Tag Archives: aftercare from addiction in Alberta

The Importance Of Continuing Care And Aftercare In Vancouver, BC – Assisting Patients With Treatment

The importance of continuing care and aftercare, and assisting patients with treatment in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

For most people it is very difficult to overcome an addiction. It is necessary for them to make numerous significant changes to their lives, ranging from becoming financially stable to who they are friends with. If treatment is necessary, they might have a hard time getting time off from their jobs without running the risk of getting fired. Another potential issue is transportation. They may be confronted with emotionally painful personal or family issues. In addition to many psychological and social issues, many substances will result in physical withdrawal symptoms that also need need to be dealt with. All of this means that a recovering addict will most likely be inundated with various uncomfortable experiences as they are trying to work through their addictions. It can be so difficult for many people that they seriously wonder if they will be able to survive their treatment, or if it is really worth all of the pain that they are forced to deal with.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A key factor in assisting individuals to stick with their recovery plans is therapy. Addiction specialists are aware of what people are going through as part of their recovery process and might be able to make recommendations for replacement medications as well as other methods to help them get through the process. It is very important, however, to keep in mind that replacement drugs are intended to be used as just a temporary tool. In order to have a sustained recovery, it is necessary to wean off of recovery medications eventually and be able to sustain sobriety without needing them.

A good support system is another critical aspect of a successful treatment program. This includes family members as well as other household members of the individual who is in treatment. It is not a simple prospect at all.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Having to deal with a friend or family member who has an addiction problem will mean they have probably had to deal with stealing, abusive behavior and many other problems as the person has been struggling. They might have said or done things that were quite hurtful, especially at times when they are struggling with emotions and feelings that have arisen during the withdrawal and their subsequent treatment.

However it is essential to have emotional support from family, friends, doctors and counselors in order to recovery from addiction successfully.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Finding the right kind of treatment for the individual in recovery is the first thing that needs to be done. The treatment plan needs to correspond with the substance that the patient has been struggling with. The treatment plan also needs to be capable of addressing any mental disorders that might have contributed to or made the addiction worse. Counselors need to be supportive in nature and sympathetic to the situation that the patient is faced with. The program needs to also should be sensitive to whatever special needs a patient might have in term of race, gender, age or other factors. For instance, a program specializing in LGBT patients might be very helpful for somebody whose sexuality has impacted their life. It is also important to determine whether the program’s doctors are knowledgeable about the most current prescriptions that are available that might help the individual, particularly during the beginning phase of their treatment since this is the time when withdrawal is hardest to deal with.

The following are other important facts that need to be considered when an individual is receiving treatment:

a) How involved are family members? This is one of the greatest indicators of success.

b) Does the individual have a counselor or therapist? For individuals without very supportive home environments this is especially important.

c) What kind of treatment is needed? When it comes to treatment, there are numerous approaches that can be used. Some of these include medical intervention, therapy, prescription drugs or a combination of these. If a specific kind of treatment doesn’t appear to fit well, it is critical to not just give up. A different approach should be tried instead, until something that works well can be discovered.

d) How motivated is the recovering individual? If a person hopes to succeed, he or she must be willing to make changes.

e) Is the patient feeling pressure or stress from external sources? Contrary to what some believe, it isn’t always good to be forced into treatment.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Aftercare And Continuing Care In Vancouver, BC: How Drug Addiction Relapses Can Be Avoided

Aftercare and continuing care in Vancouver, BC and how relapses can be avoided in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia. – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

In a number of different ways, the hardest part of establishing and maintaining a long-term recovery process takes place after the initial, intensive part of the treatment process is complete.

To avoid relapse from occurring, most people need the warm support of their loved ones – whether that is biological family members they are close to or new chosen “family” comprised of other recovering people they believe they can turn to whenever they think they are in danger of having a relapse.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

One study identified five factors that contribute most frequently to relapse occurring:

a) Low motivation for making changes
b) Negative thinking
c) Failure to follow through with the recommendations made by doctors and counselors
d) Interpersonal conflicts with members of the family and other individuals
e) Being unable to to manage stress levels or negative emotions

These are similar factors that affect relapse when needing to deal with diabetes as well as other types of chronic disorders:

a) Failure to stick with diet, medications or behavior changes
b) Poverty
c) Inadequate family member support
d) Co-occurring mental health disorders

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Among the many things that addicted individuals need to learn is how to avoid being exposed to triggers that may set their brains into motion to want and need drugs or alcohol. There are times when it is unavoidable to come into contact with triggers, so people need to develop the right skills to help them prevent their cravings from taking over completely. One core element of a good treatment program needs to be learning those skills; being able to maintain them needs to be part of an aftercare program or long-term recovery plan.

According to a well known and reputable aftercare counselor, who assists fellow AA and NA members, aftercare is a kind of continuing care that people need to stay involved in to survive. He says that if an individual just leaves their 30 day, or 60 day treatment program and does not participate in a group or attend meetings or have any commitment or a sponsor, that very quickly the person will go back. They will be unable to resist the temptations of Drugs or Alcohol.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A leading counselor, who is in charge of a confidential addiction assistance program at a major Canadian College of Medicine for helping employees, says that experts can’t emphasize the role aftercare contacts plays strongly enough in addition to the aftercare program. He states it is the key to succeeding.

Another counselor, who leads a recovery center in Vancouver, where participants can gather for friendships, mutual aid, job training and other kinds of tangible assistance for helping people in recovery get on their feet again, and remain committed to their recovery and starting a new life, says that a critical component of the recovery center is peer support. However, the focus of this organization are solution-oriented efforts and it doesn’t limit itself to only specific issues that emerge from 12-step program addiction-focused dialogue. Instead of the focus being on the problem, aftercare looks for a solution instead.

Many people think they are attempting to replace AA. However, their intention isn’t to replace 12-step. People who are involved in a long-term recovery process are in a very different stage and have very different needs as well. Recovery commitment plans have been developed by the counselors for their clients. These plans have the goal of getting clients to the place where they can prepare themselves to lead a lifetime of recovery.

Services such as recovery centers, mentoring, peer counseling, educational services and skill training all play key roles in helping addicted individuals rebuild their lives, avoid relapse and sustain recovery that is long-term in nature . A small federal program called the Recovery Community Services Program (RSCP), funds community-based and faith-based programs that provide these services, and connects people with housing, jobs and/or educations, in addition to alcohol-free or drug-free social activities.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Drug and Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Continuing Care Or Aftercare For The Treatment Of Addiction In Vancouver, BC

Continuing care and aftercare for the treatment of drug and alcohol addictions in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Anyone who is able to be honest with themselves while involved in recovery treatment will know that this is something that will turn into a lifelong process. This is something where there is no actual cure, so moving on with life and remaining on a good path will mean staying on it for the rest of your days. If you are not able to adopt this mentality, you will see that there is no level of drug or alcohol addiction treatment that will maintain your sobriety, nor will you be able to create the kind of recovery that will point you in the direction of motivating experiences and healthy decisions for the remainder of your life. Recovery is something that does not start with residential treatment, bit it will keep on going with comprehensive planning or a package that includes continued care as you move onward from your safe and structured environment and into the real world once again.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

After completing a residential addiction treatment program, it can be daunting to transition back into a regular lifestyle. Added support will be necessary to encourage and to also offer a sense of solidarity with others who are facing the same circumstances. If this option is not available, an addict could be tempted to relapse, especially when they take into consideration just how serious the addiction is and they reflect on the substance that was abused, as well as where they could potentially go back to get it.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A number of recovering addicts will find that working with continuing care group therapy will be valuable as a lifeline when they want to keep up with the program and a sober lifestyle. Without the guidance and care of such a provider and the support of the peers in group therapy, the higher risk scenarios could end up doing you in and driving you back into addiction. Support will help you to cope with whatever the new life is going to throw your way. Access to a community that is like minded will help you to work on the fundamentals that are crucial to living a successful sober lifestyle. This will include appropriate rest, adequate nutrition, physical exercise and emotional support.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Whenever you want to give your sobriety and treatment the best possible chance at working, full participation will be necessary with continuing care and group therapy. Spending the time you need with those who are also in recovery, or even a bit further along, will give you the ideas and the inspiration that you need to recognize triggers, resist them and prevent a potential relapse so that recovery can be long-term.

The right continuing care program will be able to help with restoring wellness for many facets of overall wellbeing in your life. You will have the ability to deal with stress, let go of any resentment you may have and help with healing or even stay away from the dysfunctional relationships that you may have developed while you were addicted. Continuing care plays a major role in your success and it can mean the difference between a life of health and happiness or falling back into a downward spiral.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Why Aftercare And Continuing Care Is So Important For Rehab Treatment Patients In Vancouver, BC

Why aftercare and continuing care is so important for rehab treatment patients in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

A Long, Long Road To Recovery

Aftercare has never been a more important part of the recovery process. First year relapse rates are as high as 80% nowadays – certainly something to take seriously. The more we understand addiction, the more we know that patients struggle particularly during the first year of treatment. Economic hardship, family matters, or plain inability to resist the temptation and break some old patterns are enormous obstacles that all patients face when leaving residential treatment, often rendering them unable to reintegrate into society, or worse, having them relapse as a direct result.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Life May Get In The Way

An aftercare plan needs to address each and every aspect a patient is likely to face once they’re through inpatient rehab. This should include relationship dynamics, family interaction, vulnerability to temptation and more practical concerns such as overall health and financial stability. This sort of issue has to be addressed very early during the treatment. Every patient has an unique background, so they face different circumstances that may trigger relapse. It’s the therapist’s job to identify the issues of an individual patient and help them manage concerns throughout the process. If they get a nice head start, it’s going to be a lot easier for them to face the world.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A Family Matter

Stress related to one’s family is one of the most prominent causes of relapse. When patients have trouble rejoining their family, they’ll often feel as if they’ve lost their support system. Common causes for tension include the patient refusing to accept boundaries set by the family, or a family’s inability to provide the support the addict needs. Unrealistic expectations and general confusion will often lead to harmful interactions – but this can be fixed if they go through family therapy education beforehand. When both parties are clear on what they need to reconnect successfully, the transition tends to be a lot smoother.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Surviving The First Year

The good news is relapse rates tend to decrease significantly after one year out of treatment. After this time, lots of patients have successfully set up a routine in place, plus designated resources that they can depend on if they feel they’re going to relapse. They are free to call their sponsor, contact their therapist or reach out to the doctor who took care of them at the treatment facility. After five years, relapse rate is even lower – there’s no certain guarantee, of course, but patients tend to stay clean after that time has passed. The first year out of treatment is the most critical part to determine a patient’s long term success, since it’s the time when they’re learning to live a new life. There will definitely be some roadblocks throughout the way – the reason why treatment facilities need to offer support networks to lower their vulnerability after rehab.

Staying In Touch – Aftercare And Continuing Care

On a level or another, aftercare should be tied to a patient’s discharge plan. Whether it takes place in form of a referral to NA or AA meetings, regular patient follow-up, or at least transition to supportive housing, a patient should never lose their lifeline to the facility once they’re done with treatment. The first year is extremely important for the patient’s success – we have a much larger responsibility with our patients than merely being there to admit them if they become addicted another time. We believe in making an effort to protect patients from becoming yet another tragic statistic in such a time when they’re so prone to relapse.

A Resource Lacking

Despite the need for patient follow-up and after care, many facilities do not properly offer them these important recovery resources. In many, communication ends as soon as the patients exit the building, creating a social vacuum in which they’re forced to figure out their way throughout a new life. At Options Okanagan, we offer comprehensive follow-up services which make sure our alumni stay on the right track to recovery. We are committed to each and every patient, well after they leave the premises. Contact Options Okanagan at 1-855-335-0331 right now if a loved one is struggling with substance abuse – or if you’re going through that yourself.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Following The 12 Step Recovery Model For Addiction Treatment In Vancouver, BC

Following the 12 Step Recovery Model for alcohol and drug addiction treatment in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

As of right now, the 12 Step Program happens to be the model that is the most widely used when it comes to addiction and recovery. This is a model that is used at a number of treatment facilities, detox clinics and certain community based networks for support like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous was the very first 12 Step Program, which was developed in 1938. Today, there are well over 80 other fellowships that are using this very same model. The 12 Steps are a process where an individual is guided through a number of phases/steps with a sponsor. The sponsor is a member that has already been through the entire process and is now willing to help with mentoring someone new as they navigate the steps.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Such a program can be vital in a number of areas for addressing the treatment of addiction, and all of the meetings should have a primary purpose, which is to carry the message for recovery to all of the participants. While carrying the message is one aspect, the process of effectively and actively working on recovery will be another. One piece of the program that falls short happens to be the ability to offer constant, professional guidance all through the recovery process. Depending on who gets selected as sponsor or mentor, it can greatly impact and shape the experience of the person looking for success in the program.

Even though the meetings are filled with people who mean well, it never means that they are going to be qualified to completely facilitate the recovery process. Such people will usually not have any sort of formal training for addition treatment, and may be basing the approach that they take on strategies for recovery that are flawed. Because of this, doctors, health professionals and other agents tend to be hesitant in giving a referral to a client that is looking for a 12 Step Program.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

With all of that aside, 12 Step Programs do have a great deal to offer when there is the right level of direction and guidance from the start. Anyone who is in early recovery will find that such a program could be hit or miss if there is inconsistent direction or inconsistencies in the level of support they receive. Those who recognize this shortcoming, and the recovery community, have worked to offer people with consistent guidance and direction that had been lacking throughout the previous years. This is a new approach that includes a professional coach for recovery that will help through all of the very critical early steps in the program.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

It is known that it is a life long journey to stay on the road to freedom from addiction. The first steps are crucial, which means that having a good recovery coach right from the start will make a good bit of difference for the success of anyone who is navigating their way through the 12 Step Program.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Aftercare And Continuing Care Treatment Options For Drug Addiction In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Various aftercare and continuing care treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

What Is Aftercare?

When it comes to the process of treating addiction or basically any mental health issue, aftercare is a very important step. It is the process that takes a patient from primary treatments, for example residential drug addiction treatment onto maintenance treatments. There are various types of aftercare and in order to plan the best and most successful path of recovery, understanding each one is important.

Although most kinds of aftercare treatments for drug addiction are structured, there are also things that you can try on your own. For example, creating a strategy that helps to prevent relapse and adhering to it at all times, is important. You should also always have a list of emergency contact information on you. It is also helpful to keep a journal along with a gratitude list.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

That being said, here are a few things that formal aftercare treatment for drug addiction may include:

1. Step-down Residential Care

Residential care is the first kind of aftercare. This form of treatment tends to be beneficial for individuals who have struggled with extreme drug use, do not count on much support and whose social circle revolves around the use of drugs. This type of aftercare allows addicts to have more freedom while in a rehab center, this means that they are allowed to go to work, receive more social visits as well as have control over their personal schedules.

The high level of support that is available every second of every day is where the benefits of this kind of care system stem from. That being said, the step down care programs are a bridge to greater responsibilities and, even though they are structures, more privileges are included that in residential treatment for drug addictions.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

2. Daycare aka Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Daycare is another form of aftercare. This provides individuals with access to resources, for example therapy groups, addiction counselors and doctors while their evenings and nights are spent with their families. People, who have a great support system yet feel as if they would benefit from treatment that is more intensive, are the best candidates for this type of treatment.

The great thing about outpatient drug addiction aftercare is that it provides individuals with the most amount of flexibility with a schedule for their own while offering the highest amount of benefits that a residential care facility has to offer.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

3. Halfway Houses

A recovering addict could greatly benefit from residential stays for six months and even as long as a year. This form of aftercare treatment for drug addiction happens in a privately and independently owned residence. The best way that halfway houses are managed is with the use of rules and guidelines, for example house rules, regular drug testing and curfews. When living in halfway houses, recovering drug addicts are able to get support, make new friends and live in an environment that is drug free prior to moving out on their own again.

4. Support Groups and Psychotherapy

The last type of aftercare consists of attending support groups and citing counselors on a regular basis. This form of care is generally detailed in a treatment plan and is a part of weekly regimen of treatment. Those who benefit from his kind of aftercare are individuals who are ready to handle most of their recover however still require some regular help and guidance.

What any kind of aftercare is all about is helping individuals to be able to gradually ease back into their regular lives without experiencing feelings of being out of control or turning to their destructive habits. It also provides individuals with the opportunity of working on themselves on any other issues or perhaps on a recovery that was not completed after their first treatment.

Anyone who is searching for aftercare support should know exactly what they want to get out of it and be sure of the king of care they would benefit the most from. Many times a doctor or a primary care facility can help with making this decision. By choosing the best form of treatment, those suffering from an addiction can begin their recovery from a strong point and avoid any doubt or fear which may lead to a slip up or relapse.

If you have any doubts or questions regarding drug addiction aftercare treatment, please get in touch with Options Okanagan at 1-855-335-0331. It would be our pleasure to answer your question personally and promptly.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

The Latest Drug Epidemic In Vancouver, BC: Synthetic Opioids Like Fentanyl, W-18, And Krokodil

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Latest Drug Epidemic: Synthetic Opioids Like Fentanyl, W-18, And Krokodil in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Throughout North America, demand for opioids is troublingly high. Illicit usage is rampant, from classic heroin abuse to non-medical use of strong prescription painkillers. This problem has gotten worse over time. Years 2014 and 2015 saw all-time highs for drug overdose deaths in North America, with more than 83,000 people dying. Opioids were the drugs responsible for 64 percent of those cases. Seeking the source of the continent’s strange obsession with these drugs leads one to consider irresponsible behavior in the healthcare industry, a record high number of chronic pain cases (over 110 million), or the slippery slope leading from pharmaceutical painkillers to illicit drugs like heroin.

As though our relationship with opioids wasn’t scary enough, the latest news on the subject reveals a rising tide of brand-new synthetic opioid drugs that might well make the situation worse. Like other synthetic drugs, synthetic opioids are chemical mixtures designed to reproduce the euphoric and anesthetic effects of naturally-based opiates (e.g. morphine and codeine). One distinction to this new class of drug is that it breaks down into two sub-families: the synthetic opioids and the semi-synthetic opioids.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Synthetic Opioids Defined

Opiates are drugs that originally come from the resin harvested from opium poppies. It’s the plants’ natural alkaloid ingredients that give the drugs their potency. Only codeine, opium, and morphine are considered to be truly natural opiates. Drugs that have been derived from these opiates – both pharmaceuticals like Oxycodone and narcotics like heroin – are called “semi-synthetic” due to the processing required to create them.

Synthetic opioids are those drugs that owe none of their effects to compounds that originally come from poppies or the natural opiates. The particular chemicals used to imitate the effects of natural opiates vary widely; specifics can vary from drug to drug and even from chemist to chemist. It is this extreme diversity of recipes that make illicit synthetic opioids so dangerous. Without the sort of strict quality controls employed in a pharmaceutical setting, the potency of a given opioid is virtually always an unknown. Today the three most common synthetic opioids being abused are fentanyl, W-18, and krokodil.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

More On Fentanyl

Semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and heroin are dangerous enough on their own; when they’re combined with fentanyl their potency and risk increase exponentially. Fentanyl is an extremely strong prescription drug that’s usually prescribed to treat the extreme pain that comes after the completion of surgery. Healthcare professionals describe it as being 100 times as strong as morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Nonmedical usage of fentanyl is on the rise, and law enforcement personnel have seen fentanyl turn up in seized heroin and other illicit opioids. This growing problem has government agencies and experts extremely alarmed.

The issue of fentanyl abuse first came to light in the 1980s. In recent years the drug has undergone what can only be described as an explosion in popularity. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) tracks drug analysis requests across the nation. In 2013, state and municipal drug labs tested 950 different samples of fentanyl. In just one year, that number rose to 3,500 sample submissions in 2014.

Fentanyl is being used by illegal drug dealers to up the potency of heroin and other opioids while also decreasing the wholesale cost of the drugs. This has led to a significant number of serious medical complications when unsuspecting users dose themselves with far more potent drugs than they were expecting. This is frequently life-threatening. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a special alert to law enforcement agencies across the nation in April of 2015 regarding the rising tide of fentanyl abuse.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

W-18 And Krokodil

Krokodil is a street drug that earned its name in the grimmest possible fashion: It turns the skin of habitual users green and eventually causes it to rot.

Though fentanyl is still the most pressing synthetic opioid problem the nation is facing, krokodil and W-18 are coming right behind it. W-18 is still a very mysterious drug, and its very classification as an opioid is not entirely assured. It does have extremely potent analgesic effects, delivering an experience 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than natural morphine. This is another synthetic drug which has been around since the 1980s. It was never entered into the clinical testing process for development as a legitimate medication. So far very little W-18 has made it into the United States, but it is showing up more frequently in Canada. This proximity is making many law enforcement officials nervous.

Krokodil is formally known as desomorphine. It’s actually a semi-synthetic opioid which is created by combining adulterants with codeine. Examples of the kinds of chemicals used include iodine, paint thinner, red phosphorous, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, and lighter fluid. Krokodil got its start in Russia as a bargain-basement alternative to heroin, and today it’s come to North America.

An Industry Of Constant Change

The rogue chemists who feed the nation’s demand for illicit opioids are always busy. Law enforcement agencies are constantly scrambling to shut down specific drugs and formulas, but this does not stop the creators from inventing new mixtures and new opioid analogs.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Aftercare And Continuing Care: Going From Drug Addiction Treatment To Independence In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Aftercare And Continuing Care: Going from drug and alcohol treatment to independence in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Independence doesn’t start instantly after treatment is complete; former addicts need to go through a transition process before they’re ready for a sober life. The gap in between treatment and independence is a very vulnerable. Most people struggle with an incomplete understanding of their new responsibilities and limited resources while they move towards a life of sobriety.

Recovering addicts absolutely require quality aftercare if they are to make their sobriety permanent in the future. Our mission is to develop a customized aftercare plan for each individual in order to maximize their chances of success as they move toward full independence.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Preventing Relapses And Aftercare

While the individual learns how to manage his or her own recovery, relapse is the biggest threat that needs to be dealt with. Ongoing support programs and regular counselling are tremendously helpful to most recovering addicts, and these aids make it easier to break out of the substance abuse cycle. Options Okanagan wants to provide the support every recovering addict needs to steer clear of relapses and chart a bath to an addiction-free life.

Education And Familial Assistance

Good aftercare programs assist relatives as well as recovering addicts. They provide much-needed education and support to family members. Options Okanagan team members try to work with families as well as individuals in order to improve the long-term prospects of those recovering from addiction. Family members who require additional assistance are frequently referred to community-based programs including Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) programs. Bringing relatives into the recovery process is important in order to heal the instability and mistrust that addiction introduces into the family.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Communicating Freely

Recovering addicts who have completed the first phase of their treatment will have a wide range of concerns and questions. They usually want to re-build damaged relationships, establish healthy coping mechanisms, and build better habits at this point. We want to provide the safe space individuals need to address their concerns and make them comfortable with asking any type of question. Recovery takes a long time, and open communication is vitally important to making the aftercare process productive.

Recovery Choices

The best healing process differs from individual to individual. This is why Options Okanagan helps recovering addicts down many different paths to sobriety. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery are some of the popular options, but they are by no means the only ones. We start our assistance with each individual by assessing their unique recovery needs. This allows us to chart a recovery path that provides much-needed structure, guidance, and accountability on the road to sober living. Ultimately, we want to give recovering addicts the tools they need in order to connect with both a larger community of professional therapists and with peers.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Transitioning Out Of Treatment

Leaving an inpatient facility and facing society can be an extreme challenge for recovering addicts. We can provide individuals with a range of choices for transitional residences that are sensitive to the needs of recovery. This lessens the pressure individuals are subjected to and makes it easier to rebuild their lives. Being in close contact with peers who have faced similar challenges is a great help to those who are just starting out on the road to recovery.

Easing The Way From Treatment To Normal Life

Options Okanagan understands that addiction comes from many different places. The tools and techniques required to leave addiction behind and return to mental health need to be tailored to the needs of the individual. We are committed to helping every recovering addict not only complete basic treatment but also make a full recovery through our aftercare programs. Our support is intended to foster health on both a physical and mental level, and we are always open to working with other professionals in the fields of health care and recovery who can help addicts chart a path back to full sobriety.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

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Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Family Aftercare And Continuing Care: Bringing People Together In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Family Aftercare: Bringing People Together in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Addiction has an impact on everyone, including the loved ones of the addict. It creates a very stressful situation, where family members struggle to understand how to deal with the addiction and what it is doing to everyone involved. Traumatic situations are not unusual in these cases; for example, the police may have been called to the home before. The addict may have become physically aggressive. He or she may have become verbally or mentally abusive. The loved one involved may find themselves consumed with worry but powerless to alter the situation. The addict may lie to the people that are trying to help him the most. The loved ones may find that they are being blamed for situations that are out of their control. All in all, it is a very negative situation that takes its toll on everyone that is involved in the addict’s life.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Addiction leads to problems for everyone in the family. Studies show that the loved ones of the addict are more likely to receive a diagnosis of depression or other mental illness than people whose loved ones suffer from asthma or diabetes. Clearly, it is a difficult situation for everyone, not just the addict.

If you have a loved one with a drug or alcohol issue, you know how difficult it is to watch as they spiral out of control. You want to help. You want to do the right thing. Unfortunately, helping that loved one sometimes overtakes your own life. The owner of Options Okanagan, Doug MacKenzie, believes that some people simply don’t see what is happening to their own life because they are consumed by what is happening to the addict. These people try and try again to help in situations that are beyond their control. They want to “make it right” for the addict. However, often the situation spirals into isolation and resentment, and boundaries slowly slip away.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Loved Ones Need Support Too

In order to truly help someone that is dealing with addiction, you need to be patient, provide support and get them professional treatment. What many people do not realize is that the loved ones of the addict also need these same three things. Trying to help an addict is a frustrating and unpredictable process. Therefore, it makes sense for the loved one to also attend a professional program aimed at helping them better understand addiction. The program can also inspire the loved one, as it helps them see that change can happen. It gives them hope, which they need in order to move forward.

Loved ones also need to start a journey toward recovery, and a professional program is a great way to begin that process. It helps the loved one learn, gain new skills and set goals. There is also aftercare available to help the healing continue.

Doug at Options Okanagan thinks that the loved ones of the addict need to get support after the conclusion of the addiction treatment program. Loved ones were embroiled in a difficult situation as well; they were exposed to many of the worst parts of addiction. The pain does not go away overnight, and everyone needs to receive support so that they can work to rebuild their relationship.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Studies indicate that loved ones need certain things to deal with their experience and to come out on top in the end. These things include positive social support and solid information. Some treatment programs have always offered family aftercare services, believing that it has a very positive impact on the healing process for all involved. The addict has to be the one that takes control of their addiction and fights to get better. Loved ones can help, however, by not becoming enablers and encouraging the right behaviors. These things do not come naturally to most people, though, and they need to be given the right information in order to succeed.

Setting Up The Right Environment

A healing environment is made up of many components. In the aftercare process, loved ones are educated on addictions and negative choices. They start to see what their role in the negativity was. Basically, loved ones figure out what they should and should not do during the recovery process.

It is valuable to be around others that have gone through what you have gone through. Loved ones truly benefit from group aftercare for a number of reasons. First, you are with others that know what you are going through. You can talk openly; there is no need for shame or secrets. No one in the group judges you, because they have been where you are. In addition, you will hear about what others have been through and may be able to learn from their experiences. You feel hopeful. You feel confident. You even start to feel good about yourself again. Finally, you realize that your needs are important and that you have a voice, too.

Joining Family Aftercare

For the most part, you can go to a family aftercare program regardless of whether your loved one was involved in a treatment program at the facility or not. Some aftercare programs may last as long as two years. After that, there are often self-facilitated groups available. Typically, the amount of money you pay goes down every year that you are in the program.

Support programs are crucial to helping you recover from what is often a traumatic situation. These programs also help you learn how best to help your loved one going forward as well.

If you want to find out more, simply go online and search for information. You can call or email a program that you are interested in.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

What Is Continuing Care And Aftercare Treatment In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

What is aftercare and continuing care treatment in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Recovering from addiction and drug abuse doesn’t stop at the end of treatment. Aftercare, at its core, should be considered as a kind of continued treatment that immediately follows a fairly shorter addiction treatment care period, like intensive outpatient treatment or inpatient rehab.

It is critical to pay very close attention to the post-treatment time interval for a patient. It is during that critical period that progress that was made during the recovery period are reinforced. Many different types of aftercare treatment options are available, which can help with preventing relapse and expanding on the coping strategies that have been learned during the rehabilitation process.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

They including the following:

– Outpatient treatment: The person lives at home and attends treatment a couple of times a week whenever it is convenient.

– Group counseling: The individual will share and listen to experiences that relate to addiction and work on developing coping and social skills within a group setting.

– Individual therapy: The person meets with a therapist one-on-one to build on the progress that was made during the initial treatment process.

– 12-step programs: Various fellowship programs,like Narcotics Anonymous (NA)and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), provide encouragement and support for people during their recovery process.

Clinicians may prescribe various lengths of aftercare or extended care depending on what the person’s disposition and needs are after the initial treatment is completed. It is critical that the patient critically follow her or his aftercare plan, since it is estimated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that substance relapse rates are 40 to 60 percent. Frequently, participating in a 12-step program on a continuous basis is strongly encouraged and actually required in some cases. It is also common to outpatient follow-up appointments scheduled on a regular basis at a clinic or hospital.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Recovery is a lifelong process. Call Options Okanagan today at 1-855-335-0331 to get the support that you really need.

Aftercare and continuing care typically involves much less frequent contact with the patient’s treatment personnel compared to during the acute treatment phase. It is therefore much ore like a real-life self-sufficiency situation, where hard work and individual determination are required for maintaining one’s sobriety.

Transitioning from acute treatment into self-sufficiency, in many cases, is monitored at different time intervals each week. This provides the patient with a strong incentive for avoiding trigger situations and resisting the urge to once again use drugs. Monitoring, as part of an individual’s comprehensive aftercare plan, can also help to detect a recent or impending release which allows for re-evaluating a treatment plan, which promotes patient safety and health ultimately.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

How To Develop An Aftercare And Continuing Care Plan

A series of aftercare goals and requirements will be set by a quality inpatient rehab program for every patient, based on the specific needs of the patient and discharge evaluation. In some cases, like with some employment/work alcohol and drug assistance programs, diversion or court-ordered treatment, aftercare participation is closely monitored and is mandatory. Although in some cases it might be involuntary, aftercare and treatment are not any less effective due to it.

Some examples of components that involve and lead up to numerous aftercare plans include the following:

a) Relapse prevention strategy that is drafted and rehearsed before the initial treatment ends.

b) Prescription for participating on a consistent basis self-help or addiction support groups (often these are 12-step meetings like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous)

c) Outpatient follow-up appointments scheduled on a regular basis for continued therapy with a clinician or counselor

d) When necessary, arrangement for a post-treatment controlled living environment such as sober living, halfway house, etc.

e) Required or recommended drug testing

f) Monitoring: may be done via email or the hone or at scheduled appointments. The information age has introduced various new continued patient care methods, including text message check-ins, video appointments and various other tracking and support apps.

Recovery From Alcohol and Drug Addiction Isn’t Easy

It is essential to have a supportive environment that helps you on a continuous basis to avoid temptation. That involves support system members taking any mind-altering substances out of the avoid, avoid using any intoxicating substances in the presence of the recovering person,and encouraging the patient to fully comply with his or her aftercare plan.

It is very important to have aftercare and continuing care programs involving a sponsor or someone else who is available at all times to talk. An aftercare program often involves individual, group and family therapy as well as other protocols that are created to meet the individual needs of the recovering patient.

Recovery From Drug And Alcohol Addiction Is A Never Ending Process

The recovery process is a life-long one, and doesn’t end when therapy or rehab is completed. Find an aftercare treatment program to get the assistance you need. Give Options Okanagan a call at 1-855-335-0331 to receive the confidential guidance that you need. We have treatment admissions specialists that are available 7 days per week and 24 hours per day to give you the information you need to determine the best aftercare treatment that will meet your individual needs.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331