There Is No Such Thing as a Harmless Addiction

What is addiction? It is a condition in which a person engages compulsively in certain kinds of behaviour despite knowledge that such behaviour is detrimental to himself. Addictions can come by way of alcohol, drugs, or certain types of behaviours. Regardless of the behaviour in question, there is no such thing as a harmless addiction. Just ask any worker at one of the nation's drug and alcohol rehab clinics.

The mistaken belief in a harmless addiction can be observed in a number of ways. For example, consider an individual who regularly abuses alcohol by binge drinking on the weekends. When confronted about his excessive drinking, he might respond by saying his drinking is harmless. He does not engage in drink driving, he does not get violent, and he recovers in time to go to work on Monday.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is also known as alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Like any other drug, alcohol creates an addiction gradually rather than immediately. Unfortunately, alcohol is the most abused drug in the UK by a long shot. Moreover, when abuse is ignored by the abusers, it's only a matter of time before they find themselves checking into rehab centres.

According to the NHS, 9% of adult men and 6% of adult women in the UK show signs of alcohol dependence. When you combine both men and women together, you get an overall rate of 7.5%. Each of these individuals is suffering the harm of alcohol addiction that can include medical problems, lost jobs, marriage breakups, and loss of children. Alcohol is not a harmless drug that can be used with impunity.

Drug Addiction

The nation's drug rehab clinics also find themselves filled with individuals who mistakenly believed they could use prescription medications or illicit drugs without any harm. However, they all found out too late just how harmful drugs can be. What started out as recreational use eventually escalated to the point where drugs were in control.

As you know, some drugs can be even more damaging than alcohol to one's physical health. For example, have you seen the pictures of methamphetamine addicts used in anti-drug campaigns? These are scary pictures indeed. They show addicts before they started using and after addiction was well established. You can clearly see that methamphetamine use is not harmless.

The big lie of drugs and alcohol is that you can use them without losing control. Nevertheless, it is simply not true. Drugs and alcohol are psychoactive substances that alter the way the brain works. And once those brain changes begin, it's nearly impossible to fix them without a complete and total separation from whatever substances are being used. Do not be fooled; there is no harmless addiction. Drug and alcohol rehab clinics are proof of that.

Drug Rehab Clinics: Sometimes Distance Is Good

When an alcoholic or drug addict is considering residential treatment, he is faced with a lot of different choices for drug rehab clinics. Making the right choice involves considering a number of different factors that will affect how well the individual actually responds to rehab. One of those factors is distance. Should the recovering addict seek treatment at a local clinic, or should he put some distance between where he lives and where he recovers?

Believe in it or not, sometimes distance is good. Recovering addicts are normally advised to seek treatment locally so they are still close to family, friends, and other support services. However, there are times when getting away from one's local area is more productive.

Here are two examples of real addicts who chose to use rehab centres located far from home:

Cynthia – Wife and Mother

Cynthia was a twenty-something wife and mother when she was clinically diagnosed as a heroin addict. She had been using opiates since her teens, never considering the damage her behaviour would cause years down the road. Nevertheless, the damage was very real. There came a point when Cynthia was no longer able to safely be in the presence of her children, let alone care for their needs.

When she finally agreed to seek treatment, Cynthia was told by the court that she would no longer be able to see her children until she recovered from her heroin addiction. If you are a mother, you know what this must have done to Cynthia at an emotional level. The desire to be reunited with her children became the driving force in her recovery. To make that drive even stronger, Cynthia chose a rehab centre far away from home. In doing so, she knew she would have absolutely no access to family until her recovery was complete. This was the just incentive she needed to get well.

Gary – Husband and Pensioner

Gary was an American husband and pensioner whose addiction was uncovered when he was in his mid-60s. He began looking at local rehab centers with the help of his family and a few close friends. It was quickly determined that because of Gary's age, his long-time associations within the local community would make it impossible for him to successfully seek treatment without going away. He chose a facility more than 500 miles from home.

For Gary, there were far too many connections in his hometown. He would have faced constant distractions that would have inhibited his recovery. By placing him in an unfamiliar environment, far from home, his family was able to ensure the right surroundings for Gary.

Both Cynthia and Gary successfully completed recovery despite using rehab centres far from home. For them, distance ended up being a very good thing.

Detox and Rehab: Two Separate Treatments

It has been said by many a public speaker that words mean things. The statement is used to express a sentiment that we need to be careful with the words we use. Without proper words and their appropriate definitions, it can be difficult to communicate a message clearly and effectively. A great example of this is in the area of drug and alcohol rehab. More specifically, it is noted in the terms 'detox' and 'rehab'.

The terms are used interchangeably without regard to the differences between them. It is probably a good idea to sort them out, because the two treatments are entirely different. One is a short-term solution while the other is long-term. Moreover, in order for the recovering addict to wisely choose alcohol or drug rehab he or she needs to understand what the two treatments are.

Short-Term Detox

Between the two, the short-term treatment is known as detox. This is a treatment that aims to break a person's physical addiction to drugs or alcohol by way of separation. The idea behind it is to allow the body to naturally repair as much damage as possible by forcing the individual to no longer use addictive substances.

Sometimes detox is offered on an inpatient basis, by the NHS and private clinics you might find by checking with websites like www.rehab-clinic.com. The inpatient model allows detox to be medically supervised so as to help minimise withdrawal symptoms and immediately deal with any potential complications. However, detox is also offered on an outpatient basis as well. Outpatient detox tends to take longer and be more difficult to complete if one has no accountability.

Long-Term Rehab

Drug and alcohol rehab is a long-term treatment approach that seeks to get to the root of the psychological and emotional issues attached to addiction. It starts with detox, but then includes 4 to 12 weeks of psychotherapeutic treatments and 12-step work. The key to rehab is encouraging the recovering addict to personally deal with his or her thoughts and emotions so that relapse can be avoided in the future.

Proponents of rehab insist that recovering from drugs or alcohol is more than just a physical problem. It also involves dealing with the psychological and emotional. As such, they believe a more thorough psychotherapeutic programme, combined with proper support services and counselling, are what is necessary for complete and total recovery.

Whether detox or rehab is the best option for any individual is a decision best left to medical professionals and the addicts they treat. One thing is for sure, some sort of treatment is necessary if the substance abuser is to overcome his or her problems permanently. Substance abuse and addiction are two things that will not simply fade away with the passage of time.

Is Cost Hindering Private Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

In 2012 the NHS estimated there were about 60 private rehab clinics in the UK assisting both alcoholics and drug users. The same estimate suggested that more than 30 clinics had closed across the country in the previous three years. That is a 30% decline in services – a decline that may be largely due to the cost factor.

So just who does the cost of private rehab affect? Both those who need help and the clinics themselves. When addicts do not have the money or insurance to cover the cost of drug or alcohol rehab, they are missing out on the valuable services offered by private clinics. When the clinics do not have enough patients to keep their beds filled, they find it financially difficult to remain open. It is a double-edged sword and a never-ending cycle, all rolled into one.

Government Responsibility

The government willingly took on the role of being responsible for the nation's healthcare when it established the NHS in 1948. Is it reasonable to assume part of that responsibility includes providing alcohol and drug rehab to those in need? Yes, it is. That is why the NHS provides free services by way of detox, counselling, and prescription medications. Nevertheless, some would suggest those services do not go far enough.

The biggest problem with NHS services is that they are not goal-oriented. In other words, NHS treatment providers do not set out a specific plan of action for recovery, with measurable results and a definite endpoint. GPs write prescriptions, recommend patients take advantage of support groups, and then leave it at that.

Making matters worse is the government funding that was cut from private rehab programmes over the last 10 years. It used to be the NHS worked with private clinics to offer residential rehab. That is no more. The loss of funding has meant the end for far too many private clinics that were doing good work.

The Next Step

As we continue to do battle with drugs and alcohol across the UK, we need to take a step back and figure out how to take the next step forward. The responsible policymaker should welcome an effort to analyse the results of private drug and alcohol rehab as compared to the results of NHS services. If it turns out private rehab is doing the job better, perhaps funding should be diverted away from unproductive NHS programmes and toward private treatment.

Above all, finding a solution to the problem has to rise above political differences. If cost is hindering private rehab, and it appears that it is, we need to find a way to make it affordable. It needs to be affordable to the recovering addict and financially viable for the private clinic. Otherwise, we can expect more of the same.

Beating Addiction: Is It Recovery or Conquering?

When two Americans founded Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s, they began what would eventually become the most successful alcohol rehab programme in history. Bill Wilson and Bob Smith established their organisation after failing to find the help they needed to overcome alcohol dependence. They based their treatment model on the idea of group support and fellowship that would enable long-term recovery for every participant. Thus, the 12-step recovery programme was born.

Alcoholics Anonymous became so successful that it was adapted for drug rehab as well. The whole idea of recovery by way of mutual support and accountability laid the foundation for the modern rehab clinics we are all familiar with today. Yet despite the success of the 12-step programme established by Alcoholics Anonymous, there remains some debate over the question of whether or not beating addiction is really a process of recovery. Some believe it is a process of conquering.

Recovering from Addiction

The recovery philosophy is rooted in the belief that addiction is a permanent problem that, once established, must be dealt with for a lifetime. Thus, the 12-step approach calls for ongoing counselling and support for the remainder of one's life. Some organisations include a spiritual component to recovery while others do not. In either case, recovery never ceases.

Of course, the idea of recovery has further led to the classification of addiction as a disease. Moreover, as a disease, curing it requires medical treatment. Yet the concept of disease requires addiction to be looked at from multiple angles. It must be considered not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Even when physical addiction is overcome, ongoing treatment is necessary to deal with the mental and emotional.

Conquering Addiction
An alternative philosophy of conquering addiction arose in the 1990s with the development of the SMART recovery programme. The SMART way of looking at addiction is to view it as a personal problem that can be permanently solved with the right solutions. This philosophy does not see overcoming addiction as a lifelong process of recovery.

The conquering philosophy is not one that has been adopted by drug and alcohol rehab clinics to the same degree as the traditional 12-step recovery approach. However, it is gaining traction. SMART programmes are now available through more than 1,000 support groups worldwide. These groups focus on analysing drug and alcohol problems, coming up with practical solutions, and then applying the solutions in order to conquer addiction.

At the end of the day, there really is no right or wrong here. It always comes down to finding the approach that works best for the individual. Some people will require the recovery philosophy to break the addiction cycle and avoid relapse. Others do much better approaching addiction from the conquering mindset.

The Difference between Outpatient and Home Detox

When an individual first arrives at a doctor's office or clinic looking for help with rehab, a doctor or nurse must assess the severity of the individual's problem. Where a full-blown addiction is diagnosed, detox is the first step in recovery. Detox can be administered under one of the following three treatment models:

1. inpatient detox
2. outpatient detox
3. home detox.

Inpatient detox is what you normally find with residential rehab centres operated by private entities. Outpatient and home detox can be provided by private clinics, charities and the NHS. We assume most people are familiar with inpatient detox; here is what you need to know about the differences between outpatient and home detox:

Outpatient Detox

Outpatient detox is the preferred choice among NHS doctors dealing with alcohol and heroin issues. It might be used for other sorts of addictions as well. An outpatient programme requires the individual to visit a facility on a daily basis throughout the term of treatment. Daily visits are necessary to monitor progress and administer prescription medications.

Some residential drug and alcohol rehab clinics also offer outpatient detox to those with less serious problems. The one downside to outpatient detox is that the individual continues to exist within his daily routine and normal life. The distractions and temptations of that life might be too much to overcome with outpatient detox.

Home Detox

The idea of home detox arose from the reality that there are some people in need of help who cannot get to an outpatient clinic or a residential rehab facility. Under this treatment option, detox is conducted in the individual's home, under the supervision of a registered nurse, and with the help of family and friends.

Home detox begins with a medical assessment by the nurse. He or she will then prescribe certain medications where appropriate. Throughout the course of the next 7 to 10 days, the nurse will visit the home to check the progress of the individual undergoing detox. The nurse will also administer the prescribed medicines.

Home detox is a very good option when getting to a local alcohol or drug rehab clinic is not possible. However, success requires a strong support system from committed family members and friends. An individual's family setting must usually be evaluated before he is approved for home detox.

Medical Supervision

We cannot stress enough the need for medical supervision where detox is concerned. Detox is considered a medical emergency due to the potentially harmful effects of withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, you should never attempt detox on your own. If you need help for an alcohol or drug addiction problem, make an appointment to see your GP or contact one of the many addiction referral services operating in the UK.

Three Reasons 12-Step Programmes Work

When the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous developed their 12-step programme back in the 1930s they probably had no idea how popular their unique approach to alcoholism would become. Within just a few short years alcohol rehab clinics all over the US began implementing the 12-step strategy. By the 1950s, the programme was being used for drug addiction as well.

Today the 12-step approach is a mainstay of alcohol and drug rehab clinics around the world. Moreover, while the approach does not work for everyone, it does work well for large numbers of recovering addicts. Here are the top three reasons this recovery programme works so well for so many people:

1. It Addresses the Spiritual Component

Whether or not we agree that the spiritual side of man includes the necessity of religion, most of us would agree that man is a being with three parts: body, mind, and spirit. The original Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step strategy was built around the idea that recovering alcoholics need to address spiritual side of man just as much as the physical and mental. Proponents of the 12-step programme still believe that today.

Some rehab centres approach the spiritual component in terms of a specific religious influence. Others are more generic in that they allow recovering addicts to address the spiritual in whatever way they know how. The point here is that addressing the spiritual component facilitates treating the whole individual, not just the mind and body.

2. It Demands Personal Responsibility

The biggest failure of progressive drug and alcohol treatment methodologies is that they do not demand personal responsibility from recovering addicts. That is a mistake. The truth is that no addict can ever fully recover until he is willing to take ownership of his own thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Demanding personal responsibility is one of the strengths of the 12-step strategy. No participant is able to blame external circumstances or other people for the condition he finds himself in. The individual must take responsibility for his choices; he must take responsibility for his recovery.

3. It Takes Advantage of the Group Dynamic

A staple of the 12-step recovery programme is the support group. Decades of alcohol and drug treatment have shown that the group dynamic is a very powerful motivator toward recovery. Support group participation provides mutual encouragement, goal setting and, most importantly, accountability. Even rehab programmes not integrating 12-step work in their recovery strategy still use group counselling and support for treatment purposes.

As previously mentioned, 12-step recovery does not work for everyone. And that's fine. There are other drug and alcohol treatment strategies better suited to those individuals. However, among recovering addicts that do benefit, the 12-step recovery programme might be the key to completely and permanently overcoming substance abuse or addiction.

Three Reasons Recovering Addicts Should Not Neglect Aftercare

When a recovering substance abuser attends residential rehab at one of the many drug or alcohol rehab clinics around the UK, the conclusion of the treatment programme is usually followed up with several months of aftercare services. Aftercare is a series of therapies and support services intended to help prevent recovering addicts from returning to their former lifestyles.

The interesting thing about aftercare is that it can last anywhere from three to 12 months, or even longer. It all depends on the needs of the individual. At any rate, recovering addicts should not neglect aftercare services under any circumstances. Here are three reasons why:

1. Relapse Potential

The most important mission of aftercare is to help prevent relapse. Moreover, statistics show it works. According to a 2011 study, recovering addicts who do not participate in aftercare are 10 times more likely to relapse within the first year after completing a residential treatment programme.

Aftercare picks up where residential treatment leaves off. It provides support and ongoing therapy by way of counselling, support group participation, and 12-step work. Whether it is three months or 12, aftercare goes a long way toward preventing relapse.

2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Residential alcohol and drug rehab relies on the principle of confronting addiction issues daily for treatment to be successful. During a 12-week programme for example, residents spend three months doing little else but dealing with substance abuse and addiction issues. It is that concentrated focus that allows for faster recovery times. However, upon completion of the programme the 'out of sight, out of mind' principle kicks in.

Aftercare encourages recovery to remain at the forefront of the recovering addict's mind. In so doing, it helps to maintain a better focus in a way that keeps him working hard toward full recovery.

3. Group Dynamics

Group dynamics play an important role in many of the treatments today's rehab clinics offer. In a group setting, there is mutual support and accountability that helps each participant do better in his fight against substance abuse and addiction. That dynamic does not change once residential rehab is complete.

Aftercare services also depend on the group dynamic for things like support group participation and 12-step work. When recovering addicts do not participate in aftercare, they are choosing not to take advantage of the power of the group dynamic. That is truly a shame.

It should be noted that some recovering addicts continue to participate in group functions long after their aftercare services come to a close. They do so out of a desire to help others along their journey to recovery. The recovering addict just beginning aftercare services can reap a lot of benefits from the experiences of those who have gone before.

Legal Highs: the New Face of Drug Addiction

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) released a report in September 2013 showing that alcohol and drug addiction in the UK costs the country some £36 billion annually. Some believe that legalising certain drugs would help by allowing regulation and taxation to take place. However, that only solves one aspect of the problem. Raising money from the drug trade does not put an end to the human toll of abuse and addiction.

For evidence, one needs look no further than the new face of drug addiction: legal highs. The same CSJ report from last year suggests just over 8% of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have used legal highs, also known as 'new psychoactive substances'. Rehab clinics are seeing a steady increase in the number of patients they are treating for addiction to these products.

A Shade of Grey

The UK has long had difficulty dealing with the flow of illicit drugs like heroin and crack. The CSJ report claims that the UK has the highest rate of opiate addiction in Europe and the highest rate of lifetime amphetamine use. Legal highs are only making the problem worse by occupying a grey area of the law that makes them much more difficult to control. That grey area can be found in the term ‘legal highs’ itself.

The substances we are talking about here are synthetic drugs that are manufactured to mimic the effects of illicit drugs while still being chemically different. The differences allow them to be legally sold on the open market because they are not classified has controlled substances. Nevertheless, there is a catch: the drugs cannot be sold for human consumption.

Manufacturers get around the restriction by labelling their products as plant food or bath salts. Head shops and other retailers operate the same way. Unfortunately, the nation's drug rehab clinics do not have that luxury. They are dealing first-hand with the effects of the new psychoactive substances on a daily basis.

Manufacturing and Sales

Getting a handle on the legal high problem requires us to address the manufacture and sale of the substances. This includes a robust online market that has made the postal service and unwitting partner in drug trafficking. Once again, the UK leads Europe in the online trade of legal highs. Yet one must ask, where are the financial benefits?

It is all well and good to say we should legalise parts of the drug trade in order to reduce the financial cost of abuse and addiction. However, if new psychoactive substances are any indication, legalisation only stands to make the problem worse. If we are going to legalise some illicit drugs, we should be prepared for drug and alcohol rehab clinics to need more funds for treatment – and that could wipe out any financial gain realised from legalisation.