Why Going Out of State for Drug Rehab Can Be Helpful
A lot of thought goes into choosing a drug and alcohol treatment center for yourself or a loved one. It can be a daunting task. One of the first questions you should ask yourself is, do I want to find something close to home, or is going out of state the right option for me? The most important thing is finding the right treatment center for you and your needs. Not choosing a program that could be perfect for you because it is out of state is robbing yourself of the opportunity to live a sober life.
When seeking help for an addiction, one of the most vital moves you can make towards your sobriety is leaving an environment that has proven to be harmful to your health. Finding a treatment center out of state can give you, or your loved one the chance to “start over.” Staying close to home to receive treatment means staying close to many familiar triggers that have attributed to your addiction. If you were to go on a recreational pass, seeing familiar areas where you have used drugs and alcohol before can be a risky reminder of that usage too soon, and could sabotage your recovery.
Drug treatment is an unknown, and sometimes scary endeavor. If you are worried about the possibility of walking out after a few days, because you don’t think you can handle it, an out of state treatment facility could make that a lot more challenging. You may think twice about leaving early, when you know you have to make a flight reservation to get home. For many, that added step is enough to keep them there for the long haul, and then headed down the road to recovery.
Another issue of going to treatment out of state is being away from loved ones. While it may be hard, it is ultimately one of the best ways to focus on yourself and work on healing and recovery. For some people it is hard to focus purely on yourself, but doing so can help everyone around you to lead a better, happier life. Being away from home will help you focus on your goals without distraction.
What makes a real friend to an addict?
If you are the friend of someone who is battling an addiction, the last thing they need is your judgment. Instead, what addicts want to know is, “What makes a real friend?” You can prove that you are there to support your friend through this difficult time in their life by taking advantage of some suggestions, knowing the common mistakes to avoid, and utilizing helpful aides.
Suggestions
- Be there for your friends when they need help with their addictions. Allow them to talk, but don’t force your opinions on them, and don’t judge them when they open up and share their guilt, fears, and sorrow with you.
- Be sensitive to their emotions. You might not have ever faced drug or alcohol addiction, but your friend is on an emotional roller coaster right now that you need to respect.
- Be patient. You may need to hear the same stories over and over until your friends can overcome their frustrations. Let them tell what they need to tell and don’t interrupt.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t tell them not to take it so hard. This makes it seem as though their addictions and problems aren’t a big deal. Instead, take an honest attitude that expresses that you know this is a horrible time to be going through.
- Don’t take a diversionary tactic. If you call your friend to make sure he’s alright, don’t talk about meaningless small-talk subjects like sports or the weather. Be brave and confront the real issue at hand.
- Don’t be afraid if your friends cry. Tears are a healthy way of expressing negative emotions. In fact, tears can physically cleanse a body by carrying toxins out with them. Be the shoulder they need to cry on.
Helpful Aides
- Keep in touch. Giving an addict “space” may seem like the right thing from the outside, but to the one battling their addiction, this feels like abandonment. Always let your friends know you are there for them.
- Help in some real way. If your friends are having a hard time coping, give of your time to run an errand for them, bring them dinner, or help in another way. Don’t allow yourself to become a crutch for your friends, but give them the support they need to face another day.
- Encourage a new beginning. You can’t allow your friend’s habits to continue if addiction is taking over their life. Hold an intervention or suggest treatment, even if you fear an angry retaliation.
For more information about starting down a new road to a clean and sober life, visit www.newroadstreatment.com. We provide the professional help your friend needs right now. After your friend’s successful rehabilitation, when they ask themselves, “What makes a real friend?” the ones who helped them get the treatment they needed will be at the top of their list.
Choosing an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center
There are thousand of alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers out there, how do you know which one right for your loved one? New Roads Treatment Centers gives parents the questions to ask to know if they are choosing the right alcohol and drug abuse treatment center.
Have more questions about choosing a alcohol and drug abuse treatment center? Ask us on Twitter and Facebook.
Providing Funding for Rehab: New Roads Foundation
New Roads Treatment Center is a facility that provides effective treatments for young adults facing drug and alcohol addiction. The goal is to create a nurturing culture where all can feel welcome and able to grow into the best people they can possibly be, which is only realistic without addictive substances in their life. One of our main goals is to provide treatment that is not just effective, but affordable as well. If you are looking for financial means to get your son or daughter the help they need, look no further. The New Road Foundation is now offering funding for rehab in the form of scholarships that pay for part or all of the treatment costs.
The Foundation is just getting started and currently extends financial assistance to New Roads patients, but we plan to expand to other facilities in the near future. Scholarships are made possible by donations that are made to the Foundation by caring friends and family of those affected by drug and alcohol abuse as well as everyday folks who simply want to make a difference.
Donations to the New Roads Foundation don’t go un-thanked. In fact, those who donate a certain amount are given a thank you gift in the form of a delicious cheesecake! This is the method of thanking donors because the Foundation also features a catering service. A graduate of the New Roads Treatment Center program runs the catering portion of the Foundation. All the food is cooked in the New Roads kitchen, and anyone in the area can place an order from the catering service. Every cent of revenue goes to the foundation to further add to the pool of funds available to give out as scholarships.
New Roads Catering offers both entrées and desserts. Examples of delicious meals you can order include jambalaya, baked pork chops, chicken Alfredo, and pork ribs. Desserts include homemade pies, a cookie tray, pound cake, and chocolate-covered strawberries. By choosing New Roads Catering, you get the food you need for your event while helping to fund an incredibly good cause.
We are constantly trying to solve issues that need more attention, such as the cost of rehab treatment. This new Foundation is our way of providing funding for rehab to a greater number of patients that need help with their addictions. To learn more about our treatment centers, visit www.newroadstreatment.com.
Rehab Activities – New Roads Camping Trip Overview
At New Roads Treatment Center, we believe in providing young adults with positive rehab activities so they can enjoy the simple beauties of life and learn that living drug-free has a great deal to offer. From July 25-27, 2011, New Roads clients were taken on a camping trip into the beautiful Utah Rocky Mountains. About 30 young adults took part in the trip, and it was a true success for everyone involved. Here is a general schedule of what they participated in and how we believe it benefited each client.
Monday was travel and set-up day. We left the center at 2:00 p.m. and set up camp at 3:00 p.m. Everyone was given free time to enjoy themselves in the fresh mountain air from 5:00-7:00, and we all ate dinner together until about 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday began with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. From 9:00-9:15, clients were administered their prescribed medications, and shortly after, the clients had their choice of going on a rousing hike or hitting the lake to go boating from about 9:15-11:30 a.m. Simply being outdoors is great for alleviating mental health problems like stress and depression, but participating in something active like hiking and boating is even more beneficial. People of all ages respond positively to being in natural surroundings, and combining socialization and physical activity is even better.
After the clients returned from hiking or boating, we ate lunch until 1:00 p.m. For the next two hours, the client had their clinical, which was hosted by the treatment team. Then, at 3:00, the clients participated in wood carving. This constructive activity is great for mental health because it shows each individual what they are capable of creating with their own two hands. Free time from 5:00-7:00 p.m. was granted to the campers, who were their choice of activities, such as boating and fishing. Dinner in the form of a roasted pig luau was held from 7:30-8:30. We ended the evening with a campfire meeting from 8:30-9:30 p.m.
Wednesday was our final day to spend in the mountains. Breakfast was followed by a morning hike and golf. Lunch was at noon, and we broke camp at 1:00 p.m. By 3:00, we were heading back to New Roads with uplifted spirits and a sense of camaraderie that was stronger than when we left just two days earlier.
It’s the implementation of unique rehab activities like going camping that help New Roads to be so successful at helping those struggling with substance abuse. To find out more about what New Roads is doing to stand out from other treatment centers, visit www.newroadstreatment.com.
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12 Steps of Addiction Recovery
12 Step Programs for Addiction Recovery are one of the best ways that young adults can overcome drug and alcohol abuse at an early age. Most young adults struggling with addiction don't think they have a problem, so they refuse to seek help. Parents have to do whatever they can to get their child into treatment. Take action early, prepare for the rough road ahead, and empower yourself by learning what to expect with drug and alcohol treatment.
When talking to your child about rehab, it's important that they realize that treatment is the only option.
New Roads Treatment Centers Accepts Insurance
New Roads Treatment Centers accepts most common health insurance plans. We have insurance professionals on staff ready and willing to answer any question you have about your insurance benefits. Getting drug treatment for you or a loved one is an important decision both emotionally and financially. We understand the stresses and concerns that come along with this decision and are here to make the admissions process as simple and comfortable as possible.
Our drug treatment center offers a continuum of care starting with our detox facility. Drug detox is normally 5-10 days in length and is covered by some insurance plans. We have a 24/7 medically monitored on call nursing staff. Our 90-day residential drug treatment center is focused for young adults 18-28. Our masters levels therapists meet with every client 1-2 times a week and conduct a variety of therapeutic groups. Our extended care program is also for young adults. We provide sober living along with day drug treatment. Clients learn to take what they have gained from addiction rehab and apply it in real world situations. Clients transition from the safe confines of a drug rehab facility into jobs, school, and all of life’s stresses.
Psychological & Physiological Drug Treatment
Psychological or behavioral dependence refers to a person taking a chemical to satisfy a feeling or an emotional need. This can be to cover up a traumatic event or to stop an emotion from overtaking the moment. It is described as a craving. Usually psychological dependence appears with physiological dependence, but that is not always the case. This is the essential difference between an addict that has a disease and an individual that is a heavy substance abuser or is just chemically dependent on a drug.
Psychoactive chemical addicts use drugs to get pleasurable and desirable psychological effects. This can be the high of a cocaine binge, the euphoria of painkillers or heroine, or the numbness or loss of inhibitions of alcohol. After some time though, as with any drug prescribed or not, they may only use the chemicals to avoid the withdrawal symptoms caused by their physiological dependence. Most of the chemicals that are used by addicts cause not only a physiological dependence.
Both physiological and psychological dependence must be present to classify an individual as psychoactive chemical dependent, but not always an addict. Often people are prescribed psychoactive chemicals for a medical condition, and they are used properly and in the correct dosage. However, a person can become dependent because they like the psychological effects that are gained from the use. This is when the drug is being abused and drug treatment must be used in order to help with the chemical dependence.
Treatment for these issues starts with a drug detox center. The poisons must be properly removed from the body so that the mind and spirit can become stable and the recovery process can begin. Drug treatment centers use a variety of therapies and methods to effectively treat the emotional and dependence issues of each client. Many times there is a dual-diagnosis situation with addicts where they are suffering from a mental health disorder along with the substance abuse disorder.
Psychoactive Substance Abuse Treatment
Psychoactive chemical abuse is a faulty adaption pattern of behavior in which the use of chemicals has lead to some damage or pain within a twelve-month period. One of the following must be present within this time frame.
Substance abuse which is repeated and results in inability to meet responsibilities at work, home, or school.
Substance abuse which is repeated and has led to legal problems such as arrest.
Substance abuse which is continued in sprite of repeated problems of a social or personal nature.
Psychoactive chemical use is different from abuse in that it only occurs once. It can produce harmful effects and can lead to psychoactive chemical abuse or dependence.
Just like chemicals, behaviors can become an addiction. If you add some sort of mind altering effect to the behavior then the addiction can take over as a survival need as farm as the brain sees it. Drug treatment for an addiction such as this is very similar to that of any other substance. It needs to be tailored to the individual but the basis remains getting to the issue behind the addiction and learning new behaviors and coping mechanisms.
Disease Model for Substance Abuse Treatment
Elements of the disease model of addiction are:
- addiction is a biopsysocial disease
- a genetic predisposition to the disease has been proven
- tolerance to drug is built up
- addicts and alcoholics who have family histories of addiction show more antisocial behavior
- psychological addiction occurs before physical addiction and is present long after detoxification
Elements of psychological addiction are as follows:
- psychological primacy—the need to get drugs is the most important thing in life. It is survival.
- Self doubt—being able to function is not possible without drugs
- Relationship to the drug—life is not worthwhile without the drug
- Inability to abstain—cannot stop using the drug caused by cravings, preoccupation with the drug, remembering how good it felt and feelings of frustration and depression when not using
- Inability to control the amount used
Additional elements of the disease model are personality changes and conflicted behavior.