Substance Abuse and Rational Recovery

Rational Recovery and Substance Abuse

For many people who are looking for ways of overcoming their alcohol, drug and substance abuse problems, Rational Recovery is one, highly effective alternative that provides the guidance and information that you need.

What is Rational Recovery?

Founded in 1986, Rational Recovery is a global organization that provides counseling and instruction on the method of self recovery from addiction. Whether it is drugs, alcohol or substance abuse, Rational Recovery has a long, proven track record of success thanks to its exclusive method known as Addictive Voice Recognition Technique or AVRT.

Rational Recovery is a worldwide resource of information, counseling and instruction about independent recovery. You will get the guidance needed to help you overcome addiction with the goal of abstinence. Rational Recovery provides information that offers the promise of a complete guide to recovery along with the proper guidance to see it through.

The AVRT method is actually quite simple, straightforward and provides a useful tool for many people who are suffering from addiction. The reason is that it addresses more than just the addiction, but the surrounding issues that often are unaddressed in other programs.

Rational Recovery and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is by far one of the most insidious addictions because temptation is around almost every corner. Since you cannot escape the presence of alcohol, RR allows you to resist the temptation.

AVRT works in addressing your “addictive voice” that will temp you into drinking even when you know what it will do to you. The “addictive voice” is “Any thinking, in words and images, that directs, supports or suggests the possible future use of alcohol and other drugs.”  Other programs, such as the Twelve Steps, would call this “stinkin’ thinkin’” and cognitive behavior therapy would view it as “irrational thoughts” .

Rational Recovery and Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is not only responsible for so much pain and suffering, it can also change your personality. However, addressing your drug addiction can be done successfully with the Rational Recovery principles, according to their founders. The rational recovery movement provides support, guidance and information you need to help you overcome your addiction.  AVRT was created to directly address the issues that drug and alcohol addiction brings and it does have a record of success, but is not for everyone.

Rational Recovery, Substance Abuse and Other Addictions

While Rational Recovery was founded on the principle of helping people overcome alcohol and drug abuse, it can also work for those addicted to gambling, sex and eating disorders as well. This is because the AVRT program addresses the mental or cognitive aspects of addiction that cause people to fall back into these behaviors. You can overcome your addiction through our program and stay on the right track.

All it takes is you taking the first step. Rational Recovery does not believe in forced programs, intervention or teaching doctrines that go against your beliefs.  Similarly, we do not believe that there is only one road to recovery from substance abuse.  It is not clear exactly what the effective ingredient in rational recovery is, but we believe there is support for the AVRT method, which we address as stinkin’ thinkin’ and in the cognitive behavioral aspects of our treatment program.  Our treatment center has attempted to take the best from many programs, including Rational Recovery, the Tweleve Steps, Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Chage and Harm Reduction, all of which have proven effectiveness and integrate them into our recovery program.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of drug or alcohol abuse, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Stages of Change in the Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Stages of Change

The Stages of Change model is referred to as a trans-theoretical model because it is an over arching model of all behavior change.  The stages of change provides a way to understand the process of change and has proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol, drug and substance abuse. Essentially, the model serves as a guide to help the patient to understand where they are in their readiness to give up alcohol or drugs.  Unlike other models, the stages of change does not require a commitment to abstinence from alcohol and drugs to enter rehab.  Another unique aspect of the model is that it views change as including relapses and therefore helps prepare for relapses and contain them.  Unlike abstinence based models, relapses do not constitute a treatment failure, but merely an expected bump in the road to recovery. All too often a relapse is seen as failure even when so much has been gained before. Relapses are viewed as learning opportunities to analyze triggers and vulnerabilities.  Once relapse triggers have been identified, specific skills can be taught to cope with that specific situation.  Too often patients view relapses as failures and become demoralized, give up hope and their commitment to substance abuse treatment.   Our treatment center views relapses as inevitable on the road to recovery.

The Stages of Change Model

While recovery is different for each individual, the Stages of Change outline five processes that every individual may experience.

Pre-contemplation: In the initial stage, there is no thought about changing and even the suggestion of change is likely to be resisted as there is no motivation to do so.  If someone you love is not ready to admit that they have a problem with alcohol or drug abuse, it may be best just to stand back and let the consequences fall where they may.

Contemplation:  Contemplators are beginning to consider changing their behaviors, have started to recognize potential problems related to their behaviors, and are weighing pros and cons of change and considering if the long term benefits will surely outweigh the short term costs.  Oftentimes, people around Contemplators become impatient; instead, try to remember that the Contemplator has not closed the door to change, but needs more information, support, consequences, etc.  An act of Contemplation might be searching the internet for information about alcohol and drug treatment options, substance abuse treatment centers, alcoholics anonymous, etc.

Preparation:  In this stage, people actually begin to look into what steps they could take to make desired changes.  They are gathering information about what resources are available.  They may begin talking to others about potential plans to enter rehab, the implications for change and considering what actions will be required to change.  In this stage, people are likely to be open to input and information from others.  They may begin to talk about their goals to stop or reduce their substance abuse, work on how they can take off from work or school, look into insurance coverage, and engage in other behaviors that signifiy steps towards recovery from drugs and alcohol.  Others can help in brain storming about possible solutions and may provide additional input about the proposed plans, but only if such advice is desired.

Action:  This is the stage where people actually do something that is observable by others that indicate movement towards behavioral change.  This action can take many forms, but typically includes taking one or more of the steps considered in the preparation phase and / or using some of the resources identified in the preparation stage.  It is in the Action stage that most people seek and benefit from formal treatment.  This might include calling a counselor to make an initial appointment, entering a rehab program, going to an AA meeting, enrolling in an intensive outpatient program, etc.  The Action stage indicates a commitment to treatment for alcohol or drug abuse.  Others can provide support by removing barriers to treatment, validating the individual’s efforts to change or becoming involved in treatment if indicated.

Maintenance:  In this stage, people try to consolidate and maintain gains from the actions taken in the previous stage.  It can be viewed as trying to sustain the changes achieved in the Action phase.  Treatment goals, such as a reduction or abstinence from alcohol or drugs have been achieved and sustained. In the Maintenance stage, people are building new structures, such as changing people, places and things, to support their recent changes in substance abuse.  Attending AA meetings, support groups, therapy and other new healthy behaviors are developed to support their recovery from alcohol and drug abuse.  Again, others can be helpful in this stage by supporting these new behaviors, helping to eliminate reminders of old behaviors, and becoming involved in the new life style being created.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program incorporates the stages of change into our alcohol abuse and drug treatment approach.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on motivational interviewing, stages of change, cognitive behavioral techniques to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Substance Abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects millions of people around the world and approximately 8 million people in the U.S. Generally speaking, PTSD is rooted in a traumatic event that affected a person so deeply that they suffer from the after effects such as living in fear that it could happen again and actively avoiding people, places and things that reminder them of the event that took place.

Symptoms of PTSD

There are a number of symptoms associated with PTSD. However, the three classic symptoms of PTSD are the following;

-       Unwanted thoughts and recollections of the traumatic event

-       Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event

-       Constantly being on guard or alert to signs of danger

Also, panic attacks, feelings of mistrust, depression, suicidal thoughts and even substance abuse are associated with PTSD.

Symptoms of Substance Abuse

Here are the classic signs of substance abuse;

-       Neglecting responsibilities: not showing up for work, doing chores, going to school, etc.

-       Using alcohol or drugs in dangerous situations: Being under the influence while driving, having unprotected sex, operating heavy machinery, etc.

-       Legal Difficulty: Getting arrested for disorderly conduct, DUI, stealing, etc.

-       Relationship Difficulties: Having fights with loved ones, friends, co-workers and bosses.

-       Continued use despite these life complications.

Why someone with PTSD develops Substance Abuse

For those with PTSD, a drug or substance can be an escape from the unresolved feelings associated with the original traumatic event.  In order to reduce the intense symptoms, a person struggling with PTSD may try to reduce or avoid the symptoms by using alcohol or drugs. Drugs and alcohol can act as an escape, allowing them a way to relieve their distress, even though it causes more problems in the long run.

Co-occurrence of PTSD and Substance Abuse

There is a high degree of substance abuse among people suffering from PTSD.  When two disorder occur together, they are referred to as co-occurring or dual diagnosis disorders.  For example, of people who have been diagnosed with PTSD, 21-43% also have a substance abuse disorder. Even higher rates have been found in veterans.  For example, up to 75% of combat veterans with PTSD also met criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.  On the other hand, in substance abuse populations, 26 to 52% also had a PTSD diagnosis.  PTSD tends to occur about twice as often in females compared to males. Both PTSD and substance abuse can co-occur each other, but it’s possible that the two may not be directly related.  For example, in some cases the substance abuse disorder may precede the traumatic event and get worse after the event.

Whether the substance abuse came before or after PTSD, treating both disorders is necessary for the person to start their recovery. Because our dual diagnosis treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  We rely on the proven techniques of relaxation training, desensitization, cognitive behavioral training and desensitization to treat trauma.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of trauma, alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of PTSD, alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for PTSD and substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

SMART Recovery

Self Management and Recovery Training or SMART Recovery is a program designed to provide help and assistance for those seeking abstinence from addictions including alcoholism, drug abuse, substance abuse, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, cocaine addiction, and addiction to other substances and activities. Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery uses a combination of science and secularism based on motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral techniques for alcohol treatment and other substance abuse addictions.

The core of the recovery effort is based on scientific knowledge and has evolved over time to incorporate new information into their treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction recovery. Motivational interviewing lies at the center of these techniques which is used to treat people who have committed themselves to treatment for alcohol, drugs and other substances. Treatment centers that use SMART Recovery methods focus on what is referred to as the Four Points.  The four points are: Building and Maintaining Motivation to abstain (motivational interviewing); Coping with Urges (cognitive behavioral skills training for relapse prevention; Problem Solving (managing thoughts, feelings and behavior with cognitive behavioral techniques) and Lifestyle Balance (balancing stressors and leisure for momentary and enduring satisfaction).

From these Four Points, a program is developed for the individual who is seeking to achieve abstinence from their substance abuse. There are no 12 Steps like you find in Alcoholics Anonymous, but SMART recovery uses the stages of change model to help those seeking treatment for alcohol or drugs.

-       Pre-contemplation: The step before a person realizes they have a problem.

-       Contemplation: Understanding the pros/cons of entering a rehab program.

-       Determination/Preparation: Preparing to take Action.

-       Action: Commitment to find abstinence

-       Maintenance: Having made the changes, maintaining them.

-       Relapse: Learning from if it should occur.

-       Termination: The end of the program.

From these seven changes, SMART seeks to help the individual track their progress and find recovery from substance abuse.

SMART Recovery and Alcohol Abuse

Treatment begins with meetings which are free and led by a facilitator who volunteers their time. There are also meetings online which are held and members can attend as many as they wish to help find the strength to overcome their addiction to alcohol.

SMART Recovery offers an alternative to the heavy emphasis on Christianity that Alcoholics Anonymous offers its members. The success rate has been strong enough for SMART to continue its services for 20 years as it expands around the world.

SMART Recovery combines science, knowledge and motivation into a specific approach to treat alcoholics and drug abusers to find abstinence in their lives. SMART Recovery has been recognized by a number of medical institutions for their work which continues to grow in fighting alcohol and drug abuse.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with SMART Recovery.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on motivational interviewing, stages of change, cognitive behavioral techniques to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug abuse treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Substance abuse treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment or visit : Mental Health Resources, PLLC

PTSD and Alcohol Abuse Treatment for co-occurring Disorders

If someone has PTSD it doesn't necessarily mean that the person will start drinking too much alcohol, but the odds are much greater that this may become a problem.  The question becomes what is the relationship between alcohol and PTSD and how does PTSD increase risk for alcohol abuse?

Many People Susceptible to the Co-occurring PTSD and Excessive Drinking

Some people with PTSD drink too much before the onset of the PTSD and continue or increase their alcohol drinking after the PTSD diagnosis.  Others begin or increase their drinking after the development of PTSD symptoms in an attempt to reduce or numb out the symptoms.  When two problems, such as alcohol abuse and PTSD, occur together, this is referred to as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis.  People with PTSD are two to three times more likely to develop alcohol or drug problems compared to those without PTSD.

Drinking Causes More Problems

Many people try to cope with their PTSD symptoms drinking to forget their problems for the short term.  The problem is that alcohol is actually a central nervous system depressant and excessive drinking will just contribute make the current PTSD symptoms worse and likely cause additional problems.  For example, when people are having trouble they often turn to their family for both help and comfort.  However, when people are drinking excessively others may avoid them, including the people closest including a spouse and children.  Alcohol abuse may result in frequent conflicts, failure to fulfill obligations and may cause major strains on relationships.

Some Negative Consequences of Pairing PTSD and Alcohol Abuse

When someone has PTSD the excessive drinking may make the PTSD symptoms worse and in turn increase the amount of drinking.  Some people may not be able to hold a job or make good decisions if they are drinking excessively.  Alcohol drinking also contributes to irritability and depression.  Furthermore the irritability and agitation may disrupt sleep patterns, further contributing to this vicious cycle.  For some people drinking actually increases nightmares and night terrors.  Interpersonal, social, family and occupational problems are associated with alcohol abuse.

Treatment for People with Co-occurring PTSD and Alcohol Abuse

Co-occurring PTSD and alcohol abuse takes a toll on both the person with the problems and on their family and friends.  Ultimately the only way someone can be treated successfully is if they want help.  For a successful treatment you should find a program that treats people who with dual diagnoses, such  as PTSD and alcohol abuse.  Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Dual Diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse and PTSD rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation training, prolonged exposure and in vivo desensitization to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and PTSD.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and PTSD in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse and PTSD, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for PTSD and substance abuse treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

PTSD and Alcohol Abuse

Sometimes life can be extremely stressful and you may take a little break from life by taking a drink once in a while.  Alcohol immediately helps you relax.  But it can also cause many problems when the problems do not go away and the drinking escalates.  When feeling overwhelmed, instead of addressing the root problem, it is always easier to reach for a bottle.  Now the problems are compounded and heavy drinking is its own problem.  Depending on alcohol to deal with stress leads to additional psychological and health problems.

Common Types of Stress

Generally there are four forms of stress:  everyday, childhood, catastrophic and ethnic/racial.   All of these forms differ from person to person and depends on duration, severity, the current mental status, if it's physical or emotional stress.

Everyday Stress

Everyone experiences stress when they live their life.  Everyday stress examples are a personal relationship, problems at work, moving into a new house, financial problems, loss, etc.  Furthermore, significant events such as getting engaged, getting divorced, caring for a sick child or getting a work project completed before the deadline are also known to be stressful.  Stressful conditions may be one time when people who are prone to drinking are in the most danger to drink.  This cycle of using alcohol to deal with problems is called alcohol use disorder or AUD.

Childhood Stress

Having a tough childhood can cause great harm when the person becomes an adult.  Causalities can include physical, sexual or emotional abuse during the formative years.  Adult Children of Alcoholics, Adult Children of the Mentally Ill, children who were sexually abused, and other victims of emotional and physical abuse are at high risk for developing substance abuse problems as adults.  While many people do survive these problems to become happy and productive adults, many other adults are burdened by these problems throughout their life.  To cope they often start drinking when they're teenagers and adults.  People who had difficult childhoods are much more likely to develop alcohol use disorders (AUDs), such as alcohol abuse, as an adult.

Catastrophic Stress

People are much more likely to start drinking within the first 12 months after they were in a horrific event to reduce their stress.  These catastrophic events can either be natural or manmade.  Getting into a bad car accident, being a crime victim, or experiencing a natural disaster can shake the outlook of life to the core.  Any event resulting in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  increases the risk of alcohol abuse.  In the months following the catastrophic events people find living life much more difficult and personal relationships as well as their employment may suffer.

Veterans who were in combat typically witnessed horrific acts and are at a high risk to start drinking to try to deal with their problems.  While the studies differ slightly, 15 to 20% of Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans who saw combat have developed PTSD, which is also a risk factor that increases the odds that an individual is more likely to start drinking.  To cope with the emotional overwhelm of catastrophic stress, people often turn to alcohol.

Ethnic/Racial Stress

Minorities may experience addition stress because they are experiencing discrimination and prejudice in their life.  This stress might be something relatively mild like being watched more when they enter in a shopping mall or something more extreme like bullying or a physical attack.  The stress can be either physical, like being punched, or emotional such as being turned down for a job because of your race.  The cumulative stress of discrimination and harassment may contribute to alcohol abuse.

How to Deal with Stress

The way a person deals with stress hinges on many factors which include lifestyle, family history and personality.  Lifestyle can play an integral role. Some people who are having a hard time at work may turn to exercise relieve the pressure.  This is positive and will lead to a healthier lifestyle and generally feeling better about life.  Whereas a co-worker who experiencing the same stresses may turn to food and overeat. After a while food doesn't relieve stress anymore so they start to drink.   This will lead to worse physical and emotional problems. Someone with a family history of alcoholism is more likely to drink themselves.  Finally, personality plays a role in how someone will deal with stress.  People who are able to be happy and positive even when things aren't going that great are able to deal with problems much better than someone who remains focused on the negatives in life.

Alcohol Abuse and PTSD

Women and men who are under a great deal of stress tend to drink an excessive amount of alcohol.  However it is much more common for men to start drinking as the primary way to deal with stress.  Highly stressed men are 1.5 times more likely to hit the bottle then women and have 2.5 times more Alcohol Abuse than women.

Recovering from Stress and Drinking Excessively

When someone tries to stop turning to alcohol to handle their problems their problems do not magically go away. A relapse may occur because they are drawn to the alcohol and as a way to deal with their problems and to temporarily alleviate their craving for alcohol.  This is a very important fact in the treatment because people who are at most risk of relapse can receive additional support and treatment can prevent them from excessive drinking.

Both behavioral and cognitive therapies can be employed to address alcohol abuse and dependence and at the same time helping someone suffering with PTSD.  One such treatment is called exposure therapy where the patient gradually develops the tools to confront the root problem of the catastrophic stress, but in a safe and secure setting.  By doing this they can learn the causes and solutions to minimize their stress.  By gaining control of their PTSD symptoms, they will be much less likely to drink excessively after treatment.  The treatment for stress disorders such as PTSD and alcohol should be done concurrently as to prevent both problems from returning in the future.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of PTSD and alcohol abuse in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab and PTSD programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from PTSD, alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, If you or a loved one is showing signs of PTSD, alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for PTSD and substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Prescription Drug Abuse is a Growing Concern

Prescription drug abuse is second only to marijuana as the nation’s most prevalent illicit drug problem, with approximately 22 million persons nationwide initiating non-medical pain reliever use since 2002, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report also shows variations in use by state, with combined 2010 and 2011 data indicating that rates of past year prescription drug abuse among those aged 12 or older ranged from 3.6 percent in Iowa to 6.4 percent in Oregon.

“Addressing prescription drug misuse remains a top public health priority, as we’ve seen inconsistent progress in addressing the issue across the states,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “Data from this report helps up better understand geographic variations in use, and should help with the development of more targeted and effective prevention and treatment programs. The key is educating the public on the serious health risks involved, and ensuring that we are providing the necessary treatment to those who need it.”

“Prescription drug abuse is a major problem throughout our nation, said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “These data reaffirm how vital it is for the public health and public safety communities to work together to reduce the toll prescription drug abuse inflicts on our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.  As we continue to focus on this challenge at the federal level, we hope people will also endeavor to learn more about the harms associated with prescription drug abuse and take time to empty medicine cabinets of any excess, unneeded, or expired prescription medications.”

Seven of the 10 states with the highest rates of non-medical use of prescription pain relievers were in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington). Four of the 10 states with the lowest rates were in the Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota), and four were in the South (Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina).

A comparison of the combined 2009 and 2010 data with combined 2010 and 2011 data revealed a decrease in prescription drug misuse among those aged 12 or older in 10 states (Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and West Virginia). None of the states saw an increase.

SAMHSA has a number of programs designed to address prescription drug misuse, including its Prevention of Prescription Abuse in the Workplace contract which provides technical assistance to help civilian and military workplaces in communities across America to reduce prescription drug abuse problems.

Prescription drug abuse requires specialized treatment.  Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  These strategies have proven success with prescription drug abuse.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Harm Reduction and Substance Abuse

What is Harm Reduction?

Drug and alcohol abuse are increasingly common in the United States. Almost daily, you can hear media reports ranging from drug related crimes to celebrities in rehab, alcohol related car accidents to “MADD,” “D.A.R.E”, and “SADD” programs and events in your community. Historically, most rehab programs have focused on abstinence as the only approach for recovering addicts. For many people, this is simply not the most effective way to deal with substance abuse, particularly if you are dealing with co-occurring disorders, such as alcohol abuse and depression. In these cases, a new method of therapy has emerged, and is proving to be a more effective, empathetic treatment for the struggling alcoholic or addict. Harm reduction and substance abuse is a practical, empathic, and respectful way to manage drug and alcohol use.

The advantage of harm reduction and substance abuse is that it respects and empowers the individual in a therapeutic relationship. The individual and therapist work together in an open, communicative relationship to discuss how to reduce negative effects of substance abuse, without necessarily having to abstain from using entirely. Harm reduction is a model of treatment that focus’ on helping the user reduce their use of substances, particularly when they are not ready for abstinence.

This method does not, by any means, condone or promote drug use. This is a common misconception regarding the principles of harm reduction. What it does, in fact, is acknowledge that drug abuse and use is a sensitive matter, and that, in order to treat substance abuse effectively, all options should be considered. This does not eliminate abstinence as an effective option should the individual and therapist decide that it is the best choice. However, in harm reduction and drug abuse, treatment centers understand that in not everyone is ready to get completely abstinent at the same time, and in these cases reducing the risks of substance abuse may be more helpful than no treatment at all. In fact, reducing use is often the first step towards abstinence and in this way, our treatment center believes that harm reduction and abstinence may work hand in hand.

A common example of harm reduction and drug abuse is with alcohol abuse.  Alcohol can be an extremely high-risk drug with fatal consequences. However, harm reduction and drug abuse indicates that the goal of the therapist is not to “cure” the alcoholism, but rather identify risks and alternatives to reduce use, including treatment programs. This openness and respect is usually very well received, and reduces potential harm from drug use, without alienating users who are initially opposed to abstinence. Harm reduction is increasing in prevalence, because it well received by clients because it focus’ on respect, autonomy, education and its focus on self determination and responsibility.

Harm reduction is not only effective for addicts, substance abusers, and alcoholics, however. Harm reduction has been proven effective with alcohol abuse as well. Alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances, but when not used responsibly, can have  harmful consequences. Harm reduction and alcohol abuse operates on the same principle that harm reduction and drug and substance abuse follow, but does not only focus on addicts. Rather, since alcohol is legal, accessible, and common, harm reduction and alcohol abuse works to effectively promote the safe use of alcohol and how to avoid harm through unsafe and irresponsible drinking.  If this cannot be achieved, then abstinence should be explored.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Some Hidden Dangers of Illegal Drugs

There are a number of hidden dangers to the use of illegal drugs besides the obvious substance abuse problems. One hidden danger is that the people making these drugs or selling them could be lacing or cutting them with other drugs or chemicals that are even more dangerous to your body. This is not just an issue with drugs like methamphetamine, but it is also a problem with marijuana. Marijuana has been known to be laced with PCP, crack, cocaine, and embalming fluid according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR).  One of the theories behind why people lace the drugs they are making and selling is to have the buyers become addicted and come back (Clairmont, 2011). Adding other chemicals allows the drug to be more potent, producing a better high, but is also more addictive.  This leads the user coming back for more and more without realizing they are addicted. The person may not even know what they are really addicted to!

There have also been problems with what the drugs are being laced with. One was in 2011 when cocaine was laced with a veterinary drug that ate away the flesh of the ears and nose (Moisse, 2011). The outbreak was especially bad in New York and L.A., but that doesn’t mean the rest of the country was safe from this serious side effect. The tainted drug supply can make its way around the country and even to your town without you knowing that it has traveled that far. It is important to understand that drugs are trafficked in and out of areas which means that there is no guarantee what is going to be in the drugs or where it is really from.

 There was also a similar outbreak of another flesh eating laced batch of “heroin” in 2013. This outbreak was of krokodile, a Russian knock off of heroin that eats away at the flesh (Mukherjee, 2013). Krokodile is taken the same way heroin is, but it is not as synthesized as heroin so the user is in effect injecting gasoline, iodine, and other potentially lethal chemicals, which is even more dangerous than a typical dose of heroin. One of the major side effects of krokodile is the flesh rotting away (Mukherjee, 2013). The first case was found in Arizona, but this the laced drug that has become Popular in Russia, may just now be making its way to other parts of the United States or the world. It supposedly gives a higher high than heroin and it is usually cheaper, but it is a lot more physically dangerous to take (Mukherjee, 2013).

Drug use is dangerous enough to warrant drug rehab facilities to exist in an attempt to offer long term drug rehab for people. Long term drug rehab can easily save lives and literally the flesh of the people that attend. Users can’t be sure of what they are ingesting unless they make the drugs themselves, but even then drugs are dangerous to the body and have undesired consequences. This hidden danger of drugs is not often enough a deterrent of starting a substance abuser from using and abusing drugs as cutting drugs is seen as a normal occurrence despite it having the potential to make a deadly mixture. It hopefully will deter more and more people the more exposure drug lacing gets.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse and Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder is a chronic form of depression has some of the same symptoms as Major Depressive Disorder. People with Dysthymic Disorder are at a higher risk for alcohol dependency compared to the general population and even compared to those with alcohol dependency. When two disorders or illnesses occur simultaneously in the same person, they are called “comorbid”. The existence of an alcohol addiction abuse disorder combined with a psychiatric disorder may also be referred to as a “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring” disorders.  Surveys show that alcohol abuse and other psychiatric disorders are more often comorbid than not.  In fact, the exception is the person who has only an alcohol addiction disorder and the typical case is one where both a substance abuse and psychiatric disorder co-exist.  If someone has an alcohol abuse disorder, odds are that they also have a psychiatric disorder.  In order to increase the chances of a successful recovery, both the psychiatric and substance abuse disorders need to be treated.  People with Dysthymic Disorder, characterized by a chronically depressed mood, may try to self-medicate by drinking alcohol to feel better.  Unfortunately, this often only further complicates the number of problems that need to be addressed.

Many people know of Major Depressive Disorder, which is commonly referred to as depression or clinical depression, but the topic of different types of depression is not as widely known. There is a type of depression known as Dysthymic Disorder (DD) that is a low grade, but chronic depression, characterized by more than two years of a depressed mood. Dysthymic disorder, due to its’ persistence and chronicity, can be extremely debilitating.  People who have Dysthymia are at a high risk of alcohol abuse, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than people without depression.

Often times Dysthymic Disorder does not get diagnosed or treated until there is also a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, which leaves the person in a state referred to as “double depression”, in addition to alcoholism. Alcohol addiction treatment will be more effective if the Dysthymic Disorder is also treated at the same time as the alcoholism. Alcohol addiction treatment must include treatment for the depressive disorder in addition to alcohol addiction treatment for a successful recovery.

Many of the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction and Dysthymia overlap so treatment is complicated. Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program share many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our substance abuse treatment program also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse treatment and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Risky and High Risk Drinking

As the medical community continues to move forward with new studies and research, the general understanding of alcohol-related issues has become increasingly more complex.  With the wealth of information available today, it has become clear that alcohol abuse isn't exactly alcoholism and drinking can be categorized to assess risk factors for future alcohol-related problems.  The subtle differences and similarities between the various terms can complicate the overall understanding of alcohol issues as a whole.  Some terms are defined by a psychological element, while others are determined by specific actions that lead to negative outcomes. Risky drinking, otherwise known as high-risk drinking, is not determined by actions or mental state, but rather it's defined by consumption alone.  Today, it's critical to address whether or not a person is a risky drinker because it's a viable gateway toward severe problematic consequences down the road.

A risky drinker is determined by the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate of which it's consumed.  Daily, regular drinking has been a socially accepted behavior for years.  Generally, it was believed that as long individuals didn't develop into alcoholics, that frequent, regular drinking was safe. However, with the onset of new data and research, there is a deeper understanding of what makes an alcoholic or alcohol abuser, and with this new information drinking behaviors that lead to alcohol abuse, such as risky drinking, have become more important.   In fact, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted studies to assess which drinking behaviors place an individual at high-risk or low-risk for future alcohol related problems.

Determining factors of alcohol volume and frequency are different for men and women.  According to NIAAA research, a man is still considered a low-risk drinker if he consumes less than 14 standard-size drinks a week and no more than 4 drinks on any single day.  A standard-sized drink is 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol which translates to 1.2 tablespoons of pure alcohol.  To better understand what a standard-sized drink is, the following are accepted examples of the size.

12 oz beer
 
5 oz glass of wine
 
1.5 oz of whisky, gin, vodka and other spirits
 
8-9 oz of malt liquor
If men are consuming more than the provided low-risk guidelines, than their consumption and frequency has crossed into the high-risk category.

When determining risk factors for women, data revealed that a lower volume of alcohol was required for the high-risk category.  The NIAAA concluded that in order for women to remain at low-risk, they could drink no more than 3 standard drinks in a single day and a maximum of 7 drinks in a week.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Substance abuse treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Signs of Substance Abuse Addiction

There are many different signs that point towards you or someone you care about having a substance abuse addiction. These can be very obvious signs or signs that are harder to pick up on. The first step in treating any substance abuse problem is that the person with the substance abuse problem must be willing to contemplate the idea that that they might have a problem. This is often a difficult step. Going through a list of signs may make it easier to accept that there is in fact an issue as it makes it harder to deny that there is a problem.

The more obvious signs are drug dependence (relying on a drug to get through the day or taking the drug often), clear use of illegal drugs (seeing the person using the substance), and if the person admits they use drugs often. There are many more signs that aren’t as obvious. These might include drinking a great deal quickly to get drunk faster or keeping a stash of alcohol or drugs in their house so they don’t run out  .

Associated signs of drug addiction:

    Isolation: the person may isolate themselves from contact with friends or family either due to increase use of the drug or in an attempt to not be stopped from using. This may also be a sign of depression or suicidal thoughts which often go together with substance abuse.
    Loss of Interest: there may be a loss of interest in things that the individual used to find pleasurable. This could be as simple as not going to their weekly bowling event or flat out not enjoying anything that they can’t do while under the influence .
    Relationship Problems: the person may be experiencing issues with friends, family, and romantic relationships. These issues might include a lack of attention to these people, a feeling of being judged by these people, or an increase in fighting with these groups.
    Money Troubles: the person may suddenly have financial problems or their money troubles might be getting worse. This could be because they are using the money to fuel their addiction instead of taking responsibility for other things that they need to in their lives . If the person is spending money on alcohol or drugs instead of paying rent, feeding themselves, or feeding their children, these are clear signs of an addiction..

The more signs and symptoms that are present the higher the chance that there is a substance abuse addiction. There is also high rate of overlap between signs of a substance abuse and symptoms of depression. If many of these signs are present then there may be a problem with substance abuse, depression, or a mixture of the two. There are many different drug treatment programs and drug addiction treatment centers that can provide the services that are needed to help. The drug treatment program or the drug addiction treatment center that will work best for you or your loved one may vary. Some people need more intensive treatment such as inpatient drug rehab centers, but others do not require inpatient drug rehab. Inpatient drug rehab centers should be tried after other, less restrictive types of treatment have been tried, including intensive outpatient programs.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Substance abuse Treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Heavy Drinking

How Much Alcohol is Too Much?

            There is no set limit to how many drinks it takes to have a problem with alcohol abuse. Having a second beer at a picnic won’t make you an alcoholic, but being dependent on alcohol is a problem. There are different categories of alcohol use such as social,  abuse, and addiction also called dependency. Social drinking is where someone drinks in social situations such as picnics, going to bars with friends, or having wine at dinner. This level of drinking is generally not seen as a problem as the body is not dependent on alcohol and there are little to no social ramifications of the drinking.

            Dependency or addiction is where the person can’t control their drinking and may experience withdrawals from drinking; hangovers do not count as withdrawals (Alcohol Statistics). 15 Million people are dependent on alcohol in the United States (Alcohol Statistics). 6% of college students have a dependency problem (Alcohol Statistics). It is likely that these college students will not know that they are dependent on alcohol as drinking is now seen as a cultural norm for college students. This drinking has spurred such things as “Thirsty Thursdays” were drinks are cheaper at bars and professors expect students to have issues the next day (Povolny, 2007).

            Drinking to this excess is a problem and it is a good idea to look out for the signs and symptoms of alcohol dependency.  Below are some indicators of problems with alcohol drinking:
Moderate or “low-risk” drinking:

Research shows that people who drink moderately may be less likely to experience an alcohol use disorder (AUD). These drinking levels, which differ for men and women, are:

For men:

No more than 4 drinks on any single day AND no more than 14 drinks per week

For women:

No more than 3 drinks on any single day AND no more than 7 drinks per week.                                 To stay low risk for AUDs, you must keep within both the single-day and weekly limits.

Risky drinking

Risky drinking means consuming more than the single-day or the weekly limits listed above.  About 25% of people who drink more than these limits already have developed alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence problems.

Binge drinking
Binge drinking means drinking so much that within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL. For women, this usually occurs after about 4 drinks, and for men, after about 5.

Other signs of problems with alcohol drinking:
    Drinking at work: despite this seeming like an obvious sign it is an important one as it shows that the person is neglecting their responsibilities and aren’t considering the ramifications of drinking at work (Smith, Robinson & Segal, 2013).
  
Drinking often or despite the issues that drinking has caused: these issues can include relationship problems (Smith, Robinson & Segal, 2013), issues at work (Smith, Robinson & Segal, 2013), irritability , loss of memory (Alcohol Statistics), and legal problems .

Attempting to hide drinking: this can be as simple as drinking alone so no one can see you or hiding alcohol bottles to avoid people knowing you are drinking. The presence of alcohol bottles is not always a sign of alcohol dependency, but if you are starting to notice other signs then this may be an important sign.

Not being able to stop drinking: the person may attempt to stop drinking, but may find it difficult to stop. They may drink more than others or drink more often than others, but they still feel that they have their drinking under control (Smith, Robinson & Segal, 2013).

Alcohol abuse is when a person drinks to the point of having social troubles or drinks a great deal often (Alcohol Statistics). The big difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is that the person who is abusing alcohol does not experience withdrawal symptoms and does not require more alcohol to achieve the same effects from alcohol. However, alcohol abuse can turn into alcoholism or alcohol dependency, but it does not always. If someone you love is abusing alcohol or dependent they may deny it. They may try to rationalize their drinking by saying they are just de-stressing or they swear they are not drinking as much as you/others say they are (Smith, Robinson & Segal, 2013). This denial is not uncommon. However they have to want to stop drinking to seek help. If you or a loved one would like to seek help with alcohol dependency then there are many alcoholism treatment centers or alcohol abuse treatments available in Memphis, TN.

Moderation Management

Most inpatient and rehab drinking programs are targeted towards people who have heavy drinking problems who are addicted to alcohol to the point of daily drinking  and withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop or reduce use.  People who have withdrawl symptoms should seek inpatient rehab treatment for the medial management of their withdrawal symptoms.

However, there are others whose drinking isn’t so severe, but still need help. Substance Abuse is a process; for example, everyone who develops to a full blown alcoholic has gone through stages  in which they are slowly progressing towards being an alcoholic. Alcoholism may be thought of as a progressive illnesses for some people.  Even though you may not be dependent on alcohol, alcohol abuse can still create significant problems in your life.  According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence:

Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work including:

Repeatedly Neglecting Responsibilities:  Because of drinking, repeatedly neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school.  For example, neglecting the children, performing poorly at work, poor or failing grades in school, or skipping out on work, school, personal or social commitments because you’re hung over.

Alcohol Use in Dangerous Situations:  The use of alcohol in situations where it can be physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, drinking in a bad neighborhood, mixing alcohol with prescription medication against the advice of your doctor or operating machinery while drinking.

Legal Problems Due to Drinking:  If, due to drinking, you are experiencing repeated legal problems.  For example, getting arrested for fights, drunk and disorderly conduct, domestic disputes, driving under the influence.

Continued Drinking Despite Relationship Problems:  Alcohol is causing or making problems worse in your relationships with your friends, family or spouse, and you continue to drink.  For example, fighting with your family because they don’t like how you act when you drink or going out and drinking with your buddies even though you know your wife will be very upset.

Drinking to De-Stress:  Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to relieve stress.  Because alcohol is a sedative drug, over time, you will need more alcohol to have the same effect.  Getting drunk after a very stressful day more often, for example, or reaching for a bottle after you have an argument with boss, a friend or your spouse more frequently.

Many people who are not physically dependent on alcohol or drugs may benefit from a program called Moderation Management. This is a program which is for people who are concerned about the role drinking has taken in their lives and wish to make a change, but don’t consider themselves to be alcoholics. Moderation Management is a non-coercive program and allows the participants to make their own choices about the path they wish to take to improvement.

What is Moderation Management?
Moderation management may be thought of as a harm reduction approach.  That is, the program seeks to reduce the abuse of alcohol or drugs.  Moderation management was developed by Audrey Kishline, who found that the traditional abstinence based twelve step programs did not work for her. She founded the program when she discovered that she did not suffer from the problems most alcoholics suffer from, such as withdrawal and dependence from alcohol and being unable to live a relative productive life despite her abuse of alcohol. It is a nine step program that was reviewed by professionals that helps the participants to take action with moderation management and substance abuse, and to evaluate their own situation and determine what path is best for them to take.

How does it work?

Moderation management and substance abuse lead individuals to find the balance they need in their lives gradually.  With moderation management and drug abuse, it has been proven that it is possible to change behaviors in people without drastically forcing people to quit. People who have problems relating to alcohol have not all progressed to most severe levels of addiction, and the difficulties many people face with alcohol will vary in severity from person to person. Like all harm reduction approaches, the key to the program is encouraging a reduction in problem drinkers. People who are at risk for abusing alcohol must know their limits. The program emphasizes having people help themselves and have their own self control to take a hold of the problems that threaten their lives.

Is Moderation Management for Me?

Moderation management will not work for everyone who has a drinking problem. It is not good for people who have lost the ability to control their own habits, are dependent or experience signs of withdrawl. For some people, complete abstinence from drinking is the only option. It is definitely up to the individual to determine whether or not the program is the best choice for them.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  For example, like Moderation Management, the foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction.  However, we also rely on motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In most countries, including in the US, driving under the influence (DUI) is illegal.  There are additional penalties for individuals who get involved in a car accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are several studies showing that in the United States, about 39% of automobile accidents are caused by alcohol and alcohol or drugs are involved in up to 50% of motor vehicle fatalities.    While the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs have increased over the past years, there effects are limited.  About on-third of people arrested for DUI's are repeat offenders.  There are laws for the minimum legal drinking age and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws aiming to prevent vehicle accidents related to alcohol that can cause severe injury or death.

People convicted for drunk driving may have caused severe injuries and even death to other parties and may serve many years in prison. On the other hand, people accused and proven to have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but have not harmed anyone, may be mandated to attend alcohol treatment. Mandating them to substance abuse treatment is designed to to educate and rehabilitate offenders to promote public safety.

The campaign against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has brought a lot of publicity to alcohol-related traffic accidents. Certain laws have been passed to limit the amount of alcohol that can be ingested by a person before operating a vehicle.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be very hazardous to both the motorist and the pedestrians. Every individual should be aware that drunk driving can be fatal. Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs can lead to road traffic accidents resulting from a failed attempt to turn the car correctly, to avoid another car, or to stop the vehicle. Also, drunk drivers are prone to overlook warnings signs and traffic laws.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been the problem for years. No matter how many laws against drunk driving are passed, individuals still violate them. If you or someone you love has been mandated to treatment for drunk driving or DUI, it is important to find an outpatient treatment program that works.  Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment for Comorbid Depression and Substance Abuse

Many different mental health problems can cause severe problems, both for the sufferer and the people they know. Substance abuse and addiction affects 22.5 million Americans (NSDUH, 2011) and is highest among people in their late teens and twenties. Recent research shows that of the 8.3% of people who need for substance abuse, 95.3 percent—19.3 million people—are not receiving it from drug rehab centers. Another 3.3 percent feel they need treatment but are not making effort to get it, and 1.5 percent feel the need treatment and have made an effort to receive it.

Currently, only 1% of people requiring an intervention for substance abuse have access to drug addiction treatment centers. This figure is much worse when a secondary, comorbid mental health disorder is also present.  A National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (Conway et al., 2006) found that 22% of people with a mood disorder also suffered with severe drug abuse problems. Bovasso (2001) also found that cannabis abuse can lead to 4x higher likelihood of developing depressive symptoms, particularly suicidal ideation and anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure).

Comorbid disorders, those involving both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder, are extremely difficult for a patient to live with, and complicate treatment. Substance abuse costs the healthcare system and economy billions of dollars each year (alcohol costs $235 billion dollars each year, and illicit drugs cost $193 billion dollars (National Drug Intelligence Centre, 2010); Rehm et al., 2009).  When a secondary mental health disorder is also present, the cost is much higher (Hoff and Rosenheck, 1999) If, however, just one disorder is treated and the other is not, it is much more likely that neither disorder will be successfully treated. The link between substance abuse and depression has been highly researched however, and treatment options have been studied which are currently providing evidence that comorbid disorders can be treated successfully, giving hope to the millions who suffer these highly comorbid disorders.

A strong link has been found between negative emotions and substance abuse cravings, which leads to relapse and increased use (Witkiewitz and Bowen, 2010). The authors found that the relationship between depressive symptoms and substance abuse is often mediated by cravings. In other words, depressive symptoms can trigger cravings, which then leads to substance abuse. The authors also found that after teaching relapse prevention strategies that targeted a patient’s reaction to cravings, depressive symptoms were subsequently much less likely to illicit cravings which would lead to substance abuse. In 2011, Witkiewitz, Bowden and Donovan assessed whether a combined behavioural intervention could replicate these results. They found that one year after treatment, those who took part in relapse prevention strategies also showed a much weaker relationship between depressive moods and alcohol abuse. These two studies confirm what we know in practice.  Namely, there is hope for people with comorbid depression and substance abuse as combined treatment for depression and relapse prevention results in a reduction in substance abuse up and depressive symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a very popular treatment choice for many mental health disorders, has also been shown to provide good outcomes for reducing depressive symptoms and substance abuse behaviour. In 2011, Watkins et al studied the effects of group CBT on those with comorbid depression and substance abuse and found that when combined with a substance abuse treatment, patients reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms, had improved mental health functioning, fewer days of substance abuse and alcohol consumption. Following up this study, Watkins et al (2012) found that this intervention worked not only for those with mild or moderate depression, but with severe depression also.

These studies continue to add to a growing body of research that shows providing integrated treatment in drug addiction treatment centers for depressive disorders and substance abuse are effective.  Because our drug rehab center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Are Prescription Drugs Less Dangerous?

Prescription drugs are those that are prescribed by a physician such as a psychiatrist that can have serious powerful effects on the mind and body. Prescription drugs have a lower chance of causing harm and when used as prescribed by a doctor. However, when they are not taken as prescribed by a psychiatrists order, then the risk for prescription drug abuse increases dramatically.

In fact, there has been an increasing problem with prescription drug abuse resulting in overdoses (CDC, 2013). The CDC (2013) reports a five times increase of the number of women who died from overdose on prescription drugs. This means that in one year the total of deaths from prescription drug abuse more than tripled. These figures do include people that used prescription drugs to intentionally commit suicide. People who commit suicide are typically experiencing major depression.  People who abuse prescription drugs are often also suffering from major depression.  When depression and drug abuse occur together, this condition is referred to as a dual diagnosis disorder or co-occurring disorders.

Prescription drugs are the second-most abused category of drugs after marijuana. About 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain pills obtained them from relatives or friends and only about 5 percent got them from a drug dealer or over the Internet. Overdose due to opiate drug abuse are now increasingly due to abuse of prescription painkillers. Veterans are also showing increases in prescription drug abuse.  Active duty military members have increased illicit drug abuse from 5% to 12% from 2005 to 2008, primarily due to prescription drug abuse.

Prescription drug abuse of opiods is quite common among women.  48,000 women have died from prescription pain killer overdose in one year (CDC, 2013). The number of women who are addicted to prescription drugs are at a higher risk of over dosing.

Many people think abusing prescription drugs is less dangerous than abusing street drugs.  There are some differences between prescription drugs and street drugs. Prescription drugs have known quantities of active ingredients.  Street drugs have an unknown source and may be “cut” or “laced” with different chemicals not known to the user. This can result in negative effects such as the flesh eating cocaine (Moissee, 2013). However, prescription drug abuse is not less dangerous than other types of drug abuse.

Abuse of prescription drugs can result in drug addiction and require treatment at a drug rehab center. A drug rehab center treats multiple drug addictions including Oxycontin and Vicodin, well-known prescription pain killers that are often prescribed after surgery or for chronic pain.

Prescription drug abuse may result in symptoms as: failure to fulfill major role obligations; use in situations that are physically hazardous; continued use despite persistent family or other interpersonal problems and legal problems. The term drug dependence includes such symptoms as: taking larger quantities than intended; inability to cut down on drug use; spending more time in activities to obtain the drug; and continued use despite health or social problems caused by the drug.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for prescription drug abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from dual diagnosis disorders.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of prescription drug abuse in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of prescription drug abuse or need drug treatment rehab, you should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Prescription drug abuse treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Anxiety, Depression and Substance Abuse

Everybody experiences stress in their lives; whether you’re simply late on a job assignment, or you’re suffering through the traumatic death of a family member, stress takes a significant toll on our lives. Stress can impact everybody in different ways, but for alcoholics it can have serious negative consequences.

 Over the years a substantial body of evidence has emerged showing that stress can lead to substance abuse relapse; a review by Sinha (2001) summarizes some of this research. There are many theories as to how stress leads to relapse, such as the Stress-Coping Model of Addiction (Wills and Shiffman, 1985) which states that substance abuse not only reduces negative feelings and  actually increases “feeling good”. Therefore, substance abuse can be seen as a self-medicating strategy for dealing with negative emotions. Sinha’s review also discusses the Relapse Prevention Model (Marlatt and Gordon, 1985) which proposes that individuals who have difficulty coping with stress are even more at risk. So not only does abusing substances reinforce the maladaptive behavior by reducing stress and increasing mood, it is also more likely to happen in those who are unable to cope with stressful situations. The cycle of addiction itself can add stress to one’s life (e.g. Kushner, Abrams and Borchardt, 2000; Parrott, 1999), resulting in a vicious cycle where the stress of substance abuse results in more alcohol or drug abuse to occur. Not only does this mean that the addiction will be harder to treat, but excessive stress could also be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

Ssubstance abuse and addiction are frequently found in individuals who also suffer from anxiety disorders (Kushner, Abrams and Borchardt, 2000). When two disorders occur together, they are referred to as co-occurring disorders, comorbid disorders or dual diagnosis disorders.  For instance, strong links have been found between alcohol abuse and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it is not always clear which disorder triggered the other (Stewart, 1996). In other words, the PTSD may have triggered the substance abuse as a form of self-medication, or the substance abuse may have made the individual more susceptible to developing an anxiety disorder.  Not only does this cause a problem for the individual as they have to learn to cope with two distinct disorders, but they can each exacerbate each other. For instance, Schneider et al (2000) found that female alcoholic patients with anxiety disorders began their drinking behaviour earlier in their lives, and drank more excessively than patients without the comorbid anxiety disorder.

The comorbidity of these two disorders can also cause significant problems for treatment. Drissen et al (2000) assessed the association between comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in alcoholics who had been treated, and the course of both the comorbid disorders and drinking behaviour. Patients participated in a detox, and then took part in three weeks of a motivational therapy course for alcoholism using CBT, group therapy and other methods. Their other disorders were not treated.

The researchers found many interesting results of this intervention; first, after the three week course, both anxiety and depression decreased significantly. However, anxiety levels remained high in both groups (those with depression and anxiety, and those with anxiety alone). Six months after the treatment, patients were asked to report on their drinking behavior. The study showed that anxiety levels were still not significantly different than they were before abstinence from alcohol or drugs, and that 69% of the patients with an anxiety disorder had relapsed.  Additionally, 12% of those with both anxiety and depression had also relapsed.  This study shows how untreated anxiety and depression can be very detrimental to the treatment of alcoholism. Therefore, substance abuse treatment needs to focus not only on the substance abuse problem, but also the anxiety and depression that are typically comorbid with substance abuse.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment along with comorbid depression and anxiety.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, and is also experiencing anxiety or depression, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Substance abuse treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Alcohol FAQ

Alcohol Facts

There are thousands of drinks which contain alcohol and they all seem to have their own rules.  A regular drink has a little over a half ounce of alcohol which is the equivalent of 15 grams.

Below are rough standard sizes of popular alcohol beverages:
    Spirits or brandy-1.5 oz
    Fortified wine-3 to 4 oz
    Beer or wine cooler-12oz
    Malt liquor-8 to 9 oz
    Table wine-5 oz
    Aperitif, cordial or liqueur-2 to 3 oz

Who are the People who Have the Greatest Problems with Alcohol?

These are the results of studies done a decade ago in the US

    17.5 million adults which accounts for 8.5% of the population can be classified as either abusing alcohol or alcohol dependent.
    Males are much more likely to abuse alcohol.
    Alcohol abuse decreases when people get older.
    The demographic breakdown of the abuse of alcohol is as follows:  Native Americans at 5.75%, Caucasians at 5.1%, African Americans at 3.29%, Hispanics at 3.9% and finally Asians at 2.13%.
    One quarter of children are subjected to one degree or another to family members who abuse alcohol or are dependent.
Problems people may get when they abuse alcohol:

    When drinking a small amount of alcohol it can interact with prescription medications, negatively affect pregnant women and their unborn babies, increase the likelihood of cancer, bleeding which can cause strokes and impair driving and making motor accidents more likely.
    When people drink more to function but are not dependent physically this is classified as alcohol abuse.
    When the abuse becomes stronger and they do become dependent physically they are known as an alcoholic.  According to  DSM-IV it is a 10 step diagnostic criteria which includes when they don't have access to alcohol, foregoing normal habits when drinking, impaired control and drinking even though they know it is causing psychological and physical problems.

What Damage can Alcohol Cause?

    Contributes to fatal accidents in bicycle crashes, car accidents, fires, falls, pedestrians, recreational activities and sports injuries.
    Economic damage due to abusing alcohol in the US is around $185 billion per year.
    Abusing alcohol brings on many health problems such as heart disease and cancer.
    Greatly increases the likelihood of car accidents.  Drivers or pedestrians who had alcohol in their system accounted for 41% of fatal automobile accidents.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.