only place where you can learn how to change those motivations and develop new, sobriety-supporting thoughts and behaviors. Opioid rehab programs are designed for people addicted to Dilaudid and similar drugs and medications. This means they provide services that fulfill your specific needs for ongoing recovery.

    Types of Dilaudid Recovery Programs

    Rehab programs for people addicted to a prescription drug can be conducted in several treatment settings. The two most common options are inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. Inpatient programs get their name because they require you to live onsite while you go through the rehabilitation process.

    There are several benefits to this approach, beginning with round-the-clock monitoring of your health, safety and well-being. This 24/7 attention also gives inpatient programs the ability to respond to any treatment emergencies immediately. In addition, residential care makes it easier for your doctor to make changes in your treatment and maximize the usefulness of rehab.

    Your doctor will probably recommend inpatient treatment if you have moderate or severe symptoms of Dilaudid-based opioid use disorder. (The worst cases may call for temporary hospitalization.) If you have milder OUD symptoms, help in an outpatient program may be a better fit. During outpatient treatment, you maintain your normal routine while making scheduled visits to your rehabilitation facility. This approach can make opioid treatment more convenient and easier to attend. Both college students and working adults can take advantage of the added flexibility.

    However, even if you qualify for outpatient care, you may still benefit from a stay in a residential facility. That’s because inpatient care provides you with an extended period of time in which rehab treatment is your only major concern. Throughout your stay, you can avoid the stresses of daily decision-making, as well as any negative influences that can make you more likely to abuse Dilaudid. It’s also important to note that the presence of a co-existing mental illness can make outpatient treatment an unsuitable option, even if you have only mild addiction symptoms.

    Appropriate Treatment Plans

    In the 21st century, the standard of care for all people with opioid use disorder is appropriate medication combined with some type of behavioral therapy. Medication can help your rehabilitation team achieve several important objectives. First, it can help decrease the strength of your cravings for hydromorphone. The right medication can also make withdrawal more tolerable by decreasing the impact of your symptoms. Once opioids are out of your system, medication can also block the effects those drugs normally have on your brain.

    The most common medical choices for hydromorphone addiction treatment, methadone and buprenorphine, are opioid medications, just like Dilaudid. This may seem like a bad idea at first. However, both of these medications are proven to work. They do so by doing two main things. First, they provide your brain with enough of an opioid boost to stop you from going through heavy withdrawal. At the same time, methadone and buprenorphine are given in doses too small to get you “high” and help you sustain addiction.

    As your condition stabilizes, your doctor may gradually reduce the amount of buprenorphine or methadone you receive. In this approach, you will reach a point where you take no opioids at all. In contrast, opioid medication is sometimes given in low doses on a longer-term or even permanent basis.

    If your rehab program’s goal is complete cessation of opioid use, you treatment plan may also include the anti-opioid medication naltrexone. Inside your body, naltrexone acts as a kind of kill switch and stops opioids from passing from your bloodstream into your brain. By stopping you from getting high, this blocking action decreases the appeal of returning to hydromorphone abuse.

    A few types of behavioral therapy have proven benefits for effective Dilaudid rehab. One therapy option, known as community reinforcement approach (CRA) plus vouchers, uses a reward-based system to encourage active program participation. A second option, contingency management, relies on similar methods in a different format.

    One of the most popular evidence-based opioid rehab therapies is called CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT helps you understand your substance abuse motivations, then helps you modify those motivations so you can avoid future problems. A fourth type of therapy, motivational interviewing, often takes place early in treatment. It aims to help you get you beyond any internal resistance to addiction rehabilitation.

    People from all walks of life can benefit from medication and behavioral health options for hydromorphone addiction. That includes teenagers, veterans and young people enrolled in college. In some cases, treatment may be adjusted to account for your age or other factors in your personal background. Teenagers, especially, may require different types of programs than younger or older adults.

    Choosing the Right Facility for You

    To take full advantage of your stay in addiction rehab, you must enroll in a program that meets all of your treatment needs. At a bare minimum, this means that you must find a facility that upholds current standards of opioid-related care. The doctors and support staff helping you during rehabilitation should have extensive experience in the recovery field. In addition, they should treat you in a well-maintained facility that guards your health and safety at all times.

    Before any active rehab begins, programs on your list of options should conduct comprehensive mental health and physical health assessments. Such assessments are the only way to identify all the factors that can affect the choice of effective treatments.

    When making inquiries over the phone or in person, make sure to ask all relevant questions that come to mind. Reputable programs won’t mind this level of scrutiny. In fact, they’ll welcome it. At this stage, veterans and the parents of teenagers should also make sure their preferred programs offer treatments designed to fit their particular circumstances.

    No matter your background, you should also look for programs with a holistic treatment philosophy. Such programs treat you as a whole person, not just someone suffering from Dilaudid addiction. By offering additional supportive care, they increase your odds of recovering and returning to a life built upon enduring sobriety. Popular, effective options for holistic addiction care include stress management, yoga and biofeedback.

    Top programs also typically offer options for after-care. These follow-up treatments give you the chance to check in periodically, get a picture of your current health and renew your resolve to stay sober.

    The bottom line in addiction treatment is taking action. Once you identify your preferred program options, you must continue your efforts by making contact and pursuing your goals for short- and long-term sobriety. Such an engaged approach will help you find the very best program for your needs. It will also help you weather the ups and downs of treatment, make progress and keep going strong once your enrollment comes to an end.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Find Rehab for Restoril Addiction

    How to Find Rehab for Restoril Addiction

    Struggling with Restoril addiction? Check out our guide on the best luxury rehabs and treatment for Restoril dependence.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Restoril and What is it Used For?
    2. What Else is the Restoril Drug Called?
    3. Potential Restoril Side Effects
    4. Is Restoril Overdose Possible?
    5. When Does it Become Restoril Abuse?
    6. Restoril Dependence
    7.What are Restoril Withdrawal Symptoms?
    8. What are the Symptoms of Restoril Addiction?
    9. What Does Restoril Rehab Treatment Entail?
    10. Inpatient or Outpatient Restoril Rehabilitation

    Use of the prescription drug Restoril can turn into problem use. This could mean you’re using more than your prescription indicates, you feel like you can’t stop taking it or you’re showing signs of being dependent on it, such as experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you cut back. Signs like these could mean you’re addicted or heading for an addiction. If this is the case, rehab can help. Through a detox and rehab program, you can be supported in getting through drug withdrawal and recovering from an addiction to Restoril.

    What is Restoril and What is it Used For?

    Restoril is a brand name for the drug temazepam. This drug is a sedative/hypnotic that falls into the benzodiazepine drug class. Benzodiazepines are most commonly prescribed for anxiety, but Restoril’s purpose is to treat insomnia and help people sleep better. It’s intended for short-term use of seven to 10 days.

    This drug comes in a prescription capsule form that you swallow to ingest. Restoril works by providing a calming and euphoric experience that can help you drift off to sleep. It’s designed to improve sleep by:

    • Speeding up the process of falling asleep
    • Keeping you asleep longer
    • Reducing how much you wake up during sleep

    This benzodiazepine affects brain chemicals called neurotransmitters to calm the brain. The change then has an effect on sleep patterns that isn’t fully understood. What we do know about Restoril’s mechanism of action is that it depresses the central nervous system, which then affects the GABA neurotransmitter in the brain.

    What Else is the Restoril Drug Called?

    The generic drug name of Restoril is temazepam. However, Restoril is also sold and used illicitly, so you could hear this drug called by one of its street names, which include:

    • Eggs
    • Rugby balls
    • Benzos
    • Nerve pills
    • Tranks
    • Downers

    Potential Restoril Side Effects

    While Restoril is a legal drug prescribed by doctors, its use comes with the risk of side effects. This is not a complete list, but it’s possible for you to experience:

    • Daytime sleepiness
    • Lethargy
    • Dizziness
    • Hangover
    • Headaches
    • Forgetfulness or amnesia
    • Coordination problems
    • Confusion
    • Diarrhea
    • Weakness
    • Vertigo
    • Aggression

    Its use can also lead to more severe side effects that warrant immediate medical attention. These include:

    • Trembling
    • Sweating
    • Vomiting
    • Muscle cramps
    • Dark-colored urine
    • Feeling short of breath
    • Appetite loss
    • Memory loss
    • Difficulty sleeping
    • Changes to mental state or mood

    Restoril is dangerous to combine with other prescription drugs or other addictive substances, especially opioids. Using both benzodiazepines like Restoril and opioids can create serious side effects such as respiratory depression and coma. The combination can even lead to death.

    Further, Restoril is one of the sedative-hypnotics that may result in carrying out complex behaviors while sleeping without remembering it the next day. For example, you could drive your car or have sex while sleeping on Restoril and then not remember doing that activity. This effect is most likely when you combine Restoril with another central nervous system depressant such as alcohol.

    Is Restoril Overdose Possible?

    It’s important to use caution with Restoril because it’s possible to overdose. A benzodiazepine overdose is life-threatening. Signs of overdose include:

    • Clammy skin
    • Quick, weak pulse
    • Shallow breathing
    • Dilated pupils
    • Coma

    If you notice signs like these, seek immediate medical help.

    When Does it Become Restoril Abuse?

    Restoril has a low abuse potential, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Restoril is still a psychoactive, addictive substance that can lead to people using it in ways that don’t follow the prescription. Abuse happens when someone misuses the drug or uses more than prescribed. Restoril is prescribed to help with insomnia on a short-term basis, so you could be misusing it if you’re taking it with the intention of feeling euphoria. It could also be abuse if you use more than your prescription states or if you use it longer than prescribed. In time, Restoril abuse may turn into dependence and addiction.

    Restoril Dependence

    If you continue to take a psychoactive substance like Restoril, especially in high doses or for extended periods of time, your body can develop a tolerance to it. This means that you’ll stop feeling the same effects from the same dose and will need to use more of the drug to achieve the same effects.

    Then, dependence can occur, which results in your body adapting to the ongoing use of the drug. Your body now knows how to function with the drug continuously in its systems. If you rapidly take the drug away, your body will have to adapt to life without it, which can cause withdrawal symptoms.

    You might be dependent on Restoril if you:

    • Feel the need to take the drug consistently
    • Need to take larger amounts to achieve the same experience
    • Go through withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop

    What are Restoril Withdrawal Symptoms?

    Even when you take Restoril according to your doctor’s prescription, it’s important to taper off its use rather than suddenly cut back or stop using it. Quitting too quickly can cause withdrawal symptoms as your body readjusts to functioning without the drug. The symptoms you may experience during the acute withdrawal of Restoril can be similar to those of other benzodiazepines, as well as to alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.

    Restoril withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

    • Insomnia
    • Dysphoria
    • Tremor
    • Convulsions
    • Muscle cramps
    • Abdominal cramps
    • Sweating
    • Vomiting

    What are the Symptoms of Restoril Addiction?

    You could be physically dependent on Restoril without being addicted to it. However, if you’re addicted, it’s usually the case that you’ve become dependent. Drug addiction is also marked by certain behaviors that focus on the drug and its use. If you’re not sure if you’re addicted to the benzodiazepine Restoril, consider these questions:

    • Do I spend a lot of time thinking about Restoril and when I’ll take it next?
    • Do I put a lot of thought into getting more Restoril?
    • Have I taken more Restoril than I meant to?
    • Have I tried to stop using it but felt like I couldn’t or didn’t really want to?
    • Have I done risky things like stealing to buy the drug?
    • Has my Restoril use caused problems in my life like strain in my relationships or money troubles?
    • Have I skipped school, work or hobbies because of using Restoril?

    These are signs that you could be addicted to this benzodiazepine. Even answering yes to two or three on this list could mean you could be diagnosed with a mild form of a substance use disorder. Answering yes to more could mean a moderate or severe form of the disorder. If you’re experiencing some or all of these addiction signs and symptoms, consider getting help to overcome the problem.

    What Does Restoril Rehab Treatment Entail?

    If you think you might have an addiction, Restoril rehabilitation provides treatment and support that can make quitting easier and more effective than trying to do it on your own. Treatment for Restoril dependence is two-part: first, a detox program helps you safely go through the withdrawal period; second, a rehab program guides you to change the mindset and behaviors associated with addiction.

    Detox is an important component of benzodiazepine treatment in particular. That’s because benzodiazepine withdrawal is potentially life-threatening. A detox program makes the process safer, because you receive medical supervision to monitor your state of health, and usually medications to ease difficult and potentially dangerous symptoms.

    When your body is no longer dependent on the drug, you can focus your attention on undoing the thought patterns and behaviors addiction has created. This process happens through Restoril rehabilitation. If you only go through detox without completing rehab, it’s likely that you’ll go back to the drug. Going through both detox and rehab provides a more comprehensive effort that can increase your chances of sustained recovery.

    There are different types of treatment available, but it’s best to enter a comprehensive program that addresses different aspects of addiction. The most effective program is also one that is customized to your particular needs.

    You will improve your odds of success if you enter an aftercare program once you’ve completed rehab. Many rehab programs offer aftercare to help you stay on track. Otherwise, it’s common for people to attend group therapy sessions or 12-step meetings as a form of aftercare.

    Inpatient or Outpatient Restoril Rehabilitation

    The main types of addiction rehab are inpatient and outpatient programs. Inpatient programs tend to provide a comprehensive approach that offers a variety of services. This form of rehab addresses the many ways addiction affects your mind, body and life. If you choose an outpatient program, the best choice is an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which often provides a similar program to that of an inpatient program. An IOP is generally much more comprehensive than regular outpatient programs, which tend to only provide one or two services.

    The main difference between inpatient and outpatient programs is that inpatient ones require you to live on-site, while outpatient programs allow you to come and go. Each has its pros and cons, and it’s a good idea to think about which one would best fit your own needs and life situation. An outpatient program provides some flexibility, so you’re able to have some freedom and take care of responsibilities. On the other hand, you live at the rehab facility while completing an inpatient program. This can be beneficial because it allows you to fully devote yourself to recovery and to get yourself away from the temptation of the drug. Some people prefer to balance rehab with their everyday lives, while others need the break from normal life to be successful with recovery.

    Restoril may have a lower risk of abuse than other benzodiazepines, yet it’s still possible for you to abuse this drug, develop a dependence and become addicted. If your Restoril use has become a problem in your life, rehabilitation can provide the guidance and support that can help you quit.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • National Rating System For Addiction Treatment Being Tested In 5 States

    National Rating System For Addiction Treatment Being Tested In 5 States

    West Virginia is the latest state to announce its partnership with Shatterproof to test the rating system.

    According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 1 in 12 American adults—that’s 18.7 million people—had a substance use disorder. Yet only a fraction of them will get help.

    A pilot program is hoping to change that by setting a standard for quality addiction treatment.

    Five states have teamed up with the non-profit organization Shatterproof to test this new rating system—Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and West Virginia.

    “People who need help for addiction don’t know what to look for or where to turn. Right now, there is more transparent and credible information about the quality of your next refrigerator than an addiction treatment program,” said Samantha Arsenault, Director of National Treatment Quality Initiatives at Shatterproof. “We are taking rating system best practices from healthcare and other business sectors and applying them to addiction treatment. This will not only provide critical information to individuals looking for care but also drive a long overdue transformation of the addiction treatment industry.”

    The goal of the Shatterproof Rating System is to take the currently fragmented treatment industry and make it more transparent and accessible.

    “The quality of care varies widely among addiction treatment programs, and individuals looking for care can’t identify high-quality programs,” said Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof. “It is time a standard be set across all of addiction treatment, and the entire system aligns behind evidence-based care.”

    Arsenault says that a majority of treatment programs in the U.S. do not offer evidence-based treatment like addiction medication. The Rating System seeks to bring this to light and encourage more access to drugs like buprenorphine within a comprehensive treatment program.

    “One concrete example of that is that we are in the wake of an opioid epidemic and yet 60% of the specialty addiction treatment programs in the U.S. don’t offer a single medication to treat opioid use disorder,” she told Government Technology.

    The Rating System will go live in 2020, according to Shatterproof’s website. All treatment facilities in the pilot states will be invited to participate by completing a Treatment Program Survey.

    West Virginia was the latest state to announce its partnership with Shatterproof to test the rating system.

    “The substance use epidemic continues to impact individuals and families across West Virginia,” said Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. “We believe the results of this pilot program will enable us to ensure effective, quality substance use disorder services are offered across the state, which in turn will benefit those who need our help to combat this problem.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Guide to Clorazepate Addiction Treatment

    Guide to Clorazepate Addiction Treatment

    Looking for the best Clorazepate addiction treatment? Read our guide for help in finding the best one for you.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Clorazepate and What is it Used For?
    2. Development of Clorazepate Addiction
    3. Diagnosing Clorazepate Dependency
    4. Clorazepate Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
    5. Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab Options for Clorazepate Addiction
    6. Personalized Treatment Services for Clorazepate Addiction
    7. Choosing the Best Clorazepate Rehab Facility for You

    Clorazepate addiction is a serious medical disorder. Left unaddressed, it can ruin your life or the life of your loved one.

    Once it develops, you must act quickly. Men and women struggling to overcome clorazepate addiction need trained professional assistance. They need a warm and supportive, healing-oriented environment. High-quality rehab facilities can offer just this type of specialized service, as they guide their clients along a sustainable path to recovery.

    What is Clorazepate and What is it Used For?

    Clorazepate (clorazepate dipotassium) is a prescription medication from the benzodiazepine family. It is a sedative that works by suppressing activity in the central nervous system, inducing a calm and relaxed state.

    The drug is most commonly sold under the brand name Tranxene. Other brand names for clorazepate include Gen-Xene, Novo-Clopate and Tranxilium.

    Among those who misuse clorazepate and other benzodiazepines for their intoxicating effects, clorazepate is often referred to by its street names, such as:

    • Benzos
    • Candy
    • Chill pills
    • Totem polls
    • Tranks
    • Downers
    • Blues
    • Sleeping pills
    • Z bars
    • Nerve pills

    Clorazepate is most frequently prescribed for the short-term treatment of anxiety. It may be given to people who’ve been diagnosed with anxiety disorders, or to those struggling with anxiety in specific situations.

    The drug may also be prescribed for the treatment of seizures, since it does have anticonvulsant properties. In addition, it may be used in detox to help people experiencing alcohol withdrawal manage their symptoms.

    Clorazepate is a potent medication and is generally quite effective against the conditions it is used to treat. It can be used safely in most instances, as long patients follow the instructions of their doctors.

    The problem comes when people use too much of it or take it for too long. Benzodiazepines are highly addictive when misused, and clorazepate abuse can have significant long-term effects.

    Development of Clorazepate Addiction

    Clorazepate addiction may develop suddenly, especially if the drug is used for more than a month.

    Benzodiazepines cause relaxed states by targeting receptors in the brain that normally bind with a neurotransmitter called GABA. Binding with clorazepate, or with naturally produced GABA molecules, will reduce the intensity of your anxiety. Naturally, this is experienced as something positive and will help you cope with disabling anxiety symptoms.

    But this process remains effective only if you take clorazepate in measured doses, and for a limited period. When you take the drug continuously, tolerance will build. You’ll need to take more and more clorazepate to achieve the same effects, signifying that your GABAreceptors are becoming less sensitive to the drug’s presence. This sets up a vicious cycle of ever-escalating Tranxene usage, until clorazepate dependence develops.

    At this stage, you’ll likely experience numerous clorazepate side effects, caused by the impact of taking so much of it for so long. This is inevitable when you become addicted to benzodiazepines of any type.

    Some of the more common clorazepate addiction symptoms include:

    • Daytime drowsiness
    • Chronic fatigue
    • Stomach cramps or queasiness
    • Slurred speech
    • Blurred vision
    • Dry mouth
    • Constipation
    • Dizziness
    • Headaches
    • Unexplained rashes
    • Mental confusion

    When the abuse turns to dependence, the effects of the drug begin to lessen. Cravings for the drug intensify, even though taking more clorazepate will no longer bring relief. Anxiety and agitation will actually increase as the drug loses it calming capacities.

    At this point, you might be at risk for a clorazepate overdose. More than 11,000 people die each year in the United States from the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose. The risks are especially high for those who mix drugs like clorazepate with alcohol or other mind-altering substances.

    Diagnosing Clorazepate Dependency

    Only a trained addiction specialist or medical professional can diagnose clorazepate addiction. To do so, they will search for the telltale signs of Tranxene dependency, which could include:

    • Strong cravings for the drug
    • Withdrawal symptoms experienced when usage stops
    • An inability to stop using clorazepate for more than a few hours
    • Taking the drug for longer or in heavier amounts than originally intended
    • Spending inordinate amounts of time using clorazepate, acquiring it or recovering from overconsumption
    • Increased tolerance for clorazepate, marked by increasing usage
    • Continuing to use the drug despite its negative impact on physical or psychological disorders
    • Continuing to use the drug despite it causing relationship problems
    • Neglecting important personal, professional or family-related responsibilities because of clorazepate
    • Abandoning favorite hobbies or activities because of your drug use
    • Continuing to take clorazepate even after your drug use put you in danger

    If these behaviors sound familiar, you should seek an evaluation for clorazepate dependency right away.

    When you’ve been diagnosed with clorazepate addiction, the time to seek treatment is immediately. Failing to do so will put your health in danger.

    Clorazepate Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms

    Benzodiazepine dependence causes significant changes in brain and body chemistry. It is these changes that cause cravings for the drug. Withdrawal symptoms will develop quickly if those cravings are denied.

    It is a mistake to quit powerful pharmaceutical medications like clorazepate cold turkey. Clorazepate withdrawal symptoms will only get worse, making it very difficult to preserve a commitment to stop using the drug.

    If you stop taking clorazepate suddenly, without gradually lowering your dosages, serious withdrawal symptoms are inevitable. These unpleasant clorazepate withdrawal effects may include:

    • Agitation and nervousness
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Insomnia
    • Diarrhea
    • Memory loss
    • Disorientation
    • Uncontrollable tremors
    • Muscle aches or cramps
    • Heavy sweating
    • Seizures
    • Hallucinations
    • Delirium
    • Suicidal thoughts or actions

    These symptoms are highly unpleasant and can even be hazardous in some instances. If clorazepate addiction is complicated by the use of alcohol or other drugs, withdrawal effects may be even more intense.

    To facilitate a lasting recovery, people looking to overcome a benzodiazepine addiction should go through medical detox before they begin formal addiction treatment. This is the first step to healing, and top Tranxene rehab centers usually offer comprehensive clorazepate detox services onsite.

    During detox, you will gradually taper your doses of clorazepate. This gives your body a chance to regain its equilibrium while making sobriety much easier to sustain. Clorazepate withdrawal symptoms may still be experienced but in less severe form.

    Formal detox for prescription benzodiazepines generally lasts for up to 10 days. However, this can be extended if the addiction is severe or other medical complications arise. Detox facilities are designed to treat all existing physical or mental health conditions, in a hospital-like setting where 24-hour medical care is available.

    Clorazepate is a long-acting benzodiazepine. This means it stays in the body longer than many other drugs in its class. Consequently, its withdrawal symptoms often won’t peak until more than a week has passed. In most cases, this means the tapering process for this drug must be extended beyond the initial detox period.

    This shouldn’t delay the onset of addiction treatment, however. The purpose of detox is to help the patient safely manage the worst of their clorazepate withdrawal symptoms. Once stability has been achieved and withdrawal effects are under control, formal treatment for clorazepate addiction can begin.

    Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab Options for Clorazepate Addiction

    Top drug and alcohol rehab centers feature both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. Diverse offerings are necessary to meet the diverse needs of clients.

    In most instances, inpatient treatment will be recommended for men and women addicted to clorazepate. Residential treatment plans provide round-the-clock supervision and access to vital healthcare services of all types. This can be essential if comorbid mental health problems have been diagnosed, as they frequently are in people who have substance use disorders.

    Some people who abuse Tranxene also develop other substance use disorders. In addition to putting themselves at higher risk for clorazepate overdose, they may also become addicted to alcohol, opioids or any other intoxicating substances.

    In these cases, recovery can be a long and complicated affair. Inpatient treatment programs offer the kind of comprehensive services that are usually necessary to achieve full sobriety.

    Inpatient treatment is an immersion recovery experience, and that is often ideal for people struggling with benzodiazepine dependence. If your home environment is chaotic, stressful or unsupportive, staying at a treatment facility full-time can help protect you from these negative influences. It can also keep you away from people or situations that may have triggered your drug abuse in the past.

    But some people simply don’t have time available to enter inpatient rehab programs. They have career, family or personal responsibilities that cannot be easily put aside. If inpatient rehab is their only choice, they might decide to forego treatment altogether.

    To avoid this contingency, top clorazepate addiction treatment centers feature outpatient options that let clients customize their recovery schedules according to their individual needs.

    Rehab services will still be provided on a daily basis, in a supportive environment where access to addiction specialists and peer support groups is guaranteed. But only a few hours a day will be spent at the rehab facility. The rest of the day will be left free for other activities. If you choose inpatient clorazepate addiction treatment, you will be free to return to your home to eat, sleep and interact with your family.

    Standard outpatient programs may involve less than 10 hours of treatment services per week. Intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs will involve longer time commitments. However, they may be recommended if your addiction is severe. What is most important is that you have the time you need to truly heal.

    Regardless of your choice of inpatient or outpatient treatment, your time in Tranxene rehab is likely to last for one to three months. Aftercare programs will be made available and will be included in your recovery regimen as well. This is necessary to keep you focused and on track to long-term sobriety.

    Personalized Treatment Services for Clorazepate Addiction

     

    Superior treatment for clorazepate abuse will be personalized to fit your medical and personal requirements.

    Every person is different, which is why recovery plans must be customized if they are to have maximum impact. The medical professionals employed by top addiction rehab centers understand this. They always work closely with clients to make sure they offer the right types of intervention, chosen carefully and with clear goals in mind.

    Your recovery plan will include a full and comprehensive menu of rehabilitation services. It will keep you busy at all times, completely absorbed in your quest for wellness. Should you carry a dual diagnosis for clorazepate dependency and another mental or behavioral health disorder, your plan will be designed to address all disorders at the same time.

    Your addiction treatment recovery plan will likely include some combination of:

    • Individual therapy. This is the foundation of your healing regimen. Daily sessions with trained addiction specialists and psychotherapists can help you confront any underlying issues that may have contributed to your drug dependency.
    • Group therapy. Regular interactions with peers working to overcome substance use disorders can be a source of moral support and constructive feedback.
    • Family therapy. Having the unconditional love and acceptance of family members can strengthen your resolve and assist you in the recovery process. Family therapy also gives you the chance to heal important relationships damaged by your drug use.
    • Holistic healing methods. Practices like yoga, meditation, massage therapy, art and music therapy, Tai Chi, biofeedback and acupuncture can increase your energy levels, improve your mood and help you achieve a more relaxed state of mind.
    • Life skills and coping skills classes. These types of classes can help people recovering from addiction gain greater understanding and perspective on their lives. In these courses you will learn how to avoid self-destructive traps that could derail your sobriety.

    The purpose of recovery is to equip you with the insights and strategies you need to resist the temptation to take clorazepate again. Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process, and you’ll only preserve your sobriety if you are prepared to handle each and every challenge involved.

    Top Tranxene rehab centers rely on evidence-based methodologies with a proven record of success. If you are diligent about your recovery program, and participate willingly with a positive attitude, your time in treatment can be the start of a whole new life.

    Choosing the Best Clorazepate Rehab Facility for You

    Before enrolling in an addiction treatment program, you should visit several facilities first. Ideally, you should do so in the company of family members and friends who can offer their input and guidance. As you tour the facilities and speak to administrators and staff members, you should ask a lot of questions and observe everything going on around you as closely as you can.

    The best clorazepate addiction treatment centers will welcome your feedback and be glad to answer all your questions. They will be open and honest about the challenges you’ll face during your recovery. But they’ll work with you to develop a clear and sustainable plan for recovery.

    The right Tranxene rehab facility for you is the one that makes you feel most comfortable. It is the one that leaves you filled with optimism and convinced that wellness is within your grasp.

    The ultimate goal of clorazepate addiction treatment is straightforward. It is to help you find lasting sobriety, free from clorazepate and any other substances you may have been abusing.

    Rehab for clorazepate dependency can renew your hope for a brighter future. Clorazepate addiction is a life-altering medical condition that will not get better on its own. If you take the initiative to overcome it you can find success. But the time to act is now, before you sacrifice another day or another hour to a drug that once helped but is now only causing you harm.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Finding Treatment for Lorazepam Addiction

    Finding Treatment for Lorazepam Addiction

    Are you looking for lorazepam addiction treatment? Our guide can help you find the treatment you need.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Lorazepam and What is it Used For?
    2. Other Names for Lorazepam
    3. Lorazepam Side Effects
    4. Lorazepam Overdose
    5. Lorazepam Addiction
    6. Symptoms of Lorazepam Addiction
    7. Lorazepam Withdrawal Effects and Detox
    8. Lorazepam Addiction Treatment

    Lorazepam is a prescription drug that doctors prescribe primarily as a treatment for anxiety. Its purpose is to provide relaxation. While this drug can be beneficial, it also comes with risk. The problem is that it can be habit-forming, which creates a high risk that it will lead to lorazepam abuse and addiction.

    This drug can cause withdrawal symptoms, so it’s a good idea to stop its use with the help of medical professionals. If you need assistance, a detox and rehab program can help your body and mind adjust to no longer receiving the drug. A high-quality, customized treatment program may help you recover and change your life for the better.

    What is Lorazepam and What is it Used For?

    Lorazepam is in the drug class of benzodiazepines, commonly known as benzos. These drugs are tranquilizers that provide a sedative effect. Like other benzodiazepines, Lorazepam depresses the central nervous system. It slows the brain’s activity to provide a calming effect, with the intention of relieving anxiety. Lorazepam comes in tablet, injection and liquid concentrate forms.

    This medication is used to help the various difficult symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which features a higher than normal level of anxiety or worry for six months or longer. This disorder is also characterized by irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating and other symptoms.

    While this drug is mainly prescribed to treat anxiety, it is also used for other health conditions and situations. These include:

    • Epilepsy
    • Insomnia or other sleep difficulties
    • Irritable bowel syndrome
    • Alcohol withdrawal
    • Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment
    • Pre-anesthesia medication

    Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed to people, and Lorazepam is included in the top five most prescribed of this type of drug.

    Other Names for Lorazepam

    Lorazepam is the generic name for this drug. The main brand names are Ativan and Lorazepam Intensol. Nonetheless, Lorazepam is also sold illicitly and is not always referred to as its generic or brand names. You might instead hear Lorazepam called by its street names, which include:

    • Benzos
    • Downers
    • Tranqs/tranks
    • Nerve pills

    Lorazepam Side Effects

    The use of Lorazepam may come with a long list of potential side effects. Some of the most serious side effects are cause for seeking immediate medical attention. These include:

    • Fever
    • Trouble breathing
    • Trouble swallowing
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • A consistent tremor
    • Inability to sit still
    • A shuffling walk
    • Yellowing of the skin and eyes
    • A severe skin rash

    This drug can also cause other side effects that are considered serious if you experience them at a severe level or if they persist. These include:

    • Feeling dizzy, drowsy, tired or weak
    • Feeling restless
    • Experiencing changes in appetite or sex drive
    • Difficult or frequent urination
    • Nausea or diarrhea
    • Dry mouth
    • Constipation
    • Blurred vision

    If you experience any of these or other side effects while taking Lorazepam, you should talk to your doctor.

    In addition, various dangerous side effects can occur from taking Lorazepam along with other types of prescription medicines or other substances. Combining Lorazepam with various medications has the potential to cause sedation, coma or breathing problems that can become life-threatening. You should discuss any other medications you’re taking with your doctor before you take Lorazepam. Also, combining this drug with alcohol or other street drugs can lead to dangerous side effects.

    Lorazepam Overdose

    Taking Lorazepam also has the potential for overdose. A Lorazepam overdose comes with signs such as:

    • Seizures
    • Collapsing
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Not waking up

    If signs of overdose happen, call 911 immediately.

    Lorazepam Addiction

    An addiction to Lorazepam can start by first taking the drug legally according to a doctor’s prescription. Then you can become dependent on it and turn to illegal sources of obtaining more of the drug. It’s also possible to use this drug illicitly from the start. It’s sold illicitly for different purposes, including for the euphoric feeling it creates and for the intention of drugging someone to perform a sexual assault. Also, people often take Lorazepam with other substances either to enhance the effects or to counteract unwanted side effects, such as agitation that can come from using cocaine.

    Lorazepam has a high risk of abuse. Its use can turn into drug misuse or Lorazepam abuse, meaning that you use the drug differently than its prescription use. For example, you might take higher doses than intended or continue finding the drug and using it after your prescription runs out.

    Short-term use of up to four weeks has less of a risk of dependence, while ongoing use of this addictive drug can cause both physical and psychological dependence. One problem that can contribute to dependence is that the conditions this drug is used for, such as anxiety, tend to be ongoing rather than short-term. This may cause people to continue using the drug as a long-term way to manage their symptoms, encouraging the risk of dependence. In many cases, doctors extend the prescription and contribute to the risk.

    When you continue to take lorazepam, your body can develop a tolerance to it. This results in needing to use more of the drug to continue getting the same effects. Your body can become accustomed to the prolonged use and high doses, so it becomes dependent on the drug. Once your body has adjusted to having the drug continuously in its system, you can experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to take it away. This means you are physically dependent on the drug, and you can also develop a psychological dependence. When you become addicted, your behaviors change as your life becomes centered on the drug use.

    Symptoms of Lorazepam Addiction

    It’s not always easy to tell if you’ve become addicted to a substance. The process can happen without you realizing it. Since this is a legal prescription drug, people don’t always take the addiction risk seriously. A main characteristic of addiction is continuing to use the drug even though it’s causing problems in your life.

    You can determine whether you have become addicted if you’re noticing signs and symptoms of Lorazepam addiction. These include:

    • Being unable or unwilling to cut back or stop using Lorazepam
    • Needing higher doses to achieve the same effects
    • Feeling like you need Lorazepam to function
    • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back or stop the drug use
    • Having difficulty keeping up with work, family and other responsibilities
    • Experiencing problems from the drug use, such as legal trouble and relationship strain
    • Using more of the drug than you intended
    • Focusing your life on the drug, using it and how to get more
    • Withdrawing from people and activities that you previously engaged in

    You can also experience changes to your mental and physical health from the addiction. For example, you could experience quick weight, appetite and mood changes.

    Lorazepam Withdrawal Effects and Detox

    Even if you’re taking Lorazepam as directed by your prescription, stopping its use can cause withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, it’s not recommended that you stop using it suddenly but instead that you work with your doctor.

    Lorazepam withdrawal symptoms include:

    • Dizziness
    • Irritability
    • Tremors
    • Quick heart rate
    • Seizures
    • Nausea
    • Changes in blood pressure

    A detox program can help you safely and more comfortably get through the withdrawal period. Detox often acts as the first step of treatment before you enter a rehab program. During inpatient detox, you stay in a facility with round-the-clock monitoring and support. In many cases, you will also receive medication to manage symptoms of withdrawal. As an added benefit, staying in a detox facility keeps you away from the substance and triggers, to improve your chances of success with quitting.

    Lorazepam Addiction Treatment

    When you are ready for treatment for an addiction to lorazepam, you first need to stop using the medication. This is when entering a detox program or tapering down with your doctor is beneficial. Once the drug is out of your system and you have gotten past acute withdrawal symptoms, you can continue with rehab treatment. This type of treatment focuses on psychological dependence and the unhealthy behaviors you may have developed as part of the addiction.

    Through individual therapy, group therapy and other approaches within rehab programs, you can explore how you became addicted and learn to change your thoughts, habits and behaviors. The goal of rehab is to help you change your lifestyle from one that’s focused on drug use to one that is healthy and sober.

    Rehab can also help with co-occurring mental disorders, relationship problems that developed from the addiction and other associated concerns. Focusing on a mental disorder is particularly important in this case, because people with certain ones, such as anxiety and sleep disorders, are more likely to become addicted to benzodiazepines like Lorazepam. Also, it will be harder to stick with recovery if you treat the addiction but continue to have difficulty managing the mental disorder.

    A customized treatment plan designed to fit your specific needs will be the most helpful. Also, many treatment programs include an aftercare component aimed to keep you on track with recovery. This can help prevent relapse.

    There are different types of addiction treatment programs you can explore to find the right fit. Some people enter partial hospitalization or outpatient programs, which provide some flexibility and free time while guiding and supporting you to overcome the addiction. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) provides a more comprehensive treatment program that is likely to be more effective than a regular outpatient program. An IOP provides a similar level of support as an inpatient program, which is different because it involves living on-site during treatment.

    Inpatient programs are generally the most supportive and comprehensive forms of treatment. By living at the facility, your full focus is on recovering, and you are separated from the substance and the triggers of your daily life. You also receive around-the-clock support and care. These facilities tend to include a broad range of services to support your mind, body and spirit, and you also gain a deeper level of peer support from the people living on-site and sharing the experience with you.

    There are also less intensive forms of treatment, such as office visits with a professional or attending 12-step meetings. Many people need more support than what these and regular outpatient treatment offer. A common approach is to start with an intensive outpatient program or inpatient program and then to continue with one of the less-intensive forms of treatment. This can provide a better transition from rehab back to regular life, helping you prevent relapse and continue with recovery.

    Lorazepam is an addictive drug, so the risk is high that you’ll become addicted, even if you are following your prescription. If your life has become focused on Ativan or other forms of Lorazepam, treatment can help you undo your dependence and change your behaviors to have a life free of addiction.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Programs Aim to Bridge Addiction Treatment Gap After Jail

    Programs Aim to Bridge Addiction Treatment Gap After Jail

    Treatment programs both public and private are working to keep newly-released inmates on the right track.

    Programs are popping up around the country aiming to help people with substance use disorder stay sober after they are released from jail—a time that can be especially dangerous for those who have been in forced sobriety while behind bars but were not given the necessary treatment to stay sober on the outside.

    “A lot of people come out of prison, and they don’t have anything, and it’s really hard to be successful,” Judge Linda Bell, who presides over an opioid court in Las Vegas, Nevada, told News3 Las Vegas.

    The program that Bell oversees helps people released on parole stay sober by connecting them with medication-assisted treatment, housing, counseling and other supports.

    “If it’s still available, I’d like to stay an extra month and continue to stay in sober living,” parolee Clayton Dempster told Bell during a recent court hearing.

    Bell does her best to help people like Dempster stay sober, but also imposes consequences if they’re not adhering to the terms of their release by staying in recovery.

    “I have frequent status checks to make sure all of that is going well. If it’s not, I might impose community service or even a short jail sanction,” she said.

    While programs like the one Bell runs, which is grant funded, are part of the criminal justice system, other programs outside the system are also trying to help newly-released inmates stay sober.

    In Baltimore, a privately-funded van parked outside the city jail helps people connect with many of the same services provided in Bell’s courtroom, like medication-assisted treatment—bridging the gap that opens when people are released from jail but not put in touch with ongoing services.

    “This program works,” Michael Rice, a client of the van, told Vox.  

    Without a functioning government system to help people, especially in cities like Baltimore, private organizations and foundations are left providing lifesaving treatment to people at risk.

    “There are plenty of high-threshold options, but not enough low-threshold options,” said Natanya Robinowitz, executive director of Charm City Care Connection, which provides treatment services in Baltimore. “If you had a functioning system, it would be very low-threshold.”

    Because access to treatment can be prohibitively expensive, especially for people who don’t have insurance, jails have become the default detox and treatment facilities for people with substance use disorder.

    Because of that, there has been more recent support for evidence-driven treatment options like medication-assisted treatment, but still only about 12 percent of jails provide it. Fewer still provide services after a client leaves. However, even in the law enforcement community people are beginning to realize that treatment provided in jails and after release can be lifesaving.

    “We know if you are an opiate user you come in here, you detox, and you go out—it’s a 40% chance of OD-ing,” said Carlos Morales, the director of correctional health services for California’s San Mateo County. “And we have the potential to do something about it.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Forced Addiction Treatment Law in Massachusetts Under Scrutiny

    Forced Addiction Treatment Law in Massachusetts Under Scrutiny

    Section 35 has drawn criticism and legal action from patients who allege inhumane conditions while committed.

    A Massachusetts law that allows the courts to involuntarily commit an individual with substance use disorder to prison is under fire over allegations of improper and inadequate conditions.

    It has, to date, generated two lawsuits against the Bay State.

    Coverage of the law, known as Section 35, on NPR’s health news program Shots and elsewhere detailed support for involuntary commitment by law enforcement and individuals who view it as a “last resort” to save their family members from substance abuse.

    But Section 35 has also drawn criticism and legal action from both patients, who allege inhumane conditions while committed, and their family members, including one woman whose son committed suicide after his commitment.

    As the NPR feature noted, Section 35 allows family members, physicians or law enforcement to petition the courts to commit an individual to substance abuse treatment without securing their permission.

    The petition must present “clear and convincing” evidence that the individual in question has an alcohol or substance use disorder, and is likely to commit serious harm to themselves or others because of that disorder. 

    If the court grants the petition, male patients in Massachusetts are committed to one of three locations, including the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASC), which is a minimum security prison in Plymouth. Women are sent to one of four addiction treatment facilities, but a lawsuit filed in 2016 bars the state from sending them to correctional institutions. 

    The use of prisons as treatment facilities is at the heart of most concerns regarding Section 35. More than 6,500 Massachusetts residents were placed in involuntary treatment in the 2018 fiscal year—and while 37 states currently have statutes similar to Section 35, the Bay State is among the few that send involuntarily committed patients to prisons or jails for addiction treatment. 

    Patients and their family members have alleged that conditions at such locations are, at best, inadequate to properly handle addiction treatment. In several cases, the prisons have reportedly subjected involuntarily committed patients to harsh conditions: a lawsuit filed against the state by 10 men committed to MASC alleged that they were subjected to strip-searches, placed in solitary confinement for minor infractions, and saw violent fights between other inmates—all while receiving minimal counseling or mental health treatment.

    The NPR coverage also detailed the case of Sean Wallace, whose mother Robin committed him to a 90-day program in a state prison. She recalled his fear that he would be unable to continue with methadone treatment while committed, but because of her experience as an addiction treatment counselor, Wallace said, “I couldn’t conceive that there would be an opioid treatment program that would not provide medication-assisted treatment.”

    As NPR noted, Sean’s concerns were well-founded. Not only was he unable to continue with methadone, he was frequently placed in solitary confinement for no apparent reason. Upon his release, Sean struggled with adjustment. Anxiety issues led to hospitalization and another jail sentence before he took his own life.

    His mother told NPR that she believes his time in involuntary commitment was a contributing factor.

    The Massachusetts Department of Correction told NPR in an emailed statement that the huge demand for treatment has some centers turning away individuals who refuse voluntary commitment, and placement in prisons provides a solution.

    The piece also quoted Denise Bohan, who said that involuntary commitment saved her son’s life.

    “This is a last resort,” she said. “This is a desperate act of just trying to save your child’s life.”

    While families continue to weigh the option of placing a substance-addicted member in such a program, state officials are considering whether to remove correctional facilities from Section 35 due to a growing understanding that addiction requires medical treatment and not incarceration.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari

    Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari

    What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

    TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

    View the original article at ted.com