How Addiction Changes Loved Ones

If your loved one is addicted, this person you love is no longer the same person he or she once was. Certainly the person you held dear and trusted is still there on some level, but addiction changes people to the point where they even no longer recognize themselves. The following are ways that your loved one may have changed for the worse:

• Your once happy and involved family member now reacts with anger, appears depressed and isolates him or herself from social and family events
• Your once hard working loved one now oversleeps in the morning, skips work altogether or may have been fired
• Your once responsible family member no longer cares that the bills aren’t paid on time or that other responsibilities have been ignored
• Your once mild and calm family member may be physically or verbally abusive to friends and family

There is a strong correlation between addiction and relationship problems, so if you are experiencing major problems within your relationship then it is time for you to take control and turn the situation around. Addiction is a progressive condition that very rarely goes away on its own. It is important that you get the addiction support that your entire family needs, before it is too late for everyone.

Manipulation and Deceit by Addicted Loved Ones

When your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, he or she is no longer the person you once knew. Addiction has a horrible way of becoming the first love, the only love and the most important love in an addict’s life. This can cause them to take part in any number of manipulative and deceptive behaviors such as the following:

• Using money that should go toward bills and groceries to buy drugs or alcohol
• Lying about where missing money went, where he or she has been or what he or she has been doing
• Making up elaborate excuses about their addiction, their behaviors, and about the money that they are spending on their addiction
• Lying to friends and family members about why money is needed

Addicts become very adept at protecting their addictions, and they will go to just about any length to score their next fix.

End Your Loved One’s Addiction, Lies and Manipulations

When you call our rehab helpline, you are greeted by knowledgeable counselors who have a thorough understanding of what you and your entire family are going through. Our team of professionals will help you to find the addiction help for families that you need. Calls are confidential and toll free, and we can offer you the addiction support that you need to find a solution for your addiction and relationship problems. We are here to help 24 hours a day.

The Dangers of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Marijuana and other drugs like amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates and prescription drugs have the potential to impair a person’s ability to function. For good reason there are warning labels on prescription drugs that discourage operating machinery while taking the medications. Drugs interfere with normal brain activity: they impair motor skills, reaction time, perception, attention and a person’s sense of reality. Specific drugs produce different side effects depending upon the amount consumed, the history of the user and individual characteristics like genetic disposition. Driving under the influence of drugs distracts a person from the task at hand; it is unsafe and can result in motor vehicle accidents, injury and death.

The Facts of Drugged Driving

The following are facts and statistics related to drugged driving:

• The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes that close to 20 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by drugged driving in the U.S. each year. This represents about 8,600 deaths and 580,000 injuries.
• The same study shows over $33 billion spent in damages due to drugged driving each year.
• In 2009 close to 4,000 fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
• In 2007 the NHTSA found that, 16 percent of drivers tested positive for illegal prescription drugs on weekend nights, while 11 percent tested positive for illegal drugs on weekdays.
• The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found close to 10.5 million people over the age of 12 who admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the previous year. The same survey showed evidence of males being more willing than females to drive while under the influence (16.9 to 9.2 percent).
• The most prevalent age group for drugged driving is between the ages of 21-25 according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• The 2009 study from NHTSA found evidence that 18 percent of drivers who were fatally injured in motor vehicle accidents tested positive for at least one drug; that number jumped up 5 percent from 2005. This hints at the need for better education and prevention methods for drugged driving.

How to Prevent Drugged Driving

If you or a loved one has a substance abuse problem, please recognize the need for treatment. Drug abuse causes serious harm to everyone involved. Without proper treatment, injuries and fatalities from substance abuse and drugged driving will continue to take the lives of thousands. For substance abuse help, please call our toll-free helpline today. Our highly-trained addiction counselors are ready to assist you 24 hours a day. Call now.

• The person’s physical health will suffer
• The personal will experience negative emotional and psychological effects of drug abuse
• Relationships with friends and family will be harmed

An overlooked effect of drug use is the damage done to a person’s finances. When a person becomes addicted to a drug, obtaining and using that substance becomes a priority in life. This means that more and more of a user’s financial resources will be spent supporting a drug habit. The amount of the drug the person needs and thus the money they must spend to get it will only increase as time goes on.

The Cycle of Addiction Means Increasing Costs

Drug users can lose perspective with regards to how bad their drug habit has become, and they can lose sight of the drain it has become on their finances. Reliable statistics about how much money individuals spend on illegal drugs are hard to find, but anyone who has experienced addiction on a first or second-hand basis can attest to the fact that a drug habit will rapidly drain a user’s finances.

The price of addiction is more than simply the cost of obtaining the drugs. A drug habit may result in legal fees or the loss of employment. The financial cost of a drug habit is also felt by the families and friends of addicts. Family savings may disappear, and friends may grow tired of lending money that is never returned.

Stop the Financial Drain of a Drug Habit by Getting Help Now

If you are struggling with a drug habit, we want to help you out of the deadly cycle of addiction. Call our 24 hour toll-free helpline to speak with one of our trained addiction counselors. They can answer any questions you might have about treatment and recovery. Given the hit that addiction delivers to your finances, you may be concerned about covering the cost of treatment. We offer a free analysis of your insurance to determine how much coverage your plan provides, or we can discuss financing or scholarship options for those without insurance. Don’t let drug addiction do any more damage to your bank account, your body or your life. Call today.

When Does Drug Use Become Drug Abuse?

Every person is different, and drug use affects individuals in different ways. While the line between use and abuse varies, there are signs and warning symptoms that can indicate when a person has begun to lose control over drug use. Your life does not have to fall apart before drug abuse can be identified. Many people will continue to work, go to school and maintain their relationships while they have an ongoing drug problem. Substance abusers are notorious for trying to keep their addiction hidden from those they care about the most. Unfortunately this is not an act they can maintain. Self-destructive behavior will lead to a lifestyle that will begin to spiral out of control.

Warning Signs of a Drug Abuse Problem

If you think you may have a drug abuse problem, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I using drugs as an escape or as a short-term cure to my problems?
• Am I neglecting my responsibilities at work, school or home?
• Am I experiencing new problems in my relationships?
• Have I built up a tolerance to the drugs I am taking?
• Am I feeling symptoms of withdrawal?
• Do I take more drugs to relieve symptoms of withdrawal?
• Am I putting myself in dangerous situations while on drugs?
• Am I using more than one recreational drug at a time?
• Do I spend money on drugs that I cannot afford?
• Have I gotten myself into legal trouble because of drugs?
• Have my interests and activities changed?
• Do I continue to use drugs even when I know they are hurting me?
• Do I want to quit using drugs but feel powerless to do so?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a drug abuse problem. Find professional and understanding help immediately. Drug abuse and addiction can cause irreversible damage to a person’s physical, emotional and social life. The destructive consequences of addiction are endless, and they will not stop unless a person gets proper treatment.

Identify Drug Abuse or Get Help for a Drug Abuse Problem

We are here to help anyone who is struggling with drug abuse or is concerned about drug use. Whether you have questions, need treatment help or just want to talk, our counselors are standing by 24 hours a day to assist you with your treatment needs. Please pick up the phone and call our toll-free helpline today.

• How do you know if your spouse needs rehab? This question is one that only you can truly answer. As the person who lives with and knows your spouse better than anyone else, you are in a unique position to understand her situation. Having been through rehab yourself you are no doubt aware of how a drug addiction and mental health rehab facility can help you to earn your life back.
• Are the behaviors and drug addiction symptoms of your spouse affecting your life? If your own sobriety is at risk due to your spouse’s addiction, then this is a major problem. You love your drug addicted spouse; however, your need to stay clean and sobriety has to come first. Otherwise you will be endangering your life and undoing all of the positive work that you have fought for.
• Has your relationship, and the future of your marriage, been put in jeopardy? The emotional ups and downs of a drug addicted spouse could be wreaking havoc on your relationship. With you now being sober, you will be able to see how your drug addicted husband is affecting your relationship. Even the strongest of marriages might not be able to handle the stress of dealing with an addicted spouse. When it comes to drug addiction, you may find yourself often being the only person in the relationship.
• Is the stability of your entire household, and of your children, at risk of collapsing? Thinking about the addiction symptoms that your spouse is displaying, you will be able to see how those behaviors could be affecting your children and even your spouse’s ability to hold down a steady job. Without that income how will your family cope?

How to Treat Addiction

Just like your spouse will need a network of friends and family to provide love and support, your spouse also needs a network of medical professionals who can help your spouse through treatment. One of the best treatment options is a plan that integrates drug addiction and mental health. These facilities offer a team of counselors, doctors, and other caregivers who will be able to help treat all aspects of your spouse’s mental and substance abuse conditions. Treating the whole person is the most effective way to ensure that treatment and recovery are successful. A facility that offers integrated treatment programs will also encourage family counseling and family weekends as a way to not just help with healing old and still raw wounds, but also as a way to help families to reconnect and reestablish those solid family bonds.

Free Addiction Help

Getting the help for your drug addicted spouse shouldn’t be put off, for any reason. Call us on our toll-free, 24 hour helpline to discuss your planned intervention for a loved one.

Our counselors are skilled professionals who work toward the goal of helping your drug addicted husband or drug addicted wife find the treatment needed to ensure a long and healthy recovery.
Give us a call; we’ve got the solutions and the answers to your troubles.

Unfortunately a brief time abusing drugs can often lead toward a major problem with substance abuse. Thankfully there is help! With an integrated rehab program that addresses both the substance abuse problems and any mental health issues that need to be addressed, rehab for college students can provide them with a fresh start that will enable them to graduate and go on to succeed in their chosen career.

Drug Rehabilitation Help for College Students

The numbers of students that accidently overdose in college are staggering; this makes universities take a very firm stance against drugs. With a keen awareness of the statistics as they relate to addiction in college students, most universities take proactive steps to distance drugs from their campuses. Along with the proactive steps, they also offer support for rehab for college students. Whether they allow support groups to hold meetings on campus, or allow students leaves of absence to attend rehab, the support is there for students who are interested in embracing sobriety. Some select universities also offer counseling as another means of supporting substance abuse treatment for college students.

Along with on-campus support students should do their part to attend an integrated rehab facility that can help them address their substance abuse problems as well any other mental disorders that they may be struggling with.

How to Choose a Rehabilitation Program for College Students

For a student that is hesitant to leave university to attend an inpatient rehab facility there are several key reasons why it makes sense for them to do that versus attempting to go it alone or attending an outpatient treatment program.

An inpatient facility can offer focused treatment without the distractions that would otherwise be on the minds of college students. A completely neutral environment in which to tackle the addiction is invaluable. Rehab during summer break allows students to take the time to focus on their recovery and return to university with a clean slate for a brand new start. Spending time in a residential treatment facility will also allow students a discreet method of getting the treatment that they need.

An inpatient facility, especially an integrated facility that treats both mental disorders and drug addictions, can provide rehab for university students that will also equip them with coping tools and skills that they will needed when they return to university. A tailored treatment program that will address each individual’s unique situation is the best method of ensuring that the treatment and recovery period are successful.

Get Drug Abuse Help Now

If you are ready to take the steps toward a life free of alcohol and drugs, then give us a call at our 24 hour, toll-free helpline. Perhaps you are interested in staging an intervention for a family member or friend in order to encourage her to enter a treatment facility. Our compassionate counselors can answer any questions you may have or address any concerns that might be keeping you from forging ahead with treatment.

We are here to help you get back on the pathway toward a successful college education and a bright future. Call us now.

Signs of Drug Addiction

If you believe you or a loved one may be in denial about an addiction problem, consider the following signs of addiction:

• Daily or even weekly use of drugs
• Stating that you will quit using but never do
• Maintaining and buying a supply of drugs even if you can’t afford it
• Stealing, borrowing money or doing things you never did before to obtain drugs
• Feeling that you can’t deal with anything in your life without drugs
• Getting involved in dangerous and risky activities under the influence of drugs

Signs of Addiction Denial in a Loved One

The followings signs indicate a loved one is in denial of addiction:

• Your loved one has stopped interacting with friends and family
• Your loved one has changed personality wise
• Your loved one is always jumping from one emotion to another
• Your loved one has started spending a lot money
• Your loved one is hanging out with a different group of friends or acquaintances
• Your loved one is secretive about his or her whereabouts
• Your loved one is defensive or hostile about drug or alcohol use

The reality of drug addiction is different from the real things happening in life. Often, addicted people do not notice their addiction problems. If a person admits that that she has become addicted to a drug then that person should seek help as soon as possible. Accepting the fact that you have a drug addiction problem is the first and most important step. The next step is to seek drug addiction help.

When to Hire an Interventionist to Help End Drug Addiction Denial

If a loved one is completely in denial, you may consider hiring an interventionist. The problem in intervening without the help of a professional is that in most cases the drug user does not think that anything is wrong. He really believes he doesn’t have a problem with drugs and will never accept what his families or friends are saying. This is when family or close friends should take steps to hire an interventionist. An interventionist has the experience and knowledge to convince the drug user that he has a drug abuse problem.

Find Drug Addiction Help Now

Please call us now and speak with an experienced recovery counselor who can help you find the following services:

• Family counseling resources
• Drug and alcohol rehab programs
• Intervention services
• Phone support for addiction
• Insurance coverage for addiction

All of our calls are toll free, and our helpline is operated 24 hours a day. Find out how we can help you today.

How Drug Addiction Affects Family Life

If you have been dealing with an addiction to a controlled substance for some time now, you may have already watched your role within your own family change. The unfortunate reality is that substance abuse of any kind can ultimately remove you from your role as a father, mother, husband, wife, son or daughter.

Emotional and Psychological Repercussions of Drug Addiction

Addiction in its worst form causes a person’s chief priority to become the location and consumption of medication. This not only takes a toll on family but also renders a person incapable of maintaining important relationships. One crucial aspect of any successful rehab is a focus on therapy after detox. Some form of therapy is always necessary and beneficial because of the ways that an addiction to a controlled substance can create powerful emotional and psychological strongholds in the mind. Prescription drug abuse in particular is unsurpassed in its ability to change an individual’s entire attitude toward life. If you neglect the psychological aspects of addiction, you run the risk of developing another addiction.

Resources for Drug Rehabilitation

If you have additional questions regarding drug abuse or need help navigating the sometimes confusing world of treatment options for yourself or a loved one, we can help. We are available 24 hours a day at a toll-free helpline to answer your questions and point you toward quality options for successful long-term rehab. The call and all phone services are free. Call today and begin your recovery.

Quitting Drugs Cold Turkey to Pass a Drug Test

Quitting cold turkey means abruptly ending drug use. There will be no more drug intake, and quitting will be a sudden activity. Quitting cold turkey is difficult, and it can actually have a negative effect on the person. Quitting cold turkey can harm your body, cause illness or lead to terrible withdrawal symptoms, and it still leaves you at a high chance for relapse and even greater drug use.

Cutting Down to Pass a Drug Test

Once a person has become addicted to drugs, the drug cravings will not be suppressed until that person takes his or her drug of choice. Regular drug use leads to tolerance, so the point at which satisfaction is reached is raised. Trying to cut back at home can lead to confusion, temptation and a serious relapse. There is a risk that any withdrawal symptoms may cause a person to consume a high drug dose that may cause an overdose. Cutting down at home is not a safe way to quit drugs.

Detoxification to Pass a Drug Test

There are many methods of detox like the two mentioned above, but the only effective detox treatment comes from medical professionals. Enrolling in a professional detox program and seeking integrated treatment is the best option for a person trying to quit drugs successfully and effectively. This is because professional medically supervised detox services ease the withdrawal symptoms and provide a peaceful and controlled environment for the addicted person. Detox programs come complete with preparation, counseling and treatment, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Moreover, a patient is less likely to relapse if he or she has been in a detox facility.

Pass a Drug Test Every Time

Once a drug user has been completed detox and received counseling to maintain sobriety, he or she will pass a drug test. The best way to pass a drug test is to not take the drug which you are being tested for. If you would like to gain addiction support, learn more about detox or find the best treatment for you, please call our toll-free helpline. Our recovery counselors can help you through every step of the addiction treatment process. All calls are free to you and completely confidential. Find out how we can help you today.

Your Skin Health Affects Your Self Confidence

When your health is poor, it shows. Drug use may not make much difference in your appearance in the early stages, but over time it will take its toll. The appearance of your health and your skin can affect your self-esteem and your social relationships and opportunities. Your skin and complexion may be an indicator of more serious problems that addiction can cause. Take a look at the following signs of problem health, and see what you skin is telling you:

• Dark spots: Dark spots are usually a sign of aging, but trauma and poor nutrition can cause dark spots in young people as well. Poor circulation, often a byproduct of drug use, can lead to bruising and permanent skin marks. Neglecting personal care can lead a drug user to spend excess time in the sun which can also lead to dark spots.
• Dry, flaky skin: Dry skin can be a sign of dehydration. Many drugs can cause your body to work harder in an effort to flush out toxins, which leads to dry and flaky skin. Smoke from illegal drugs can cause flaking and dryness. Dry skin is more prone to wounds and poor healing.
• Chapped, peeling lips: Smoking, lack of oral hygiene and corrosive drugs can all lead to chapped lips. Dry lips are a primary symptom of dehydration.
• Uneven skin tone and blotchiness: If you are malnourished, exhausted or dehydrated, you may experience color changes in skin including spots and creases that were not present before. Many stimulant drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine and Ritalin and opiate drugs like heroin and pain pills can all lead to nutritional issues. Later stages of addiction can cause the user to neglect regular meals and foods leading to malnutrition.
• Rashes: Rashes can indicate an allergic reaction, serious medical illness or a drug reaction. Scaly skin and itchy skin can indicate irritation or a contagious condition. Get any skin rash checked out by a medical doctor immediately.
• Acne: Acne can indicate a buildup of bacteria on the skin or a neglect of hygiene.
• Wrinkles: Wrinkles in skin can be caused by sudden weight loss, smoke or other toxins in an environment. Chronic drug use can lead to premature wrinkling of skin.

The condition of your physical health and your mental health is more important than the condition of your skin and appearance. When your daily life is affected by drug and alcohol use, those substances control every part of your existence.

Get Drug Abuse Help Now

If drug use is taking a toll on your body, it is time to seek help. We are here to support you. We offer a toll-free helpline that is staffed by caring and professional rehab counselors. We can help you find licensed treatment, rehab, detox, family support and more. Please call our confidential helpline now to find out how we can help you.