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How Long Does Residential Inpatient Treatment Last?

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:27:09 +0000

We often receive questions about how long the recovery program will last and how long they need to stay in residential inpatient treatment. There’s no definite answer to that, as everybody responds differently to the treatment. It also depends on what kind of treatment they choose and which drug they are addicted to. But, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect the program to last somewhere between 30 days to 12 months. But if you are not sure if you can spare that much time away from your family and loved ones, you have nothing to worry about. They allow regular visits for friends and family, so you will never feel alone. But, a 30-day program is a good starting point and based on the results and progress of the program, doctors will decide if you need to continue the residential inpatient treatment. Or, you can choose a 60-day treatment program, which would provide the patient with enough time to work on their addiction issues and the underlying psychological issues behind the addiction. This way, the root cause of the issue will be addressed, preventing them from getting addicted again in their lives. The more time you give in to the treatment, the higher your chances of living a happy, healthy, and drug-free life. So, if you choose to go for a 90-day program instead of the 60-day one, you get 30 extra days in the program, which you can use to work on your skills and life to prepare to live a sober life. You can learn everything from prepping and cooking meals to fitness and relaxation guidelines.

What is Residential In-patient Treatment?

Usually, people opt for out-patient care programs when they go to a rehab center, especially if they have a less severe drug addiction, but that doesn’t work with everyone. People who need intensive treatment or those with severe drug addiction need residential inpatient treatment. This could be if they relapse, have some psychological disorders, or live in an environment with regular substance abuse. The residential inpatient programs are perfect for such individuals as it provides a safer environment, excellent caretakers, 24/7 surveillance, etc.

How to Choose the Right In-patient Program?

If you are determined to say goodbye to your addiction and live a happy and healthy lifestyle, then the right choice would be to get into an inpatient treatment program, but you must get into the right one. Not all rehab programs are made equal, and each program is designed to treat unique drug addiction. Which program you get highly depends on which drug addiction you have, how long you have been addicted, and whether or not you have any psychological issues. Choose a program with at least 60 – 90-days for optimal treatment if it’s your first time. But if you have been to rehab before or had a relapse, you will need a different program with a much longer duration. If you ask for a recommendation, we suggest Eagle Recovery drug rehab center as they have excellent addiction treatment services.

What Should You Do After Your Residential In-patient Program?

Once you are out of the treatment, your goal should be how to go back to everyday life with safeguards to ensure you don’t fall in the same line as before and relapse. Add essential activities in your life such as exercise, cooking, therapy, and moving in an appropriate environment, among other things, which will keep you busy and in better health and sober mind. Therapy is especially important as it allows you to talk about the issues you have been facing since coming out of the treatment. Talking to your therapist about problems at work or any domestic issue will have to get relief from stress build-up and discourage you from getting drugs again.

Conclusion

How long the treatment takes shouldn’t be much of an issue, and instead, the focus should be on their treatment and how it will help them. Along with their addiction treatment, they should also join therapy to work on their underlying psychological conditions in the program.

The post How Long Does Residential Inpatient Treatment Last? appeared first on 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)

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Instagram Kids Development Halted in Light of Negative Impact on Children

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 12:14:25 +0000

When Facebook disclosed that it was considering making phones more appealing to kids by creating a version of Instagram for pre-teens, there was a general uproar. This article explores the stance taken by our clinical psychologist, Dr. Renee Solomon, PsyD, CEO and Director of Forward Recovery.  Instagram Kids app would require parental permission and provide material tailored to kids aged 10 to 12, but its development was halted in late September 2021, following a backlash from parents, clinicians, and the mental health community. According to experts, there’s a well-established relationship between social media and cyberbullying, depression, anxiety, and suicide among youngsters. Why introduce these problems to children?  The concept of purposely hooking another generation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok is nauseating to any parent — or social media user, for that matter.

Instagram Kids: A Safe Haven or a Dangerous Platform?

Facebook has been looking for a suitable way to launch Instagram Kids, which would resemble Instagram—one of the most popular photo-sharing social media platforms—for a long time. According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook is aware that Instagram Kids can damage minors, leading to measures to halt its growth. Their primary concern is that youngsters, particularly females, are bombarded with pictures of the perfect physique and life, among other things, 24 hours a day. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said in a statement that the app, which Instagram is currently reviewing, would include “age-appropriate content and features” for younger children. It would allow parents to view and control many parts of their children’s online presence inside it. However, not everyone agrees that a space dedicated solely to the young adolescent congregation is the safest alternative.

The Debate Over Children’s Increased Use of Social Media

Experts are wary about another platform that encourages social media use in an already vulnerable demographic. “Instagram Kids is a horrible idea,” argues Dr. Renee Solomon. She claims that this is just another technique for teenagers to get more screen time. This isn’t good for brain growth or developing social skills since research shows that excessive screen use, in general, can lead to underdeveloped social skills and addictive behavior. On top of that, young adolescent social media use can have extra consequences. They may be concerned about how many likes they are receiving or consuming excessive quantities of manipulated photos, which can have an influence on their self-esteem. “Social media is awful for children,” Dr. Solomon says. “It makes them feel not good enough and left out. Kids have always felt left out when they are not invited to a birthday party.” She claims that the party is now publicized for all to see on Instagram, adding to the severity of the problem. “Children and adolescents are naturally self-conscious and feel like everyone is looking at them. When they are left out of a photo, they think that everyone notices this as well,” she says. Dr. Solomon is concerned that this software would simply exacerbate situations of low self-esteem.

Why Are Young Girls So Susceptible to Instagram’s Influence?

It is a highly visual platform with a strong influence on young females in particular. “Young girls see pictures of celebrities and believe that they have to look exactly like Kylie Jenner to be beautiful,” says Dr. Solomon. “Many of these pictures are photo-shopped or are shot from specific angles, and utilize very flattering light.” Eating Recovery Center’s regional clinical director, Allison Chase, Ph.D., concurs. “[Instagram is] a world in which everything is edited and not necessarily reality,” she explains. She considers the creation of an Instagram program aimed towards youngsters and early adolescents to be “irresponsible.” Daniel Peters, Ph.D., a psychologist and the co-host of the Exactly Right podcast Parent Footprint, is concerned about the effects of social media, particularly on females. On the one hand, he says that social media can increase the likelihood of eating disorders and negatively impact mental health. While he recognizes the benefits for older teenagers and adults, he hopes that parents would hold off on allowing their children to enter this world until they are older. “It would be prudent to consider keeping children away from social media for as long as possible, rather than developing a platform for them,” advises Dr. Peters.

The Bottom Line

According to behavioral health experts, parents do not need to prohibit their children from accessing social media entirely, but it is essential to establish guidelines and restrictions for interacting with the platforms. Parents should ask their children about their social media activities frequently and watch for any changes in their mood, sleep, or eating patterns.

The post Instagram Kids Development Halted in Light of Negative Impact on Children appeared first on Forward Recovery.

Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 07:52:39 +0000

According to CDC Wonder, 56,516 deaths were reported in 2020 alone due to overdose from synthetic drugs including Fentanyl. The number of people abusing this drug seems to be a lot higher than people think it is and it is very dangerous. This article tells you a complete story about Fentanyl, its overdose symptoms & side effects.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl was originally developed as a pain medication that is to be given to patients once they are out of surgery. It is a narcotic pain med that carries a significant risk of addiction among users. While it was originally intended to be used as a pain med, it was later used as an ingredient in many other types of medicine. It works rapidly and is very powerful, as much as 50 to 100 times that of Morphine which is an opioid-based pain med. So, it’s important that you understand the concerns of Fentanyl abuse, which actually can go from “worse” to “worst” pretty fast. So, what can you do? How can you help? Well, before you do anything, you will need to understand the signs and symptoms to recognize if a person is abusing Fentanyl. Only then you can confirm and confront the user about it and get them the drug addiction treatment that they need. With that said, let’s begin.

Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction

If a user is abusing Fentanyl, they will show up with two or more of the following signs and symptoms. It is important that you pay attention and look for these signs and symptoms of fentanyl, and if you can confirm that a user is showing two or more of these signs and symptoms, get them to a rehab center for proper treatment.

Significant mood shifts and changes in behavior. They could get irritated for no good reason and would prefer to stay in isolation.
They will engage in unnecessary or high-risk activities that may or may not have any significance to their lives.
When they are under the influence of drugs, they may jeopardize their relationships with loved ones, friends, and family.
Lack of interest in work, college, or social activities.
Accidental or self-inflicted injury. A user under the influence of a drug may resort to self-harm which is not uncommon among addicts.
Lack of appetite is also very common among addicts. Look for sudden changes in their diet.
Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, disorientation, and even episodes of violent outbursts may happen.
Users could develop health problems such as high blood pressure, lung damage, seizures, and irregular heartbeat.
Withdrawal symptoms and even overdose could happen at any moment.

Side Effects of Use of Fentanyl

The severity of the side effects of the use of Fentanyl depends on the dosage of the drug. Depending on the exact dosage, a user could be experiencing some or all of the side effects. Here are some of the most common side effects of Fentanyl.

Confusion, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
Blurred vision, nervousness, or pounding in the ears.
Labored or irregular breathing.
Dry mouth, cough, or pale skin.
Tingling sensation or swelling in arms, legs, or feet.
The feeling of tightness in the chest, chest pain, or back pain.
Fatigue, sunken eyes, sore throat, ulcers, or white spots inside the mouth.

How Can Detox Centers Help?

The number of issues fentanyl abuse can lead to is not really that surprising. If you have read the symptoms and the side effects of taking this drug, then you already know about its potential short-term and long-term issues. Not to mention that under the influence of this, one could engage in unwanted sexual behavior and increases the risk of sexually transmitted disease or unwanted pregnancies. Even without these issues, fentanyl abuse can harm you in many ways, both physically and mentally. Abuse of fentanyl can even compromise important functions of the immune system and can even lead to some serious organ failure. Drug overdose is another risk that’s involved among drug abusers. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 70,630 people died as a result of a drug overdose in 2019 and now the number is expected to be much higher. The only institutes that are capable of handling such situations are your rehab and detox centers. The Rehab center’s staff are highly educated on the subject matter and well trained to deal with these cases. They have both residential inpatient treatment programs and outpatient treatment programs and depending on the need and the requirement of the user, one of the programs will be prescribed for them. There are various rehab centers in Los Angeles that you can look into. They have specially trained staff, 2/7 surveillance, doctors present on the premises, and also have various other amenities.

Wrapping Up

Before we wrap this up, let’s go through it briefly. Fentanyl is a narcotic pain medication that is often abused. It was originally given to patients after surgeries but even completely healthy people are now taking it. After a while, they build up a tolerance and start abusing it. The abuse leads to various psychological and health issues that can be easily noticeable. But if it goes unnoticed, it could go out of hand and could lead to an overdose. Sometimes, a user tends to self-medicate their addiction or their family may force them to quit, which could be even worse, as it will accelerate the period of drug withdrawal symptoms. Only trained specialists are equipped to deal with drug withdrawal symptoms and they should be taken to a rehab center instead. They also have residential inpatient programs as well where they monitor a user’s health status through 24/7 surveillance to ensure utmost care and treatment while they are in that program. Foward Recovery is committed to providing the best possible care they can and they accept most major insurances to help ease the financial burdens of the patients’ families. They have 2 different rehab centers in LA. Just call (844) 387-6889 to get started.

The post Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction appeared first on Forward Recovery.