addiction treatment Archives - Recovery In Motion

ByNick Jones

Addiction Treatment

Why are Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers Important?

Addiction often comes with a stigma that patients are lazy or immoral. The truth is that addiction is a disorder of the brain. Just like bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression, addiction takes place in the brain. When two or more mental health disorders are present, a psychiatrist needs to diagnose each one. But that’s not all, psychiatrists must treat each one, as well. For that reason, dual diagnosis treatment centers are critically important in recovery.

What are Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers?

In 2014, 7.9 million [adults] had both a substance use disorder and another mental illness. The solution for multiple mental health disorders is to treat each of them simultaneously. In other words, psychiatrists need to treat every mental health disorder individually and at the same time. We discuss more on the relationship between dual diagnosis and addiction in the next section.

Experts once believed that dual diagnoses should be treated individually. However, as we discover more about mental health, it has become clear that there’s a better way. In fact, experts now view addiction with another mental illness as a beast all its own. So instead, doctors treat them together. This new approach has been more effective for long-term recovery from addiction.

While some addiction treatment centers focus exclusively on addiction, many have expanded their services. Dual-diagnosis treatment centers are ideal for treating all present mental disorders. They’re prepared to transition their plan of treatment immediately, if necessary. If a counselor discovers that the root of an addiction is another mental health disorder, they can easily pivot to what the patient needs.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers and Substance Abuse

Many people don’t realize they’re suffering from a mental health condition. They only know the pain they’re feeling. It’s natural to want to stop the pain, whether it be physical or emotional. Drugs and alcohol are all too effective at numbing one’s pain. We call this self-medicating. For example, a person who may be suffering from depression feels emotional pain. The euphoric effects of alcohol offer temporary respite when someone is desperate for relief.

However, this kind of relief is not without its problems. Alcohol and other substances are addictive. Instead of relieving depression, the patient unintentionally causes an additional mental health condition. This scenario is certainly common. Living with emotional pain is generally unsustainable.

What’s more, addiction can cause other mental health disorders. An endless cycle of drug or alcohol addiction has side effects. Imagine a person in pain who seeks relief through a night of binge drinking. The common hangover is often replaced by depression, anxiety and more. Therefore, dual diagnosis treatment centers are more critical now than they’ve ever been.

How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers Aid in Long-Term Recovery

Please indulge us as we dip a toe into the science of mood disorders and addiction. Chemicals in the brain regulate emotions. A chemical imbalance disrupts healthy brain function. A chemical imbalance often presents itself as a lack of impulse control, as well as feelings of depression and anxiety.

According to MentalHealth.gov, “Substance use problems occur more frequently with certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders.” Addiction has many of the same effects on the brain, including a lack of impulse control.

Individual counseling is part of an effective treatment program. During individual counseling, the patient and counselor work together to pinpoint the root of the addiction. MentalHealth.gov points out, “More than one in four adults living with serious mental health problems also has a substance use problem.” Dual diagnosis treatment centers offer an easy transition in the treatment plan for patients with dual diagnoses, or co-occurring disorders.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center

The backbone of a successful treatment for dual diagnoses is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines CBT. “CBT is designed to modify harmful beliefs and maladaptive behaviors and shows h3 efficacy for individuals with substance use disorders.”

Additionally, counselors at dual diagnosis treatment centers focus on building healthy habits and routines for life after treatment. Counselors and patients set goals, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and gain addiction education. This well-rounded treatment program offers patients with co-occurring disorders a realistic chance at a happy, healthy life. If you’re tired of suffering, there’s hope. Don’t waste another minute. Take the first step to building the life that you’ve always wanted.

ByNick Jones

Teen/Young Adult

Hollywood’s Impact on Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is an epidemic the nation has been struggling with for years. In 2013 alone, statistics showed that more than 9% of the population over the age of 12 was using drugs. Hollywood is often viewed as having a huge impact on these statistics. Many teens use celebrities as role models. When it comes to drug abuse, this can sometimes be detrimental and sometimes be a positive thing. The following guide walks you through a few of the many ways that Hollywood is having a huge impact on drug addiction in this country.

Hollywood Minimizes the Dangers of Drug Addiction

When people read stories about the celebrities they idolize drinking or doing drugs, it often gives them the impression that drug or alcohol abuse isn’t a big deal. Watching movies or television shows that depict people getting drunk or high and everything working out for them creates a false depiction of what can really happen.

It’s important for people to realize that movies and television are designed to entertain you, not necessarily be an example of what you should be doing in your everyday life. Drug addiction occurs for each person differently. There are some people who can do drugs multiple times and not become addicted to them while others only have to do a drug one time and their body instantly starts to crave it uncontrollably.

Hollywood Can Make Drug Use Look Appealing

Seeing celebrities talk about drug or alcohol abuse in a joking manner or seeing it being depicted on film or television can make someone want to try things for themselves. Many teens claim that they wanted to try a drug or drinking alcohol because of what they saw in a movie or on a television show. This can be very dangerous because the people on television or in movies are just acting. Many teens don’t realize that they aren’t in their right state of mind when they drink or do drugs. They don’t realize that they may have a negative reaction to the substances that they take and that they could develop a drug addiction.

Many people aren’t properly educated about the dangers that come with drug or alcohol abuse. They assume that if they see someone safely mixing drugs and alcohol in Hollywood that it’s safe for them to do too. This can lead to an overdose or dual dependency very quickly.

Celebrities Can Make Drug Addiction Less Shameful

Developing a drug addiction is often very shameful for people. They assume that there will be a stigma and choose not to get the help they need. This decision can easily lead to someone overdosing or trying to live in active addiction for much longer than they should.

Having famous celebrities come forward and admit that they are battling a drug or alcohol addiction and have chosen to seek professional drug addiction treatment can make it easier for the average person to have the courage to seek help too. It’s important to realize that while celebrities can have a negative influence on people, they can also have a positive influence.

Hollywood Can Make Drug Addiction Treatment Less Scary

People are afraid to seek drug addiction treatment because they are fearful. They assume that they will have to deal with horrible withdrawal symptoms and feel miserable. Hearing celebrities talk about their experiences can make it easier for someone to choose to get treatment. They feel less intimidated and can go to a treatment facility to talk about their options.

Hollywood Allows People to Realize No One is Immune to an Overdose

Many people assume that they are able to abuse drugs or alcohol without having to worry about any long-term effects. They think that they have the situation under control and know what their limits are. When celebrities overdose from drugs or alcohol, it can serve as an eye-opener for those that idolize them. It can help them to realize no one is immune to an overdose and push them to get help.

Protecting Your Loved Ones from Negative Hollywood Influences

It’s important to realize that parents can protect their children from the negative influence Hollywood has to offer. Being proactive can improve the chances of your children being able to make rational decisions when they are older. There are many things you can do to protect your kids from potential drug or alcohol abuse such as:

Educate About the Dangers: Educate your children about the dangers of drug abuse. This includes the physical, mental, and emotional dangers, as well as the legal dangers they could incur. Many teens think that because their celebrity idol didn’t get into trouble for using drugs, they won’t either.
Limit Exposure to Questionable Material: Limit what and how much content involving drug or alcohol use your child watches. Marginalizing drug or alcohol use can make it seem less dangerous to children.
Create an Open Dialogue: Ensure that your child feels safe and comfortable to talk to you. When children feel like they can talk to their parents, they’re more likely to consult with them about potential decisions.

If you think that you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, take action right away. You want to be sure treatment is started quickly. It’s a rough journey but it’s worth it to find recovery and live a more productive life.

ByNick Jones

Addiction

The Future of Arizona’s Tent City Jail – Addiction Treatment

The tent city jail is a state-operated jail facility in Arizona. In recent months, it has made its way on to headlines as a result of potential plans to transform the facility into a center for addiction treatment. The tent city jail is a facility that consists of several outdoor tents that prisoners reside in. These outdoor tents are associated with cruel and inhumane conditions due to the cold months of winter and the unbearable heat. The jail was built during the rise of Sheriff Joe Arpaio as part of a no-nonsense campaign which was meant to send a message to criminals.

Here prisoners work hard-labor jobs while eating food that the Sheriff himself boasts is terrible, and admittedly demeaned in the name of restitution. Fortunately, this is all coming to an end as the election of new Sheriff Paul Penzone promises not only a change but dignity for those who may need it the most— substance abusers.

Seeking a Solution

Penzone recognizes that the majority of Tent City’s inmates are drug offenders, or have gotten a DUI, and may not need punishment, but rather addiction treatment. With that knowledge and the unarguable fact that the nation is experiencing an Opiate abuse epidemic, Penzone sought to turn Tent City’s forbidding past into a brighter future for those serving time for substance abuse issues, or probation violations related to drug relapse. His idea was to re-purpose the facility into a state-funded drug treatment center.

The plan was officially announced in February of this year, including the closing of tent city, a full remodel and adding additional facilities which will serve as employment and housing buildings. The facility will be an extension to an existing program known as Mosaic- which evolved from the previously longstanding Alpha program— which will be 7 weeks long and will focus on helping criminals deal with trauma and behaviors that lead to criminal and substance abuse behaviors. Additionally, the employment center will help inmates learn job and interviewing skills, and provide a housing building that will help reduce homelessness issues in Maricopa County. All in all, the project aims to reduce the occurrence of repeat offenders in the Arizona jail system and reduce the rate of substance abuse relapse among former inmates.

Addiction Treatment

The new and improved facility is set to open in the summer of 2018, with an additional 700 beds between the corrections center and the employment center. Because the program is only 7 weeks in length, the facility should help rehabilitate 1,747 inmates per year, greatly combating the Opiate crisis in Arizona, while also reducing tax dollars used to house inmates for repeat offenses related to drugs and Alcohol.

While the initial investment cost is estimated at approximately $20 million, the plan also included an additional facility which would house prisoners, therefore taking money away from private prison owners, while also cutting costs on the amount of money spent annually in the Arizona jail systems by reducing the amount of returning offenders.
This new initiative is being called an opportunity by Sheriff Penzone, who recognizes that addiction needs to be treated— not punished— and is approaching the situation with both compassion and radically insightful strategy.

ByNick Jones

Steps You Can Take For a Loved One to Get Help With Addiction

The goal of anyone wanting to enter addiction treatment is long-lasting recovery. Recovery, though, consists of several steps The steps can be taken by each person in their own time and by different means. No matter how someone seeks help for addiction, every step towards recovery is a step in the right direction, away from substance abuse.

When someone you love uses drugs, he or she may come to you to ask for help with addiction. If this happens, it’s important to realize that asking for help is one of the biggest steps someone abusing drugs or alcohol can take. It’s a step that should never be ignored.

But if your loved one resists help with addiction, you can still take steps on his or her behalf to explore options for drug addiction treatment. You can also take steps to help convince a loved one to seek help.

Providing Your Loved One Help with Addiction

If loved ones have asked for your help with addiction, there are several things you can do to keep them on their path toward recovery, including:

Locating a doctor or other health professional who can diagnose addiction and make a treatment referral
Reassuring loved ones that they’re on the right path and they’re being courageous
Talking to loved ones about how science has proven that treatment works because addiction is a disease, just like diabetes and other health conditions are diseases
Telling your friend or loved one that overcoming addiction will open new positive doors and help resolve past bad decisions and disruptions his or her addiction caused
Reminding loved ones that you’re there for them and that you can be relied upon each step of the way into a happy, healthy recovery

If loved ones don’t seem to understand they need help for addiction, you can gain some support for getting them into treatment. This support may be through personal pressure as part of an intervention. During this process, professionals can provide the guidance needed to ensure treatment results.

Exploring Treatment for Help with Addiction

Even if loved ones aren’t interested in treatment, you can start exploring rehab program options. This will empower you with the right information when the time comes that they are willing to admit addiction is a problem that must be overcome. There are also times when finding a recovery program suited to loved ones’ personalities and needs may be enticing enough to help them do the right thing by entering treatment.

Recovery in Motion Residential Treatment in Tucson, AZ

Recovery in Motion in Tucson, AZ provides addiction treatment residential treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. This program has been successful in helping people from many states gain recovery from their addiction. Patients have come from as far as Chicago, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and San Diego to gain freedom from their substance abuse. Some have come as part of family and friend intervention led by Recovery in Motion, just as your loved one may need.

Recovery in Motion accepts many health insurance policies and affords family the ability to participate in recovery through the family participation program. Call Recovery in Motion today at (866) 418-1070 to learn more about getting your loved one the help he or she needs for a brighter, healthier and happier future.