drug rehab center Archives | Forward Recovery

Best Ways to Prevent Substance Abuse In 2021

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 13:42:17 +0000

Drug addiction causes changes to the brain, making it harder to control impulses and make decisions. Addiction also negatively impacts your health in a variety of ways. Substance abuse can indirectly impact your friends and family, but there are ways to avoid this. There are many Ways to Prevent Substance Abuse which will be discussed below including information on substance abuse programs and the Best Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for young adults. Some of the proven ways are following:

A healthy fulfilling schedule
Spending Quality time with friends and family
Keeping up with work, school
Positive hobbies
Learning new art forms such as guitar and cooking
Ignoring peer pressure

Preventing substance abuse involves many factors such as how you handle stressful situations, who you involve yourself with in your daily life, what you do during your free time, how you think of yourself, and the prescriptions you take.[1] A Great Way to Avoid Substance Abuse is to not use drugs at an early age, because when you use illegal drugs before your brain has fully developed, it makes addiction much higher. If substance abuse has already started to affect you, the best thing to do is to get help. Going into treatment can save your life and will allow you to get your life back. Developing an aftercare plan for substance abuse is also very important to continue your recovery.

Substance Abuse is Most Accurately Defined as

What is substance abuse? Substance abuse is most accurately defined as when you are using to the point where it affects every aspect of your life including those around you. Substance Abuse becomes a form of self-soothing and as a way to cope with anxiousness, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. Abusing prescription medication or using illegal drugs recreationally and frequently are how drug addictions start out. When you start using illegal drugs for recreational purposes, you will start to use more and want to be intoxicated more often.

How Can We Avoid Substance Abuse?

There are many ways to avoid and prevent substance abuse including having a healthy fulfilling schedule.[2]Spending time with friends and family, keeping up with work, school, and positive hobbies are all great ways to how we can avoid substance abuse. Another way we can avoid addiction is by not giving in to peer pressure, and this may be more difficult for people who may struggle with low self-esteem. Taking care of yourself mentally and physically can help boost self-esteem, as well as doing things that make you feel more confident. It’s important to know how low self esteem can lead to substance abuse and how you can work on boosting your self-esteem. It’s also very important to be aware of the many risks involved with abusing drugs as well as the risk factors of what leads individuals to abuse drugs including:

Aggressive behavior (usually starts early in life)
Lack of parental supervision/ lack of parental care
People around you are using drugs
Poverty
Access to drugs

It’s also crucial to manage your mental health, because many drug addictions are also co-occurring meaning there is addiction and mental health problems. There may be signs of substance abuse in the workplace, and if you are equipped with the skills to recognize these situations, it is best to look for other employment. Substance abuse in the workplace can lead to forms of peer pressure and can be potentially harmful to everyone’s health.

How Long is a Substance Abuse Program?

There are Different Treatment Programs in place to fit the needs of the individual and their related drug use. How long is a substance abuse program? There really is no predetermined length of stay when it comes to the individual. It is all based on an assessment according to your withdrawal and tolerance levels. Studies have shown though that long term treatment is more effective towards recovery.[3] Residential and outpatient treatment typically require 90 days but will recommend more time as for better effectiveness. When given methadone, treatment is normally about a year or more and methadone has been shown as very effective with long term care.

Ways To Prevent Substance Abuse

Here are five of the best ways we can avoid substance abuse.

Ignoring peer pressure, standing up to peer pressure. This is vital because peer pressure can be a starting point to drug addiction. Maybe your friends or even your family have encouraged you to do drugs with them. Saying no to drugs may seem embarrassing in the moment but can truly save your life in the end. This may mean choosing different groups of friends to surround yourself with.
Managing mental illness is so important. There are many forms of therapy used today to help alleviate mental health symptoms as well as to help you change your way of thinking. You will also learn new skills to use in your daily life calling coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms that are healthy and constructive can help keep you away from drugs.
Keeping a balanced healthy lifestyle can benefit not only you but those around you. Make goals for yourself and write them down, diving short term goals and long-term goals and work towards completing them. When you are focusing on healthy life plans, you will have a brighter future to look forward to. Having a healthy balanced and structured life also brings in more positive people into your life.
Know the risk factors of drug abuse and what leads to addiction. Understanding your personal situation can help you avoid drugs. Maybe the people closest to you struggle with addiction or your parents, which can cause generational addiction. By being aware of risk factors, you will have a better advantage to breaking that generational cycle of addiction in the family.
Knowing how to identify drug abuse and how it develops can also benefit you in many ways. Drug use becomes problematic when you are using constantly to get high. It will affect all aspects of your daily life.

Aftercare Plan for Substance Abuse

There are many benefits of substance abuse counseling and treatment including aftercare programs and ongoing support. Developing an aftercare plan for substance abuse is a great way to stay in recovery, and therapists as well as support groups can help you create an aftercare plan. What is an aftercare plan? Aftercare is what happens after rehab, it generally involves 12 step meetings, continued therapy, continued outpatient care, and sober living.[4] Forward Recovery offers clinical detox, residential and outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient and aftercare plans. You can reach Forward Recovery today by visiting their website here Best Alcohol and Drug Rehab Residential Treatment Program or by calling them at (844)387-6889.

Best Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for Young Adults

Adolescents are at an increased risk for giving in to peer pressure which can lead to the use of illegal drugs. If you are seeking treatment as an adolescent or are a parent looking for the best substance abuse treatments for young adults, you are in the right place. If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms and wish to detox, know that it is never a good idea to try to self-detox at home. Self-detox without the help of professionals can be potentially life threatening. Know that help is out there, and you have the choice to seek treatment and go into recovery. Addiction is a chronic disease, and you should not feel at fault for becoming addicted to substances. The best thing you can do is enroll into rehab and start your road to recovery with Forward Recovery.

Citations

Treatment Solutions. 2021. 5 Ways to Prevent Substance Abuse | Treatment Solutions. [online] Available at: https://treatmentsolutions.com/blog/top-5-ways-to-prevent-substance-abuse/. American Addiction Centers. 2021. Addiction Aftercare Programs, Activities & Support Groups Near Me. [online] Available at: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/addiction-treatment-aftercare. American Addiction Centers. 2021. Can You Prevent Substance Abuse?. [online] Available at: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/five-tips-help-prevent-substance-abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2021. How long does drug addiction treatment usually last? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. [online] Available at: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/how-long-does-drug-addiction-treatment-usually-last. HelpGuide.org. 2021. Overcoming Drug Addiction – HelpGuide.org. [online] Available at: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/overcoming-drug-addiction.htm. National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2021. Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy | National Institute on Drug Abuse. [online] Available at: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/preventing-drug-misuse-addiction-best-strategy. Staff, C., 2021. How to Prevent Substance Abuse. [online] Casa Palmera. Available at: https://casapalmera.com/blog/how-to-prevent-substance-abuse/. Addictionresource.net. 2021. Top 5 Teen-Only Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers. [online] Available at: https://www.addictionresource.net/best-drug-rehab-centers/teen/. Gateway. 2021. What is Substance Abuse? Treatment, Prevention in Illinois. [online] Available at: https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/faqs/what-is-substance-abuse/. [1]Overcoming Drug Addiction – HelpGuide.org [2]How to Prevent Substance Abuse (casapalmera.com) [3]How long does drug addiction treatment usually last? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [4]Addiction Aftercare Programs, Activities & Support Groups Near Me (americanaddictioncenters.org)

The post Best Ways to Prevent Substance Abuse In 2021 appeared first on Forward Recovery.

Benzo Addiction Symptoms: Read the List and Help Your Loved Ones Out

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 06:39:05 +0000

Opioid addiction has taken the lives of more than 760,000 individuals since the year 1999.[i]16% of opioid overdoses are due to benzodiazepine misuse.[ii] Benzodiazepines are called benzos for short and are considered tranquilizers for their sedative effects. That is one of the main reasons why you should look for the Best Drug Rehab Center to look after your loved one, once you find that he/she is abusing drugs. Prescription opioids and benzodiazepines are on the Top 10 Most Addictive Drugs List. Benzos are commonly branded as:

Xanax
Librium
Tranxene
Valium

Ativan
Serax
Centrax
Klonopin

Below we will go over what benzo addiction symptoms look like, how benzos react in the brain, statistics of overdose rates with benzos, withdrawal symptoms and the best way to detox. [i]Opioid Crisis Statistics | HHS.gov [ii]Benzodiazepines and Opioids | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Benzo addiction is very serious and can have negative impacts on your health. Below is a list of just a few negative. Benzo Addiction Symptoms:

Amnesia
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Blurred Vision
Slurred Speech
Irritability
Hostility
Disturbing Dreams

Benzodiazepines are just as hard to get off as heroin, and you can easily build up tolerance to benzos when not using them as prescribed. It’s important to be able to identify the Signs and Symptoms of Benzo Addiction so that you can help in case of an overdose, or to identify when you or a loved one is misusing benzos. Benzo addiction forums are a good tool to connect with others who have struggled or are struggling with opioid and benzodiazepine addiction. Here is a forum for using benzos for opiate withdrawal information: Can benzo’s help with opiate withdrawal? | Bluelight.org

Understanding Benzos

Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs that depress the central nervous system and reduce brain function. Benzos commonly treat anxiety and panic disorders, but are also prescribed to treat muscle spasms, reduce sleeping problems, alleviate alcohol withdrawal as well as prevent seizures in some individuals.[i] Benzos work as a calming agent by raising the level of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, so when taken you feel more at ease. Benzos can be given before a surgery to sedate you. Oftentimes benzos are misused and have a reputation for being highly addictive especially with long term use. In some cases, benzos are prescribed to help your withdrawal from alcohol abuse.

Statistics of Number of Deaths Due to Benzo Misuse

Over 30 million people use benzodiazepines while 2.1% of those individuals abuse them.[ii]Only 20% of these same individuals have benzos prescribed to them, thus showing a large amount of them acquire benzos illegally. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that each day about 115 people die from opioid overdoses in the United States and around 1/3 of those overdoses are from benzo use.[iii] Xanax is one of the most prescribed benzos by doctors to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Do Xanax have opiates in them? No, because opioids and benzos are different and should not be mixed. If you struggle with addiction whether it be drugs or alcohol, you may want to consider a Substance Abuse Treatment Plan. This treatment plan will include detox, where you will withdrawal safely with round the clock care.

Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Abuse

These are the signs and symptoms of benzo abuse to look out for according to Narconon and American Addiction Centers.[iv][v]

Drowsiness
Unsteadiness while walking or moving
Blurred Visio
Poor Coordination
Amnesia
Hostility

Irritability
Muscle Weakness
Slurred Speech
Coma
Poor Balance
Bad Dreams

Reduced Inhibition
Difficulty Breathing
Severe Drowsiness
Confusion
Fainting
Physical Weakness

Light Headedness
Appearance of Dementia (older)
Overdose
Lack of Coordination
Impaired Judgement
Death

Chronic benzodiazepine abusers may experience symptoms of anorexia, insomnia, memory problems, anxiety, tremors, and headaches.

Things To Expect During Benzo Withdrawal

Benzo withdrawal can be very severe and there are many factors that can lead up to it. Generally, withdrawal happens if you have been taking benzos for a long period of time, or you take a large dose frequently. Other factors may include using benzos with alcohol or other drugs, struggling with mental and/or psychical health, and having had withdrawal more than once in the past.[vi] Benzo withdrawal looks like:

Rapid Heartbeat
Memory Loss
Insomnia
Nausea and Vomiting
Psychosis
Delirium Tremens

Loss of Appetite
Hypersensitivity to Touch and Pain
Hallucinations
Sensory Distortion
Suicidal Behavior
Headaches

To avoid benzodiazepine withdrawal, you should stay up to date with your doctor as to make sure you aren’t misusing your prescription. If you have a more serious addiction and are dealing with any of the above withdrawal symptoms, you may want to consider a benzodiazepine withdrawal support. Benzodiazepine withdrawal specialists are available at Drug Abuse Treatment Centers to provide you with options to ease your withdrawal symptoms and help you taper off benzos. In some cases during detox, you may be able to flush benzos from your system by using benzo detox drinks but this should only be at the recommendation of your doctor.

How To Safely Detox from Benzos

It is never wise to try to detox on your own, especially when detoxing from something as severe as benzodiazepines and doing so can put you at increased risk for relapse. Benzodiazepine depression treatment available widely in the US. Here are some ways of How to Safely Detox from Benzos, as well as some natural ways to ease benzo withdrawal. First you want to come up with a substance abuse treatment plan and decide what detox center works for you. You may also want to think about inpatient and residential treatment as well as outpatient when you are ready. Although there are no shortcuts when coming off benzos, there are a few ways to manage the anxiety and other mild symptoms naturally.

Breathing Exercises
Herbal Teas
Grounding Exercises
Tapping Exercise
Eliminating Sugars
Peppermint Oil
Avoid Spicy Foods

Have you or a loved one been struggling to fully taper off benzodiazepines in the past? Maybe you are noticing the signs and symptoms of benzo addiction and are ready to start treatment. Forward Recovery is a great option when considering treatment and currently has two rehab centers located in California. You can Contact Forward Recovery today at 844-387-6889 to start your road to recovery.

Citations

[online] Available at: Blue Light American Addiction Centers. 2021. Benzodiazepine Addiction: Symptoms & Signs of Dependence. [online] Available at: American Addiction Centers (https://americanaddictioncenters.org/benzodiazepine/symptoms-and-signs) Withdrawal.org. 2021. Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Signs and Symptoms – Withdrawal.org. [online] Available at: Withdrawal.org American Addiction Centers. 2021. Benzos and Opiates: Mixing Xanax, Oxycodone, Vicodin & Valium. [online] Available at: American Addiction Centers (https://americanaddictioncenters.org/prescription-drugs/dangers-of-mixing) The Recovery Team. 2021. Benzos: The Statistics on These Substances – The Recovery Team. [online] Available at: Recovery Team Addictionresource.net. 2021. How To Safely Detox From Benzodiazepines – Addiction Resource. [online] Available at: Addiction Resource Benzobuddies.org. 2021. NATURAL WAYS FOR COPING WITH BENZO WITHDRAWAL: Bringing calm, breath support…. [online] Available at: Benzobuddies.org HHS.gov. 2021. Opioid Crisis Statistics. [online] Available at: HHS.gov Narconon International. 2021. Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Abuse. [online] Available at: Narconon International Caron Treatment Centers. 2021. What are benzos? – Caron Treatment Centers. [online] Available at: Caron Treatments [i]What are benzos? – Caron Treatment Centers [ii]Benzos: The Statistics on These Substances – The Recovery Team [iii]Benzos: The Statistics on These Substances – The Recovery Team [iv]Benzodiazepine Addiction: Symptoms & Signs of Dependence (americanaddictioncenters.org) (https://americanaddictioncenters.org/benzodiazepine/symptoms-and-signs) [v]Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Abuse (narconon.org) [vi]Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Signs and Symptoms – Withdrawal.org

The post Benzo Addiction Symptoms: Read the List and Help Your Loved Ones Out appeared first on Forward Recovery.