We are very concerned about the COVID-19 virus and how the many changes it has caused are affecting our extended treatment community.
As of right now, Cycles of Change Residential is open and accepting clients.
Our Response to the Increased recommendations for Sanitary Measures Includes:
All facility staff have been vaccinated.
Increased sanitization of our facilities for infection control. We have increased cleaning and maintenance for a complete thorough wipe down of all facilities and common areas. The staff has been trained and instructed to perform continuous disinfection of surfaces and other areas where infection can be transmitted, i.e., doorknobs, light switches, etc.
Provide all necessary PPEs and equipped additional sanitary supplies including soap, hand sanitizers, antimicrobial wipes, and disinfectant sprays.
Posted informational signs on proper hand-washing techniques and hand sanitizing.
Implemented mandatory training for employees on hand-washing and hand sanitization.
Instituted screenings for visitors. Anyone deemed a possible risk to our clients or staff will not be allowed at the facility.
An additional screening process for potential admissions includes questions about symptoms, recent illnesses, travel overseas, and family or friends who have symptoms or traveled abroad.
Upon admission, All new clients will be provided FDA EUA approved COVID-19 antigen test, evaluated in person by our intake staff and have a physical screening by a medical professional within 24 hours to further reduce the possibility of the introduction of a virus into the treatment environment. We continue daily screenings for current clients to monitor their conditions closely.
Developed specific health and safety protocols for any clients presenting with flu-like symptoms, including emergency isolation protocols.
Temporarily postponed client outings (this includes outside meetings) – alternative & virtual options are being made available
We will continue to follow directives from the CDC for the next steps as to what precautions to take and how to evolve our treatment protocol. Our Clinical and Executive Teams are monitoring the situation closely and we are able to make necessary adjustments in real-time.
Did you know approximately 80 percent of the global opioid supply is consumed in the United States? This would suggest that doctors and American citizens are accustomed to prescribing and receiving painkiller prescriptions.
Painkillers do provide relief from pain and can give people a sense of euphoria. But, if taken for extended periods of time, this need to feel good and escape from pain comes with a price.
While they help in the short term when dealing with pain, painkillers’ long-term effects can be devastating. Painkillers have the ability to hook a user with a rush of euphoria but ultimately impair the brain’s ability to generate feel-good chemicals on its own.
As our nation reckons with an opioid crisis, many are beginning to realize prescription painkillers carry the risk of these and other harmful long-term effects, too.
From Use to Abuse with Prescription Painkillers
Prescription medications may seem harmless. You were having pain from an injury or surgery, and the doctor said you should take these to help. You’re not injecting or smoking anything, and that’s how addiction happens.
Actually, some recent numbers suggest that as many as 75 percent of opioid addiction cases involve prescription painkillers like Oxycodone (found in OxyContin) or Hydrocodone (found in Vicodin).
Your brain and body build tolerance the more you use drugs like these, which may lead to increased doses to achieve similar effects. It doesn’t take long to go from this state to physical dependence on the drug and eventually addiction.
How Painkillers Affect the Brain
Painkillers hit your brain with a one-two punch to relieve pain. They block the receptors responsible for detecting pain, and they spur the release of those feel-good chemicals we mentioned earlier. This is great for helping you get through the temporary pain of healing from an injury.
Unfortunately, the longer you use the drug, the more it disrupts your system’s ability to function normally on its own. In fact, your brain will gradually release less and less of these neurotransmitters naturally, which can cause you to feel negative emotions and physical pain more strongly when the drug wears off.
Potential Consequences of Long-Term Painkiller Use
Impairment to the systems responsible for thinking, learning, and remembering.
Nerve cell damage
Inability to regulate mood and emotions
Depending on the length and severity of painkiller abuse, as well as how it’s being used, you can also develop issues with your heart, lungs, nose, and other parts of the body.
Get Help Healing from Painkiller Addiction at Cycles of Change
Trying to quit painkillers cold turkey when you’re struggling with addiction may lead to relapse. At Cycles of Change Recovery, we are equipped to help you get through the initial detoxification phase of recovery as comfortably and safely as possible.
From there, we can work with you on developing the skills you need to prevent relapse. If you’re struggling with complicated issues like anxiety or depression, our experienced staff is trained in dual diagnosis treatment that can help you deal with both conditions that can lead to better recovery outcomes.
Alcohol and opiate detox rids the entire body of the damaging substance. Before attending an addiction treatment center, the body has to be depleted of all drugs and alcohol. Addiction hurts the body physically and psychologically. Individuals need complete focus and concentration while in rehabilitation. They cannot be distracted by withdrawal pains and drug-seeking behavior. Drugs and alcohol warp the way your body regulates itself. When you decide to break free from the self-destructive cycle of addiction, you may begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms within hours or 1-2 days. These are part of your body’s struggle to begin regulating itself without the influence of drugs. This process, called detoxification (or detox), can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that it is both temporary and necessary to regain control of your life.
What is Medical Detox?
It must be said that before you begin any alcohol or opiate detox process, you should consult a medical doctor to determine which kind is right for you. This is especially true with alcohol. You can check out Cycles of Change alcohol detox centers in Palmdale and Los Angeles, California, for more information. The detoxification process is deadly, and many things could go wrong. Some individuals think they can do a self-detox because there was no complication the other 3-4 times they went through the process. If you a continuing to go through this process, it’s time to reach out for professional help. You are missing the education and experience that drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers provide. These provide the best chances for long-term recovery.
There are many factors we take into place at our alcohol and opiate detox centers in Los Angeles and Palmdale, California. One of the most important factors is what type of drug is being misused. Then other factors may determine your rehabilitation path. Certain drugs may have stronger withdrawal symptoms than others. Some of the symptoms could lead to serious complications without medical supervision and intervention. When speaking with your doctor, they will consider the following factors (and potentially others) before making a treatment recommendation:
Age
Physical health
Body type
Drug(s) abused
Length and severity of the addiction
Potential behavioral issues
If you are at risk for more serious discomfort and withdrawal symptoms, medical detox provides you with around-the-clock medical supervision. You may also be given medication to reduce pain or treat severe symptoms. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
What is Sub-Acute Detox?
In less severe cases, you might be able to use a sub-acute detox facility in Los Angeles, California, like the one at Cycles of Change. Sub-acute detoxification still provides you with supervision and a controlled environment, but you are typically allowed more freedom. You can move about the drug rehabs Los Angeles facilities, take walks outside, participate in group and individual therapy, and generally have more interaction with the world. As with medical detox, your timetable can range from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Generally speaking, while detoxing from heroin, you may experience flu-like symptoms for 1-2 days. Cocaine withdrawals can include depression and restlessness lasting 7-10 days. Alcohol detox may take 3 days to several weeks and can cause the following symptoms:
Headaches
Tremors
Seizures
Nausea
Vomiting
Some individuals withdrawing from alcohol may experience delirium tremens (DTs), which is a more severe reaction including convulsions and hallucinations. Having a good understanding of the detox process and how different drugs change the process is critical. You can read the NCBI article explaining four specific treatment regimens for specific substances for more information.
Our sub-acute drug and alcohol detox centers in Palmdale, California, are higher educated and experienced. We utilized credentialed counselors and the highest qualified medical staff. We believe in providing the best medical care. The professional staff understands addiction. They know what it’s like to be chained to addiction everyday. At Cycles of Change, our team includes:
Licensed clinicians
Family therapists
Medical staff
Other industry professionals dedicated to helping you succeed
We will meet with you and discuss your personalized treatment plan. The initial evaluation will help determine any substances currently in your system, co-occurring disorders, and behavioral issues. Then, our detox team will explain what you can expect during treatment and recovery. Once that process is complete, you will move into a residential rehabilitation program that fits your needs. Throughout it all, our team will be with you to provide the support and encouragement you need to complete your journey to a renewed life.
If you’ve tried to detox on your own and failed, you are not alone. The good news is that research shows those who commit to a rehabilitation program can succeed. Check out some of the drug rehabs Palmdale testimonials on our addiction treatment centers successes. They do it every day! We care about you and want to see you succeed. Take that first step, and contact us today. Fill out a form, or give us a call at (661) 270-7740.
Police Officers in Need of Assistance: Negative Effects of Painkillers
You’ve seen some terrible things on the job. Families torn apart by random acts of violence. Teenagers’ lives ruined or lost over drugs.
You’ve feared for your own life a few times, too.
It’s hard to talk about these feelings with your family, and why would you even want to? You want to protect them from feeling the way you do.
And mentioning anything to the other officers at work about the anxiety, fear or depression you’re experiencing is definitely out. You’ve heard the way they talk about the last guy who couldn’t cut it on the force.
Then, your doctor prescribes painkillers to help with a lingering injury you suffered on the job, and suddenly, you’re finding it easier to deal with those difficult emotions. While prescription painkillers can provide temporary relief from physical and even mental and emotional pain, they’re not a long-term solution for the issues you’re facing.
I Know the Dangers of Drug Abuse. It Won’t Happen to Me.
As an officer of the law, you have witnessed plenty of unnecessary anguish caused by drugs. Your experiences will keep you from making the same mistakes, right?
Unfortunately, some estimates for substance abuse rates among first responders are hovering around 30 percent. Why are these numbers so high?
For many police officers, your days have long bouts of inactivity, maybe seated in a squad car, punctuated by bursts of extreme physical activity and highly stressful situations. This seesaw effect can take a toll on both the body and the mind.
You’re also more likely to encounter injuries on the job than most other professions, and you may be prescribed opioids to deal with the pain.
How Side Effects of Painkillers on Police Officers Can Be Dangerous
While prescription painkillers can help manage pain associated with injuries during recovery, they’re not a good solution for chronic pain. Taking them long-term can build up tolerance, which may lead to dependence and addiction.
You may experience nausea or vomiting while taking the drugs. They can also cause drowsiness. For a profession that requires quick critical thinking and a level head to defuse potentially combustible situations, this can be dangerous.
If you do develop addiction, suffering through withdrawal symptoms while in the field can put you at increased risk. These can include:
Anxiety
Irritability
Muscle stiffness or pain
Those struggling with painkiller addiction often find themselves having other issues on the job like:
Lowered productivity
Social isolation
Tardiness and poor attendance
Police Officers May Struggle with Other Opioids
When an addiction to painkillers becomes too difficult to maintain either due to supply or financial issues, many users turn to illicit drugs like pills bought off the street or even heroin. This can be extremely dangerous as these drugs could contain fentanyl.
Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful synthetic opioid that is considered to be between 80-100 times more powerful than morphine. Even small doses can be fatal. If you encounter fentanyl in the course of your job, make sure you’re wearing proper protective gear and following protocol to avoid inhaling or making contact with the substance.
Treatment for Police Officers with Painkiller Addiction
If you’re suffering with an addiction to painkillers, that doesn’t mean you have failed. Addiction is a complex disease that affects different people in different ways. Most importantly, it’s possible to recover.
At Cycles of Change, our first responders program is tailored to meet the specific needs of police officers and others in the first responder community. We also work with each individual client to find therapies that are best suited for each case. Healing the family and home from the damage caused by addiction is an integral part of recovery, and we can help with that, too.
Treatment is confidential, so you don’t have to worry about the stigma associated with seeking help for issues like addiction or anxiety. Here, you’ll learn healthier coping met
some estimates for substance abuse rates among first responders are hovering around 30 percent. Why are these numbers so high?
hods for the unique stresses of your job while developing skills to avoid relapse.
Despite interacting with her on a near-daily basis, I had no idea an acquaintance from work was using methamphetamine.
This mother of two bright young girls was, unfortunately, going through a painful divorce. She sought solace in an unhealthy relationship with a man who would eventually be arrested for distributing meth.
In the span of fewer than six months, she went from being a mother who proudly displayed her daughters’ artwork on her desk to sleeping through her own custody hearing.
Her story is not one of personal failing. It’s about the rapidly escalating danger of meth addiction and how it can unravel someone’s life. If you’re worried that a loved one might be using meth, look closely for these warning signs.
Signs of a Meth Addict: The Hook Brings You Back
Every case of addiction is unique. Depending on the user, meth might give you an intense feeling of happiness and excitement, or it could dull your emotions and senses, granting you a temporary respite from painful feelings. Either way, meth is making changes to your brain’s chemical and physical makeup to bring about these changes.
The more you use it, the more it takes each time to get back to that same place. To make matters worse, crashing from the drug can leave the user feeling much more intense lows.
These patterns turn occasional indulgences into regular affairs, and rapidly, the high becomes all that matters.
Is My Loved One Using?
Have you found syringes? Burn marks on spoons or crumpled aluminum foil are common signs someone injects or smokes the drug, respectively.
In addition to changes within the brain, meth initiates changes in body chemistry, leading to the development of sores. Addicts tend to pick at these repeatedly, which can lead to infection and additional health risks.
“Meth mouth” is a real phenomenon where an addict’s teeth basically erode. A combination of factors is to blame, including:
Teeth grinding
Poor diet
Dehydration and exhausted salivary glands
Breakdown of dental hygiene
Spotting the Warning Signs of a Meth Addict
When someone is addicted to meth, they may go for long periods without sleeping or eating. Rapid weight loss and mood swings are common. Personal hygiene often falls by the wayside. They may also exhibit:
Anxiety
Lack of coordination
Violent behavior
Psychosis
Seizures
Help for Meth Addiction in Palmdale
Long-term meth use can cause severe damage to brain function. While some effects can be reversed, it may not be possible to heal fully. That’s why it’s vital to treat addiction as soon as it’s recognized.
At Cycles of Change, we understand how difficult it can be to watch a loved one struggle with addiction. We are fully invested in helping you and your family heal from this disease.
You read that each addiction case is unique. That’s why we believe in developing a personalized plan for each client based on their individual needs. Contact us today for help breaking the destructive cycle of meth addiction.
Not sure if our treatment program is right for you or your loved one?
We have counselors standing by to answer any questions you have 24/7.
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