What Programs Are Available at Heroin Treatment Centers?

Heroin is an opioid drug that is easy to get addicted to. Your brain holds receptors that will react to the chemicals found in these types of drugs, causing you to crave more of it. As easy as it is to get addicted to it, it’s way tougher to beat without the necessary support and medical intervention. That’s why you usually find specialized programs available at Heroin treatment centers. They’re designed to help you kick Heroin out of your system and to learn healthier alternatives to dealing with life’s issues.

There are a few different ways that treatment facilities help you recover from an addiction to a drug like Heroin. Let’s explore what those programs are and how they help you.

Detox Programs at Heroin Treatment Centers

This is the most important step to your recovery. Getting Heroin out of your system and then keeping it out will be necessary. Unfortunately, without professional help, you’ll find trying to get rid of the drug near impossible to do. Once the drug wears off, withdrawal symptoms surface. This can be so debilitating that many people turn to heroin, again, in order to deal with the negative effects. Thus making recovery that much harder to get.

A detox program often will use other medications to help you deal with withdrawals while you wait it out. These, however, will need medical supervision to ensure nothing goes wrong. Some meds a center might use to help in the detox process are:

  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone
  • Methadone

Therapy Programs at Heroin Treatment Centers

While the detox process is powerful with the use of medications, it’s more effective when combined with a facility’s therapy program. A professionally trained counselor can help you understand why your addiction may have happened in the first place. You can explore any issues you may have and learn new coping strategies to use instead of turning to heroin to be your solution.

Some centers offer other types of therapies as well. You could get into an exercise routine that not only gets you physically fit, but it will help promote great mental health too. Also, you could learn some beneficial life skills to use when you go back to your life and have to deal with everyday problems. Adding therapy or counseling sessions to your treatment program increases your chances of becoming addiction-free.

Family Programs at Heroin Treatment Centers

Individual therapy will be necessary to get down to the root of your addiction causes. But, most centers don’t want you to feel isolated and alone in your recovery. You need moral support, not just from the staff or other peers going through the same program as you, but from your family as well. Most centers feel that family involvement is a huge benefit in the rehab process.

You’ll find many facilities offering family programs to help you immerse yourself in therapy right along with them. They become an invaluable support line to cheer you on to recovery. Heroin may have isolated you, but a family treatment program will help sew your relationship back together. This will also help your family members understand where you’re coming from, so they can help you better.

After Care Programs at Heroin Treatment Centers

It’s always great to leave a treatment center feeling addiction-free, but getting over a heroin addiction will take more time than just a few weeks or months. Once you leave, you should still have support, periodically, to keep you off heroin for good. Without it, you could revert to your addiction days and use heroin or maybe another addictive drug. A good facility won’t let you leave without having some kind of aftercare support to keep you going strong.

Typically, you’ll attend group therapy sessions. You may have already started one while you were in the recovery program, but this kind of service is important for your aftercare. You have moral support from others who have been in your shoes and know exactly what it’s like. They can be your best cheer-leading team to inspire you to beat the addiction for good. Sharing your story and learning from others is an important part of your aftercare recovery process.

Since heroin addiction is so hard to get rid of, you should try to use all these treatments when you can. Each part of the program holds important aspects to your recovery and should be used together for maximum benefit. If you have questions or would like to know more about heroin treatments, call us at 800-737-0933.

How Going To Rehab Now Can Help You Avoid Long Term Effects of Opiate Addiction

Research continues to show us the science behind highly-addictive drugs like opiates. This research has allowed us to better understand the relationship between addiction and the human brain. Addiction is a disease of the brain, working both chronically and progressively. It is caused by an alteration of brain functioning, which can be due to a variety of factors, such as genetics, chemical imbalance, or injury and trauma. When this alteration in functioning occurs, a person often engages in impulsive, compulsive, and destructive behaviors. When opiates get involved, it is particularly dangerous and more difficult to kick the habit. Opiate addiction is one the most challenging to overcome, and the United States is currently experiencing an epidemic of opiate abuse.

What are Opiates?

Opiates are a particularly dangerous breed of drug due to the fact that they molecularly mimic the natural painkillers produced in the brain. Opium is derived from the poppy plant and can then be modified into many different forms, from patches and pills to powder and injectable fluid. Many opiates are legal, as they are used in medicine to treat pain. Morphine is one such example, as are many prescription painkillers.

Prescription painkillers work by bonding with the opiate receptors present in the brain, triggering pain-relieving effects within the nervous system. In small doses and when used only as necessary, they are not bad for the body. However, when opiates are taken in high doses, a different, euphoric effect is produced. The brain is triggered to release large amounts of neurochemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, flooding the brain and body with a pleasure response. When individuals take high doses for prolonged periods of time, the body becomes chemically reliant on the substance and people become dependent on the effect. The sensation caused by this flooding of neurochemicals is much more more intense than the effect produced by small doses of painkillers, which are meant to relieve pain but not overwhelm the senses. The intensity is so strong that the brain is tricked into believing that these outside substances are superior to the naturally-occurring painkillers, which in turn reinforces the drug-seeking behavior and, eventually, addiction.

Long-Term Effects of Opiate Addiction

Long-term abuse of opiates has profoundly negative effects on both the body and the brain. They fundamentally alter the internal structure and functioning of neurons and other components of the brain and change a person's ability to cope with stress and pain. Extended opiate use inhibits the body's ability to tolerate pain and discomfort, reducing its ability to fight pain naturally. This explains why many people, who begin by taking prescription painkillers after an illness or surgery, become dependent upon the pills and need them more and more. When a person stops taking the medicine after the body has become dependent on it, they can experience pain more intensely. Furthermore, when someone is given a normal dose after becoming accustomed to higher doses, the medicine can fail to be effective, as there are not enough chemicals to attach to all of the brain's available receptors In addition to causing a sick person to feel pain again, the lack of available neurochemicals can play a nasty role in mood and emotional function, causing the person to feel sad, hopeless, and powerless without the higher levels of opiates.

Unfortunately, these negative effects are long-lasting and can remain even after a person has begun the process of recovery. The psychological effects in particular can last for many years after addiction treatment, and each day is another battle in the struggle. This reason, in particular, is why it is best to seek medically-assisted treatment when deciding to try to get clean and begin recovery.

How Going to Rehab Can Help

Choosing to enter rehabilitation is the first step in the long process of recovery. At an opiate addiction treatment facility, individuals are given medical attention and assistance with detox and withdrawal and throughout recovery. The psychological components of opiate addiction are addressed through individual counseling and group therapy sessions. These are necessary elements for treating this disease. Just like a person suffering from a chronic illness needs support, so, too, do people struggling with opiate addiction. With the proper methodology and social and medical support systems, the cycle of opiate addiction can be broken, and the goal of achieving long-lasting recovery can be seen as attainable.

Don't let your life be destroyed by opiate dependence. Our counselors are ready and waiting to help you help yourself now. Call us today at 800-737-0933 to start your journey to recovery.

5 Reasons Why an Inpatient Drug Rehab Is Better Than Outpatient

If you don't have experience with drug and alcohol rehabilitation, you may have questions about the difference between inpatient treatment and an outpatient program. You may feel inclined to select an outpatient treatment option without understanding the differences.

The differences between the two are very important to consider before you make a decision which to choose. Here is information that will help to show you why opting to enroll in an inpatient drug rehab may be a better choice than choosing an outpatient program.

Why Would You Choose Inpatient over Outpatient Treatment?

The first thing to appreciate when thinking about these two treatment choices is that inpatient is residential. There are benefits from being in a residential setting during the early stages of your recovery.

The level of personal attention at an inpatient facility is also an important feature to remember. Outpatient therapists are trained to provide the support tools you need for your recovery.

However, inpatient counselors are available 24 hours and through the residential environment they will become a part of your recovery family. These differences are not listed to make you think outpatient treatment is a bad thing.

However, there are things to consider that are very important when you are faced with a choice between the two drug rehab options. Here are five simple reasons why an inpatient drug treatment is better than outpatient.

The Harsh Reality of Detox

There are intense physical and mental side effects during detox. No one should ever consider trying to self-detox themselves. Inpatient facilities will provide you with a safe, structured period of inpatient detoxification.

Your detox period will be medically monitored, so you complete it safely and successfully. Without this period of medically supervised detoxification, you put yourself and your recovery at risk.

Changing Your Environment

When you select an outpatient treatment program, you will return to your own residence when you're not in session. Many of the things that might trigger you to relapse will be right in front of your face. In an inpatient facility, you will reside with like-minded people.

The people you will be living with during this important early stage in your recovery will be people striving towards recovery just like you are. Things from your old environment that might trigger a relapse will be removed during this delicate period in your recovery.

24 Hour Support System

In an outpatient program you will have the support of counselors and staff. However, when you step away from the facility you will be on your own. In a residential inpatient facility, a professional staff of compassionate counselors will be available 24 hours a day.

When you're first considering which type of treatment program to select, this aspect of a residential setting may not seem important. However, as you begin to experience challenges to your mental state of mind, it is so critical to have someone to talk with.

No Distractions

One thing that derails many attempts at recovery is the everyday distractions inherent in life. When you make the commitment to enroll in an inpatient recovery program, you can remove life's hassles from the equation long enough to build a foundation towards successful recovery.

Building a Recovery Family

There will be many stages in your recovery where you will build new relationships. Sure, you may well make lifelong friends in an outpatient program. However, there is nothing quite like the bond you will build with some in your residential treatment community.

The sense of family created at an inpatient facility cannot be replicated in an outpatient environment. When you leave the residential community, you will carry with you, friendships for life that are akin to building a new family in your recovery.

While your needs and how severely you are addicted play a role in which treatment program you should consider, ultimately it is better to err on the side of caution. If there is any question in your mind whatsoever, you should elect to enroll in a residential inpatient facility.

The fact is, your life may well depend on this single decision. If you're like many people struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, you may be confused about your next should be. To help you make this all-important life decision, counselors are ready to speak with you 24 hours a day. Help is only a phone call away. Call 800-737-0933

Why Opiate Addiction Treatment Requires A Medical Detox

The United States is in the grip of an opioids epidemic, with estimated 2.6 million Americans dealing with some form of opioid addiction. What makes opioid addiction particularly frightening is the prevalence of overdoses leading to more than 40,000 deaths per year. If you or someone you love is addicted to an opioid, it’s imperative that you get them treatment as soon as possible. In doing so, it’s important to know that proper opioid addiction treatment requires a medical detox as part of the process.

While it’s possible to stop taking opioids ‘cold turkey’, the process is intensely uncomfortable both from a physical and mental standpoint. When you combine that with the fact that opioid addictions are among the most powerful addictions out of any narcotic or addictive substance, the odds of recovering from an opioid addiction without a robust and supportive regimen including medical detox are low. Defeating an opioid addiction is one of the more difficult feats a person will undergo, and treating it with a medical detox is the most effective way known to get clear of opioids for good.

Why Opioid Addiction Requires Medical Detox

An opioid refers either to the street drug heroin or any of a number of pharmaceutical medications like OxyContin, Fentanyl, Percocet, Vicodin, Morphine, Codeine or several others. These drugs operate in a similar way in all cases, though their strength, release cycle and a few other attributes may be different. The bottom line I that the drug attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain cells, producing feelings of euphoria and blocking out the feeling of pain.

The body becomes dependent on regular infusions of the opioid of choice, and in the absence of any medical intervention will begin to manifest a number of negative physical, mental and emotional symptoms as withdrawal occurs.

Symptoms of Untreated Opioid Withdrawal

Depending on whether the opioid of abuse is a short-acting or a longer-acting one, symptoms of withdrawal will generally begin to manifest themselves anywhere from between 12 hours to 30 hours of the last dose. It should be stressed that the symptoms of opioid addiction aren’t generally life-threatening, in contrast with withdrawal from certain other substances like alcohol. However, they tend to be extremely unpleasant, and medical detox treatment can go a long way toward smoothing the transition off opioids into something the person can bear.

Symptoms of opioid addiction withdrawal include both physical and mental/emotional symptoms, and are as follows:

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL

  • Alternating Chills and Sweats
  • Feelings of Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle Aches
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive Tearing of the Eyes
  • Runny Nose
  • Difficulty Sleeping
  • Restlessness

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Irritability

Opioid withdrawal symptoms will usually begin to abate by around the week mark after the last dose, though certain opioids have longer half-lives and remain within the body for longer periods of time.

Ways to Medicate Opioid Addiction Treatment

A number of medical techniques exist to mitigate or ease the effects of opioid withdrawal. The first one, in certain cases, would be to taper the dosage of the specific opioid the person is taking. This is a more viable treatment option of certain opioids, and a far less viable one for something like heroin. The alternative would be to use another medication to substitute for the opioid of abuse. The most commonly used medication for this is Methadone, which is a long-acting opioid used especially to treat heroin addiction. It’s worth noting that Methadone being an opioid itself means that some risk of abuse and overdose remains.

Other medical options include Suboxone and Subutex, two more opioid-substitutes which are regarded as even less overdose-prone than methadone. Any of these options will cut down on the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and therapy and treatment can lead to the prescription of mood stabilizers to deal with some of the mental and emotional symptoms as well. A combination of medications can smooth the transition from extreme physical and mental dependency and dramatically reduce cravings.

There’s no shame or stigma in needing help to beat an opioid addiction, and a medical detox to treat opioid addiction is critical to producing a successful outcome. If you or someone you care about is suffering from an opioid addiction, don’t wait. We can help - call now 800-737-0933

Pointers For Staying Sober After Going Through An Opiate Detox Center

An addiction problem has been recognized. The addict has successfully undergone professional opiate detox, which is no easy feat. The drugs are now out of the addict’s system, and the addict and his/her loved ones are left to figure out how to accomplish holistic recovery and continue the prized sobriety. Here are some pointers for staying sober after going through an opiate detox center.

Go From Detox Straight Into A Rehab Program

Addiction programs vary greatly, but most include four broad key elements:

•Intake
•Detox
•Rehabilitation
•Recovery

Intake simply collects information, and it’s the point at which professionals will determine if and how you need to be detoxed. Once you’ve detoxed and your initial withdrawals from the opiates are manageable, it will be up to you, if voluntary, or the entity that’s ordered your placement in a facility, if involuntary, as to whether you continue forward to the rehabilitation phase.

It’s important to understand that physical detox is only the start of recovery. There’s a long road ahead of it still to be traversed. Some choose to try to rehab themselves. However, if available to you, a rehabilitation program can be an invaluable aspect of sobriety.

Rehabilitation treatment should be aimed at holistically addressing all areas of your life, not just your substance addiction. It will explore cognitive behavior therapies. Expect to explore areas such as:

•Mental state
•Personal history for the core of addiction behaviors
•Nutrition
•Physical health
•Family therapy
•Individual therapy
•Group therapy
•Necessary pharmaceutical treatment
•Developing long-term recovery strategies

Remember that there’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment for addiction. There’s a lot of inpatient and outpatient options available. Find a program that’s a good match for your needs and circumstances, and then be ready to commit however much time is deemed necessary to complete the program.

Take Advantage Of Follow Up Programs

Recovery can be short lived if you don’t have adequate support as you transition from the reclusiveness of rehab back to your daily life. Research aftercare and follow up programs to continue the help you need to traverse addiction.

Such programs may include a slow or plotted reintroduction to normal day-to-day life, such as through weekend reprieves at an addiction center or going from the rehab center into a sober living facility. Follow up programs have many other offerings including:

•Drug and alcohol testing
•Nicotine addiction support
•Group, individual, and family therapies
•Help forming new patterns and lifestyle choices
•Stress reduction and coping skills
•Strategies for family members to support their recovering loved ones
•Job and vocational training
•Anger management classes
•Group activities and outings with other dealing with addiction

Find Sober Friends

One of the biggest risks to a recovering addict’s sobriety is returning to socialize with those not sober. There’s tremendous self-inflicted pressure to be who you once were and do what you once did to fit in where you once fit in; there’s also a tremendous amount of peer pressure to be the “old you.” It’s painful, but the lifestyles and behaviors of others that no longer align with the sober you should be cut away. Removing this temptation from your life will make room for relationships that do support and enable you to progress along the path of recovery.

Tips for building new sober support:

•Work on reestablishing trust and honesty within healthy relationships
•Find a new circle of friends
•Join a social activity that excludes addictive substances

Abandon Old Stomping Grounds

It’s the same as with friends. You can’t hangout in the same places sober as you did not sober. Doing so brings forth memories and temptations that do nothing but eat away at your resolve, self-esteem, and goals to move forward.

Evaluate Your Total Environment

From where you live to where you work, carefully examine each facet of how you’re living to determine if it supports or detracts from your sobriety. Maybe you’re a waitress in Palm Beach serving alcohol. Maybe you live in South Florida area heavy with recreational drug users or have a roommate that throws frequent parties.

There will hopefully be a time when the actions of others and your environment plays a lesser role in your sobriety, but these changes are particularly important in the early timeframes of recovery. And, it’s okay if those changes need to be permanent. Prioritize yourself and your sobriety and work to remove anything unsupportive or not conducive.

For many, abandoning friends, lifestyles, hangouts, jobs, and/or homes all add up to questioning who they are as a person - an identity crisis. It will require focusing on the positive, not negative. A new environment gives you vast room to explore new possibilities without every single moment being something that triggers your cravings.

Focus On Mental Health

Stress, depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions can quickly and easily result in relapse. Meditation and a routine exercise program are useful tools for both your mental and physical health. These bathe your brain in feel good endorphins and chemicals and release tension held in muscles. As you see the results of routine exercise and meditation, you’ll also feel more self-confident and be refocused on your personal goals, not the history of your addition. Include a well-balanced diet that supports mental health; if you’re not participating in an after care program, then consult a nutritionist for a diet plan.

Always Be Self-Aware

Relapse most often has a personal trigger behind it. Know thy own self. Understand your vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and triggers. Capture these thoughts immediately verses letting them swirl around unaddressed until they become overwhelming. Talk with a sober friend or family member, counselor, or support group to determine the best way to address the issue.

Addicts often times have an undiagnosed co-occurring mental health issue, whether it be depression or OCD, that affects their long-term sobriety. Mental illness worsens substance abuse. Substance abuse then worsens mental illness. Worsening mental illness then increases substance abuse. It can be a vicious cycle if not addressed. Be honest in your intake and rehabilitation processes so that any mental health issues can be identified and addressed if they exist.

These seven pointers for staying sober after going through an opiate detox center can help you reach your long-term sobriety objective. Are you ready to start or continue on your road to recovery? Call us today 800-737-0933

More Reasons Why An Alcohol Detox Center Is Much Safer Than Trying To Do It On Your Own

If you are tired of letting alcohol control your life and have a strong desire to quit, you have achieved the first step of the recovery process. The mistake a lot of men and women make in this regard is attempting to quit on their own. It's not that it's entirely impossible to do so. It's the risks involved that make that a poor decision.

Finding the right alcohol detox center and following through with action is the right way to go about it. If you have been drinking heavily for a significant amount of time, then a detox center is definitely the right choice. There are several reasons for this, even if your problems with alcohol might not be considered severe by yourself or others.

Misconceptions About Alcohol

Because alcohol is legal and is marketed to the public, there have been misconceptions about it. There was a time in this country when alcohol was prohibited. This was due to the high rate of corruption, crime and social problems of society, much of which was linked to alcoholism. It was also a tax burden because of all the jails and shelters that were built as a result.

The fact remains that alcohol consumption can be very dangerous, even in moderation. It's a drug like any other drug and, because of this, it has harmful effects on the brain and nervous system. The longer regular alcohol consumption persists, the harder it is to overcome the damage that has been done.

Misconceptions About Withdrawal Symptoms

People who realize they have drinking problems will often try to quit cold turkey on their own. Although this might last for a while, many times they return to drinking again. Each time they do, their drinking gets worse. This is because of the withdrawal symptoms, although this might not be perceived as such. They will often question their level of discipline and willpower, blaming themselves for their relapse.

Alcohol is highly addictive and takes a toll on the nervous system. Many times, after quitting, the really significant withdrawal symptoms don't surface until about two days later, sometimes longer. Nervousness, agitation, insomnia and anxiety are some of them. This goes on for a while and they eventually return to drinking. You need a detox center to help you through the withdrawal process, educate you about withdrawal symptoms and suggest further treatment options.

How Bad Can Withdrawal Symptoms Get?

Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and life-threatening, especially when you try to quit by yourself. Some of them are not so life threatening, but nonetheless troublesome. These can include headaches, dizziness, anxiety and nausea. However, there is also a risk of seizures and a racing heartbeat. Sometimes these racing heartbeats can lead to cardiac arrest. Blood pressure levels might also rise so high that there might be a risk of a stroke, especially if you have had a problem with high blood pressure in the past.

There are several very critical things that a detox center can do to prevent you from succumbing to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms:

  • Monitor your condition with top-tier medical equipment
  • Provide the necessary medication to control withdrawal intensity
  • Keep you comfortable as the alcohol leaves your system
  • Provide critical medical care when there is an emergency
  • Guide you to further treatment options after a successful detox

If you try to quit drinking alcohol on your own, there is also a strong chance that you might relapse. This is especially true if you have been drinking heavily for a long time and this is the first time you have thought about quitting. If this is the case, there is a lot you still don't understand about your condition.

It can be one of the most terrifying things about struggling with alcohol addiction. Each time a person quits and relapses, the withdrawal symptoms are worse than before. This has been proven over and over again. As the brain and body are abused over time, the injury is worse than before, making it harder to quit for good. Some people have to experience relapsing multiple times before the horror of it convinces them to seriously seek help. Please don't be one of those examples. Get help now and brighten your future prospects.

Are you finally ready to leave the hangovers, confusion and depression that alcohol is causing in your life behind? Call us today at 800-737-0933. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to help you get well.

Why a Florida Heroin Detox May be a Better Choice Than Staying Close to Home

Beating heroin addiction is often a challenging task that many can't do on their own. That's why it is essential to visit a residential treatment facility and to get high-quality and specialized care. However, it is often best to get care at a residential detox center in Florida, rather than in one that is closer to your home city or state.

There are many reasons that coming to Florida for treatment is a better idea than staying close to home. Going to Florida might seem challenging for those who are struggling with heroin addiction. However, staying at a residential care center in another state (particularly a comfortable one like Florida) is often a better choice than getting treatment near your friends and family members.

Addiction Creates Patterns of Behavior

When a person is addicted to heroin, they end up following a variety of behavior patterns. For example, they will purchase it from specific individuals, use it in certain areas, only shoot up with people whom they trust, and behave in other predictable ways. That's because people are creatures of habit and will follow the same patterns excessively.

The same is true of heroin addiction, which is why it can be so hard for people to beat it successfully. Beyond the fact that physical dependence on heroin is so severe, the emotional reliance can be just as tough. Individuals often become dependent on these patterns of behaviors and find them soothing and comforting, even if they are slowly killing them.

That's just one reason why people who are addicted to heroin often fight against treatment. Another is the fact that they are getting influenced by outside circumstances. Many will get bad advice from either their dealer or other friends who use heroin. These people may find a way to influence their addiction or to keep it going, even when they are in a residential treatment center.

Breaking Those Patterns Often Requires a Change of Scenery

That negative influence is one of the main reasons that going to Florida for heroin addiction treatment is such a wise choice. Florida is an interesting state because it is a peninsula, meaning that it can be hard to access. It is also pretty far away from most places, meaning that you or your loved one will be isolated from friends and family members at home.

While this may be difficult to handle emotionally at first, it can be a godsend for those who keep falling into the same patterns of abuse. That's because they'll be separated from the people who affect their heroin use. They'll also be taken out of the situations that contribute to their drug use, such as the homes or areas that trigger the need to do heroin.

In this scenario, isolation is a blessing and not a curse. It will force you or your loved one to focus on treating addiction by eliminating use triggers. Going through detox will help clear your head and make it easier to see how devastating heroin is on your life. You can then work through any influencing factors in a caring and healthy residential treatment environment.

Residential Care Provides a Healing Recovery Environment

Residential care centers in Florida treat heroin addiction in a multifaceted way. For example, they will detoxify your body from opiates using a controlled decrease of replacement medications. In this way, you can avoid the pain and life-threatening severity of heroin withdrawal symptoms.

They can then assess your physical and emotional health damage and treat them appropriately. For example, you will receive healthy meals and supplements that help to heal your body from any undernourishment your addiction may have caused. Then, any mental health issues that triggered or contributed to your addiction can be discussed healthily.

Don't Hesitate to Get the Help You Need

If heroin addiction is ripping your family apart and you aren't sure what to do, it is wise to talk to a residential detox and rehabilitation center in Florida. There are many different groups that you can visit, but you should consider contacting us to learn more about this process.

Our counselors are available 24 hours a day and will find a treatment center that works for you. They will also work with your insurance needs to find a way to pay for your care. So call us at 800-737-0933 today to learn more and to get started on the path to full recovery. It is the best decision you will ever make.

Why Uniformed Services Personnel Should Go To A Rehab That Has A Specific Program Designed For Them

The life of a person in uniform is often one of boring routines mixed with times of abject terror. Sometimes the terrifying times stretch out longer and longer and in the back of their mind, the uniformed person is dreaming of being bored just for another day, even an another hour. Whether they are EMTs, policemen, military personnel or firefighters, the job can become such a contrast of mundane and danger that they start looking to drugs and alcohol just to start coping. When their addiction reaches a critical level and they need to seek treatment, it is better if the program is geared specifically for their needs. The rehab program that a uniformed person goes to must understand not only the addiction itself but the underlying problems that led them to start abusing in the first place. If those issues are not addressed during treatment they are not likely to be addressed at all and there will be a higher risk of relapse.

The Problems Faced by Uniformed Workers

Danger is just another part of the job for police officers, the military and firefighters. Even paramedics can be attacked on the job and many are facing the additional stress of drug overdoses. Anyone who puts on a badge or a uniform faces problems that can include:

  • Depression
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Survivor's guilt
  • Insomnia

It all goes back to the stress of their job. They may see people they know be killed. They may run in to a burning building but fail to rescue a family, lose a coworker and then wonder why they were spared. Every day they leave their homes and family and wonder if they will come home. Every night they try to forget what they spent their day doing but the memories keep coming back.

Job Specific Treatment

The military has its own rules about addiction and treatment. The benefit is the sense of shared experience. It is hard to talk about your time in a foreign country, in an active danger situation with someone who has never had a similar experience at all. The same can be said for any of the uniformed services personnel; if there is no shared experience it is hard to get them to open up. They keep things inside. They may pretend in front of friends and family that everything is okay. They may even be doing their drinking and/or drug use in complete secrecy. Until everything starts to unravel the family may believe them.

The fear that others in your unit or department will start second-guessing everything is also another thing that must be addressed especially if the person will be returning after they complete treatment. There may be worry that recent events will be blamed on drug use. That thought probably is one that plagues the mind as well.

Returning to Duty With a Plan

During treatment, the uniformed personnel may need to address whether they will be coming back to duty, what type of duty they will be allowed to return to (if at all) and where they will be going. Because every department and the military have such varied policies it is impossible to know what is likely to happen but it is important that a plan be put into place. There will probably be required meetings and drug testing. The types of duty may be strictly limited and may be different from what the person performed before entering rehab. This may be to help lessen stress on the person especially at first but it may also be for the benefit of others that they will be working with.

It may also be important for the person to have a point of contact person that they can turn to for days when they can't cope with their stresses or for days when they feel like they are going to relapse. This is a good time for others in the department to step up and become secondary support systems as well.

It is important that people remember that their uniform is not magic protection against stress and worry. They are still humans with fears and stress that sometimes become way too much to handle. Seeking treatment can help them get back to the person they were hoping to be when they put the uniform on in the first place.

If you are ready to seek treatment for your own addiction problem, give us a call at 800-737-0933 right away.

How Does FMLA Work While You are in Drug Rehab?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 was established to help protect employees who were facing certain medical and family issues that may require extended time away from their job. Most commonly associated with maternity leave, this federal law gives certain protected employees the ability to take up to 12 weeks off in a single year for qualifying medical or family reasons.

Not everyone is included in the protection of the FMLA and there are other things that you should know even if you are given this time off. In addition, there are further restrictions placed on people who are using the leave for rehab including restrictions that may be placed on them when they return to work.

Qualifying for FMLA for Rehab

Certain employees are automatically covered by this leave. These include government employees at all levels (local, state and federal) as well as teachers and other school employees. To qualify for the leave otherwise you must:

  • Be an employee at the same company for more than 1 year
  • Have worked at least 1250 hours in that time period
  • You must work in a company that has at least 50 employees either in 1 location or within 75 miles of each location

If you are giving an extended notice for the time off, you do not have to give an exact reason for the request. However, if you are suddenly faced with the need for rehab or have been court ordered to go unexpectedly, you may have to reveal that fact to your employer. At this time the employer may be able to deny the leave based on inadequate notice meaning that you would be forced to take time off without the protection of the leave. You will probably lose your job in this situation.

While You are On Leave

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will receive any pay while you are on leave regardless of why you are there. If you have been a long-time employee and have vacation and sick days saved up, you can use those days during the early part of your rehab. In some cases you may qualify for temporary disability payments during your treatment. This typically gives you a portion of your usual paycheck while you are not working. There may be restrictions and time limits on this pay and it will be substantially less than your regular pay. In some companies you will get descending amounts until you either return or the disability payment ends.

When You Return from Rehab

In some companies you may come back to new policies. You may need to take random or recurring drug tests usually at your own expense. Additional restrictions and limits may also be placed on you. These may be temporary, for instance for a 3 month probationary period. You may also be brought back in a different job with a different title but equal pays after your leave has ended.

These restrictions may not be put in place if you didn't give full details of your leave when you requested it.

Caring for a Loved One in Rehab

If you are not the one that needs a treatment center you may still qualify for family leave since it was designed to be used to care for family members. The difference here is that drug testing and other restrictions cannot be placed on an employee who is returning from caring for a family member with an addiction. Again, if you are giving adequate time before the leave starts you do not have to provide full details as to why the time is needed. Even the best and most caring employer can become a different person if the problem is with drugs and alcohol.

Additional Protections Under the FMLA Law

While employee/employer handbooks can explain policies somewhat there are times when conflicts will arise. These disputes can sometimes lead to legal battles where you may have to fight to get your job back or to get the leave that you are qualified for. Other laws that may protect you include the Americans with Disabilities Act and some discrimination laws.

Be sure that you have read the handbook before making claims as some employers can disallow certain conditions (including addiction treatment) from their leave act. As long as it is company wide and equally enforced it is allowable.

If you are ready to start your treatment, you can do so today. Reach out to our counselors at 800-737-0933 today.

Do Treatment Centers Allow You To Make Phone Calls When You Want To While You Are There?

Getting clean and sober is the most important thing for individuals who are suffering under the yoke of drug or alcohol addiction. Addiction destroys the quality of life and relationships. Drugs and alcohol take a heavy toll on the body. With today's dangerously potent opioid drugs, the toll on a person's health happens very quickly, even if the person is young and healthy when the addiction begins.

Because recovery is such an imperative, entering a detox and rehab program is essential. Many people resist or defer entering rehab because they fear a loss of freedom. Every rehab has a structured environment that is managed for the purpose of making drug and alcohol use impossible during treatment. The environment is also made to help clients focus on treatment. Many clients and their families have questions about rehab rules, such as whether clients can make phone calls and whether phone use is restricted.

Cellphone Use While In Treatment

Each rehab has a policy regarding cellphones. Many centers require clients to surrender their cellphones while in the addiction recovery center. Other centers may allow cellphone use, though they reserve the right to restrict use if there is a problem. Cellphones are of primary concern for several reasons, including the following:

  • Potential contact with drug dealers
  • Patient privacy
  • Distraction from treatment
  • Trigger potential

Rehab centers are vigilant about keeping drugs out of the centers. A common problem is a client who contacts a friend or even a drug dealer. Someone may then attempt to smuggle narcotics into the rehab. Some facilities see banning cellphones as a way to combat this.

Patient privacy has become a concern with smartphones. Clients could take pictures while inside the rehab that compromise the privacy of other clients. Videos and recordings could also be made that could be used to breach confidentiality.

Rehab centers want clients focused on recovery. If the clients are consistently talking to outside sources, they may not be using their time at the center to its full potential. For this reason, many centers restrict cellphone use.

Smartphones provide ample opportunities for exposure to substance use triggers. The Internet, email, and phone conversations may cause temptation or distress that makes clients vulnerable to feeling that they need drugs or alcohol. Treatment centers want clients to feel they are not in need of these substances.

Use Of Phones At The Facility

Most rehab centers have phones available for client use. If a center restricts cellphone use, it most likely has client phones. There are usually rules for phone use, and phone use could be monitored. Generally, the phones are available at certain times and for certain call lengths. However, some court-ordered rehab programs may have additional restrictions. It is best to check with the individual rehab about the phone policy.

Stages of Rehab

Phone use policies may also be different at various treatment stages. Many substance abuse treatment programs provide a detox clinic followed by a rehab program. Detox clinics involve medically supervised treatment that is meant to cleanse clients of the harmful toxins in their bodies. Rehab is a longer-term stage of recovery that involves therapy, education, and support.

While in detox, clients experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms range from uncomfortable to painful to unbearable. In some cases, withdrawal is medically dangerous. During detox, clients receive treatment for these distressing and sometimes dangerous symptoms. Treatment eases the symptoms, allowing the client to comfortably adjust to being drug and alcohol free.

During rehab, clients have passed the acute stage of addiction recovery. Having physically adjusted to being substance free, they enter therapy programs aimed at preventing future relapse. These include several approaches, such as:

  • Group therapy
  • Individual therapy
  • Addiction education
  • Mental health treatment
  • Spiritual guidance
  • 12-step programs
  • Art therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Aftercare
  • Others

Phone policies may depend on whether the client is in detox or rehab. Also, it may depend on the type of therapies provided at the rehab, as well as the rehab's philosophy. Some rehabs have more structure and rules while others want to create a more co-operative environment.

Rehab and detox are difficult but necessary for recovery. Confronting addiction, experiencing withdrawal, and defeating relapse triggers takes work and patience. In time, many clients are able to leave substance abuse in the past. Once the drugs are out of their systems, they are able to focus their lives on other priorities and forget all about drug and alcohol use.

Ready to get started?  Call us today for immediate help: 800-737-0933