This week, let’s tackle a very controversial subject in the field of addiction treatment – does recovery from addiction or alcoholism involve finding a cure?

Some medical professionals, as well as treatment models, believe a cure lies in the form of a pill.  Antabuse and Methadone are probably the most familiar replacement drugs used to treat alcohol or opiate addiction. The idea of replacement therapy is that by creating a medication that safely fulfill the needs of the addiction, the addicted person will be able to live a productive life.

Looking at this solution from a rational perspective, it would appear that the medication acts as a crutch for the addict to rely on.  In other words, it simply creates a new addiction to the medication meant to cure the ailment.  An example can be seen at local methadone clinics, where hundreds line up to get their daily allotment of the medication.  It is apparent that this is the lesser of two evils, but the reality is that it doesn’t support the theory of the cure to addiction coming in the form of a pill.

The polar opposite school of thought comes from the 12 Step perspective.  The core thought being, “We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” This idea can be compared to a person suffering from cancer.

Once someone is diagnosed with cancer and receives successful treatment – it is never considered ‘cured.’  It may go into remission, but the chance always remains that it can return without reason or notice.  According to the 12 Steps, addiction works just the same way – the disease is never cured, rather it is arrested for a period of time and can return if the work is not done to keep it at bay.

In the final analysis, it is up to each individual to decide for themselves how they view addiction. What do you think?

According to an article from The Independent out of the United Kingdom, “Britain faces a rise in domestic violence, alcoholism and drug addiction unless more is done to head off social problems intensified by the recession, the local authority watchdog has warned.”

This is being referred to as the “second wave” of the global recession, and it could have worse side effects than the long term job loss. People who are out of work and unmotivated might be turning to drugs or alcohol as an outlet.  This study has been released this week by the Audit Commission in the United Kingdom.  This commission thinks that the government in the UK is not doing enough to combat the other consequences of a recession.

“The commission also criticised the Government for rushing through the introduction of around 50 different schemes designed to tackle the effects of the recession, creating confusion.”

Because the demand for unemployment benefits is up, the commission sees the social issues that are implications of a recession falling to the wayside because there were inadequate resources to be dealing with it in the first place. And if these programs run out of money, people will get left behind and be forced to deal with their problems on their own.

The longer someone is unable, the more likely it is that they will turn to alcohol or drugs for comfort, which may in turn result in the need for drug rehab to get them back on their feet.  The increase is also seen in crime rates, for things like domestic violence.

Check out the press release from PR web titled: GateHouse Academy Trains Next Generation of Dual Diagnosis Clincians and Drug Rehab Specialists

The press release takes a look at how Gatehouse Academy trains graduate level students in community based treatment for addiction in young adults.  Gatehouse Academy is the premier source for young adult drug rehab, and trains the counselors of tomorrow to be effective in dual diagnosis treatment.

With the death of pop star Michael Jackson, pain killer addiction has come into the limelight. It has been reported that Jackson was addiction the pain drug Demerol. According to an article from ABCNews.com, a producer has said that Jackson was battling an addiction to Demerol and other pain medication such as Oxycontin for at least the past 20 years.

The death of Jackson just further brings to light the problem with prescription drug use in the United States. Authorities were told that Jackson had an injection of Demerol before his death, and it may have caused him to go into cardiac arrest.

Prescription drug abuse is one of the most common types of abuse in the United States. Jackson was supposedly using multiple doctors’ prescriptions to maintain his drug addiction.

Becoming addicted to prescription drugs can be relatively easy because they are so accessible. For teenagers, they can use the very drugs in their house to get a high.

It has been reported that about 20 percent of Americans have used prescription drugs for a non medical reason. You can develop an addiction to narcotics painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers and stimulants.

Prescription drug use can lead to other types of drug use as well. People tend to fall into a cycle with prescription drugs and their body needs it just like with street drugs.

Prescription drug use is just as difficult to get out of as any other type of drug use. Most people who are addicted to pills need help to stop as well.

Jackson’s death, although it is tragic, could help to educate people about the danger of prescription drugs when they are not used properly.

The following list describes, on average, how long certain drugs tend to stay in a person’s body after the last dosage, determining the period of time that they can be detected by urine tests. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks for the body to rid itself of toxins depending upon the weight and chemical composition of a person. It’s possible for substances, foods and physical ailments to produce false positives in a urinalysis, information that is also included in the list below. In case you are anticipating a drug test, it’s wise to avoid those substances that could potentially yield a negative outcome, although most false positives can be ruled out by confirmatory testing.

Amphetamine: Up to 30 hours on low dose; 5 days on high dose
Possible false positives: Decongestants, like Sudafed; some varieties of OTC and prescription diet pills, like Dexatrim; the antidepressant Zoloft

Barbituates: 7 days for long-acting; 2-3 days for intermediate-acting; 1-2 days for short-acting
Possible false positives: None

Methadone: 7.5-56 hours
Possible false positives: Unisom Nighttime Sleep Aid

Heroin: 1-4 days
Possible false positives: Some antibiotics, like Cipro; cold remedies with dextromethorphan; poppy seeds produce a true positive test because they are the natural source of opiate drugs

Valium: 2-4 days for low dose (although very small doses may not be detected at all); 3-7 days for higher dose.
Possible false positives: None

Marijuana: 7-34 days for once weekly use; Up to 81 days for heavy daily use
Possible false positives: Hemp; Ibuprofen; controversy is stirring over the possibility that second hand inhalation can produce false positives

Cocaine: 8-48 hours
Possible false positives: Tonic water; diabetes

Quaalude: Up to 90 hours
Possible false positives: None

PCP: 5-10 days
Possible false positives: Thioridazine, an antipsychotic drug

Alcohol: Arguably 8-10 hours
Possible false positives: None

As always it is better to be drug free -  if you or a loved one need addiction treatment give us a call.

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.

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.

Drug abuse is when a person uses prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than what the drug was meant to be used for or in larger doses than directed. This will quickly lead to dependence and addiction. Monitoring yourself if you are prescribed a prescription will help. Only taking prescription and non-prescription drugs as directed will lesson the likelihood that you will develop an addiction and will have to use more and more to reach the same "high" and to feel like themselves.

Using any illegal drug in any amount is abuse. Illegal drugs are illegal for serious reasons. They do not serve legitimate medical purposes most of the time or they are too addictive to be used. People that try to experiment with illegal drugs often times find themselves addicted. They end up having to use more and more of the drug to reach the desired "high."

There are treatment centers that are specifically for women throughout the US. Some of these are long term chemical dependency treatment centers but  lot are similar to shelters for abused women. Many that are especially for addicts take clients after they have been clean and sober for at least 30 days. They also usually require the addict to work while she lives there. Many times these centers are a step into mainstream society that helps the women find a balance between the pressures of life while still finding the support needed to maintain sobriety.

Often the reason that the centers are for women only is because the addict’s jump from one relationship to another and many times those relationships are abusive. Many of the women have been abused and are addicted to drugs. These programs help the women focus on the reasons why they allowed themselves to be abused as well as help with the recovery process.

Different drugs affect the body in different ways. And long term health problems vary from drug to drug. Cocaine damages the heart, blood vessels, lungs and brain while ecstasy damages the heart, jaw, stomach and brain. Though some of the parts of the body are the same, the damage can be different. Methamphetamine increases heart rate and blood pressure, causes irregular heartbeat, decreases appetite often to the point of anorexia and causes problems with breathing, to name a few issues.

Heroin severely slows breathing and heart rate, often to the point of death. It is extremely addictive and can lead to fatal overdose and miscarriage. In addition to the possible health effects, heroin users often share needles which spreads hepatitis and HIV. People that are addicted and use often have collapsed veins and infections in the lining of the heart, among other things.

There is no safe way to use illegal drugs and even non-synthetic drugs such as marijuana are addictive. When someone starts to abuse, becomes dependent on or addicted to any substance, long term drug treatment is necessary for a recovery.