Transformation of Addicts

Kory Avarell describes the transformation of addicts who enter his 60-day rehab programs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYKgzWc5dcg

Kicking Suboxone

Above it All Treatment Center near Los Angeles California kicking suboxone for 8 days straight got him to think about blowing up his house – video interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCfOrm8rkC4

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Hallucinogens Trip You Up By Distorting Reality In A Dangerous Manner

Hallucinogens are a specific type of drug that interfere with the way in which a user perceives reality. When someone is under their influence, they may see, hear, or feel things that don’t really exist. These experiences make it difficult to think clearly. A person who uses one of the drugs in this classification may have intense emotional experiences as a result of the hallucinations experienced while under the influence of the drugs.

Types of Hallucinogens

Some common types of hallucinogens are:

• Mushrooms

Street names for mushrooms include magic mushrooms, magics, shrooms, liberties, and liberty cap. Approximately 190 species of edible mushrooms contain psilocybin, the chemical which causes hallucinations.

• LSD

LSD (lilysergic acid diethylamide) is made from lysergic acid. It is found in the ergot fungus which grows on rye and other grain products. This odorless, colorless drug is known as acid, dots, heavenly blue, loony toons, purple heart, tab, and zen.

• Mescaline

This hallucinogen is a naturally-occurring substance that can be found in certain types of cactus plants. It is known as buttons, cactus, mesc, moon, peyote, and topi.

Dangers of Using Hallucinogens

The problem with using hallucinogens is that no one can predict in advance what kind of “trip” he or she is going to have. If the hallucinations are pleasant ones, the experience may actually be enjoyable. A bad trip may lead to episodes of:

• Hallucinations with frightening images, such as insects crawling on a person’s skin
• High levels of fear or anxiety
• Panic, which leads to the person taking action to get away from the perceived threat, such as running out into traffic
• Feeling that the person is “losing it”
• Paranoia

Violent outbursts or suicidal thoughts or actions are rare, but can occur while under the influence of this type of drug.

Find a Substance Abuse Treatment Program

If someone you love has been experimenting with hallucinogens, don’t take a “watch and wait” approach to the problem. It’s not going to get any better on its own. Your loved one may benefit from a 30 day rehab treatment program or a longer-term stay at a treatment center where he or she can break free from the psychological hold of these types of drugs.

Checking out of reality is not the way to deal with stresses of modern life. Checking in to a drug addiction treatment program is a much better choice. Clients get a personalized program to meet their needs, along with support to help them achieve (and maintain) sobriety.

10 Inspirational Quotes To Stay Positive And Sober

At times, it can be challenging to stay motivated to stay the course on the journey of sobriety. These inspirational quotations may help you or a loved one to maintain a positive attitude on what will be a lifetime process:

1. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. – Robert Collier

2. The best way out is always through.- Robert Frost

3. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Confucius

4. “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.” – Bucky Sinister, Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos

5. “I personally believe this: We have only today; yesterday’s gone and tomorrow is uncertain. That’s why they call it the present. And sobriety really is a gift… for those who are willing to receive it.” – Ace Frehley, No Regrets: A Rock’n Roll Memoir

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6. “There is no better high than discovery.” – Edward O. Wilson

7. “Be grateful. These feelings, no matter how painful, are part of living. Today, we are alive—not anesthetized, not sedated, not passed out. Take control of your feelings and through action you can change. Today, as every day of sober living, we have a choice.” – Ann D. Clark, Women & Recovery: Sex, Sobriety & Stepping Up: Practical Suggestions for Quality Living in Recovery

8. “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day. When I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on the problem, the problem increases. If I focus on the answer, the answer increases. “-Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

9. “Change your behaviors and your feelings will follow.” – Susan McManhon

10. “Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals.” –Henry Ford

Support an Essential Part of Recovery
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Even the best recovery program will not be effective without follow-up care and support for the client. A person who has struggled with addiction is never “recovered” but being “in recovery” is something that he or she will need to work on every day. Family and friends can provide encouragement to stay sober after the alcohol or drug addiction treatment program has been completed. The person in recovery will need to use every resource at his or her disposal to maintain this positive new way of living, but it will definitely be worth it.

Have you struggled with drugs like opiates, cocaine, meth, or other substances? Maybe staying away from alcohol is a battle for you. You’re not alone! If you’re having a hard time staying clean and sober, that doesn’t mean that your recovery is over. If you’ve stumbled and need to get back on track, we really want to help you. Reach out to us a non-judgemental, motivating member of our team will contact you to help get you back on the road to the life you want and deserve.

Call us at (877) 574-0177 or submit this quick form. 

Adding Spice To Your Life Can Be Harmful To Your Health

“Spice” is a type of herbal mixture that produces an effect which is similar to marijuana. It is on the market as a safe, legal alternative to cannabis, but it is anything but safe. The synthetic marijuana is popular with high school students and is easily accessible by young people in this age group.

This drug contains dried plant materials and chemical additives. The chemicals used in the mixture have placed Spice on the list of Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, since they have no medical benefit and “have a high potential for abuse.”

Street Names for Spice

Spice is also known by the following street names:

  • K2
  • Fake weed
  • Skunk
  • Spice gold
  • Moon rocks
  • Yucatan fire

The drug is sold in head shops and convenience stores. In most cases, it is provided in small foil packs but may be offered in small glass jars. The spice may be labeled as incense or potpourri.

Effects of Spice Use

The effects of using spice vary, depending on the person and the exact type of drug used to make up the compound, but may include:

  • Abdominal cramps
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Hallucinations
  • High blood pressure
  • Rigidity
  • Paranoia
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting

Spice addiction is a very real possibility with repeated use. Drug abuse should always be taken seriously, and the designer drugs added to spice are not a harmless, natural substance. If you suspect that your teen has become dependent on spice, he or she needs professional help.

Find a Recovery Program for Spice Addiction

To break free from the cycle of addiction, your loved one’s best chance for success is to go to an inpatient substance abuse treatment center. In this supportive environment, he or she can learn how to live a sober life. Each client gets an individualized treatment plan, which may include attending 12-step program meetings, seeing an addictions counselor, attending group therapy sessions, or meeting with a therapist.

Other parts of the program may involve going on outings, participating in exercise classes, or spending time in reflection. All of these are important parts of the healing process and moving into long-term recovery.

There’s no “right time” to get treatment for addiction – take action now.  Your loved one’s life depends on it!

Whip Its: A Party Drug That Creates A Dangerous High

87613320_v3Whip-its are small metal canisters found in restaurants. They are used to recharge whipped cream cans. They can also be used to ingest compressed nitrous oxide, which is commonly referred to as “laughing gas.” This is the same compound used an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery. People who are looking to get high inhale the laughing gas because of its euphoric effects. It’s not at all uncommon to see many individuals in detox programs who have used whip-its on a chronic basis.

 

Other Street Names for Whip-It

Whip-its is the most common street name for this type of inhalant. Other names are:

• Laughing gas (nitrous oxide)
• Snappers (amyl nitrite)
• Poppers (amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite)
• Whippets (fluorinated hydrocarbons, which are found in whipped cream dispensers)
• Bold (nitrites)
• Rush (nitrites)

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, organic nitrates may be sold to customers in small brown bottles. They may be labeled as “liquid aroma,” “leather cleaner,” “video head cleaner,” or “room odorizer” to disguise their true contents.

Effects and Dangers of Inhalants

Since the laughing gas is used as an anesthetic, it tends to slow down the body’s functions when ingested. If it is inhaled in a high enough concentration, it will produce an effect which is similar to being intoxicated. The effects are very short-lived, lasting only for a few minutes.

Some users will extend their high over several hours by breathing in the gas repeatedly. Over time, the person will lose his or her inhibitions and will feel less in control. If the use continues for a long enough period, the person can slip into unconsciousness.

Sniffing highly concentrated inhalants can result in heart failure or death. In some cases, a fatality can result from a single episode of sniffing whip-its by a healthy young person.

Find Help for Whip-Its Addiction

If someone you care has been using inhaling these types of chemicals and you are concerned that he or she has developed a whip-its addiction, extended treatment may be necessary to deal with the problem. This issue is not something you can afford to ignore.

Sleep Deprivation Can Set The Stage For Drug Addiction

Lack of sleep is an all-too-common problem in modern society. As we rush from one activity to the next, all too often we sacrifice getting the rest we need to cram more “stuff” into our already jam-packed schedules. This would be a mistake, since sleep deprivation (failing to get at least 7.5-9 hours of sleep per night) leads to the following behavioral effects:

• Stress and anxiety
• Depression and irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lower creativity level
• Impaired motor skills

Prescription Medications for Sleep Deprivation

Prescription medications, such as Ativan (lorazepam) may be prescribed as a short-term solution to a person who is having difficulty sleeping. This medication is part of a group of drugs called benzodiazepines and may be used to treat anxiety disorders.

Ativan is not meant to be taken over a long period of time, as this medication is addictive. Patients who are prescribed the drug should read the instructions carefully and only take the dosage as directed by their doctor. It should only be taken by the person for whom it was prescribed.

This medication should not be stopped all at once. A patient who has been taking Ativan who wishes to stop using the medication should discuss his or her plans with the doctor. The dosage may need to be slowly lowered over time to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

Signs of Ativan Addiction

Indications that a person may have developed an Ativan addiction are as follows:

• Cravings for the drug
• Restlessness or tiredness
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Sweating without engaging in physical activity
• Tingling sensation throughout the entire body
• Rapid heart rate
• Memory loss
• Panic attacks
• Hallucinations
• Nausea
• Vomiting

How to Safely Dispose of Unused or Expired Medication

If one of your goals is to get organized and de-clutter your home, be sure you add your medicine cabinet to your list of spaces requiring your attention. If you can’t remember the last time you disposed of any unused or expired medication, it’s time to go through these items to ensure you don’t have any possible hazards lurking in your home.

Prescription medications have a specific shelf life. After a certain point, they will no longer be as effective at treating the condition for which they were prescribed. Everyone has been guilty of not finishing a prescription given to him or her by a doctor, for whatever reason. In some cases, the medication did not provide the expected results or it produced unwanted side effects. In any event, the prescription bottles with the unfinished prescriptions end up in the cabinet. In some cases, they may sit there for years.

Medicine Cabinet Contents Pose a Health Hazard

You may not consider the contents of your medicine cabinet as possibly contributing to drug abuse, but addiction to prescription medication is a growing problem. While it may never occur to you to take a medication that has been prescribed for someone else, a family member may be experimenting with drugs or already have developed a dependency on a particular one.

The best thing you can do is to keep a close eye on the medications you are currently taking and clean out your medicine cabinet to dispose of other drugs safely.

Dispose of Your Unused Medications Properly

• Do not dispose of medications by flushing them down the toilet unless the instructions specifically state that this is the preferred disposal method.
• Contact your local pharmacy or household recycling service to ask about community drug take-back programs in your area. You may be able to bring the unused prescriptions to a central location for proper disposal.
• If there are no community take-back services available, remove the medication from its original container. Mix with used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The idea is to make the pills undesirable to someone who may come across them in your garbage. Place them in a sealed plastic bag or an empty can and then put in a large garbage bag for disposal.

If You Have Questions About Prescription Drug Abuse

Cleaning out your unused or expired medication is the responsible thing to do. If you find that after you have completed this task, you are missing pills from your current prescriptions or other events lead you to believe that you have an addict in the family, don’t wait to get help. Call us at 1-888-997-3006.