Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis at Morningside Recovery

Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction

2009-02-24T16:19:00.000-08:00

Stimulants
As the name suggests, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate and respiration. Stimulants historically were used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments. But as their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent, the medical use of stimulants began to wane. Now, stimulants are prescribed for the treatment of only a few health conditions, including narcolepsy, ADHD, and depression that has not responded to other treatments.

Stimulants, such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), have chemical structures similar to a family of key brain neurotransmitters called monoamines, which include norepinephrine and dopamine. Stimulants enhance the effects of these chemicals in the brain. Stimulants also increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase blood glucose, and open up the pathways of the respiratory system. The increase in dopamine is associated with a sense of euphoria that can accompany the use of these drugs.

As with other drugs of abuse, it is possible for individuals to become dependent upon or addicted to many stimulants. Withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing stimulant use include fatigue, depression, and disturbance of sleep patterns. Repeated use of some stimulants over a short period can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Further, taking high doses of a stimulant may result in dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

Treatment of addiction to prescription stimulants is based on behavioral therapies that have proven effective in treating cocaine and methamphetamine addiction. At this time, there are no proven medications for the treatment of stimulant addiction. However, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) is supporting a number of studies on potential medications for treating stimulant addiction.

Depending on the patient's situation, the first steps in treating prescription stimulant addiction may be tapering the drug dosage and attempting to ease withdrawal symptoms. The detoxification process could then be followed by one of many behavioral therapies. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also is an effective treatment for addressing stimulant addiction. Finally, recovery support groups are helpful in conjunction with behavioral therapy. Call us today for additional information or help with prescription drug abuse Morningside Recovery Center 1-866-725-8565

What Makes People stay in Treatment

2009-02-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

Since successful outcomes often depend upon retaining the person long enough to gain the full benefits of treatment, strategies for keeping an individual in the program are critical. Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program. Individual factors related to engagement and retention include motivation to change drug-using behavior, degree of support from family and friends, and whether there is pressure to stay in treatment from the criminal justice system, child protection services, employers, or the family. Within the program, successful counselors are able to establish a positive, therapeutic relationship with the patient. The counselor should ensure that a treatment plan is established and followed so that the individual knows what to expect during treatment. Medical, psychiatric, and social services should be available.

Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program.

Since some individual problems (such as serious mental illness, severe cocaine or crack use, and criminal involvement) increase the likelihood of a patient dropping out, intensive treatment with a range of components may be required to retain patients who have these problems. The provider then should ensure a transition to continuing care or "aftercare" following the patient's completion of formal treatment.

Here at Morningside Recovery we have the People, Programs,Staff,and Love needed to help you though treatment. CALL TODAY 1-866-725-8565

Substance-Induced Disorder Treatment

2009-02-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

Substance-induced disorders are distinct from independent co-occurring mental disorders in that all or most of the psychiatric symptoms are the direct result of substance use. This is not to state that substance-induced disorders preclude co-occurring mental disorders, only that the specific symptom cluster at a specific point in time is more likely the result of substance use, abuse, intoxication, or withdrawal than of underlying mental illness. A client might even have both independent and substance-induced mental disorders. For example, a client may present with well-established independent and controlled bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence in remission, but the same client could be experiencing amphetamine-induced auditory hallucinations and paranoia from an amphetamine abuse relapse over the last 3 weeks.

Symptoms of substance-induced disorders run the gamut from mild anxiety and depression (these are the most common across all substances) to full-blown manic and other psychotic reactions (much less common). The "teeter-totter principle"-i.e., what goes up must come down is useful to predict what kind of syndrome or symptoms might be caused by what substances. For example, acute withdrawal symptoms from physiological depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines are hyperactivity, elevated blood pressure, agitation, and anxiety (i.e., the shakes). On the other hand, those who "crash" from stimulants are tired, withdrawn, and depressed. Virtually any substance taken in very large quantities over a long enough period can lead to a psychotic state.

Because clients vary greatly in how they respond to both intoxication and withdrawal given the same exposure to the same substance, and also because different substances may be taken at the same time, prediction of any particular substance-related syndrome has its limits. What is most important is to continue to evaluate psychiatric symptoms and their relationship to abstinence or ongoing substance abuse over time. Most substance-induced symptoms begin to improve within hours or days after substance use has stopped. Notable exceptions to this are psychotic symptoms caused by heavy and long-term amphetamine abuse and the dementia (problems with memory, concentration, and problem solving) caused by using substances directly toxic to the brain, which most commonly include alcohol, inhalants like gasoline, and again amphetamines.

Diagnoses of substance-induced mental disorders will typically be provisional and will require reevaluation-sometimes repeatedly. Many apparent acute mental disorders may really be substance-induced disorders, such as in those clients who use substances and who are acutely suicidal.
Some people who have what appear to be substance-induced disorders may turn out to have both a substance-induced disorder and an independent mental disorder (dual-diagnosis). For most people who are addicted to substances, drugs eventually become more important than jobs, friends, family, and even children. These changes in priorities often look, sound, and feel like a personality disorder, but diagnostic clarity regarding personality disorders in general is difficult, and in clients with substance-related disorders the true diagnostic picture might not emerge or reveal itself for weeks or months. Moreover, it is not unusual for the symptoms of a personality disorder to clear with abstinence sometimes even fairly early in recovery. Preexisting mood state, personal expectations, drug dosage, and environmental surroundings all warrant consideration in developing an understanding of how a particular client might experience a substance-induced disorder. Treatment of the substance use disorder and an abstinent period of weeks or months may be required for a definitive diagnosis of an independent, co-occurring mental disorder. Our substance abuse treatment program and clinical staff can concentrate on screening for mental disorders and determining the severity and acuity of symptoms, along with an understanding of the client's support network and overall life situation.

Morningside Recovery Drug Rehab program is an individualized and personalized treatment experience. Each client's addiction treatment plan is formulated by all of our clinical staff, including our medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and addiction treatment professionals. We know that generalized programming is not always beneficial to clients and that the individual needs of client may vary. We focus on both addiction treatment and alcohol treatment, or one or the other if needed.

We believe that one-on-one treatment produces the best results. It is the rapport that develops between the client and the clinician that produces the most favorable results. Often clients have experienced trauma in their lives and this may be one of the many factors contributing to their drug and alcohol abuse. We provide a private, exclusive and comfortable environment in Newport Beach, CA to begin healing from these issues.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

2009-01-23T21:40:00.000-08:00

Although many prescription drugs can be abused or misused, there are three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused:

* Opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;
* CNS depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders;
* Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity.

What are opioids?

Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Medications that fall within this class - sometimes referred to as narcotics - include morphine, codeine, and related drugs. Morphine, for example, is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain. Codeine, because it is less efficacious than morphine, is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), as well as meperidine (Demerol), which is used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their pain-relieving properties, some of these drugs - for example, codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil) - can be used to relieve coughs and diarrhea.

How do opioids affect the brain and body?

Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these drugs attach to certain opioid receptors, they can block the transmission of pain messages to the brain. In addition, opioids can produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and, depending upon the amount of drug taken, depress respiration. Opioid drugs also can cause euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure.

What are the possible consequences of opioid use and abuse?

Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use also can lead to physical dependence and addiction - the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Finally, taking a large single dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. Many studies have shown, however, that properly managed medical use of opioid analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes clinical addiction, defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable use of drugs. Taken exactly as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain effectively.

It is said: The teacher will appear when the student is ready.

2009-01-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

aAre you waiting for Drug-Rehabilitation to change or when you have a heart attack, develop diabetes, go bankrupt, go to prison, or your partner leaves you?
You are aware there are serious drawbacks in waiting until you are in the emergency room, or jail to decide to change. Sometimes you get locked-up or just die.
Federal Prisons have about a million inmates there for substance dealing.
You’ll find folks there for codeine, cocaine, crack, Demerol, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, marijuana, meth, morphine, oxycontin, opiates, precocity, GHB, steroids, xanax and many prescription and non-prescription drugs. Your choice.
Just as you'll find them in Drug-Rehabilitation.

Sometimes the disease, lung cancer for example, is not reversible. Better to reap the rewards of health and serenity by stopping your addiction. Just quit using now. Why do so many have to wait until they are in too deep?
Drug-rehabilitation follows detoxification and stabilization. Detox is the first step to rehabilitation. It can take up to a couple of weeks or more. Depends on which substance you used and for how long.

Physical and mental stabilization are necessary first. Drug-Rehabilitation, the second phase, is directed to gaining control of daily life.
Addiction is a search for immature gratifications. It is self-seeking behavior, like that of a dependent child. Overcoming addiction, drug addiction in particular, means growing up and taking on an adult role. You cannot do this on your own. You need professional and caring help to get you though this time successfully.
In Drug-Rehabilitation and the recovery process you’ll learn to take responsibility, not only for yourself and your behavior and actions, but also for the other people in your life.

You can no longer see yourself as a powerless addict. You may no longer feel a need for addiction, so it no longer has a place, a presence, in your recovered life. CALL MORNINGSIDE RECOVERY TODAY AND START YOUR JOURNEY TO A HEALTHLY AND HAPPY LIFE. 866-725-8565 or email david@morningsiderecovery.com

What Is Alcohol Abuse

2009-01-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

What are drinking problems? How serious is alcohol abuse among young people? What is the trend in drunk driving? What help is available for alcoholism?

What Is Alcohol Abuse

To some college students, heavy drinking that leads to vomiting is not alcohol abuse but simply having a good time and being "one of the gang."
To many whose religion requires abstinence, simply tasting an alcohol beverage is not only alcohol abuse but a sin.
To many activists, a married couple quietly enjoying a drink with their dinner is guilty of abusing alcohol if they happen to be twenty years of age.
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an accident is alcohol related (and implicitly caused by alcohol abuse) if a driver who has consumed a drink is sitting at a red light and rear-ended by an inattentive teetotaler.

In American Society

Our historical background and multi cultural population have created wide and strong disagreements in American society over what constitutes alcohol abuse.
Our Colonial tradition taught us that alcohol is the "good gift of God" to be used and enjoyed by all, including small children.
Our temperance and Prohibition experiences taught us that alcohol is "demon rum," the cause of almost all poverty, crime, violence, and other problems. So convinced were they that alcohol was the cause of virtually all crime that, on the eve of Prohibition, some towns went so far as to sell their jails. Temperance systematically promoted both fear and hostility toward alcohol beverages, much of which continues to this day.
Repeal of Prohibition left us with a society in which the majority of people enjoy alcohol beverage in moderation, but a large minority (today about 1/3) of the population abstains. And a substantial proportion of American abstainers favor imposing prohibition again on the entire population . The prohibition impulse has never died and has re-emerged in a different form today.

Alcohol policy actually results not from science, logic, or evidence, but from a continuing struggle between those who wish to use alcohol beverages and those who don't want them to. Repeatedly throughout our national life, movements have emerged to promote abstinence by persuasion, but failing to succeed, they have then resorted to coercion. The current neo-prohibition movement attempts to reduce consumption in general and to prevent it entirely among targeted groups, such as those under the age of 21.

And Young People

Prohibition for those under the age of 21 currently enjoys wide support in the United States and is imposed by force of law. Often it is enforced with a vengeance. "Carter Loar, a senior at Park View High School in Loudoun County, Virginia was suspended for ten days in February for violating the school's alcohol policy." Carter's violation was using mouthwash at school. School officials confiscated the contraband and "He was charged with violating the school's alcohol policy which prohibits the possession or use of alcohol on school property. As part of his ten day suspension, Carter was required to attend a three day Substance Abuse Program sponsored by Loudoun County."
Mr. Loar was a victim of "zero tolerance," which is now all the rage. But what does such a zealous level of intolerance accomplish and what messages does it send our young people? It probably achieves about as much as the scare tactics characteristic of the temperance movement and is almost certainly counter-productive.

One apparent message is that those who promote such intolerance have lost touch with youth, another is that they are unrealistic and impractical, and another is that their alcohol education messages are not credible.

Youthful Drinking

While a continuing barrage of newspaper articles, TV shows, and special interest group reports claim that drinking among young people is a growing epidemic, the fact is quite the contrary. Drinking among young people, like drinking among the larger population, is actually on the decline. For example, look at the statistics on drinking among high school students.
The proportion of high school seniors who have ever consumed alcohol is down (fig 1).
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed alcohol within previous year is down .
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed alcohol within previous 30 days is down.
The proportion of high school seniors who have recently consumed alcohol daily is down .
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed 5 or more drinks on an occasion within previous two weeks is down .
Drinking among young people continues to drop. For example, the proportion of young people aged 12 through 17 who have consumed any alcohol during the previous month has plummeted from 50% in 1979 to 16% in 2006, according to the federal government's annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Thus, while one in two were drinkers in 1979, significantly fewer than one in five were in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
College student drinking attracts much attention in the press. But the proportion of college freshmen who drink continues to decrease. Freshmen entering college in 2006 reported the lowest rates of drinking in the 41-year history of the national college Freshman Survey. The proportion reporting occasional or frequent beer drinking dropped to an historic low, down 43% since 1982.

Drunk Driving Fatalities

While we must do even more to reduce drunk driving, we have already accomplished a great deal. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped steadily.
The U.S. has a low traffic fatality rate (drunk, as well as sober) and is a very safe nation in which to drive. And it's been getting safer for decades. There are now fewer than one and a half deaths (including the deaths of bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, auto drivers, and auto passengers) per one hundred million vehicle miles traveled. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped from 60% of all traffic deaths in 1982 down to 39% in 2005 (the most recent year for which such statistics are available).
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities per vehicle miles driven has also dropped dramatically -- from 1.64 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 1982 down to 0.56 in 2005 (the latest year for which such statistics are available).
The proportion of alcohol-related crash fatalities has fallen 35% since 1982, but the proportion of traffic deaths NOT associated with alcohol have jumped 53% during the same time. We’re winning the battle against alcohol-related traffic fatalities, but losing the fight against traffic deaths that are not alcohol-related.
The declining proportion of accidents involving intoxication is good news. However, we can do even more to reduce drunk driving deaths. Through our individual actions we can do much right now to protect ourselves and others.

Health Problems

While the moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with better health and longer life than is abstinence, the heavy consumption of alcohol, especially over a period of many years, can lead to serious health problems and even death.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an irreversible condition associated with excessive consumption of alcohol by pregnant women and is, therefore, completely preventable. Each and every case of FAS is a needless tragedy. Victims suffer serious physical deformities and often mental deficiencies. And, they suffer these problems for their entire lives. While most cases occur among alcoholics who consume alcohol heavily throughout their pregnancies (usually in combination with smoking and often illegal drug use), no one knows for certain what level of alcohol consumption is safe for a pregnant woman.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recently conducted a study including 400,000 American women, all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Not a single case of FAS occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. While it would appear that moderate consumption is safe, the safer choice would be to abstain.
Of course, tobacco and illegal drugs are clearly to be avoided, and a pregnant woman should maintain good nutrition and see her physician on a regular basis throughout her pregnancy.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is probably the most widely recognized medical complication of chronic alcoholism. It is a grave and irreversible condition characterized by a progressive replacement of healthy liver tissue with scars, which can lead to liver failure and death. Fortunately, the abuse of alcohol is down and so is cirrhosis.
Death rate for cirrhosis fell dramatically between 1970 and 1992, the most recent year for which information is available. During that period, death from cirrhosis:
dropped 29.8% among black men
dropped 15.3% among white men
dropped 47.9% among black women
dropped 33.3% among white women

Help is Available

Numerous other health problems are associated with heavy alcohol consumption, which should be avoided. Many people find organized programs very useful in helping them reduce their consumption to moderate levels.
For those who either choose or need to quit drinking entirely Call Morningsiderecovery in Newport Beach California at 866-725-8565

Drug Treatment Program Lowers Jail Population

2008-12-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

The state’s 8-year-old program that mandates treatment instead of prison sentences for drug offenders is dramatically decreasing California’s jail population and saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a study released in 2006.
The study, prepared by the left-leaning Justice Policy Institute in Washington, echoes another report released by UCLA earlier this month that also touted huge taxpayer savings through doing away with prison sentences in favor of treatment. That report said the program, which was passed by voters in 2000 as Proposition 36, saved California $173 million in its first year and $2.50 for every dollar invested since then.
The report by the Justice Policy Institute, which seeks alternatives to incarceration, said the rate of imprisonment for drug possession offenses has decreased by more than 34%. It also said that dire predictions of a rise in violent crime with the passage of Proposition 36 were unfounded.
“It really helps to put a context to the debate,” said Jason Ziedenberg, the executive director of the Justice Policy Institute. “I think people need to understand how many people were in prison in 2000 as opposed to how many there are today and that there has been progress.”
The release of the two reports comes at a critical juncture for supporters who contend that the $120 million earmarked for Proposition 36 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when funding runs out this summer is not adequate.
They contend that, because of inflation and an increase in costs for services, the money does not stretch far enough.
“It really needs to be at $209 million just to be bare-bones adequate,” said Margaret Dooley, statewide coordinator with the Drug Policy Alliance, which is seeking an increase in funding for the program. She said she and others would descend on the capital later this month to drum up support for the additional funding, which she believed would be forthcoming because lawmakers would be unable to point to a downside.
She also said she was confident of support from the more than 60,000 people arrested but kept out of prisons and jails because of Proposition 36.
Scott Ehlers, a coauthor of the Justice Policy Institute report, said he and others believe that the next goal should be to expand the reach of Proposition 36 to include those arrested for nonviolent crimes related to drug abuse – such as theft to purchase drugs.
He also said he did not anticipate any calls for major trims in the program.
“I don’t see anyone calling for a rollback by any means because I think the treatment is more cost-effective than sending people to prison,” he said.
Among other findings of the report are that spending on drug treatment in the state since 2000 has doubled, and that there has been a larger increase in drug treatment clients here than in the rest of the country. Also, the California prison population of drug offenders has been reduced from 27% to 21%, close to the national average.
Ziedenberg said the reason the Justice Policy Institute focused on California – as it does in many of its studies – is that “12% of the prison population is locked up there.”
He also said lawmakers will have to face the question whether they want to pay now for expanded drug treatment or later for additional prison facilities to handle the overrun.
“The main thing is for more money to be put in,” he said. “The thing we hear from people in California is that this is a good start.”
To get help with Addiction now phone Morningside Recovery (866) 725-8565

Battling Addiction During The Holidays

2008-12-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

41-year-old J.R. Durham spent more than half his life in and out of prison and rehab. His treatment at a Rehab facility is his last chance to avoid life behind bars.
Durham says, "I was a slave to my addiction."
On holidays, Durham says he did not care whether he lived or died. Clinical Director of the treatment center says, "An addict, the only coping skill that they've had since they started their addiction is drugs."
Drugs drowned out Durham's loneliness.
"I guess for a drug addict that's a time to party, you know," Durham explains.
Now Durham's darkest memories are helping him stay sober.
He says, "The feeling that you get, you know, I try to hold on to it and remember it because I know i don't want to feel that way again."
Williams says families of addicts should watch for signs of increased withdrawal or asking for money instead of gifts, and should spend more time together.
Williams says, "Nowadays we're starting to get away from honoring traditions with families and families are not gathering like they did, and that's more hurtful than anything."
And he urges those struggling to reach out; if not to a relative, than to a church leader or neighbor.
"No one human being is strong enough to kick addiction on their own. You've got to reach out for help," says Durham.
Durham sobered up about the same time his daughter was born.
"I look at them pictures and this is my first, you know," he says.
And he knows being a dad means staying sober: "92 days today," he says, especially during the holidays.
Those staying sober still face holiday loneliness and depression.To Get Help NOW call 1-866-725-8565 MorningSide Recovery is always there to HELP

Effectiveness of Treatment

2008-12-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published the first-ever, science-based guide to drug addiction treatment. In its Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, the Institute outlines some of the essential components of drug addiction and its treatment based on 30 years of scientific research.

"There is no 'one size fits all' drug addiction treatment program," said Dr. Alan I. Leshner, NIDA's Director. "Because addiction has so many dimensions and disrupts so many aspects of an individual's life, the best programs provide a combination of therapies and other services, such as referral to other medical, psychological, and social services. The combination of treatment components and services to be employed must be tailored to meet the needs of the individual, including where he or she is in the recovery process."

He also noted that treatment is tremendously cost effective - it's estimated that for every $1 spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in drug-related crime, criminal justice costs and theft alone. When savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and to society also come from significant drops in interpersonal conflicts, improvements in workplace productivity, and reductions in drug-related accidents.

The publication of the Principles coincides with an article in the October 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the JAMA article Dr. Leshner noted, "...advances in science have greatly increased, and in fact revolutionized, our fundamental understanding of the nature of drug abuse and addiction, and, most importantly, what to do about it."

He continued, "Although the onset of addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, the continued repetition of 'voluntary' drug taking begins to change into 'involuntary' drug taking, ultimately to the point where the behavior is driven by compulsive craving for the drug. This compulsion results from a combination of factors, including in large part dramatic changes in brain function produced by prolonged drug use. This is why addiction is considered a brain disease - one with imbedded behavioral and social context aspects. Once addicted, it is almost impossible for most people to stop the spiraling cycle of addiction on their own without treatment."

While the JAMA article was written primarily to inform physicians about drug addiction and the effectiveness of treatment, the Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment booklet is intended for health care professionals and the general public.

Among the principles and concepts spelled out in this guide, Dr. Leshner emphasized two points: treatment of addiction is as successful as treatment of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, and for those with severe addiction problems, participation in treatment for less than 90 days is of limited or no effectiveness.

"Three decades of research and clinical practice have revolutionized our understanding of drug abuse. It is hoped that these treatment principles will serve as a foundation for replacing ideologies about drug addiction with science-based treatment," Dr. Leshner said.
In addition to outlining the principles, the publication includes answers to frequently asked questions about addiction, an overview of drug addiction treatment in the United States, and a brief discussion of the science-based approaches to drug addiction treatment with suggestions for further reading. See more information at www.morningsiderecovery.com/library

Straight Talk About Alcholism

2008-12-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

According to the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than nine million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs. Alcoholism affects a wide circle of people close to the alcoholic – relatives, friends, neighbors, employers, co-workers, classmates, teachers, doctors, community workers – and is closely linked to many of America's most difficult social problems, including crime, homelessness, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. Yet 82% of doctors admit that MDs avoid addressing alcoholism in their patients.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, sponsoring April as Alcohol Awareness Month for the 16th year, says it’s important that people see alcoholism not as an issue of morality or "will power," but as a public health issue. What’s the truth about alcohol, and how do you know if you’ve got a problem? Here are some straight answers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:
Craving: A strong need, or urge, to drink. Loss of control: Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun. Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking. Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high." Is alcoholism a disease? Yes. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle.

Is alcoholism inherited?
Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism runs in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism. But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.

Can alcoholism be cured?
No. Even if an alcoholic hasn't been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.
Can alcoholism be treated? Yes. Most alcoholics need help to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. A range of medications is used to treat alcoholism: some are used during the first days after a person stops drinking to help him or her safely withdraw from alcohol. These medications are not used beyond the first few days, however, because they may be highly addictive. Other medications help people remain sober by reducing the craving for alcohol or by making the person feel sick if he or she drinks alcohol.

Does alcoholism treatment work?
Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But just like any chronic disease, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, one thing is clear, however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.

Do you have to be an alcoholic to experience problems?
No. Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just as harmful. A person may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous – for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.

Are specific groups of people more likely to have problems?
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States – one of every 13 adults – abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. The incidence of problems with alcohol is highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age (14 or younger) greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.

Can a problem drinker simply cut down?
It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is "no." Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol (abstaining) is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems might be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can't stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether.

How Do I Get Help?
Morningside Recovery understands that those suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, and/or co-occurring disorders have unique problems and situations, all of which deserve exclusive rehabilitation and different approaches to therapy. Morningside Recovery's extended care treatment center offers a wide range of treatment programs that help point out issues concerning the residents addiction and dual diagnosis. Between individual drug rehab therapy and group therapy, residents will be able to discuss life issues within a supportive environment, while learning about their addiction and/or mental illness, and re-structuring their lives to help in their recovery process. Some of these rehab programs include Transitional Employment Program, College Recovery Program, Dual Diagnosis Program, Family Program, and Aftercare Program. A few unique therapies that Morningside Recovery offers are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Dramatherapy, and allowing residents of our facility to have small pets, which helps during recovery. While the admission staff closely evaluates and works with each individual, the admission process and assessment will help determine what drug rehab program and therapy that best suits the individual.
Call 866-725-8565 For Help

Treatment for Drug Abusers in the Criminal Justice System

2008-12-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that drug abuse treatment can help many drug abusing offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards drug abuse, avoid relapse, and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance abuse and crime. It is true that legal pressure might be needed to get a person into treatment and help them stay there. Once in a treatment program, however, even those who are not motivated to change at first can eventually become engaged in a continuing treatment process.Untreated substance abuse adds significant costs to communities, including violent and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, unemployment, and victimization. The cost to society of drug abuse in 2002 was estimated at $181 billion, $107 billion of which was associated with drug-related crime.Successful drug abuse treatment in the criminal justice system can help reduce crime as well as the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in the cost of drug-related crimes. With some outpatient programs, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12:1.1
Extent of the Problem
The connection between drug abuse and crime is well known. Drug abuse is implicated in at least three types of drug related offenses: (1) offenses defined by drug possession or sales, (2) offenses directly related to drug abuse (e.g., stealing to get money for drugs), and (3) offenses related to a lifestyle that predisposes the drug abuser to engage in illegal activity (e.g., through association with other offenders or with illicit markets).In 2003, nearly 6.9 million adults were involved with the criminal justice system, including 4.8 million who were under probation or parole supervision (Glaze & Palla, 2004, www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ppus03.pdf). In its 1997 survey, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimated that about 70 percent of State and 57 percent of Federal prisoners used drugs regularly prior to incarceration (Mumola, 1999, www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/satsfp97.pdf). A 2002 survey of jails found that 52 percent of incarcerated women and 44 percent of men met the criteria for alcohol or drug dependence (Karberg & James, 2005, www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/sdatji02.pdf). Juvenile justice systems also report high levels of drug abuse. A survey of juvenile detainees in 2000 found that about 56 percent of the boys and 40 percent of the girls tested positive for drug use at the time of their arrest (National Institute of Justice, 2003, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/adam/welcome.html).The substance abusing offender may be encouraged or legally pressured to participate in drug abuse treatment. Even so, few drug abusing offenders actually receive treatment. The 1997 BJS survey showed that fewer than one-fifth of incarcerated offenders with drug problems had received treatment in prison (not including participation in self-help or drug education).Untreated substance abusing offenders are more likely to relapse to drug abuse and return to criminal behavior. This can bring about re-arrest and reincarceration, jeopardizing public health and public safety and taxing criminal justice system resources. Treatment offers the best alternative for interrupting the drug abuse/criminal justice cycle for offenders with drug abuse problems.
Effective Treatment for Criminal Offenders
Studies show that treatment can cut drug abuse in half, reduce criminal activity up to 80 percent, and reduce arrests up to 64 percent.2 Based on a review of this and other scientific literature on drug abuse treatment and criminal behavior, in 2006 NIDA released Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations. This publication discusses 13 principles proven through research to help criminal justice organizations tailor treatment programs to better serve their populations. In brief, these principles are:
Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior.
Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time.
Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral change.
Assessment is the first step in treatment.
Tailoring services to fit the needs of the individual is an important part of effective drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations.
Drug use during treatment should be carefully monitored.
Treatment should target factors that are associated with criminal behavior.
Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug abusing offenders, and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements.
Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers re-entering the community.
A balance of rewards and sanctions encourages prosocial behavior and treatment participation.
Offenders with co-occurring drug abuse and mental health problems often require an integrated treatment approach.
Medications are an important part of treatment for many drug abusing offenders.
Treatment planning for drug abusing offenders who are living in or re-entering the community should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis.
Drug abuse treatment can be incorporated into criminal justice settings in a variety of ways. These include treatment as a condition of probation, drug courts that blend judicial monitoring and sanctions with treatment, treatment in prison followed by community-based treatment after discharge, and treatment under parole or probation supervision. Outcomes for substance abusing individuals can be improved by cross-agency coordination and collaboration of criminal justice professionals, substance abuse treatment providers, and other social service agencies. By working together, the criminal justice and treatment systems can optimize resources to benefit the health, safety, and well-being of individuals and the communities they serve.For more information, see Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide at www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/cj.html.

Ted Williams and the Steps to Recovery

2008-11-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

Ted Williams was one of the greatest hitters ever to play baseball. It is said he could read the stitches on a ball traveling more than 90 mph. Yet it's rumored that his first attempt at hitting a golf ball was a complete failure. He missed it completely - several times!

That's because the golf swing is unnatural. There are many things to remember. It feels completely uncomfortable. Only with practice - years of it - does it begin to feel "right."

Maintaining sobriety via a recovery fellowship such as AA brings similar challenges. It does not come naturally. There's a lot to learn and much to remember. This article presents 12 practical tips that a person might consider in trying to maintain sobriety via a fellowship-based recovery program. I encourage readers to share this information with all clients - newcomers and long-timers alike.

One caveat: Sometimes the newcomer is just too raw to embrace suggestions such as these. We can only hope that this person will keep an open mind - and just keep coming to meetings. Fortunately, there are no rules in recovery, only suggestions offered by those who have gone before us.

Here, then, are 12 tips for your clients:

1. Go, even if you don't want to.
AA and similar programs don't make house calls. To get your medicine, you have to show up whether you want to or not. Ironically, most people agree that once they actually get to a meeting, they're glad they went.

2. Show up early.
Let's face it; groups don't drink - individuals do. So one of your main purposes is to connect with other safe and sober individuals. (Of course, you're also there to hear something useful and to learn more about yourself and your disease.)Initially, you'll want to identify people in the group, to determine which of them you might enjoy meeting. You'll also be identifying those whom you'll want to avoid. The best way to accomplish this is to show up early and to observe who's doing and saying what. If you're comfortable doing so, offer to help set up the chairs or make the coffee.If the group is doing its job, someone will recognize you as a newcomer and will extend a welcoming handshake. But all of this is most likely to happen if you're there for the "meeting before the meeting."

3. Let people know you.
If the group has a tradition of handing out chips or keychains to acknowledge various lengths of sobriety, stand up and get your applause. It's not to satisfy your ego, but to let people in the group know where you are in your recovery. If the group doesn't give out these tokens, it'll be up to you to share the information when it seems appropriate.

4. Join a group, get involved.
This is really part two of the previous section. A great way to get connected in the fellowship is to pick one group and make it your "home group." This is the one meeting each week that you won't miss no matter what. Get a job in that group (greeter, coffee maker, etc.). This will ease your introduction to other group members and will enhance the likelihood that you'll meet someone who might eventually become your sponsor.

Many groups speak at other meetings or at institutions such as hospitals, detox centers, and jails. Travel with them as they fulfill these commitments. Even if you're not willing or eligible to speak (some groups require 90 days of sobriety before you speak at another meeting), traveling with your group will help you to know members on a more intimate level - and to further your bond with these important people.

5. Speak only when you're ready.
Opinions differ here, but I've known people who stay away from recovery meetings because of their fear of public speaking. No one, in my opinion, should be badgered into speaking, although a gentle push from a trusted sponsor might be very useful indeed.

6. Go to the same meetings each week.
Again, your goal is to connect with others in recovery. Going to the same meetings each week will make it easier for you to identify and bond with the "right" collection of people. It'll also make it easier to remember which meeting you'll be attending on a given day. ("If it's Tuesday, I'll be at the hospital meeting tonight.")

7. Go to different types of meetings, if possible.
There might be a variety of meeting types in your area. These might include discussion meetings where you can raise your hand and share what's on your mind; speaker meetings where a few speakers share their experience, strength, and hope; and literature meetings that examine certain pieces of recovery writing. You also might find meetings that serve a specific constituency, such as men or women, gay/lesbian, Hispanic, young people, etc. It is generally recommended that you include different types of meetings in your recovery program if possible.

8. Sit up front.
If you're easily distracted, please consider sitting up front - in the "intensive care unit." Even after the meeting has begun, it's so tempting to see who's walking in the door, who's chatting with whom, whose cell phone is ringing, etc. Sitting up front will help you hear the message that perhaps you need to hear.

9. Listen to the message, not the messenger.
No doubt, you'll develop opinions about the people in recovery meetings. No doubt, some of these people will be (at least in your opinion) inappropriate, obnoxious, self-indulgent egomaniacs. Ironically, these same people just might be saying things that you need to hear. So try to ignore who is speaking and focus on the words, the message. Some of the most annoying people have experience and opinions that you can use. This is a learned skill. Work on it.

10. Ask for help.
Perhaps you don't have a driver's license or a vehicle. It is completely appropriate to ask if anyone in the group can give you a ride home after the meeting. You'll not only get the needed ride, but you'll also get to know people who might be willing to participate in your recovery efforts.And as long as you're there to enhance your recovery, it is appropriate to ask for help in other ways. Maybe you need help moving a washing machine - or you're looking for a certain type of employment. Speak up. You might not get the help you need, but it's OK to ask. (Asking for financial help is generally not a good idea.)

11. Leave your partner at home.
If you absolutely need to bring your spouse/partner for moral support, go ahead. Do whatever it takes to get yourself to a meeting. But your job, ultimately, is to connect with others in recovery. If your partner is sitting beside you, you'll be less able to meet others - and less inclined to speak openly about what's going on in your life.

12. Have fun.
Many of us have to learn how to have fun without alcohol and drugs. Initially we fear that fun will be impossible without our "social lubricants." Over time, we learn how to have sober fun. We learn new hobbies, develop new skills, and build our self-confidence. And we do all this with our new, sober friends.

If Ted Williams learned the game of golf, he did it by listening to the experts, learning some uncomfortable habits, and practicing his swing - year after year. The suggestions in this article might be awkward to implement at first, but they might help you get the most out of your recovery meetings - and enhance your quest for sobriety and serenity.

Screening Could Make Inroads in Pediatricians Offices

2008-11-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

Evidence continues to indicate that primary care offices could serve as effective sites for identifying alcohol use problems that might require specialty services. One of the latest studies offers the somewhat surprising finding that adults could be screened successfully in the offices of their children’s pediatricians.
Published in the November issue of Pediatrics, the study conducted at three pediatric clinics in New England found that most parents would be completely comfortable with being screened for alcohol problems by their child’s pediatrician, or through a computer or paper-and-pencil survey. Both parents who were not found to have alcohol problems through use of a questionnaire and those who were found to have alcohol problems said they would generally be comfortable with this screening, though the group found to have problems was slightly less supportive of the idea overall.
Lead study author Celeste Wilson, MD, a pediatrician with Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, says some procedural details will likely need to be worked out before this kind of screening becomes routine in pediatricians’ offices. But she also points out that pediatricians already ask parents about a number of family health indicators that could affect their young patients’ well-being, from smoking in the home to domestic violence.
“I see this as a very powerful relationship, that of the parent and the pediatrician,” Wilson says.
What might tend to confound pediatricians is the question of what resources they can tap into at the community level if some of their patients’ parents screen positive for an alcohol problem. This is where the role of specialty addiction treatment providers in a community could surface.
“I do think it would potentially be quite helpful if addiction treatment professionals made outreach to pediatric providers,” Wilson says. “Pediatric providers in offices would actually welcome that. One of the concerns is that pediatricians don’t really know what’s out there.”
The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, cites an 11% likelihood that a screening conducted at a visit to the pediatrician will indicate a positive result. That is in line with positive screening rates derived in other primary care settings.

Early intervention, screening helps reduce illegal drug use in patients

2008-11-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program can reduce illicit drug use among patients seeking medical care in a wide variety of health care settings such as hospitals, physician offices, and community clinics, a study finds.SBIRT uses a variety of techniques to screen patients seeking medical health for signs of substance abuse. If a patient screens positive for a substance abuse problem immediate steps are taken to help the patient effectively deal with the problem before the patient’s health and well-being deteriorate.
The report in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that rates of illicit drug use dropped by 67.7 percent six months after patients using illicit drugs had received help through a SBIRT program. In addition, heavy alcohol use dropped by 38.6 percent. Illicit drug users receiving brief treatment or referral to specialty treatment also reported other quality of life improvements:
• 29.3 percent reported feeling generally healthier• 31.2 percent reported experiencing fewer emotional problems• 15.4 percent reported improved employment status• 64.3 percent reported fewer arrests• 45.8 percent who were homeless reported no longer being homeless Currently, most screening and brief intervention programs are directed primarily toward screening and assisting patients to reduce heavy alcohol use -- a use for which SBIRT has been long been shown to be highly effective.

To help expand SBIRT use and determine its efficacy for addressing illicit drug use and alcohol use, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) began awarding grants to states and tribal organizations beginning in 2003. The report announced today is based on an analysis of the data provided by six of the grant recipients. SBIRT can be used in a wide variety of healthcare settings including primary care centers, hospital emergency rooms, trauma centers, and other community settings, and provides options for addressing the particular substance abuse problems of patients.
For many patients with less severe problems a health care provider may briefly intervene by discussing the problem with the patient and offering steps to address it. Brief treatments for the problem may also be offered within the healthcare setting or a community setting. In more severe cases, a healthcare provider usually refers the patient to a more specialized setting for assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.
“Over 20 million Americans with substance abuse problems don’t get the treatment they need – largely because they don’t seek it,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “These findings show that SBIRT can play an important role in helping people recognize they may have a substance abuse problem and that help is available.”
The article was authored by Dr. Bertha Madras, former deputy director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and currently at Harvard Medical School; Dr. Wilson Compton of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health; and Dr. H. Westley Clark, Ms. Deepa Avula, Mr. Tom Stegbauer, and Dr. Jack Stein of SAMHSA. The report was based on data drawn from a network of health care facilities treating a wide variety of patient populations. At least 459,599 patients seeking medical treatment at these facilities were screened for alcohol and illicit drug use during the course of the study, with 104,505 (27 percent) screening positive for heavy alcohol or illicit drug use.
Programs followed up with a random sample of patients screening positive for heavy alcohol or illicit drug use to determine whether their alcohol and illicit drug use levels had changed six months after they had been screened in the SBIRT program.
“We see great promise in this approach to identifying those most in need of intervention and treatment for substance abuse problems,” said NIDA Director Nora D.Volkow, “We are committed to learning more. NIDA has awarded over $4.2 million in new grants this year alone for more SBIRT clinical trials in real-life settings.”
“Promoting services like SBIRT to all parts of the nation is a crucial part of SAMHSA’s mission to reach everyone struggling with substance abuse issues,” said Dr. Clark, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
A copy of the complete report is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.08.003

Painkiller Abuse in Military

2008-11-15T12:15:00.001-08:00

USA Today has an article today about the abuse of prescription painkillers by servicemembers and returning veterans. There's also a special online follow-up about the 509th Engineering Company, based in Missouri, where at least a quarter of the soliders have admitted to abusing narcotic pain-killers. The articles note that in 2005 there were over 50,000 prescriptions written by military doctors for narcotic painkillers, and such a high rate of use carries the risk of misuse and addiction. An Army study in 2005 indicated that 4% of soldiers had abused prescription medicines in the last month, and 10% had done so at least once in the last year. The VA and military are starting to look more closely at their pain management techniques and investigating methods (such as new dispenser machines) to reduce abuse and addiction.So far, media coverage about substance use disorders among returning veterans has focused primarily on co-occurring mental health problems (for example, the comorbidity of PTSD or TBI with drug use). This article calls attention to the relationship between addiction and orthopedic injuries that cause chronic pain, which is the number one complaint of all Iraq and Afghanistan vets receiving medical care through the VA. The emphasis that veterans' mental health issues have received in the last few years has been groundbreaking and very encouraging, but the Pentagon and VA can't forget that veterans taking prescriptions for muscle, joint, or skeletal pain are at heightened risk for substance use disorders as well.

Early intervention, screening helps reduce illegal drug use in patients

2008-11-14T10:14:00.001-08:00

Study highlights psychosocial benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous

2008-11-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Alcoholics who stayed in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and worked through all 12 steps had lower levels of interpersonal insecurity than those who were just beginning the program, according to findings published recently in the American Journal on Addictions. Researchers Jared G. Suire and Robert K. Bothwell of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette reached this conclusion after evaluating the attitudes of alcoholics toward themselves and others after they had worked all 12 steps of an AA program relative to individuals who had not completed all of them. Specifically, the researchers implemented a quasi-experimental design in which measures of self-esteem, interpersonal trust, and related constructs were administered to a group of alcoholics who had been in a community-based AA program long enough to work all 12 steps, and another group of alcoholics who were just beginning to work the steps in a similar AA program. They predicted that significant differences would be found between these 2 groups in self-esteem and interpersonal security. Participants were alcoholics solicited outside of AA meeting rooms. Potential participants were asked if they would be willing to complete a series of personality questionnaires for a study on AA. Those who agreed to participate were later interviewed at a convenient location, such as a restaurant or coffee shop. Participants provided information on gender, race, and age, and answered questions about their AA experience, such as how long they had been in AA and how many steps they had worked. They were not exposed to questions regarding their past drinking. Measures were taken of global self-esteem, social self-esteem, social confidence, network trust, fear of negative evaluation, need for approval, preoccupation with relationships, discomfort with closeness, relationships as secondary, and optimism. Analyses were conducted on 50 "completers" who had completed all 12 steps, 7 "continuers" working on steps between Step 4 and Step 9, 24 "newcomers," and 18 "relapsers" who were starting over because they had slipped. Principal components analysis on the measures revealed two factors: "interpersonal insecurity" which reflected low interpersonal trust and high ambivalence and anxiety about close relationships; and "social potency" which reflected high social self-esteem and confidence and low fear of negative evaluation. Results indicated that there was a significant difference in interpersonal insecurity between alcoholics who had completed all 12 steps in a community-based AA program and those who had started to work the steps but had not yet completed all of them, with completers showing lower interpersonal insecurity. There were no differences in this finding on gender, age, and ethnicity. No significant differences were found in social potency between alcoholics who completed the steps and those who had not completed the steps. Study limits The design of this study does not allow for causal inference about the difference found between groups in interpersonal insecurity. It is possible that alcoholics who stayed in the program and worked through all the steps had higher levels of interpersonal security to begin with. Authors' conclusions It is possible that participation in AA brings about fundamental change in members who are able to stay in the program and work the steps. The authors note that it is likely that such change will occur in this context so gradually that it will be less obvious to the alcoholic in his or her daily reflections than to others who may see him or her at the weekly AA meeting. They posit that future research will show that as the alcoholic works the steps with the supportive backing of a community-based AA homegroup and sponsor, there will be great potential for change in the alcoholic's ability to relate to others in ways that can meaningfully enhance the quality of his or her life. Future investigations should also attempt to clarify the specific nature of changes that occur in personality as alcoholics work through the 12 steps within community-based AA programs. No funding information provided. Suire JG, Bothwell RK: The psychosocial benefits of alcoholics anonymous. Am J Addictions 2006; 15:252-255. E-mail: bothwell@louisiana.edu. Suggested readings: Moos RH, Moos BS: Long-term influence of duration and frequency of participation in Alcoholics Anonymous on individuals with alcohol use disorders. J Consult Clin Psychology 2004; 72:81-90. Study sample N=100 56 males, 44 females 76 were white, 18 were black; 6 other ethnicities
COPYRIGHT 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

When is it too late for an intervention?

2008-11-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

I believe as long as an addict is breathing it is never too late, you never give up. There is still time to save their life.

I believe this because I am a product of an intervention. I have the gift of being able to help people break the cycle, and that gift was given to me when an intervention was performed on me in 1989. I was addicted to crystal meth, alcohol and anything I could get my hands on. I believed I could do it on my own, but I was wrong. My employers sat me down with a professional interventionist and, in a loving way, told me I needed some help. Because of the intervention, I agreed to go into a treatment facility and have been clean since July 14, 1989.

I’m now an addiction interventionist and have been working in the field for most of my sobriety. I ended up in this line of work because of my own personal experience with addiction and because of my passion for helping others. I became educated in the field and continue to learn and develop ways to stay one step ahead of this addiction. Being able to help people break through the walls of addiction and denial is a gift that I will cherish until the day I die.

With addiction there’s a wall of denial that needs to be broken through before the healing can begin. Like many other medical conditions addiction can run in the family. Ten percent of the people in the world are born with a gene that makes them vulnerable to addiction. I had an incredible upbringing and I’m an addict while my sister is not. It’s the luck of the draw, so to speak.
Sometimes people blame the parents or the family. I work with hundreds of families all over the world, and while some of them are difficult, some of them are the most loving parents, and yet their kid suffers with addiction. Sometimes parents are addicts, but the children are not.

It’s important that people who blame get more education. Certainly family behaviors and trauma can do damage and can magnify the addiction but it’s not the root cause of addiction.

Addicts can be the most selfish people in the world – when using – and people who love addicts often experience a lot of anger. That can be a healthy anger if they’re angry about the addiction. They have to separate the addiction and their loved one. Addicts aren’t bad people, they’re sick people. Instead of being angry with the addict, stand up in front of the addiction and say, “I love you, but I’m not going to love you to death.” Many families and loved ones can be helped though Al-Anon or counseling before during or after the addicts find recovery.

Standing up to addiction isn’t easy. Between addiction and the human spirit, addiction is stronger, but if you become unified as a family, then you can become stronger than the addiction. The individual cannot fight the addiction by themselves once it has gone to a certain level, and that’s why there are treatment centers all over the world. In America, there are 23 million Americans suffering from addiction, and only one per cent of them get treatment on their own. The denial is just so strong that it requires a combined effort. Environment plays a huge part in people’s addiction. You have to create an environment that stops the addiction. To stop the addiction, the person has to hit a bottom and realize they don’t want to live that way. That is where we come in to intervene, help raise the bottom of the addiction so it does not have to be jail or death.

We facilitate the healing process by getting as many family members, friends, co-workers or anybody who loves the addict, together in a room to confront the addict. Most of the addict’s prayers are, “Please don’t let me wake up tomorrow. I don’t want to live this way.”
For some reason, when you have all these people in a room talking about how much they love the addict, it gives the addict a bit of hope to want to stay alive.

There’s no cookie cutter formula for an intervention.
Doing an intervention on a prescription medication addict is completely different than on someone who is getting their drugs off the street. What addicts have in common is that they all need to hit some form of bottom in order to break through. Every addict hits a bottom where using is not as fun as it use to be and is more devastating then wanting to seek help. Professional interventionists help to create the type of rock bottom appropriate for a particular addict.

Every single addict who finally puts an end to their addiction - hits what the general public known as “rock bottom”. But what exactly is “rock bottom”? And how many different ways are there to get to that painful, yet powerfully healing place? Here is what I have come up with: The five “rock bottoms”, the definition of “rock bottom”, (Health, Emotional, Legal, Personal Finances and Spiritual) and why each of them works.
Health bottom: is usually very effective at stopping the addiction, since it usually means the addict is confronted with failing health and left with no choice but to either quit or die.
Emotional bottom: can be a variety of things, but is usually when the addict has pushed so many people from their life that the emotional strain becomes too great for them to bear.
Legal bottom: is when the law intervenes. It’s when their addiction has caused them to break the law and they have some form of legal action being taken against them. This leaves the addict with no choice but end the addiction due to facing criminal charges.
Personal finances bottom: is when the addict has used up all their resources—money, possessions and everything they own—leaving them with nothing but their own addiction.
Spiritual bottom: is something very personal between the addict and their God. It can be incredibly powerful, but also very difficult to predict.
Each of these bottoms is equal to each other—and just as influential as the other—for stopping an addiction in its’ tracks, so that the loved ones can once again reclaim their life back. Best of all, the five “rock bottoms” are easy to remember, since they spell out the word “HELPS”—something that each rock bottom does either individually and/or collectively to cure the disease of addiction. This is something I spend year on developing and it works.
In an intervention, we will also explain to the participants that having an addict in their life unfortunately means that they are also well on their
way to hitting their own rock bottom. Afterwards, I’ll offer assurance that the tools they are about to learn will prevent them from ending up here again.
We do our best to facilitate a rock bottom for the addict. For a lot of people the physical bottom isn’t enough to make them stop – they’ll be brought back from the brink of death and go right back into their addiction.
There’s an emotional bottom, which is what we deal with in a professional intervention. We see people quit drinking because they ended up driving drunk with their kids in the car and they don’t remember how they got home. For some, that’s enough of an incentive. We try to pull at an addict’s heart strings in order to beat the addiction.
If that’s not enough, then there’s the financial bottom. That’s what ultimately worked for me – I got fired from my job and had no way to support myself. A lot of families give the addict money, and we get them to agree to stop doing that. We may go to the employer and ask them to support the intervention by cutting off the money. There are times when we have no control over this bottom either though, like the executive or business owner that has plenty of funds to live on if they stop working.
The legal bottom, a lot of people go to treatment because the courts say, “You either go to jail or you go into treatment.”
Every human being has a living nightmare meaning a bottom, and so we have to figure out how to make that nightmare a reality in a respectful and loving manner. We only do this if they choose not to go to treatment after the letters are read and they did not hit that emotional bottom. The more bottoms that can be achieved the better the chances are of success.
Often family members will turn away because they simply feel they’ve done all they could, but I believe the only time you close that door is when the addict stops breathing. Do whatever you can to pull your loved one back. Closing the door while your loved one is still alive is a lose-lose situation – the addict goes further into addiction, and the family members’ hearts still ache. Love doesn’t stop.
Interventions work. It worked on me and I have seen it work on countless families. But an intervention is only the beginning of the road to recovery for the addict and the family. There is a lot of work ahead for everyone.
The payoff for me is seeing families heal and find the love and happiness they thought was gone forever.
If you have someone you love that needs help, please contact a professional.

Ken Seeley, BRI II, CNDAI II, RASi is the founder of Intervention911.com and an interventionist on the A&E show Intervention.

Abstinence Based Treatment for Drug Addiction

2008-11-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

Addiction is more than a dependency upon alcohol, drugs, or painkillers. It is a disease that causes people to become self-destructive and hurtful toward others. If addiction goes untreated, the person will be unable to control unhealthy and self-defeating behaviors despite the physical and mental risks. Those who suffer from addiction - whether to alcohol, drugs, or other obsessive behaviors like gambling - stand to damage their health, relationships with family and friends, careers and finances if nothing to done to help.
Physicians who operate and consult with drug and addiction rehabilitation clinics recognize that patients often need different treatment programs in order to get overcome their destructive behaviors. To this end, physicians and counselors work with clinic residents toward a common goal: full, long-term remission from this disease.
Can addicts be completely cured? No. Addiction is a chronic illness that never wholly goes away. Addiction can be controlled to a point that allows the addict to live a normal life. Rehab clinics may offer state of the art treatment programs and specialized rehab counseling to effectively achieve long-term remission for addicts. When done properly, abstinence treatment can ensure a happy future, free of dependency and full of love and hope.
To achieve remission, abstinence-based treatment is introduced immediately to clinic residents. This begins with a safe withdrawal from all controlled substances. Our Rehabilitation programs may include counseling and education on avoiding relapse, so that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts may enjoy a life in recovery for many years. The goal of abstinence treatment is to ensure that ill behaviors fade, that the body no longer craves the substances that can damage health and happiness.
If you suspect a loved one is abusing alcohol or drugs, or engaging in other destructive behaviors, it is important to contact a professional to determine the next steps. The sooner an addict is introduced to abstinence, the better the changes for strong recovery.
Stephanie Loebs is the executive director of Williamsburg Place, one of the top drug rehab clinics in the nation. Williamsburg Place aids those who suffer from drug and/or alcohol addiction, and specializes in caring for health care professionals. For over twenty years Williamsburg Place and its joint rehabilitation center, the William J. Farley Center, have helped thousands of people from all walks of life take back their lives and overcome substance abuse.

Kids' anxiety: When to seek help

2008-10-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

How do you know your child's fear or anxiety is a reason to see a doctor? It usually involves extreme behavior. Experts offer these tips:

— Separation anxiety: This is not the clinginess often seen in toddlers. It's a level of fear in school-age children up to age 10 or 11 in which they may routinely follow a parent through the house and resist sleeping alone and going to school.
— Generalized anxiety: Affected kids, usually from grade school to early teens, often have many unrealistic fears that interfere with their lives. It may be worries about thunderstorms so severe that going outside even on sunny days provokes anxiety. They may be so anxious about being on time or doing well in school that it results in stomachaches or other physical complaints.
— Social anxiety or phobia: This may appear in grade school or adolescence and is often dismissed as shyness. But affected kids are so paralyzed by self-consciousness and fear of interacting with others that they avoid social situations or speaking in class. There may be physical symptoms, such as sweating or dizziness.
Many families learn to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate children with anxiety disorders. However, if untreated, the problems can morph into depression or substance abuse during the teen years, said Dr. John Walkup of Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Philosophy

2008-10-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

Morningside Recoverys treatment philosophy has several layers. We first will evaluate and provide accessible, effective, individualized residential and intensive outpatient treatment to alcohol and other drug dependent men and women 18 years of age and above. We also provide effective mental health counseling for those who are also affected by emotional and behavioral problems. Thirdly, we provide family education to those affected by someones addiction. The purpose of evaluations are to assess the patterns, circumstances, and effects of an individuals alcohol and other drug use to determine the extent of the disease and severity of the dysfunctional relationship with substance abuse. The biopsychosocial influences and effects associated with the patients alcohol and other drug dependence are also evaluated. Also the special treatment needs of the person entering Morningside Recovery are identified. This includes; age, gender, and concomitant dual diagnosis and /or biomedical conditions and complications.

The purpose of treatment is to assist alcohol and other drug dependent men and women in addressing the biopsychosocial dimensions of their disease, to arrest their addiction and develop the skills necessary to maintain ongoing abstinence;, and assist each person to begin a more balanced lifestyle with the awareness that improvement in family and interpersonal relationships, work performance, physical well-being, and social functioning is attainable.

Morningside Recovery believes that behaviors of family members and concerned others of the addicted individual, are reflective of an emotional, psychological, and behavioral condition that develops as a result of an individuals prolonged exposure to addiction. As such, we provide education to those who have been impacted by this disease. The purposes of the educational services are to assist family members and concerned others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and begin to design a balanced family relationship lifestyle.

The essential treatment mission of Morningside Recovery is to provide cost-efficient medically managed intensive residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment and family treatment to alcohol and other drug dependent adults and related family members. The purposes of treatment are to assist the alcohol and other drug dependent person in achieving abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and to achieve improvement in family, job, school, and social functioning. It is to also provide assistance to family members and significant others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and to seek resources to address maladaptive behaviors that have been developed to deal with addiction in the household and related life skill tasks.

The staff at Morningside Recovery believes that alcoholism and drug dependency are primary, treatable disease. We believe that addicted individuals present three basic problems at the time of their entry into treatment:
1. They are aware of the serious life problems created by their use of alcohol or other drugs. These problems may be physical, vocational, educational, emotional, spiritual, and legal and family or relationship difficulties.
2. They have been unsuccessful in their attempts to control or stop using alcohol or other drugs. This often leads to a sense of futility or hopelessness.
3. Nay of a number of life situations may function as relapse triggers which can impede an individuals progress toward full recovery.

Morningside Recovery approach to treatment focuses on beginning to find solutions to these problems through helping the individual more accurately see the impact their alcohol or other drug use had on their life, help the individual find a source of hope for change, and assist the individual in identifying their relapse triggers and formulating a plan which will support continuing recovery. The realization of the goals of abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and an improved lifestyle is a lifelong pursuit, with treatment serving only as a beginning in a continuum of care which includes extended and transitional care. Movement and work towards these goals can be demonstrated in the present and during the persons stay in Morningside Recovery Treatment Programs of Newport Beach, CA.

One-Third of all U.S. Drug Abuse is Prescription Drug Abuse

2008-10-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Currently according to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, approximately one-third of all U.S. drug abuse is prescription drug abuse. The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classifications:

1. Opioids
a. Oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Loratab), and meperidine (Demerol)

2. Tranquillizers
a. Diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax)

3. Stimulants
a. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/detroamphetamine (Adderall)

There are too an estimated 800,000 web sites which sell prescription drugs on the Internet and will ship them to households and P.O. boxes, with no questions asked. The availability and accessibility makes the abuse of prescription medications easy. Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person’s health and can cause dependency. At Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach California, a nationally recognized treatment center, prescription drug dependency is on the increase in many of its admissions into care. Morningside Recovery has programs available for those suffering not only from prescription drugs for those too who have become dependent on alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Morningside Recovery specializes in treatment both for males and females not only having alcohol and drug dependency problems but those too who are considered dual-diagnosed, having ongoing problems with emotional and mental disorders.
Current trends suggest and alarming warning with the abuse and dependency on prescription medication. If you or a love one is having problems don’t wait. There is help a phone call away.

Morningside Recovery (866) 725-8565

New Therapy Associates Tone With Cravings to Reduce Them in Real World

2008-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Virtual Reality Game Helps Drug Addicts Recover
The idea of virtual reality often is associated with acne-faced tweens and teens tackling video games. But it also is used for more serious purposes, like treating phobias and drug abuse.

Some believe a breakthrough virtual reality game may help addicts better control their cravings, which is a huge obstacle for the millions battling addiction and trying to recover.
The game, which is the brainchild of Duke University professor Zach Rosenthal, aims to offer something traditional therapy cannot by allowing a therapist to guide a patient through a virtual world that presents various temptations. It actually brings cravings present in the outside world into the therapy session.
"What we're trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal said cravings are mental and a learned behavior. So, the theory behind the game is just as a person learns to crave, he or she can learn not to crave.

Trouble Brewing in Energy Drinks

2008-06-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

For the past two decades the addiction treatment field has had growing concerns over the misuse of caffeine. From the late seventies through the late eighties, treatment centers across t United States took a careful look at the use of caffeinated beverages. Demographics pointed to the fact that many leading centers treating alcohol and other drug addiction were seeing over 70 percent of their admissions with a primary drug of choice, cocaine. Cocaine with the advent of "read rock" better know as crack was at epidemic proportions in this country. Treatment administrators saw it necessary to cut down on the use of caffeine in their respected centers. "It made no sense to see all our patients jacked up on coffee and craving Cocaine", said one leading expert of those times.

Today our industry has to make a stand again with the growing numbers of beverages that promise quick energy as well as performance and nutritional benefits it is one of concern to the recovering community. A growing number of these drinks are aimed at those who want to stay UP, boost energy, raise alertness, promise a high followed by a long lasting energy buzz. If we advocate for our patients and clients to be drug free then we need to enforce policies against the use of energy drinks in our facilities. At Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, CA, that has been the position for several years. Morningside Recovery sees the health risks involved including dehydration and overstimulation which both can have adverse effects on the person recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. It is also known that caffeine can speed up a person’s heart and raise blood pressure. In treatment programs we want our clients/patients to not get over stimulated but to concentrate on what is being taught to them. That is they are here in treatment to help safe their lives for they have a life threatening chronic illness that if not put into remission with cause premature death.

Morningside Academic Institute at soberinstitute.org

2008-05-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Morningside Recovery is proud to announce the launch of their new website for Morningside Academic Institute at soberinstitute.org. The Morningside Academic Institute was developed and established in the Fall of 2006 by Brendan Bickley, Director of Education, and Jana Triplett, Director of The College Program.

Sharing the visions of NAATP, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, "to promote, assist and enhance the delivery of ethical, effective, research-based treatment for alcoholism and other drug addictions" Morningside Recovery's Academic Institute was established. Comparisons of addiction treatment programs coupled with academic programs and addiction treatment programs without academic programs found success rates with academic programs surpassed those without.

Morningside Recovery's Brendan Bickley specifically studied the affects of pairing an academic program with a recovery program. Examining the T.E.A.C.H. Program, a voluntary program placing clients in addiction counselor training classes at a local community college, to discern the success of clients enrolled in an academic program opposed to those not enrolled see "An Evaluation of the T.E.A.C.H. Program: Addiction Treatment Coupled with Higher Education" by Paul Alexander and Brendan Bickley for the Department of Criminology, Law & Society, University of California, Irvine.

Morningside Academic Institute provides the unique opportunity to continue academic studies while in recovery.

Before going into treatment I had dropped out of college and didn't know where I was headed with my life. I had no idea what to do. I was using drugs and drinking all the time. I went into treatment and spent ninety days in Morningside's residential program before transferring into the college program. It was just what I needed. I needed the structure and help the program offered because before when I tried to do college on my own I couldn't do it. The therapists and counselors were all great. The Academic Institute helped me get on track with school and even helped me to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I got a 4.0 my first semester and a 4.0 my second semester and I'm planning on transferring to the University of California, Irvine next year. It truly was a great, life changing experience.

What does an "Academic Program" entail?

The components of our academic program extend beyond just class time. Morningside Recovery's Academic Institute builds life skills and clients work towards new academic and career goals with direction and focus. Counseling and strategic planning are a continuous and ongoing part of our program. Morningside Academic Institute supports students in not only their journey to sobriety, but supports students in their studies, academic plans and future careers.

Academic Counseling: academic assessment, additional testing, transcript review, academic credit transfer, and the creation of a Strategic Academic Action Plan

Life Skills: Debt management, interpersonal relationships, time management, budget planning

What kind of academic programs are available?

Academic programs can be tailored to fit many circumstances. Whether a client is working towards a GED, rebuilding a college transcript after experiencing an academic crisis or gaining entrance to a graduate program an education counselor will meet with the client and design a program specifically for their recovery goals. Careful consideration is taken to ensure the client's ongoing recovery is balanced with their academic program. Morningside Recovery has experience in helping clients navigate the application and transfer process.

Vocational Training: Drug & Alcohol Counseling Classes to become a licensed addiction treatment expert, Nursing, Psychiatric Technician, Massage Therapist, Chef or Culinary Arts Graphic Design, Firefighter, Paramedic, Court Reporter
MAI Students have enrolled in programs at: Orange Coast Community College, The Art Institute, FIDM, Chapman University, and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo among others
MAI Students have continued their studies at: University of California Irvine, University of California Los Angeles, University of California Berkley, Cal State Fullerton, University of Chicago, Tulane University, New York University, University of Texas Austin, Pepperdine University, Cal State Long Beach, Rutgers University, Chapman University

For more information on Morningside Recovery's Academic Institute please visit our new site at soberinstitute.org.

For immediate assistance to help a loved on in need of a drug or alcohol intervention please call us at (866) 725-8565.