Did you know nearly two-thirds of all individuals receiving treatment for drug abuse report being physically, sexually or emotionally abused as a child? While this statistic can’t be attributed as a singular cause for drug abuse, research shows that traumatic childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, crime, or accidents can lead to addictive behaviors later in life.
5 Key Components of a Relapse Prevention Plan
A relapse can’t be contained to one single event. It is an ongoing process that is experienced by a person in recovery and marked by significant red flags or warning signs. These warning signs can cause a person to return to their drug or alcohol abuse. A relapse prevention plan is a great tool that can be used to recognize and manage the warning signs of relapse and sustain a healthy, sober lifestyle.
Do I Need Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
It can be very difficult to admit there is a substance abuse problem in our own lives or the lives of others close to us, but recognizing the problem is the first step to recovery. If you are concerned that you or someone you love may need professional addiction treatment, here are some important signs to look for, as well as more information on treatment options and how to get started.
How to Overcome Being a High-Functioning Alcoholic
Millions of Americans can drink socially without encountering too many negative consequences, other than the occasional hangover and acting like a fool on the rare occasions they imbibe too much. Some, however, consider drinking so much a part of their life that they automatically think of ordering a drink when in a social situation or unwinding after a day at work or school. While they haven’t crossed the line into full-scale alcohol addiction, they may be well on their way. They may, in fact, be high-functioning alcoholics.
How to Support An Alcoholic In Recovery
Knowing how to support a recovering alcoholic or drug addict isn’t always easy. When a loved one or relative enters recovery, it can be a time of great joy as well as simultaneous doubt and confusion, perhaps even a little fear on the part of everyone concerned. While you want the best for your recovering relative, you may feel unsure of the most appropriate approach to take. So how do you support an addict in recovery?
The Importance of Recognizing and Treating Trauma
Survivors of trauma are everywhere among us, sometimes in our own families. Whether the trauma involved witnessing or experiencing a violent event, surviving a natural disaster, returning home after serving our country as a member of the armed forces in an area of intense, unrelenting combat, struggling to come to grips with life after prolonged domestic or partner abuse, or trying to put the pieces back together after childhood years of physical and/or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment, the result is the same: trying to mend a life shattered by trauma.
How to Choose the Right Rehab Program: 5 Essential Tips
Once you’ve made the difficult decision to accept help and go to treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, you’re past the first hurdle. But how do you choose the right rehab program? Here are five essential tips on finding the right rehab facility for you.
Why Residential Rehab is Recommended After Detox
The truth is that detox is often not enough to stay sober or remain clean in the long-run. In fact, without the kind of comprehensive, integrated treatment available in a residential drug rehab center or alcohol treatment center, relapse may be just one slip away.
Why Our Continuum of Care Helps Many Achieve Long-Term Sobriety
Going through detox and treatment for alcohol or drug abuse is an important first step on the road to recovery. It is, however, only the beginning of the sobriety journey. Once you complete formal treatment and return home, the reality of familiar people, places and things you associated with substance abuse comes crashing down. You need a safe harbor, a strong and supportive network to help you withstand the cravings and urges that are likely to surface, sometimes without warning and often with a vengeance.
Why Assisted Medical Detox is the Best Alternative
The inclination to get clean and sober may come after months of increasingly negative consequences associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Yet the dangers of detoxing alone are so great that no one should attempt it. That is why assisted medical detox1 the best alternative.