Smoking tobacco has numerous health risks, but rarely do you hear about how smoking impacts the amount of alcohol a person drinks. Reuters recently reported on a study that appeared in the scientific journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, which found casual smokers are most likely to have problems with alcohol.

Why is it that casual smokers are the most likely binge drinkers? According to the article, casual smokers don’t have a hard habit of smoking – in fact, they most often smoke while drinking in bars and other social hotspots. Nicotine is a potent and addictive drug, and it’s commonly thought to increase the “kick,” or the effects, of alcohol. It’s in this environment that binge drinking appears to thrive.

The researchers took a look at the states that have passed anti-smoking laws and they found a positive correlation between the smoking bands and a reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed in bars. The study’s reception has been positive, thus far. Dr. Saul Schiffman of the University of Pittsburg (who was independent of the research conducted) was quoted in the news piece:

“By removing the link between smoking and drinking, smoking bans ‘may also disrupt developmental trajectories toward problem drinking and heavy smoking, and thereby yield a long-term public health benefits as well.’"

This past weekend, from September 12^th to September 14^th, the residents of Gatehouse Academy were part of a special “Gathering of Young People in Recovery”. The event was a huge success, but you don’t have to take my word for it, here’s what some of the attendees had to say:

• Niki H.: “It was great to see the residents come alive with service, SOBRIETY & FUN through the conference. I was very impressed with their amount of involvement & excitement. It was a great experience.”
• Katie: “Sober people can actually be fun people & they’re still nuts!”
• Whitney M.: “This weekend was an amazing opportunity for me to see what real fun in sobriety looks like. I got to dance which was so fun, hear some really great speakers including my sponsor, and engage in some really worthwhile service work. I cannot wait to do this again next year.”
• Marc V.: “That’s what I’m talking about!! ”
• Joe M.: “I never thought I would be sober packing my face full of marshmallows, ON STAGE IN FRONT OF A CROWD, and enjoying it! ” In reference to a “chubby bunny” competition, where everyone tries to say “chubby bunny” with as many marshmallow in one’s mouth as possible.
• Lizzy T.: “It was the best time I have had in my life in a very long time, a few years actually, and this time I was sober. I finally felt like my old self again, and going to the event gave me a lot of hope for my future of fun in sobriety outside of Gatehouse Academy. I can’t wait till next year!!!"
• Zach H.: “It was sweet! I thought it was really cool. It gave me hope seeing other people my age having fun in sobriety. We had great speakers and fun activities. Dancing sober was really sweet. ”
• Dan I.: “Awesomely, fantabulous, exciting & inspirational.”

“The experience of gathering with young people in recovery was really amazing and it was the first time a lot of the residents here at Gatehouse Academy have ever been to an event like it. There was a lot of laughter, dancing, and new friends and family made. Going out and experiencing a taste of the “real” world in sobriety is very different than the lives we were living when we were using.

The guest speakers that shared about their experience, strength and hope were very inspiration and filled a lot of the residents with hope for their lives. The service work was something a lot of the residents had never had experience with, but they went in with excitement and being open to learning new things.

It was a very intimate weekend spending time with other alcoholics and getting to hear their story, a lot of the residents felt more connected with the people once they opened up to each other. There were Marathon Meetings all around the clock all on different topics and it gave the residents a chance to select a meeting that they are interested in learning about. Through listening to all the feedback about the weekend up in Flagstaff it was very apparent that this trip was eventful, exciting, new and intimate.

We can’t wait until next year!”

For me, drugs and alcohol were a big part of the pressures of high school, because drug abuse was a real problem for the youth in my community. When I say that people get this idea that I lived in a rough inner-city neighborhood, but that wasn’t the case. My family lived in a suburban area and I went to high school at a very typical, middle-class public school. As a teen, I can remember how often I would smell pot on other student’s clothes, mostly because they were smoking joints in the bathrooms or at bus stops. The saddest drug-related tragedy was when one young girl, who was a freshman at the time, was found dead at a popular community hang out. Her death was revealed to be caused in part by friends who were involved with drugs.

Those events happened many years ago, and I feel a wrenching sadness whenever I pass by my old school and see that things haven’t changed for the next generation. It’s terrible that teens have to deal with other kids coming to class stoned or drunk on a daily basis. Even if some teens aren’t interested in doing drugs or drinking alcohol, it’s all around them – and it takes a serious, concerted effort to stay out of it. Even worse is the fact that many parents don’t really prepare their teens for the stress of substance abuse. There’s no doubt in my mind that the support of my family and friends is what got me through those difficult times.

So, if you know someone who is heading out to school this fall, don’t hesitate to let them know you believe in them. Give them the reassurance to come to you if they need help or for advice. It’s not silly – every teenager needs reassurance, because they are so uncertain about what’s going on in their lives. Even if you’re not their parent, you’ll help empower them to make the right decision when the time comes.

Becoming a resident at a long-term drug and alcohol treatment center is a life-changing process; but, at the same time, you don’t have to let drug rehab change your personality. Addiction treatment centers are realizing the importance of providing vegetarian and vegan food options. Showing their support, PETA has even ranked the top vegetarian-friendly drug rehab facilities in the USA. It’s just one more way treatment can be personalized to encourage successful addiction recovery.

Developing healthy habits, including eating habits and exercise habits, is an important part of the addiction recovery process. That’s not to say you have to become an athlete or a vegetarian to have a successful rehab experience. What’s important is learning how to make positive life choices. Choosing what to eat and drink, what activities to participate in, who to have fun with – all of these choices will have either a positive or a negative effect on your life. People suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction have to learn how to choose the positives and leave the negatives behind. It’s not easy to do, and it takes patience, dedication and time to see that change become a real part of their new life.

First, it’s important to know that there are several different kinds of urine tests. A traditional urine test, or urinalysis, will check to see if you are healthy and will only reveal any health problems or complications you might have.

If urine is being tested specifically for drugs, then it will check for a specific substance or the processed remains of a substance. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have standardized tests that check for specific levels of commonly abused drugs.

Here is a list of drugs that will often show up in a urine drug test:

- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Opium
- Heroin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Ecstasy
- LSD
- Anabolic steroids
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
- Barbiturates
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine (aka Meth or Crystal Meth)
- Morphine, Codeine, and other narcotics/opiates

Some of these drugs are legally available with a doctor’s prescription. It’s important to ask your doctor if you can discontinue the medication for the test or get written confirmation from them to let your employer know you are legally taking the drug for medical reasons.

As always it’s better to stay off drugs, if you or a loved one needs addiction treatment give us a call.

It’s common to wonder if it is possible to test positive by coming in contact with a drug, but don’t actually use it – such as breathing in second-hand marijuana smoke. From the test results, there are urine test cut-off levels that define how much of the substance has to be found in the body to be declared positive. Unintentional contact should not produce a high enough level to cause concern. Also, if someone does test positive on the first test, a confirmatory test is usually done to verify the previous results.

Although many products and companies claim they can help people to “test clear” through devices or detox programs, the only way to be sure to pass a urine test is to stay clean and drug free.

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. It’s a time to educate and inform people about the benefits of alcohol and drug rehab programs, and it is the perfect time for people who are suffering from addiction to make a commitment to recovery.

This year’s theme is: “Real People. Real Recovery.” Every day at Gatehouse Academy we see real addiction recovery in young adults as they progress through their individualized treatment programs. Recovering from addiction is no easy task, but it’s refreshing to see professionals, volunteers, families, friends and neighbors support one another throughout the process. Bringing people together to support one another during the recovery process is really what Recovery Month is all about.

Show your support for the people recovering in your community by attending a drug and alcohol addiction recovery event. Many events are going on nationwide, providing people with information and support. This month only comes around once a year, so make the most of it by bringing someone you know who needs help, and don’t forget to invite their families and friends.

The nation’s best drug rehabilitation centers have programs in place that not only have high success rates, but more than that they empower people to make lifelong positive changes to regain control of their lives.

How does a drug rehab facility do that? How does a treatment program successfully show people how to change and inspire them to actually do it? There is no simple answer to those questions, but the top programs do have some noteworthy similarities.

1) Individual Attention – To really break an addiction, changes have to be made on a personal level. If the program isn’t personal, it doesn’t make sense to expect individual results.

2) Social Strength – For many people, social interaction is how they got involved with substance abuse. Making friends and building relationships with people who aren’t interested in binge drinking or getting high is essential to establishing a clean, sober life.

3) Clinical and Therapeutic Services – Addiction recovery requires some degree of medical attention and therapy at the different stages of the rehab process to ensure the best treatment options are being employed.

4) Residential Opportunities – A residential option gives those in recovery, especially for long term drug rehab, a chance to completely focus on their treatment without the temptations of old habits and behaviors.

5) Goal-Oriented, Life Skill Development – It’s always easier to accomplish a task when there’s a goal in mind. Building the life skills that are important in every facet of a person’s life is essential to not only breaking the alcohol and drug addiction, but also to ensuring the person is capable of meeting future challenges in their life. By cultivating personal goals and individual life skills, recovery should be life-long.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 12 percent of deaths were related to alcohol abuse for American Indians and Alaskan Natives during the timeframe from 2001 and 2005. This news is particularly distressing, since the national average of alcohol-related deaths across the country is about three percent.

They were able to research the nature of the deaths by looking at death certificates among the American Indian and Alaskan Native populations. The CDC’s report indicated that about 25 percent of the deaths resulted from alcoholic liver disease and car accidents. It was also reported that more than half of the deaths were among men.

Such a high death rate is not unstoppable – changes in alcohol consumption and related-behaviors, such as reducing the number of people who drink under the influence, could make significant positive progress. The Associated Press also reported that the CDC sited alcohol interventions as one way to address the issue.

“The study recommends ‘culturally appropriate clinical interventions’ to reducing excessive drinking and better integration between tribal health care centers and tribal courts, which often deal with alcohol-related crimes.”