When a loved one enters a recovery program for an alcohol or drug addiction, you want to be supportive. Though it will be difficult, you also need to keep your own expectations in check.

Writer Carole Bennett addressed the necessity of managing one's expectations in a Feb. 3 article on the Huffington Post:

You need to be bold enough and strong enough to let the alcoholic/addict's recovery unfold as it is meant to, not as you want it to. This is an important start in reining in your expectations, and in doing so you will be ahead of the curve.

Your expectations should not be part of the alcoholic/addicts life as they have nothing to do with you and whether you are doing the "right thing or not." Even if you believe you have found the best rehabilitation program in the world, remember that it is not your program and your expectations should not be pinned on the alcoholic/addicts performance or success. ...

If your expectations are not met, it may be difficult to cover up your disappointment. It's possible that the alcoholic/addict will sense this and realize that they are the reason for this sorrow. If they start to lose faith in themselves as well, this may create added pressure and possibly fuel a downward spiral.

Labels: support, recovery

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The annual Young Voices for Recovery contest is proof of the adage that "words matter."

As correspondent Jim Ott wrote in the Nov. 29 edition of The Oakland Tribune, the 'Voices" contest gives teenagers who are making their way through substance abuse recovery the opportunity to put their experiences down on paper:

The contest encourages youngsters between the ages of 13 to 19 to write about their experiences in seeking drug and alcohol treatment. Designed to celebrate successes, the essay contest also helps spread the word that substance abuse disorders are not just bad habits, but treatable diseases.

"Our eventual goal is to remove the stigma associated with substance abuse and treat it for what it is  a disease," said Sue Compton, chief executive officer for Axis [Community Health, which sponsors the contest]. ...

Through news releases, fliers distributed to Tri-Valley schools, and reaching out to young people who participated in the agency's drug and alcohol recovery program, Axis encourages teens to write about the impact long-term recovery has had on their lives through either their own experience or that of a person close to them.

First place in the "Voices of Recovery" contest is a $500 prize. Second place is worth $150, and third place will net one writer $50.

For more about Axis Community Health or the "Voices of Recovery" essay contest visit www.axishealth.org or call 925-201-6017.

Labels: recovery, teenagers, contest, writing

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Recovery from an addiction to methamphetamine is possible. Just ask Josh Palmer.

At thirteen, Palmer started drinking and getting high. Before long, he also making and selling methamphetamine. When he was 23-years-old, his mom died from cancer, and shortly after that, he lost his home. Thats when he realized something needed to change.

A Nov. 22 article by George Anderson of the Daily Dunklin Democrat provided the following information about Palmer's comeback from meth addiction:

Palmer said he began his path to sobriety by going through the Dunklin County Drug Court and by getting involved with a faith-based meeting at Malden in April of 2004. After becoming sober, Palmer said he got back with his wife and kids and began working in substance abuse counseling ...

He recently became known nationally after becoming involved with an anti-meth campaign through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. ... The campaign, which kicked off on Sept. 1, 2009, is scheduled to run through the end of Nov.

Palmer said he has heard that the commercials are getting people's attention and has had a "good response so far."

Palmer said he got into the campaign to try to "give hope" to those who feel hopeless.

Labels: awareness, addiction, recovery, meth, methamphetamine

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In a Sept. 2 Salem News article, columnist Brian T. Watson provides an up-close look at one teen's descent into drug addiction -- and the effort it took for this young man to get his life on track. The subject of the article, the 19-year-old son of one of Watson's friends, is referred to by the pseudonym "John" throughout the column:

John first tried marijuana, beer, and hard liquor at age 13 while in the eighth grade. ...

As a freshman in high school, though he would have an occasional drink, John was still an open, cheerful kid with excellent grades, good study habits, and plenty of friends. He was healthy and fit, had a solid family, and no known problems. ...

By junior year he was a mess. He was smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes a day. He drank and took all kinds of drugs constantly. Because he often stayed up half the night at friends' houses, he fell asleep in school. He feuded with his teachers and was suspended twice and arrested once. ...

John can tell you why he became a drug abuser, but it's not profound. He says being drunk or high was simply an alternative to boredom.

John began the process of overcoming his problems with drug and alcohol after enrolling in a private boarding school for troubled teens.

"John is solidly building his way back, learning, growing, and getting better at assessing and putting into perspective the infinite variety of people, attitudes, and personal choices that exist," Watson wrote.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, recovery, drug_abuse, boarding school

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A mother whose 17-year-old daughter died of an OxyContin overdose will be a featured speaker at Arizona's largest addiction recovery and mental health awareness event.

Cindy Sierzchula, whose daughter, Courtney, died in 2007, will share her story Sept. 19 during the Art of Recovery Expo in the Phoenix Convention Center. Also appearing at the event will be Christopher Lawford, the son of actor Peter Lawford and the author of the addiction memoir Symptoms of Withdrawal.

Founded by Bill Brown and Barbara Nicholson-Brown, the Art of Recovery Expo is a free event that is designed to help individuals and families who have been affected by addiction. The expo will include representatives from treatment programs, government organizations, recovery support groups and others who can help bridge the gap between addiction and recovery.

Labels: recovery, conference

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In 1990, Lisa Molina tried to overdose on heroin. She was pregnant at the time. When her suicide attempt didn't work, she entered a YWCA-sponsored program called Born-Free, for women who are pregnant and want to be drug and alcohol free -- and five months later, her daughter, Jessica, was born.

Lisa and Jessica (who is now 18 years old) recently spoke at a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the program's two new homes in Riverside County, California.

"I get to go to college. I got to graduate high school," Jessica said, enumerating the opportunities she's had because of the program.

"Sometimes I don't realize how important it is until they ask me to do things and I see people and their reactions," Jessica said. "They come up to me and tell me that they're proud of me. They tell me 'Thank you' for talking to them and I really feel blessed."

She paused.

"Without a doubt, it is because of Born-Free. ... Thank you for mine and my mom's life," Jessica said. (Source: The Press-Enterprise)

Women who enter the Born Free program live in two homes that have separate entrances but share a wall. "The homes, connected by a wall but with separate entrances, were designed specifically to house the women, including larger bathrooms with multiple sinks and intercom systems to screen visitors," the Press-Enterprise reported.

Labels: recovery, heroin, pregnancy

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Charles Rosa has experienced the unimaginable. In the course of just 14 months, he buried both of his sons, both of whom died from drug overdoses. Determined to prevent other parents from suffering the way he had, he formed a non-profit called Chuckys Fight, and on Sunday, April 19, a group of women took to the sea in support of his efforts.

According to the Hampton Union, the women planned to enter the still-frigid waters at Seabrook, New Hampshire, in order to raise awareness and cash for the fight against teen substance abuse.

In honor of his sons, Rosa swims in the ocean every day, regardless of the water temperature or weather conditions. The April 19 event was designed to increase support for two organizations that are fighting teen drug abuse: Chuckys Fight and the Portsmouth Middle Schools Project Safety Conference.

If your child is abusing alcohol or another drug, your family may benefit from the comprehensive therapeutic support and educational services that are provided at a private boarding school for recovering teens.

Labels: prevention, teen_drug_use, recovery

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Stanford University scientists believe they have found a non-addictive drug that can prevent or significantly minimize withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to opioids.

"The drug, ondansetron, which is already approved to treat nausea and vomiting, appears to avoid some of the problems that accompany existing treatments for addiction to these powerful painkillers, the scientists said."

Scientists are quick to point out that withdrawal treatment is not the same as addiction recovery. True recovery requires long-term commitment to counseling and addiction support. Source: Stanford University Medical Center

Labels: treatment, recovery, opioids

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InTheRooms.com is a new online community designed specifically for people who are in recovery, seeking recovery, or have a family member or friend in recovery.

"In The Rooms is much more than just another social networking site," said Ken Pomerance, the site's co-founder. "It really is a community of supportive members who are in recovery and who understand the trials and tribulations that come with battling the disease of addiction, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders and much more."

Launched in October 2008, the site has almost 12,000 members who have logged a total of more than 50,000 years of recovery time. Source: PR Inside

Labels: support, recovery

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Sam Landry is a global language teacher at South Range High School in North Lima, Ohio, who spends a large portion of his free time working at the county and state levels to curb teen substance abuse. In October, Landry received the 2008 Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic Community Service Award for his efforts.

"In addition to [being] the Drug-Free Schools coordinator, Landry is also the chair for the Coalition for Capable and Healthy Youth Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Work Group, and the co-founder of the Coalition to Amend Ohio's Social Host Law."

Landry said he was surprised and honored by the award. The Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic treats approximately 1,500 substance addicts every year in the Youngstown, Ohio, area. Source: Salem (OH) News

Labels: recovery, drug_abuse, role_models

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Cell phone technology may someday help teens in recovery from substance abuse.

Researchers from the Indiana School of Medicine asked 15 teenage girls to carry Global Positioning System (GPS)-equipped phones wherever they went. The idea behind the pilot study is not to spy on teens, but to use the new technology to keep track of health risks.

"The phones can help us better understand where adolescents spend their time and what they are doing," said Dr. Sarah Wiehe, a professor of pediatrics and lead author of the study. Researchers usually have to ask participants to recall what they did on a specific day or keep diaries. The new way is more accurate.

"But even more exciting," Dr. Wiehe said, "is the potential of using the GPS phones to intervene at the time they are taking a health risk, such as drinking or using drugs."

The study revealed that the girls spent a quarter of their time away from home or school, and on weekends, they went an average of 17 miles away from home.

This study appears in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: recovery, cell_phones, technology

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The University of Texas Medical School is researching medications that may help restore a brain's chemical balance and aid in cocaine addiction recovery. The team is currently studying medications that affect serotonin and dopamine systems.

"'With chronic cocaine use, there are changes in the brain that affect neurotransmitters that are responsible for impulsivity and decision making,' said F. Gerard Moeller, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the medical school. 'If we can restore the balance of the neurotransmitters back to the way it was before the cocaine, then other therapies such as behavioral therapy will work better.'"

In 2006, the NIDA estimated that six million Americans ages 12 and up had abused cocaine. Currently, there are no proven or approved medications for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Source: Medical News Today

Labels: cocaine, recovery, brain_chemistry

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South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has announced that September is "Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month." Several events are planned throughout the month, and recovery booths will be set up on college campuses throughout the state.

"This past year in South Dakota, 14,986 individuals sought recovery from some form of addiction. If an individual is interested in seeking recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction or gambling addiction, there are 61 providers across South Dakota to assist them in recovery."

Additional activities will include a "Fun Night" in the city of Mitchell for people who are recovering from alcohol or drug addiction. Source: State News Web

Drug Rehab Resources

Labels: addiction, recovery, college_students

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In their regular column in the New York Daily News, Dr. David More and novelist Bill Manville discussed the danger, and destructive nature, of ambiguity as it relates to addiction and recovery.

"...the problem begins with society's destructive Ambiguity - capital A intended - about drug and alcohol abuse... Ambiguity means a lack of social standards that act as community pressure against substance abuse."

This Ambiguity is a silent approval - and sometimes admiration - of the ones who get drunk or high, More and Manville wrote. It encourages their behavior.

In contrast, environments that emphasize pressure to stay or get clean and sober are environments with the fewest substance abuse problems. Source: New York Daily News

Labels: rehab, recovery, sobriety

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A recent study has found that Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs and meetings can benefit teenagers who struggle with drug and alcohol use. The study followed 160 teenagers through a six-week program and followed up with reassessments after six months and one, two, four, six, and eight years.

"While many of the study participants eventually stopped going to AA/NA meetings, they seemed to benefit from their time with the organization. 'We found that patients who attended more AA and/or NA meetings in the first six months post-treatment had better longer term outcomes...'"

The best long-term outcomes were achieved by teens who continued to attend AA or NA meetings. On average, each AA/NA meeting attended equated to two days of abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Source: CBC News

Labels: recovery, AA, NA

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On Vashon Island in Washington State, a group of parents, teenagers, law enforcement officials, and others came together to discuss the dangers of adolescent drug and alcohol use. The forum was convened in response to a recent survey which revealed that rates of teen substance abuse on the island are higher than statewide averages.

"The forum on drug and alcohol use among teens was sponsored by the PTSA and spearheaded by Laura Hansen, a mother active in school issues... In an effort to counter the perception that drinking and marijuana use are tolerated by adults on the Island, Hansen handed out a 'parents' pledge'. Parents who signed it vowed to 'teach our children to view alcohol and drug use as a serious concern...'"

Among the forum's speakers was Vashon High School student Hilary Hammond, who bravely shared her story of addiction and recovery. Last June she arrived at school so drunk that she couldn't walk straight. Today, she's clean and sober and is a primary voice in Vashon's effort to reduce teen drug and alcohol use. Source: Tacoma Daily Index

Labels: support, recovery, community_programs

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The holiday season is the toughest time for recovering alcoholics, especially those who are at the beginning of sobriety. The period between November 22 and January 1 is a time of parties where there is increased social pressure to drink and socialize.

It is particularly hard for alcoholic teens to resist invitations to drink, especially if they are just coming out of residential treatment programs or home on winter breaks from therapeutic boarding schools, according to counselors who work in these programs. They advise parents not to have any alcohol in their homes and to host only alcohol-free parties during the holiday season.

Alcoholics Anonymous has many tips on how to get through the season without relapsing into self-destructive behaviors. AA advises newly sober members to plan for the holidays by avoiding places where alcohol is served and by attending AA gatherings. AA holds extra meetings (usually at least three daily) and alcohol-free parties for members during the holiday season.

AA advises members to have contingency plans if they arrive at a party and find out that people are drinking. They should not stay at the party, but instead they can phone their AA sponsors, who are usually willing to come to the scene and help. Another idea is to arrange to meet a friend or parent somewhere if they have to leave a party.

Most alcoholics cannot take even one glass of champagne or beer "to be social" because it can trigger a binge. AA members say that that even eating alcohol-laden foods like rum balls and fruitcake can make them want to drink again.

Is your older teen or young adult currently in rehab or the beginning stages of recovery? A sober living environment, like the one at NorthStar Center in Bend, Oregon, can help by offering a safe, structured environment that's conducive to recovery.

Labels: recovery, parties, holidays

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From 1953 to 1959 he was known at Jumpin' Johnny Kline, member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. By the 1960s he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Now, having turned his life around and earned a doctoral degree in History and Philosophy of Education, John Kline is talking about his decline into addiction and his journey back out.

"'Dr. Kline transitioned from dynamic to destitute to doctoral in his lifetime,' said Tremayne Anderson, president of the Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni..."

Kline will talk about his journey on Thursday, Nov. 15th at an event being held at Vanderbilt University's Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center. The event is part of the center's Living History Series, and is free to the public.

Worried your child is headed down a path of teen drug and alcohol addiction? Visit 4troubledteens.com to learn how to recognize the warning signs.

Labels: treatment, recovery, role_models

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Most would agree that the goal of substance abuse treatment is recovery. But the term "recovery" often means different things to different people. Now, in an article appearing in the October issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (JSAT), a team of experts from the Betty Ford Institute offer a definition of recovery that can be widely used to help people who are struggling with alcohol or drug use.

"According to an initial definition developed by a panel of experts from the Betty Ford Institute, recovery is 'a voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship.' The panel's report appears as part of a special section of JSAT devoted to Defining and Measuring Recovery."

The panel hopes that developing a more specific definition of recovery will assist treatment and rehabilitation centers in creating measurable goals for their patients. The panel also suggested classifications to define sobriety durations as "early" to "stable" stages of recovery.

NorthStar Center, in Bend, Oregon, offers teenagers and young adults an aftercare and recovery program that allows young people to get on with their lives and grow into healthy, happy adults.

Labels: rehab, treatment, recovery

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His upcoming book, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, is a brutally honest account of Nikki Sixx's battle with drug addiction and his road to recovery. He will be the first rock star to speak at the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month luncheon September 6th on Capitol Hill.

"NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals invited Sixx to share his story at this national forum alongside Terry Cline, Ph.D, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH, Director, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment."

Twenty-five percent of Sixx's book's profits go to benefit a shelter in California that helps runaway teenagers. Read more at KCRG.com.

Learn about teenage drug addiction, rehab, and recovery at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: addiction, recovery, influences

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September has been designated National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

"The Recovery Month observance highlights the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment, lauds the contributions of treatment providers and promotes the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The observance also encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective substance abuse treatment for those in need."

A new theme is selected every year, and this year's theme is "Join the Voices for Recovery". Read more at RecoveryMonth.gov.

Labels: treatment, recovery, hope

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In March, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signed legislation enabling the creation of a drug court pilot program for Meade County. Now that court is preparing to take its first cases.

"[Fourth Circuit Judge Jerome] Eckrich said the program works on two basic assumptions - the district has to accept that there is a substance abuse problem in the area and that the underlying problem of addiction must be resolved to reduce the rate of relapse."

The program is essentially an intense intervention on behalf of the substance abuser. A probation officer will closely monitor the participant's life, including who the person spends time with. At the same time, an individualized treatment plan in put into place. Read more at ZWire.com.

Adolescent substance abuse is an alarming problem in this country. Teen-Help-Directory.com offers treatment programs and information about adolescent substance abuse.

Labels: recovery, courts, relapse

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For years, methadone clinics have been an accepted method of "weaning" someone off of an opiate addiction. But a new method - and new drug, Suboxone - is beginning to get noticed. Suboxone masks the symptoms of withdrawal while blocking the effects of opiate-based drugs like heroin.

"'When the Suboxone molecule enters the neuron, it attaches to the receptor and protects it from any other opiate,' said Dr. David Faulk, a Brunswick psychiatrist who writes prescriptions for Suboxone. 'The big benefit is that it's extremely difficult to abuse and become addicted to.'"

Opponents of Suboxone say that patients who use it to overcome addictions may have to take it for the rest of their lives. Read more at TheBrunswicknews.com.

Need more information about teen drug addiction? Visit 4TroubledTeens.com to learn about the Behavioral and Physical Signs of Teen Drug and Alcohol Use.

Labels: addiction, treatment, recovery

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Researchers at the University of California San Francisco have found that smoking cigarettes during the first six to nine months of recovery may interfere with an alcoholic's overall success.

"Corresponding study author Timothy C. Durazzo, of the University of California San Francisco, says non-smoking alcoholics showed a significantly greater level of recovery than smoking alcoholics in the areas of mental efficiency; higher-level reasoning and problem-solving; visual-spatial processing skills and working on short-term memory."

The mortality rate for cigarette smoking is also four times that of the mortality rate relate to alcohol-induced diseases. Read more at EarthTimes.org.

Recovery is a life-long process and requires commitment, introspection, and most importantly, courage. Learn more about Recovery Support at www.drugrehabtreatment.com.

Labels: smoking, alcohol, recovery

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Those aren't words any parent wants to hear, but are exactly the words that a Michigan wife spoke to her husband about their teenage son. What followed were years of struggle; their son in and out of rehab, arrested, failing drug tests, and refusing to get the help he needed.

"My son became a liar and a con artist. That may seem redundant, but they are different. He conned the staff at the first in-patient rehab into believing he was road ready after only a week of treatment. Despite our protests, my wife and I had no say in the matter... He would tell us later he was thinking of using every minute he was there."

Today, their son is in his sixth rehab facility - this time it's a long-term inpatient facility that was mandated by the court. The father's advice is simple; don't believe it can't happen to your family. They didn't believe it could happen to theirs. Read more at Freep.com.

Not sure what to look for in an adolescent residential drug treatment center? Or what to expect? Learn more in the article "What Parents can Expect While Their Teen is in Residential Treatment" at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: parents, rehab, recovery

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Readers of a Nevada newspaper, in response to an article about methamphetamine addiction, wrote to share their own stories of addiction and recovery. Though the story covered by the newspaper ended badly, many readers wanted others to know that recovery is possible.

"You stated that relapse is part of recovery. That is not true. Relapse is NOT a part of recovery, and it is a dangerous message that many people get. Many alcoholics and addicts go back out and die because of this erroneous belief. Also Mary and her boyfriend stated that rehab and meetings are bogus. When people don't get it, it is bogus. When they are ready, meetings and rehab will work."

Others encouraged people to pay special attention when they think a family member might be struggling with addiction. They encouraged readers to ask questions, and keep asking questions if something doesn't seem right. Read more at NevadaAppeal.com.

Do you have a child with a teen drug addiction? Are you looking for an adolescent drug treatment center? Visit Drug Rehab Treatment >>

Labels: addiction, support, recovery

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David Nevins, son of HBO executive Sheila Nevins, has struggled with substance abuse for years. He's been sober for about a year now, but only after suffering through a decade of rehab, psychiatric treatment, and relapses. Nevins' experiences with her son made her realize how little she knew or understood about addiction and substance abuse, which inspired her to launch an HBO documentary serried called "Addiction".

"The short films that are a part of 'Addictions' include [Jon] Alpert's look at a busy Saturday night in a Dallas emergency room; [Rory] Kennedy and Liz Garbus' examination of brain imaging; and [D.A.] Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus' piece on opiate addiction."

The film airs on HBO on Thursday night, and all of the short films will be available for download from HBO's website. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, recovery, media

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Teenagers and young adults give similar reasons why they want to quit problem drinking, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

• Researchers compared people who wanted to quit drinking at ages 13 to 17 years old to those ages 18 to 25 years old. The most common reason to quit was the same among both groups.
• "To show yourself you can quit if you want to" was cited by 74% of young adults and 79% of the teenagers.
• "To save money" was the second most common reason, given by 70% of the young adults and 65% of the teenagers.
• "Future health consequences" was a concern of 49% of teenagers and 51% of young adults.

Teenagers were more likely to cite pressure from family and family troubles, probably because they were more likely to live at home. Young adults tended to worry more what their peer groups felt about their drinking.

However, authors Douglas Smith, Leah Cleeland and Michael Dennis wrote that "we found no significant differences on overall reasons for quitting between emerging adults and adolescents, with the exception of the interpersonal motivation items, few differences existed at the item level when controlling for baseline differences among age cohorts."
 

Labels: alcohol, recovery

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A new study from Yale University found that adding certain drugs to behavioral therapies may help recovery from drug addiction.

• Dr. Mary Torregrossa and her colleagues had 168 rats self-administer cocaine for weeks, and then used "extinction therapy" to weaken cues that induce their cravings and drug-seeking behaviors.
• If the memory-enhancing drug D-cycloserine was added to their therapy, the rats were more likely to reduce or avoid cocaine.

"Extinction therapy usually only works where the therapy takes place, like a treatment center", Dr. Torregrossa explained. "Using drugs like D-cycloserine to make extinction work more broadly is a big advancement in the treatment of addiction."

This study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Labels: cocaine, recovery, research

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