A: This is your husband’s addiction, not yours, but there are certain steps that you can take to help your husband reach the point where he is willing to get help for his Vicodin addiction.

1. Educate Yourself
Research drug and alcohol rehab centers. There are many key elements to consider when choosing a drug program such as the success rate of the program, the location, length, and price. What methods do they use? What services and follow-up do they provide? Remember, the better educated you are on drug rehab centers that are available, the more likely you are to convince your husband regarding the right treatment option for his addiction.

2. Intervention
This doesn’t mean flush his Vicodin down the toilet, or make him sleep on the couch. This means organize an intervention. Use a professional who is trained in this field. Unite the family and make sure that everyone has the same common goal in mind – to get your husband to the right drug and alcohol rehab center. Remember that you are already a step ahead since your husband has already admitted that he has a problem. Now, it’s simply a matter of becoming educated about what drug rehab center is right for him and intervening so that he can get the help he needs and your marriage, your home, and ultimately his life can be saved and restored.

Q: I’m thirty-four years old and have been addicted to crystal-meth for 4 years. I keep trying to go to meetings, but I always relapse. My parents said that they would pay for a drug and alcohol rehab center, but they want me to go to some rehab that lasts for like 3 months. I keep telling them that I have a job that won’t wait that long. Isn’t 28 days enough?

A: The answer is simple. 28 days is rarely enough to combat a crystal meth addiction. 28 day drug and alcohol rehab facilities have extremely low success rates. Remember this is your life at stake and perhaps your last chance. A 90 day program or longer will give you the time that you need to reevaluate your life and overcome your addiction. Ask yourself this: Would you sacrifice your life to spare your job?
Almost all 28 day programs recommend NA or AA meetings as a follow-up. Since you have already tried meetings and have found that you continue to use meth, a different approach to drug treatment would be more appropriate for you. Research different types of drug and alcohol rehab centers and find one that uses an alternative method. A good place to start is an effective Drug Rehab Program. You are well on your way to breaking free from your meth addiction. It can be done. Don’t give up.

Q: My husband keeps telling me that I smoke too much pot and that I should go to drug rehab program. I probably do smoke a little too much, but I’m no drug addict. Besides, a drug and alcohol rehab center would cost too much and my husband is not thinking about who will take care of the children while he is at work. I’ve heard that there’s a pill or something that I can take that will reduce my cravings for marijuana. With so much to do every day, isn’t this a better option than taking the time to go to rehab?

A: Unfortunately, many people fall into the “quick fix” trap that is associated with drug and alcohol addiction. Yes, there may be medications available to decrease your cravings for marijuana, however as appealing as this may seem, there is still no pill to deal with the reasons why you started smoking marijuana to begin with. Addiction is deceiving, and although you may not see yourself as an addict, your husband was concerned enough to bring it up in the first place. Attending a drug and alcohol rehab center may take time away from your children, but what has your addiction cost you already? How much more will it cost you if your “magic” pill doesn’t quite do the trick? Drug addiction can be beaten; however, it is more than just a craving that led you to become addicted to marijuana, and you must deal with all the issues that surround your addiction to live a sober and productive life.

Contrary to popular belief you cannot die from opiate withdrawal. The only drugs that you can die during withdrawal from are alcohol, and benzodiazepines. Opiate withdrawal does cause the person to experience flu like symptoms, cramps, and mental health problems. The flu like symptoms usually consist of but are not limited to a runny nose, cold sweats, chills, and diarrhea.

These physical symptoms are very uncomfortable, but will usually only last between 48 to 36 hours. The cravings for opiates should be fewer at this point as well. Mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression can be ongoing and should be evaluated by a licensed doctor or psychiatrist.

There is good news though. Modern advancements in medicine have produced drugs to help minimize the withdrawal effects. Some common medicines used are suboxone, methadone, librium, catapres, and the recently approved Vivitrol.

Most hospitals have a detox unit available to help one get through the withdrawal process from opiates. Typically once admitted you will be monitored for a period of about 5 days. This great service is very effective but does not come cheap. You should expect to be billed roughly $5000.00 for your stay. Upon discharge they will usually suggest following up with an in-patient or out-patient drug and alcohol rehab facility.

Some work out of homes, whereas others work in personal clinics. All the services either they are private or public offering assistance. Most of the drug treatment programs are operated absolutely independent. You have to know what to look for when you are choosing a program. One of the most important considerations while selecting one among the various drug rehab centers is whether you are duly diagnosed.

Dual-diagnosis is nothing but double problem; it means that you endure from a mental disorder other than your drug addiction problem. If you also the one who is suffering from dual-diagnosis, then you should strongly think about those rehab centers that are linked with psychiatric services. This is one of the best way in which you will get the extra help where you have to manage both your mental difficulties and your drug addiction trouble.

Nearly all the programs give a secure and safe platform for you to fight against your drug addiction problem. Though, all the drug rehab programs are different from each other by some or the other way and each and every center follow special treatment modalities. A number of drug rehab centers are particular for some kinds of facilities but they are not limited to those who connected to full service hospitals and chase a therapeutic model. In this type of program you will be given prescriptions to help out with the physical indications of detoxification.

If the particular medicine is not available then you may also be given a medicine alternative for the same remedy. Nowadays most of the centers are using natural medicines to get rid of addiction, hence natural drug treatment programs are also getting very popular. These natural programs are making use of various private services and natural products to give confidence and encourage patient(s) so that they can come out from drug problems. Natural therapy not only includes herbal medicines but also natural workout such as breathing exercise, and many other physical exercises.

This natural method is getting more popularity because it is not using other medicine or using very less quantity to treat addiction problems. Rehab centers strictly follow their rules and regulation where patients do not have any access to get the stuff which they have abused. Moreover patients are being monitored by drug testing, thus being in a center make sure that patients stay free from drug for the complete treatment period as well later.

There are many drug treatment centers all over the country and throughout the world that follow this concept. They treat their patients according to their physiological and psychological needs. Each and every drug treatment center has some difference in the type of programs they offer. However, the basis of all these programs is generally the same.

Drug rehab centers generally are the following types: outpatient center, residential drug treatment center or inpatient center, long-term drug treatment center, adolescent treatment center.

An outpatient center offers several important services. These include medication, individual counseling, group therapy and different types of life-skill education. They also schedule a normal life-hour around the patients and oblige them to follow a timetable. Minor or moderate degrees of addiction can be treated and cured through the programs at outpatient centers.

For severe addiction, treatment at a residential or inpatient drug treatment center is advised. Residential treatment makes it easier for the addicted person to follow treatment in a positive and healthy manner in a drug-free environment. This assists the patient to begin a new life rhythm and to get rid of their old lifestyle.

Long-term treatment centers, as the name suggests, are meant for providing long-term or life-long treatment to the patients. They are also for patients with severe or a long history of addiction. Treatment can stretch for a year or even more. Sometimes the patients may have to follow certain guidelines for a lifetime to avoid a relapse.

Adolescent treatment centers are meant for providing treatment exclusively for teenagers and pre-adults. Young people from this age group experience a lot of physical and mental changes. This is quite a precarious stage in life and they are highly susceptible to drugs at this point of time. They need special care including suitable therapy and counseling. Adolescent treatment centers serve this purpose.

All drug treatment centers have certain general functions. The primary aim is to help an addicted person overcome his or her addiction and return to a happy and normal life. These centers provide physical, mental and emotional support to a recovering addict. They administer the best de-addiction medication to help the patients quit drugs. They devise special programs like individual and group therapy, counseling, meetings and social outings. It is considered as a great opportunity for the recovering addicts to interact among themselves during different activities.

Detoxification of the body is one of the major medical functions of a drug treatment center. Detoxification or detox is the process of removing harmful substances from the body and cleansing the body of all traces of drugs. When a patient undergoes this process it is generally followed by withdrawal symptoms in them. To counter these debilitating symptoms, the patients are subjected to other aspects of the treatment in addition to medical remedies. They are provided very good nutrition and made to do light physical exercises.

The detoxification process is strictly supervised by medical professionals. Regular counseling and therapy sessions are conducted with the patients who undergo this process. The therapy and counseling can be done individually or in a group. If needed, family sessions are also conducted.

These days, most drug treatment centers also try to develop life skills of the patient like social interaction, handling pressure and coping with stress. They also assist them with issues like finance and job placement, which assures their adaptation to society. The treatment given to the patients let them live more confidently after recovery.

The success rate of the recovery programs is dependent on the willingness of the patient. No recovery program can be successful without the consent of the patient.

Well, actually, she had made that first brave step about three weeks ago, when she started using only on alternate days, totally of her own volition. However, she just could not stop and was plagued with cravings. Drugs can sap anyone of money, and Yasmin is a single parent, so I am seeing her at a fraction of what I normally charge in return for writing her story. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to help, and even the first session left us both feeling very optimistic.

In taking Yasmin´s details, she said that she had first started with tik when she had her baby a few years back. The baby kept crying and stayed up all hours. Her boyfriend at the time suggested tik so that Yasmin could cope, and the rest was history. I then asked her what number out of 10 of craving for tik she had at that moment, and she answered a 5.

Yasmin asked me if hypnosis was indeed the best route for her, and I explained that hypnosis only achieves relaxation, and it is the treatment we do in or out of trance that actually does the work. I briefly explained EFT and that I would do the EFT tapping on her as she was lying down, in a hypnotic but fully awake sort of way, and that at the end of the treatments, her reward will be a deeper hypnosis relaxation.

Yasmin lay on the couch. I made sure she was comfortable, and also covered her for warmth, as people can get chilly when they relax. I sat behind her head, and explained that I will be tapping on the Top of her Head, her Eye Brow, Side of Eye, Under Eye, and Collarbone. I tap in feathery strokes gradually moving between the points tapping all the way in a continuous movement. I do this for two reasons. One is that it is reasonably comfortable for me in that position to concentrate just on those points, and another is that it feels nice for the client.

I started with a progressive relaxation in the waking state as I tapped continuously on Yasmin, in order for her body to relax gradually but surely, from her head to her feet. Somewhere along this process, I asked if the craving was still as five, and as she thought of it, what image did she get in her mind. Yasmin said that it was, and the image was of smoking it in the toilet at work. Once we had reached the feet, I started the treatment.

I tapped continuously as I started the EFT statements. I started with an Ericksonian story. Erickson, the great hypnotist, helped his patients by telling them a therapeutic story using metaphor. The story was about two girls in a club who had just taken a cocktail of drugs and were rushing (high). They were doing the usual drug-talk and started by saying how good they felt. One girl then said that she felt sorry for normal people (people who do not take drugs), because they will never get the opportunity to feel this good. In a flash of clarity, the other girl said: ¨But what if normal people always feel this way, what if they don´t need drugs to feel this good?¨, and that was a turning point in the first girl´s life. She realized that what her friend had just said somehow rang true, and there must be a way to feel that good naturally. She just had to find it. And she did.

I then carried on tapping to the following statements.

• “Even though you can imagine yourself smoking in the toilet, you can accept, love, and forgive yourself anyway”
• “Even though when the baby was crying, tik was a solution, maybe the baby was just trying to communicate something, or maybe she was just very active. You found a way that helped you stay up, and have more energy, and concentrate, you found a way that worked. Even though it has become the problem, you can accept, love, and forgive yourself, and allow yourself to move forward.”
• “Even though you can imagine yourself smoking in the toilet, you can love, accept, and forgive yourself anyway, even if you don´t totally buy into loving, accepting and forgiving yourself.”
• “Even though you have this tik craving, you can accept yourself anyway.”

I asked again for a craving number out of 10 (SUDS), and it was 0. I then suggested to Yasmin that the next time she gets a craving, she can go to the toilet and tap, and reassured her that I would show her how. Having earned her reward, Yasmin then happily went into a hypnotic trance to a peaceful paradise Island, where she relaxed even further. I then awakened her and gave her EFT homework. She took two; one for emergency cravings, and the other was to tap as she read the Serenity Prayer.

Yasmin must have been happy with the EFT. She asked about Reiki, and I said I can use it instead of hypnosis next time, combining it with EFT, and she was happy with that suggestion. Our work continues next week.

It is great that Yasmin found EFT. She has no option of going into rehab, because despite the chaos that the tik had caused in her life, she manages to hold down a job and has a relatively good relationship with her family, who would probably abandon her if they found out. Going into rehab would mean that she would lose her job and family, and EFT is giving her control over her life now. She is not dependent on a rehab program. She will soon not be dependent on me either. And she has a technique to help her with cravings in-between sessions. EFT is empowerment.

This way the organization benefits a lot as it helps save costs that are lost in employee health care and compensation given to drug abusing employees. Drug free and healthy work environment promotes positive traits like productivity, professionalism, discipline, integrity etc. Employees who are in the habit of drug abuse decreases productivity, corrupts the environment of the workplace it also promotes negative traits and unprofessional activities. It is the responsibility of employees to undertake drug testing methods for the safety of other people. Many work places implement dot drug testing methods that make testing even simpler and more authentic.

Dot drug screen has a set of rules and procedures which ensures accurate results and proper procedures. Under the Dot procedure which includes random testing, the employers are randomly put to a drug and alcohol test which can point to the abuse habits of any employee who will be caught without guard. Employees should be regularly tested and at least the count of tests undertaken for each employee should be four times. It is noticed that removing drug addicted employees improves productivity of other employees and reduces workplace accidents. Apart from that drug testing is an effective tool which can ensure a drug free and healthy environment at workplace, enhance employee productivity etc. This way the company can cut down on the costs which are related to health care and other medical treatments which are invested for employees who undertake drug abuse.

The answer should surprise you – about ten percent. That means nine out of ten never even considered alternative transportation. In this day and age, with so much money spent toward promoting education and punishing behavior, can so few even consider the possibility? Following is a true story from one of my students in my alcohol awareness class.

Keith’s Story

It was an extremely cold winter night, just before Christmas. Keith had just gotten home from college and was anxious to visit with his old buddies. The plan was to get together at a friend’s house and then go out for a few drinks.

Keith was the high school jock, one of the most popular kids in his class. He never was a real drinker, but really enjoyed socializing. In high school he always was the designated driver. His first real drinking experiences occurred while rushing a fraternity at college.

Keith, driving his dad’s new Lexus picked up three of his friends and they headed to the football field at their old high school to meet up with some others. He and his friends started with a couple of beers and then began making bets, where a loss meant a shot of hard liquor. The drink of the night was tequila. After a few hours and many drinks it was time for the party to break up.

Now six friends jumped in the car with Keith. It was crowded and cramped and the windows quickly steamed up. The first sign he should not have been driving was he could not get the key into the ignition. Second, he ran over the small, concrete parking barrier because he put the car in “Drive” rather than reverse. There was strong damage to the front-end. Third, may have been the flashing red and blue lights around the corner. The police had pulled over their friends who had left a few minutes earlier.

Alerted by the sound of the Lexus crashing over the cement parking barrier, a police cruiser investigated. Keith was behind the wheel. The police made him perform both a field sobriety test and a Breathalyzer. While he was able to touch his nose, he could not stand on one leg, nor could he walk a straight line. His blood-alcohol level was.15.

Keith’s Punishment

Keith’s punishment: suspension of his driving privileges for 6 months, $500 fine, $1,500 in attorney’s fees, a mandatory alcohol awareness class, and a night in jail. A $15 cab ride would have been a lot less expensive, don’t you think?

When asked why he decided to try and drive that night he said, “my friends were relying on me. I drove. Besides I would never let them drive my dad’s new car.” Interesting logic, huh?

Keith admitted he had a number of people he could have called to pick him up, including his parents. His father, who had brought him to the alcohol awareness class, said if Keith had called him to pick everyone up, he would have been proud of his son for his responsible actions.

Humans are rational being. The problem lies with the affect alcohol has on the brain and our ability to make rational decisions. If you knew before getting behind the wheel that, like Keith, you WOULD get caught, and it would cost you thousands of dollars and more, rationally, I know you would find alternative means of transportation.

What is the real objective why people take drugs? Most people are taking illegal drugs to escape from personal problems, enhance entertainment and to satisfy their curiosity through the excitement that drugs offer. People never understand the danger of using this substances and once they knew, its already too late.

Understanding the facts about drugs can help you avoid its health risks and prevent drug addiction. First, below are the list of illegal drugs that you should avoid for life.

* Marijuana (derived from Cannabis plant)
* Cocaine (derived from Coca plant)
* Ecstasy (MDMA)
* Opium (derived from Poppy plant)
* Meth

These illegal drugs can be taken through smoking, injecting, melt, snorting and simply swallowing like a usual tablet supplement. The effect can be severe to the central nervous system and can produce hallucinations.

Drugs are designed to improve health and treat disease, but there are people who uses drugs for other purposes. This is where this illegal drugs come in. Once this substances enter your bloodstream, it will be transported into different parts of the body such as your brain. Since the brain controls everything, this drugs can manipulate or alter your memory into something you cannot control. It also takes away your different senses such as resistance to pain.

The effects of these drugs varies from different reasons and can be helpful or harmful to human body. The factors include how often the drugs was used, how quickly it reaches the brain, how much is taken and depending on the kind of drug taken. Body size or mass also contributes on how harmful drugs are to the body.

Teens are more prone to this type of substances because of the curiosity and other factors such as family or school problems. Teenage period is the start of vices like alcohol, smoking tobacco and illegal drugs. Drugs can ultimately damage their over all health especially their brain if they continue to do this bad habits. This is the reason why many teens nowadays are involved into many habits such as drunk driving and unwanted pregnancy.

Aside from curiosity, people sniff drugs because of the pleasure it brings. Others using it to escape mental illnesses such as depression. People often feel relax and good with these substances that is why they even suggest it to others rather than to stop doing it.

Others also think that drugs can help them mentally in school or at work. Some believe that it makes them more popular, make them stay more active and improve their performance in any activities. Few used drugs just to gain attention from parents or friends. There are a lot of reasons why people take drugs, but none of them seems so reasonable enough to consider this habit beneficial to health in any way.

Drugs is a health damaging habit. Below are its bad effects.

* Effective stimulant.
* Loses mental judgment and coordination
* Mental disorders (depression and anxiety)
* Addictiveness (physical, emotional and psychological cravings)
* Blood poisoning
* Cardiac arrest (speeds up heart beat and increases blood pressure)
* Breathing problems
* Hallucinations or intense paranoia
* Hepatitis and AIDS (when sharing needle injection)
* Nasal infection (snorting effect)
* Aggression (sudden intense feeling)
* Immediate death

Illegal drugs must be avoided at all cost. Never involve yourself to this kind of activities in work, school or within your neighborhood. Choose the people you have to socialize in and avoid those who you think posts some risks. Consult your doctor if you are obliged to take depressants and antihistamine drugs. These drugs can also be addictive and health damaging. Remember to love yourself and your family, stay away from this illegal drugs and live life clean and healthy!

Florida alcohol treatment is designed for people that have come under uncontrollable and heavy influence of alcohol or any other type of intoxicating substance such as drugs. Florida is definitely an ideal location when it comes to alcohol treatment because of its obvious proximity to the beach, as well as the presence of plenty of excellent florida alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers in the area. Florida alcohol treatment programs are not difficult to find if you are serious about locating a solution for your addiction to alcohol, but what you do need to consider is the fact that not every Florida alcohol treatment program and center is going to be created equally.

There is no one size fits all solution to drug or alcohol addiction, so it is vital that you take the time to really look around and weigh different options before you completely commit yourself to one program over another. What this means is that you should consider the following things when choosing a Florida alcohol treatment program in your area:

- What are your individual needs when it comes to a Florida alcohol treatment program or center? Are you looking for something long term, short term? There are inpatient treatment programs and outpatient treatment programs as well. Which one will work best for you?

- What kind of Florida alcohol treatment programs are available in your area? There are luxury programs that offer rich amenities, and there are also programs that are a little more clinical in nature. Your individual needs are what really matters when it comes to choosing an alcohol rehabilitation program in Florida so choose wisely.

- If you want to get a good feel for what types of rehabilitation programs are out there for alcoholism, it would be wise to ask around and get some referrals to check out before you do anything else. Simply choosing the first name that you find in the phone book isn’t really wise, because you have no idea what that particular Florida alcohol treatment center is going to be like. On the other hand, if you ask friends or family members who have been through the process already, you might get some excellent feedback regarding which treatment centers are and are not worth your time and money.

The decision is ultimately up to you regarding which alcohol treatment program you assign yourself to in Florida. Just keep in mind that making the right decision will impact whether or not you are successful in overcoming your addiction.