It is excoriating to watch someone you love in any kind of pain, especially the pain associated with addiction. Most of us would do anything to help our loved ones, but we feel a sense of helplessness. There are many ways that people with good intentions are actually displaying enabling behaviors which in turn harm addiction recovery.
An intervention is an arranged meeting between the addict/alcoholic and their close family members, friends, and possibly a neutral party like a therapist where the addict is lovingly confronted about their addiction or substance abuse problems. The key word and idea here is “lovingly” – there are a few different ways to conduct an intervention, but to do it with love and care is the most important consideration.
Subutex can decrease cravings and relieve withdrawal symptoms. This can help you remain in treatment and gain control over your opiate addiction without the distraction of cravings and fear of withdrawal.
Drug and alcohol addiction can ravage body and mind alike—so much so that, when drug or alcohol use is abruptly discontinued, the physical effects can be jarring. This is the process known as detoxification, and, if you’ve never experienced drug and alcohol detox before, it can be daunting to say the least. To provide some clarity and encouragement, consider the following, brief guide to drug and alcohol detox—one that will hopefully clear up some questions about what the process entails.
Opioids — heroin, morphine, tramadol, oxycodone, methadone, suboxone, and fentanyl, to name a few – act on the parts of the brain that regulate respiration. In other words, they slow or stop breathing. Most overdoses lead to death because the user simply stops breathing.
Individuals who display addictive behaviors and struggle with substance abuse tend to be in denial about their disease and may be hesitant or unwilling to seek professional treatment. When a friend or family member is suffering from substance abuse, it can be difficult to help that person understand how their destructive behavior is affecting those around them and it can be challenging to have an open conversation about the situation.
Misconception #1: It can’t be a disease. It’s a lack of willpower. The Truth: Diseases are scary, so no one wants to think about them. Some diseases you inherit a tendency for, like high blood pressure or heart disease. Some develop over time, such as asthma or diabetes. And others develop over time for a lot of different reasons, like numerous cancers. Addiction is just like that. It is a disease.
When you think of someone being “clean and sober” what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of someone who no longer uses drugs or alcohol, and you would be right. Now, what about the phrase “living in sobriety” or “recovery.” What does that mean to you? While treatment and twelve-step programs are not the only way to get clean and sober, they are often the best. Why? Because they don’t just help you stop using, they also help you start living a life of peace, gratitude and fulfillment. That is recovery.
For so long people have lived bound by addiction, not knowing that there is another way. Day after day, so many are dependent on a substance to get going, to stay going, and in search for the strength to face the world that is waiting on them. Fear paralyzes even the strongest person’s ability to do what so many believe to be such a simple thing.
When it seems that someone you care about is suffering from a drug problem, you many experience a great deal of stress and confusion as you grapple with the question of what to do about it. You’ll find yourself asking whether you are overreacting, whether you ought to try to intervene, and whether your help will be welcome.
Because heroin and opiates are physically addicting, heroin detox becomes necessary when the body adapts to the presence of the drug. The addict’s body becomes tolerant to heroin’s effects and more and more is needed to reduce ones’ physical and psychological cravings for heroin. Withdrawal symptoms will definitely occur if heroin use or opiate use is abruptly discontinued.
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