Category Archives: Continuing Care In Alberta

About Sober Living and Aftercare Programs In Vancouver, BC – Part 02

About sober living and aftercare programs in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia. – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

One of the important things that you should look for when you are seeking a good rehabilitation facility for yourself or someone that you care about is the aftercare program. Here are some things that you should keep your eye out for when shopping around for a rehabilitation program:

Aftercare Programs

Multiple studies, including several supported by the Department of Health and Human Services, show that support is a vital aspect of successful addiction from recovery. Addicts need to have peers who understand them help them even long after the drug or addictive substance is gone. By utilizing an aftercare program, you are exposed to multiple forms of support, including valuable community resources that you might not otherwise even hear about. When people are working through a certified aftercare program, it can sometimes expedite such services. Here are some things you might use as a part of your aftercare:

You need to have personal and possibly family therapy as a part of your recovery program. when you are visiting a personal counselor regularly, it helps you to take responsibility for your actions in the past, present and future. These folks can help you understand the many things that you face throughout your recovery that can make it difficult for you to stay on track.

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

Your family will likely need services either separately or in conjunction with your individual therapy sessions. It is vital that loved ones learn how to take care of themselves and to stop enabling your behaviors that are destructive. Kids might have their own specific needs, as do couples. Comprehensive services are the best way to ensure everyone gets on the right track.

Case managers can really help to make sure that everything goes smoothly for you with your recovery. This might be a member of the staff at your rehabilitation facility or it could be a person who has entered your life via individual therapy, an outpatient facility handling your follow up or some other person. While not everyone has access to a case manager, if you do, they can be a great resource to keeping you sober and on track.

Your relapse prevention therapy should include multiple avenues of support and planning. By working with groups and individuals to identify your triggers and figure out how to cope without resorting to the use of addictive substances is an important part of the recovery journey.

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

For some people, it can be a good thing to enter a halfway house between the point of rehabilitation program and complete freedom. With these living arrangements, you are able to start reintegrating into society while still having a structured environment where drugs and alcohol are not allowed. By staying in these settings, you will have structure that can also help with legal issues and other problems that are often a part of early recovery for the struggling addict.

Build a Network

In order to find long term happiness and success, you must have an appropriate network of support for your recovery. There are many different ways that you can go about this. Check out these ideas to get you started:

Alumni Groups

If you have attended inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, you can attend alumni groups set up for folks who have graduated successfully. Most programs have these to provide a level of support for folks like you. These lifetime memberships allow you to socialize not only with your peers from your stay, but also others who have been there along the way.

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

Self Help Groups

While you might have heard a bit about 12-step groups, you might not know how important these really are to those who are in recovery from addiction. By attending htese meetings, you can learn how to deal with your addiction. Alcohol, narcotics and overeating are just a few of the subjects that are often treated via these community groups. You can look in your local listings or call the nearby mental health facility for more information on how you can get hooked up with the appropriate support groups for your addictions.

Sponsorship

When a person joins a 12-step program, it is often suggested that they get a sponsor. This is someone who can help you to work through the steps and can be a great source of recovery. This is a person who has completed their own journey of getting clean and is now able to help other people to achieve their own goals. Usually, they work with the 12 steps though you might disover that some sponsors have different ways of doing things. For instance, life coaches.

Life Coaches

These people are quite similar to sponsors but work in different ways. These professionals will help addicts to create new self-confidence plans and to grow as a person. These individuals will motivate you and teach you strategies to recover from your addiction and rebuild your life into something amazing. Some are recovering addicts, but not always. In fact, you do not have to make that a requirement when hiring a life coach unless it is very important to you personally.

When it comes to addiction, there is a lot to recovery. Finding the right rehabilitation program is the important first step. Unfortunately, some folks think that is the end of the game. However, rehab is just the start of a whole new life journey. In order to find success on that new journey, you need to begin with a good program. Even if you did not have the best experience with your inpatient stay, that does not mean that you are doomed to failure. The fact is that everyone can utilize aftercare methods to boost recovery success rates.

The short period of time that you stay in rehab is only the beginning. The real thing is to figure out how to live life successfully and to make the most of it. Getting rid of the drugs and alcohol is only the first step. Afterwards, you can learn how to spread your wings and thrive, creating a happy life that truly celebrates the gift of life that you have been given. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of every aftercare opportunity that you can find.

At Options Okanagan, we are here to help you. Give our facility a call today and arrange to speak to an intake counselor regarding your needs. We want to see you get on the road to recovery and take off, making your life full and complete. Let our compassionate staff assist you with excellent care through every step of the process!

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

What You Need to Know About Sober Living and Aftercare Programs In Vancouver, BC – Part 01

What you need to know about sober living and aftercare programs in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia. – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

An Introduction to Aftercare Plans and Sober Living Programs

When it comes to rehabilitation programs, they can leave the addict feeling like they are on top of the world. The sober life in a rehab place is a protected environment where the individual is able to finally free themselves from baggage and experience growth and change on every level. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual changes are all a vital part of the process. In order to maintain that growth, aftercare programs were designed for people like you. When you attend aftercare regularly, it ensures that the skills learned in the recovery program are implemented properly and that stumbling blocks are handled instantly.

There are many folks who believe that they are immune to the possibility of relapse. After all, addiction is such an awful place and recovery is so much better, how can that happen? The reality is that relapse happens more often than not. Studies from various clinical observations and recordings have shown that over half of the people do not make it to a one-year sobriety date and as many as four out of five might not be able to make it. Multiple studies from institutions around the country mimic these findings.

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

Addictive behavior is a difficult thing to overcome, in part because habits are a natural part of being alive. Whether you are addicted to food, booze, weed or some other type of substance, it is vital that you take proactive steps to avoid relapse. Using aftercare services in association with your rehabilitation program is an important part of your recovery plans and should not be placed on the back burner!

When should you begin an aftercare program?

Although it contains the word “after,” that does not mean that you should only consider aftercare once you have completed your rehabilitation program. The fact is that all rehabilitation centers include aftercare plans as a part of the inpatient services. These facilities give addicts the tools to stay on track, so those plans are formulated from the beginning. The facility will find out what programs are available to help you transition into your community successfully and safely, avoiding the sticky situations that might lead to a relapse.

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

Most aftercare programs are open-ended, which means that you do not stop once you reach a particular goal. Of course, the things that you choose to do for support might change over the course of time. However, you can find all types of groups that can offer support. Not only do most rehab facilities have gatherings that help out alumni to stay sober, 12-step groups and similar activities can be a great way to help keep you sober once you have achieved your goal. These activities are vital to your new life!

Does Aftercare Have Recovery Goals?

You might be wondering if there is any purpose to aftercare or if it is just a socialization thing. Well, the fact is that the purpose is to help you learn how to live your life. First of all, you need to not use drugs, alcohol or whatever addictive substance got you to rehab to begin with. However, that will not be the only goal.

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

Here are a few of the things that you should expect to get from a good aftercare program:

1. You will learn about making choices for every aspect of your life that are based on health rather than addictive cycles of the past.
2. You will have the chance to reinforce and practice the skills that you learned in rehab so that you continue to grow emotionally.
3. The steps necessary to prevent relapse and trigger identification are another part of the aftercare process.
4. Should a relapse occur, your aftercare program will have the information and tools necessary for you to minimize the amount of damage your life suffers as a result of the destructive choice.
5. The program will include a support group and individual people with whom you can bond and grow through the recovery process together with.

One of the important things that you should look for when you are seeking a good rehabilitation facility for yourself or someone that you care about is the aftercare program. Here are some things that you should keep your eye out for when shopping around for a rehabilitation program: (NEXT POST: Part 02 – DEC.22)

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

Behavioral Modification Therapy In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

What is Behavioral Modification Therapy? BMT in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia. – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Behaviour modification therapy is used to achieve the decrease or increase certain behaviors using empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques. An example of this would be using negative and positive reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/ or the reduction of behavior through satiation, punishment, or the extinction of that behavior to alter the person’s reactions to stimuli and other behaviors.

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

The Behavioral Modification Therapy Approach

When a patient’s behavior is inappropriate, he is informed about this in an unpleasant way – this is negative reinforcement. The purpose of this technique is to encourage the patient to modify his behavior to more appropriate actions. The severity of negative reinforcement varies depending on the situation and individuals. It ranges from a mild reprimand to incarceration. For example, in the case of substance abuse, the patient may be reminded in an unpleasant way of how his behavior in the past has negatively affected those he loves. This is to encourage him to stick to the treatment program, rather than to give in to the substance abuse again.

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

The Behavioral Modification Therapy Concept

The methods used in behavioral modification treatment are designed to redirect behavioral patterns towards more socially acceptable conduct. While behavior modification methods often involve a combination of a range of different methods, it can also be achieved using a single strategy.

The idea of punishment has been criticized widely over the past few years. However, this criticism has been mainly aimed at the addition of some aversive event rather than negative punishment. When the behavior of an individual is a danger to himself or to others, and all other forms of treatment have failed, these extreme circumstances may justify the use of positive punishment that has been certified by a board of behavior analysts. One of the most common options used for positive punishment in a clinical setting is a spray bottle filled with water. It has been found that when more aversive punishment is misused it can result in the individual working harder to not get caught, in order to avoid the punishment, and/or in emotional and affective disorders.

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

It can be very difficult to find an effective, reputable and reliable, qualified drug rehab center that can help an individual deal with his addictions. At Options Okanagan, our counselors are waiting to take your call to get you started off on the right track that will result in successful alcohol and drug withdrawal 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 Behavioral Modification Therapy 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

Leading Common Causes Of Drug Triggers In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Leading common causes of drug addiction triggers in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia. – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Relapse is a lot closer than you may think it is. Whether you have been sober for many years or are new to recovery, the temptation for using is always there. Addiction is a very complicated disease that requires a lot of effort and time to control. Drug triggers are at the very root of relapse. In order to get the most from your recovery, it is important for you to understand how your recovery is impacted by these triggers. In this post I will be outlining the leading triggers of drugs.

What is a Drug Trigger?

Referred to commonly as a relapse trigger, this is an event that provides the recovering individual with a justification for returning to substance use. Although may people view these as sudden events, they are actually long-standing issues that the addict has not addressed. In many cases, triggers offer the excuse for justifying going back to actively using drugs.

Drug triggers have a major impact on your recovery. Following a relapse, you will need to have greater motivation and energy to pursue recovery. Second of all, when you become a victim of a relapse trigger, it leads to your self-esteem being eroded. A return to substance use also deeply effects your family as well as other loved ones. You will ultimately fall into addiction even deeper and things will become even worse than they were before.

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

What are the main Causes of Drug Triggers That Result in a Relapse?

It is important to safeguard your sobriety, and in order to do this you need to learn why relapse triggers develop in the first place. The most common causes of triggers in your recovery are the following:

Wild Emotional Swings

A major reason why your sobriety is impacted by trigger is due to you lacking the necessary coping skills for keeping your emotions in check. The recovery process – and early recovery in particular – can be a real emotional roller coaster. The way your brain functions is changed significantly by addiction. As you become weaned off of alcohol and drugs, you often feel overwhelming emotions. If you don’t realize that wild mood swings are actually part of your recovery process, you may start to get impatient. If you haven’t developed healthy coping skills, you might return to using alcohol and drugs in order to feel “normal.”

Lacking Acceptance

In the recovery world, acceptance is a common word that is used. Unless you accept your current circumstances as well as your past, you won’t move forward with your sobriety. At times “non-acceptance” can be healthy for your recovery process. That is especially true when it comes to eliminating individuals from your life and breaking unhealthy habits.

However, when you put too much energy into trying to change that you can’t change, it can doom your sobriety. If you do not have the energy necessary for changing the things you need to change, the temptation for using substances will be too much for you to resist.

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

Relationship Problems

It is frequently stated that relationships – including intimate ones – tend to cause individuals in recovery a lot of problems. When you initially get sober, you will soon realize that many of the relationships that you have with people need a great deal of repair. In fact, restoring and repairing relationships with your loved ones and family members is critical to making your recovery stronger. However, trying to start a new intimate relationship while trying to recover is frequently disastrous.

As stated previously, frequently your recovery is marked by wide and significant mood swings. When you invest your energy and time into new relationships, it increases your vulnerability if they fail. When those kinds of relationships do fail, your moods might become uncontrollable. This will result in your thoughts and decision making becoming clouded and you will be tempted to return to substances to help you figure out what you are feeling.

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

Holding onto your Resentments

Resentment is frequently the strongest emotion you experience during your recovery. Resentment is basically the feeling of anger and bitterness towards other people because of feeling you are treated unfairly by them. Whether it is a specific remark or event, individuals in recover focus on other people as causing their addiction.

If you allow your life to be ruled by resentments, the focus of blame falls on you and not upon others. No matter what your specific circumstances are, you are solely the one who is responsible for your actions and feelings. You need to hold yourself accountable for your own actions and take responsibility for yourself. If you keep on focusing on what other people have done instead of what you have done to yourself, then eventually you will end up going back to using substances for coping with your pain and anxiety.

Abandoning 12-Step and Other Kinds of Recovery Programs

In your recovery, it is essential to be active in a recovery program. Whether it is an alternative recovery program like SMART Recovery or a 12-Step group, they offer you the much needed support and structure for sustaining your recovery. It is key to stay active in helping others and attending meeting to build a meaningful, long-term recovery. It is very gratifying to achieve success in those kinds of programs. However, it can also turn into a trap to have those feelings.

If you work your recovery program successfully, you might think you have your addiction beat. This could result in you becoming complacent and you might start cutting back on your involvement in your groups. Although scaling your involvement back is normal as you continue to progress with your sobriety, it can cause problems to completely abandon these programs.

It is frequently said that addiction is a powerful, confusing and cunning disease. If you let down your guard, your old addictive thought patterns will grow stronger. Without the guidance and support form those who are on the same journey as you, you’ll end up falling victim to common drug triggers – and your cycle of abuse will worsen.

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

Aftercare And Continuing Care Programs For Substance Abuse In Vancouver, BC

Aftercare and continuing care treatment programs for substance abuse in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

The recovery journey never truly ends, although it does change as time goes on. In the beginning, the focus is on detoxification, which allows the addict to prepare to go to inpatient treatment. While at inpatient treatment, the addict receives therapy and counseling. He or she also learns about life skills and practices what they need to do to be successful when they leave the in-house setting. At the point at which inpatient treatment ends, substance abuse aftercare begins. Substance abuse aftercare helps the addict get back to “normal.” It assists them as they move from a very structured setting back to their live and their previous living environment.

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

How Do Aftercare Programs Help?

It is not easy to leave a rehabilitation center and go back to dealing with the world at large. The center is a place where the addict is relatively sheltered and can feel safe. The outside world is, at times, very stressful. While struggling with substance abuse, the addict likely experienced physical, psychological, social and financial issues. In addition, he or she may have run into trouble with the law, and those problems may need to be resolved once inpatient treatment is over.

Aftercare programs give addicts the support they need to be successful. Without such a program, it is very difficult to continue on the path to recovery. Relapses are most common after the individual leaves rehabilitation, during the first six months that they are on their own.

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

What Do Aftercare Programs Provide For Participants?

There are a number of different components involved in an aftercare program. While each is different, the following are some things to look for.

Preventing Relapses

Education on relapse is important for anyone that is recovering from substance abuse. Relapse prevention programs typically center on the thoughts that the former addict has. For example, he or she may believe that it is okay to relapse under certain circumstances. In addition, relapse prevention goes over the decisions involved in a relapse, as well as guiding participants to think about what life would be like if a relapse takes place. Finally, as part of the prevention process, participants figure out how to handle their stress, so that they are not as likely to start abusing again.

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

Counseling

It is important to receive counseling throughout the recovery process; it will help the former addict figure out why they turned to their addictions in the first place. It is most common to attend counseling in a group setting, but individual appointments can also be arranged. The frequency of the counseling sessions decrease over time, with more sessions being held right after the individual gets out of rehab. There may also be a need for crisis counseling or drop-in counseling.

Regulating Emotions

Emotion regulation is a new component of many aftercare programs. It assists individuals as they determine what emotional states may be causing problems for them. It works to stop the patient from using drugs as a result of those negative emotions. Smoking cessation is one area where emotion regulation is being used.

Cognitive Therapy

Aaron Beck first discussed cognitive therapy more than fifty years ago. It delves deeply into the patient’s conscious and unconscious belief system. Cognitive therapy is based around the idea that an individual’s beliefs erroneously cause them to think that drugs will do something good for them. In addition, they may think that using drugs is okay over time, even if doing so does not bring about good results. In cognitive therapy, patients review their core beliefs and learn why they may be hurting them.

Are you interested in an aftercare program for substance abuse? Talk to someone today to see what options are available to you. There is no time like the present to get help for yourself or someone you love!

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 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.

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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