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.
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.
Substance Abuse Treatment – LSD
An important aspect in substance abuse treatment is the education of the drugs that are being abused. It is helpful for an addict to understand what they are putting into their body and the short and long-term health effects it can have. A quality drug treatment center will provide both a therapeutic healing environment and an educational area as well. LSD is not the most popular drug abused these days but it is very harmful.
Short-term effects of LSD use begin within a few minutes after use and can last as long as 12 hours. LSD affects the central nervous system. Sight and hearing can be affected as well as the sense of taste. It causes an increase in blood pressure, kilated pupils, nausea, chills and fever, numbness, and rapid heartbeat.
This psychoactive drug can affect the memory as well. Long-term memory is exceptionally clear and strong, although short-term memory is almost non-existent.
Long-term effects of LSD use are most often manifested in flashbacks. All of the short-term effects of the drug are experienced all over again. This can happen even if no LSD has been taken for months. Use by pregnant women can cause birth defects or even miscarriage. Some heavy users are characterized by apathy, no interest in the future and very little patience or ability to cope with frustrations. They also run the risk of developing chronic psychosis.
Capstone and New Roads Merge!
Capstone Counseling and New Roads Treatment Centers are proud to announce that we have merged to become one of the largest, fully licensed and privately funded addiction treatment facilities in Utah. We boast a team of seasoned therapists and administrators who are experts in working alongside the courts to insure that clients receive affordable treatment in a timely manner.
We now accept insurance and are able to provide a broader spectrum of services, which include:
• Evaluations:
• Drug and Alcohol
• Domestic Violence
• Mental Health
• Residential (Inpatient) Treatment
• Outpatient Treatment:
• Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
• General Outpatient (GOP)
• Basic Drug & Alcohol (BD&A)
• PRIME For Life (DUI class)
• Medically Assisted Detoxification (Suboxone, Vivitrol and other helpful medications available)
• Educational Classes:
• Theft (Level I & II)
• Anger Management (Level I & II)
• Parenting
• Thinking Errors
• Life Skills
• Appropriate Sexual Conduct (Level I & II)
• Domestic Violence Course
• Individual and Family Counseling
* Classes also available in Spanish and funding may be available
NOTE: There is possible funding available for all services provided through the Access To Recovery (ATR) County Funding Grant. Please have your clients contact us as soon as possible and prior to their sentencing date to ensure compliance with the courts and to expedite the process.
We are currently accepting new clients. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Drug Treatment Tips – Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are drugs that are related to male hormones. Anabolic steroids are connected to muscle building, and androgenic steroids are connected to increased masculine characteristics. These drugs are available only by prescription.
The reason an individual would be prescribed these drugs is to treat low levels of testosterone, a hormone found in males. These drugs get abused among the young adult population and athletes who use steroids to increase body mass and improve their performance.
Side effects of illegal use can include liver tumors, jaundice, high blood pressure, and severe acne. Men can experience infertility, development of breasts, shrinking of the testicles, and baldness. Women can experience growth of facial hair, deepened voice, and changes in or stopping of the menstrual cycle.
Getting Them Into Treatment: Talking to Your Child About Drug and Alcohol Rehab
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.
What to Expect in Residential Drug Treatment
Deciding to enter a residential drug treatment program can be a frightening choice. Not knowing what to expect from an inpatient program is often what keeps addicts from seeking help.
The most important thing to know is that residential drug treatment is a choice. Even if the treatment is court ordered, the doors are not locked, and patients can leave whenever they choose. Drug addiction help only works if the addict is willing to get clean and sober. The surprising and telling truth is that even though addicts are free to leave, almost all end up staying for the full treatment.
The first stage of residential drug treatment is detox. Detoxification includes a set of interventions aimed at clearing toxins from the body and safely and comfortably managing an individual through acute intoxication and withdrawal. The process is managed by board certified physicians and round the clock nursing. Patients are more likely to complete their detox if withdrawal symptoms are minimal.
Therapy is a major component to treating drug addiction, and most hold counseling and group therapy sessions regularly. These sessions are designed to teach life skills and help the addict recognize situations where drug and alcohol use may occur. Once these are recognized, the addict can learn coping skills for those situations, or how to avoid them all together. Family involvement is also essential so that family members can learn the dynamics of drug addiction and help with the addict’s recovery. Since drug addiction affects the entire family, this type of therapy also allows family members to heal.
Quality programs focus on the underlying causes of addiction and education is critical to the addict’s success. The process tries to get the addict to look at drug and alcohol use honestly and realistically so they can change their attitude about drug and alcohol dependency.
Aftercare is extremely important to success once the patient leaves inpatient rehab. This care may include intensive outpatient treatment, residency in a halfway house, attendance at 12-step meetings or weekly check-ins with counselors.
Addiction to drugs or alcohol has one of the highest relapse rates of any disease. It often takes more than one visit to rehab for an addict to get completely clean and sober, and relapses are not unusual. By learning what happens when an addict enters rehab, some of the fear can be alleviated so that they are more willing to get the help they need.
For more information about residential drug treatment, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
New Roads Treatment Center provides drug and alcohol treatment for young adults
New Roads Treatment Center offers a fully-integrated continuum of care, tailoring treatment to meet each client's specific needs from detoxification to residential drug treatment to supported housing and outpatient drug treatment. Our approach is holistic and age specific drug treatment that focuses not only on drug and alcohol rehab, but also on dual-diagnosis mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and attitude.
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for more news and information.
New Roads Extended Care Drug Rehab Program Snowboarding Trip
What a beautiful day on the mountain! New Roads extended care drug treatment clients were able to take full advantage of the snowboard park at Brighton Ski Resort up Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The day started out with the community’s morning reflections group. Everybody was in a great mood anxiously awaiting the beautiful scenery that can only come from finding peace during drug rehab in Utah. After stopping for one of Utah’s famous breakfast burritos it was up to the mountain resort for half pipes, rails, and a ton of snow!
The community was accompanied by Life Coach and recreational drug treatment counselors Peter Busch and Jessie Dennerline. Clients formed groups based on experience level so that experience fostered the community to bond. After a high energy morning full of a variety of runs a group lunch at the mountain lodge was great for recharging everybody. A few more runs in the afternoon and no injuries(yay) and everyone was ready for a nice cup of hot chocolate and the trip home.
The next trip can’t come soon enough!