Making the decision to enter into rehab is extremely difficult for any addict. Choosing to follow a path completely clean of alcohol or drugs is a fear-inducing prospect, amplified by the strong possibility that your attempts may result in failure. Many users are not so much afraid of coming down from drugs, but leading a fulfilled existence without them. Here are a few tips to help the newly sober embrace life after quitting:

 1. LEAN ON OTHERS If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make it by on your own without booze or pills — you’re right. You can’t make it on your own, with or without substances to take the edge off. But you will succeed if you reach out to others for support. 12-step programs like AA are successful because they encourage building a network of trusted friends; they act as a safety net in times of trouble and reinforce the positive effects of sober living.  Every person needs someone to turn to during both happy and dark moments. Maturity comes with acknowledging this basic human need and welcoming the help of others. 

2. ACCEPT RECOVERY AS AN ON-GOING PROCESS Once you leave rehab, or vow to never swallow Vicodin again, it doesn’t mean your relationship with drugs is over. Like real, personal relationships — especially the unhealthy kind — it’s not common to just quit on a friendship without maintaining some emotional connection to the experience. Returning to the substances, behaviors or relationships that have given you both extreme joy and pain can occur to even the most strong-willed of people. Overcoming the urge to stop using is a challenge that takes a sustained effort to maintain, so don’t expect to let go of your dependence immediately. 

3. FOUCS ON THE PRESENT What are you doing right now that is supporting a healthy and sober lifestyle? Is your “self-talk” encouraging or destructive? When you focus on the here and now and make healthy choices that are reflected in your current situation, you are more likely to choose positive paths down the road. In contrast, if you allow yourself to falter — like having just one beer on holidays — you are more likely to justify using in later scenarios — entering a chugging contest because all your friends are doing it on New Year’s Eve. Identifying triggers for substance cravings prior to their occurrence can prevent the pressure to use from becoming overwhelming.

Relapse is not only possible, it’s likely. But that shouldn’t dissuade you from trying to conquer your addiction. Remembering the realities of your disease and trying to incorporate the above methods can help ease the transition from life as a drug abuser to sobriety. Recovery is a journey; it can be a new and exciting time of self-discovery if you let it.

When it comes to rehab centers, the services provided must be of the highest ethical standards to ensure the best possible addiction treatment is received.  People seeking treatment, for themselves or a loved one, need to feel reassured about the care they will receive – especially if it is a long-term rehab facility. Treatment programs without a commitment to ethics may discourage many people from getting the help they need to stop drinking or using drugs.

On a very basic level, reputable treatment centers provide equitable treatment to every person in their programs. Quite often the media portrays addiction as a “poor decision” rather than as the disease it truly is. Those suffering from addiction are in need of professional, medical attention – not just psychological therapy or life-coaching. Stigmas and stereotypes have no place in an addiction treatment center. It is also important to realize that “equal” treatment is not the answer, because each addict has their own unique set of problems that will require a personalized solution. Ethical care isn’t just about making commitments to young adults and their families, it’s about keeping those promises and being honest about how challenging and unpredictable addiction treatment can be.

Confidentiality is another ethical concern for many when considering a rehab program. Every person in recovery may have experiences they may not feel comfortable sharing with everyone. It’s important for not just doctors, but therapists and counselors to honor the confidentiality of each person in recovery. Letting the individual come to grips with their experiences is part of the rehab process, and it isn’t something to be rushed or taken lightly.  Allowing the emotional wounds of drug and alcohol abuse to heal is key to recovery.  This is why it is important to find out what the confidentiality policies are before enrolling in a treatment program.

Ethical standards of care have been established by numerous national groups and organizations, to help support and identify quality care within the industry. For example, the National Association of Social Workers has a specialization program just for professionals who deal with Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) problems.  The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is another group that supports increasing the quality of addiction treatment by establishing “addiction medicine as a specialty recognized by professional organizations, governments, physicians, purchasers and consumers of health care services, and the general public.” Becoming aware of the ethics of addiction treatment can gives you the insight necessary to ask informed questions about treatment before embarking on the road to recovery.

Forget street drugs, millions of kids today are stopping by their local pharmacy to pick up over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to achieve a long-lasting high because it’s far cheaper and just as potent as any illegal drug. The primary culprits are cough and cold medicines that contain dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough suppressant that produces a euphoric-like effect when consumed in large quantities. Medicines that contain the ingredient include NyQuil and Robitussin (or Robo for slang). 

According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2006 about 3.1 million people aged 12 to 25 had ever used an OTC cough and cold medication to get high, and nearly one million had done so in the past year. Also, from 1999 to 2004, there was a seven-fold increase in cases related to the abuse of DXM reported to poison control centers nationwide. Most of these cases were among 15- and 16-year-olds.

DXM can be safely taken in 30-milligram doses or less, but those who abuse the cough medicine can consume up to 360 milligrams in order to achieve the optimal sensation. Ingesting quantities that are too large is extremely dangerous; side effects include hallucinations, loss of motor control and "out-of-body" dissociations, as well as the more serious consequences like extreme high fever, brain damage and even death. Regular abuse of DXM at high doses can lead to toxic psychosis, in which the person loses contact with reality and is in a perpetual confused state. Mixing DXM with alcohol and other drugs poses an increased threat to one’s health.

Although it may seem like good fun to take a few dozen extra doses of cold medicine and buzz the night away, the extreme potential health risks with over consumption far outweigh the short-term benefits — making OTC drug abuse even more stupid than it already looks.  

An addict’s acknowledgment of the need for help is a major first step in a path towards recovery. Knowing which treatment method to pursue can be just as influential of a decision in the process of overcoming addiction. The withdrawal effects of substances vary, and the severity and duration of detox is often the deciding factor in one’s recovery route.

Health Day News recently reported that extended therapy combined with detox medications have shown to produce noticeable results for opioid addiction in young adults. Detox medications buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naloxone relieve withdrawal symptoms and prevent the physical effects of injected opioids, and have proven more successful in treating addiction when administered over an extended period as compared to short-term treatment programs. The study compared 12 week and  2 week-long treatment programs with the defined drugs, and found that extended treatment patients reported less use of opioids, cocaine and marijuana, less injecting, and less need for additional addiction treatment after 12 weeks. The researchers also found that patients in the long-term program tested positive for opioid use in urine tests more times in weeks four and eight, than at week 12.

This information demonstrates the benefits of prolonged use of detox medications in transforming deep-rooted lifestyle habits. Medication coupled with continuous counseling aids addicts in reaching their long-term goals. Although the administration of such detox medications is controversial due to the risk of dependence, this report reinstates the necessity of viewing addiction recovery as a lifelong process that can’t be wiped clean of the body instantaneously. When considering treatment methods, addicts shouldn’t follow a method that they consider a quick fix; rather, look at treatment as an ever-evolving self-healing process that requires patience and constant care.

Recovering from addiction is a process, and for most, it is a process that will last a lifetime. The opportunity for relapse will always exist – at parties, after-work social events, or even when meeting new people. That’s why it’s so important to build a solid foundation when undergoing drug and alcohol rehab. Learning to engage in social activities without reverting to old habits is an essential step on the path to recovery. It’s all part of developing the life skills to live, renewed and without addiction, and have the confidence to re-enter society.

At the end of September, several Gatehouse residents experienced a five day camping trip into the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. The excursion into nature was a tremendous success for everyone. Residents didn’t need alcohol or drugs to get a rush. They had fun hiking, swimming, fishing, and sleeping under the stars. These young adults grew closer together and formed friendships on this trip that will provide support even after they graduate from Gatehouse.

Being in a clean, natural environment also gave each person the opportunity to reflect on their personal progress and their own struggle with addiction. Realizing how far each of these young people have come, and how much their lives have changed for the better provides support and encouragement.

There’s no question the event was a success. Andrew P., one of the residents who went on the trip, wrote his reflections on the experience and he shares with us how meaningful and fun the excursion was for him. It’s a great example of how nature can have a positive effect on people in recovery.

When the people you care about return from drug rehab, they’ve gone through a lot. At the same time, graduating from rehabilitation is an achievement. As they come back home, they’re ready to start a new chapter in their lives. But the situation may cause you to wonder, “How should I act towards them?”

The simple answer: Be yourself. They need to know that you still care about them and that your relationship is still strong. Don’t feel like you can never talk about their past addiction. Being open and honest about what happened will help strengthen what was learned during the rehab process.

They need to know that you’ll be supportive, which, in this case means being sincere with them about their behavior. If they start to gravitate towards their old, destructive habits they need to know you won’t cover up for them or make excuses for them. You’ll be straightforward and help them stay on track.

There are lots of people who go on to live fulfilling lives after rehab. Recently, Josh Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds was featured in a New York Times article showcasing his progress after recovering from a cocaine addiction. Hamilton says that the media, and maintaining an honest attitude, has helped him stay clean.

“You guys help hold me accountable for what I do,” he said, referring to members of the news media. “If I mess it up by going out and using again, I’d be the biggest hypocrite in the world.”

Everyone is unique and has a different story. Have you experienced welcoming someone after their drug rehab experience?

The nature of human beings is social, which makes group therapy in chemical dependency treatment a powerful therapeutic tool. Group therapy usually focuses on psycho-education, skills development, cognitive-behavior, support, and interpersonal process psychotherapy. The knowledge and behavioral modifications learned through these groups therapies is very effective in regards to the success rate of staying sober after the addict leaves the substance abuse rehab facility. Group therapy focuses on several things such as peer support, information and feedback from peers, social skills training, a reduction in the addict’s feelings of isolation thus giving the recovering addict the hope, support and encouragement necessary to break free from substance abuse.

A recent study by Columbia University found that more than 15 million Americans are currently abusing prescription drugs, with a mind-blowing 2 million of those people being teenagers. With a full 6% of the population abusing prescription drugs, researchers have found the most effective means of helping these abusers come clean. The first step is an intervention. The second is to be admitted into treatment. While the drug rehab options vary, statistics show that a 6 month to 1 year long commitment to an inpatient facility will greatly increase the chance for success with the likelihood of relapse decreased.

The following article discusses the several prescription medications being developed and used to treat drug and alcohol addiction.  There is much work being done to investigate the brain's chemistry during addiction and how to restore it.  The article states that we are a long way off from finding a pill to solve addiction.  One reason is simply because addiction destroys far more than brain chemistry, what medication can fix.  At Gatehouse we believe in a combination of the Clinical approach and 12 step recovery process.  In addition to treating the physical, we strive to treat the emotional and spiritual aspects as well.

"It's not just the physical piece. It's not just the emotional piece or the spiritual piece. The whole self is involved. To have true sobriety, you have to address all these areas in your life. There are certainly some folks who stop drinking. Their lives don't drastically change if they don't address the other things, too."

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The following article is one the demonstrates the potentially harmful attitude that many college students have towards substance abuse.  The article references an online community with a group that celebrates college age women getting drunk and going too far.  Members of the group post pictures of their escapades for all to see.  The group has 172,000 members.  I still find it amazing how many of our residents started drinking and using with the thought that it was a perfectly normal thing to do.  I too, had the same thought when I started to abuse alcohol at 17.  I didn't even think about the risks that I was taking.

Forty percent of college students binge drink, according to a report this year by the Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The report lists many ramifications of college binge drinking, including injuries, sexual violence and vandalism. In addition, college students who reported having considered suicide were more likely to be active binge drinkers.

The Facebook group doesn't talk much about these problems. It has more than 172,000 members, and nearly 5,000 photos.

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