Category: Drug Rehabilitation

Green Recovery House Sign

Alternatives to Twelve-Step Programs

When many people think of addiction recovery, one of the first things that come to mind is the group Alcoholics Anonymous (or AA) and the 12-step program for recovery.  While Alcoholics Anonymous and similar groups are typically thought of as treatment, they are more accurately defined as support groups.  Unfortunately, according to addiction treatment researcher Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., studies seem to indicate that only 25-35 percent of addicts who attend an AA meeting actually go on to continue with the program and attend meetings regularly.

Women for Sobriety

Women for Sobriety was created by Jean Kirkpatrick in the 1970s.  Jean Kirkpatrick held a doctorate in sociology and focused her program on the premise that women with drinking problems require a different recovery approach and plan than men do.  Women for Sobriety is an abstinence-based program which sets out to first tackle the emotional issues that may lead to addiction.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery uses a cognitive-behavior approach that encourages its members to first acknowledge the emotional and environmental factors for drug and alcohol use and then to respond to these factors in new and more productive ways.  SMART Recovery is abstinence-based; however, it does welcome individuals who are ambivalent about their recovery.  It has over 600 groups based in the United States, and it also has a youth program along with a Family & Friends program.

LifeRing Secular Recovery

LifeRing Secular Recovery was formed over a decade ago.  It has three main principles— sobriety, secularity, and self-help.  This group focuses on human efforts instead of divine intervention.  It also holds the belief that the key to recovery is within the individual and is based on their own motivation and effort.

Refuge Recovery

Refuge Recovery is a nonprofit, mindfulness-based addiction recovery organization. They provide a community that uses Buddhist philosophy to help people recover from addiction. Inspired by the teachings of the Four Noble Truths, Refuge Recovery places emphasis on being more empathetic and understanding.

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery was founded by John Baker in 1991. Focusing on a Christ centered approach, Celebrate Recovery has spread to recovery houses, rescue missions, universities, and prisons around the world. To date over 35,000 Celebrate Recovery churches have been opened with over 5 million individuals having completed the Celebrate Recover’s Step Study, a program created to bring the healing power of Christ to those that are suffering, broken, and having life difficulties like as addiction.

Although Alcoholics Anonymous is not for everyone there are many other support groups available, such as the groups listed above.  These other groups may be more useful approaches if someone struggling with addiction does not find Alcoholics Anonymous to be the best approach.

Drug Detox Symptoms and Treatment in Boston Massachusetts

Drug Detox – Symptoms and Treatment

From Drug Consumption to Drug Dependence

Most users of substances started using with the idea that they would try the substance, and maybe use it recreationally.  No one plans to become dependent, and many don’t even realize it’s happening.  Casual consumption turns to dependence psychologically and physically.  As use becomes more frequent, drug tolerance is developed, which can start the path to drug dependence, and drug addiction.  Drug tolerance simply means that the drug effects diminish, and more of the drug is needed to achieve the same feeling.  As users take more and more to get the desired effect, the risk of drug overdose becomes higher.

 Drug Addiction and Drug Withdrawal

As drug consumption continues, and drug tolerance is increased, our brains change to account for the increased use.  Stopping or reducing use, with many substances, can lead to drug withdrawal, as drug detoxification takes place in the body.  With opiates/opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and even nicotine, this physical drug withdrawal can be very uncomfortable.  People feel physically sick, and their brain craves the drug, often motivating individuals to take actions that they would not normally take- like stealing, skipping work, and lying to family and friends.

Drug Detox and Drug rehabilitation

Drug detoxification serves multiple purposes.  It provides external accountability to help people not give up and use, it provides medical care to ensure that the user is safe during the body’s detox process, and it also serves to keep the user more comfortable through the process.  Detox is still hard, but a professional detoxification can make the process considerably safer and more comfortable, than doing it on your own.  Once the body is detoxed, the process of rehabilitation can start.

What does it mean to enter drug rehabilitation?

Drug rehabilitation is the process of making changes in your life to avoid falling back into drug use and drug addiction.  There are a great number of ways that people can start a path in recovery, and many times this starts after drug detox, with some kind of treatment.  If the user has the opportunity to engage an inpatient or residential treatment, this is often a great start to the recovery process.  What’s commonly referred to as “rehab” is this kind of treatment, where someone lives at the treatment center for a period of time; this allows for the focus to be placed solely on recovery, and it also helps the person remain accountable to their sobriety.

After treatment has taken place, it’s time for the person in recovery to re-enter their lives.  This may include returning to work or family.  It may also include designing a new life that is very different from what they engaged during active addiction.  At Tharros, we focus on this stage of recovery.  To learn more about our approach, and what you can expect at Tharros, visit our website at www.TharrosHouse.com