Drug detoxification (or detox) is the eradication of any alcohol or drug substances from the body. Drug detox is the first stage to substance abuse and addiction treatment. It’s crucial for an addict or alcoholic to undergo detox prior to receiving primary care at a drug rehab but detox should not be conducted alone or at home.
The detox process can involve serious withdrawals symptoms if attempted in a solitary fashion or being around people who have no medical expertise or any clue about substance addiction. At-home detox can be deadly, especially to those who have been using or drinking for a long period of time. Those attempting to withdraw from alcohol and/or benzodiazepines might experience intense symptoms, which include tremors, muscle pain, psychosis, seizures, delirium tremens (DT’s), insomnia, anxiety, hallucinations, and panic attacks.
Delirium tremens (DT’s) are the most intense symptom of alcohol withdrawal. While undergoing DT’s, the alcoholic can experience a rapid heart rate, hallucinations, heavy perspiration, agitation, anxiety, fever and high blood pressure. Some alcoholics who experience DT’s have a sensation of being extremely cold.
DT’s surface between 48 and 72 hours after the alcoholic took his or her last drink. The longer period of time that the alcoholic drank, the worse the symptoms can be.
When addicts detox from opiates, which include heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin, they are also in for a dangerous physical and emotional rollercoaster ride. Opiate withdrawal can lead to intense symptoms, which include sweating, muscle aches, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting.
One of the dangers of attempting solitary drug detox is that some addicts have died from choking on their own vomit. Other complications can include lung infections and cardiac arrest.
And most addicts undergoing cold turkey detox literally want to die. Going at it alone, without proper care can be an extremely lonely, if not debilitating experience.
Withdrawing from stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines can be horrible. Besides a sense of paranoia, symptoms of stimulant drug detox include anxiety, tremors, a depressed mood, suicidal ideations, or heart problems.
And often do-it-yourself-detox can lead to relapse. After a short period of abstinence, the bodies of addicts and alcoholics lose tolerance for the previously abused chemical substance. What’s scary is that if they relapse, there is a high risk of overdose, which can lead to death.
Many drug rehabs offer drug detox. This usually takes place in a separate location from the residential treatment facility. There are different types of detox available. The social model detox is usually conducted in a highly supportive locale. Instead of providing medication, the individual receives ample counseling and therapy, as well as proper nutrition. The client is heavily monitored, around the clock. The therapy focuses on treating any potential co-occurring disorders that might be present, as well as offering education on substance abuse and addiction. Additionally, clients participate in recovery support groups, which often include 12-step meetings. During these gatherings, clients learn that they are not alone with their addiction. These meetings provide them with opportunities to develop a peer support group network, which is crucial to maintaining abstinence in recovery.
However, the social model detox program is not for everyone. Those who have a history of severe drug abuse or alcoholism should be referred to an acute detox facility as they may require medication-assisted treatment, as well as around-the-clock medical monitoring.
Medication-assisted treatment is administered on a short-term basis with complete abstinence being the goal. It’s also the first stage of treatment, prior to inpatient or outpatient care. The medications vary, depending on what drug the individual is detoxing from.
Buprenorphine is often for opiate addiction. Buprenorphine is also known as Subutex and Suboxone. On a short-term basis, buprenorphine can ease symptoms of withdrawal.
Clients detoxing from benzodiazepines (benzos) including Xanax and Valium, which have short-term effects, are often administered other benzos like Clonipin, which has longer-acting effects.
Benzodiazepines including Librium, Ativan, Serax, and Valium are prescription medications that are used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Besides experiencing DT’s, many alcoholics are terrified as they go through withdrawals. Some are at risk for seizures, and in those cases, doctors will prescribe Tegretol.
And then there is methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opiate addicts. Methadone maintenance treatment for opiates is not a form of drug detox. It’s basically replacing one opiate for another.
The way MMT works is that the addict will go to a methadone clinic, usually on a daily basis, to receive methadone, which is a long-acting opioid and needs to be administered once a day, as opposed to heroin that is injected several times daily. MMT only treats the dependency but does not allow the addict to detox from opiates. In certain specialized MMT programs, doctors work closely with counselors so that clients receive therapy, in addition to the medication. But addicts who were once addicted to opiates are still dependent on drugs. There are many pros and cons to MMT, but the treatment itself is probably the lesser of two evils.
But to reiterate, drug detox should NEVER be conducted at home, alone, or around people who have no medical expertise. Many suspects that an attempted cold turkey detox might have been the cause of the death of British singer Amy Winehouse in July 2011. Winehouse, who was a renowned alcoholic/addict, wrote a song called, Rehab, and sadly, the lyrics summarize Winehouse’s feelings about drug detox and inpatient care.
“They tried to make me go to rehab I said, “no, no, no”
What’s so tragic is that Winehouse was so caught up in her addiction and probably believed in the myth that she had to be an alcoholic/addict in order to be an artist. Perhaps if she had properly undergone detox at a residential treatment facility and had received proper primary care, along with behavioral therapy for her depression, she might have realized that being a creative artist did not mean that she had to be drunk or loaded. Having clarity and recovery can be an amazing experience for an artist.
If Winehouse had gone to rehab and stayed clean and sober, perhaps this talented young woman would have been a source of inspiration for other addicts and alcoholics who are often terrified to take the first step, and go to treatment and get the care that they so desperately need.
What is chronic pain? The word “Chronos” is actually derived from the Greek word, Chronos, which means “time” and “year.”
There are two types of chronic pain. There is malignant chronic pain, which usually is a symptom of cancer, AIDS, and other severe illnesses. In the final stages of a terminal illness, people are often given narcotics, including morphine and methadone, to help make them a little more comfortable. Addiction is not as high a priority at this stage of the game. The key is to put the terminally ill client at ease during a difficult time.
For this article, we will focus on non-malignant chronic pain. Non-malignant chronic pain includes arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other medical conditions. For people who suffer from these conditions, the pain never appears to go away. Treatment can get very tricky, as well.
Chronic pain can be nonstop in its nature, or it can come and go. Sometimes the pain is mild, and other times the person suffering from chronic pain will be in agony. It all depends on the individual and the medical condition causing the pain. What’s worse is that for those with non-malignant chronic pain, there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Often their pain can last for years.
Many times these individuals go to doctors who often prescribe painkillers, which are usually opioids. Often the physicians will give them refills because the doctors are perplexed! They can’t seem to find the root of the problem! So medicating their clients seems to be the way to go.
There are two types of opioids prescribed for those suffering from chronic pain. Some opioids give immediate relief, as well as opioids that take longer to provide relief.
Short-term opioids include hydrocodone (with acetaminophen or Ibuprofen), codeine, and oxycodone (prescribed alone or combined with aspirin, acetaminophen, and/or ibuprofen).
The short-acting opioids make the clients feel as if they are on a rollercoaster ride. One minute they experience an exhilarating sensation of liberation from the pain, and then suddenly, after a few hours, they crash and are trapped back in the clutches of the horrible agony.
This rollercoaster effect causes major anxiety in the person. Also, when a person gets a twinge of relief from chronic pain, it’s almost like the exuberant feeling a starved person experiences when they finally get a plate of food. They don’t want to stop eating, and what would they do if some cruel human being appeared and grabbed their plate just before they took a bite?
They would lose their mind.
Well, that’s probably the same feeling that a person who suffers from chronic pain gets when they receive relief from an opioid. Then suddenly, a short time later, the relief is literally snatched from them, only to be replaced by the hellish pain.
Chronic pain sufferers often end up taking more of a higher dosage than prescribed. Within the time span of two weeks, they will become addicted to the painkiller. Also, their bodies have developed a tolerance for the painkiller and require a higher dosage! And in many instances, the pain gets worse. This is because the painkillers wreck the nerves that are attached to the pain receptors in the brain. The painkillers cause the nerves to become more sensitive to pain.
This condition is known as “opioid-induced hyperalgesia” (OIH).
It’s an ironic condition because, in the end, the painkillers cause more pain!
According to several doctors featured on American Chronic Pain Association videos, long-acting opioids are preferred to short-acting opioids when treating chronic pain. Apparently, these opioids are formulated on a controlled-release basis, and the pain reduction effects last between 8 and 12 hours. Typical medications include morphine-controlled release tablets, oxycodone-controlled release tablets, and buprenorphine and fentanyl transdermal patches, which are actually placed on the person’s body, much like the nicotine patch.
Additionally, methadone, traditionally used as a maintenance drug for heroin addicts, is used as a long-acting painkiller for chronic pain sufferers. Apparently, methadone targets a specific receptor in the brain. However, methadone, like other opioids, has a very dark side. Methadone interacts with certain foods and other medications. Sometimes if one doctor prescribes methadone for the client, and then a psychiatrist prescribes a certain psychotropic medication without being aware that the client is on methadone, the result can cause death.
Other potential negative side effects include arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat. That can cause death, as well, if the person takes more than the prescribed dose of methadone.
And like other opioids, methadone builds tolerance.
Using opioids to treat chronic pain often leads to drug addiction. And what’s a bit frightening is that this is a major treatment protocol for chronic pain. It’s almost as if the doctors give up trying to find a permanent solution for the pain. It’s actually easier for them to prescribe pills or patches and send the client on his or her way. But sometimes, the truth is that the doctors cannot figure out what is going on! Chronic pain clients will often travel from doctor to doctor in the hopes of finding answers but often leave with prescriptions for painkillers in their hands.
And chronic pain clients often abuse alcohol, as well as other drugs.
Once clients develop a drug addiction, it’s challenging for those trying to help them become clean.
According to a roundtable PainEdu discussion on chronic pain and addiction, Dr. Daniel P. Alford said that not only is a cure required for the pain, but also a remedy is necessary for the addiction. The solution includes getting substance abuse and addiction treatment, including therapy, attending 12-step meetings, and finding a primary care provider who will work with the client on finding alternatives besides opioids to deal with the pain. Alford, who works with clients suffering from chronic pain, requires that they bring proof that they are participating in a drug rehab program and are going to 12-step meetings. Alford added, “I also require a release to allow joint communication between me and their substance abuse treatment providers. Ideally, I will call the substance abuse treatment provider during the primary care visit to reinforce to the patient that I take their addiction treatment seriously. This arrangement is best discussed before beginning opioid treatment. When these discussions occur after treatment has been initiated, it likely becomes confrontational; that is, the patient feels that he/she is being accused of something.”
During the roundtable discussion, Dr. Robert N. Jamison, a Doctorate-level psychologist, said that many chronic pain clients are often “unwanted” by clinicians. But the best solution is for them to find a team of health care professionals, including mental health and physical health providers, that will help them. And those health care professionals are out there.
Alternatives to opioid therapy include holistic therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exercise.
It’s not an easy road to take, but chronic pain clients who get addicted to opiates become very depressed. Their lives lose meaning. And often, the depression infects their families because chronic pain clients are obsessed with their suffering. And sometimes, all they do is complain and drive their families insane, as well as themselves.
The best option that chronic pain clients can do is find good drug rehab and a qualified medical facility that will help them find better and healthier solutions to their pain. This will help them lead meaningful and happier lives.
Who can forget Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly character from Charles Dickens’ timeless novel, A Christmas Carol?
During the holidays, Scrooge experiences symptoms that are indicative of PTSD. The very sights and sounds of Christmas fill him with resentment and dread.
Thanks to the visits of a few ghosts, Scrooge experiences a spiritual rebirth. These phantasms not only help him connect to his traumatic childhood and his present isolated existence, but the last ghost which shows Scrooge his future, shows him a terrifying vision of his own tombstone. Ebenezer becomes aware that his life will have a tragic and lonely end.
And so it is with alcoholics and addicts who are suffering in the throes of addiction. Like Scrooge, they are walking on a dark and lonely road. Unless they turn their lives around, their future looks bleak.
The holidays are especially tough for alcoholics and addicts. Besides suffering from chemical dependency, other issues might pop up. Visits from the “ghosts” of Christmas past, present and future might make alcoholics and addicts even more depressed. The memories of past traumas, the reality of their current situations and a dread of the future can compel them to drink and/or use even more, in the hopes of gaining temporary relief. What often happens is that these individuals end up feeling worse, while their lives continue to fall apart.
Sometimes they meet tragic ends.
But like Scrooge, they can turn their lives around.
But they need help in doing so.
At Cycles of Change Recovery Services, we are here to offer you that help, as well as the promise of a new beginning.
We provide comprehensive inpatient care at two gorgeous gender-specific homes located in Palmdale, California. Our substance abuse and addiction treatment program includes trauma-focused therapy, which helps residents heal from the damages of PTSD. Additionally, we offer comprehensive dual diagnosis support designed to help those with co-occurring disorders. Clients in need of detox will be referred to our sub-acute detox facility in Quartz Hill, a picturesque suburb in Lancaster, California. All of our clients undergo comprehensive assessments, and receive individualized treatment plans.
There is no reason for you to suffer anymore and feel so alone. There are others who have walked the same path, and have recovered. They will be here to walk with you, as you embark on a brand new journey that will offer you the chance at a new life, one that is filled with happiness, hope and peace.
The best gift that you can give yourself this Holiday season is the gift of recovery. We look forward to your call.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of visiting Cycles of Change in Palmdale, California. I was freelancing for an online recovery magazine, and I was assigned to review Cycles of Change and write an article about their services.
I was truly blown away by the beautiful facility. I was at the woman’s house in Palmdale, which is a breathtaking Mediterranean villa that looks like a gorgeous house in the Hollywood Hills, an area that I lived in when I was married. While I was at Cycles, I thought, How I wish I had gotten treatment for my alcoholism at Cycles of Change!
Thanks to a 12-step program, I became clean and sober. But if I could do it all over again, I would have gone to Cycles of Change because not only do they offer a comprehensive 12-step approach where clients learn about the steps, and work a fourth step inventory, but also they have evidence-based treatment designed to treat both substance addiction as well as co-occurring disorders.
Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment
When I got sober on November 28, 2011, not only did I suffer from delirium tremens, but also after that I went through post acute withdrawal syndrome. It was as if I opened a Pandora’s box, and all my co-occurring disorders popped out. There was depression and anxiety, followed by PTSD symptoms. Even though I stayed sober, I really needed help for my depression and anxiety. While the 12-steps are amazing, they focus on providing support for alcoholism and drug addiction. Even Bill W. wrote, “We are not physicians.” Depression, anxiety, and trauma are serious illnesses and needed to be treated as such. It is crucial to get the services of a licensed professional when it comes to healing from these mental health issues.
These days, I see a therapist and a psychiatrist. But I feel that if I had gone to Cycles of Change, which offers comprehensive dual diagnosis support, I would have reached a level of peace much sooner and would have built a stronger foundation in my recovery.
The bottom line is, if you are sick, you will go to a doctor, right? Well, it’s the same thing with alcoholism and drug addiction. You need the help of professionals who have the objectivity and expertise to help. You will find such a team of professionals at Cycles of Change. And not only that, the therapists and counselors at Cycles of Change are very supportive and understanding, because many of them are in recovery themselves.
Alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases. It’s important to treat them that way.
Holistic Rehab at Cycles of Change
At Cycles of Change, a holistic approach is employed to treat the mind, body and spirit. It’s hard to be spiritual when you can’t get out of bed because although you are sober, you are depressed. Believe me, I know. And honestly, I am surprised I survived the DT’s. Cycles of Change offers an amazing sub-acute detox program that would have truly helped me with my horrible withdrawal symptoms.
I suffered for nothing and recovery is not about suffering. If I could do it all over again, I would have admitted myself into the residential treatment program at Cycles of Change and had gotten the comprehensive help that I needed and that I deserved.
When you make the decision that you need a residential rehab program for your drinking and/or using, the first thing that you need to do is stop beating yourself up, and treat yourself like the precious person that you were always meant to be.
By getting treatment at Cycles of Change, you will give yourself the best gift of all, the gift of sobriety, along with comprehensive treatment that will make you feel happy to be clean and sober, and will teach you how to live in the moment, and learn how to take care of yourself, as you embark on a brand new life.
If you or a loved one is looking for residential drug treatment, please contact us for more information and one of our experts will get back to you.
So, what comes to mind when one thinks of Las Vegas, or more commonly known as Vegas? Back in the day, Vegas earned the title Sin City, thanks to its abundance of casinos, showgirls, and other types of adult attractions. Las Vegas is always brimming with tourists, many who think of the city as “fun” and “entertaining.” But for those suffering from substance addiction, Vegas is not that much fun. If anything, for an alcoholic or drug addict looking for alcohol and drug treatment, living in Vegas can be scary, overwhelming and lonely.
According to a recent Las Vegas Sun article by Anna Ley, “Besides gambling, no pastime better defines Las Vegas culture than drinking.” That is a fact.
The casinos of Las Vegas offer plenty of alcohol to clients, and many of the drinks are free so that clients can get intoxicated, and thus, spend their money gambling. And with only a small number of exemptions, which includes not drinking at least a 1000 feet in front of a church, school, mosque, hospital or synagogue, people are allowed to drink openly in the streets. It’s not uncommon to walk down the Vegas strip and see a tourist or two sipping booze out of a plastic cup. And even though the drinking age is 21 and older, it’s not that hard to get alcohol. Unlike the state of Utah, which has limited establishments that sell liquor, Nevada is almost a free-for-all, when it comes to acquiring and drinking. And what about drugs? Drug addiction, along with alcoholism, is a major life-threatening problem in Las Vegas.
According to the National Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Information Center (NASIC), “Las Vegas and Reno have garnered Nevada a worldwide reputation for vice and excess. Its gambling, nightlife and entertainment culture have given people from all walks of life a sort of oasis where they can lose their inhibitions for the entire length of their trip.” And according to the NASIC, the state of Nevada, specifically the cities of Las Vegas and Reno, is home to “one of the world’s most thriving illegal drug markets. It’s difficult to determine what the most popular drug in Nevada is, as the state is home to a booming inventory of practically every illegal substance.”
The reality is that Las Vegas has miles of businesses ready to sell alcohol. And on the streets, it’s not that hard to find drug dealers selling their wares, almost like souvenir shops selling memorabilia. This reality is a nightmare for an alcoholic and addict seeking alcohol and drug treatment in Las Vegas. But here’s a twist on a famous slogan.
What happens in Vegas does not have to stay in Vegas.
Drug & Alcohol Treatment in Las Vegas
There is hope for men and women looking for help. And that hope and help comes from Cycles of Change, a luxurious residential treatment facility based in Palmdale, California. Cycles of Changes offers a plethora of substance abuse and addiction treatment services including inpatient and outpatient care, sub-acute detox, and transitional living homes.
Our inpatient care includes two beautiful gender-specific Mediterranean-style houses in Palmdale, each accommodating eight clients. Private and semi-private suites are available. At Cycles of Change, our Las Vegas satellite facility is readily available to assist clients who are looking for drug and/or alcohol treatment. Men and women receive comprehensive assessments with a licensed professional who helps them determine the appropriate treatment protocol. After a comprehensive assessment with a licensed professional, clients begin the journey to recovery. Transportation to our beautiful facilities is provided.
Prior to attending residential treatment in Palmdale, some clients are admitted into our high-end sub-acute detox facility in Quartz Hill, an idyllic and upscale neighborhood in Lancaster, California. Detox is very important, and often withdrawals from chemical substances can be life threatening, unless conducted in the proper environment. Our sub-acute detox offers medication-assisted treatment, including Suboxone, and Librium to help ease withdrawals.
Additionally, medical and licensed professionals will monitor clients around the clock. Besides some medication, our sub-acute detox facility employs a social model, which means that clients receive counseling and therapy. And if appropriate, friends and family become part of the process, too.
How Long Does Drug Detox Take?
Detox length varies per client and takes into account certain factors like age, the severity and length of the addiction, the type of chemical substance ingested, body type and physical health. Typically, the length of stay varies between two days and two weeks. During their stay, clients are always provided with ample support, wonderful food and a lush environment. For men and women requiring more intensive detoxification, recommendations to local hospitals are made, where they can receive the proper level of care.
Detox is not a matter that staff at Cycles of Change takes lightly. It’s a serious matter that requires the attention and care of medical professionals. After completing detox, clients are admitted into one of our beautiful residential treatment facilities. One house is for men, and the other house is for women, and both homes resemble gorgeous Mediterranean-style villas that one might find in the Hollywood Hills area in Los Angeles.
Once clients begin the journey to recovery at Cycles of Change, they never have to feel alone, scared or overwhelmed again. Nor do they ever have to drink or use again. Our program is based on a 12-step approach, and besides evidence-based practices we utilize holistic therapies designed to treat the body, spirit and mind. Our licensed counselors provide each and every client with an individualized treatment plan, which best suits their personal needs.
Drug & Alcohol Therapy in Las Vegas
At Cycles of Change, clients attend group and individual therapy, participate in holistic therapies like meditation and yoga, as well as alternative healing methods like psychodrama, and biosound therapy which helps clients that suffer from trauma.
We are highly aware that men and women who suffer from alcoholism and addiction often have co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression and PTSD. Clients requiring dual diagnosis support for mental health issues are referred to our staff psychiatrist.
At our beautiful rehabs, clients are provided serene and luxurious surroundings, caring and professional counselors, and compassionate staff. We aim to provide clients with the tools necessary for permanent sobriety. Our residents learn to receive and provide support with their fellow housemates. As a group, they are transported to local 12-step meetings, where they meet other fellow addicts and alcoholics in recovery. They realize that truly, they are not alone anymore and never will be alone again if they don’t want to be.
Las Vegas Recovery
While there are so many drugs and alcohol rampant in the city of Vegas, the truth is a client can maintain their recovery, by receiving the proper treatment and care, and following up with aftercare and a recovery support protocol. After our clients complete primary care which varies between 30 and 90 days, Cycles of Change offers aftercare. By this time, clients have been attending 12-step meetings, and working on their steps.
Once a client enters Cycles of Change, they will forever be part of a new family. They learn that sobriety is priceless, and that there are others, just like them, who are walking down the same path.
Should you live in Las Vegas, and suffer from alcoholism and/or drug addiction and don’t know where to turn, you have come to the right place.
We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.
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About Us
So, what comes to mind when one thinks of Las Vegas, or more commonly known as Vegas? Back in the day, Vegas earned the title Sin City, thanks to its abundance of casinos, showgirls, and other types of adult attractions. Las Vegas is always brimming with tourists, many who think of the city as “fun” and “entertaining.” But for those suffering from substance addiction, Vegas is not that much fun. If anything, for an alcoholic or drug addict looking for alcohol and drug treatment, living in Vegas can be scary, overwhelming and lonely.