Alcohol 12 Step Program Proves Human Touch Works In Addiction Treatment

With science trying to crack the key to addiction to find a simple solution to this complicated disease, will we ever get to the point where sufferers will simply be able to go to the doctor, be prescribed a pill, and pronounce themselves cured?

There certainly is a place for scientific research in the field of addiction and the results of a 2007 British report released by neuroscientist Jeffrey W. Dalley and several colleagues in ScienceMag found that rats with fewer dopamine receptors are more likely to exhibit impulsive behavior, including using cocaine.

However, alcohol addiction treatment needs to include something more than just looking at the science of what happens to a client’s brain before he or she seeks help at a facility. The 12-step model is still being used for one very good reason: it helps people get and stay sober.

Working the 12 Steps as Part of Recovery

The first step on the road to recovery for someone who starts going to meetings is to admit that he or she is an alcoholic. Making this simple statement is a very simple and powerful act, since it often comes in the face of years of denial and lies about there being a problem at all.

The meetings are intended to be a safe place, and anything discussed in that context is supposed to remain private. Members are free to share anything they wish about their past or current struggles, fears, hopes, and triumphs when they start going to 12 step recovery meetings.

Simply being in a room with a group of people who understand exactly what it’s like to be an alcoholic creates a type of mental shorthand between members. They already have something in common that they can start to build on.

Other Steps in the Process

As time goes by and clients feel ready, they can move through the other steps in the program to find spiritual truth, accepting one’s own character defects, making a list of all those who have been harmed because of drinking, asking for forgiveness, and more. .Everyone works through the list of steps at their own pace. Sobriety is a lifestyle, and it’s not a specific destination or a goal that a client can achieve.

Unfortunately, there is no point at which someone can be pronounced “cured” from his or her addiction. Recovery is a lifelong process, and clients can continue to attend 12 step programs as often as they feel is necessary to get the help and support they need.

However, the good news is that addicts will learn how to live without drugs or alcohol, and the other destructive character defects they used to cover up their addiction.  Addicts will learn how to live with increasing levels of peace and joy, while at the same time repairing the damage they have done to those they love most.

Watauga School Board Considering Drug Testing For Student Athletes

The Watauga School Board is considering a proposal which would allow random drug testing of student athletes attending a Watauga High School (located in North Carolina). If the policy is approved at the Board’s August meeting, it will take effect in September for the upcoming school year. Student athletes and their parents would have to sign consent forms before the teens would be allowed to participate in school sport programs.

The Board of Education would pay for the cost of the drug tests, and at least 5% of athletes would be tested each year. The tests would be performed to detect alcohol and controlled substances. They would also be ordered if an athlete is suspected of using drugs or alcohol.

Consequences of Positive Test Results

If a student tests positive on one of the urine tests for drugs or alcohol, he or she will not be suspended from school or reported to the police. The goal of the Drug Screening for Student Athletes Program is to provide assistance and counseling to students who are making poor choices, not to punish them.

The first time a student tests positive, a mandatory 15-day suspension from the team is imposed, and his or her parents are notified. If the student tests positive a second time, the suspension is 30 days in length. A third positive drug test would carry a full calendar year suspension from participating in sports.

Students with Drug and Alcohol Addiction Issues

At this point, a student is identified as having a serious drug problem. The ban on participation in sports will remain in place until he or she can present a certificate from a licensed drug counselor indicating that the student is clean.

Will this trend carry over and across the United States on a more massive scale?  Time will tell.

If you are located in the California area and your student athlete needs help overcoming a drug or alcohol problem, a California drug rehab center can provide the type of professional, caring support to help that a teen needs to get on the right track by helping the young person learn better ways to cope with the stresses of life.

The Above It All Treatment Center offers a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling to uncover and deal with the underlying reasons for the addiction. It also includes a number of sober activities to build confidence and give clients the skills they need to build a life in recovery, one day at a time.

Detox: The First Step In Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol and drug addiction detox paves the way for treatment by freeing a client from the physical effects of chemical substances. Going through this process creates a cleaner slate so that the real work of getting to the heart of the issue of addiction and why someone turned to substances to deal with stress or emotional pain can begin in earnest.

Medical detox involves helping addicts become clean and sober by providing a supportive environment during this process. Instead of giving up drugs and alcohol all at once (“cold turkey”), clients are able to wean off of them in a controlled manner. A detox program helps to keep him or her comfortable by controlling physical withdrawal symptoms.

Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

Opiates include morphine, heroin, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, and codeine. When someone who has been using the drug for some time stops taking it, he or she will experience some withdrawal symptoms. Early symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle aches
  • Sweating
  • Yawning

As the withdrawal process continues, the symptoms may change and a person may complain of:

  • Diarrhea
  • Goose bumps
  • Nausea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Vomiting

Detox centers are staffed by trained personnel who can monitor each client’s condition as they go through this necessary process. Supportive care is provided, and medications may be given to treat the anxiety, muscle aches, and cramping, if necessary.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after the last drink is consumed. They get worse over the next two or three days and may persist longer in some instances.

  • Anxiety/nervousness
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Nightmares

In some cases, alcoholics report feeling these types of symptoms while going through detox:

  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Sweating
  • Vomiting

Heavy alcohol users should not try to stop drinking all at once. Instead, they should get help from detox centers in California so that their condition can be monitored. When the condition turns into a severe form of withdrawal called delirium tremens, it can lead to these symptoms:

  • Agitation
  • Fever
  • Hallucinations
  • Severe confusion
  • Seizures

Find an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center

The staff at Above It All Treatment Center can provide caring, supportive care to clients who are going through detox. They recognize that each person being treated at the Center needs to be dealt with as an individual, and that there is no “one size fits all” approach to treatment. The staff works up a treatment plan to address each client’s needs and goals during his or her time at the Center once the veil of chemical substances has been lifted and the focus can be put squarely on getting well.

Prescription Drug Addiction: A Growing Problem That Must Be Taken Seriously

Many people see their doctor and get a prescription for a medication, which they take as directed. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, however, approximately 20 percent of people in the U.S. have used a prescription drug for a non-medical purpose. This type of behavior can open the door to drug abuse and addiction. The fact that the medication was originally prescribed by a doctor does not make it any less serious than if the person was using street drugs.

Prescription Drug Abuse Overview

The following prescription drug abuse facts were provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

  • Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the third most commonly abused substances by Americans over the age of 14. (Marijuana and alcohol are the two most commonly abused substances.)
  • Opioid painkillers, such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, followed by stimulants for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Ritalin and Adderall).
  • Sharing unused medications, such as pain relievers, with family members can contribute to drug abuse.
  • Drug abusers will crush the tablets so that they can snort the powder or inject it using a needle. This delivers the dosage into the bloodstream more quickly and provides a faster, more intense “high.”

Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Indications that someone may “need” a prescription drug to function include:

  • Increased dosage over time
  • Ongoing use, even after the condition being treated has healed or resolved
  • Spending a lot of time seeking medication, or visiting multiple doctors to get prescriptions
  • Change in personal appearance
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Being defensive about drug use

Be alert for changes in a loved one’s behavior after he or she starts using a prescription medication. Someone who develops a pattern of complaining of chronic pain after an injury should have healed or who starts “losing” prescriptions and needs to see the doctor to get a replacement written may be dealing with a different issue entirely.

Get Help for Prescription Drug Abuse

When a problem with prescription drug addiction has been identified, it should be dealt with promptly. These medications have the potential to cause serious harm to the addict’s health or even death if he or she does not get appropriate treatment.

The staff at Above It All Treatment Center have the expertise to provide supportive help to clients who are dealing with a prescription drug issue. They will devise an individual treatment plan designed to address each person’s needs, including a pain management plan, if appropriate.

Above It All Treatment Center Company Newsletter Vol. 1

It has already been a busy summer for us here at Above It All Treatment, as we have been hard at work redesigning our website to offer a more concise design and better experience for those visiting our site, seeking information, and are ready for consultation. In addition to redesigning our website, we have also been busy all over the web and in social media. As the summer goes along, expect to see more of a presence for Above It All across all platforms.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER

ANNOUNCEMENTS | AIA EVENTS | NEWS | EQUINE THERAPY PROGRAM

A Visual Tour of Our Facility

The area in and around Lake Arrowhead, CA — where our treatment center is located — is beautiful and pristine; so beautiful that we couldn’t help but take some great photos. We have made these photo galleries available online; to view our online photo gallery CLICK HERE.

Addiction Information

A new feature on our newly-revamped website is our “Addiction Information” area. This area is a wealth of information on various drugs, warning signs of their use, and resources for family members and friends that are struggling with an addicted individual. To browse through our Addiction Information area, CLICK HERE.

Join Us On Pinterest

We are on Pinterest! Join us on this social media platform where we share photos of Lake Arrowhead, inspirational photos, health living ideas, nutritious recipes, and more. To check out our Pinterest, CLICK HERE.

Kellers Peak Campfire

On May 23rd the Above It All group had a great time getting out and taking-in nature. We drove up the mountain to the fire lookout tower and climbed to the top of the tower — 8500 feet in elevation. After we came down off the tower, we got together in a group and we all talked for a while. The views were amazing in every direction. After our group, we did some swimming in the lake — water temperatures were quite pleasant. We had a campfire and a cookout as the sun began to set. After dark — literally in the middle of the National Forest — the stars came out, very bright, and we all relaxed and stargazed. Our Campfires are great treatments and are very relaxing for both our guests and staff.

Beach Trip and Upcoming Activities

On the 21st of last month we had one of our regular trips to the beach. . It is always interesting and inspiring to go to one of the big meetings down there, to see all the recovery that happens. We plan to do a big group trip to the beach once every three weeks from now on, so there will be plenty more memorable beach trips in the future. In addition to our beach trips, now that summer is here, we plan to put together more group activities and recreational activities for the future; these group trips are not only relaxing, but does wonders for the recovery process. We are currently planning a few hikes in the San Bernardino National Forest, we plan a hike to Deep Creek (a gorgeous hike), and hikes to other destinations around the area.

Get Well Pluto

A bit of sad news, poor little Pluto — our recovery center’s loyal dog — has a hurt leg. He got his little leg run over, and is limping and in a bit of pain. The vet, however, said that the leg was not broken, and he is getting better and better all of the time. Get Well Pluto!

Equine Therapy Program

We are pleased to announce our Equine Therapy Program is available now at our treatment center in Lake Arrowhead. Animal therapy is a powerful tool in treating any disorder, whether it be a physical ailment or psychological disorder. The interactions between a person and a horse comes very naturally, and the relationship between the two develops just as an addict has to re-develop a relationship with his/herself. Equine therapy is beneficial to both the equine and the recovering addict, and we are proud to use this technique in our recovery options.To view information on our Equine Therapy Program, CLICK HERE.

Lake Arrowhead Events

Fireworks Spectacular!
When: Thu, July 4, 9pm – 11pm
Where: Lake Arrowhead
Description: The annual 4th of July fireworks show presented by the ALA

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Le Grand Picnic
When: Sun, July 28, 3pm – 8pm
Where: Mountains Community Hospital
Description: A Lakeside Garden Affair at Mountains Community Hospital Rose Garden!

Get Away to a California Drug Rehab Center and Focus on Getting Well

Are you looking at options for a drug and alcohol treatment facility for yourself or a loved one? Dealing with this disease is not something that will happen overnight. It’s going to take some time. Making the decision to go to an inpatient program is an effective way to get to the root of the issue and develop a new lifestyle.

Lake Arrowhead Area Offers Numerous Benefits

The Lake Arrowhead area has a lot to offer clients who are in recovery. Checking into an affordable rehab center in this area will allow you or your loved one to spend time in a part of the country that is conveniently located 90 minutes from just about everywhere in southern California, including Los Angeles. Rehab centers offer more than just therapy sessions to clients, and there is plenty to see and do to complement time spent in therapy sessions.

Part of the recovery process is spent in enjoyable activities in the community. Since Lake Arrowhead is a four-season resort, clients can choose from a number of enjoyable activities. Boat and jeep tours are very popular ways to explore the great outdoors. There are plenty of opportunities to see live concerts. The Lake Arrowhead Trolley offers narrated sightseeing tours, including local history and movies filmed in the area.

Inpatient Treatment is Free from Distractions

If you look at the problem of addiction, it is someone trying to deal with pain by using a substance as an anesthetic.  Becoming a client at Above It All Recovery Center will mean a big change in dealing with the addiction. It won’t be possible to continue using drugs or alcohol, for one thing.

The staff at the Center are trained to help clients take a look at the underlying reasons for their addictions and to help them come to terms with them. Each client is unique, and an individual treatment program will be devised to meet his or her needs. This treatment model means that the client gets individualized attention, without having to deal with the stresses of everyday life.

Removing a client from the temptations from his or her everyday surroundings is also an effective strategy. The triggers which normally exist to drink or use drugs are no longer present. You or your loved one can focus on making a fresh start when you choose the Above It All Treatment Center.

Why Do An Intervention

Choosing to go ahead with a professional intervention is usually not the first choice a family makes when dealing with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. By nature, addiction can be difficult to spot, and the family may go through a period of denial about the seriousness of the situation. Denial is one of the classic signs of addiction, and the person who has the substance abuse issue is going to use denial and deflection as two of his or her tools to focus attention away from the real issue and keep the addiction alive and well.

Once the family realizes that it is dealing with someone who is an addict, they use the methods they are familiar with to try to get that person into treatment. These may include:

  • Reasoning
  • Arguing
  • Nagging
  • Pleading
  • Threatening

Some family members take a completely different view of the situation and may either ignore the issue or start enabling the addict. Neither of these are helpful, either.

Intervention Services Focus on the Family

When a family decides that they would like to bring in an interventionist to work with them, they are enlisting the help of someone who has the skills and experience to help their loved one admit that they need to get help. The family does not have to deal with the situation alone anymore.

During the months and years when an addict has been actively engaged in his or her behaviors, the family has had to deal with the consequences of that persons choices many times. It has been a costly experience, in time, money and in the emotional toll it has taken on everyone around the addict.

Choosing to conduct an alcohol and drug intervention means that the family gets to stop the emotional and financial bleeding.  It doesn’t mean abandoning someone who is willing to get help, though. It means that the family has decided to set some healthy limits on what it considers to be acceptable behavior.

The person who is struggling with addiction is presented with the opportunity to go to treatment. Ideally, arrangements have already been made so that all the loved one has to do is say,”Yes” and then he or she can leave right away. The opportunity to get well is presented in a non-confrontational way. This type of pattern for a California intervention has the best chance of success.

If Your Loved One Needs Help, Get It Now

If you are struggling with finding help for your loved one’s addictive behavior, contact Above It All Treatment Center online, or call us now at 888-997-3006.

Family And Recovery: The Importance Of Involving Family

Why does the addict’s family need to be involved in the progress?  It seems pretty clear that the addict, who has been abusing alcohol and or drugs and placing him or herself and family members in difficult situations, should be the primary focus of any treatment process.

But, this viewpoint holds the recovery of the addict in question back, although it still is possible to recover without the family’s assistance.

What about Addiction and the Family is So Important in this Process?

Unfortunately, one of the primary difficulties of treatment lies in helping the family understand that they engaged in behaviors which helped make the addiction possible.  This is a much different statement than assigning the family blame.  It’s just the way addiction works – everyone shares a bit of responsibility and can do something to help the addict better, including all family members.

Families provide “enabling” behaviors which allow the addict to continue his or her destructive behavior.  Some of these behaviors are common enabling behaviors families give to addicts:

  • Providing money to the addict for any reason, knowing it will most likely be spent on drugs or alcohol
  • Justifying the addict’s behavior as “only occurring once in a while”
  • Giving the addict too much love, figuring they’ll “get better in their own time”
  • Allowing the addict to drink or use drugs as long as they don’t do something too dangerous, like driving

The point is that these behaviors in family members allow the addict to continue their behavior, when it’s best for the addict to learn a clear line of what is acceptable and what is not.  Drawing a boundary and ceasing enabling behaviors like this helps the addict understand and find motivation for discontinuing their destructive behavior.

This is why family counseling and on-going support is so important.

It’s Difficult for Addicts to get Better Alone

For family members having a difficult time understanding why they need to be involved in the treatment process, it’s important to remember how difficult anything is to do alone.  They should recall a time where they tried to handle something without talking with other family members, friends, or other trusted individuals.  It’s never easy to do something alone.

The more support a family member can get in recovery, the more likely they are to have a successful recovery.  Above It All Treatment Center helps family members understand how to support their loved in a healthy way so they discontinue the destructive behavior and begin living a happy and peaceful life.

Sober Leisure Activities Part of Addiction Treatment Process

When clients are admitted to an inpatient treatment center to get help for their addiction to drugs or alcohol, they realize that they are embarking on a complete lifestyle change. To achieve long-term sobriety, they will need to be willing to let go of their old method of dealing with stress, depression or boredom, which was to get drunk or high.

Since a good portion of an addict’s waking hours are consumed with his or her addiction (thinking about using them, obtaining them, or recovering after using them), sober activities are used to fill in the time once taken up by the cycle of addiction. They help to provide structure for a person’s day. Boredom and being at loose ends are two things that should be avoided.

Examples of Fun and Sober Activities

Here are some examples of activities that would be appropriate for someone who is in recovery:

  • Go to the movies
  • Visit an amusement park
  • Go dancing
  • Go to a sporting event
  • Go for a walk or a hike
  • Spend time with nature
  • Go fishing
  • Go on a picnic
  • Visit a museum
  • Go to a concert
  • Sign up as a volunteer at a local organization
  • Join a gym
  • Sign up for a sports team
  • Read a book
  • Learn a new language
  • Take a course at the local college or university or online
  • Take an exercise class
  • Meditate

Not all sober activities involve being with other people. A person in recovery needs to be able to set aside some time for quiet reflection on a regular basis as part of the healing process. It will take some time to rebuild a recovering alcoholic or drug addict’s self-esteem, and each person will need to proceed at his or her own pace when deciding how many new activities he or she wants to take on after leaving the treatment facility.

At Above It All Recovery Center, clients are actively involved in a number of activities while in residence. Regular exercise is part of the treatment program, and clients can enjoy hiking, swimming and boating while working on getting well.  They will learn a new and healthier way of living life on life’s terms.

Preventing Relapse For Alcoholics In Early Recovery Requires Extra Vigilance

If simply making a decision to stop drinking was enough to treat alcoholism, treatment centers and 12 step programs would not exist. By the time a client reaches the point where he or she gets help, the decision about whether to drink has been taken away. The addiction is fully and completely in control.

Getting into treatment helps an alcoholic get sober, but the work of staying that way happens one day at a time. Recovery is not a place that a client ever gets to; rather, it is a state of being. There is no such thing as drinking “in moderation” for a recovering alcoholic, which means that the only acceptable level of alcohol consumption is zero.

 

Alcohol Treatment Programs Address Triggers

One of the features of Above It All long term treatment for alcoholism is the help and support to deal with triggers that may set off cravings to start drinking. These will be different for everyone, but may include:

  • Television commercials, ads or billboards featuring alcohol
  • Films or television programs depicting alcohol use
  • Being around people who are consuming alcohol
  • Driving or walking by a liquor store or bar
  • Listening to music with lyrics mentioning drinking (country music seems to feature this type of theme more often than other types)
  • Watching or reading news stories discussing health benefits of drinking wine in moderation

Recognizing these triggers and developing strategies to deal with them is part of the treatment program. For a person who is new to sobriety, the triggers can be particularly strong. A person in treatment needs to understand that he or she will experience cravings to pick up a drink and that something as simple as seeing a favorite glass, catching a whiff of alcohol, or thinking about a cold beer on a hot day may be enough to start an episode. Clients will leave the treatment program with a toolbox of strategies that they can use to head off a relapse before it starts.

One of the advantages of staying at an inpatient treatment center is being able to focus on getting well. Rather than immediately returning to “regular” life once the treatment is completed, sober living programs with Above it All give clients a time when they can live in a home-like setting. They can take the time they need to adjust to life in recovery, which is very often essential to them establishing successful long-term sobriety.