Prescription Opioid to Heroin Use

Prescription Opioid to Heroin Use

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The past twenty years has revealed a disturbing trend that the pharmaceutical companies in concert with the medical field were complicit in promoting. Over-prescribing prescription opioids, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, and Opana, has led to a national drug epidemic resulting in millions of people developing an addiction to these drugs. While doctors were initially misinformed about the drugs’ potential for addiction by the manufacturers, financial compensation lured them into unscrupulous prescribing practices that have had devastating consequences.

A pattern emerged about a decade ago, when it was noticed that heroin use had dramatically increased. This was strange because for decades heroin had been relegated to the fringe among recreational drug users. Suddenly, heroin addiction was on the rise in segments of the population where it had not formerly been common, such as in upscale suburban communities. Eventually, a connection between prescription opioid to heroin use was revealed, explaining the spike in heroin addiction.

Why People Shift From Prescription Opioid to Heroin Use

Prescription opioids are extremely addicting, even in as little as two weeks of prescribed use a patient can become addicted. When the prescription runs out, the individual will begin to feel sick, therefore asking for a refill. When the doctor finally refuses to refill the prescription, the now addicted patient becomes desperate. They may search for the opioids on the Internet or purchase the pills on the street. They may begin doctor shopping, hoping to score a new prescription. But when all avenues eventually dry up, the individual may shift from prescription opioid to heroin use.

Heroin is also an opioid, created from morphine, which is derived from the opium poppy plant. Prescription opioids have a similar effect to heroin, so gravitating to heroin when the synthetic opioids are no longer available or affordable is a natural step for the addict to take. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 80% of heroin users report first misusing prescription opioids. Heroin offers these individuals a more potent high at a fraction of the cost.

Overcoming a Heroin Addiction

It is a very difficult decision to seek out treatment for a heroin addiction no matter what devastation it has done to one’s life. The prospect of being “dope sick,” and then going through the painful process of detox and withdrawal can be a significant barrier to treatment. While this fear is understandable, it is important for loved ones to help the heroin addict to focus on the longer view. In some cases, accessing the services of a professional interventionist is the most effective and expedient way to get a loved one to the point of accepting help.

Once the individual has agreed to enter treatment, they will embark on an extended stay at a residential rehab where they will be guided through the early phases of the recovery journey. These phases include:

  • Medical detox. The individual will undergo detox and withdrawal under the supervision of a medically trained detox team that will provide medical interventions to ease withdrawal symptoms.
  • Therapy. Psychotherapy will be scheduled throughout the week, alternating between individual therapy sessions with a licensed psychotherapist, group sessions that are led by a therapist or clinician, and family-focused sessions where family members are invited to participate.
  • Medication-assisted treatment. In many instances, medications such as Suboxone, methadone, or Vivitrol are used as a replacement for the heroin in early recovery in conjunction with psychotherapy.
  • Classes. Addiction education helps individuals gain a better understanding of the effects of opioids on the brain and how the drug alters brain chemistry and function. The classes also focus on planning relapse prevention strategies, and equip the individual with essential recovery skills.
  • Holistic activities. Learning how to manage emotions, stress, and difficult life events in recovery is an essential asset. Utilizing activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress will help the individual stay on track. These include deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, massage therapy, and mindfulness.

Continuing Care After Rehab

Once the rehab program has been successfully completed, the individual will need to access continuing care services to reinforce their newfound freedom from drug addiction. These include ongoing weekly outpatient therapy and classes, sober living housing, and active participation in a recovery community such as A.A.’s 12-step meetings or SMART Recovery meetings. Heroin addiction is treatable. Why not break free from the grip of addiction and begin your journey back to happiness today.

Ken Seeley Communities Offers Opioid Addiction Treatment in Palm Springs

Ken Seeley Communities is a comprehensive addiction recovery program offering intervention, medical detox, rehabilitation, sober living, and aftercare services. At Ken Seeley Communities, the expert clinical staff is highly experienced in treating individuals who have segued from prescription opioid to heroin use. Providing the latest in proven, evidence-based addiction treatment protocols, Ken Seeley Communities will guide each client through the phases of opioid recovery with respect and compassion. For more information about Ken Seeley Communities, please contact us at (877) 744-0502.

stages of withdrawal from Norco

Stages of Withdrawal From Norco

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No one enjoys suffering from pain of any kind. So when a doctor prescribes a pain reliever, such as Norco (hydrocodone) following a serious injury or a surgical procedure, it is usually welcomed with open arms. Although the majority of patients might be able to take the opioid medication for a week or so with no trouble discontinuing use when pain symptoms subside, others may already be addicted to the drug. Norco addiction sneaks up silently, with little or no warning that a problem is developing at first.

The first sign that there is an issue comes when the prescription runs out and you experience signs of withdrawal. These physical and psychological symptoms indicate that the brain has already altered its neurotransmitters in anticipation of ongoing Norco dosing. When the drug is suddenly discontinued, individuals who have developed a dependency to the drug will feel sick.

What happens next is what can be the blueprint for a serious drug addiction to develop. If the individual just toughs out a day or two of feeling punk, similar to the flu, following a few weeks of Norco use, they will likely be just fine. Their body will readjust to normalcy soon and all is good. However, many people experience those withdrawal symptoms and immediately request a refill of the drug. Some doctors will accommodate the request, thus deepening the dependency, while others will offer them alternative pain relieving measures.

Again, patients who accept the advice of the doctor and access alternatives to opioids will usually have little problem pushing through a week or so of feeling lousy. Others will be bound and determined to locate the drugs elsewhere.

Signs of Norco Addiction

When these individuals are refused additional prescriptions by their doctor, they may seek other means of finding the drugs. These include:

  • Doctor shopping for a physician or pain clinic that will prescribe more Norcos
  • Stealing the drugs from friends or relatives medicine cabinets
  • Using counterfeit prescription pads to create a prescription for the drug
  • Purchasing Norcos off the Internet
  • Purchasing Norcos from drug dealers on the street

In addition to the drug-seeking behaviors that indicate addiction, those who have developed an addiction or dependency may also exhibit these signs:

  • Constricted pupils
  • Constipation
  • Mental confusion
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Nodding off or losing consciousness
  • Slowed breathing
  • Isolating from friends and family
  • Becoming obsessed with obtaining the drug and taking the drug
  • Declining work or school performance
  • Mounting financial problems
  • Problems with relationships
  • Attempting to quit the Norco but unable to
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drug not available

Getting Help For a Norco Addiction

When the signs of addiction are recognized, there are recovery options for individuals seeking treatment. The first step in recovery will be detoxification, the period in which the body adjusts to not having the drug any longer. Detox will include three stages of withdrawal, with symptoms peaking on days 2 or 3, before beginning to subside.

The stages of withdrawal from Norco begin with symptoms emerging about 6-12 hours after the last dose. Early mild flu-like symptoms evolve into more intensified and highly unpleasant symptoms about halfway through the detox process, and then gradually begin to subside.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive yawning
  • Chills
  • Sweating
  • Goosebumps
  • Muscles and bone pain
  • Insomnia
  • Teary eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Problems with concentration
  • Irritability
  • Agitation
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Fatigue
  • Drug cravings
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety symptoms
  • Headache
  • Depression, malaise
  • Thoughts of suicide

Although these symptoms are difficult to endure, the detox specialists overseeing the process will be constantly monitoring the progression through the stages of withdrawal from Norco, and will provide medications to help minimize pain and discomfort.

Moving Forward in Recovery

Once the stages of withdrawal from Norco are completed, it is time for the individual to enter the treatment phase of recovery. Treating hydrocodone addiction is the same as treating other opioid addictions, as the drugs have similar effects on the brain. A comprehensive program will include individual therapy sessions, group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, relapse prevention planning, addiction education, family focused therapy, and activities that compliment the traditional evidence-based therapies.

Ken Seeley Communities Provides Treatment for Norco Addiction

Ken Seeley Communities and Rehab is a full service addiction recovery program in Palm Springs, California. Covering all aspects of treatment for hydrocodone addiction, Ken Seeley offers a medically supervised detox program that will help manage the various stages of withdrawal for Norco prior to initiating treatment. We follow up with options for treatment, including intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programming, and residential rehab. For individuals selecting an outpatient option, sober living housing is also available at Ken Seeley Communities. For more details about our program, please reach out to Ken Seeley Communities today at (877) 744-0502.

drugs to treat alcoholism

Drugs To Treat Alcoholism

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Anyone who has attempted to quit drinking unsuccessfully understands the powerful grip of alcohol addiction. Alcoholism is a brain disease, a result of the altered brain chemistry and neural pathways that can make it a very daunting and frustrating condition to rise above. While therapy can and does help the alcoholic learn how to break down the deeply engrained addiction behaviors that hold a person captive, it is sometimes not enough to fend off the relentless cravings for alcohol.

In recent years, drugs to treat alcoholism have become available to add additional mettle to the daily battle the recovering alcoholic faces. While recovery from alcoholism requires a comprehensive treatment approach for best outcomes, the medication-assisted treatment for this relentless disease is a welcome treatment element. These drugs are intended as adjunctive measures to further reinforce recovery, and not to be thought of as standalone treatment measures.

Why Is Alcoholism So Hard to Overcome?

Not only can drinking alcohol become addictive, but once addiction or dependency take root, alcoholism can be very difficult—although not impossible!—to overcome. Recovering from alcoholism is very unique to the individual. Some of the same factors that contributed to the addiction in the first place, such as genetics, growing up in a home where alcohol use was prevalent, a history of emotional or physical trauma or abuse, and individual biology, will be issues in recovery.

This means that for some people, beating alcoholism is very challenging. They may have to battle against a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, or mental health issues that keep them dependent on using alcohol for coping with the unpleasant symptoms. For every recovering alcoholic there are the societal pressures to drink, the television commercials and magazine ads that promote alcohol use, and entrenched habits to overcome.

Drugs To Treat Alcoholism

So far, there are three FDA-approved drugs on the market for assisting in alcohol recovery. These include:

  • Disulfiram (Antabuse). Approved in 1951 as a measure to support sobriety in alcoholics, Antabuse acts as a deterrent to drinking. Once the individual is on Antabuse, if they drink they can experience highly unpleasant and even dangerous effects, such as extreme headache, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitations, blurred vision, mental confusion, and respiratory difficulty. Knowing that these effects will occur if they drink, the idea is to deter any consideration to drink.
  • Naltrexone (ReVia or Vivitrol). Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist that can block the effects of alcohol in the brain. This results in alcohol not having the usual pleasant effects, instead the individual on naltrexone may feel absolutely nothing when they drink. This in turn reduces alcohol cravings and relapse.
  • Acamprosate (Campral). Campral also works to reduce alcohol cravings and relapse. Additionally, Campral can help minimize the lingering withdrawal symptoms that can persist for months, such as sleep disturbances, edginess, and depression.

These drugs may be prescribed singularly or in combination based on each individual’s unique recovery needs or issues.

Are Drugs to Treat Alcoholism Safe?

When taken under a physician’s supervision, these drugs are generally safe, however there are some side effects that should be noted. Antabuse can have serious health effects, even including heart attack, respiratory failure, coma, and death. For this reason, Antabuse is not recommended for individuals with a history of repeated relapses. Vivitrol, ReVia, and Campral can have side effects such as headache, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, and fatigue.

What Is Comprehensive Treatment for Alcoholism?

Because of the complexity of alcohol dependency, recovery from alcoholism necessitates a multi-modal approach to treatment. Going about beating alcoholism from several different angles offers the best chances at a successful recovery result. There are three primary phases  of alcoholism recovery, including:

 

  • Medical Detox. A medical detox is the first step in the recovery journey, and can be one of the biggest obstacles to initiating treatment for an alcohol use disorder. This is because of the harsh, even dangerous, withdrawal symptoms that arise during detox. For this reason, individuals are cautioned never to approach detox alone without medical supervision. During detox the detox specialists will provide the necessary medications to mitigate many of the withdrawal symptoms, and guide the individual safely through the process. In addition, the detox professionals offer important psychological support as well, as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mental  confusion are common in detox and withdrawal.
  • Addiction Treatment. Treatment for an alcohol use disorder can be provided in either an outpatient or residential setting. Addiction recovery involves making fundamental changes to the learned behaviors that have kept the person dependent on alcohol. By replacing distorted thoughts and self-destructive addictive behaviors with new positive, constructive thought patterns will eventually become new healthy habits. Medication-assisted treatment is provided as one of the treatment elements for individuals in addiction recovery. Other interventions include psychotherapy, group therapy, holistic therapies, acquiring stress-management skills, active planning to prevent relapse, and 12-step meetings.
  • Continuing Care. An important treatment component includes the continuing care services that will support recovery after rehab is completed. Those in early recovery are very vulnerable to relapse, no matter how committed they are to sobriety. By continuing on with regular outpatient counseling and support services, as well as engaging in a recovery community that provides peer support, the individual will have a supportive backstop when issues that threaten recovery arise. Sober living housing is another excellent continuing care option during outpatient rehab and into the first few months of recovery.

Ken Seeley Communities Offers Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Palm Springs

Ken Seeley Communities and Rehab provides a full spectrum of addiction treatment services in the Palm Springs, California area. These services include professional intervention planning, detox, outpatient rehab, residential rehab, and sober living housing. One of the treatment elements offered at Ken Seeley Communities is medication-assisted treatment, including drugs to treat alcoholism such as naltrexone or Campral. For more information about the program and addiction treatment services, please contact Ken Seeley Communities today at (877) 744-0502.

residential drug treatment programs in california

Residential Drug Treatment Programs in California

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When taking the first important step toward recovery—the conscious decision to obtain treatment for drug or alcohol addiction—there are some things to consider before deciding on the type of rehab that is best suited for your unique situation. Each person struggling with addiction will have specific features associated with their personal substance use disorder. Because no two addiction stories are alike, a variety of rehab programs exist to offer many options for care.

For example, some addicts may have a long-standing co-occurring mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder. Others may have only recently become hooked on painkillers. Still others may have a poly-substance disorder where multiple drugs are being abused. There are specialized rehabs that will align with each of these very different addiction scenarios.

For individuals with a long history of heavy alcohol or drug abuse, a residential rehab is the best pathway for successful recovery. Residential drug treatment programs in California cover a wide range of treatment philosophies, locales, amenities, and services, providing the opportunity to find a rehab that best suits your recovery needs and goals.

What to Look For in Residential Drug Treatment Programs in California

If you have determined that a residential program is the best fit for your recovery needs, it helps in the selection process to know what constitutes a high quality rehab. Residential drug treatment programs in California may share a common goal of assisting individuals towards living a sober life in recovery. However, the methods they practice, the licensing they hold, and the standards they adhere to can vary significantly.

When deciding on a residential rehab, consider these features:

  • Do they offer medical detox
  • Are they licensed by the state (Department of Health Care Services for Substance Use Disorders), or other licensing such as CARF or Joint Commission (dual diagnosis)
  • How they protect client privacy
  • Do they treat co-occurring mental health issues (if relevant)
  • Do they utilize evidence-based treatment approaches
  • Are they a 12-step or non 12-step based program (per personal preference)
  • What medical practitioners are present on site
  • What psychiatric professionals are present on site (for dual diagnosis)
  • Ask to see a daily/weekly/monthly schedule of therapies and activities
  • As about nutritional services
  • Do they offer family therapy
  • Ask about adjunctive therapies (i.e., DBT skills training, EMDR, holistic activities)
  • Do they provide continuing care services

Medical Detox Services at Residential Rehabs

One of the many benefits of selecting a residential rehab over an outpatient program is the convenience of undergoing the detox process on the premises. Medical detox involves the individual processing through the stages of detox and withdrawal while under the supervision of a medically trained detox professional. Withdrawal symptoms can be highly uncomfortable and, in the case of alcohol detox or benzodiazepine detox, can present sudden health risks. The medical detox team is trained to monitor vital signs and to intervene immediately in an urgent health event.

In a medical detoxification the individual will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that vary based on the substance of abuse. These withdrawal symptoms indicate the central nervous system and brain chemistry is attempting to stabilize while the drug is being withheld. The medical detox team provides medications to help ease the symptoms, as well as offer psychological support throughout the detox process.

Treatment Elements in Residential Rehab

Detox is only the first step in the recovery journey. It is not realistic to believe that once detox is completed you are good to go. Powerful cravings and ingrained addiction behaviors will quickly upend any attempt to remain clean and sober. For these reasons it is imperative to complete an extended stay in a residential rehab where coping skills, new thought/behavior patterns, and stress-reduction exercises are taught.

A high quality residential rehab will offer a comprehensive menu of therapeutic activities scheduled throughout the day that are designed to compliment each other and promote healing and personal growth. These will include:

  • Psychotherapy. Talk therapy is beneficial in addiction treatment, as it allows clients to explore past or present issues that are psychologically painful. This one-on-one therapy also helps clients examine self-sabotaging thought patterns that have fueled substance abuse, and replace these with new constructive patterns.
  • Group work. Peer-based therapy sessions and recovery meetings allow clients to bond with others while sharing individual stories of past struggles. These group therapy sessions are facilitated by a clinician who guides discussion towards sharing ideas and offering support.
  • Family counseling. Because the family is such an essential source of support it is helpful to enlist their involvement in their loved one’s treatment. Healing past pains, broken trust bonds, and dysfunctional communication practices can be initiated in family therapy.
  • Classes. Rehabs provide classes that teach clients how addiction develops on a neural/physiological level, which can help deter future substance abuse. Classes to plan strategies for avoiding relapse, to teach coping skills and life skills are also offered.
  • Recreational therapy. Activities that compliment the traditional therapies might include such things as exercise programs, outdoor activities, art and music therapy, yoga classes, and mindfulness training. These activities enhance feelings of competence, self-esteem, and self-empowerment that can augment treatment.
  • Medication management. Some clients may have a coexisting mental health condition that requires medication to help ease symptoms, so these medications can be provided. Also, in some cases medications that assist opiate recovery are prescribed and monitored closely.

Aftercare Recovery Services Following Rehab

An important, and often overlooked, treatment element on the recovery continuum is continuing care. After leaving rehab it can be difficult to adjust to life in recovery. By accessing aftercare services the chances of a sustained recovery are greatly increased. These include sober living housing, weekly outpatient therapy, and 12-step recovery groups.

Ken Seeley Communities and Rehab Provides Residential Treatment in Palm Springs

Ken Seeley Communities is one of the leading residential drug treatment programs in California. With a full spectrum of addiction treatment services available in a tight-knit, supportive environment, Ken Seeley Communities offers the highest caliber of care using both traditional evidence-based therapies and innovative methods. For more information about our residential treatment program, please contact Ken Seeley Communities today at (877) 744-0502.

 

long term addiction treatment facilities

Long Term Addiction Treatment Facilities

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6 Benefits of a Residential Addiction Treatment Program

We humans have been groomed to expect instant results in every facet of our lives. We seek expediency wherever we can find it, whether it’s the highest speed Internet service, the quickest Prime shipments on Amazon, or a swift weight loss program. We want it all, and we want it now. But there are certain things that cannot be rushed, that is, if you want to enjoy a lasting outcome, and addiction recovery is one of those things. For individuals with a deeply engrained drug or alcohol addiction, a short-term rehab simply will not produce the lasting recovery one is seeking or needing.

When chemical dependency on a substance of abuse develops, the brain has become accustomed to the daily delivery of the substance and has adjusted its own natural chemistry accordingly. These new neural pathways bypass the brain’s normal production of dopamine, for instance, relying instead on the drug of choice to provide the flood of dopamine as usual. This is one reason why a long-term history of alcohol or drug addiction makes a swift recovery impossible. It takes time to normalize brain chemistry and central nervous system functions after discontinuing drug or alcohol use.

Addictive behavior patterns are another reason why a long-term rehab is needed. While in active addiction, the trigger produces the thought that one will suffer unless they acquire and use the substance of choice, so the destructive behavioral response, to drink or use, is then activated. These reflexive patterns have become so entrenched that it takes an extended period of time to replace them with new, healthy, and productive thought/behavior patterns.

While outpatient rehab services are an excellent option for individuals with an emerging or recent substance use disorder, these programs do not offer the oversight needed for individuals with moderate to severe addiction status. Outpatient programs provide flexibility and freedom that, for someone deeply addicted, offers too many temptations that can trigger relapse.

Why Long Term Addiction Treatment Facilities Are the Best Option

Long term addiction treatment facilities offer a much better environment for individuals with established addiction histories. The length of the stay will be determined during the intake interview and assessment process, and may be anywhere from one month to a year in length depending on the addiction information obtained. Here are 6 reasons why long term addiction treatment facilities are the more appropriate setting for individuals with a lengthy history of addiction, a dual diagnosis, or a poly-drug substance disorder:

  1. Structure. A predictable daily schedule is beneficial for someone in early recovery. Residential rehabs offer a full daily schedule of therapies and activities, in addition to meal times, recreational time, and down time. This creates less stress for the clients, knowing their days are full and they will be busy, which helps them focus on recovery and dwell less on cravings or romanticized addiction activities.
  2. 24-hour supervision. Residential rehabs provide round-the-clock monitoring of clients, reducing the opportunities for the clients to engage in drug-seeking or sneaky behaviors that will sabotage recovery. There are clinicians, psychotherapists, addiction specialists, and medical personnel to keep clients supervised throughout the day.
  3. Comprehensive programming. An inpatient setting has the time available to offer a multitude of recovery programming. This includes individual therapy, group therapy, addiction education classes, life skills classes, family counseling, 12-step meetings, guest speakers, and holistic therapies.
  4. Peer support. Having people around you that understand your struggles because they have the same ones is comforting to clients in recovery. With a shared experience and with aligned recovery goals, the clients can provide social support for each other. In the inpatient setting, new friendships are often established as a result of this shared experience.
  5. Removed from environment. By leaving one’s home community and staying for an extended period in rehab clients are much more able to focus on the work of recovery. Daily stressors, triggers, and obligations do not invade the rehab environment, allowing clients to concentrate on getting healthy and restoring overall wellness.
  6. Fitness and nutrition. An essential part of the recovery process is restoring health. Active addiction tends to put nutrition and fitness on the back burner, often leaving clients with nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions, and unfit bodies. By spending a period of time in a residential program, the client has time to establish new healthy habits and routines that benefit overall wellbeing.

Continuing Care Following Long Term Residential Rehab

An often-neglected component of the recovery process is planning what happens after discharge from a long-term residential program. Clients may be anxious to return to their home community and shirk the recommendations of the therapists to continue on with aftercare services, to their peril. Early recovery is a very vulnerable phase that should be carefully prepared for.

Continuing care services allow the client to shore up sobriety and practice recovery tools while still under the care of addiction recovery professionals. It is a mistake to believe one can go it alone right after rehab. Many clients find themselves overwhelmed by the return to freedom and may expose themselves to triggers or people who are not supportive of their recovery. This can lead to relapse, and in the case of an opioid addiction, this can prove deadly.

Plans should be made to follow up the residential rehab program with the following continuing care services:

  • Sober living housing. Spending a few months in sober living increases the sustainability of recovery during the early months.
  • Ongoing outpatient counseling. By continuing to receive support from an outpatient therapist or group therapy session, clients can work through some of the challenges experienced in early recovery.
  • 12-step recovery group. Participating in a 12-step or non 12-step recovery community offers ongoing social support.

Ken Seeley Communities Offers Long Term Addiction Treatment Facilities

Ken Seeley Communities and Rehab is a leading provider of long-term residential rehab in Palm Springs, California. In addition to offering medical detox and residential programming, Ken Seeley also provides day treatment programs, outpatient treatment, and intervention services. For more information, please contact Ken Seeley Communities today at (877) 744-0502.