Preventing Relapse During Recovery

After quitting drugs or alcohol, going through withdrawal and completing an addiction recovery program, you or an addict you know will need to fight against relapse. Understanding relapse and knowing how to prevent it is an essential part of addiction recovery.

How to Stop Addiction Recovery Relapse

In order to stop addiction recovery relapse, you need to recognize and prevent the early signs of relapse. Some of the warning signs can be:

•    Isolating yourself instead of asking for help.
•    Avoiding relaxation techniques.
•    Continuing to eat poorly and sleep poorly.
•    Obsessing over the past and reliving old memories.
•    Hanging out with people or going places where you used.

Relapse Happens In Stages

Overcoming drug or alcohol addiction is a long process with many steps, and relapse isn’t a one-time event that occurs in a weak moment.
It is something that starts much, much earlier than that one moment. Many recovering addicts don’t take action until they have a physical relapse, but this stage actually takes place long after relapse starts to take over.

The first stage is emotional relapse. In this stage, you’re not thinking about drinking or using drugs, but you’re definitely in an emotional place where it’s possible. Your feelings and behaviors are creating the conditions for a relapse.During emotional relapse, you’re feeling anxious and angry. You may be experiencing mood swings and feel a bit defensive about your habits. You’re not supporting your body with proper sleeping or eating habits. In short, you’re re-visiting the emotions you had before you started abusing drugs and alcohol.The following stage is mental relapse. At this stage, you’re fighting with yourself over using drugs and alcohol. Part of you wants to stay sober, but part of you doesn’t. You think about using more and more frequently. You’ll glamorize your past use, start hanging out with old friends, think about the places you used to go when you used – you’re setting the mental stage for a relapse.

Finally, there’s a physical relapse, the point where you actually go to get your drug of choice and use it. It’s very difficult to stop yourself from relapsing at this point because you’ve got the emotional and mental foundation for relapse. But this is the phase where most recovering addicts put their attention.

Help & Support Are Always Available

Relapse doesn’t have to be part of addiction recovery if you don’t let it. Recognize the three stages and stop yourself from reaching physical relapse by getting help.

If find yourself slipping down the path of mental or emotional relapse, you don’t have to go all of the way to physical relapse. You can practice self care, tell someone you’re having urges to use, distract yourself with fun activities and get the support you need.

Choosing Drug Rehab in Florida: Why The Sunshine State May Be Your Best Choice

If you’re in a position where you’re researching drug rehab options, you may notice that there are a lot of centers for drug rehab located in Florida.

The Sunshine State is home to some of the best addiction treatment programs in the United States. Choosing drug rehab in Florida might be an ideal option to get the help that you need.

No matter what the situation, choosing to go into drug rehab is no easy matter. Not only does an addict have to deal with the repercussions of years of their addiction, but they have to select the best option for their recovery program at the same time.

Why Choose Drug Rehab in Florida?

If you need to get away from it all, Florida is a great place to do it. There is terrific weather year-round, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes it easier to go through the difficult physical and mental changes you must make in order to get off of drugs and alcohol. When you select drug rehab in Florida, you will be able to get away from your old, abusive life and piece together the components of your new drug-free life.

What Makes A Successful Drug Rehab?

Hanging around the same people, frequenting the same places and taking place in the same activities that led to your drug abuse won’t help you maintain sobriety.

Changing your friends – If you want to get and stay sober, hanging out with the same people that you used drugs or alcohol with is not the right choice. This behavior will most likely directly lead to relapse because you’ll feel like you must do drugs with these people in order to fit in and re-create “old times.” Rather than spending time with people who are stuck in addictive cycles, you’ll want to look for friends who are positive, working on themselves and staying drug-free.

Moving away – In the same way, being in the same locations where you used drugs can easily lead to relapse. Staying in the same home, driving through the same areas and visiting the same stores can trigger addiction and bring back memories of your drug use. Taking the time to change your environment and move away (even temporarily) to a completely new area, like Florida, can help you get on a path toward recovery.

Switching your activities – If you’re like most drug users, you have a certain set of hobbies or activities that you like to participate in while you are high or drunk. It may be difficult to accept, but these activities have to go if you want to remain sober. The great thing about drug rehab is that you may rediscover old hobbies and passions that fell to the wayside when you were getting high all of the time.

Changing your friends, changing your location and changing your hobbies and activities are the best – and perhaps only — way you can begin to build a new drug- and alcohol-free life.

Finding a Drug Rehab Programs for an Addicted Loved One

Coming to a decision about your friend or family member’s care can be hard to make in the moment.

The person that you thought you knew is suddenly replaced with someone who is distant, unstable and destructive. You want to help, but aren’t sure how.
There are so many emotions involved, and several different options. You may not be sure whether you should turn them into the police, cut them off emotionally and financially or check them into a drug rehab program.

When drug abuse takes over a friend or family member’s life, it can be difficult to deal with…to say the least.

What To Do When a Loved One is Addicted to Drugs

Compared to the other options, drug rehab programs give your addicted loved ones an opportunity to break their physical addiction to drugs in a controlled and safe environment. Through detoxification, your loved one will be able to get the drugs out of their system, reduce their cravings and set the foundation for recovery.

However, just detoxing on its own won’t lead to long-term success. Drug rehab programs also include another important piece of the recovery puzzle – therapy.

Through therapy, they can uncover the problems that make it easy for them to turn to drugs. Group and individual therapy can help your friend or family member uncover the problems that lead to their drug use in the first place:

Were they trying to deal with stress?Were they avoiding problems in their life?Were they trying to overcome past pain by burying their feelings in drugs?

Compared to the other options, drug rehab programs are the best chance for your friend, family member or loved one to get over drugs and move on with their life.

Determining Which Drug Rehab Programs is Best

There are several different types of programs that have varying levels of success. The best thing to do is to speak with a qualified drug rehab program professional who can go over your options and help you make the best choice.

Outpatient drug rehab programs let patients live in their own homes and they continue their normal daily routines – like work or school. For rehab, patients will go to the rehab center at regular intervals on a weekly and then monthly basis.Residential rehab programs keep patients in house during treatment and provide around the clock care. Most of these treatment programs last 28 days or more so patients can take time away from their life and work toward their recovery.

Both residential and outpatient drug rehab programs have proven to be effective, but one may be better than the other for your loved one.

Are Urban Outfitters’ “I Vote for Vodka” Shirts Inappropriate?

Earlier this year, the Navajo Nation sued trendy clothing line Urban Outfitters for improperly using and perpetuating stereotypes with the Navajo trademark. Soon after, UO caught similar heat with its line of “Kiss Me, I’m Irish”-inspired tee-shirts. Now, parents and teen awareness organizations are furious with Urban Outfitters for promoting drinking with its new line of tee-shirts that feature slogans such as: ”I Vote for Vodka” “Misery Loves Alcohol” and “I Drink You’re Cute.”

These shirts are targeted to young women ages 18-24 — many of those women aren’t even old enough to drink yet! Merchandise and marketing alcohol has been proven an all-too successful tactic for younger crowds, and many school districts in the country have already banned students from wearing alcohol and drug-related clothes to school.

According to WOWT News, Cassie Greisen, Associate Director with Project Extra Mile, says, “‘It’s no accident it’s vodka on a young female’s shirt. 92% of all alcohol consumed by young people is done so in a binge drinking fashion. The last thing they need is merchandise promoting that kind of behavior.’”

According to the New York Daily News, Jan Withers, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, says, ”‘As a mother, these shirts are not acceptable for children under the age of 21. If they’re targeting that audience, then they’re sending the message that it’s cool to drink.”

But bad news for people like Cassie and Jan: The NYND also reports that Jan Evans, spokesperson dontserveteens.gov, says “‘Urban Outfitters is under no legal pressure to remove alcohol-related merchandise, because the the shirts fall under branded merchandise.”

On one hand, really, these are just silly tee-shirts. On the other, it’s marketing that can’t be denied as inappropriate and unnecessary… and it seems like Urban Outfitters enjoy making some consumers really feel angry and insulted.

So… what do you think of Urban Outfitters’ new alcohol-inspiring clothing line? Would you have a problem with your underage daughter wearing these shirts?

Kathie Lee Backlash, Insensitive to Addiction

Kathie Lee Gifford is catching a lot of heat from the addiction industry for her article in the September 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine. “I’m not a perfect mom, but my kids [son Cody, 22, and daughter Cassidy, 19] haven’t been arrested, in rehab or kicked out of school, so I must be doing something right!”

Experts and families of addiction are now calling her out for “implying that the parents of drug addicts are failures as moms and dads and are ultimately at fault for their children’s drug and substance-abuse problems” and that addiction is a disease that stems from the brain. (Examiner) What an irresponsible comment!

Most of Kathie Lee’s fans and outsiders are furious, commenting all over her Facebook page…

I am so disappointed in your vocal lack of understanding for parents of children who struggle with addiction. That doesn’t make them bad parents – it makes them parents of a human being. Unbelievable lack of empathy for parents who are struggling! Drug use, abuse, and addiction are societal problems – shame, shame on you!

To refer or imply that a persons drug addiction is the parents fault is obviously a blatant lack of knowledge on your part… You should try some research before making such ridiculous statements. 

…while some fans don’t think the gaffe is a big deal…

I do not believe that Kathie Lee meant anything other than that she is proud of her children. Every parent has moments when they question if they are doing a good job. I believe Kathie Lee only meant she is happy that her children are as healthy and happy as they are despite her insecurities. I don’t believe she meant to be offensive to anyone. Let’s give each other a break.

She’s not judging ANYONE. You are the one who seems to be judging. We ALL have our own battles. I believe we are all given our own cross to bear. Whatever that may be.

Ben Levenson, CEO of Origins Recovery Centers says, ”It is shocking that someone like Kathie Lee would seemingly kick suffering parents when they are desperately trying to save their children’s lives. Enough misinformation already! Addiction is a disease which affects over 30 million Americans, approximately the same number of Americans suffering from diabetes. If bad parenting were causal of addiction, as Kathie Lee suggests, this number may be even higher.”

What do you think of Kathie Lee’s comments? Is the backlash deserved?

Elderly Drug Abuse: An Invisible Epidemic

Addiction is often viewed as an issue that exists mainly among young people. And while drug use continues to rise among adolescents and teens, it’s addiction to alcohol, heroin and prescription painkillers that surrounds the elderly community that is most hidden — yet prevalent — in the country; older people are not only more likely to be diagnosed with chronic illnesses that require prescription medication, but as the body ages, older people are more susceptible to drug dependencies.

According to AgingCare, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that in 2008, “the number of people who were 50 years of age and older who requested help for substance abuse was, 231,200. When compared with the 1992 figure of only 102,700 people, this increase is staggering… it has been estimated that the number of prescription drug abusers over the age of 50 may reach 2.7 million by the year 2020.”

Why would an elderly person who suffers with addiction go so unnoticed, or avoid treating his or her own addiction?

Shame. Older addicts are often too ashamed or embarrassed to talk about addiction.Family denial. Family members are commonly in denial of their loved one’s addiction and struggle with connecting their loved one to the stigma attached to substance abuse. Children of elderly parents don’t often want to admit that their parent is not the same as he or she once was, and is now “an addict.”The elderly don’t typically commit crimes to obtain drugs, so law enforcement doesn’t have a reason, or chance, to crack down… therefore, drug use among elderly often goes unnoticed, and thus prohibition can’t be enforced.

The Boston Globe recently reported on an event held in Boston, called Opiate 101, that focused on how seniors can safely discard prescription medicine to prevent young people from gaining access to the drugs, though the topic of elderly addiction was inevitably discussed.

Maryanne Frangules, executive director of the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, said opiate addiction among seniors is ‘”not something people really talk about. I get calls from people asking, ‘What do I do about my mother? What do I do about my father?’ It is very difficult when you know someone is in chronic pain and they are prescribed a medication and it alters their personality.‘”

Do you think more addiction education and enforcement should be in place for senior citizens?

Mexican Poet Leads Peace Caravan to Protest Drug War

Javier Sicilia is a Mexican poet whose 24-year-old son was abducted by members of the Mexican drug cartel this past March. In his son’s memory, Javier has since blames his death on the chaotic, violent drug cartels sweeping Mexico, as his son was not involved with any drug or gang-related violence. Javier and his “Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity” (which includes others who have lost friends or family members) is now leading a caravan across America to “publicly condemn American drug policies.”

According to the Tuscon Sentinel, “The group aims to raise awareness of how it says U.S. drug policy, particularly the war on drugs, has affected Mexico. The group will continue through New Mexico, Texas, and on through the South, Chicago, Cleveland, and New York, concluding next month in Washington, D.C.” Maribel Zardaine, Sicilia’s cousin, says Javier is not seeking political or financial gain from the movement, and that he is a peaceful pacifist; Javier encouraged voters to leave their ballots unmarked during last month’s Mexican election.

On the movement’s website, Javier says, “In order to protect the 23 million drug consumers in the United States, this nation initiated this war that has destroyed Colombia and which now in turn is destroying Mexico, Central America, and is also menacing to destroy in the medium term the United States itself.”

Gil Kerlikowske, the current leader of the US drug policy, has all-but-denounced the term “War on Drugs,” putting more emphasis on drug education, treatment and prevention. The U.S. and Mexico are coming together to reform drug laws, due in part to Javier’s tragedy that shed light on the violence in Mexico.

How do you feel about Javier’s caravan of peace?