Pill Addiction
Take it or Leave it?
May 13th
The best chemical dependency rehab is to not pick up at all. This can be difficult because most people feel they can stop. Interestingly this may be the case for some but not others…
Take it or Leave it
The science community has been researching the function of newborn neurons, to help understand their possible role in psychiatric and neurological diseases such as mood disorders, schizophrenia and epilepsy. This research is simply incredible. The scientific community may possibly be on the verge of understanding, treating or even preventing life-ruining brain-based diseases — including one that affects an estimated 23 million Americans: drug and alcohol addiction.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Michele Noonan, a University of Texas neuroscience graduate student in the lab of Amelia Eisch, shows that a lack of neurogenesis, or birth of new neurons, in the adult rat can actually cause drug addiction. The very idea that if an individual is not producing a normal amount of new neurons, it leaves them susceptible to addiction is groundbreaking. This is the strongest evidence yet that there are real biological reasons why some people might be more vulnerable to addiction than others, and gives us a better understanding of the role these very important generating neurons might play in the brain. This also implies that perhaps in the future there may be methods for testing for the rate of production and practicing preventative measures to not pick up that first drink, hit, or pill….because you would actually “know better”.
Do I need to go to rehab?
Aug 12th
This is a question many facing drug addiction and alcoholism try to figure out on their own. But every individual is different and may need to be assessed with a treatment counselor to assess their current situation and whether they need to be in a residential rehab setting.
Scientific research since the mid–1970s shows that treatment can help patients addicted to drugs and alcohol to stop using and drinking to avoid relapse, and successfully recover their lives. Based research, key principles have emerged that form the basis of effective treatment programs:
• Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.
• No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.
• Treatment needs to be readily available.
• Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.
• Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.
• Counseling—individual and/or group—and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.
• Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
• An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.
• Many drug–addicted individuals also have other mental disorders.
• Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long–term drug abuse.
• Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
• Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.
Residential treatment programs can also be very effective, especially for those with more severe problems. For example, residential facilities are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 30 days to 12 months. Treatment centers differ from other treatment approaches principally in their use of the community—treatment staff and those in recovery—as a key agent of change to influence patient attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors associated with drug use. The focus of rehab is on the re-socialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime–free lifestyle. Please call today to discuss your needs for treatment.
How to pay for Rehab
Aug 11th
It’s unfortunate that all of us are not able to access the best of medical care, and when we or a family member struggles with addiction and substance abuse, it can be hard knowing that there are great drug rehabs available locally, but at a price that is simply out of reach to any of us without private insurance coverage.
If you are unable to pay upfront for your drug rehab care, there are options that we can find for you to get the support and treatment you need.
No one wants to pay for care, but addiction is a disease much like any disease, and it can kill you in the end if left untreated. You wouldn’t hesitate to pay for cancer treatment, and you shouldn’t defer addiction treatment either. You don’t have so many years in this earth that you can afford to waste many of them with a life of addiction. All it takes is picking up the phone and asking for help. We are here when you are ready.
Pain Management Programs
Aug 10th
How do you manage your pain without being reliant on addictive pain medications and the effects they produce? How do you restore your sleep, manage your physical pain that will allow you to a fulfilling life once again? A residential pain management program may be the answer. Thousands of people suffer from chronic pain but feel trapped by the effects of the medications they are prescribed.
Addiction to pain medication is a common diagnosis and focus of many treatment centers. Physical pain, if not well managed, often acts as a primary trigger for addictive processes. The connection between pain management and addiction requires a high level of medical expertise to generate consistently successful outcomes. A pain management program utilizes various proven therapeutic modalities to target the causes of pain. Thus, the patient receives the most comprehensive treatment available. Treatment seeks to use the fewest medications possible, and abstinence is always preferred. If medication is required, non-addictive medications with fewer side effects are considered first. Occasionally, opiates may be indicated for effective pain management. At Recovery Hub we have many highly qualified treatment centers that are experts in developing individualized medication management plans for patients dealing with chronic pain. Please call today to discuss your options for yourself or your loved one.
Suboxone for Opiate Detox
Aug 8th
Suboxone can be used for opiate detox and is now used for those withdrawing from opiates. With Suboxone clients can do so safely and comfortably through the use of Suboxone, a medication that virtually stops withdrawal symptoms from opiate drugs such as Vicodin, heroin, codeine, morphine, and OxyContin. In many facilities the drug is only used during the detoxification period so that once a client is stabilized, he or she can be free from the debilitating effects of opiate addiction. Consulting physicians assess the client’s need for Suboxone and determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Suboxone is approved by the FDA to treat withdrawal from opiates and is one of two forms of the medication buprenorphine, which is an opiate agonist that was originally developed to treat pain syndromes. Suboxone binds to the opioid receptor in the brain, which is the same receptor to which morphine, heroin, and other opiates bind.
What makes Suboxone unique and valuable in addiction treatment is that it is a partial agonist. This means that at low doses, it acts the same as any other opiate in suppressing pain. But as the dosage is increased, it starts to block the opioid receptor, and doesn’t allow it to be stimulated. This allows clinicians to stop withdrawal symptoms without having to worry that the patient will begin abusing Suboxone. In addition, Suboxone makes it impossible to get high on other opiates. If someone is taking Suboxone and then uses heroin or OxyContin, they won’t feel any euphoria from the illicit drugs. Suboxone used to treat the withdrawal effects from opiates along with therapy and supportive care in a residential facility gives clients a fighting chance against the disease of addiction.