The Physical Toll of Alcohol and Drugs #health #holistic

Addiction can have a massive impact on your relationships, emotional health and mental well-being. That can make it easy to forget that using drugs or alcohol — even recreationally — can raise your risk for some physical illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Considering the physical impacts of substance use can be scary, but there’s good news: getting sober or reevaluating your relationship with drugs or alcohol can help you reclaim control over your health.Here’s what you should consider about the physical impact of drugs and alcohol, and how they fit within the larger social, environmental and personal framework that impacts our health.What drug and alcohol do to the bodyThe exact physical effects of addiction will depend on your drug of choice. Most people know that drinking alcohol excessively can take a toll on your liver, while using meth can deteriorate your oral hygiene and the appearance of your teeth. Living with active addiction can impact your sleep patterns and nutrition, leaving you looking haggard or generally unwell.There are also links between drug and alcohol use and serious illness. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to be addicted to experience these effects. Even recreational use can raise your risk for disease. For example, people who have one drink per day are at increased risk for cancer compared with people who don’t drink. It’s estimated that about 20,000 people in the United States die each year from cancers that are alcohol related.Recreational alcohol use can also have an impact on your heart, which is especially concerning considering that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S. and Canada. This trend holds true among young people, who are generally at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. According to a 2021 study, young people who use cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol increased their risk of premature heart disease by up to three times. People who use four or more different substances recreationally had a nine-times higher risk of heart disease than their peers who didn’t use drugs or alcohol recreationally.Physical illness, addiction and traumaResearch shows a clear correlation between substance use and chronic illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease. But the story of causation is trickier to pinpoint. People who are at higher risk for substance use might also be at higher risk for certain diseases.Consider the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These are potentially traumatic events in childhood, ranging from abuse to having a parent with mental illness to having an incarcerated parent. These events can create toxic stress, which changes how the brain and body function. Because of that, people who experience a significant amount of ACEs are more likely to experience mental illness, addiction, cardiovascular disease and cancer.People who drink heavily or use illicit drugs might wonder if those decisions impacted their cancer diagnosis or heart health. The truth is that a complex variety of biological processes, behavioral choices and environmental factors influence our health over the lifetime.Sobriety and physical wellnessIt’s never too late to take charge of your overall health. The first step is getting treatment for substance use disorder and evaluating the past traumas that might be impacting how you interact with drugs or alcohol. Counseling can help you understand the ways in which your past is still affecting your current behaviors and future health.When you stop using drugs and alcohol, you might notice some immediate changes to your physical health. You may begin sleeping better or notice a change to your weight. Your immune system, which can be depressed by alcohol, will likely rebound, offering you more protection against everything from a cold to COVID. In addition, paying more attention to your health can help you notice concerning symptoms and connect with care early on, preventing more serious outcomes.Over time, the health implications of drinking less and not using drugs add up. People who drink less alcohol and don’t use recreational drugs are less likely to develop heart disease or cancer than those who indulge heavily. It’s too late to change the past, but you can take control of your future health today by exploring sobriety.Sunshine Coast Health Centre is a non 12-step drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in British Columbia. Learn more here.

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5 Ways to Support Your Loved One During Recovery #health #holistic

According to current statistics, an approximate 23 million people are in addiction recovery in the United States. Recovery, in any modality – inpatient, outpatient, 12-step, or otherwise – can be an emotionally, mentally, and physically challenging experience for the person seeking to break the grip of addiction, and for their friends and family. Recovery holds special challenges for the latter group, who have seen their loved ones struggle with addiction, and in some cases, may have endured negative experiences because of that addiction.However, support from those around the addicted individual is crucial to their success in recovery. It may be difficult to know exactly how to provide that support in a time of crisis. Following are 10 ways you can support a family member or friend as they take their first steps in recovery.1. Supporting isn't enabling – know the difference.Cynical wisdom may suggest that any support for an addict is enabling their behavior. However, the two actions are not the same: support is offering help while maintaining healthy boundaries, while enabling is support at the expense of your own well-being. Support requires honesty, while enabling excuses and even participates in addictive behavior ("he/she can't help it"). And support allows you to question addictive behavior while maintaining love and affection; enabling strangles healthy inquiry for fear of reprisal or recrimination.2. Educate yourself on recovery.Misinformation is a hot button topic of late, and the addiction and recovery worlds are no stranger to misguided, judgmental, and just plain wrong material in both print and online form as well. So it's important that you know a few facts as your loved one undergoes recovery: addiction is not a sign of physical, mental, or moral weakness. It's an imbalance in the chemical components of the brain which undoes impulse control and leaves the individual with a neural road map studded with triggers that, when tripped, set off addictive behavior, often without the individual's conscious choice. It's also important to understand that relapse is a common occurrence with individuals in recovery: there is no such thing as a "cure" for addiction. Understanding these core truths provides you with a foundation for a fuller and more accurate picture of the struggles your loved one is facing.3. Communicate clearly and without judgment.Remember that it's okay to ask your loved one how they are feeling, and let them know that they can communicate with you as well. Assuring them that they can speak without fear of judgment allays a lot of concerns experienced by individuals in recovery. If they seem unsure of how to begin the conversation, give them a question that allows them to elaborate on their feelings, rather than a yes/no query ("Are you feeling all right?"). Though you may also experience anxiety about your loved one's condition, try to avoid an interrogatory tone when asking about their well-being. Be honest: saying that you're unsure or uncomfortable, but that you still want to ask about them, is the sort of honesty they crave. Choosing words that don't carry a lot of negative freight helps, too: some people don't mind the words "addict" or "rehab," but your loved one may feel like those terms carry a stigma.4. Help them build good coping skills.External and internal stressors play havoc with everyone's sense of well-being, but for individuals in the grip of addiction, or in the process of recovery, they can lead to a relapse. Your loved one will hopefully learn many ways to contend with stress while in recovery, but there's simply no way to completely remove all stressors from life. Illness, personal loss, professional changes, and even differences in daily routines can all spark a stressful response. You can help by listening to your loved one when they feel stressed, and help them process and address their feelings. Discuss practical ways to solve those stressors, if possible, as well as coping mechanisms they've learned as part of their recovery.5. Know the signs of relapse.Relapse is a common occurrence during and after recovery. The National Institute for Drug Abuse notes that 40 to 60 percent of individuals with a substance addiction will relapse. To that end, it's important for loved ones to first understand what a relapse is. From a clinical standpoint, relapse occurs when a clinical condition that had previously improved experiences a sudden decline. In terms of addiction, that typically means a return to substance use. Relapses are not only troubling in terms of the individual's emotional and mental wellbeing, but they also pose physical danger: tolerance levels drop for many people who abstain from substance use over an extended period of time, and returning to drug use may lead to an overdose.Relapses don't appear without provocation. The typical signs of relapse began with a change in the individual's outlook: they may seem more negative about recovery, or downbeat about their existence. Old patterns of behavior may return: they may have mood swings, bursts of anger, or resistance to taking responsibility for their actions. From there, the individual withdraws from help, turning away from family, friends, and the support provided by recovery. Return to actual substance use is usually sparked by an emotional conflict of some kind; it could be a major issue, like family clashes or exposure to addictive substances, or it could be a less combustive concern, such as apathy, depression, or an encounter with a location where addictive behavior took place.If relapse occurs, it's natural for both you and your loved one to feel a lot of emotions: anger, shame, grief, and even despondency. It's important for you to follow some of the guidelines mentioned here: establish boundaries, listen to your loved one, offer support where you can without enabling, and most importantly, understand that relapse isn't failure. Your loved one has experienced a setback, and needs to return to treating the disease.Tarzana Recovery Center is a luxury addiction treatment center in Tarzana, CA. For more info, visit their website or Facebook, or call 866-514-1748.

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Differences Between Illicit and Pharmaceutical Fentanyl: What You Need to Know #health #holistic

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that has been making headlines lately because of its role in increasing overdose deaths across North America. There are two main types of fentanyl: illicit fentanyl and pharmaceutical fentanyl. Understanding the difference between these two types of drugs is essential, as they have very different purposes and implications. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between illicit and pharmaceutical fentanyl, the dangers of both types, and tips to stay safe.What is Fentanyl?Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that was introduced into the medical field as an intravenous anesthetic under the trade name of Sublimaze in the 1960s. It is a powerful, short-acting painkiller that's about 100 times more potent than morphine. It has high lipid solubility and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier to produce relief from pain.Pharmaceutical grade fentanyl is currently available as:Actiq®- oral transmucosal lozenges, commonly referred to as the fentanyl "lollipops." Fentora®- effervescent buccal tablets Abstral®- sublingual tablet Subsys®- sublingual spray Lazanda®- nasal spray Duragesic®- transdermal patches, and injectable formulations.In 2015 there were six million prescriptions dispensed per year, with two thirds going to patients with cancer or other painful medical conditions. Still, during peak times for the opioid crisis (2016-2017), this changed drastically when widespread abuse led many doctors to stop prescribing them altogether because they could not distinguish between legitimate patient needs and addiction, which caused many patients to feel abandoned and desperate.Illicit FentanylAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids — namely illicit fentanyl — remain the primary cause of fatal overdoses in the United States. China is the main country of origin for illicit fentanyl, and its analogs are trafficked into the United States. In 2019, China fulfilled a pledge to U.S. authorities by placing all forms on a regulatory schedule designed primarily as drug substances or raw materials used in the manufacturing of fentanyl. While China’s shipment of these lethal materials directly into America has decreased, shipments coming in through Mexico have been increasing at record numbers. The connection between China and Mexico has grown due to increased fentanyl precursor sales by Chinese traffickers. In March 2021, Matthew Donahue described this situation as "an unlimited supply" that would keep arriving at Mexican cartels' doors without end — a description which perfectly fits the tasks currently facing law enforcement agencies throughout both countries today. The waves of fentanyl coming into the United States from Mexico are not just reaching our shores, they're crashing on top of us. In recent months, multiple busts with arrests and seizures link these pill mills in Juarez to make finished Chinese sourced precursors for trafficking across America's US - Mexico border right here at home!Hidden Fentanyl Deaths: How Drug Makers Are Killing Americans Fentanyl is currently found in most counterfeit oxycodone pills and other medications. It is difficult to distinguish between the actual medications from the illicit ones because, as they can easily pass for legal drugs due to its near-identical appearance with many different manufacturers' logos on each pill or capsule. When this lethal drug is found in other substances, like benzodiazepines, cocaine, and methamphetamines, users with no tolerance to opioids are at much higher risks of dying. Some advocates consider hidden fentanyl deaths as murder by poisoning.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) data, shows that fentanyl is now widely encountered in powder form and as prescription drugs such as oxycodone or Xanax. The danger of illicit fentanyl comes from its potency. A tiny granule of this lethal substance can cause override the body's natural reflexes to breathe, leading to respiratory depression and death.Border Crisis Continue to Fuel Fentanyl DeathsThe United States Drug Enforcement Administration has seen a record number of seizures along the southwest border, with agents remarking that one reason for this uptick in drug trafficking is due to increased migration from Central America. During last year’s surge in illegal immigration, Border Patrol agents were relocated to process the migrants. This surge led to the closing of inspection checkpoints, allowing drug traffickers to go undetected. The unprecedented upsurge of fentanyl coming into the USA has had disastrous consequences on our citizens and generations to come. Unfortunately, this tragic situation continues to evolve.Fentanyl Overdose and Narcan Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The issue is that not everyone who needs Narcan knows how to use it or where to get it. Many people believe that Narcan is only for police or first responders, which is not the case. Narcan can be administered by anyone – a friend, family member, or stranger.It is vital to let the public know about Narcan's ability to reverse an overdose, where to get this life-saving medication, and how to use it. We need to make sure that people have access to this life-saving drug in case of an overdose.If you are using illicit drugs, be especially careful and take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to fentanyl. These steps include not using drugs alone, carrying naloxone (Narcan), and being aware of the signs of an overdose. If you think someone may be overdosing on fentanyl, the symptoms may include having trouble breathing or swallowing; extreme sleepiness with no response when called upon. The most common overdose responses are:Lips turning blueGurgling sounds Body stiffness or seizure-like activityFoaming at the mouthConfusion or bizarre behavior before becoming unresponsiveGetting TreatmentIf you are struggling with fentanyl dependence, please seek help. Many resources are available, including medically assisted detox treatment centers, drug rehabs, and support groups. Don't let fentanyl take your life – there is hope for recovery.It is essential to clearly understand the differences between a medical detox program and substance abuse rehabilitation. At the same time, both help those struggling with drug addiction, medical detoxification monitors and manages the physical symptoms of withdrawal, while rehabs mainly offer psychological and peer support.Fentanyl addiction is frightening and, more than ever, a dangerous activity. Withdrawal from fentanyl can be challenging and intense; although opioid withdrawal is generally not considered life-threatening on its own; however, some of the medical and psychological symptoms may lead to complications that can be deadly. It is always good to get assistance from medical and mental health professionals through detoxification who can utilize multiple strategies for managing withdrawal effects while keeping patients safe.Sources:https://ift.tt/sAg9nqN 

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The First Drink Was Russian Roulette: An Interview with Leigh Steinberg #health #holistic

If you’ve ever seen Tom Cruise as a driven sports agent in the award-winning film Jerry Maguire (1996), then you know more about super-agent Leigh Steinberg than you realize. Based on his life experiences, the film's storyline ended before Leigh Steinberg experienced the worst travails of his life. During his career, Steinberg has represented over 300 professional athletes in football, baseball, basketball, boxing, and Olympic sports, including the number one overall pick in the NFL draft a record eight times.Despite his success, Steinberg met his match when it came to alcohol. In 2015, he described his challenging journey into sobriety in his memoir. Today, Steinberg reveals his inspirational journey in an interview with The Fix.The Fix: As a young man, your first client Steve Bartkowski became the No. 1 overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft, catapulting you into the upper echelons. When you look back on the sudden rise of those early days, do you ever feel like it all happened way too fast? Was it challenging to deal with the mighty rush of early success?Leigh Steinberg: I had had the wonderful experience of being student body president at Cal (University of California, Berkeley) in the tumultuous days of the Sixties. At that point, Berkeley was the vortex of student life. From demonstrations and rock music to alternative lifestyles, the school was at the center of the national story. Such an experience really prepared me for the national profile that came with the Bartkowski signing. I never confused newspaper clippings, awards, or external praise for the substance of being a good person and being grounded.From Warren Moon to Oscar De La Hoya, you desired your top clients to be preeminent roles models in their sports. Do you perceive yourself as a role model? How did the process of recovery illuminate this perception?We are all role models to someone. Younger people look up to you, older people will mentor you, and you will find people who will be the models for your future behavior. I had a father who raised us with two core values: The first was to treasure relationships, especially family, and the second was to do your best to make a meaningful difference in the world. It is part of your responsibility to help people who cannot help themselves. The whole nexus of my practice was trying to stimulate the best in young men.When it comes to making a meaningful experience in the world, I learned a lot from my struggles with alcoholism. Being in my twelfth year of recovery, I feel like I have been given the opportunity to help people who are struggling with the same challenges that I faced. It is a real positive that comes out of the experience. If you are reading this right now and you feel hopeless and overwhelmed by your experiences with substance abuse and addictions, I want you to know that there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. I have been where you are now, and it does get better.What did you learn from the success of your clients? What did you learn from their failures?For me, the critical key has always been how someone responds to adversity. If we take a quarterback who has thrown a couple of interceptions so the game is getting out of hand and the crowd is starting to boo, what happens next? Can that person summon up the internal focus to tune out extraneous distractions and elevate their level of play in critical situations? Life will knock us all back, but the question is can we stay in the present moment? Can we summon up the strength and energy to perform with excellence in those trying moments? What I saw them do in success is stay grounded and stay hungry. As opposed to bragging about a past achievement or becoming self-absorbed, they were able to stay in process and do the things that created their success in the first place.An old Irish saying goes, "A man takes a drink, the drink takes a drink, the drink takes the man." How would you say this saying applies to your life experience?When it comes to alcohol, it snuck up slowly on me. I didn't drink for most of my life and most of my career. However, when I started drinking, it suddenly stopped becoming a decision and a matter of volition of whether or not to drink. With what seems like little or no warning, it becomes a craving and compulsion. I did not realize until later in my life that I am allergic to alcohol. At this point, the first drink would be a disaster. Knowing the metamorphosis in my brain when I take the first drink gives me no other choice but to stay vigilant.You write in your book, "Consuming alcohol became a form of Russian roulette for me." It's truly a powerful image. Can you explain it further?The first drink was Russian Roulette. After I took the first drink, it wasn't clear what would be the eventual outcome. It could be anything from a blackout where I did not remember what had happened to just falling asleep to something unexpected. It was unclear how an evening would end, and it wasn't going to be positive (laughing). After taking the first drink, I was no longer in control of my own life. It wasn't positive. Depending on how my body was metabolizing alcohol and how much I was drinking, it could lead to many self-destructive behaviors, including drunk driving, hurting other people's feelings, and complete self-absorption. It could lead to a place where I was no longer aware of the choices I was making.Can you describe your "moment of clarity"? What realization led to the start of what is now your long-term recovery?It was a sense of proportionality. I was sitting in my father's room at our family house after closing my office and home. I am at my parent's house in West Los Angeles, and all I have is the next drink. At that moment of despair, there was an epiphany where I gained a sense of proportion. I realized I wasn't a starving peasant in Sudan, I didn't have the last name Steinberg in Nazi Germany, and I didn't have cancer or anything fundamentally wrong with my body. Thus, what excuse did I have not to live up to my dad's admonitions and be a good father? How could I not follow his guidance and try to be helpful to other people? It was a moment of clarity that I needed to overcome the denial that I had a problem. I realized I had to turn my life over to a process that would hopefully lead to a better tomorrow.You believe the success of rookie prospects in the NFL is helped by being drafted by the right teams where successful cultures of strategy and support allow them to grow into professional players. You use the experience of Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City as the ideal example. Do you think that a person's success in recovery might be similar as well?The key to winning in sports is the quality of the organization: Enlightened and stable ownership, a front office that excels at drafting and roster composition, and the quality of a coach who knows how to communicate with his players. All of that is important. Likewise, when it comes to recovery, having the right sponsor, being in the right sober living house, and surrounding yourself with other people who are serious about their recoveries and working the 12 steps is critical. I know it has been critical for me. Going to the right meetings helps you find the people with long-term sobriety who can become your role models. Overall, the concept of being in a healthy environment leading to success is critical in both environments.Can you talk about the role of steroids in professional sports? As an agent who cared about his clients, you write that you gained insight into the danger of steroids early on. Do you think performance-enhancing drugs will always be a part of professional sports?I don't think they have to be, and I hope they won't be. Steroids themselves are a real health danger on both a physical and a mental level. People taking steroids experience such emotional extremes, going from 'roid rage to breaking down in tears in an instant. Steroids play havoc with a person's emotional stability.Today, there are many promising therapies and techniques for training the human body, like nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and stem cell therapies. There are so many breakthroughs about enhancing performance and stamina in a natural way. It really shouldn't be necessary to use destructive substances to perform well. One of the major threats in professional sports has been opiates to deal with pain. In a football game, it's like a traffic accident on every play. Since pain is ever-present, it's essential to find alternatives to becoming dependent and ultimately addicted to opioids is critical.Any last words? Any message you want to leave us with today?I have found that the most important life skill is listening. If you can cut below the surface with another human being and listen carefully to their greatest anxieties and fears and their greatest hopes and dreams, you can help them. If you can put yourself in their shoes and connect with their hearts and minds, then it's possible to navigate yourself through life with grace and integrity. Indeed, from the beginning, it was at the heart of my father's message to me.Lastly, I believe one of the keys is to try to live in this moment without being lost in the past or fearful of the future. We don't always have to answer the cell phone that's ringing. You can put focus and energy into the present to derive maximum satisfaction and be a happy person.

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Vanity Wellness Center #health #holistic

Vanity Wellness Center (VWC) is an outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment facility based in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood in California's San Fernando Valley. Treatment at VWC includes outpatient detoxification, group and couples therapy, and several modalities for aftercare, including discharge strategy planning and relapse prevention. They also offer an array of activities and amenities for clients, including art therapy, yoga, and more. The staff at Vanity Wellness Center is committed to aiding patients in overcoming their substance abuse issues by identifying their underlying traumas.When asked why they chose VWC for treatment, surveyed former clients gave a number of reasons. A majority of respondents said that the quality of treatment was the most important factor in their decision. Others gave location, privacy, and insurance reasons as their motivating factors, but the treatment provided by VWC was by far the most frequently cited reasons. "I was tired of failed treatment in Los Angeles where clients are getting high and not taking recovery or life seriously," wrote one former client. Another sought "the best outpatient helpers."Former VWC clients who responded to our survey described fellow residents as "an ethnically diverse group of male and female professionals with ages ranging from 20s to 50s." Most described other clients in positive ways, from "a good group of guys" to "people of my age group… who were able to identify with my issues." Nearly all respondents noted and appreciated the diverse demographics within the client group; respondents felt that their fellow residents were "looking for real help" and found the makeup of the client base "very comfortable."Alumni felt that their daily routine was well balanced at VWC. The facility maintains a schedule of therapy and activities from Monday through Friday, beginning at 9 am and ending at 3 pm, which was considered by respondents as "active and educational," and with "a few awesome groups per day." On average, respondents considered that their days were "filled with group activities" and discussions "on learning tools and techniques to succeed addiction." Most attended between two and five groups per day. In addition to the aforementioned treatment modalities, VWC also offers dual diagnosis treatment for individuals contending with both substance use disorder and mental health issues.When asked about rules at VWC, nearly all respondents believed that the facility regulated with a caring and healthy approach. Many noted that they felt that the staff "really cares" and "was very attentive" to their needs, with one respondent writing that they considered a staff member like "an older brother to me." One respondent elaborated: "They definitely had rules but what I liked was they let people be adults and make choices, good or bad." Another considered the structure "challenging" but added that they also appreciated the tough love route: "It required me to be rigorously honest about my issues," they wrote.Many former clients regarded VWC's medical treatment as "excellent." Medical and psychiatric professionals were described as "thorough," "very pleasant,” and "kind and expedient" with regard to making sure that everyone’s needs were met. For one former patient, doctors and mental health professionals "were and continue to be a great source of physical and mental treatment."While VWC's treatment does include elements of a 12-step program, survey respondents said that the facility's approach embraces other modalities "relevant to individual clients.” As one wrote, "12 step is a commonality in the program but not forced upon [us]. It's recognized that not everyone is the same and other treatment techniques can be healing as well." Many noted that treatment focused on "real life," which at VWC includes planning for life after discharge and relapse prevention.When it came to religious matters, the concept of God was not enforced; rather a "higher power" or other spiritual element was emphasized. The balance between religious and secular approaches was "respectful" and "not in a way that beats you over the head or [makes] one feel judged for not believing." One respondent stated, "We all had the freedom to choose what we believed in.”In general, alumni had praise for the meals offered at VWC, describing food as "quality" and "amazing," with many noting that both "healthy daily catered meals" and "heartier" comfort foods were available to all clients. Coffee was available "anytime," and there was an abundance of snacks and other beverages. Salads were frequently cited as a favorite meal, while sushi, tacos, and steak all received positive responses, but many also noted that their favorite aspect of the meals at VWC was the variety. "I loved it all because I was able to choose what I liked," wrote one survey participant.When not participating in groups or other treatment modalities, clients at VWC had a number of choices in terms of activities, both at the facility and off-site. The former included exercise-based activities like yoga, chiropractic care and massages, meditation and access to a gym. Leisure-time activities were also available, and ranged from gaming and television rooms to a music studio to pool access. There were also therapy modalities using art and music, as well as outings for equestrian therapy at a nearby animal shelter, go-karting, and helicopter rides. Schedules accommodated enough time to pursue these various activities; as one participant wrote, they "are worked into the weekly activities." There is also a private patio for smokers.When asked to summarize their favorite part of the VWC experience, many former patients said that their relationship with the staff was foremost in their minds. Feeling like they "truly care about your recovery and well being," as one participant wrote, was echoed by several alumni, while others appreciated the time devoted to them by therapists. Some felt as if staff members and fellow clients were like family, with one person noting, "I've built a lifelong friendship with almost everyone here." Others felt that the impact of treatment on their lives was the best part of the experience. As one client wrote, "[The] most memorable [part] was how I could finally see change in myself."All respondents to our survey have maintained sobriety after leaving care at VWC, crediting coping and other tools they acquired in treatment, which have "set them up to succeed." Another noted that the facility reinforced in them the need to "[stay] connected and [build] a support network." A number of former clients said that they felt they could reach out to staff at VWC for help and if needed, continued care.

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Debunking 10 Myths About Substance Use Disorder Treatment #health #holistic

Myths have helped us to understand the world around us. They've lead to a sense of order in a seemingly random world, and established a belief in cause and effect that lies at the root of education and enlightenment. But myths can also foster misinformation and superstition that get in the way of mental, emotional, and spiritual progress. A perfect example of this is the wealth of myths that surround addiction, recovery, and treatment. We've taken the prevalent falsehoods and rumors about getting sober through treatment and exploded them to reveal the core truth behind these beliefs.1. I have to hit rock bottom before I go into treatmentThe concept of "rock bottom" – a breaking point so grievous that an individual must either affect change in their lives or risk permanent incapacitation – is relative: one's idea of their lowest point is different than others, and may not even approach life-or-death scenarios. Waiting for that moment to begin recovery is not only unnecessary but also dangerous, since descending further into addiction can mean greater risk for physical harm (overdose) and mental trauma (loss of family, personal freedom). Recovery can and should begin when an individual feels that their addictions have changed their lives for the worse and wants a new direction.2. Relapse means that treatment didn't workRelapse is a common occurrence during the first stages of recovery, but it doesn't mean that the treatment wasn't effective. Recovery depends on a number of factors which include treatment as well as an aftercare plan, which may include therapy, a 12-step program, outpatient programs, or sober living situations. The individual in recovery must also apply the tools learned during treatment, such as reconfirming or rearranging their relationships, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Recovery can also require new or additional forms of treatment that were not applied during the initial treatment phase. Above all, relapse does not mean failure; it's a new opportunity for the individual to continue an active role in regaining their lives and making positive changes.3. Relapse means that you can't get soberThinking that a relapse means that the treatment didn't work goes hand in hand with another myth: that a relapse also translates into the cold, hard fact that an individual simply can't achieve sobriety under any circumstances. This is, of course, a total fallacy: sobriety takes work, determination, and the willingness to make changes to one's life, but it can be attained. A relapse may put a roadblock in the path to lasting sobriety, but it doesn't mean that the path is inaccessible or shouldn't be attempted. More damaging to sobriety is the individual's own thinking. Character defects like self-pity and outsized expectations, deluded ideas like moderated used of addictive substances, and refusal to accept help can undo sobriety faster and longer than any relapse.4. I can't afford treatmentFor many individuals seeking assistance with addiction issues, the cost of inpatient or residential treatment is one of the key factors that keep them from seeking out professional help. The truth of the matter is that most facilities accept insurance and medical plans; many facilities accept all forms of insurance, as well as Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Los Angeles County's My Health LA or other city-based programs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also includes services for substance abuse to eligible adults in health insurance plans sold via health insurance exchanges or Medicaid, while the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers many treatment options for former military personnel with substance abuse and addiction issues.5. Treatment is all based on religionReligion or spirituality is an aspect of some forms of treatment, but not every treatment modality requires an adherence to religious principles or a belief in God. Many individuals considering treatment that express concern over this element are conflating all treatment with 12-step programs, in which God is frequently mentioned. However, it's important to note that most 12-step programs encourage a belief in a higher power – the definition of which is left to the individual, and not necessarily to any understanding of God connected to organized religion.If the "higher power" aspect is too close to religion for some, there are many other forms of treatment. For example, Tarzana Recovery Center in California's San Fernando Valley offers 12-step as just one part of its approach to treatment. The facility also includes evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR), in addition to one-on-one meetings with a certified drug counselor and personal therapist.6. I'm too old to get treatmentAccording to statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on the age of patient admission into recovery programs, more than half (55.8 percent) were between the ages of 31 and 50. Individuals ages 51 to 66 made up 13.6 percent of program admissions, while pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults between the ages of 12 and 30 comprised 43.5% of people admitted to program. People from all age groups, from all walks of life, and from all economic backgrounds get treatment. If age is a factor for attending treatment, there are many age-specific rehab scenarios available to the general public.7. My addiction will go publicFor those entering treatment, the idea that everyone around them will suddenly know about their addiction is an unsettling thought. It is, however, just a fear, and not a reality. What (and to whom) an addict reveals about their condition remains entirely up to them. Privacy about health conditions is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and enforced by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. It requires health providers – including treatment centers – to protect patients' health information in any form. Only the individual and their health care providers will have information about their condition.8. I'll lose my job if I go into treatmentAs with the previous myth, there is no credence to the idea that entering treatment, whether inpatient or outpatient, will result in the loss of your livelihood. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protect those wishing to go into treatment from discrimination and loss of a job. ADA specifically prevents dismissal from a job for addiction or treatment; FMLA allows qualified employees to take 12 weeks of medical leave for issues including substance abuse disorders. The leave is typically unpaid, but individuals can apply for disability benefits until the end of treatment. Many companies also have Employee Assistance Programs to provide assistance to employees, including treatment for addiction.9. I don't need treatment, just detoxDetox is a medical process that helps to remove the addictive substances from the individual's body. It does not, however, remove the mental and emotional aspects of addiction – physical cravings, triggers, character defects and past traumas that lead to substance use and addiction, or the various discomforts that comes with withdrawal. Treatment provides patients with new ways of coping with those feelings and strategies to substitute addictive behavior with healthier activities and aspirations. When detox is combined with a treatment program that includes residential treatment and aftercare, those lingering problems become manageable and a new way of life can be achieved.10. No one in treatment will understand how I feelAlienation, low self-esteem and loneliness all go hand in hand with addictive behavior. Feeling like one doesn't fit in anywhere can motivate people to numb that pain with addictive substances. It can also convince people seeking treatment that their problems are wholly unique, and that no one in rehab – fellow patients and health care providers alike – will fully understand the scope of their feelings. However, if one is willing to risk feelings of vulnerability and open up to others about their problems, they may find that many people in treatment have traveled a path very similar to theirs, one that has led them to find help.Tarzana Recovery Center is a luxury addiction treatment center in Tarzana, CA. For more info, visit their website or Facebook, or call 866-514-1748.

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