Archive for the ‘Drug Abuse’ Category

Suboxone treatment centers are made for drug dependents having trouble withdrawing from their opiate addiction. One of the biggest hurdles for a person addicted to opiates is going through withdrawal symptoms.

The primary means of treatment in these facilities is through the use of Suboxone, along with Subutex, which are medications that help make it easier to stop craving for these illegal substances and pave the way for detoxification.

Opiates are natural opioids, which are narcotics. They are so powerful that to be weaned off them will involve great physical and psychological suffering.  An addiction rehab like that offered at the Hawaii Island Recovery center provides close medical supervision for clients seeking treatment for conditions such as these.

Checking into Suboxone treatment centers means you are intent on recovering from drug addiction but fear being unable to go through a very difficult and painful withdrawal process. Illness is not uncommon when cutting dependence from opiates. And the desire to be free of the symptoms will trigger intense craving for the drugs. Without the necessary support and medical supervision like that provided at Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island addiction treatment program, successful treatment will be difficult to achieve.

Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. The former is a partial opioid but whose effects are not as powerful as that of heroin or vicodin. Naloxone is merely an additive to prevent the misuse of buprenorphine, which may be thought of as legal replacement for an illicit drug. It is not absorbed by the digestive tract when taken orally as Suboxone.

At Suboxone treatment centers like the addiction treatment center at Hawaii Island Recovery, this medication will be administered to help suppress withdrawal symptoms and hopefully reduce cravings.  The medication was developed as a better alternative to quitting “cold turkey” when addicted to opiates.  It is precisely due to the intensity of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that recovery becomes twice as difficult if not almost impossible without simulated opiate effects to commence the weaning from the substance.

Depending on the gravity of addiction, an opiate dependent may not even have to be admitted at Suboxone treatment centers but under the medical supervision of a physician at an outpatient clinic.

However, it has been shown that treatment and recovery becomes more complete in totally different surroundings, especially one that is conducive to healing. This is the experience offered by the addiction treatment center at Hawaii Island Recovery.  While it is an individual process, being in a community of people in the same situation provides additional support to complement the customized treatment program.

Whether you are completing an addiction treatment program at Hawaii Island Recovery or admitted to other Suboxone treatment centers, a necessary step is detoxification. This does not only involve draining the body of the toxins from the substances consumed but a holistic approach that includes proper nutrition, sleep, medication and counseling.

Nutrition is essential to recovery. Addiction is a form of illness and the chances of that damage has been inflicted to other systems is great. Staying away from foods that trigger cravings while increasing intake of healthy foods can help the healing process. This is why addiction treatment centers like Hawaii Island Recovery cater to every aspect of wellness. Whether it’s physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual, there’s always help available.

Remember sleep, too, is crucial for the body to regenerate and replenish. Addiction, especially to powerful drugs like opiates, depletes it of nutrients essential to proper function. In fact, sleep is the most natural among healing processes. Insomnia is a common withdrawal symptom, but medication can help correct this disorder.

Hydration is also necessary to facilitate detoxification. It plays a big part in the elimination of toxins that have accumulated inside the body due to addiction.

Suboxone treatment centers will provide the medication until the client can go about his normal routine even without opiate replacements.  The length of time will largely depend on how addicted the person is to opiates and how strong the will to fight off the drug and its effects. Suboxone dosage will also be gradually reduced until it is altogether stopped.

It must be remembered that Suboxone is an opiate. Administering them for treatment, care must be taken  so that a patient does not develop dependence for the medication instead. Physicians at Suboxone treatment centers should be very vigilant in monitoring the effects of the medication and where possible just prescribe them for a limited period of time.

Since opiates and most addictive substances alter behavior first, a treatment program must include intensive guidance for behavioral modification. At the Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island rehab program, focus is given to this aspect as an integral part of healing and recovery.

Most Suboxone treatment centers have also realized the value of psychological guidance and devote a substantial amount of time for this exercise as an important component to full recovery. Recovery from drug addiction takes its toll on the individual and his family. Healing begins when there is support for all members. In cases like this, it is best to remember that everybody hurts. Counselors at Hawaii Island Recovery have made their Big Island rehab program a safe haven for all.

Are you in pain? Call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

There are at least 5 factors that contribute to the causes of drug abuse.

These are the following:

1. Biological or Genetics – This may be a family history or current medical or psychological problems.

2. Central psychological factors – Because of curiosity or rebelliousness, an addict may try the effects of drugs on themselves.

3. Psychological conditions like poor stress control and frustrations.

4. Traumatic childhood experiences.

5. Peer pressure.

Families and addicts themselves don’t have to lose faith, there are ways for an individual to overcome drug abuse. With the help of their loving family, rehabilitation center, the proper aftercare and sticking to a program addicts can overcome drug abuse.

One reputable institution is the Hawaii Island Recovery, with their community based Big Island Treatment program, clients and professional staff can find the right kind of treatment that can help them fight their battle against drug abuse.

For more information about the Big Island Treatment program offered at Hawaii Island Recovery call 866-906-6911.

Substance  abuse is commonly defined as a pattern of detrimental use of any substances for mood-altering purposes or the use of illicit drugs for use of other than those that are indicated.

There are two treatment options that a substance abuse addict can choose from to be able to fight their issues from drug abuse. One is in-patient treatment and the other is the out-patient treatment. Of course, there is no single treatment program that can effectively treat all abusers.

Facilities like the Hawaii Island Recovery has an exclusive Big Island Treatment program that are specifically designed for both their residential patients and their out-patient clients. Treatments include psychotherapy sessions, counseling, alternative therapy, holistic therapy and outdoor activities.

Whatever kind of treatment you choose, the success of rehabilitation can be attributed to the individual’s fight, their family’s support, and a facility that is dedicated to helping people with drug abuse issues.

For more information about the Big Island Treatment program offered at Hawaii Island Recovery call 866-906-6911.

The cost of drug abuse is so staggering yet only a few people truly understand the problem and its complexities. The best way to describe the effects of substance abuse in one word is damaging. In the year 2000, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) said its cost to society was $161 billion annually. This covers lost productivity, health care costs and other costs including efforts to cut the source of drugs.

It is difficult to comprehend the actual effects drugs have on a person. Ask anyone who has been through the ordeal personally, or who has had to live with another suffering from this condition. But one thing is certain, timely intervention  and a solid addiction treatment program like the one offered at Hawaii Island Recovery must be taken before it is too late.

Drug abuse is not limited to illegal substances like marijuana, cocaine or heroin. A person falls into this pattern when he takes drugs, even those known for their therapeutic effects, excessively and compulsively. The purpose is no longer for treatment or healing. Rather, the discovery of habit-forming drugs has altered behaviour patterns and is proceeding to cause physiological and psychological damage that is often irreversible if left unattended.

Drug abuse is a result of addiction. Chemicals in drugs attack the brain, subtly manipulating emotional responses initially, then later progressing to hitting its more complex functions, including self control. Addiction is a brain disease. This is the state when a person so dependent on these substances can no longer function adequately unless provided a dose, or a “fix”, in the case of illicit drugs.

The brain is an intricate communication system. It controls how people think, react, feel and behave. Drugs target neurotransmitters, or the chemical messengers of the brain, disrupting its normal functions that include sending, receiving and processing information.

Under Hawaii Island recovery’s Big Island Recovery Program, it is explained to the clients during treatment how drugs fool neurotransmitters into thinking it is functioning properly, when in fact, the chemical from these substances have actually taken over resulting in abnormal thinking.

There are two ways drug abuse and addiction damage the brain’s nerve cells. First is when certain drugs, like marijuana, imitate neurotransmitters even as it performs abnormally; the second alters the brain’s “reward” circuit by releasing excessive quantities of natural neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine, found in regions of the brain that control our own movement, our different emotions, our personal motivations and most importantly, feelings of pleasure.

The brain, however, compensates for such changes and makes adjustments which in fact reduce its real capacity to function properly. When an individual no longer feels good even with regular drug use, he is compelled to increase dosage or frequency in order to get that level that will restore the euphoric feeling. This is what leads to drug abuse.

There is often a very fine line between drug use and abuse. Some people assume that frequency solely determines addiction. But frequency is not an accurate gauge to prove that line has been crossed. Addiction is not necessarily a result of frequent use. There are several factors that contribute to make an individual vulnerable to substance abuse. Aberrations in patterns of behaviour thought, speech, and actions are the strongest indicators of drug abuse.

What many drug abusers do not realize is the long-term effects these substances will have on their health because they are taken for non-medical reasons. It must also be emphasized that certain illegal drugs, specifically heroin, lysergic and acid diethylamide have never been known to have therapeutic value for humans. In other words, it is simply harmful to the human body. Without intervention, even death may result after long-term drug abuse.

By checking into the Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Recovery Program, clients eventually learn what the drugs and their components have done to harm their system and what needs to be done to reverse such effects. Sometimes, it takes years to recover any health issues stemming from drug abuse. Nothing is short term nor can they be fixed overnight.

Excessive drug use can be detected. Relationships and the usual areas of responsibility (at work, in school or at home) bear the brunt of drug abuse. When the former is disrupted and the latter neglected, an individual is likely suffering from substance abuse. Therapy and treatment at the Big Island Recovery Program offered at Hawaii Island Recovery will help clients evaluate the areas that were grossly affected by drug abuse and introduce steps to restore normalcy to their disrupted life.

Not everyone is prone to drug abuse. Genetics, the environment and a person’s development all have a bearing on how susceptible an individual is to being addicted and resorting to drug abuse. Studies have indicated that people suffering from depression and have mental health case histories have a higher risk of being attracted to drug abuse.

Family support is important in recovering from drug abuse and addiction. This is one of the emphasis when clients choose to undergo treatment at the Big Island Recovery Facility at Hawaii Island Recovery.

A strong resolve to kick the habit is unfortunately not enough to overcome drug abuse. Call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

To get a better understanding of what addiction evaluation really means, let’s get to know the definition of the two words. Addiction is defined historically as the physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, heroin and other drugs, which temporarily alter the chemical conditions of the brain.

It can be viewed as a continued use of a substance despite the negative consequences associated with it. Evaluation on the other hand is defined as the systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something, someone or action using criteria against a set of standards. Addiction Evaluation therefore is the systematic determination of the dependence of an individual on certain substance or activity that temporarily impairs the brain that can eventually bring negative consequences.

There are many types of addiction but drug and alcohol addiction are among the top 10 addictions that people of all gender and ages get addicted to. Drug and alcohol addiction drain the person involved financially and emotionally. Emotional impact is far more damaging because it involves not only the addict but people around them. Relationships are strained due to the difficulty living and interacting with a drug addict or alcohol dependent since they exhibit mood swings and other kinds of behavior that are way beyond normal.

The addicts are beyond their normal thinking that they continue their negative habits without consideration if they are already hurting other people. There are times that they think of their addiction but are powerless on their own to do anything about it.

Addicts manifest significant psychological symptoms that should be given attention. Addiction evaluation plays an important role to determine the success of recovery of an addict. It is worthy to know that drug and alcohol addictions as well as other types of addiction can be treated by personalized programs in treatments centers such as the Big Island Rehab at Hawaii Island Recovery.

There are many tools to screen the addiction of an individual and the three most commonly used Self Reporting Tests are the CAGE, the MAST, and the SASSI.

The CAGE

This is probably the simplest screening tool which is originally used to determine alcohol problems but may be modified to accommodate a range of substance abuse problems. This tool, which is an acronym for four questions and has become a cornerstone in addiction evaluation, was developed by Ewing and Rouse.

C – Have you ever felt the needs to CUT down on your drinking?

A – Have you ever felt ANNOYED by someone criticizing your drinking?

G – Have you ever felt GUILTY about your drinking?

E – Have you ever had to drink in the morning to quiet your nerves or relieve a hangover? (EYEOPENER)

An affirmative response to at least two of these questions will indicate an alcohol problem and can be useful for an expert evaluation of a certified addictions counselor or social worker.

The MAST

The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is a 24 item test that can easily be administered in written or oral form. Each question can be scored by , 1, 2, or 5, where  indicates a non-drinking response, 1 and 2 indicate a typical social or moderate drinking response, and 5 indicates an alcoholic drinking characteristic.

An overall score of -4 suggest a no problem alcohol drinker, 5-6 would indicate an alcohol problem, 7-9 reveals an alcoholic, 10-20 manifests a moderate alcoholic, and 20 or more score will categorize a severe alcoholic. The questions, however, were deemed leaning to a determination of alcohol problem that Jacobsen recommended a cut-off score of 12 instead of 7 to considerably yield a lower rate of false positives. The false negative results were still sufficiently high that professionals were prompted to rely more on training and instinct over the resultant scores and formula of the MAST.

The SASSI

The SASSI inventory tool, authored by Glen Miller, is designed to scale the subtle attributes inherent in the substance addict by asking questions seemingly not related to an addiction problem. Kerr, one of the critics of the tool, commends that the test is doing a good job in identifying the chemically dependent persons, and is slightly giving psychometrically sound results in identifying chemically dependent persons.

The above mentioned Self Reporting Tests are useful as a determining factor in addiction evaluation, but it is important that a complete evaluation be taken by a qualified counselor. The first big step towards recovery is an honest conversation between the client and a professional health care.

The client must be willing to cooperate and open up so that a treatment specifically designed to a particular problem may be developed. Each addiction case is different and each case must be determined so that the best course of treatment such as the Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Recovery Rehab can be offered to the client.

Like any program that is geared towards bringing the client to learn new ways of coping, it is the honesty at what the problem is and how insidious it is, that becomes the cornerstone of any successful program. Addiction Evaluation is an honest assessment of the client’s capacity to recognize the problem and becomes the first step of recovery. Client’s cooperation will determine the success or failure of any addiction evaluation.

Since most addicted people are unable to face the negative impacts of substance abuse by themselves, an addiction treatment center is the best place for the addict to get support, assistance and guidance. To start your recovery or a member of your family or a loved one, call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

Stories about individuals involved in drug or substance abuse are very common these days.  Cases involving them are also part of every news headlines we know.  Even Hollywood and business personalities are not spared from this nasty business of drug addiction.  And as observers, we are quick to assume that those individuals are just morally weak or are simply out of their minds to be abusing prohibited drugs in the first place.  But recent scientific findings have given light to the real causes of drug abuse.  Though a single reason is still hard to find, recent discoveries have prompted doctors and other professionals to treat drug abuse as a psychological disorder that can be treated through intensive and scientifically based therapy. An addiction treatment center, such as, Hawaii Island Recovery treats the addiction and the underlying issues better know as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis.

Generally, it is now known in the field of medicine and drug rehabilitation that the causes of drug abuse include both environmental basis and genetic factors, which influence how the abuse develops and expresses itself in individual clients.  In fact addiction treatment centers like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Treatment facility utilizes programs that involves investigating even the structure of the client’s family.

This could be due to the fact that the frequencies to which drug abuse problems occur within some families seem to be higher than what could be explained by simple addictive environment of the family.  It is also very common to observe teenage drug abuse cases from families with parents who are also into substance abuse. It is also believed that children exposed to drug abuse early on are also genetically predisposed to acquire the same disorder.

Recent studies also revealed that most individuals who are into drug abuse believe that the causes of their addiction are unhappiness, crime, divorce, major illness and even death. It is also an unstated fact among professionals that any major emotional event in an individual’s life can trigger drug abusive behaviors.

Clients from addiction rehab centers like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Treatment facility also identified social pressure as one of the leading causes of drug abuse.  Their addiction commonly just started from trying out substances to be part of the “in” crowd or group.  Later on, these social experiments led to more serious problems like drug addiction.  These cases are so common among teenagers who have very low self-esteem and people from the corporate world who desperately want to enter the world of the rich and the powerful.  For more often than not, drug abuse is seen to be a way to get into the inner circle of the moneyed and sophisticated class.

Aside from the above-mentioned causes of drug abuse, there are still other risk factors that seems to contribute greatly to one’s drug abusive behaviors.  One of these is personality.  Although finding a direct link to a person’s set of characteristics and the addiction is still very difficult, interviews and case studies revealed that there are characteristics that are common among individuals with drug abuse problems.  They are normally overly curious up to the extent that they would try drugs just for the sake of having tried it.  They are also commonly the aggressive and hyperactive types who are looking for ways to relax and feel pleasure.  And since they are naturally impatient, they usually resort to drug abuse to find their fix.  These negative traits are commonly addressed by addiction rehab centers like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island treatment program through relaxation programs like dolphin therapy.

Also scoring high on the list of causes of drug abuse is depression and anxiety.  Most clients rehabilitated in Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island addiction treatment facility for example, admitted that they used drugs to escape from their very demanding lifestyle.  Usually, the pressure to succeed in business while maintaining satisfying social relationships prove to be a very difficult feat for most clients.  Along the way, they felt that life is too overwhelming for them to handle so they resorted to drugs for help.  They believed that using drugs is the quickest way to relieve their pain and sufferings.  These beliefs are slowly being altered in rehab centers like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island addiction treatment program through series of counseling sessions.  Through those sessions, they are being taught how to deal with anxiety and loneliness more appropriately.

These newly found causes of drug abuse have tremendously changed society’s view of drug addiction.  What used to be a disorder treated in asylum or prison through sessions focused on religious education is now a major medical concern.  Governments and international organizations are even investing large amount of money in furthering researches about the causes of drug abuse and finding suitable solutions to this social problem that has permeated the lives of people from all walks of life. Through these efforts, these institutions hope to one day eradicate all causes of drug abuse down to the very root.

As addiction treatment centers and counselors focus on giving their client the tools to manage and understand their addiction, they are in fact empowering them to think differently and to act differently. It all boils down to choices and the capability and the capacity to evaluate the situation before destructive actions are taken.

The causes of drug abuse vary from individual to individual. But one thing is for certain. Without a true commitment, there will be no recovery. Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island treatment center emphasizes this collaborative partnership between the client and the center. Together, the causes of drug abuse can be deconstructed, understood and worked on. Success for the client is also a success for the center.

For more information call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.