Family Guilty in Substance Abuse

You have a loved one who is suffering from substance abuse. It may be a child, a spouse or another family member. You know what they are going through because you see it. You know they cannot stop and you just want to stop for them. What can you do? How can you help?

Guilty Happens Often

For many families in these situations, guilty is one of the worst parts of the process. It is what causes problems within the family, too. Being guilty, though, is not the answer. Being supportive and offering solutions is. If you feel guilty, consider the following.

  • In many scenarios, families of those who suffer from substance abuse need to seek help from a therapist. The therapist will help the family, as a whole, to heal.
  • Family guilty requires acceptance. A family member must accept what he or she has done to contribute to the problem, such as giving money to the person suffering from drugs. However, this means making a change, too. You do not want to be the enabler.
  • Finding solutions is necessary. Within families where substance abuse is a daily problem, it is often necessary. This may mean moving, committing to change or therapy.

For those suffering from substance abuse, the real fact is, it can happen to anyone. If your family is supportive and has the means to do so, getting help is the route to take. This provides an opportunity for all in the family to get past the guilt and to get closer to the happiness.

 

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The Dangerous Effects of Substance Abuse Among Medical Professionals

So take this frying pan — it’s sizzling with butter, right? Let’s call that your brain.

Add an egg to that pan — watch it crack and pop, the yolk turning hard and bulbous. Lovely…. And yummy. Guess what — that’s your brain on drugs. Questions? I thought not.

You remember that classic promo about drugs? It’s a no-brainer that such substances are a dance with death. And even more so if you’re a medical professional. Why?

This is the one field of work that requires your absolute best in reflex, confidence, and trust. Think about it — you’re entrusted with the lives and deaths of people everywhere. You could be the bridge between a patient making it through whatever health detriment and suffering serious consequences. Moreover, when you’re surrounded by tons of prescriptions, it’s really easy to succumb to the constant addiction of substance abuse, making it much less possible to get past it and come out on top. Something any California medical malpractice law firm would jump on and lick their lips.

Think of that frying pan and egg mixed with a little arsenic and iocane, and you have an even bigger recipe for disaster, making breakfast a date with the devil. You happen to be handling the welfare of medical practice, be sure you’re doing yourself a favor to stay away from everything contrary to that. Like drugs. It can not only destroy your life — but the lives of the patients you’re trying to help. Any questions?

 

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What is the Definition of a Drug User?

Many people assume that those who use drugs are just that, users. What they fail to understand is that it can be so much more than being a user. Our brains have tricky ways to turn on us, creating a dependency instead of just abuse. The underlying problem of the poor perception happens because there are no physical manifestations of a dependency, so it is much easier to write someone off. This is the biggest mistake many people can make when it comes to writing someone off as a lost cause to drugs.

There are two distinct definitions that differentiate between use and dependence. It is not possible for someone to be both a user and dependent at the same time, as they are both completely different diagnosis’s. Understanding how each works can help with dealing with the user. It also helps with deciding what steps to take to convince them that they need to get clean for their own sake and others. Knowing how deep the problem runs is key.

A user is defined by someone who takes reckless actions with a complete and total disregard for the safety of others. They do not care that they have a problem and have no desire to get clean. A user is absolutely aware of their problem, but continues to persist in poor behaviors such as fighting, abusing loved ones, and getting into trouble with the law. And that is the crux of the problem. They know they are addicted, know the toll that drug use is taking on them and others, and they just don’t care. Someone like this needs a full blown intervention. They need to be sat down, have the impact that they have created demonstrated to them with full emotions, with the goal being one of changing the user’s mind about their problem and getting help.

This is the dark side of addiction. Users are self absorbed and don’t feel a need to get sober. It is night and day to someone who is a dependent and wants to get clean, but can’t.

Filed Under: Helping Addicts Tagged With: , ,

Defining Someone Who is Dependent on Drugs

There are two definitions of drug addicts: users and dependents. They are two completely separate diagnoses and will not overlap with one another. The irony is that a dependent type will be much more mellow and less likely to strike out at others than a user. The user is a more violent personality and has no desire to fix themselves, whereas the dependent wants to be quit of their habits.

When someone is a dependent, they are much more conscious of their addiction. By the time they realize that they have become an addict, it is usually too late. The individual does not like the whole idea of it, but does not have the tools to overcome. Because they want to be free, they tend to go to more extremes than the user in terms of use. Self-detox will happen frequently with extended periods of time spent returning to their previous level of addiction. For the dependent, drugs are a viscious cycle that is hard to break.

Over the course of a year, a dependent will usually see their tolerance to their drug of choice increase. This means that they need more of the substance to get a fix. To that extent, they will go out and make more of an effort to get satisfied for some time. All the while they are fully conscious of what their brain is after and don’t know how to stop it. In fact, they will shun social gatherings or turn down the opportunity to have some fun with their friends in order to get a fix.

This type of addiction is easier to treat as the user has an ongoing desire to be free of the substance abuse. When they are offered a hand out of the misery, they take it gladly and put more effort into the process. Many times a dependent drug user lack the tools to get away from their problems, not knowing how to find them. Rehabilitation centers offer the keys to the locks to help someone become drug free.

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What Addicts Face When on the Road to Being Sober

A major issue for addicts to get sober is the withdrawal symptoms that they will have to face. Many would rather remain addicted than go through withdrawal. The period during which no drugs enter the bloodstream is rough indeed. It is a physical manifestation that is pure misery. Sweats, tremors, vomiting, hallucinations, all in the name of the brain wanting to get a fix. It truly is hell.

Withdrawal from narcotics is something of a topsy turvy thing. All of the issues that narcotics suppress come into play during the detox phase. The longer that the person was on, or if they were a heavy user, the worse the coming clean part is. Symptoms like anxiety come back to the surface and is worse than it ever was even before the user started. Irritability, sleeplessness, vomiting, these are just some of the many things that the user faces. Users who are on heroin will have these symptoms within 12 to 14 hours after their last hit. If they don’t get a hit right away, the misery starts and can last up to 14 days.

Truly none of this paints a pretty picture, which is why addicts will go to any length to avoid withdrawal. Life is downright miserable. The idea of being addicted is to escape the problems of life, not face them full on. There really is a price to pay for having a habit. This is why specialists will tell the addict that they really have to want to get clean, be strong, and be willing to deal with the withdrawal period. It takes a strong will indeed to stick the course and become sober.

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What Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Do?

Substance abuse counselors work with people who are seeking treatment for various types of addictions. Substance abuse counselors may assist families with interventions, work with those just starting treatment or work with those actively in treatment or recovery. Substance counselors may work with those that are addicted to alcohol, heroin, prescription drugs, cocaine or inhalants.

Counselors may work in outpatient treatment centers, inpatient treatment centers, churches, community outreach centers, hospitals or doctor’s offices. Most substance abuse counselors have at least a two year degree in alcohol and drug counseling, and adhere to a certain philosophy of treatment. These philosophies range from 12-step programs to cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Substance abuse counselors may provide individual therapy or group therapy to addicts. Counselors attempt to get to the root of the problem and assist the addicts in discovering why they started using drugs. Also, counselors may assist the addicts in learning to cope with cravings, desires and the challenges of staying clean and sober. Counselors should have some degree of empathy, some street smart awareness, knowledge of drugs and effects of the drugs on a human body.

Training to become a substance abuse counselor may involve taking classes in medical terminology, physiological effects of alcohol, behavioral strategies, impulse control, trauma therapy and counseling techniques. Other important aspects of substance abuse counseling training involve learning CPR and first aid. This can aid the counselor in dealing with medical emergencies related to overdose or withdrawal symptoms.

Substance abuse counselors may also choose a specialty population. Counselors may work with veterans, adolescents, homeless, mentally ill or the elderly. Along with knowledge of substance abuse they will have to specific knowledge about the population and how to properly assist them in changing themselves. Substance counseling can be difficult, but rewarding work. Empowering others to change their lives is a powerful feeling and many people stay in the profession for years and years.

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The Effects of Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the process of using either legal or illegal drugs that affect a person in a detrimental way. Substance abuse can mean abusing legal drugs, like prescription drugs or alcohol; or abusing illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Whether the drugs are legal or illegal, if a person is abusing the drug there are negative consequences. Substance abusers tend to act in ways that that can harm themselves physically, emotionally and mentally. Secondarily, their family and friends are also hurt by these actions.

While some substances are actually legal to use, using them to the extreme can cause such detrimental results that it doesn’t matter that they are illegal. If you drink a fifth of vodka daily, you are most likely having negative results physically and mentally. Your body will be suffering, and you will most likely have frequent illness and could be endangering your body every time you drink.

Also, abusing any drug is likely to cause you have to serious relationship problems with those that you love. You may be missing work, school or other important places just to use your drug of choice. This will call friction and anger from those that love you. If you tend to push people away from you, or stop doing things you love to do just to use drugs-you definitely have a problem and need help.

Unfortunately, no matter how much your family wants you to get treatment, it won’t happen until you are ready. You may not be ready now, you may not be ready tomorrow. Whenever you are ready you will need help from professionals and support from your family and friends. When you are ready for treatment you will have the option of attending inpatient or outpatient treatment. Doctors and local social services can refer you to different programs that can meet your needs.

Filed Under: Addiction Symptoms Tagged With:

Inpatient Versus Outpatient Therapy

If you or a loved one is suffering from a substance abuse addiction, you may not know what the first step of rehabilitation is. There are two main types of treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment. Both types offer help for those that are addicted to drugs or alcohol, but there are specific components of both types of treatment. Different individuals may need different types of treatment, or may even need both types at some point in their life.

Inpatient treatment is a type of treatment in which the addict is provided with 24 hour psychiatric and medical treatment. Usually patients will stay in this type of treatment for several weeks or months. Inpatient treatment may be voluntarily or involuntary, and may be in an open or a locked facility. There are doctors and nurses available around the clock at inpatient treatment facilities, and detoxification services are usually provided to the patient. This type of treatment is very structured, and often visitors are not allowed for a long period of time. Counselors offer individual and group therapy to all patients, with patients having a full load of sessions throughout their days and weeks in therapy.

Outpatient treatment programs are useful for those that must continue to work, attend school or take care of their family. These types of programs vary depending what the patient needs and what facility they use. Outpatient therapy usually consists of meeting a therapist for individual or group therapy a few times a week. This type of treatment does not usually address any medical problems or physical issues due to the drug addiction. This type of treatment is very flexible, more affordable and patients will learn how to manage their drug addiction while still dealing with their everyday lives. Outpatient therapy can last several months or years, depending on the needs of the client.

Filed Under: Recovery Facilities Tagged With:

Life After Rehabilitation

One of the most important things for you to consider when you decide to go into rehabilitation for a drug or alcohol addiction is that there is life after rehabilitation. Once you leave the rehabilitation facility where you overcame your addiction, your life is going to be in your hands once more, and you will be charged with taking the necessary steps to getting your life in order once and for all.

There are numerous steps involved in really getting a handle on your life once again following life with a drug or alcohol addiction and the subsequent rehabilitation. You will need to find a place to live and get a job that will allow you to support yourself. If you have not already gone to school, then now is an excellent time to consider getting a degree and finding a real career path. Individuals that have responsibilities are best suited for focusing and bettering themselves.

If you are working on bettering your life after spending some time in a rehabilitation facility, then you might want to consider an online university. An online course load will allow you to work for a living while supporting yourself. You can use services like EarnMyDegree.com to help you find the right course of action for your education and career future. An online school will allow you to get your life back on track because you will be able to attend classes on your own schedule and to work at your own pace until you are able to earn your desired degree. This is going to be the right type of learning for anyone that is focusing on a multi-faceted approach to overcoming a life of addiction or substance abuse.

You can pick up the pieces of your life and move on with the right education and the right attitude. Online courses will make it easier for you to get the help you need in starting over.

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What are Outreach Clinics?

Outreach services are provided to at-risk populations that need substance abuse services. These populations include veterans, homeless, and the mentally ill. Outreach services often provide the substance abusers with drug and alcohol services, and services to help them with their homelessness, mental illness or other social problem that they may have. These outreach clinics often employ doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and case managers.

Doctors and nurses are available to assist with assessment of medical and physical condition of the client. A substance abuser is often hard on their body, and many times there are secondary conditions related to drug use. The doctors and nurses will treat these issues, prescribe medication(s) as needed, and provide routine care to the patients that they may not otherwise receive. Nurses may also provide education about HIV, drug use and other public health issues.

Social workers in outreach clinics can help substance abusing clients with their other pyschosocial issues. This means assisting with housing, vocational issues, legal issues or any other issues that the client may need addressed. It is impossible to stay clean and sober if you’re life is in total disarray. Social workers help to empower clients to create the best environment for themselves as possible.

Psychologists can offer therapeutic services, like behavioral counseling, trauma counseling and cognitive therapy. Dealing with the issues that caused substance users to turn to drugs in the first place are important part of the recovery journey.

Case managers assist the other team members in making sure the client remains successful in their journey. The case managers follow-up with clients on a regular basis to ensure that the client stays clean and sober, has stable housing, has vocational goals and has positive social and healthy support. Case managers can also work with other agencies, like legal aid, Department of Human Services and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

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