First responders face significant risks to keep their communities safe. Many of those risks are obvious, but a growing number of police officers, firefighters, EMTs and ER nurses are fighting another battle. The cumulative pressure of the job and the amount of trauma both witnessed and endured by first responders can take a toll that may lead to depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use.

One in Four Police Officers Struggle with Alcohol Consumption

Police officers are often called to deal with people experiencing some of the lowest points of their life. Confronting dangerous individuals may require split-second decisions that mean life or death for themselves, their partners or innocent bystanders. Memories of grisly crime scenes can linger for years or even a lifetime. As a result, many in the profession begin self-medicating with alcohol. Sharing drinks with a partner or squad after a particularly tough assignment can quickly become an everyday reality. The combination of trauma, stress and peer pressure can make it difficult to say no.

More Than a Third of Firefighters Struggle with Excessive Alcohol or Painkiller Use

Firefighters are regularly exposed to dangerous, potentially life-threatening situations. Shift schedules can contribute to exhaustion and sleep disruption. If these issues aren’t managed carefully, they can lead to PTSD, anxiety and depression, which are major risk factors for drug and alcohol use disorders. Physical injury may also be fairly common on the job. Painkillers also pose a significant risk to firefighters’ health and wellbeing, even when used exactly as prescribed.

An Estimated 40% of EMTs Turn to Drugs or Alcohol to Cope

EMTs may find themselves regularly tasked with bringing patients back from the brink of death. They face traumatic events up close and personal on a daily basis. Their irregular work shifts can be a source of stress, as well. With their knowledge of and easy access to drugs, self-medication can be an increasingly difficult temptation to resist.

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

Admitting you need help can be difficult because you don’t want to be passed over for a promotion or be ostracized by your peers who think you can’t handle the job. At Cycles of Change, we understand the stigma surrounding issues like PTSD and substance misuse. If you’re using alcohol or painkillers to cope with PTSD, anxiety or depression, we can help. Our caring, compassionate professionals will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to deal with the co-occurring disorders you’re facing. If you’re ready to make a lasting recovery, contact us for a confidential conversation today.

When you relapse into drug or alcohol addiction, it’s not a single moment. Several things over the course of days, weeks, or even months led to that point. Relapse starts subconsciously on an emotional level before it progresses to the mental stage. Once you’ve begun considering using again, it’s only a matter of time before you’re on the brink of falling into old habits. That’s why it’s important to recognize addiction relapse triggers so you can have strategies in place to deal with them before relapse advances to the physical stage.

Identifying Addiction Relapse Triggers

Everyone is different. Your relapse triggers may vary, too. These are some of the more common ones you might encounter, but a good rehabilitation program can help you zero in on your most vulnerable areas.

• Withdrawals are probably the first relapse trigger everyone encounters. Depending on several factors, these can be more intense for some individuals, but rest assured, they are temporary.
• Stress or anxiety may have been the primary factor in why you started using it in the first place. While you’re in a recovery program, you’ll learn healthier coping methods.
• People, places, or things you associate with your addiction – whether you realize the associations or not – can trigger relapses, as well.
• Isolation cuts off bad influences, but it separates you from your support structure, too. It would be best if you kept healthy connections to grow and stay sober.
• Unhealthy relationships or volatile emotional states can push you back towards using. Don’t submit yourself to abuse or toxic relationships. If you’re struggling with anger or loneliness, reach out to a friend, a loved one, or a sponsor who can provide positive emotional support.
• Pride or overconfidence in your resolve can sabotage your recovery. If you’re struggling with any of the triggers above or having difficulty managing something else, recognize that you need help and reach out.

The First Stage of Addiction Relapse: Emotional

The beginning of a relapse takes place behind the scenes. You’re not thinking about a drink or a hit. Maybe your sleep routine is out of whack, or you’ve picked up some bad dietary habits. These things can throw your body out of rhythm, leading towards the next stage of relapse if you don’t address them now. Other signs of emotional relapse include:

• Anger or irritability
• Mood Swings
• Defensiveness
• Isolation
• Anxiety
• Skipping meetings

The Second Stage of Addiction Relapse: Mental

If you miss the emotional symptoms, they can wear you down. Once you feel isolated and exhausted, your thoughts might begin to wander to unhealthy places. At the beginning of mental relapse, you’re still not consciously considering using, but if left unchecked, that’s where it can lead. It can progress from a passing thought to a full-on battle raging inside your mind. That’s why you need to be on the lookout for these warning signs:

• Seeking the company of friends who still use
• Revisiting places that remind you of your addiction
• Lying to yourself and others about your struggle
• Romanticizing your past substance abuse
• Actively planning how you might go about using it again.

What do you do if you find yourself here?

• Ask for help. Confiding in a loved one, a friend, a counselor, or a sponsor can relieve some of your internal pressure, and you won’t feel so alone in your struggle.
• Take it to step by step. You don’t have to be sober for the rest of your life at the moment you’re dealing with urges. Hold out for 30 minutes. If the urge doesn’t pass, give yourself an hour or two. Recovery is a process, and it takes time.
• Do something. Anything! Exercise, go for a walk, take up a new hobby or go to a meeting. If you occupy your mind and body with other, healthier activities, it’s harder to fall back into old habits.
• Consider what comes next. If you’re fantasizing about using, don’t stop the fantasy at the act. Think about the consequences that follow. Addiction is a disease that has caused you harm. Don’t offer it a chance to do more.

The Final Stage of Addiction Relapse: Physical

It’s possible to make it all the way to the bar and stop just short of taking a drink. However, it’s much harder to turn back at that point. This is not a process you want to repeat because it can eventually wear you down. At Cycles of Change, our addiction experts can help you identify your relapse triggers and how to handle them. You’ll learn more about the stages of relapse as well as techniques for finding your way back on the path to recovery. You are not alone on this journey. We are here for you.

When the New England Patriots were caught breaking the NFL’s rules repeatedly in recent years, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana was asked what he thought. His reply, “they always say ‘if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’,” speaks to the immense pressure to succeed in all levels of all sports. More recently, the Russian Olympic Committee was punished due to widespread doping – the use of performance-enhancing drugs and treatments – among their athletes in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. As a result, when PyeongChang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, Russian athletes cleared to compete had to do so under the Olympic flag as an “Olympic Athlete from Russia” instead of being able to represent their own country.

Given the serious consequences that come with using drugs to enhance athletic performance, why do so many athletes take the risk? And looking at all sports levels, is doping the only drug abuse problem causing concern? Let’s find out.

Olympic Athletes and Doping

While a number of doping methods are relatively recent developments, cheating has been a part of the proceedings since the first Olympic games held in Ancient Greece. Athletes competed in the nude, so they couldn’t hide items that might give them an advantage. Not to be deterred, some turned to risky dietary choices that might boost their performance. The penalties for cheating ranged from public shaming to being sold into slavery.

When the modern Olympic games began in the late 1800s, some competitors turned to stimulant cocktails including caffeine, cocaine, heroin and even strychnine. While the methods and substances used continued to evolve, official testing techniques didn’t arrive until the 1960s. Doping and testing have been engaged in their own escalating competition ever since.

It’s difficult to conduct research into the short-term and long-term effects of these kinds of drugs, partly due to ethical concerns. You wouldn’t want to subject research participants to the same levels of exposure as high-performing athletes. However, a number of diseases, mental health issues and disruptions in vital organ function have been linked to a variety of performance enhancing drugs.

Why Is Drug Abuse So Prevalent in Athletes?

Doping exists in nearly all levels of competition in all sports. However, it’s not the only substance abuse problem that athletes face. Those involved with competitive sports may turn to drugs for the following reasons:

• Performance enhancement
• Self-medicating mental illness
• Dealing with stress or anxiety about performing
• Pain relief from training or injuries
• Depression or sense of loss due to much earlier retirement ages

Some studies have indicated that athletes could be substantially less likely to receive treatment for mental health issues. Conditions like depression or anxiety carry a negative stigma in competitive circles and could be viewed as signs of weakness or cause for ridicule among their peers. Recently, NBA players DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love have come forward to share their personal stories of struggles with mental health issues. Encouragingly, there has been an outpouring of support from their peers and fans alike.

If You Have a Drug Abuse Problem, Cycles of Change Can Help

At Cycles of Change, we treat the whole individual. When you’re suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse (known as co-occurring disorders), it’s vital to treat both because the chances of relapse are much higher if one is left unchecked. Our experienced team will work with you to help you understand your addiction. You will learn how to avoid potential triggers for relapse and healthier coping methods for stress or anxiety. We know that no two people or addictions are alike, so you will receive a customized treatment plan to fit your individual needs. If you’re ready to take the first steps on your recovery journey, contact us now.

Watching a loved one struggle with alcohol addiction can be devastating. As their addiction worsens, they may start drinking alone more frequently or begin distancing themselves from their non-drinking friends and family. Feelings of guilt or embarrassment may cause them to begin hiding their habits from you. It can be difficult for them to moderate how much they have. Increased risky behavior and a lack of impulse control while intoxicated can lead to all sorts of problems you wouldn’t normally associate with your friend or family member. Their job performance may begin to suffer, and they might even lose their job as more and more of their time and energy is consumed by alcohol.

Someone suffering from alcohol addiction often doesn’t realize the scope of the damage being caused to themselves and others. You don’t have to feel totally helpless in this situation. An alcohol abuse intervention might be the turning point in your loved one’s life, and we’re here to help you plan for this critical moment.

Alcohol Abuse Intervention Strategies

It’s tough to know what to expect when organizing an alcohol abuse intervention if you’ve never experienced one. It can be a very intense, emotional event for everyone involved. The person being confronted may feel betrayed or embarrassed. If their defenses go up and old wounds get reopened, it’s important to remember why you’re all gathered together. Alcoholism is a disease, and it’s not a choice your family member or friend made. It’s not a reflection of who they are. You’re all here to help them realize the destructive impact addiction has had on their life so they can make the choice to seek help.

A healthcare professional, social worker or one of our intervention specialists can help prepare you for the intervention, and they may participate in the event depending on the circumstances.

Common Intervention Concepts

Each intervention may differ slightly depending on the individual, but there are some common elements that are part of most alcohol addiction interventions.

Who’s in charge? Typically, if a child is being confronted, one of the parents or a guardian will take the lead. When a spouse or partner is involved, they usually lead the intervention.

Why are you here? Everyone personally involved with the patient should prepare a personal letter or written remarks detailing the ways that this alcohol addiction has negatively impacted your relationship. During the intervention, each of you will read your letter aloud.

What’s at stake? One person should make a list of behaviors that will not be tolerated any longer. This should also include any activities or items that will no longer be financed if your loved one refuses treatment.

Stick to the plan. Be ready to follow through on any consequences outlined during the intervention. If they choose not to seek treatment and everything returns to normal, you may help reinforce their behavior.

Cycles of Change Can Help Plan Your Intervention

Navigating the ins and outs of alcohol abuse intervention isn’t something that’s common knowledge for most people. The addiction experts at Cycles of Change can help prepare you for the challenges ahead. Our intervention specialists can help you organize the process, so you’ll know what to expect every step along the way. Your loved one will be pre-registered in our alcohol addiction treatment program to allow for as smooth of a transition as possible should they accept help. Get the answers you need about alcohol addiction intervention today.

Not everyone who struggles with alcohol addiction has a drink every day. You might think that restricting yourself to a few splurges here and there isn’t that harmful. Binge drinking (as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) is a pattern of alcohol consumption that raises the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or higher. Over a two-hour period, that’s roughly five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women. Despite not being classified as a severe alcohol use disorder, binge drinking still carries a number of significant risks both in the short-term and over the long haul.

Short-term Negative Effects of Binge Drinking

Some of the more immediate consequences of binge drinking include:

• Impaired motor skills and balance
• Slower reaction times
• Poor judgment

All of these can lead to long-term consequences ranging from injury to death. Risky sexual behavior resulting from the temporary changes in your judgment could lead to sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancy.

Binge Drinking is a Major Cause of Alcohol Poisoning

You’re also at major risk for alcohol poisoning when you binge drink. Some of the warning signs include the short-term effects listed above as well as low blood pressure, lower body temperature, changes in breathing, blurred or double vision, clammy skin and vomiting. With alcohol poisoning, your gag reflex is impacted as well which can lead to serious choking hazards or death.

If you see someone who might be suffering from alcohol poisoning, call 911 right away. Stay with the individual to keep them safe from accidental harm. Help them remain awake and sitting until help arrives. If they’re unconscious, roll them onto their side to prevent them from choking in case they begin vomiting.

Long-term Effects of Binge Drinking

One of the more obvious long-term consequences of binge drinking is progressing to more serious levels of alcohol abuse. However, even if you’re able to keep from slipping in that direction, there are some other potential issues to consider.

• Cancer – As little as one alcoholic drink per day increases your risk of breast, mouth or esophageal cancer. Excessive drinking has been linked to other cancers as well including liver, colon, rectum, pharynx and larynx cancers.
• Brain development – For the 25 and under crowd, your brains are still maturing and growing. Binge drinking may cause issues with brain development.
• Depression and anxiety – Some people may go on drinking binges when dealing with difficult situations. Ironically, alcohol use can exacerbate both depression and anxiety while preventing you from developing healthier coping mechanisms—leading to a vicious cycle of alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

How to Stop Binge Drinking

If you don’t experience withdrawals when going extended periods without alcohol, you might be able to curb drinking binges with only the support of responsible friends and family. However, if any of these warning signs for more serious drinking problems apply to you, you may want to consider seeking professional help with recovery.

• Withdrawals or intense cravings between drinks
• Guilt over your drinking
• Blackouts
• Risky behavior
• Anger when drinking
• Drinking alone regularly
• Drinking to cope with stress, anxiety or depression

Alcoholism is a disease. Facing it can seem overwhelming. When you need help with alcohol abuse, Cycles of Change Recovery Services is here for you. Our alcohol treatment programs in Palmdale, California are customized for your needs with a team of counselors, clinical personnel and medical staff ready to walk the path to sobriety with you. If you’re ready to start your journey towards a healthier life, fill out this form or call and talk to one of our compassionate addiction experts today at (661) 630-4176.