Top 10 Things to Prepare for Alcohol Intervention

Alcohol Intervention are meetings conducted by a small group of people who care and are affected who wish to persuade alcoholics to quit drinking. Before performing an intervention, consider these 10 things:

  1. Gather details. Make sure to plan every detail of the alcohol intervention including who will be involved, where, when it will happen, and most importantly, what will be said.
  2. Get a professional. Strongly consider using a professional versed in this sort of intervention. Intervention specialists can help the team understand the process and set up suitable treatment.
  3. Pick the best time. Timing is important when choosing a time for the intervention, so the alcoholic must be caught off-guard or when alcoholism has caused severe consequences in their life so that they are more open to change.
  4. Get everyone on board. Explain the process with care and identify how each of you will be supportive in the process of getting them to treatment. Let the alcoholic know this is about helping him or her.
  5. Be mindful of how to say it. Stay calm and speak with love and respect. Blaming, anger, or outbursts will derail the intervention and cause more harm.
  6. Be factual. Stay focused and stick to the facts. Present facts bluntly to illustrate the point that he or she needs treatment.
  7. Keep consequences at the forefront. Tough love is hard but it is essential to the process. Giving the alcoholic an ultimatum with no other way out forces them to make the right choice. If you wavier they will as well.
  8. Plan the execution. Make sure you’ve booked a reservation with a treatment center, arranged transportation, and have bags packed.
  9. Eliminate reasons for excuses. Make arrangements for child care, work replacements, or any other responsibilities that the alcoholic needs covered. These could come up as excuses not to consent. If their responsibilities are cared for, it takes away the excuse.
  10. Follow through and make it stick. Always follow through with established ultimatums and consequences at the end of the intervention.

In most cases, your hard work will make an impact. At the very least, the alcoholic will know that there are caring individuals in his or her life. Don’t give up if an intervention fails the first time. Sometimes, an alcoholic simply isn’t ready to quit drinking.

Above it All is an alcohol rehab center that specializes in helping individuals put their alcoholism behind them for good. Counselors are standing by at [phone].

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Chris Hardwick and the Challenge of Rebuilding a Life After Alcohol Addiction

Chris Hardwick learned the hard way that life is not just one big party. The comedian landed a job at the age of 22 as co-host of MTV’s Singled Out reality show, and seemed to have everything going for him. But after years of partying, fooling around, and alcohol addiction, the then 30-year-old realized he was not where he wanted to be in life. He was unhappy with his career, with his appearance, and with his personal life, and he knew he had to change.

2003 was the year that began Hardwick’s transformation. He began his alcoholism recovery, began to eat right and exercise, and focused on his health like never before. Today Hardwick is a successful comedian who has recently hosted several TV shows. One of his greatest successes has been as host of Comedy Central’s hit series, @Midnight, currently working on its third season.

The celebrity has much advice for those who are stuck in a rut, suffering from alcohol addiction and can’t see the way back to a happy and healthy life. Hardwick wrote about his life-changing decision to get better in his column on Nerdist.com in 2011. “You can turn your life around for the better. Honestly,” said Hardwick. “I was at a total dead-end with little hope of resurrecting a decent life. I humbly place my low point at your feet and tell you that if you’re thinking about making improvements in your life, TODAY IS THE DAY TO START. Quitting drinking, starting exercising, eating better, pursuing your passion, hugging more puppies–whatever it is. Don’t think about it. Just do it. Over-thinking the ‘hows’ and ‘why comes’ will put you in a never ending loop of inactivity. You have the power and ability to change the future with a simple ‘pro-you’ decision.”

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Heroin Use on Rise with Women and Wealthy

Heroin use increased 63% over the past decade. Correspondingly, there has been a rapid increase in heroin overdose deaths. The number of heroin overdose deaths nearly doubled between 2011 and 2013, and in 2013 more than 8,200 people died from the narcotic. Overdoses have nearly quadrupled since 2002, the officials said.

These findings were published in the July 7 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surprisingly, the biggest increases in heroin use in recent years were found in groups that typically aren’t expected to go near the drug, including women, people with private insurance and higher-income individuals, the report said.

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said, “Heroin use is increasing at an alarming rate in many parts of society. And the problem is being driven by both the prescription opioid epidemic and cheaper, more available heroin.” “It’s really a one-two punch,” Frieden said during a media briefing. “Those two factors are driving the increase, and will drive the strategies we need to pursue to turn this around.”

“This expansion of heroin use can be largely chalked up to an earlier wave of prescription opioid drug abuse, including such drugs as Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet”, said Brad Lander, an addiction medicine specialist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The majority of opioid prescriptions have been prescribed to women and wealthy with private insurance.

CDC officials stated that states can play a leading role in reversing the heroin epidemic, by increasing access to substance-abuse treatment services. The CDC urged states to also make prescription-monitoring programs easier for doctors and pharmacists to use. States also should review their Medicaid and workers’ compensation programs to identify trends of inappropriate prescribing, the CDC said.

“In the meantime, addiction treatment — rather than law enforcement or new legislation — will be the best way to minimize the harm from heroin abuse”, Lander said.

At Above it All Treatment Center our alcohol and drug addiction treatment approach empowers individuals to immerse themselves in life, and overcome their addictions in the process. Counselors are standing by at [phone].

Athletes and Addiction

Professional athletes handle many pressures such as being in the spotlight, the pressures of performance, and huge pressures from sponsors and advertisers. It’s no wonder they think they are immune to the dangers of alcohol and drug addiction. The “I can handle it” attitude has brought many an athlete to addiction. This attitude coupled with the immediate availability of nearly anything they could think of is a dangerous combination.

As these players carry the burdens of the game, the dangers and pressures of the party atmosphere might seem quite minor. Truth be told, addiction has affected many athletes. Athletes such as, Thomas (Hollywood) Henderson, Lawrence Taylor, Jennifer Capriati, Darryl Strawberry, Diego Maradona, Andre Agassi, Jon Daly, Len Bias, and Theo Fleury.  More recently Johnny Manziel, Michael Phelps and Randy Gregory’s have had drug and alcohol issues.  Each of these athletes has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to their addiction.

One thing that these athletes have in common is their competitive streak, which can keep them from asking for help. They look at asking for help as a weakness. Alcoholics and addicts are plagued with the thinking that they are unique and special and that they can handle it. Asking for help isn’t part of the identity athletes construct for themselves and have others build around them.

These athletes could benefit from a shift in thinking. Addiction is a health issue, not a moral issue. Elite athletes have to take great care with their bodies, as their bodies are their instruments and their source of income. They spend many hours each week in training, practice, fine-tuning, and caring for their instrument. If they can lessen the odds, there’s a greater chance of actually enjoying the success that they’ve worked so hard for. After all, addiction is a not a game that can be won.

Above it All is a comprehensive addiction rehabilitation center committed to helping individuals and their loved ones understand addiction and gain mastery over it. Intake counselors are available right now. Call us today [phone].

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How a Professional Intervention Can Help

According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, about 90% of professional interventions facilitated by a trained, professional facilitator result in treatment for addicts and alcoholics. If you’re concerned about an addicted loved one, this is good news. It means you can play a personal role in helping your loved one get well, especially if an experienced interventionist is involved. While getting into treatment is no guarantee for recovery, it’s a good start, and many have recovered from addiction as a result of alcohol or drug rehab. A professional interventionist can help manage the emotions that inevitably arise during an intervention and guide it to a successful close.

When to Call a Professional Interventionist

Before a professional intervention can take place, families must come out of denial about the truth of the addict’s situation. Getting clear about the need for expert help is important. Here are a few signs for when to call in a professional:

  • Your loved one’s substance abuse is causing problems in multiple areas of his or her life – including  financial, professional, school, health, legal or marriage – yet he or she continues to use and drink
  • Your loved has failed in the past at quitting drugs or alcohol alone
  • An intervention that did not employ an intervention professional failed
  • You’re ready to employ tough love, compassion and consequences to help your loved one.
  •  Your loved one has recently displayed suicidal behavior
  • Your loved one is taking several mood-altering substances

It’s true that one-on-one interventions sometimes work. You can gain the full attention of your loved one by sitting him or her down for a quiet talk, and a non-confrontational style sometimes takes the negative charge out of what can be a challenging situation for an addicted individual. However, pressure from a group of individuals who care about the addict or alcoholic can also be a powerful motivation for getting help and should be considered a strong option for facilitating a loved one’s recovery, especially considering the statistical evidence for success.

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Can One-on-One Interventions Work?

A drug addiction intervention is typically thought of as a structured confrontation involving a group of family members and friends who come together to facilitate the recovery of a loved one. According to the Mayo Clinic, the ideal number of individuals on the intervention team is 4-6 individuals plus a professional facilitator. The goal is to help the addicted individual find his or her way to a rehab center and embark on a course of treatment. The team cites specific consequences if the individual refuses to enter treatment, and members of the team may go on to seek treatment for themselves through programs that address codependency.

On the other hand, one of the most common ways to help an individual reach treatment is through one-on-one interventions, in which a family member, close friend or co-worker sits down with an addicted individual and asks him or her to stop abusing drugs or alcohol. This form of intervention has both its benefits and its challenges.

Benefits and Drawbacks of a Personal Intervention

A drug addiction intervention that occurs between an addicted individual and a close friend or family member is usually impromptu and doesn’t allow time for planning. If someone says “yes” to treatment and there are no suggestions for where to go or what beds might are immediately available, the moment may be lost and the individual may shut down completely to the idea of rehab. In addition, without planning, it’s easy to say the wrong thing out of anger or with other emotional tones that could place a wall between the individual who needs treatment and the treatment he or she might need. Even if there is a planned script and ideas about treatment centers in a one-on-one intervention, one person alone may not hold enough weight to convince someone to enter rehab.

Nevertheless, a drug intervention between the addicted individual and one person can work. Team interventions typically put someone in the awkward position of having to admit the problem and make a decision for or against treatment on the spot, whereas in a one-on-one intervention, an addicted individual may feel more comfortable responding to someone’s concern and even asking for help. It’s also easier for one person to maintain his or her calm while trying to intervene. Emotions can run high in a group intervention, and it may be hard to reign them in.

For best intervention results, it’s best to consult with a professional before attempting a one-on-one intervention, in order to determine appropriate language and course of action.

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Fleeing Reality Describes the Life Of An Addict

Particular circumstances may differ in the life of an addict, but the desire to escape reality by using alcohol or drugs is consistent across the board. Addiction knows no bounds in terms of age, gender, economic status, geographical area, religion or ethnicity. Addicts can be found in the most elite country clubs as well as on the dirtiest of streets. They can be wearing Gucci and diamonds, or they can be wearing soiled rags. They can be model perfect, or they can be common and plain. They can be Muslim, Christian, Jew or atheist. Despite outward appearances, the inward reality is the same. Addicts drink alcohol and use drugs because they don’t like the way they feel, and they want to escape their feelings and alter reality. They choose to do so with drugs or alcohol because it works. It works until it stops working. As dependence grows into addiction, the substance begins to take over. The substance is in control of decisions and actions. As the disease of addiction progresses, addicts enter into a life of guilt, shame, deceit and despair, putting their lives and the lives of people who care most into a chaotic whirlwind.

Life of An Addict Leads To Betrayal And Chaos

When alcohol or drugs take control, they become a priority. Any kind of moral character addicts may have falls by the wayside as they behave in ways they would not otherwise. They become unreliable in terms of showing up for work on time or meeting their friends for dinner or taking their spouses to a special event. They feel sick and hung over, so they lie to their bosses and families. They spend all of their money – and sometimes money they have stolen – on obtaining  more alcohol or heroin or meth or whatever their drug of choice. They suppress their guilt and shame by drinking or using even more, and they blame others – often their closest family and friends – for their behavior. The life of an addict is full of anxiety, fear and despair, which they attempt to cover up by still more substance abuse. Help and hope comes with the willingness to seek the help they need.

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Lesser Know Ways Families Enable the Addict

Familiar ways of enabling the addict include taking responsibility for his or her bills or other obligations, providing shelter and food for the person who refuses to work and uses instead, and making excuses to others for the addict’s poor behavior. By engaging in these common enabling behaviors, we allow our loved ones to avoid the results of addiction, and the addict or alcoholic has less motivation for recovery. Standing back and allowing a family member or dear friend to suffer the devastating outcomes of addiction is painfully difficult. But sometimes, it’s the only way an addict can come to the kind of low point required for making difficult changes. Being aware of even the more subtle ways of enabling the addict may be important to your loved one’s recovery.

Lesser Known Ways to Enable the Addict

  • Exaggerating or embellishing your own past behavior to diminish the addict’s guilt. If you’re apt to say something like, “I was just like you at your age,” or “If you think that’s bad, here’s what I did when I was drinking and using,” you may be enabling the addict by providing justification for your loved one’s behavior. While we don’t want our addicts to feel bad about themselves, we do want them to know their behavior is hurtful not only to themselves but to others. Stay away from your own drinking and drugging stories and focus on what you’ve done to improve your situation.
  • Repairing common property broken by the addict. If the addict has broken a piece of property he or she owns with you, it’s tempting to fix it, since it’s partly yours. But this is a way to enable the addict. For instance, if the addict has run over a garden along the driveway of a house you own together, it makes sense to take care of it. On the other hand, letting it remain in disrepair may be a good reminder for the addict every time he or she drives into the driveway. Let the addict do the repair.
  • Providing rewards for recovery. Sometimes addicts relapse chronically in order to get the attention and rewards that come from returning to recovery. When someone enters recovery or comes back after a relapse, it’s best to acknowledge the courage it took but without fanfare or material rewards. Let the outcomes of recovery be the addict’s reward.

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Practicing Forgiveness in June for Addiction Recovery

For those in addiction recovery, June 26 is officially marked Forgiveness Day. While drinking and abusing substances created many opportunities for resentment, in recovery the potential for forgiveness is one of the most valuable spiritual principals. All religions hold the power of forgiveness in high regard, however working a program of recovery doesn’t mean you have to be religious to benefit from the restorative power of this kind of compassion.

There are stages of being ready and willing to forgive, and making a journey through sobriety, coming to terms with the past and letting go is an important process. While each person is unique and will have their own experience with forgiveness and acceptance, it’s imperative to begin making steps toward this practice in daily life.

One of the most important tools in addiction recovery is letting go of resentment. In confronting resentment it’s important to be objective and evaluate the role we play in our own resentments- how we fuel them, what we do to inadvertently hang onto them when it isn’t helpful or effective.

By taking a close look in this way, it’s possible to see how resentment only hurts the person holding the resentment. By holding a grudge, feeling bitter or intolerant and carrying those feelings and attitudes around on a regular basis, stress and strain begin to impact our own experiences with life. It’s really a no- win situation.

In the moments where we recognize that the resentment isn’t benefiting anyone, and search for a different solution, the spirituality of this principal takes place. Instead of sitting in the stiff, uncomfortable feelings, letting go and practicing tolerance of others and self will inevitably yield a kind of forgiveness, even for the toughest of resentments. Take the time this month to see the transformative power of forgiveness in your life, and the benefits of working a strong program of addiction recovery.

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Mastering the Monster is Part of Understanding Addiction

Promises for a “cure” are never given, but we do promise to help our clients learn to live fully beyond drug and alcohol use. Addictions are, quite frankly, monstrous. Understanding addiction means looking at it from scientific, social and even spiritual viewpoints.

Psychiatrist Gerald G. May described addiction in this way:

Addiction is not something we can simply take care of by applying the proper remedy. For it is in the very nature of addiction to feed on our attempts to master it.

The monster of addiction takes over lives, our minds and our families. It requires vigilance and the right armor to keep it from insidiously reappearing. Addictions don’t miraculously go away. But preventative steps for relapse can be taken. This is partially what Dr. May refers to, this somewhat perpetual nature of addictions. There is no one cure all, no one magic pill or potion.

Although Dr. May spent much of his professional life working with those with chemical dependencies, his didn’t limit his interest in addictions to just substances, such as drugs and alcohol. He felt that to understand addictions of all types, including sex, work, and obligations, it was important to recognize the intent behind addiction.

Addiction seeks to assert control over a person’s life. Complete control. If you have an addiction, or are in recovery from one, you recognize just how encompassing the control was. The next drink, the next drug. The monster of addiction works to feed only itself.

Dr. May’s view of addiction as an individual’s will and desire being enslaved by compulsion, obsession or preoccupation didn’t (during his professional years) include current research on neurobiological changes in the brain caused by drug and alcohol abuse. As a psychiatrist and a theologian, he wrote in terms of mental health and spirituality. Research now shows that another monstrous effect of addiction is the resulting changes in the brain’s structures.

Above It All is here to help individuals and their loved ones understand addiction and gain mastery over it. Intake counselors are available 24/7 to help guide you towards a new, fulfilling life of recovery.

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