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Drug and Alcohol Addiction, spiritual

Seeking Serenity through Al-Anon in British Columbia

At Al-Anon group meetings in Vancouver , family members, close relatives and friends of addicts come with each other to share their knowledge, understanding, experience, strength and hope. Al-Anon’s philosophy is that men and women cannot control or stop another person’s alcohol addiction. In the same way addicts who acknowledge and accept Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous declare that they are powerless over alcohol and drugs, Al-Anon members teach and educate powerlessness over loved ones and family member addictions.

However Al-Anon’s companion philosophy is that an individual is entitled to have a serene life even if a loved one chooses to keep on living in active addiction. By joining hand-in-hand and working together to share experiences and knowledge, members in Al-Anon learn and understand tools and skills for living decently, honestly and serenely whether a loved one is actively using or is within recovery. In Al-Anon, members “take what they should like and leave the rest.” What this means is that in almost every group meeting or assembly, members hear something that gives them understanding of their own behavior and attitudes.

Many people embark on Al-Anon using the outlook, expectation or hope that they will learn and understand the strategies for curing and healing a loved one’s drug or alcohol addiction. People may be disappointed and frustrated to understand and fully grasp that no such secret and technique exist. Nevertheless, a lot of people find that by gaining strength and acquiring serenity, and showing their loved ones that they trust and have confidence in them to make their very own decisions and choices, their family members often gain strength too. Whenever people become less preoccupied with a loved one’s drug addiction or dependency , addiction seems to lose its power of them. It can also be not unusual to discover that once people change their need to control and discover how to create boundaries and look after themselves, the addict also begins to change and transform and sometimes seeks help in drug and alcohol treatment centers to recover from their addictions.

There are numerous slogans people learn in Al-Anon which help them practice Al-Anon principles and guidelines in their daily lives. One favorite and preferred is “don’t just do something, sit there.” So frequently, people who worry about their addicts’ lives want to leap in and “solve” their problems. However in Al-Anon they learn to hold back before acting to make sure that what they THINK they must do is really the correct action. For instance, whenever a father or mother receives a phone call from an addicted child seeking money, shelter or some other favor, the normal reaction is to want to help or assist right away. But in Al-Anon, people learn how to sit still and think first. People learn to “give an addict the dignity of making his or her own mistakes,” for that is how addicts may become decent and responsible persons. This may be difficult, but as people share their experiences in Al-Anon they learn that “taking contrary action” is often the best help they can give their addicted family members.

Another helpful slogan is “zip your lip.” Often, an individual’s natural tendency is to provide advice, tell the addict how to proceed and how to get it done. But unless an opinion or advice is sought, they learn to simply listen and say things to the addict such as “I understand you will figure this out” or “that is very interesting.” The addict doesn’t want to be threatened, cajoled or see someone’s anger. If they know they could be listened to without being judged, communication and conversation with them remain open and, hopefully, the addict will at some point realize and recognize they CAN go to the loved one or family member for help and assistance in healing and recovery and also be accepted for who they are. As a result of Al-Anon people learn that often, the fewer questions they will ask, the greater details and selective information an addict gives them.

Al-Anon has helped many people find solutions that lead to serenity. Regardless of what an individual’s religious beliefs are or even if them lack them entirely, people are sure to find help in Al-Anon. Encircled by caring and compassionate people whose struggles are similar to others battling with addiction problems, they will learn tools and skills for taking care of themselves, setting boundaries, and achieving serenity. Just for today, decide to walk one’s own path towards serenity so that the addict can walk theirs.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction, spiritual

Al-Anon Getting Together with Joe and Being Powerless in Addiction

Prior to Joe coming into Al-Anon the notion of being powerless and helpless was totally strange and foreign to Joe. Joe never ever once admitted, accepted or acknowledged that HE was powerless, helpless, weak, incapable or even feeble, not once, ever. All things considered, Joe thought and believed it was his job to “help, assist, aid and support” everybody or anyone. To make certain and sure that almost everything worked right, and ran smoothly and without problems.

If every person would just do it HIS way, the entire world would work a whole lot better!

There was clearly this one small problem or difficulty — Joe was living with and coping with an alcoholic who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Joe was sharing his life, his entire world, with somebody that had a disease or illness that caused them to be compelled and forced to do something that was harmful to and unhealthy for them. This made absolutely no sense whatsoever, defied all logic and reasoning, and left Joe baffled, puzzled, perplexed, bewildered and confused.

Absolutely nothing Joe ever did worked or proved help. Joe was defeated and whipped. Angry and Furious. Frustrated and Discouraged. Lonely, Unhappy and Depressed. Then Al-Anon told Joe that none, not one of those things Joe did or did not do mattered or made a difference. Joe was powerless and helpless. Joe was dealing and coping with a disease, illness or sickness that denied and refused it existed and that resisted any drug and alcohol treatment.

Admitting and acknowledging to oneself that they are powerless and helpless may sound like giving up or quitting. Well, that is precisely and exactly where Joe was, Joe surrendered! However the steps did not stop or end with surrender. They go forward and continue with a path of recovery and treatment that gave Joe a new power and strength, a new freedom and liberty, in realizing and knowing that it was NOT his job to decide or determine when someone or anyone else was ready and willing to begin recovery and healing and a new life.

There exists a power greater and higher than oneself who is NOT powerless, helpless, weak, incapable or feeble. A power and mightiness that is in control and much more capable than Joe ever was. All Joe had to do to get that power in his life was to make a simple decision or choice to turn it over to Him (Yahweh better known as God the Creator of Heaven and Earth) and sit back and watch it work in his life and the lives of others. Which, when an individual thinks about it, requires no real effort at all.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Questions to Ask Prior to Entering a Drug Rehabilitation Center in BC

Prior to entering a drug rehabilitation program in British Columbia, it is good to look into the rehab facility ahead of time and find what their drug treatment program is all about. What exactly are their (12 steps) principles? What kinds of drug treatments will they offer? These types of things do really make a difference because everything a person learns while in the drug rehab program will affect their process of recovery.

Here are some of the questions an individual should ask before entering the drug rehabilitation program in British Columbia:

Are the drug treatments offered, backed by (scientific, spiritual) any evidence?

The vast majority of successful substance abuse treatment programs utilize behavioral medication and therapy. Or, a mix of both. A person might be squandering their money and time if an individual purchases and enters into a drug rehabilitation program that uses methods that are not shown to be successful.

Following are the type of therapies that good drug rehabs include in their programs:

a) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This kind of therapy will show an individual how they can identify the situations that are likely to trigger their drug cravings. In addition, it will help a person find ways to avoid and cope with these situations.

b) Motivational Interviewing: Proven strategies are used to encourage an individual to modify their behavior and enter the treatment program.

c) Motivational Incentives: Positive reinforcement is the key to success for any drug rehabilitation program. Patients are rewarded for keeping themselves drug-free and for being regular in their therapy sessions and a number of other activities that help them in reaching their goal of sobriety.

d) Group Therapy: This is a very effective type of therapy that puts an individual with other patients undergoing the treatment. People involved in the group therapy motivate each other to remain neat and help each other to recognize the patterns in their drug addiction.

The behavioral therapy ultimately aims at keeping an individual motivated, make them learn the skills that help them to stay clean, enhance their problem solving skills, assist a person to build better relationships and replace their drug use with rewarding and productive activities.

Along with behavioral therapy, most programs also use medications. The type of medication used depends mostly on the substance they were hooked on. Different medications can be used at different stages of treatment.

Is the program personalized for their treatment needs?

The best drug rehab treatment programs are tailored to the requirements of an individual. Every individual is different and no two circumstances are alike.

The drug treatment program should, therefore, be unique too. Their ethnicity, cultural background, person’s age, their gender and level and seriousness of their drug addiction should be taken into consideration. Also, there may be other health issues or problems that interferes with the drug treatment and they will need to be addressed before and during the drug treatment program.

How long does the program last?

Additionally, it is important that the program provides a sufficient length of time for the treatment. An Individual stands a larger possibility of relapsing in the event they go back to day to day living too early or without the proper tools.

To be able to stop drug use, research indicates that drug addicts generally have to spend a minimum of 3 months in drug treatment programs. The more time the therapy takes, the greater are the chances of success in the program. Effective drug treatment programs keep an eye on the patient’s progress and help create plans for the maintenance of recovery.

Other important questions a person should ask :

1) Are there drug and alcohol addiction nurses, therapists and physicians available all the time?
2) Does this drug treatment program provide a twenty-four hour nursing staff?
3) Is the drug treatment facility made to treat adults or adolescents?
4) Does this drug treatment program have all the necessary BC licenses?
5) Is there a medicine management program offered?
6) Are the medical doctors full time employees at the rehab? Or, could they be just the consultants?
7) What is the ratio of staff to patients at the drug rehab clinic?
8) What kind of living arrangements is available in the program?
9) Are drug relapse prevention groups available?
10) Will each patient be assigned his or her own case manager at the drug clinic?
11) Is personalized aftercare planning available at the drug treatment clinic?
12) Does this drug rehab program accept insurance or will an individual need to shell money out of their pocket?
13) Is it a government-owned or private drug rehab facility in BC?

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Drug Addiction in BC or Alcohol Addiction in BC is Dependent on Choice or Is It?

A lot of Non-Addicted people still hold close the false impression that drug addiction is a choice. Even people who fully grasp the neurological basis of the disease or illness in many cases are discriminatory towards addicts, and treating them as though they were very lazy or lacking the will-power to overcome this made-up sickness.

While many men and women may choose to make use of drugs or alcohol for recreation or entertainment to begin with, the evolution of drug addiction consists of uncontrollable alterations in brain chemistry. When individuals make use of a drug or drink alcohol for the very first time, their brains react and secretes large quantities of Dopa-mine which is a neurotransmitter and responsible for inner thoughts of euphoria. These kinds of euphoric feelings compel men and women to make use of more of the drug of choice. This positive feedback is the identical process which is accountable for healthy human desires of eating, sex, along with other pleasurable, enjoyable and beneficial activities in life.

Nevertheless, continued utilization of drugs or alcohol will cause individuals bodies to build up tolerances. To be able to offset the amount of foreign substances (drugs), the body will regulate the levels of (lower) Dopa-mine it secretes. Drug users or individuals that abuse alcohol will then have to make use of even larger levels of drugs or drink more alcohol in order to have the same high or euphoria.

Sooner or later, this tolerance will evolve into dependency or drug addiction. As an alternative to fighting the drug’s effects with decreased Dopa-mine responses, the mind will in reality integrate that drug substance into its normal functions or capabilities. Addicted or dependent men and women therefore will require these drugs to accomplish or perform their daily tasks and responsibilities, and their lives grow to be consumed with compulsions for getting high. This kind of phenomenon or sensation makes clear why a great number of rehabilitation individuals appear to be impaired, intoxicated or inebriated when they’re going through or experiencing withdrawal from drugs.

The latest findings in genetics also lead health experts and professionals to think that drug addiction is far from just an individual’s willpower or person’s choice to something else. In experiments on test subjects on a great number of species, scientists and researchers have experienced similar or comparable patterns of addictive behaviors and conducts developed across generations. Nevertheless, the genetic characteristics and features of drug addiction are complex and complicated, and researchers and scientists haven’t yet pinpointed or determined one group of genes to blame for these phenomena.

Last but not least, the pervasive nature of drug addiction demonstrates that it’s a physiological problem or dilemma – not really a purely mental or social problem. The stereotype or misconception of a drug addict or alcoholic is usually an uneducated homeless individual, but men and women at all levels of modern society suffer from, have problems with and experience this horribly and terribly disease.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Avoiding Relapse after A 30 Day Drug Rehab Treatment Program in BC

An individual is on the right path if they have checked them-self in to an alcohol rehab in BC and have went through the required treatment. Now that they have recovered and have made a comeback to the outside world, they might be tempted to slip back into their previous drug path again. If a person possess a sufficient amount of will power to continue being sober and drug-free by them-self or with their family, they need to know that being tempted to go back to drinking alcohol and using drugs again is typical behavior. However, they can battle relapse and continue being sober when they try these steps.

a) Choose the people they hang out with. Minimize the time that they spend with those who are still fighting dependency. Hanging out with them usually leads them to slip back and they will be back in alcohol rehab or drug rehab in BC immediately. If at all possible, try to avoid them entirely.

b) If an individual is taking medications for their therapy, take it as prescribed. If an individual is going through therapy or counseling classes, do not miss one meeting.

c) Establish a support group. This group can be their close friends, family members, or former alcoholics or drug users. These friends can even be people that they have met in the drug rehab or alcohol rehab in BC, and who share precisely the same struggle with them. Their company will prevent them from reaching for that bottle of alcohol or their drug of choice once more. Just make sure that the support group does not take drugs or consume alcohol, themselves.

d) Recovery is not that easy so do not be too hard on oneself. They may fall into relapse days or even a few months after an individual is cleared, but it does not mean that they cannot combat it. Just continue practicing recovery and take it one day at a time.

e) Steer clear of addiction triggers which will cause a person to abuse drugs or drink alcohol again; a number of places just like bars or sporting events that use alcohol as part of the entertainment. Some events may also trigger a relapse, just like parties and even casual gatherings where alcohol is served.

f) Instead of working on their old patterns to avoid falling back to their old ways, begin a new hobby or interest. This can take their mind off the issue and it can also provide them with a new direction. Do whatever they can to change, so long as it will not cause themselves or other people any harm. Play sports activities, learn how to paint, be involved in a nonprofit organization, or carry out some new hobby like gardening. They can even return to school if they want and get a college degree, or even a masters degree with a new outlook on a positive life. An individual can even be a business owner and start their own small enterprise. Just be sure that their enterprise will never involve any drugs or alcohol.

g) Relapses are common. Doctors and counselors understand how hard it is and that falling back to the drug addiction is the norm instead of the exception. Be kind to ones-self. However, it does not mean that they should not try harder next time or abandon their sobriety plan altogether.

During their treatment, being tempted to go back to using drugs or drinking alcohol is normal. However, there are plenty of things that they can do to avoid relapsing and start all over again inside a drug rehab or alcohol rehab center in BC.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Drug Treatment Programs in BC For Heroin Addiction Treatment And Other Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment

Drug addiction is a serious problem around the entire world these days. Since the stress of everyday routines begins to be too much for an individual, many will turn to numerous substances to enable them to cope. At the same time frame a person who has experienced tremendous pain for an extended time period may also provide issues with drug addictions.

Coping with addiction necessitates the utilization of drug treatment programs. While lots of people may possibly believe they are able to work through the problems on their own the fact or truth remains that the drug addiction does not disappear by itself. A number of drugs demand very intense therapy and treatment to stop use of them.

Finding the best drug rehab treatment center to help you with your addiction will be a personal choice usually. If you were ordered into treatment however you might find you are not giving an option. Some drugs require intense inpatient therapy before a person can be fully cured from the problem.

The use of drugs is very wide spread. From illegal street drugs to over-the-counter medications, people are known to be addicted to a wide range of substances today. Whenever you make the decision to kick the habit it is essential that you have the right support system in spot to help you with the difficult times.

The first step in the treatment plan is to confess you have a problem. Once you have achieved that, you’ll be ready to begin the more difficult step of breaking the physical habit and mental reliance on the drugs. For some there is a necessity to gradually reduce the use to avoid serious physical consequences.

For a lot of finding heroin addiction treatment will mean that they are likely to suffer physical pain and illness when the drug is no longer in their system. Many times medical intervention is required to deal with life threatening problems that may appear when a person has used a drug for a long period of time. For these patients it is important that they are monitored continuously while they work through the withdrawal from the drug.

Drug treatment programs are obtainable in many different forms. There are outpatient facilities in addition to inpatient facilities that can provide the needed care. Getting drug addiction rehab treatment will help a person to move onto a life without drugs and other harmful substances and to be more healthier as a result of these treatment programs.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Fighting Drug Addiction With Effective Drug Treatment Rehabilitation Programs In BC

If an individual is a drug addict or is abusing drugs, then signing up for a drug rehab center will be the greatest decision they are going to ever make in their life. The advantages of drug rehabilitation programs are numerous, and in addition they give back to that person a happy and drug-free life which was once lost in drug or alcohol addiction.

Drug treatment programs delivers restorative healing and strengthening in the body during the drug or alcohol recovery process. The treatment plan includes detoxification processes, dietary programs, physical fitness and health training, natural treatments, behavioral therapies, counseling, holistic techniques including Yoga, Pilates, homeopathy and therapeutic massages. Deterioration of the body from numerous years of drug addiction will begin to resolve by making use of a mix of contemporary medicine and alternative therapies. Various drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs offer pain management treatments like visualization and meditation to their patients.

1) Pre-Assessment

After intake, addicted people are evaluated over a variety of levels for secondary health and mental disorders which could require treatment throughout the process of recovery. Medical assessment really helps to recognize health issues that could have developed from extended periods of substance abuse, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, heart problems, coronary disease, persistent infections or perhaps the occurrence of communicable diseases.

2) Behavioral Therapies

Probably the most powerful therapies of drug rehabilitation programs is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (also known as CBT); a form of person-to-person talk counselling that looks at negative emotions inside drug addicts and alcoholics and exactly how these emotions push harmful behavior. To fully reap the true secrets and benefits of this proven, effective treatment method, patients must be given a large amount of personal attention.

3) Psychological Testing

Psychological assessment is usually critical within the entire treatment procedure, spotlighting emotional health issues, health conditions, medical problems, illnesses for instance depressive disorder, depression symptoms, major depression, unhappiness, stress, mood or any disassociate disorders which have resulted from drug abuse and addiction. Drug tests may also be performed to discover the ideal selection of treatments and drugs.

4) Basic Life Skills

Through long-term drug addiction, a great deal of addicted men and women basically have not acquired the fundamental life skills necessary to thrive within society. The majority of the drug treatment centers provide life-coaching, stress tolerance courses, anger management strategies, personal time management, time management planning, time management skills, time management techniques training, along with organizational guidance in order to help place drug addicted men and women on the path to a prosperous and a healthier lifestyle.

5) Friendly Atmosphere

All of the personnel employed at drug rehabilitation treatment centers are well aware of the wide ranging perils, risks and hazards associated with drug addiction and they also help the clients develop a highly effective rehab plan for recovery. This happens to be an incredibly valuable asset for those who attend drug rehab programs. Rehab staff members are welcoming, friendly and helpful, and they ensure clients get the very best quality health care, medical treatment and medical aid through the entire process of recovery. Exceptional support and care is going to be provided throughout the day and night.

Complete recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism will be the major goal of each and every drug rehabilitation treatment center. Selecting a drug addiction treatment center is a crucial decision which will require extensive and comprehensive research and time. There are no two addictive problems which are alike, and no one size satisfies all treatment philosophies in this world. It is essential to take time to recognize ones major needs, challenges, problems, issues and then properly and correctly screen possible drug rehab treatment facilities prior to making a final decision or choice.