For clients suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction, the best option is to find treatment at a comprehensive drug rehabilitation center. There is a wide range of drug rehabs out there, and when it comes to finding help for chemical dependency, its best to get help as soon as possible.
Alcoholism and drug addiction can lead to death sentences, if left untreated. Think of substance addiction as a terminal cancer. While that analogy might sound gruesome, the truth is that like terminal cancer, substance abuse and addiction get worse, and never better.

People die from alcoholism and drug addiction.

So yes, it’s crucial to get proper help as soon as possible.

It’s also important to consider a drug rehab that provides detox, as withdrawing from drugs and/or alcohol without proper medical care can lead to dangerous consequences. By the time some alcoholics and/or addicts decide that they have had enough, their minds might be in the right place, but their bodies have reached certain levels of tolerance. If the chemical is immediately removed, what ensues are horrible symptoms of withdrawal, and some of those symptoms can be deadly.

There are different forms of detox including a social model, which includes comprehensive counseling, recovery group meetings and addiction education. The social model refrains from using medication-assisted treatment, unless absolutely necessary, and works well for people who suffer from multiple relapses.

In other forms of detox, medication-assisted treatment is provided to help clients who suffer from long-term chemical dependency.  There are different types of drug rehab programs.

An inpatient drug rehab means that clients attend residential treatment. Short-term residential treatment is about 28 or 30 days, while long-term treatment is between 60 and 90 days. Some drug rehabs offer individualized treatment plans, and the length of stay is often determined by a client’s needs. Residential treatment is a wonderful option because it removes the addict or alcoholic out of their familiar environment, and places them in a safety zone while they undergo treatment.

The downside to inpatient care is that when a client leaves, they are often back in familiar territory. Sometimes it’s a good idea for residents leaving a drug rehab program to reside in transitional or sober living homes, prior to their re-entering society. Many drug rehabs have aftercare programs, which consist of weekly group and individual therapy.

Going to a rehabilitation center for the treatment of substance addiction can be a scary experience, but a good drug rehab is designed to help you deal with those feelings of anxiety. Many top of the line drug rehabs offer evidence-based, clinically proven modalities during treatment. Evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) help newly clean and sober alcoholics and addicts change their self-destructive thoughts and behaviors, and replace them with positive actions and thoughts. Behavioral counseling is often the key to successful treatment.

A successful program at a drug rehab not only treats the chemical addiction, but also target co-occurring disorders like depression and anxiety. These dark feelings surface in early sobriety, and that’s not surprising.
Many people drink to numb feelings of depression and anxiety. Once the chemical substance is removed, those feelings are still there, and sometimes surface like a sudden case of the measles.

A good drug rehab offers dual diagnosis support, which treats those issues.

Some clients are referred to a psychiatrist who prescribes psychotropic medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) including Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil and Lexapro. SSRI’s are non-addictive, and often require several weeks to take effect.     Drug rehabs usually do not prescribe benzodiazepines, (except during detox) because those medications are highly addictive.

Other people suffer from PTSD. These individuals have suffered traumatic events at some point in their lives. Or they might be first responders, who includes men and women who have seen or witnessed horrifying events that many normal people don’t experience. This includes US Veterans, doctors, paramedics, and firemen. First responders often suffer from trauma, and many resort to drinking or using to forget painful memories or numb horrible feelings. Top of the line drug rehabs offer specific programs that help first responders, as well as safety sensitive workers, or employees who work high-risk jobs and are responsible for maintaining public safety. The definition of a safety sensitive position includes doctors, crane operators, teachers, staff scientists who manage chemical waste sites, and firemen, to name a few.

An inpatient drug rehab program includes primary care, which involves group and individual therapy. Some high-end drug rehabilitation centers employ a holistic approach. This includes offering yoga, exercise, meditation, Tai Chi and other practices. These practices are designed to make clients become centered, and in touch with themselves, as well as with their surroundings. Other therapies include equine therapy, music therapy, art therapy and psychodrama. High-end rehabs also offer biosound therapy, a soothing technique, which aims to relieve clients from trauma.
Some drug rehabs employ a therapeutic community model (TC). These programs range between six and 12 months in duration. A TC model is where the entire community is responsible for each other’s recovery. Residents are assigned work duties, which include cooking, cleaning and other tasks. The TC Model employs the theme of “tough love” but for many people it is a highly effective protocol.

Besides inpatient care, there are outpatient programs available for those who can’t take time away to live in a residential treatment environment. Outpatient programs vary in terms of intensity and include partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP) and outpatient.

PHP usually includes 25 hours of weekly group and individual therapy, while an IOP is comprised of nine hours of weekly group therapy. For an IOP, individual therapy is often scheduled per client’s needs. An outpatient track is less time intensive, and the weekly program might include one group therapy and one individual session.
According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, both inpatient and outpatient programs at a drug rehab can be equally effective. The key to successful treatment at a rehabilitation center includes detox, behavioral counseling including CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing, and evaluation and treatment for co-occurring disorders, as well as a strong aftercare plan.

Many drug rehabilitation centers also require that clients participate in recovery support groups. Most use the traditional 12-step approach, where clients attend 12-step meetings, acquire sponsors, and work their steps. Other drug rehabs go for a more faith-based protocol, and residents attend Church, work with a pastor, or go to Celebrate Recovery meetings.

And there are the non-12-step drug rehabs that promote SMART Recovery, a recovery support group that uses behavioral practices so that clients can achieve self-empowerment. Additionally, there are drug rehabs that allow clients to participate in Buddhist-based recovery groups, including Refuge Recovery.

In this day and age, we are lucky to have these options. While there are still stigmas surrounding drug addiction, as well as a high demand for more comprehensive drug rehabs, the truth is that back in the day, when AA co-founder Bill Wilson was caught in the throes of alcoholism, he was admitted to Charles B. Towns hospital on Central Park West where he basically dried out by being administered the Belladonna Cure. And what in God’s name was the Belladonna Cure? Well, belladonna is a plant that contains hallucinogenic properties. Another name for The Belladonna Cure was “puke and purge.” With that said, it is safe to surmise that while there is still much work to be done in the fields of substance abuse and addiction, the truth is that in the last 81 years, since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, great strides have been made. And for those seeking help for alcoholism and drug addiction, there are quite a few wonderful drug rehabilitation centers to choose from.

In early recovery, many individuals might experience post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), which often occurs two or so weeks after detox. One of the symptoms of this malady is insomnia. Many alcoholics and addicts tend to use their drug of choice to help them sleep. And often, those who are caught in the throes of addiction will find themselves collapsing in bed or even falling asleep on the floor, after a night of heavy drinking or using. (That often happened to me during the end of my drinking career).

Insomnia can be a real problem, but it can be avoided if a person checks into a comprehensive drug rehab like Cycles of Change Recovery Services in Palmdale, California. Addiction and alcoholism are diseases. While its wonderful to get support from a 12-step program, which helps alcoholics and addicts work on building a strong spiritual foundation, its crucial to deal with other issues that will surface during early recovery like co-occurring disorders, and trauma. Take away the alcohol and drugs, and the newly clean and sober person will find their minds often spinning.

Before I got sober, I felt like I was the eye inside a tornado. After I got sober, I felt like the tornado disappeared, but when I looked around I saw that there was a lot of wreckage I had to deal with. That caused much stress in my life, and coupled with anxiety and depression, I became very nocturnal, which can be even more depressing, because I would stay up for nights on end.

I mean, seriously, who wants to be a vampire, while the rest of the world is asleep?

I honestly wish I had gone to a great rehab like Cycles of Change, which employs evidence-based treatment, a strong 12-step approach, and experiential therapy. This is all designed to treat the body, spirit and mind. When these are treated, in early recovery, clients get a second chance at living a life filled with peace and happiness.

If you are looking for a place to get help for your alcoholism and/or drug addiction, Cycles of Change Recovery Services is a high end substance abuse and addiction treatment center that not only offers comprehensive services, but provides beautiful gender-specific facilities that will make you feel serene, safe and secure. They also utilize bio-sound therapy and psychodrama, all conducted in a safe atmosphere, that will help deal with trauma, which can also cause insomnia.

A chef prepares nutritious and delicious meals that will help your body become healthy. Exercise will help you relax, make you feel good about yourself, and will help you sleep.

It’s almost the start of a brand new year. Make your New Year’s resolution of getting clean and sober happen. Call Cycles of Change Recovery Health Services. The compassionate and highly qualified staff, many who are in recovery themselves, will be there waiting. It’s time for a brand new year, and a second chance at life!

 In a nutshell, what do these two terms mean?

Well, inpatient treatment is when a person who suffers from substance abuse and addiction is admitted into a residential treatment facility that provides a comprehensive primary care program. Clients choosing to undergo inpatient care commit to a certain length of time within that residential treatment facility, and they live there during that time. This stay is often between 30 and 90 days. Some drug rehabs offer a longer stay that could last up to 18 months, and usually those rehabs also offer transitional care, which provides clients with recovery tools, such as life skills and coaching. These important tools help ease the transition between being in a drug rehab and going back into society.

Some drug rehabs provide dual diagnosis support, which treats co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. Many inpatient drug rehabs include detox, which is provided at a separate facility. Sometimes the detox takes place in a separate unit inside the residential treatment facility. Detox is best served on an inpatient basis, because acute withdrawal can present life-threatening symptoms like delirium tremens. During detox, clients are provided with around the clock, medical care and some clients receive medication-assisted treatment, which helps them deal with the painful withdrawal symptoms.

An outpatient substance abuse and addiction treatment facility allows clients to participate in daytime treatment and then go home at night. This type of treatment works best for those who can’t commit to over nights at a drug rehab. This absence of commitment can be due to many legitimate reasons including being single parents who can only get a daytime babysitter, or those who have to work or even those clients who can’t find a pet sitter to take care of Rover, the scary pit bull or Cleo the mean cat. Outpatient offers various levels of care including partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and outpatient. Some outpatient programs offer ambulatory detox.

Before participating in any form of primary care in an outpatient or inpatient program, it is mandatory that the client has undergone detox. During the initial assessment process, the intake coordinator will discuss detox to appropriate clients. Also, prior to admittance, potential clients have to undergo drug and alcohol screenings.

PHP often includes a 25-hour weekly curriculum. At times, the curriculum varies per client, but usually treatment includes comprehensive group and individual therapy, experiential therapy including yoga, equine therapy and biosound therapy (offered at high end rehabs), and attendance at recovery support group meetings. Drug rehabs that provide dual diagnosis support for co-occurring disorders will hook up clients with a psychiatrist, who might prescribe non-addictive medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) for depression and anxiety. Most psychiatrists avoid prescribing benzodiazepines (benzos) to newly clean and sober clients, because of their nature and highly addictive properties.     SSRI’s include Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac. Clients who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder are prescribed medications like Lamictal and other mood stabilizers. Sometimes when a client is newly clean and sober, it’s hard to make an accurate mental health diagnosis because many clients, especially those who have been drinking and using for a long time, experience sub acute withdrawal syndrome, which manifests symptoms of depression and anxiety in clients.  Also, alcoholism and drug addiction has effects on the brain and its chemistry.

That’s why group and individual therapy is so important to newly clean and sober men and women. Therapy gets to the root of problems, and many times clients are able to figure out why they started drinking or using in the first place.

Besides PHP, outpatient drug rehabs offer IOP, which is less time intensive. This typically provides nine hours of weekly group therapy, and individual therapy is scheduled per client’s needs. Some outpatient facilities encourage or mandate that clients attend a certain number of weekly recovery support group meetings, usually AA/NA meetings. They must get sponsors and work their steps. This helps them connect with a Higher Power, and by going to meetings, they are able to build a peer support network.

The outpatient schedule is less time intensive, and usually includes one group therapy, as well as one individual therapy session per week. For those who are trying to get clean and sober, outpatient is a good option to pursue as an aftercare protocol, or after primary care has been completed in either an outpatient or inpatient program.

Some inpatient programs, as well as outpatient programs offer a SMART Recovery protocol instead of the traditional 12-step approach. Faith-based programs mandate that clients attend Church, or go to Celebrate Recovery meetings. These non-12-step options are gaining wide popularity, as there are many people who seek alternatives to the 12-step approach.

There are also Buddhist-based programs that encourage clients to participate in mindfulness and meditation practices, and clients attend Refuge Recovery meetings.

Despite all these alternatives to AA/NA, the 12-step approach is the most popular recovery support group protocol offered today.

So which is the better option for attendance? Should an alcoholic and/or drug addict receive inpatient or outpatient care?

Ideally, inpatient care is the way to go. Clients are in a safe and secure environment that helps them focus on their recovery. They are also away from many triggers that might cause potential relapse. Sometimes the home situation can be very stressful, and it’s really hard for a person to stay clean and sober when they are in an old familiar environment where they are used to drinking or using. If a single parent can get a responsible family member to watch their child, or if the employee can get some time away from work or if Rover’s and Cleo’s owners can possibly put their fur babies in kennels or get some experienced house sitters to watch Rover and Cleo, the long term results for these people will be very beneficial. And chances are if they are willing to get help for their alcoholism and/or drug addiction, people will want to help them, too.

And in the long run, once these individuals get grounded in recovery, they will have healthier relationships with their loved ones, work associates and maybe get good pet trainers for Rover and Cleo.

But some people can’t commit to inpatient care, and as long as they uphold the responsibility of attending their IOP or PHP protocols, then an outpatient program might be the way to go.

Additionally, attendance at 12-step or other recovery support meetings will help them maintain their recovery.

Also, while health insurance can offset the costs of going to a drug rehab, outpatient programs tend to be more economical so that is another factor that often comes into play.

But sometimes they have no choice as to what option they can pick. This is usually the case with people who get DUI’s, or get into another legal issues while they are drinking. Often it is up to the courts to determine what substance abuse and addiction treatment program they will attend. Additionally, many DUI clients are also mandated to attend 12-step meetings, and get attendance cards signed by the meeting’s secretary.

But whether they are ordered by the courts to get help or have decided to go into treatment on their own, they are on the right track, as long as they stick to their program, whether it’s an inpatient or outpatient program.

When a person gets hooked on hydrocodone, and then decides to suddenly quit cold turkey, withdrawal symptoms can be horrible.

What is hydrocodone exactly? Hydrocodone is an opioid painkiller, which is derived from the opium poppy, the same flower that is responsible for heroin and other opiates. Opioids are often referred to as “controlled substances” or narcotics.

Hydrocodone is included in many painkillers including Vicodin.  It is also sold under the brand names, Hysingla ER and Zohydro ER. Vicodin includes acetaminophen, which actually works to increase the effects of hydrocodone. Acetaminophen is the same ingredient that is found in Tylenol. (And by the way, too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage.)

Hydrocodone is very powerful, and does its job, which is to eliminate pain. Besides pain relief, hydrocodone provides a sense of euphoria, which lasts for several hours. After that sensation wears off, many people want the feelings of bliss back, along with the pain relief.

Even though some will take hydrocodone as prescribed by their doctor, others will increase or frequent their dosage. In both cases, the chance of becoming addicted to hydrocodone is extremely high.

Individuals who suffer from chronic pain are often prescribed painkillers, including hydrocodone on a long-term basis. This is done because the doctors are at a loss as to figuring out the source of their pain. Many chronic pain sufferers also become addicted to painkillers, and hydrocodone is one of those painkillers.

Once a person gets addicted to hydrocodone, they might become obsessed about obtaining the drug. For those who can’t get refills from their primary doctor, well, they become very creative and manipulative. These addicts will move from doctor to doctor, alter prescriptions or steal from relatives or even beg friends, families and even foes for their meds. If those alternatives don’t work, they will find a way to get a hold of hydrocodone.

Addicts can be quite imaginative when it comes to acquiring hydrocodone. They will walk through fire and brimstone to get this drug.

Sadly, when they decide to quit, withdrawals can be as bad as walking through fire and brimstone! They will find themselves in a situation that is dangerous to undergo without proper medical care.

Since both are from the opiate family, hydrocodone withdrawal is similar to withdrawing from heroin. The withdrawal process can take anywhere from one week to one month. For an addict who suddenly stops taking this medication, the experience can be quite disturbing and the withdrawal period can feel like spending an eternity in purgatory.

Withdrawal symptoms begin between six and 48 hours of the last dose. Initially, addicts begin to experience pains in their muscles, or joints. Their bones literally hurt. Some people become extremely nauseous, and others feel cramping in their abdomens. Some addicts feel both cramping and nausea. Sweating is profuse. Some people have chills and the shaking can become uncontrollable.

Then, things get worse.  By the third day, they start vomiting, and experience diarrhea. This happens because the body is trying to remove toxins that have accumulated from hydrocodone addiction. The sweating might get worse.

Other physical symptoms include night sweats, fatigue, headaches, lack of concentration, goose bumps, and runny noses, as well as tearing in the eyes.

This stage lasts between three and five days.

Between the sixth and seventh day, many of the physical maladies begin to diminish. But there is no rest for the weary. Just when the individual starts to feel a little better, emotional issues rise up to the surface, like the shark out of the movie, JAWS. This includes depression, anxiety and/or strong cravings for the drug.

Other addicts become extremely agitated and restless. They might start beating themselves up, remembering some of the stupid things that they might have done or said while they were high. Feelings of remorse, guilt and shame are common during this period. Some people have even darker thoughts, which include suicide.

After this time, anxiety, depression and other negative feelings might linger with the addict. These feelings are hard to go away by themselves. And sometimes the depression and anxiety can get worse.

And that’s not the end of it.

During withdrawals, many people can become extremely dehydrated, and lose many precious electrolytes. Others can choke and asphyxiate during vomiting. They can become dizzy and lose consciousness. And the last thing they want to do is eat but they need nutrition, as well as water or Gatorade. Unless they are in a proper treatment facility, the chances are high, that they are not eating or drinking the appropriate amounts of required food and water.

As depressants, hydrocodones reduce heart rates, blood pressure, breathing and body temperature. The body itself has become used to this pattern where basic functions have slowed down. Take the hydrocodone away, and the body reacts to this sudden change.

People might feel their hearts suddenly racing, or their blood pressure shoots up. Having a fever or flu like symptoms is not uncommon.  And others might start hyperventilating.

Withdrawing from hydrocodone cold turkey is not a good idea. The best solution is for an addict to check into a qualified residential treatment facility that offers detox. Hydrocodone withdrawals can cause serious complications if the individuals are not in a medically supervised setting.

During detox, the client will be made comfortable. Medication-assisted treatment, including suboxone, is often used to help with withdrawals. These drugs ease the sweating, muscle pain, and vomiting. During detox, other services will be provided, including counseling, therapy, as well as nutritious food.

While making the decision to give up a drug addiction is wonderful, going through hydrocodone withdrawals without being in the proper medical setting is not a risk worth taking. Once a person decides to give up an addiction, its not the best time to become a martyr. The key to recovery is asking for help. It’s also about becoming involved in the recovery process.

There is nothing healing in going through a horrible withdrawal process. There is no reason to suffer anymore, and going through hydrocodone withdrawals can be pure anguish. The best way to deal with this is by getting professional help.

According to a December 28, 2016 New York Times article, the drug Fentanyl, has surpassed heroin in being the largest cause of death resulting from drug overdoses on Long Island. In this past year, over 220 people overdosed and died from Fentanyl, which is normally used as an aesthetic for surgery or for severe cancer pain. The Long Island death toll is indicative of a terrifying pattern that is spreading across the country, particularly in regions including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Appalachia. And Fentanyl is starting to make a deadly impact on the Midwest.

Most deaths are a result of addicts obtaining Fentanyl illegally, but in 2015, U.S. physicians wrote about 6.5 million legal prescriptions for the drug. The truth is that there are probably more Fentanyl-related deaths out there than known because a majority of coroners’ offices don’t keep Fentanyl-related deaths on record.

And, Fentanyl was the same drug that killed Prince, a talented musician who accidentally overdosed from the drug.

Some users love Fentanyl because the high is more intense than the euphoria achieved from injecting heroin. Other addicts are fooled to believe that they are buying Vicodin or heroin from their dealers, when in fact, their pills or powder are laced with Apache or Murder 8, which are two of Fentanyl’s many street names, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. And illegal Fentanyl is cheap. Fentanyl, by itself, is used through patches, lollipops, injection and smoking.

On a national scale, death from drug overdoses, including Fentanyl, heroin and opiate painkillers, has undulated across the country. According to Robert Anderson, the Chief of Mortality Statistics Branch for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this terrifying trend parallels the HIV epidemic that rippled across the nation in the late 1980’s and in the early 1990’s.

So what does this mean?

Many individuals in our country, particularly, our youth are falling prey to drugs like Fentanyl, heroin and opiate painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin. Besides the addicts who are not aware of how deadly opiates are, there are addicts who are aware that they might die from their drug abuse, but have reached a point in their addiction, where achieving a chemical high is more important to them than their lives. Perhaps they do want to live, but the dark voices of their addiction tell them otherwise. It’s as if they have fallen to the bottom of a dark well, without realizing that there is a rope hanging right by their side and that there are licensed addiction professionals holding that rope ready to pull them out.

At Cycles of Change Recovery Services, we are holding the rope and will help you get out of the dark well of addiction. Many of us in recovery have been there ourselves, and we can teach you that there is a way out.

Our social model detox will help clients withdraw safely and comfortably, while being surrounded by a professional detox team, which includes licensed therapists.  With detox being the first stage of treatment, inpatient care comprises the second stage. Our beautiful Mediterranean-style residential treatment homes will provide you with serenity. While in our care, you will be safe and secure. You will realize that the difference between addiction and recovery is as clear as the distinction between darkness and light. And you will heal from the damages of addiction, as well as other co-occurring disorders including depression, trauma and anxiety. Our holistic approach treats not only the mind, but also the body and spirit.

And you will come to believe that your life is worth living and that you deserve happiness, peace and serenity. We are here to help, and look forward to your call.