What To Expect In Detox

By: Joe Gardener

Detoxification is ridding the body of sustained drug and/or alcohol addiction. It is most often the first step in getting your life back on track. There are people who have had to go through detox alone but that should not have to be the case. Drug detox and alcohol detox can be done in a caring and supportive environment with people who either have been through the process themselves or are trained in detoxification. For alcohol and most drug addictions, there is also medication that can help ease the symptoms of withdrawal.

While in detox, people are able not only to rid their bodies of the harmful drugs but also to discover what triggered the addiction in the first place. Ridding your body of the drugs or alcohol will be useless if you return to the same lifestyle as before you entered detox, so you must learn to change your behaviors. At first, none of it may make sense, but that is the affects of the drugs and alcohol. It does begin to make perfect sense and you see that by changing your behaviors you can get your life back on track.

With alcohol detox as well as drug detox, your body is likely going to go through withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild to severe. This is why there are often medications to help ease the discomfort of withdrawal. The most effective detox centers will incorporate several methods to help your mind and body recover from alcohol and/or drug addiction. Holistic treatment centers offer detox that helps physically, mentally and spiritually to help you gain control over your addictions and your life.

Most people fear the worse about detox but the process has come a long way over the years. There is so much known now about addictions and detoxification that just wasn’t known in the past. Medication use in detox used to be unheard of as well but now it is commonly used. While no one says it will be easy, it probably is not what you imagine it to be. There are many people leading happy lives now that they have rid their bodies and minds of drugs and/or alcohol. You can be one of them. Years of addiction take a toll on a person’s body and their mind. Only once you are rid of the addiction can you see the affects it has had on your life and the lives of others. Detox is a necessary part of obtaining a better life.

By talking to a professional at a detox center, you can gain more detailed information. Since no two people are alike, it is impossible to say exactly what your detox experience will be. The fear of detox, however, is often more frightening than the actual detox experience. This is part of the addiction; scaring yourself into not getting the help you need to rid yourself of drugs and alcohol. Detox should be done in a caring and professional environment with all of the tools available to help you overcome your addiction.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

Detoxification is ridding the body of sustained drug and/or alcohol addiction It is most often the first step in getting your life back on track

About the Author:
Joe Gardner has years of experience working with Alcohol Detox and Drug Detox. Visit his site to learn more.

Drug Rehabilitation Does It Really Works

Drug rehabilitation is not an easy task for the patient but it really works. It can transform one’s life. Drug rehabilitation programs can really help an individual to start a new life. Patient starts the rehabilitation program by going under a series of tests. The patient has to answer various questions each and every day. The goal of a rehabilitation center is to make the person free from addiction.

Everything starts from commitment. The treatment does not work if the patient is unable to recognize his problem. The patient should have desire to change his life. Many times the patient is forced to go under the treatment procedure. But the true healing starts from the patient’s mind.
The first step of the treatment is most difficult. First of all the physician have to deal with the drug remains ion the body. This step is known as detoxification. Withdrawal symptoms are also seen during this step of treatment.

As the detoxification step precedes the patient have to work with different types of counselors. The counselors try to find out the reason for taking the drug. The family should regularly visit some of the counseling sessions. According to some reports and statistics the patients with a supportive family recover fast as compared to others.

The patient should have detailed information about each and every step of the treatment before the program starts. This will help the patient to prepare himself before the initiation of the program. Patient should visit the physician regularly. It is a good idea to discuss all the doubts, fears and expectations.

The job of the family members is to find the best rehabilitation center. A center should have a skilled staff with a 24 hour emergency service. You should find lot of information related to the drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. There are several sources of information which provide useful details. One of the useful forms of information is internet. It is a good idea to spend some time on the internet. You can go through the websites of the centers. This will help you to compare the facilities and cost of the programs they are offering.

If you want to know more about Alcohol Treatment then it is a good idea to visit Drug Treatment .

About Amit Chakraborty

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TREATMENT

Treatment, in this context, means active participation in the process of recovery from alcohol or drug abuse. Drug and alcohol treatment is the therapeutic and educational process which is usually the first step in recovery from alcohol or substance abuse.

Drug and alcohol treatment covers a wide range of options and variables.

Drug or alcohol treatment is a general term for the processes of medical and/or psychotherapeutic rehabilitation for dependency on alcohol or drugs. The intent of treatment is to enable the patient to cease using alcohol and or mood altering substances. Most people are steered into treatment as the result of some psychological, legal, financial, social, and physical consequences that their drinking or drug use has caused.

Through treatment tailored to individual needs, people with alcohol and drug abuse can recover and lead productive lives.


Scope of treatment

In today's recovery world treatment is very broad term. The overall scope of alcohol and drug treatment is two-fold:

1. Teaching the individual about alcohol and or drug abuse and what lifestyle changes will be necessary to maintain long term abstinence.
   


2. Behavior modification

Goal of treatment

the primary goal of treatment is achieving lasting abstinence from alcohol and or drug use. The immediate goals are to reduce physical and psychological abuse, improve the patient's ability to function and minimize the medical and social complications. Like people with other life threatening diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment and recovery will also need to change their behavior to adopt a more healthful lifestyle.

Effective Treatment Approaches

Medication and behavioral therapy alone or in combination are aspects of an overall therapeutic process that begins with detoxification. It is followed by treatment and relapse prevention. Easing withdrawal symptoms is important in the initiation of treatment. Relapse prevention is necessary. And sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to prior treatment components. A continuum of care that includes a customized treatment regimen, addressing all aspects of an individual's life, including medical and mental health services, and follow-up options (e.g., community- or family-based recovery support systems) can be crucial to a person's success in achieving and maintaining an alcohol, drug-free lifestyle.

Medication and Treatment

Medications can be used to help re-establish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings throughout the treatment process. Currently, we have medications for opioid (heroin, morphine) and tobacco (nicotine) addiction, and are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction.

Behavioral Treatment

Behavioral cognitive therapies help patients engage in the treatment process, modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse, and increase healthy life skills. Behavioral treatments can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people stay in treatment longer.

Buprenorphine treatment

Buprenorphine is a relatively new and important treatment medication. NIDA-supported basic and clinical research led to its development (Subutex or, in combination with naloxone, Suboxone), and demonstrated it to be a safe and acceptable addiction treatment. While these products were being developed in concert with industry partners, Congress passed the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA 2000), permitting qualified physicians to prescribe narcotic medications (Schedules III to V) for the treatment of opioid addiction. This legislation created a major paradigm shift by allowing access to opiate treatment in a medical setting rather than limiting it to specialized drug treatment clinics. To date, nearly 10,000 physicians have taken the training needed to prescribe these two medications, and nearly 7,000 have registered as potential providers.

addict-help.com

Drug And Alcohol Rehabilitation: The Facts

Drug rehab is a term that refers to psychotherapeutic and medical treatment for substance abuse, or a dependence on a harmful substance. These harmful substances include not only illegal street drugs like cocaine, heroine, or other amphetamines, but also prescription drugs and alcohol. Since the abuse of drugs and alcohol can have far-reaching consequences - social, physical, mental, legal, and financial - the main aim of drug and alcohol rehab is to break that dependency and to enable the patient to cease using the substances and to find a new drug-free way of life.

What does rehab do?

Drug and alcohol rehab tends to focus on the dual nature of substance abuse and dependency, which is both physical and psychological. Dealing with the physical dependency can result in severe withdrawal symptoms, so rehab centres help clients go through what is known as a 'detoxification' process to help cope with the physical withdrawal from drugs and / or alcohol.

Dealing with the psychological aspect of drug and alcohol abuse is also a major part of the rehabilitation process, and it generally focuses on helping an individual learn how to interact and react to situations and stresses on a daily basis, in a drug-free environment. Patients are encouraged to make changes to their life, which may include changing their group of friends, particularly those who are still using drugs or alcohol. In early recovery this can be an important factor in relapse prevention. Certain rehab programs take the client through a 'twelve-step programme', which challenges addicts and alcoholics to accept that they need help from others in order to beat their addiction, that they must make changes to their life in order to recover, and that they must lead a life which is based upon total honesty with themselves and others.

Often, rehab centres will recommend complete abstinence from legal substances, such as alcohol. Quitting the substance completely is the preferable option, even in cases where alcohol had not been a perceivable problem for the client before. This is because of the fact that most addicts, if their drug of choice is removed, will turn to another drug instead. Alcohol is a mind-altering drug, which will soon become a dependence in people who have been addicted to other drugs in the past.

What forms of rehab are there?

Other than the general treatment centres and twelve-step programmes that are available for substance abusers, a variety of alternative drug and alcohol rehab programmes have emerged over the past few decades. Programmes include residential treatment, extended care centres, sober living houses and local support groups.

Sometimes antidepressants are prescribed for rehab clients in the early stages of treatment, as a temporary measure, as they can be used as part of the detoxification process. However, This must be closely monitored to ensure the client does not develop another addiction to the prescribed substance. In most cases, however, when the client stops using drugs and alcohol, symptoms of depression will diminish and disappear over time. This is because symptoms of the addictive disorder very closely mirror those of clinical depression, with individuals suffering low moods, mood swings, irritability, restlessness, malaise, trouble sleeping and changes in appetite, as a direct result of their drug use. Many addicts are surprised and heartened to find that this is the case as they continue with their recovery.

While in most cases clients will check themselves into drug or alcohol rehab, often attendance and treatment at a rehab centre is ordered by the criminal justice system. Those who are convicted of minor drug or alcohol offences are often referred to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre instead of prison, and offenders who have a dependence upon alcohol are sometimes ordered to attend a number of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to help overcome their addiction.

While traditional rehab treatment is based on counselling, a number of studies have shown that there are many occasions where individuals who suffer from addiction have a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed along side physchological issues. Chemical imbalances can be helped through making changes to diet, other nutritional supplements, and working toward a healthy lifestyle, which helps to correct the imbalance and also releases the patient from the grip of drug or alcohol addiction.

Source: articlesbase.com

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs

Get Help With Substance Abuse in the Phoenix Area

By Judy Hedding, About.com

In Arizona there are more than 20 drug and alcohol rehabilitation and addiction treatment centers. People looking for drug and alcohol rehab facilities in Phoenix have many choices to make, including location, type of program available, cost of the drug and alcohol rehab, and more.

About 90% of people with substance abuse problems go through outpatient alcohol and drug treatment services instead of entering a residential rehabilitation program. Even though it has been shown that residential treatment is overall more effective and a drug-free rehabilitation approach is more effective, there is often a very significant commitment that must be made in order to be accepted into a drug rehab facility that impacts job, family, and social life.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alcohol, drugs, marijuana, and amphetamines were the most common addictions of the people entering treatment facilities in 2004 in Arizona.

Before we get to alcohol and drug treatment centers in the Phoenix area, you might just need information or resources about substance abuse. The following organizations are not licensed facilities, but rather provide information, support, or preventive resources for people with drug and alcohol issues.

Support and Information About Dealing with Substance Abuse

Arizona Department of Health Services
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services is the state agency in Arizona where residents may go to get information about behavioral health issues, such as drug, alcohol, and other substance abuse treatment. Here you can find providers of assistance with drug and alcohol treatment, especially if you can't afford one of those expensive residential treatment centers.

Alcoholics Anonymous
"Maricopa County, Arizona is host to more than 500 Alcoholics Anonymous groups that hold more than 1500 meetings each week. SRI, one of four local Intergroups (see “Intergroup Membership”), operates a Central Office in cooperation with about 350 of those groups which are located primarily in Phoenix or Scottsdale." Although Alcoholics Anonymous is not a drug or alcohol rehab facility, many people find these support groups beneficial.

Wheel Council
"Our vision is to create programs that merge traditional cultural knowledge with scientific research to facilitate healthy life choices. Our mission is to prevent drug and alcohol use and other destructive behaviors in young people by combining storytelling, the arts, and cultural empowerment with scientific research." Phoenix.

Here I will provide you with the information for various types of alcohol and drug treatment programs that are available in Maricopa County. At the time of this writing, each of these alcohol rehab facilities was licensed by the State of Arizona as a Behavioral Health Facility, and had no pending enforcement actions (regulatory violations) against them. All of these drug and alcohol rehab treatment centers have actual addresses and phone numbers, not just toll free hotlines. Both outpatient and residential treatment centers are included. At these web sites you can learn about the drug and alcohol treatment philosophy and programs. The quotations for each listing are from the official wen site of the rehab facility.

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities - Inpatient and Outpatient

Banner Health - Behavioral Health Centers
"Banner Behavioral Health is dedicated to providing safe, confidential and compassionate treatment. Our professionals offer customized treatment plans to meet each patient's particular needs -- in the least restrictive therapeutic environment, and furnish specialized treatment for patients with co-existing psychiatric and chemical dependency problems." Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and Glendale.

Dynamic Living Counseling Services
"Dynamic Living is a well-established state-licensed outpatient counseling agency specializing in DUI treatment, education, and screening." Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe.

East Valley Substance Abuse Center
"East Valley Substance Abuse Center has successfully served men and women whose dependency on alcohol and other drugs, has led to a lifestyle which has been destructive to their self-esteem, family relationships, employment, and/or legal status." Mesa.

The Meadows
"The Meadows is a multi-disorder facility specializing in the treatment of trauma and addictions. The Meadows' clinical experts reach beyond single-level treatment of addictions, behavioral disorders and psychological conditions to diagnose and treat the underlying problems." Wickenburg.

Justice Services
"Justice Services provides to its clients effective resolution of criminal justice issues through comprehensive assessments, top quality treatment, state-of-the-art sanctioning tools, and accurate reporting of outcomes with well-trained, diverse professional staff." Scottsdale.

Native American Connections
"Native American Connections was founded in 1972 by Indian elders to provide a drug free safe haven with support services....Native American Connections serves the urban Indian population and tribal communities from throughout the Southwest." Phoenix.

Scottsdale Treatment Institute
"It does not matter what brought you through our doors. We know that alcohol or drugs has caused problems. We want to be part of a solution so we treat our patients and clients with respect and dignity and foremost confidentiality....We offer cognitive behavioral, Medical Model with dual disorders, disease model, psychotherapy (talk therapy) and self-help." Scottsdale.

Southwest Behavioral Health Services
"Southwest Behavioral Health Services encompasses over 40 sites throughout Maricopa County and several sites in Payson, AZ...Our agency employs over 400 full-time staff with an additional workforce available from part-time positions and contracts." Phoenix.

St Luke's Behavioral Health Center
"We maintain a holistic approach to treatment that addresses each person's physiological, psychological, spiritual, and social needs. Specifically, individualized treatment plans are developed through a collaborative effort between each patient and our caring professionals. We believe this improves each patient's ability to obtain and maintain an optimum level of wellness and reduces the need for future re-entries for acute level hospitalization." Phoenix.

Valle Del Sol
"As one of the largest Hispanic behavioral health and social service organizations in Maricopa County, Valle del Sol's culturally diverse, bilingual staff provide a wide range of programs and services for the entire family." Phoenix.

Valley Hope Alcohol & Drug Treatment Centers
"The Valley Hope Association is a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality alcohol and drug addiction treatment services at an affordable price." Phoenix, Tempe, and Chandler.

Women in New Recovery
"WINR now has 170 beds at several locations in Mesa and Prescott, Arizona including campuses of bungalows and family-style community units. WINR's program builds on initial sobriety – with professional help and peer support, practice and time – so as to ensure long-term sobriety." Mesa.

Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery and its Effects on the Body

Its very simple, substance abuse effects body functioning. Drug use can lead to long term physiological effects that can not only be acutely harmful, but can also result in chronic problems. The use of drugs is not the only issue. It is all the harmful behaviors that come along with substance abuse that tend to make matters worse.

Substance abuse harms the body in two distinct ways: via the effect of the substance itself and via negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating habits and poor dietary intake. For example, infants who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb often have physical defects and mental disabilities. In this case, the growing fetus has deficits both directly caused by the substance crossing the placenta and indirectly due to inadequate nutrition of the mother while she was drinking.

Recovery from substance abuse involves many different components, including proper organ functioning, assuring mental well being and proper metabolism. A huge factor in the healing process is proper nutrient supply. Nutrients are essential for not only for energy, but also to keep the immune system strong which helps to fight off infection and keep one strong.

Though it is clear that substance use in general is not healthy, like anything else, different substances have different effects on the body. In this article we will discuss a few of the more popular drug categories and how they each can affect body functioning.

Opiates

Which Drugs Are Opiates?

This category includes: codeine, morphine, and heroin. All of these affect the gastrointestinal system. One of the main symptoms associated with opiate use is constipation. When one withdraws from opiates classic symptoms of withdrawal include: diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The danger here lies primarily in a depletion of valuable nutrients and electrolytes. This includes imbalance in the amount of potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium. Electrolytes are important for a variety of things, including proper cardiac, or heart, functioning.

To combat the severity of these symptoms, one should eat meals that are balanced (i.e. proper amounts of vegetables, grains, fats, and proteins). A high fiber diet with things such as whole grains, beans, peas and vegetables is advisable due to constipation associated with opiate use.

Alcohol

Out of all the drugs utilized in the US, alcohol is the major cause of nutritional deficiencies. The most prominent deficiencies include the following:

* Pyridoxine or Vitamin B-6
* Thiamine
* Folic Acid

An individual lacking in these nutrients may develop anemia which is a low blood count, for women a deficiency in folic acid can cause poor pregnancies, and B vitamin deficiency can also cause neurological problems. Lack of thiamine (B1) in particular, can lead to Korsakoff's syndrome. It is important to understand that it is not necessarily the alcohol that cause the disorder, but the effect of alcohol of the absorption of nutrients that is damaging.

Alcohol damages the liver and pancreas in particular. These two organs are necessary for detoxification and processing (liver) and the pancreas effects blood sugar and absorption of fat. If these two organs are not working properly, one can have an imbalance of fluids, calories and electrolytes.

Permanent damage can take place in the form of cirrhosis which is liver damage, diabetes, seizures and malnutrition. Liver damage can also result in decreased clotting factors, which means an individual has the chance of bleeding unnecessarily. Women also have an increased risk for osteoporosis and may require calcium supplementation.

Stimulants

What is a stimulant?

This includes cocaine, methamphetamine and cocaine. Use of these drugs can lead to a decrease in appetite and weight loss which will eventually lead to malnutrition. As the name implies, stimulants stimulate the body thereby causing many users to stay awake for unhealthy periods of time. This can range from one night of missed sleep, to being awake for days at a time. This may result in dehydration and subsequent electrolyte imbalance. One should return to a normal, balance diet which may be difficult given the abuse the body has suffered especially if there has been severe weight loss.

The Marijuana Munchies

Marijuana can increase appetite, which, in chronic users can lead to being overweight. For these individuals it is probably best to cut back on sugar, fat and overall caloric intake.

Nutrition and psychological aspects of substance abuse
When people feel better, they are less likely to relapse. Since balanced nutrition helps improve mood and health, it is important to encourage an improved diet in people recovering from alcohol and other drug problems. Individuals recovering from substance abuse have just given up a huge part of their life and for this reason, it is better for these individuals to focus on not using again as opposed to putting all their energy into a drastic diet change.

How to Incorporate a Healthy Diet into Recovery

Perhaps the most important thing for prior substance abusers to remember is routine. For instance, regular meals throughout the day are recommended. An increase in proteins, complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber are highly recommended. Due to the irregularity of diet that tends to accompany substance abuse, most individuals will needs to supplement diet with vitamins and minerals. As every individual is different, it is recommended that recovering addicts meet with a dietician. A trained professional can then develop a plan that is specific to the person’s needs. The vitamins that are most often lacking include zinc, vitamins A and C and most of the B vitamins.

Keeping Your Sugar Steady Can Decrease Cravings

As many drug addicts do not eat regularly, they may forget what it feels like to really be hungry. Not eating steadily can cause a fluctuation in blood sugar levels which can lead to feelings of unsteadiness throughout the day. For a recovering addict, these feelings may be interpreted as drug cravings which could lead to one using. This is yet another reason to keep a steady and healthy intake of food.

The Importance of Water

Dehydration is common for substance users and it is very important to emphasize the need for fluids during and in between meals. As appetite can return during recovery, it is important to emphasize fluid intake as well as proper food consumption. For all the reasons discussed prior, it would be detrimental to recovery for an individual to begin eating the high calorie foods with little to no nutritional value due to all the abuse the body has already endured. Drinking water will help the body to absorb nutrients which is something most of these individuals are lacking.
Substance abuse recovery is a difficult road to follow. Good nutrition is something that can help to make that road a little easier to walk down. Encouraging healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, is something concerned loved one can do to help ensure the people in their lives stay clean.

Rachel Hayon, MPH, RN

References

Gable, R. S. (2004). "Comparison of acute lethal toxicity of commonly abused psychoactive substances" (reprint). Addiction 99 (6): 686–696.

Kolb & Whishaw: Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology, 2003, pages 473-473
Mathias, R. (1998) Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse May Affect Later Behavior and Learning. Nida Notes. Volume 13, Number 4.

“Stimulants” http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Prescription/Prescription4.html. Accessed April 20th, 2008.