Find Recovery Editorial Team, Author at Find Recovery

What is a Sober Personality?

Drug addiction is an all-encompassing disease that can take over our brains, causing us to do, say, and think things we normally never would, and can lead us to forget who we were before drugs. Depending on how long a person has struggled with substance abuse, they might have started believing that who they are intoxicated is who they are and always have been.

So while we’ve all heard of a drunk personality, which is the way you act when you’re intoxicated, what about a sober personality? Let’s look at just how much drugs or alcohol can change how we act–if at all–and why sober you will always be the best version of yourself.

Can drugs change your personality?

Yes, drugs and alcohol can alter your personality. Being under the influence can make you a little more outgoing, a little flirtier, or possibly more aggressive in the short term. A significant reason is that drugs can affect the brain in a way that lowers inhibitions slows reaction time, and interferes with general cognitive function.

However, those differences in personality might not be as major as you might think. The main reason for any significant difference in personality is not because of the drugs themselves, but socially, many people find intoxication as an excuse to engage in behavior they know would otherwise be inappropriate or acceptable.

Then there is the influence that media has on our perceptions of how to act while under the influence. Seeing intoxication modeled through pop culture can also shape how we think we’re supposed to behave.

What is a sober personality?

A sober personality is simply who you are when you are not under the influence of drugs; your default state of being. For those who have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, the idea of who they are while sober can leave them with a bit of an identity crisis. Odds are that you’ll find that your personality “changes” (since the differences between you when you are intoxicated and your normal self are mostly perceived) for the better.

5 ways how to be sober

Now that we have convinced you that you do not have to be scared about who you turn into if you no longer drink or do drugs, let’s talk about ways to be sober. First, let’s tackle the hulking elephant of a question: what does it mean to be sober? The definition of sobriety is simply abstaining from indulging in a mind-altering substance.

Know your triggers: Understanding why you drink or use drugs is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success when getting sober. Do you use them recreationally so that you feel more comfortable in social situations? Or perhaps to cope with the stressors of home life? Once you’ve identified these things, you can start to develop alternative plans for dealing with them that don’t involve drugs.
Ditch your old ways: Your environment and the people you hang around can influence your behavior–including drug use. Avoid people, places, or situations that you associated with using drugs. By taking yourself out of those situations, you lower the chance that you could be tempted into a bad decision or doing something simply because it’s familiar and comfortable.
Find a support network: Addiction can be an isolating experience, that’s why one of the cornerstones to doing so is to surround yourself with people who will encourage you and–most importantly–keep you on track if you falter. These are people who will check in on you, try to keep you occupied and motivate you when you feel discouraged. Your support group can include people who have been through addiction or those who haven’t. All that matters is that they have your best interests at heart and want to see you succeed.
Start exercising. Getting physical can do wonders for your body and mind. Exercising releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, all of which boost your mood and help you to replace drugs or alcohol as the main source of things that make you feel good. Exercising also offers the benefits of improving your sleep cycle, the basis of a balanced lifestyle upon which better decisions can be made.

If you or a loved one wants to get sober but isn’t sure where to start, you can find support from your peers at Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Join one for free and hear from others who have been in your shoes. Find a meeting near you today.

Alabama: Ranked Highest Among Opioid Prescription Rates

Well before COVID-19 shook our world upside down, the United States was—and still is—in the grip of another public health crisis: opioid abuse. This complex and multifaceted issue has been dubbed the opioid epidemic. Unlike other drugs which often have a specific user base, opioid users can vary greatly by gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and geolocation. However, Alabama has demonstrated how severe this issue is and garnered national attention for being the first state to ever have more opioid prescriptions than residents.

Learn more about Alabama’s opioid usage and how it compares to the rest of the country, why Alabama is the state with the highest opioid prescription rates, and how such a thing could happen in the first place.

Alabama Opioid Statistics

Alabama first took the top spot for prescription opioid use in 2012 with 143.9 prescriptions per 100 residents—that’s 1.4 prescriptions for every adult and child in the state. As of the most recent data from the Alabama Department of Mental Health, that number has been decreasing but Alabama continues to lead the nation in this disturbing statistic.

While the number of dispensed opioids is indeed lower, according to 2020 CDC data the state of Alabama still experienced an increase in opioid overdose deaths of more than 20%. In 2021, overdose deaths were up 31% (an increase largely attributed to the pandemic that quickly broke state records) and led to Alabama having one of the highest increases in overdose rates in the country. The primary culprit, state authorities say, is fentanyl overdoses by users who don’t know they’re using fentanyl.

Below are several other statistics that highlight the depth of the opioid crisis in Alabama:

Over 91,000 Alabama residents have had a substance use disorder (approximately 2.45% of the population)
92% of Alabama residents who need addiction treatment haven’t received treatment (2014)
27% of Alabamians report transportation as being a barrier to seeking treatments—many must travel to a different city, country, or state (2021)
Fentanyl caused the most opioid overdose deaths in 2016 and 2017
Opioid-related deaths accounted for every 8.6 per 100,000 Alabama residents (2017)
Males between 15 and 54 years old experience twice as many opioid overdose dates than females (2017)
50% of drug-related deaths in 2017 involved opioids
14 of the 15 Alabama counties with the highest opioid prescription rates are rural (2017)
Rural county residents are 87% more likely to receive an opioid prescription than those in metropolitan areas (2021)

What Is the Opioid Crisis?

Since the 1990s, nearly half a million Americans have died from opioid overdoses (the number of deaths in 2019 is quadruple those of 1999). This class of drugs, which is derived from the poppy plant and includes both natural, semi-synthetic, and fully-synthetic derivatives, includes the likes of popular illegal street drugs such as codeine and heroin.

However, there are a great number of opioids that are legal and used for medical purposes such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. It is the latter group that is at the heart of this latest wave of the opioid crisis.

What caused the opioid crisis?

Opioids are highly effective pain killers, which doctors use to treat both acute and chronic pain. Unfortunately, these doctors vastly underestimated the addictiveness of the opioid analgesics they prescribed and many patients unwittingly found themselves hooked even when using as prescribed.

The result? A tsunami of innocent people who had used medication for pain relief (or other medical issues), found themselves addicted to those painkillers. Once their prescriptions ran out, many of them turned to illicit street drugs to fulfill their newfound cravings.

These drugs, often counterfeits of the prescription these individuals had once used, were made in clandestine labs which put users at the risk of contaminated compounds or drugs that were much more powerful than the legal pharmaceuticals they were using. In 2017 over 47,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose and 1.7 million met the criteria of having an opioid use disorder.

What prescription drugs have opiates in them?

The most commonly prescribed prescription opioids are:

Vicodin (hydrocodone)
Oxycontin (oxycodone)
Percocet (oxycodone)
Opana (oxymorphone)
Kadian (morphine)
Avinza (morphine)
Codeine
Fentanyl
Hydromorphone
Tapentadol
Methadone
Tramadol

Where to Find Alabama Drug Addiction Support

Opioid abuse is a serious, but treatable condition. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction in Alabama, you can find a peer-based, Narcotics Anonymous support group in a city near you.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/rxawareness/information/index.html

Benefits of Florida Addiction and Recovery Centers

There are more than 40 million Americans that are 12 or older, who meet the criteria of having a substance use disorder, a situation that the government has dubbed a crisis. Fortunately, more and more institutions are rising to meet this challenge and curb this public health issue. There are now over 14,000 addiction treatment facilities throughout the country in every state. The hard part is not figuring out how to get help, but deciding where to go. If you’re in this boat and trying to determine where to go to rehab, here’s why you might want to consider a Florida addiction and recovery center.

4 Benefits of Rehabs in Florida

A change of scenery is always a great idea for a person struggling with substance use disorder. In addition to taking you out of the environment where your drug abuse took place, going to rehab in a different state can be beneficial for your motivation and focus on recovery. Florida is a natural choice, it is repeatedly ranked as one of the most popular destinations in the United States.

Boasting top-notch entertainment, nature, and cuisine, there’s something for everyone in the Sunshine State. However, being a tourist’s top pick isn’t a reason to consider rehabs in Florida, nor is it why it’s considered the rehab capital of the world. Proven experts in the addiction treatment industry, Florida has the facilities, experienced staff, and auxiliary support services to help anyone struggling with addiction.

Reputation for effectiveness

Florida leads the addiction treatment industry in cutting-edge technology and innovative treatment options. There’s even an addiction treatment model named after the state, which has gone on to be adopted throughout the country.

The pinnacle of the Florida model involves having separate treatment facilities for addiction treatment and housing. Patients attend therapy and counseling in a facility during the day but reside at non-facility-owned establishments which can feel more comfortable and welcoming.

The Florida model also differs from the traditional rehab approach which houses patients for 28 days and then returns them back to their “real” lives. With a greater emphasis on peer support and community involvement, many patients who complete their programs eventually become peer leaders in the addiction treatment space.

Lots of options to choose from

With a high capita of treatment centers, you can find all sorts of different addiction treatment facilities in Florida. There’s no shortage of options with rehabs that accommodate different budgets and lifestyles. There are luxury rehabs that offer five-star amenities that more closely resemble a resort than a medical facility. There are those that specialize in serving LGBTQ+ patients, and others that are faith-based and cater to a specific religious group. Whatever niche you can imagine, there is probably one in Florida.

Another benefit of the aforementioned Florida model is that various institutions offer varying levels of care, which make it easy to create a bespoke addiction treatment program that best suits your unique needs. The close geographical proximity to so many other drug rehabs can make it possible to cherry-pick different facilities for inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient care.

Supportive recovery community

One of the greatest benefits of choosing rehabs in Florida is the expansive recovery community. Sober living communities, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous groups are abundant. Many of those who come to Florida for treatment chose to remain here, adding to an understanding and open-arm population contributing to the recovery oasis as dubbed by the New York Times.

Attractive location

One of the biggest obstacles to helping addicted persons get the help they need is motivation. However, Florida’s adjacency to gorgeous beaches, water sports, and palm trees can go a long way to overcoming a person’s resistance to going to rehab. A desirable location can convince a person to see their treatment through, or agree to get help in the first place.

Another major draw is that Florida is home to several popular destinations including Miami and Orlando. There’s a plentitude of activities on any given day, which can provide a much-needed distraction to someone in recovery.

Addiction Recovery Options for Florida Residents

If you currently reside in Florida and aren’t sure which drug rehab to go to, you have a great resource in your neighborhood. Attend your local AA or NA meetings to connect with individuals who have been in your shoes and can share their addiction treatment experiences with you. Odds are that some of them have been to a drug rehab in-state and can help narrow your search.

True or False: All Narcotics are Addictive

In 2020, there were 40.3 million Americans over the age of 12 who met the criteria of having a drug addiction, nearly 15% of the population. These high numbers are the result of various circumstances that have converged to create a health crisis that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down: People are more stressed than ever (re: COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, world affairs, American politics, gas prices) and the potency of drugs keeps getting stronger.

At the heart of the addiction epidemic are narcotics, a category of drugs that includes both legal and illegal varieties–and some of which are the most addictive substances on the planet. They account for up to 80% of all drug overdose deaths, approximately 50,000 a year. Are all narcotics addictive or is it only certain ones that drive these scary statistics?

What Are Narcotics? [DEA Definition]

The term stems from the Greek word “to make numb” but there are a few definitions of what a narcotic is floating around. Some use it negatively to refer to all drugs of any kind (an international assembly held in 1961 called the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was focused on cannabis and cocaine), but this definition is less prevalent. Others, primarily those in the field of medicine, use narcotic as a neutral term to refer to drugs with pain-relieving or numbing properties, or that put users in a state of narcosis.

However, most modern definitions of narcotics align more closely with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s, that a narcotic is any type of opium derivative, pharmaceutical or illicit, natural or synthetic. In short, narcotic is just an alternative name for opioids.

Narcotic Drugs List

Narcotics include natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic derivatives of the poppy plant. Many of these types of narcotics are likely to sound familiar to you as both illegal and legal varieties of opioids are widely used. However, there are likely many more that you haven’t heard of (there are over 100 types of prescription opioids alone)! Below are the most common narcotics:

Buprenorphine
Codeine
Fentanyl
Heroin
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Meperidine
Methadone
Morphine
Oliceridine
Oxycodone
Opium
Tramadol

Some of these narcotics are used alone, but many of these substances are combined with other chemical ingredients to create medications like suboxone. Prescription narcotics are blamed for having resulted in the deadly third wave of the opioid epidemic that is currently gripping the nation.

Are All Narcotics Addictive?

Yes, all narcotics have the potential to be addictive. Some carry greater addiction potential than others, but opioids are powerful mind-altering drugs that might result in addiction. Heroin is a narcotic and is considered to be the most addictive drug in existence. According to SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, there were 2.7 million people 12 and older who had opioid use disorder in 2020 (approximately 1% of the U.S. population).

Illicit synthetic opioids are often the most potent and therefore, are the most addictive. Fentanyl, for example, can be 100x more potent than morphine and has significantly higher addiction potential.

Why are narcotics addictive?

To better understand why narcotics are so addictive is to look at how addiction happens in the brain in general. To summarize a very complex situation, addiction occurs when brain receptors become used to a certain foreign substance activating them and eventually stops producing the naturally occurring neurotransmitters the brain would normally produce to activate those receptors. This creates what’s known as physical dependence. When a person gets to this stage but tries to stop using drugs, they’ll experience unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects known as withdrawal.

People often inadvertently get themselves in this situation because drugs have a powerful means of encouraging their repeated use. While drugs are activating brain receptors and gearing the brain towards physical dependence, they simultaneously activate the pleasure or reward centers in the brain. Your brain likes pleasure and will actively seek out things that make it feel good. This is what ends up developing into psychological dependence, and is what’s most responsible for causing drug users to develop a tolerance that eventually gives way to full-blown addiction.

Narcotics are extremely adept at both aspects of the addiction equation. They trigger the release of high levels of endorphins so strongly that addiction can occur within a single use. Many narcotics activate the reward centers of the brain more so than other types of drugs.

Getting Help for a Narcotics Addict

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, you’re not alone. There are thousands of Narcotics Anonymous groups across the country helping people just like you. Find an NA group in your city today.

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35325/NSDUHFFRPDFWHTMLFiles2020/2020NSDUHFFR1PDFW102121.pdf

https://drugabusestatistics.org/

Understanding “White Knuckling” in Sobriety

Odds are you’ve heard the term quitting cold turkey before, which means abruptly stopping something instead of slowly tapering off. It is unanimously advised against in addiction recovery circles as being both dangerous (this is how you end up with nasty withdrawal symptoms) and oftentimes ineffective.

A similar and equally ill-advised approach for addiction recovery is something called “white knuckling”, meaning that a person tries to overcome addiction alone and solely through willpower. You can imagine someone metaphorically strapping in for a rough ride and holding on for dear life, resulting in the ‘white knuckles’ that the term is named after. Here’s why white knuckling sobriety is almost guaranteed to fail (and what you should do instead):

Why White Knuckling Doesn’t Work

White knuckling solely relies on the person’s willpower to help them overcome addiction. If you follow the 12 Steps, you’ll recall that Alcoholics Anonymous specifically addresses that willpower is not enough for a recovering alcoholic to achieve sobriety. That same willpower is the one that got the person into their problems in the first place and is clearly flawed when it comes to regulating alcohol control (learn more about Step 1 of AA).

It’s not a matter of willpower

The glaring problem with this approach, whether you are a follower of AA or not, is that ultimately, addiction is not a disease of willpower. Addiction is a chronic medical condition that is just as valid as anything else you’d find in a medical textbook. No one would reasonably expect anyone to try and power through diabetes or cancer, which are also chronic diseases. The rationale behind white knuckling is more in line with the (now outdated) model of addiction from the early 1900s which viewed substance abuse as a moral failure.

The Dangers of White Knuckling Sobriety

White knuckling is dangerous as well as ineffective, here’s why:

Unsupervised withdrawal

White knuckling means that a person is also going through withdrawal without assistance, some side effects of which can be deadly. Even if you’re not willing to enroll in an addiction treatment facility just yet, at least consider going through detox, where medical staff offers round-the-clock supervision to help you safely pass through withdrawal.

Higher odds of relapse

When a person goes to an addiction treatment facility, their program will include seeing a mental health professional that will help them uncover the root cause of their addiction, identify triggers, and teach healthy new coping mechanisms. Without that emotional support, white knucklers are ill-prepared to deal with the realities of life after addiction and are essentially walking a tightrope without a safety net.

Relapsing itself can be extremely dangerous because during the period a person abstained from drug use, their tolerance may have decreased considerably. If they consume drugs in the quantities they’re used to, they put themselves at significant risk of overdose.

Alternatives to White Knuckling

Failing to address the psychological causes behind addiction can put a person at an increased risk of relapse. Here are a few ways to get that support for those who are reluctant to commit to going to drug rehab:

Taper off drug use

White knuckling and quitting cold turkey aren’t synonymous, but it’s not unusual for them to coincide. As such, do not abruptly stop using drugs in your effort to get sober. Purposefully taper your dosage to a smaller amount over a period of weeks to allow your body to gracefully adjust. This will reduce the likelihood of withdrawal effects and ease the severity of any symptoms you end up experiencing–in turn, minimizing your need for professional medical intervention. When you eventually get to the point of stopping use altogether, it’s strongly recommended to do so in a detox rehab anyways for your safety

See a therapist

You don’t need to be a patient of a formal addiction treatment facility to receive the benefits of therapy or counseling. There are many mental health professionals that specialize in helping those who struggle with substance abuse. They can help undo the psychological dependence you’ve developed on our drug of choice and teach you the skills you need to masterfully navigate the temptations or cravings you will inevitably experience.

Find a support group

Numerous studies have shown the importance of a support network in the addiction recovery process. It provides motivation, accountability, and distraction. Whether or not you are open about your substance use, you can find confidential, judgment-free support by attending AA meetings or NA meetings. Find one near you today to connect with others who have been in your shoes.

The (Alcoholics Anonymous) Resentment Prayer

Battling alcoholism means confronting your fair share of negative emotions. A common one is resentment–resentment towards loved ones who “let” you drink, resentment towards work or a person for stressing you out, and resentment towards yourself for letting things get out of hand. It’s such a pervasive issue that the Big Book of AA talks calls it the “number one offender” for destroying alcoholics. If you struggle with placing blame on others, join us in breaking down the meaning of the Resentment Prayer and how to apply it to your own life.

What Is Resentment, and Why Does It Matter?

Resentment is defined as “a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.” In short, feeling that you were wronged and treated unfairly and being unable to let it go or forgive. It’s a poisonous feeling that can make us feel self-righteous at the moment but irreparably harm our relationships with others and ourselves.

It’s something that many recovering alcoholics grapple with but can be highly detrimental to their recovery process. Why? Having feelings of resentment is in direct opposition to the core principles of AA: accepting personal responsibility for a drinking problem, getting rid of pride, and relinquishing control.

Not only are such feelings harmful to our mental health, but they are tremendously unproductive. It is similar to holding a grudge, but it only hurts you in the long run–the person you are upset with is usually oblivious to how you feel. Continuing to blame others for your own actions or shortcomings can signal that you’re not in the right mindset to move on to the other steps of AA and gain their full benefit.

Signs of Resentment

Unable to stop thinking about the source of insult for long periods of time
Passive-aggressive behavior
Avoiding the person to prevent negative emotions
Desire for revenge

The AA Resentment Prayer

The 4th Step Resentment Prayer of AA, page 552 of the Big Book, reads as follows:

“God, Please help me to be free of anger and to see that the world and its people have dominated me. Show me that the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, has the power to actually kill me. Help me to master my resentments by understanding that the people who wronged me were perhaps spiritually sick. Please help me show those I resent the same Tolerance, Pity, and Patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend.** Help me to see that this is a sick man. Father, please show me how I can be helpful to him and save me from being angry. Lord, help me to avoid retaliation or argument. I know I can’t be helpful to all people, but at least show me how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. Thy will be done.”

This prayer is an exercise in replacing blame with compassion–something much easier said than done. The Big Book recognizes this by acknowledging that you likely won’t mean what you say the first few times you recite the Resentment Prayer. The Big Book further specifies reciting this prayer with the person(s) who’ve wronged you in mind and to continue doing it daily for at least two weeks until you eventually do mean what you’re saying.

How to Release Resentment

If you find yourself struggling to let go of resentment, here are some other things to try:

Explore the feelings behind your resentment. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the incident that caused you to resent the person? Embarrassment or shame? Inadequacy? Fear? In most cases, it’s not that the person did something unforgivable but that they made you feel a way that you really didn’t like, which was channeled into anger to protect your wounded ego.
Be empathetic. Make a genuine effort to try and see things from their point of view and ignore what your intentions were or any other information that they could not have known. Considering their actions through a different lens can help you realize that the situation may not have been as black and white as you previously thought. Misunderstandings happen.
Focus on gratitude. Considering the positive things in your life can provide some much-needed perspective. In the grand scheme of things, a quarrel with a friend or romantic partner might not be the big deal you initially thought it was. Bonus: positive thinking can lower your stress, making it easier for you to let go of those negative feelings.

Seeking Support for Resentment: The Importance of Talking It Out

It can be challenging working through resentment alone. Find a person you trust, such as a therapist or your AA sponsor, to talk your feelings through. Having a neutral third party to consult can help you navigate your own emotional blindspots. Find an AA meeting near you today.

What Is Emotional Sobriety in AA?

Abstinence is obviously an important aspect of overcoming addiction. It’s vital to breaking the cycle and physically recovering from the ravages of substance abuse. However, getting the drug out of your system is only half of the battle. You must also eventually gain control over your psychological relationship with alcohol to ever truly be considered recovered. Alcoholics Anonymous has a term for this called emotional sobriety. Learn what AA says about emotional sobriety in the Big Book, why it’s so important, and how to achieve it for yourself.

The Meaning of Emotional Sobriety in AA

Let’s start off with an example. Say that you and your significant other just broke up. You fill every moment of every day with distractions so that you don’t have an opportunity to think about them. You proceed like this during the first few weeks or months of the breakup, which is pretty normal and even healthy to do. If you gave yourself permission to think about them, you might end up caving and reaching out to rekindle the relationship.

Then, imagine that 1, 5, or 10 years from now, you still refuse to acknowledge thoughts about them because any time you do, you feel tempted to go back to them. That approach isn’t looking so healthy, is it? You may have stayed away from a person that wasn’t right for you, but you never fully got over them either. This is essentially the core concept of emotional sobriety.

What’s a Dry Drunk?

The topic of emotional sobriety in the Big Book refers to individuals who give up alcohol without making any internal changes as dry drunks (this is different from a dry drunk syndrome which is a medical condition). These individuals may not physically consume alcohol or another drug, but they still have the same unhealthy patterns of behavior that led to substance abuse in the first place.

Red flags of dry drunk behavior include:

Failing to acknowledge that their alcohol consumption was problematic
No attempt to understand what drove them to drink
Still has unhealthy reactions to stressful situations (and no attempt to find new coping methods)
Attends 12-Step meetings but doesn’t participate
Refuses to be around alcohol/Can’t be around people drinking
Does not hold themselves accountable for their actions
Harbors bitter feelings toward themselves/Unable to forgive themselves

Practicing Emotional Sobriety 101

We’ve covered what emotional sobriety is and why it’s essential to alcoholism recovery so now let’s discuss ways to practice and maintain emotional sobriety.

2. Mindfulness

This simple practice is about staying in the present moment; acknowledging your feelings and sensory observations without judgment. Research has shown that it’s effective for lowering stress, improving emotional regulation, focus, and memory, and even boosting the immune system. Many of its benefits are a perfect match for the precise way that substance abuse can harm a person. The most common method of practicing mindfulness is through meditation.

3. Find a support network

Addiction is a very isolating disease. Finding a support network is crucial both to holding yourself accountable, but also breaking down the walls that may have contributed to alcohol abuse in the first place. Research has shown that having social support can play a significant role in predicting the outcome of successful addiction treatment.

4. Go to therapy

There’s no substitute for professional psychological help. They can help you unravel the cause of your drinking problem and help you develop realistic coping strategies in the face of triggers or cravings. They can also help you identify if there’s a mental illness that may have contributed to addiction and provide appropriate recommendations.

5. Attend AA meetings

Free and with minimal commitment required, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings is a low-stakes way to meet and hear from others who have been in your exact shoes. Realizing that you’re not alone in your struggle with alcohol addiction is both comforting and empowering. It’s important to go with an open mind and with the intention of fully participating. Otherwise, going to an AA meeting is an empty gesture that’s unlikely to provide you with any real benefit.

Simply giving up booze doesn’t mean that you’re recovered. You need to be able to address why it happened and more importantly, be able to have thoughts about alcohol that don’t send you back to the bottle. A lack of emotional sobriety means you’re never far from relapsing. A particularly bad day can send you back to square one if you don’t have the correct means to work through triggering situations. Learn more about the definition of emotional sobriety and find an AA meeting near you today.

4 Things You Didn’t Know About How Addiction Affects Families

Think addiction only hurts the person using drugs? Think again. There’s a reason why there’s a saying that addiction is a family disease. Even if there’s one person in the family who’s using drugs, they are rarely the only person in a family unit who is suffering because of it. Here’s the ugly truth about how addiction affects families and their loved ones.

How does addiction affect family and friends?

Say there’s a father who lost his job due to addiction. The loss of income could put a family in jeopardy of losing their home. Parents of an addicted child might find themselves arguing frequently as each claims the other is an enabler, eventually leading to divorce. Addiction is devastating to family dynamics. The consequences of the drug user’s actions will cause irreversible harm no matter their standing or whether they’re a child or adult.

1. Financial strain

Addiction is expensive for multiple reasons. First, there’s the cost of the drugs themselves. Depending on the frequency of drug use, this could be significant. Then there’s the cost of addiction treatment, which can be quite expensive, costing upwards of tens of thousands of dollars for a treatment program (it’s one of the primary reasons why some people put off getting treated).

However, there are also indirect costs to be considered, such as an increased risk of getting into accidents or having run-ins with the law, or like in the example above, the potential loss of income. There are more than double the number of drug users who are unemployed than those that have a full-time job. Addiction jeopardizes the family’s finances and puts the family at risk.

2. Increased risk of abuse

Research has found an unsettling correlation between drug addiction and domestic abuse. One alcohol abuse study found that the risk of intimate partner violence increases significantly if one or both partners have a drinking problem.

A paper from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 25% of men who committed acts of domestic violence also had substance abuse problems. Similarly, women who abused drugs also faced an increased likelihood of being victims of domestic abuse.

This risk of abuse can also affect children as well, though usually not as physical violence. Instead, it is usually child abuse in the form of maltreatment or neglect.

3. Increased stress

It goes without saying that dealing with a family member who’s addicted to drugs is a stressful situation. Even if things haven’t escalated to any of the above situations (money problems or abuse) there are still many other ways that a drug user can cause stress within their family. It could be because one person is aware that a loved one has a problem but isn’t sure whether they should be the person to out their family member, or perhaps multiple family members are struggling with how to confront a loved one whose drug use has gotten so severe they need to have an intervention.

Aside from stress being a major health hazard, it also can lead to family members being constantly on edge. Shorter fuses mean a greater likelihood of spats and misunderstandings which can further alienate the family from each other.

4. Creates a cycle of drug use

People who grow up with family members who have a substance use disorder face a significantly higher risk of developing one themselves. It’s a dangerous cycle that countless studies have found difficult to break. In addition to setting a bad behavioral example for children, addiction can change your genes, causing minor mutations that can be passed on to future offspring, putting them at increased risk.

However, children aren’t the only ones who can be negatively affected by drug abuse. It can also significantly increase the odds of relapse in other family members who are in addiction recovery.

Help for Families Affected by Addiction

Substance abuse disorder is defined as when a person’s drug use renders them unable to fulfill familial, personal, or professional responsibilities. When a person gets to such a stage, the financial, legal, and medical troubles that drug use can cause can quickly manifest themselves in ways that directly affect a family’s dynamic and instill an overwhelming sense of instability as well as emotional distress.

Resolving these issues will require a lot more than simply having the drug user go to rehab. This stressful time likely eroded trust and family dynamics, and will need to be repaired. Many addiction treatment programs involve a family component that gets family members involved with their loved one’s treatment. Not sure if rehab is the right route for your family member with drug addiction? Find Al-anon meetings near you. They are like AA but for the family members and can provide valuable insight from others who’ve been in your exact situation.

Should You Consider Ketamine Treatment for Alcoholism?

Interest in ketamine has increased over the past years, but most recently over the past months. Ketamine therapy, ketamine infusions, and other uses for ketamine, including treatment for alcoholism. This buzz started after new studies suggested that ketamine could be a helpful treatment for alcohol use disorder. Read on to learn more about ketamine and its connection to alcoholism treatment.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is primarily used as an anesthetic. It’s considered a dissociative drug that can produce detachment from reality. Ketamine is found illegally on the streets as Special K, Kit Kat, Super K, Vitamin K, and other names. It’s found as a white or off-white powder, pills, or liquid form.

Ketamine for Alcoholism Treatment

New studies suggest that using low levels of ketamine combined with therapy can help people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) stay sober longer.

The clinical trial found that a combination of ketamine in low doses combined with therapy helped participants stay entirely sober for 162 days. This was an 87 percent abstinence, considered significantly higher than any other group.

Overall, patients in the ketamine group were 2.5 more likely to remain abstinent at the end of the trial than the participants in the placebo group.

However, there isn’t a comparison to other forms of alcoholism treatment like naltrexone or acamprosate. Still, ketamine has also been shown to improve depression symptoms, which is why some researchers believe it can positively impact alcohol addiction treatment.

How It Works

Ketamine induces overall dissociation, providing pain relief and sedation. While most people use it as a recreational drug, ketamine is gaining momentum as a potential treatment for addiction.

When used at very low doses, ketamine can act as an antidepressant that helps block out the depressive feelings associated with alcohol abuse. Combined with behavioral therapy, it can help patients change thought patterns that usually lead to relapse.

Overall, ketamine treatment can help people suffering from alcoholism be more open to learning new coping mechanisms without experiencing depressive thoughts of recovery.

The Dangers of Ketamine for Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Ketamine is a powerful drug. Without the proper medical supervision, ketamine can easily lead to addiction. It’s essential to count on the support of a professional therapist who understands the best way to incorporate ketamine in your treatment to avoid the pitfalls of the drug.

When people combine ketamine with alcohol, the combined effects can be unpredictable and dangerous. Since both drugs act as depressants, it could lead to slow functioning of the heart and lungs, which could be fatal.

Ketamine alone also causes withdrawal symptoms. People can experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, chills, restlessness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, tremors, and depression.

Because ketamine is highly addictive, it can also lead to long-term health effects that could be detrimental. People who take large amounts of ketamine or acquire a strong batch from the streets could overdose. While the risk of death from ketamine alone is low, it can cause permanent brain damage and risk of injuries or accidents.

Finding Treatment for Alcoholism

When it comes to alcohol abuse treatment, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Treatment depends on the severity of the addiction, the time of the addiction, and whether or not someone has co-occurring disorders. Most people will need inpatient or outpatient treatment programs combined with 12-Step programs to achieve long-lasting addiction recovery.

The most common types of treatment for alcoholism include:

- Detox: A supervised detox program helps people safely withdraw from alcohol while a team of experts monitors withdrawal symptoms.
- Behavioral therapy: Individual and group therapy is critical to help patients reframe destructive thoughts and learn coping mechanisms to prevent relapse after leaving treatment.
- Medications: Sometimes, medications, including ketamine, might help people stop or reduce their drinking and prevent relapse. The only three medications approved by the FDA to treat alcoholism are naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.

Support groups: Throughout rehab and after treatment attending peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs can offer a sense of support and accountability that helps prevent relapse and sustain recovery.

If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol use disorders, please seek help. Addiction recovery is possible, whether you start a treatment that uses ketamine prescribed by a trusted professional or try a traditional inpatient rehab program.

Sources:

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help#pub-toc1

https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/ketamine/

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21030277

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How Long Does Suboxone Take To Work?

Suboxone, the brand name of a widely used medication for treating opioid addiction, has numerous and significant benefits for those in recovery. It can increase treatment retention rates, decrease rates of overdose and relapse, lower mortality rates, and reduce the need for inpatient detox treatment. However, as is the case with many types of medications, it can take some time before the positive effects take place–time that the nature of addiction may not allow.

So how long does suboxone take to work?

In this article, we’ll cover all timely matters related to this popular MAT medication including how long the effects last and how long to wait to take suboxone.

What is suboxone used for?

Not all MAT medications are the same or used for the same purpose. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone used during the early stage of recovery (detox) as well as the maintenance stages. In addition to being valuable for reducing the likelihood and severity of any experienced withdrawal effects, suboxone can also be used for long-term use to reduce cravings and lower the risk of relapse.

Suboxone dosage is very likely to vary depending on the stage of a person’s addiction recovery. The strongest doses are used at the beginning of treatment, a stage referred to as ‘induction’. In this stage, suboxone is used to prevent and alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms as soon as possible. In addition to being potentially dangerous, the discomfort experienced during withdrawal is one of the most common reasons why patients abandon treatment or avoid seeking it altogether.

How long does it take for suboxone to kick in?

The amount of time it takes for suboxone to start working can vary depending on 1) the dosage and 2) the method of administration (more on that later). Generally, Suboxone reaches its peak within 30 minutes but its effects can last up to 24 hours.

The sublingual form of suboxone (a thin dissolvable film that’s placed under the tongue) is the most effective and fast-acting. Suboxone is also available in a pill form, however, any medication ingested via the digestive tract will take more time to enter the bloodstream and therefore will be slower acting. Neither form of suboxone should ever be chewed or swallowed whole.

Suboxone’s Half-Life

Even if you no longer feel Suboxone’s effects, it’s important to be mindful that Suboxone also has a considerable half-life of 5 to 8 days–and could be up to 60 hours longer for those with impaired liver function. Why does this matter? Suboxone is a central nervous system depressant and mixing it with other depressants like benzos, can cause life-threatening effects.

How long to wait to take suboxone?

Suboxone offers relief and hope to those struggling with opioid addiction but its effectiveness is affected by the timing of use. First off, suboxone will only work for individuals who have opioid dependence. It will not benefit those who are irregular opioid abusers nor will it have any effect as a precautionary measure to protect against addiction.

Patients must be experiencing at least mild withdrawal in order to experience any of suboxone’s benefits. Determining when you can take suboxone will largely depend on the type of opioids that were used. Short-acting opioids such as heroin, codeine, or fentanyl will have an onset of withdrawal symptoms 8-24 hours after they were last used. Long-acting opioids such as methadone can take between 24 to 48 hours for the onset of withdrawal.

Will I qualify for suboxone?

Medical professionals refer to either the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) or the Short Opioid Withdrawal Scare (SOWS) to confirm patients meet the criteria to be eligible for suboxone. These scales rank the severity of various symptoms and tallied to create a score that determines whether an individual is in mild, moderate, or severe withdrawal. The types of MAT medications and their dosage will be prescribed depending on the severity of your withdrawal.

Is suboxone safe?

A common misconception surrounding suboxone, and medication-assisted treatment in general, is that it’s trading one addiction for another. Even though Suboxone is a very weak form of an opioid that doesn’t provide a high, it does have the potential for abuse–any medication does. Suboxone has minimal risks when taken as directed. Overall, the potential benefits of suboxone far outweigh the potential risks for many people addicted to opioids. If you’re on the fence about taking part in medication-assisted treatment, you’d likely benefit from hearing from others recovering from opioid addiction and their experiences with this medication. Find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting near you, today.