In a TV interview, Richards said: “I’m an alcoholic.”

Saying It Out Loud

Making this comment, especially in a public forum, is a brave, bold move for Richards. A great deal of the show is focused on how her sister, Kyle, and other housewives respond to Richard’s often erratic behavior and whether or not the underlying issue was a drug and/or alcohol dependence. Until now, Richards has always emphatically denied that she had any issue with substances, and her sister often came to her defense as well. Going to rehab was a big deal for her, especially given the spotlight she lives under. Going in front of cameras to say to the world that she’s an alcoholic – that’s even bigger.

One anonymous pal said to Us Weekly: “Kim’s alcohol addiction along with other substance abuse problems has been obvious for quite some time. It’s really good that she’s finally getting help.”

The Power in Admitting You Have a Problem

There’s a saying in recovery that admitting you have a problem is the first step. It seems like such a small thing and relatively easy to do but to make the admission that you have a problem with drugs and alcohol after spending years denying any issue with illicit substances is actually a really big deal.

Saying it out loud makes you accountable. Few who care about you will let you get away with making an admission of that nature without expecting you to follow up by getting the treatment you need to heal. When you continue to live actively in your addiction, those around you – and you – will recognize that you’re postponing getting better. When you make a move towards treatment, such as calling a rehab center or setting up a tour or interview, then those who you told about your problem can step up and support you in your recovery.

Choosing Drug Rehab

If you are ready to admit that drugs and alcohol are a problem for you and to learn more about your options in treatment, contact us today. We can answer your questions about which types of treatment are available and assist you in choosing the right one for your needs. Call now and follow up your first step toward treatment – admitting you have a problem – with the second one: enrolling in the best drug rehab program for you.

In general, the substance abuse treatment community would answer with a resounding “no.” This is because abstinence is the only answer to addiction; any amount is too much and even a one-time use can trigger a train of events that ultimately leads back to a full-blown active addiction. There are some in the harm-reduction camp – those that believe any step that cuts back on the use of needles or hard drugs is a step in the right direction – who think it could work. What do you think?

Pros

It can be argued that, in some cases, it is appropriate to use one addictive substance to treat the addiction to another. For example, methadone is highly addictive but it is used as a part of an effective treatment for heroin addiction. Patients take methadone in front of a medical professional daily, often at a dose that blocks the effects of any other opiates, including heroin. Because the methadone is medical grade and its production is regulated, it carries fewer dangers than heroin. The dose is managed as well, allowing the patient to incrementally lower the dosage until they are completely drug-free.

Plus, there are the beneficial uses that some patients who use the drug for the treatment of other disorders claim, such as decreased anxiety, increased self-confidence and improved self-esteem. Those are all issues that those new to recovery deal with, so if marijuana can help, can it be used safely?

Cons

For every patient who claims that marijuana has helped him to feel better, there is another one who says that marijuana made him feel self-conscious, paranoid, tired and physically ill. These symptoms, of course, are not of any use to someone in recovery and could be a relapse trigger.

Then there’s the question of what the drug is actually treating. After the withdrawal symptoms pass, there is no reason to take any illicit substance. Going through the hard work of learning how to live without drugs and alcohol is the focus of recovery – if you’re still taking an illicit substance to handle emotional issues or to attempt to build confidence, then you aren’t truly sober.

What Do You Think?

Is it possible to use marijuana in the course of treating dependence upon another drug? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Get Solid

If you are new to recovery, you may need to avoid meetings that make you feel uncomfortable for any reason, whether it’s the participants, the format or the time of day. Your only goal should be maintaining your sobriety. Unfortunately, the offhand rude comment of a stranger can throw that in jeopardy, so it’s important that you take as long as you need to attend meetings that feel supportive to you before heading into ones where you feel vulnerable.

Long-Term Sobriety Does Not Equal Mental Health

Just because someone has been sober for 10 or 20 years, it doesn’t mean that they are mentally stable or healthy. They can have just as many interpersonal issues or self-esteem problems as the next person – and may or may not be diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia as well. The only thing they definitely have that you don’t is more clean time – and soon, you’ll have lots of clean time, too. Don’t overvalue the comments of those with long-term sobriety if they are hurtful or judgmental. Instead, take your guidance from those who are helpful and balanced and offer you constructive comments that make sense to you.

Prioritize Your Sanity

It’s the goal of AA to “put principles before personalities,” meaning personal issues shouldn’t get in the way of staying sober, but some people are just crotchety and put their ego before the program. With no leaders to turn to and get assistance negotiating some of the finer points of the rules, it’s up to you to take care of yourself. Simply ignore them. Find your own friends in the meeting and spend time with them instead. If the problem continues to bother you, talk to your sponsor and take a break as needed.

How do you deal with difficult situations at 12-step meetings? Leave us a comment below and let us know your tips and tricks.

• Tax revenue. Increasing the price is estimated to cost the English people an extra £700 million each year. The taxes taken in on that amount will go to support a number of different social services.
• Incentive to drink less. If prices are higher, people may buy less alcohol. If they buy less, they drink less. If they drink less, they are less likely to get into alcohol-related accidents or suffer other negative consequences.

Taxing drinks based on the units of alcohol in each one is another option under discussion and preferred by some politicians but not all. The benefits of this plan would be similar – increased money for the state and an incentive to drink less alcohol for consumers.

Of course, few in the alcohol industry are excited about either option. A spokesman for Diageo, a purveyor of alcohol, said there was “no credible evidence from anywhere in the world that it is an effective measure in reducing alcohol related harm.”

Will Raising the Price of Alcohol Have a Positive Effect

Supermarkets and liquor stores are less concerned about the increased price, and Scottish politicians are currently attempting similar legislation so Cameron is not alone in his hopes for the future of alcohol sales.

Also, health professionals believe it to be a move in the right direction. Debra Malone is a public health consultant for NHS Bolton and she says: “It would help protect the most vulnerable, particularly young people who at the moment can buy alcohol with their pocket money.”

Would Increasing the Price of Alcohol Create Positive Change in the US?

Increasing the cost of a pack of cigarettes to more than $5 a pack had a pretty significant impact on consumers. Many quit smoking specifically for that reason. Others, however, continued to buy cigarettes despite the increased price but did so less often. Over time, as they adjusted to the price, their purchase habits went back to normal.

Would the same thing happen if the cost of alcohol were increased, either at the bottle level or the drink level? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Marijuana as a Viable Medical Treatment

Often prescribed for certain conditions including glaucoma and cancer, some patients swear by the ability of marijuana to ease chronic pain, decrease nausea or to increase appetite. Most of the evidence that supports the validity of marijuana as a treatment is anecdotal and the lab-based research done on the subject is questioned by some experts and has not been proven effective across the board. In short, it may work for some but not for others, and there’s still a great deal of work to be done to determine the right type of marijuana, the best method of ingestion and the right dosage for different ailments.

The Myth of Medical Marijuana

Because there is little defining information about what the correct dosage should be and there is little regulation in terms of how much marijuana or how many THC products each patient can purchase or ingest each day, marijuana use can hardly be termed “medical” across the board. There’s also the issue of increased marijuana-related admissions to hospitals in states where medical marijuana is legal and the increased rate of admissions to drug rehabs in which patients seek treatment for marijuana dependence, providing details of the part that medical marijuana played in helping them to develop that dependence.

Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Though some claim that there is no such thing as marijuana addiction, both anecdotal evidence and research say that the opposite is true. More than one person has sought treatment for marijuana addiction that is both physical and mental. Some experience headaches, insomnia, irritability and other withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug. Others say that they find it impossible to stop abusing the drug even though they want to. Still others report that they lied to obtain more marijuana through medical marijuana dispensaries by claiming that they had chronic pain when they didn’t.

All of these are signs of marijuana dependence. If you see these signs in yourself or someone you love, contact us today to talk about the different addiction treatment services available and which ones are right for you.

Steinberg’s Drinking Problem Started at Sports Industry Celebrations

How does a man used to jet-setting across the country with some of the biggest names in sports get to such a low point in his life? In his esteemed career Steinberg has managed the likes of Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Ben Rothlisberger, Warren Moon and Howie Long to name a few. He claims he was part of “a world that was a Disneyland of drinking.” Heavy alcohol consumption was pretty common at parties and conventions in the professional sports world, so at first there wasn’t anyone to mirror to Steinberg that his behavior was becoming abnormal.

Steinberg Takes Full Responsibility for the Continuing Fallout From His Alcoholism

Steinberg’s problem didn’t really snowball out of control, however, until he hit a series of devastating personal setbacks. First his former partner stole many clients and left to form his own company, which led to a tough legal battle. Then his two sons were diagnosed with a disease that could eventually take their eyesight, his father – who had been a major stabilizing force in his life – passed away, he lost two homes as a result of flooding, and then he and his wife ended up divorcing. Steinberg found himself living alone in an apartment for the first time in his life and was rarely able to see his kids. At this point he started drinking during the day, but never at work. Instead he would miss work and drink alone, sometimes for multiple days in a row. This was Steinberg’s way of checking out from his problems.

It took Steinberg a few attempts to get sober for good and those close to him encouraged him to concentrate fully on his recovery. His complicated finances went unattended and he also let his license lapse in a career that had been severely harmed by a lawsuit. Even though no one may envy his financial position, Steinberg has much to be proud of in terms of his recovery. Even with all these issues swirling around him, Steinberg remains committed to sobriety. He points out, “I’m responsible for my drinking. There are circumstances, but they’re not excuses. Nothing is an excuse. No one poured alcohol down my throat.”

If you know someone who needs help with problem drinking, give us a call. We can connect you with successful evidence-based treatment programs. Pick up the phone today.

Dr. Drew is going to take on the same format as Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew followed, but this time he will be working with people who have never been in the public spotlight. The individuals are not famous, but we will see how they will be undergoing the same detox and treatment methods that their celebrity counterparts underwent in prior seasons. The show is set to air this summer and producers are considering the simple new title, Rehab With Dr. Drew.

New Show Allows Dr. Drew to Reach Out to Fans Struggling With Addiction

Since Dr. Drew branded himself as an addiction expert with his first show, VH1 receives letters from fans concerned for themselves or those they love due to excessive drug and alcohol use. Fans ask for Dr. Drew’s knowledge and support in regards to the rehab process. Execs decided to heed the call for help from viewers and designed a show that speaks to the specific audience they hear from the most. The new series aims to document successful rehabilitation treatment for adults in their 20s and 30s. The show will detail the triumphs and tragedies that occur during the treatment process. Seeing the reality of individuals in recovery from the perspective of everyday people will hopefully inspire addicts who are struggling to get sober and their families.

Rehab With Dr. Drew Hopes to Spread the Message That Drug Rehab Works

With celebrities in the media constantly in and out of rehab, often multiple times without success, the general public starts to get the message that drug and alcohol treatment doesn’t work. Although it is quite normal for someone in recovery to relapse, especially in the early stages of sobriety, long-term success is achievable despite setbacks. Dr. Drew sums up his aspirations for the new show by saying, “It is my sincere hope that this show will encourage people who are struggling to seek the help. Treatment works and there is hope and recovery is possible.”

If you know someone in need of drug and alcohol rehab services we can help. Give us a call and we can connect you with the treatment program that fits your individual needs. Don’t hesitate. Call today.

In response to the devastating number of women in the area giving birth to babies addicted to pain meds, Cabell Huntington Hospital is opening a women’s addiction and recovery clinic on their grounds. They received a $50,000 grant from a concerned insurance provider that has allowed administrators to set up a 60-bed addiction maternity unit. Experts believe they will have no problem quickly filling all the beds with mothers-to-be in need. Clinic co-director Dr. David Chaffin said, “This is not a drug abuse clinic… They have a disease. We will treat them like other high-risk patients.”

Unfortunately, Babies Being Born Addicted to Drugs Is Not a New Trend

Babies who are born addicted to narcotics are not a novel phenomenon. In the ‘60s and ‘70s doctors saw babies being born in high numbers addicted to heroin, then in the ‘80s the trend turned towards crack and cocaine. Now, over the last decade, there has been a shift towards babies born dependent on prescription medications. For the first time, babies are fighting for their lives from the moment they are born as the result of a legal drug, rather than an illicit drug. Uninformed patients are becoming addicted to their prescriptions and then from shame, denial or the results of the addiction process end up pregnant with babies dependent on these meds. It is an insidious progression for most moms-to-be.

When Pregnant Moms Receive Early Intervention, Babies Are Born Drug Free

In a community near Huntington, at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, they are seeing similar statistics with anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of new moms addicted to opiate drugs. As many as an additional 20 percent may suffer from a slew of medical complications and birth defects as a result.

The good news is that with appropriate screening methods for addiction, these babies can be born free of drug dependency when their moms receive appropriate intervention during pregnancy. Mothers who receive treatment and stop using drugs by halfway to their due date can give birth to perfectly healthy and non-dependent babies as well as be sober themselves. This is the lifesaving goal of programs such as the one at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

If you know a pregnant woman addicted to drugs, call us immediately. We can connect you to top-quality, evidence-based treatment programs that can help guide both the mom and her unborn baby to a drug-free life. Call us now.

Research Team Isolates Chemical Responsible for Ancient Alcohol Remedy

The chemical, dihydromyricetin (DHM), found in the seed of the Japanese Raisin Tree has demonstrated the ability to stop the effects of alcohol in studies on rats as well as eliminating their withdrawal symptoms. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience and scientists believe the findings of their research, combined with 500 years of anecdotal data on humans using the seed of the Japanese Raisin Tree with Chinese medicine, point to a very good possibility of finding the first quality therapeutic agent for alcoholism that presents little to no side effects.

Will Modern Medicine Have the Same Results as the Ancient Cure for Alcohol Intoxication?

“Since the modern scientists will be isolating one component in Mother Nature’s extremely complex combination of chemicals that makes up every plant in nature, side effects may end up being found that the herbal treatments do not create,” says Sara Paukovich, Licensed Acupuncturist, Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. Often plants hold both a poison and its remedy in the same plant. For example, the leaf may be poisonous, but the bark is the cure. Mother Nature creates balance and that is why extreme side effects, outside of allergic reactions, are not often seen with herbal medications. More often than not, the chemicals within a plant are designed to balance each other out.

However, once modern medicine isolates a component and removes it from its natural form all bets are off. Most modern medications with all their side effects are isolated components and/or synthetic versions of nature’s original design. Although there is much promise for the use of DHM clinically, it will take further study and clinical trials to see if the isolated DHM will generate side effects in human subjects just like the other medications designed to treat alcohol dependency or if DHM is the holy grail they have been seeking for those suffering from addiction to alcohol.

What are your thoughts on a medication to stop hangovers and alcohol withdrawal symptoms? Do you think this will help in alcohol rehab or potentially be used by alcoholics to keep drinking with fewer consequences the next day? Leave us a comment below.

Whether or not you’ve experienced a drug overdose, if chronic drug abuse is a problem for you, resolving to avoid drug overdose in 2012 is a noteworthy goal. Here’s how.

Harm Reduction

Harm reduction can be a stepping stone to sobriety when patients are unable or unwilling to make the leap into 100-percent abstinence. These techniques are used to help active addicts avoid overdose and/or avoid contracting diseases through the course of drug use. According to a study published in Paediatric Child Health, some effective harm reduction measures include:

• Using needle exchanges. Active addicts can exchange dirty syringes used to inject drugs for clean needles.
• Marking personal drug use items. This allows patients to easily identify their own drug abuse tools and avoid sharing them with others.
• Using condoms and other protection. Drug users are far more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors and using protection can limit the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases.
• Education. Learning what not to do (e.g., don’t get high alone or combine any prescription drugs with alcohol) can help active drug users to avoid inadvertent overdose.

The goal of harm reduction is simple: Stay alive one more day and get one step closer to recovery.

Drug Addiction Detox and Treatment

When harm reduction is no longer effective and patients move to a place in their lives where they realize the damage they are doing to their bodies and their quality of life through continued drug abuse and addiction, it’s time to make the ultimate move in avoiding drug overdose – enroll in drug addiction treatment.

If you are ready to learn about the different types of drug detox available to you and discuss your options in comprehensive care and treatment, contact us at RehabInfo today. We can help you locate the right rehabilitation program for you, one that will be able to provide you with everything you need to let go of active addiction and make the risk of overdose a thing of the past. Call now for more information.