drug intervention

How To Cope With a Drug Overdose Death

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How To Cope With A Drug Overdose Death
The increasing rate of drug use has led to many families prematurely mourning a loved one after an overdose death. This can cause overwhelming sadness as friends and families try to make sense of an untimely death. The truth is, addiction may have created a rift in these relationships, which can cause an even sharp sense of grief. Mourning is a very personal process and while there is no right or wrong way to mourn, there are positive ways to cope with a drug overdose death.

Let Yourself Grieve

The initial shock of an overdose death may cause a multitude of feelings. You may feel that you didn’t do enough to help. You may harbor anger towards the addiction or even the deceased. These feelings are completely understandable and grief takes on many forms. You just need to let your emotions happen.

And while sorting through these emotions, it is helpful to try to accept what has happened. Some ideas to keep in mind while coping with overdose death include:

  • Keeping a journal
  • Taking care of yourself with rest and good nutrition
  • Looking through photographs or mementos
  • Turning to a medical professional if you feel like hurting yourself or others

Shock, denial, and anger are often the first few stages of grief and there are many stages afterward. This process must be allowed to run its natural course and by allowing yourself to grieve, you are accepting your hurt in a constructive way.

Reaching Out

Guilt, resentment, and confusion are common feelings among people left behind in an overdose death. In an effort to cope with these feelings, you may seek companionship. Reaching out can be a positive step toward healing, and help you feel a bit of relief from your loss. Consider these options if you need to talk:

  • Family and friends who offer support are invaluable in your time of need. They may have been there through the years, and understand your situation better than most. Surrounding yourself with people who care can help a great deal.
  • Support groups are designed for families affected by overdose death. Many resources exist to connect families with others with similar experiences. Reaching out to others who have been there might make it easier to open up. A support group could offer new and effective methods of dealing with grief, and even give you a chance to help someone else.
  • Professional therapists specialize in emotional aid. One-on-one therapy offers a confidential outlet for grief. A therapist will listen, and can provide guidance to aid in healing.

Reaching out may be therapeutic for some, and uncomfortable for others. It is up to you to choose the best course of action for coping with your loss.

Learn More

Contact us to find the help you need during this difficult time.Coping can be very difficult for someone who has lost a loved one to drug overdose. With so many conflicting emotions, it may seem difficult to know where to begin. Our caring staff is here to help you find resources available in your area, as well as answer any questions you may have. Contact us at DrugRehab.org today.

Neuroplasticity And Addiction Recovery

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Neuroplasticity And Addiction Recovery

Until recently, scientists thought that the neural pathways in our brains were formed and rigid by the time we reached adulthood. That is far from the truth! What we now know is that our brains can constantly adapt and our neurons can form new pathways, even when our brains become damaged. Our brains continue to form new pathways our entire lives. Because of this, neurons in our brains are dynamic and not stagnant. For example, our brains create a preferred pathway for neurons to travel, sending communication signals from neuron to neuron

If our brain suffers an injury, such as a stroke or other trauma, new neurons will travel around the damaged area and form a new communication connection. This is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to allow tissue to grow, adapt, and change. Neuroplasticity can happen even without damage, such as learning a new skill. Now that we’ve established just what neuroplasticity is, we can discuss how it affects the brain of an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol.

A Short Analogy

It might help to use an analogy when thinking about neuroplasticity. Pretend you are walking through the woods. It is fall and the leaves are turning their beautiful colors. You walk this path every day to get to work. Overtime the path becomes familiar and worn. Now pretend that last night a storm rolled in and several trees have fallen in your path. You cannot travel the way with which you are familiar anymore. You must set out and find a new path to get to work. It might be a pain at first, but overtime, this new path becomes familiar and comfortable to you.

This is exactly how our brains work. Our brains develop neural pathways and the more familiar the path, the faster the neurons travel. But if there has been damage, our neurons must find a new path. Our neurons must reroute and rewire. Over time, this new path becomes just as easy for our neurons to travel.

Neuroplasticity And Addiction

When we use drugs and alcohol, we are changing the chemistry of our brains. Getting a high from drugs or alcohol can be pleasurable and those addicted to drugs or alcohol like to repeat those feelings. After some time the effects of drugs and alcohol change the brain. When a person becomes addicted to a substance, this changes parts of the brain that deal with: decision-making, stress regulation, rewards, memory, and emotion.

However, because our brains have neuroplasticity, we can rewire them. Even though drugs and alcohol change certain aspects of our brain, we can learn new coping skills and teach our brains new ways to rewire. Because of this, our brains permit the new coping skills to become imprinted. It’s amazing how our brains can adapt to new situations.

Neuroplasticity And Hope For Those Struggling

Neuroplasticity gives hope to those struggling from an addiction. Addiction is not permanent. While there may be damage to your brain due to your addiction, quitting your addiction today can get you and your brain on the right track. If you have been told that addiction is permanent, this is absolutely FALSE. Our brains can change and adapt to new situations. Even though your brain is used to drugs and/or alcohol now, you can rewire your mind and end your addiction. Now is the best time to seek rehab and counseling for your addiction. There is healing and hope.

Hebb’s Law And addiction

If you are not yet convinced of the linkage of neurons, neuroplasticity, and addiction, here’s one more bit of information for you. So what is Hebb’s Law? Well, in 1949, neuroscientist Donald Hebb recognized that neurons that fire together form stronger bonds. Thus the famous phrase, “neurons that fire together, wire together” was born. This forms the basis of repetitive thoughts. The more a person thinks about using drugs or alcohol or chooses to use them, the stronger the bond and the easier it is for the addicted individual to make certain choices as time progresses. If you make motivated and repetitive choices, your neurons will connect in a way to support your behaviors and thoughts. But, by rewiring your brain’s thoughts and neuron pathways, you are taking back control of your life. Neuroplasticity can be used as a force of good as well.

Take Back Your Life

If you’d like to know more about ways to help your addiction, please contact us at DrugRehab.org.Your brain is chemically altered when you use drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol are controlling your life. It’s time to take charge. Neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to adapt to new coping strategies offers hope. Seek a counselor or rehab facility today. We’d love to hear from you, so please contact us at DrugRehab.org. It’s time to get your life back. Let’s do this, together.

Drug Abuse In The Workplace

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Drug Abuse in the Workplace

For many drug-addicted individuals, the pull of addiction is so strong that it outweighs the desire to remain clean and sober while at work. Indeed, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, full-time workers make up a whopping 60 percent of individuals struggling with substance abuse or dependence. Other research suggests that around 3 million employees use illegal drugs while on the job, and that approximately 2 million workers do the same with alcohol. Substance abuse is bad enough when it occurs on one’s free time. When an addiction begins taking over the workday, however, the consequences—for the individual and for society—become even more apparent.

Signs Of Drug Abuse In The Workplace

Due to the public nature of workplace life, some of the clearest outward signs of addiction are those that manifest at work. It may be as subtle as a tendency to come in late from one’s lunch breaks, or a slight decrease in motivation; or, it may be as severe as numerous missed days without explanation, or a sudden decline in personal hygiene. More and more, employers are learning to take these as signs of an addiction taking its toll.

A Threat To Customers And Coworkers

Perhaps most troubling, is some of the highest rates of drug or alcohol abuse at work can be found among professions in which a lack of attention could result in significant bodily harm. These include jobs devoted to food preparation, construction, and even transportation-related professions like auto repair and light-truck driving. The prospect of food poisoning or a car accident means that substance abuse in the workplace isn’t only a personal problem; it can also pose a very real threat to customers, coworkers, and other innocent bystanders.

Treatment Options Exist

Many businesses are beginning to offer treatment options and prepaid benefits packages specifically for employees struggling with addiction, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). EAPs offer a variety of services, ranging from short-term counseling to referral systems for enrolling employees in rehab centers.

This is a welcome trend—just as society at large is learning to see drug addiction as a treatable disease rather than a crime to be punished, many employers now see the value in getting help to drug-addicted employees rather than simply firing them on the spot. Indeed, the data prove them right. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Labor found that for every dollar an employer invests in an EAP, the result is a savings of as much as $16.

Let Us Help

Contact Us About DrugRehab.org ServicesUnfortunately, not all employers have such an enlightened view of addiction, nor does every employer offer a treatment resource like an EAP. If this is the case for you or a loved one, don’t worry: there are still treatment options out there.

Contact us today at DrugRehab.org, and we’ll find the right one for you.

 

Actions For Recovery: How To Prevent Addiction Relapse With Post-Rehab Strategies

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Actions For Recovery

Building a healthy, drug-free life means embracing bold changes after rehab. You may need to quash deeply ingrained habits or form new friendships to sustain long-term recovery. It’s a lifelong journey, but you’ve already achieved critical milestones — getting expert help and acquiring new skills to free yourself from addiction.

To support your success, DrugRehab.org offers these evidence-based strategies for relapse prevention:

Boost Your Momentum with Aftercare

Research indicates the greatest potential for drug relapse is within the first 3-6 months following rehab treatment. You can strengthen your resolve with aftercare services. These post-rehab options — ranging from individual counseling to stress management classes and employment assistance — help you transition back into life and continue recovery.

A more intensive, and often effective option, is a sober living home. Your housemates in these interim residences share many of the same addiction challenges. Sober living homes typically require participants to attend 12-step meetings, abstain from alcohol and drugs, and comply with curfews and house rules such as paying rent and participating in chores.

A 2010 National Institutes of Health study found positive outcomes for residents of sober living homes — including reduced alcohol and drug use, arrests, and psychiatric symptoms when measured 18 months after their stay.

Tap the Power of Community

Reaffirm your commitment to recovery at regular support group meetings.  Numerous scientific studies conclude that fellowship meetings are effective for long-term sobriety.

Options include both 12-step and secular, non-12-step programs:

Online support groups are available for many of these organizations, and you can share your struggles in person at local meetings (often held in churches or community centers). There’s clearly strength in numbers: for example, rates of abstinence are about twice as high among those who attend AA meetings (Kaskutas, 2009, Journal of Addictive Diseases).

Identify Your Triggers

Avoid temptation — and the potential for relapse — by knowing what triggers your substance use. That includes people and places that fueled your addiction. There’s a saying in Alcoholics Anonymous: “If you hang out in the barbershop, eventually you’ll get a haircut.” So steer clear of bars, dealers, paraphernalia etc., and learn techniques to control the stressors in your life. To cope with cravings and urges, you may wish to try a mindfulness practice such as urge surfing, or seek help from a cognitive behavioral therapist.

Build a Stable Support Network

Create a sober circle of friends and family who care about your recovery. They can warn you of relapse “red flags,” help you think rationally and hold you accountable for your actions. Make new friends at your clean living meetings and be each other’s support system. Avoid people who were part of your addiction, have their own drug problems or did not support your path to sobriety. Destructive patterns could trigger a relapse, so don’t derail your efforts as they evolve into a rewarding life.

Connect with Doctors And Counselors

The rehabilitation experts who guided your treatment can provide clear counsel for your ongoing recovery. Lean on those therapists and other healthcare professionals who make you feel comfortable; ask for their support when you’re vulnerable. These experts can help you retain and practice the skills you gained in rehab to live drug-free and set meaningful goals for your future.

Create New Daily Routines

Healing the addicted brain takes time for anyone in recovery. Start by treating your body right as you merge back into the realities of life. Nutrient-dense food, regular exercise and plenty of quality sleep are essential to eliminate negative physical and emotional states that could trigger relapse. So is learning to control the stressors in your life. Practice meditation or seek counseling for management of chronic stress. Take time to unwind at the end of the day and allow yourself the simple pleasures — reading a book, getting a massage, or taking a hot bath, for example — to build positive feelings and prevent relapse.

Add meaning to your life by finding a job, class or hobby that you love. Spend time with loved ones and engage with your community. Fill your days with purposeful activities that keep you satisfied — so you’ll never want to return to the way things were.

Use Relapse as a Learning Opportunity

If you do relapse, know that it’s treatable — and long-term recovery is possible. Today addiction experts view relapse not as a failure, but as a signal for renewed intervention. As a chronic disease, addiction is often characterized by relapse rates that are similar to other chronic illnesses such as Type I Diabetes. Each intervention can reduce the frequency and duration of addiction relapses, and improve your chances for long-term abstinence.

So learn all you can from a relapse and continue working on your recovery. Scrutinize the triggers or high-risk situations that led to backsliding. Plan ahead and rehearse these scenarios with a corrective course of action for the future. A behavioral therapist can help you develop coping strategies and an effective relapse prevention plan.

Celebrate Your New Life

Your personal growth is a direct result of replacing addictive behaviors with positive life changes. Focus on your success and savor the domino effect of recovery: a healthier brain and body, stronger relationships, greater resilience and a meaningful future.

Life in recovery has many benefits, according to a study published in 2013 by the advocacy group Faces & Voices. The national survey measured outcomes for 3,228 people in long-term recovery (the average active addiction was 18 years and more than half had been in recovery at least 10 years). Compared to when they had an active addiction, participants showed a 50 percent increase in steady employment, a ten-fold decrease in emergency room visits, a ten-fold decrease in illegal activities (DWIs, arrest, incarceration, etc.), a doubling of paying back personal debt and a 50 percent increase in participation in family activities. For  more inspiration, go to: http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

For more information, call now!

For More Information, Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

 

How To Stage An Intervention

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How To Stage An Intervention-01

When a loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the friends and family of the addict can often feel helpless. Many times it can seem as if there is nothing one can do to get that person back on the right path, and thus, they do exactly that. Nothing.

However, before you decide to throw in the towel, there is one thing that you can do to show the person who is struggling that you care. In turn, such an honest and heart-felt approach can enable them to get back on the path towards sobriety. How can you do this? Through an intervention.

What Is An Intervention?

You may have seen an intervention on TV before, however, their portrayal is often exaggerated. Whether on the drama-filled A&E or on daytime talk shows, such as Oprah and Dr. Phil, the episode is always scripted, the drama planned, and there is a large public audience watching this very personal moment.

In real life, things go a little differently. An intervention is a small gathering of family and friends, staged to help someone who has a problem with drugs or alcohol come to terms with their abuse. This loving confrontation is designed to open the eyes of the abuser and convince them to seek help.

When Is It Needed?

An intervention is a good idea if the person in question allows their drug or alcohol use to take control of their life. This includes the loss of a job, inappropriate care of their children, harm to themselves, or a multitude of other detrimental happenings. If the addict refuses to admit they have a problem and/or refuses to seek treatment, it is wise to start planning for an intervention.

How Do I Prepare For One?

If you feel as if an intervention is right for your situation, make sure that you go about planning it very carefully. Here are some things to consider and plan for before moving ahead:

  • Decide who is important to invite to this intervention; which friends and family members will show the most support and affection, and yet have the willpower to put their foot down and say enough it enough? Usually, four to six people is adequate.
  • Choose if you think the professional help of a therapist, counselor, or psychologist is needed in your intervention. It might be a good idea if you don’t feel confident enough to be well-spoken, if the addict is prone to personal attacks, whether verbal or physical, or if they have a history of mental illness. An intervention is an emotionally-charge situation; be sure to consider all your available resources to do it right the first time around.
  • Consider inviting your pastor, priest, or spiritual leader. Many people are better able to fight their addiction if their belief in a higher power is brought into play. However, if the addict isn’t religious or if they don’t have a personal relationship with their clergyman, they may feel as if they are being ambushed and resist help.
  • Orchestrate a plan. Research local rehab centers. Figure out which kind best fits the needs of the addict. Consider the differences between programs, such as inpatient, outpatient, 12-step, non 12-step, and other specific treatments.
  • Make guidelines to follow. Nothing is worse than sitting down and having everyone talk over each other or completely forgetting what you were going to say. Make sure to write down or rehearse what needs to be said, and make sure that everyone has their specific part to play. You want to come across as clear, concise, and knowledgeable.

Putting It Into Action

When everyone is fully focused and devoted to the intervention, find a place where there are no distractions or interruptions. The setting doesn’t have to be extremely structured for it to be effective, but it must be conducted in a serious manner and well-planned. Be sure that the addict doesn’t know what’s happening ahead of time or else they may purposely avoid it or refuse to participate. Finally, make sure they are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while the intervention is going on. They need to be in a clear state of mind to understand the encounter.

Provide accurate and specific examples of how their addiction has negatively affected their own life and the lives of those around them. Many times, the haze of the high allows them to look past these negative consequences. However, if they are laid out on the table in front of them, they will often express regret and remorse, two feelings that are likely to lead to a lifestyle change.

Lay out a possible treatment plan for them. Demonstrate that you have given this a lot of thought, but don’t make it a hard and fast arrangement. If it’s set in stone, they are again likely to resist. But if given a possible outline, it allows them to personally mold it to their needs and preferences, making the choice to receive treatment more easily accepted.

Give them a soft ultimatum. If one starts off with hard threats, this isn’t likely to do anyone good. More likely than not, you’ll cause resentment and later go back on your word, sending mixed messages. They key is to show tough love, demonstrate that you care and yet be firm about what is acceptable and what is not.

  • Bad Example: I will never see or talk to you again if you continue to do drugs/alcohol.
  • Good Example: I will no longer support this habit. I will only spend extended periods of time around you when you are sober.

Finally, allow the addict to leave if they choose to. An intervention is a powerful thing. They may feel overwhelmed by the confrontation, and to fully process it, they may need some time alone. It’s okay if they get up and go in the next room or outside. Allow them their space, but also let them know that you are there for them when they need you. Do not bar the door or keep them from leaving. If they feel caged and stuck, they are likely to lash out and see this as a coup against them, making them less likely to seek help.

Get Professional Help at DrugRehab.Org

Now that you have the basics of an intervention at your fingertips, you are ready to begin planning your own for your loved one. Contact us today with your questions about different types of treatment so that you can begin formulating your game plan.

Contact us today with your questions about different types of treatment so that you can begin formulating your game plan.

 

For More Information Related to “How To Stage An Intervention” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Five Steps To A Successful Drug Intervention

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Parents And Son Drug Intervention
A Family Successful Drug Intervention

A drug or alcohol intervention is an effort by one or more people to get someone into treatment. Oftentimes when an intervention is done, the result is that the addicted person decides to get help for him or herself. Unfortunately, there are also other times that the addicted person does not decide to get help. This can create a huge loss for the family and friends who have attempted to get this person help.

There are several steps that can be taken to ensure that a drug intervention is successful:

1. Get all the information you can about addiction and treatment – Being educated on substance abuse, the types of and results of treatment can put you a step ahead when orchestrating a drug or alcohol intervention. Knowing why a person becomes addicted, the symptoms of withdrawal and addiction as well as what ways an addict may respond when confronted by a family or friends is key in being able to handle the individual to get them help.

2. Have rehabilitation sources ready – After doing research it is important to secure a bed at a rehabilitation center right away. Once the intervention is done the individual should go directly into treatment. Allowing a day or even a few hours to ‘hunt for the right program’ can be just enough time for the individual to change his mind about going to treatment.

3. Have the individual’s things ready for treatment – In addition to having a treatment program lined up for the person it is key to have all of the addict’s things ready to go into a program. This can include clothing, toiletry items and personal belongings. If the addict is allowed time to put these things together this can also cause him or her to change their minds.

4. Have a specific plan – Whether you’re hiring a professional interventionist or doing a family intervention it is important to list out what you would like to cover. Many rehabilitation specialists will offer the advice of not making the addict wrong about his or her present or past misdeeds, but offering help and support with the treatment process.

5. Don’t waiver or enable – One of the biggest barriers to drug intervention can be a family member or friend that enables or allows the addict to put off treatment. Many do this hoping the person will just get better or that the addiction will just go away without help. Without treatment, an addiction will continue to get worse. Giving the individual time to think about going to a program, a place to stay, money or paying their bills only makes the situation worse.

Contact us today! A drug intervention can be key in getting an individual the help they need.The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that an average of 1.8 million people enroll in a treatment program every year. This is only a small percentage of the 23 million people currently addicted to drugs. A drug intervention can be key in getting an individual the help they need.

 

For More Information Related to “Five Steps To A Successful Drug Intervention” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

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