Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

November 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

After I went to detox and rehab I was ready for a greeting card life full of rainbows.  Of course that is not how it worked out, I still had to deal with life on life’s terms.  When I was using drugs I was in a constant state of euphoria and rarely, if ever thought about reality.  When I got clean and sober I was forced to see and feel everything set before me and it wasn’t always easy.  The first few days out of rehab were especially difficult because I was so fragile and used to living in a controlled environment.  In the treatment center mealtime was set by a schedule as was wakeup time and bedtime but in the real world I was responsible for setting these limits for myself.  When I was using drugs I would just do whatever I wanted when I felt like it and I certainly didn’t adhere to any type of schedule.  There were many things I had to relearn about life when I got off drugs.  One of the hardest lessons I had to learn in recovery was that I was not in control of anything or anyone else besides myself- and half of the time I didn’t even feel in control of that either. 

Being newly detoxed from drugs my body was still going through PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome).  PAWS tends to create in individuals an excess of emotion including hyper activity. Even small events of little consequence may loom large in someone’s mind and create strong (not being able to bond thoughts together) reactions. This may lead others to suspect a relapse or create social withdrawal. Shame emotions may be noted. Conversely, they may notice a numbing of emotions. The inability to feel impairs proper emotional bonding with friends and family during the early recovery process. It also impairs the recovery process itself as the individual struggles with trying to feel the resentments, anger, guilt, shame and other emotions common in recovery.

Filed Under: Addictin Drug Treatment, Drug Detox, Drug Rehab, Drugs, Recovery Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

What to Do After Detox

November 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The first step in recovery is asking for help and physically getting off whatever substance you were abusing.  Detox is only the beginning of your transition into a new life of sobriety.  Once your body is clean of drugs and alcohol and you have completed your detox program my suggestion is to attend a drug rehab center.  Some will tell you that this is not necessary and for the few people out there that have an extremely strong sense of discipline and are absolutely sure that they want to live a drug free life then they may be able to stay clean and sober without attending a rehab. However the statistics prove that your chances go up 10 fold if you attend and complete a drug treatment program. 

 

There is a variety of drug programs available ranging from the traditional 28 day inpatient rehab to some less intensive outpatient programs.  Through my own personal experience I have found that the best way to stay off drugs and alcohol is to attend an inpatient rehab program with a minimum length of 28 days.  There are also some residential drug treatment centers that offer longer programs (3-9 months) but many find that they are unable to put this amount of time aside.  If you are able to invest 6 months into drug rehab because you feel that you need to then that is a great testament to your commitment to your recovery.

 

When choosing which rehab to enter be wise and select one that fits your individual needs.  If you also suffer from depression or anxiety make sure that they have a psychiatrist on staff that will be able to meet with you and assess your situation.  If you feel more comfortable in a single sex environment then choose a treatment center that has separate units for men and women.  Most important before you check yourself into any drug treatment facility, do a little research on their history and their success rates; it doesn’t hurt to do some investigating.  If you are in need of some advice of where to go and are in the South Florida area, New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania email me and I will share my experiences with you.

Filed Under: Addictin Drug Treatment, Drug Detox, Drug Rehab, Drugs, Recovery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Choosing the Right Detox

November 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There is a huge difference in the quality of care from one detox center to another.  The uneducated consumer may not know the difference but I have been to my fair share of detox’s and I am here to share my experience with you so that you can receive the highest level quality of care possible.  One mistake that people often make when deciding on which detox center to go into is that they think they are limited to the facilities in their immediate area, which is entirely untrue.  Drug dependence is a serious physical condition that requires emergency medical care and I know that when I am sick I want to be treated by the best and have the most well trained professionals by my side.

The best detox center in my experience has been The Sunrise Detox located in Lake Worth, Florida.  They have a gentle and loving approach towards drug detoxification patients and treat all of their clients with dignity and respect. The staff at Sunrise Detox is the most caring and genuine that I have ever encountered. They actually care and want to see you recover and that is why there is such a comfortable and safe feeling there.

According to the Sunrise Detox website: “We believe that recovery from alcohol and drug addiction should be dignified. We’ve gone to great lengths to create a feeling of home at Sunrise Detox. There are no locked doors, and Sunrise Detox is not an antiseptic hospital environment. Our clients reside in comfortable, modern, elegantly furnished rooms, with plenty of space for personal belongings, and they are not required to wear uncomfortable hospital gowns during detoxification. Individuals can dress in the clothing of their choice, and have easy access to in-house laundry facilities. We also operate our own full-service, on-site gourmet kitchen which serves a diverse menu of nutritionally balanced meals and snacks.”  It makes a huge difference to be able to wear your own clothing and not be forced into a medical gown while going through withdrawal.  Each and every creature comfort that is afforded at Sunrise Detox makes the process of coming off drugs easier to bear.

The most praiseworthy aspect of Sunrise Detox is that they understand what a comfortable detox means and they don’t see detox as a time to make the patient suffer.  Through a comfortable, medically monitored detoxification process they aid their clients in their first steps towards recovery.

Filed Under: Addictin Drug Treatment, Drug Detox, Drugs, Recovery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Benefits of Inpatient Detox

November 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Inpatient detox is the best solution for anyone who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol.  I have tried more than once to attend an outpatient detox and the results were not positive for my family or me.  There are many detox centers and drug rehabs that will try to convince you that their services will help you and that they are the best choice.  Very few drug abusers succeed when they choose an outpatient detox because there is a lack of structure and the addicted individual is left in their using environment.  This makes it very difficult to change behaviors and often times the temptation to use drugs is too great and the addict relapses.

If you have been using pain medication, benzodiazepines, heroin or any other addictive street drugs than I suggest that you check into an inpatient detox center where you will receive 24 hour medical attention from a trained nursing staff.  It is essential to have the help of a doctor who can slowly wean you off of the addictive substance that you have in your body in a closed environment.  I know that for me the temptation of using drugs was too great when in an outpatient detox center.  I would begin to feel the slightest withdrawal symptoms and my mind would convince me that I could use just one more time to help myself through the detox.  Of course this was part of my sick thinking as an addict not only our bodies become ill but our minds as well.  Inpatient detox’s are equipped to handle people who are suffering from withdrawal symptoms and adjust their detox medication dosages accordingly.

Inpatient detox is much more effective because of the daily structure and comprehensive medical care that is provided. Inpatient detox comes with round the clock nursing and physician assistance while in an outpatient detox program you can only see a doctor by appointment and you are on your own when you return home every evening. In addition to the lack of structure people in outpatient detox are exposed to the same elements as when they were using. In an inpatient detox program, the only people you see are approved by your therapist with your consent. Always look towards inpatient drug detox when looking to discontinue your drug use.

There is hope! With the proper medical care and the right attitude anyone can get clean.  If you want it bad enough then nothing will stop you from achieving your goal.  Just remember to take each day at a time and that if I could do it so can you.

Filed Under: Drug Detox, Drugs, Pain Medicine Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marijuana Withdrawal and Panic Attacks

November 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

If you believe panic attacks are overrated, you haven’t searched Google lately on the subject. “Panic attacks” received roughly 15,600,000 search hits and “anxiety attacks” another 1,790,000. That proves that not only is there a great deal of interest in the subject but more importantly, a great many victims of the syndrome.

The distinct cause of panic attacks is fear, plain and simple. This being said, however, it would be negligent to conclude that the symptoms are entirely psychosomatic because any number of panic attacks can be attributed to, enhanced by, or directly caused by the mental reaction to any number of drugs – marijuana included. One licensed practitioner (whose opinion has been affirmed by countless others) stated,

“Substance abuse and the withdrawal of the substance being abused can mimic panic attacks. Alcohol, marijuana, opiates, hallucinogens, cocaine, over-the-counter drugs (nasal sprays and diet tablets), caffeine and benzodiazepines can all be associated with panic attacks.”

The assumption that marijuana is the harmless drug that “the authorities love to hate” is simply an erroneous assumption. I’m not arguing here for continued criminalizing of pot or decriminalization for that matter, just stating the known facts.

Though marijuana has some therapeutic qualities, such as increased appetite for cancer sufferers, a dulling of pain caused by many maladies and its effectiveness in combating glaucoma, it argues nothing for the recreational use of the drug.

Every pot smoker is acquainted with the “superficial” negative effects of the habit. Things like laziness, listlessness, and lets not forget paranoia exhibited by many users.

The more serious effects that researches have discovered are things such as the negative effect on short-term memory.  Studies have shown that long-term adult users score less on short-term memory tests, as well as demonstrate reduced verbal and math skills compared with non-users.

What makes these negatives even more disturbing is the comparative strength of marijuana from previous eras and the THC (the component that is mind altering) levels normally seen in today’s variety.

According to the American Counsel For Drug Education, THC content of marijuana, which averaged less than 1 percent in 1974, rose to an average 4 percent by 1994. For the highly popular form of marijuana called Sinsemilla (from the Spanish “without seeds”), made from just the buds and flowering tops of female plants, THC content averages 7.5 percent and ranges as high as 24 percent. The message has been clear in the case of marijuana use and panic attacks. The answer for these panic attacks is simple–break the habit.            By John Bland

Many abusers of marijuana choose to go into a detox center and have professional care while going through the withdrawal symptoms.

Filed Under: Drug Detox, Drugs, sober living Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Facts on Ultra Rapid Detox

November 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I have had many people ask me what the difference is between Rapid Detox and Ultra Rapid Detox and whether I would recommend either procedure.  There is a great deal of confusion with respect to these terms.  Ultra Rapid Detox generally indicates a detoxification process which is done under general anesthesia, which lasts somewhere between 4 and 24 hours. Rapid Detox, in general, can be used to denote anything from Ultra Rapid Detox to a detox process that lasts 10 days or more. Unfortunately, many clinics and websites now use these terms interchangeably. This can be confusing to individuals seeking information and treatment.

In general, Ultra Rapid Detox is a process of accelerating the detoxification process in patients who are addicted to drugs such as opiates, heroin, and even prescription pain relievers. The Ultra Rapid Detox process should be conducted in a hospital setting while the patient is under general anesthesia. The process needs to be overseen by certified anesthesiologists and a nursing staff that specialize in such procedures. While under anesthesia, the patient is administered medications that counteract the addictive substances. If the procedure is done correctly, the patient awakens from general anesthesia having gone partially through the drug withdrawal syndrome. Depending on how long the individual is under general anesthesia, withdrawal symptoms and physical cravings may be absent or partially absent upon awakening. However, the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction are not treated and, also, the patient hasn’t learned to change their behavior or response to their emotions regarding drugs. Because of this there is a significant risk that the patient will return to drug use shortly after ultra rapid detox.

Myths About Ultra Rapid Detox

With Ultra Rapid Detox I’ll wake up completely free from my addiction
Depending on the length of general anesthesia, you may or may not wake up free from the physical cravings of your addiction. In either case, you will still be completely addicted psychologically to the drug that you are addicted to.

I won’t feel any withdrawal symptoms with Ultra Rapid Detox
If you are under general anesthesia long enough, this might be true. However, there is a marked risk of death when one is placed under prolonged general anesthesia. Therefore, more recently “ultra rapid detox” treatments are done where the patient is under for no more than 4 to 6 hours. With shortened general anesthesia there’s a higher likelihood of having residual withdrawal symptoms upon awakening.

Ultra Rapid Detox is safe
Ultra Rapid Detox has higher risks than other detox methods and remains controversial within the medical community. There is a relative lack of scientific research to support the safety of this procedure. General anesthesia carries with it a risk of death and this risk is increased when anesthesia is prolonged. Some facilities will keep a patient under for up to 24 hours. Safety increases when time under general anesthesia is lessened, for example, down to 4 to 6 hours. However, a shorter course of general anesthesia may result in the individual experiencing more withdrawal symptoms upon awakening than otherwise.

Ultra Rapid Detox works!
Despite the wide publicity of Ultra Rapid Detox, there have not been any controlled studies to prove its effectiveness. This lack of scientific support makes it an unproven and controversial treatment for drug and opioid addiction. Ultra Rapid Detox does not treat the psychological, behavioral, and lifestyle aspects of addiction, only the physical addiction and, as time and practice prove, it is these latter aspects which hold the most control over the recovering addict.

Filed Under: Addictin Drug Treatment, Drug Detox, Drugs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Don't Be Ashamed

November 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I have had many fellow drug addicts tell me how embarrassed they are that they have a problem with drugs.  Of course drug abusers must take responsibility for their actions and that includes what they did when they were under the influence.  However as a society we must be careful not to ostracize or shun people who have had difficulty with substance abuse.  It is only because of the lack of understanding of the nature of addiction that individuals with substance abuse problems are encouraged to hide and told that they should be ashamed of themselves.  This attitude only perpetuates the cycle because when someone feels a vast amount of self-hatred then they are more likely to continue using drugs.  I have spent many years trying to break free from that cycle of getting clean only to start feeling guilty and shameful and allowing that to take me back to getting high.

This is where the disease concept of addiction can shed light on the situation and offer hope to those who feel beyond help. Since the introduction of the disease concept research studies have examined a possible genetic link in alcoholism/addiction. One such study demonstrates that the offspring of alcoholics are approximately three to five times more likely to develop alcoholism than offspring of non-alcoholics.  There may be other factors that can contribute to addiction and alcoholism like the environment that one is raised in and around.  Today we have more information on possible causes for addiction and that can help to alleviate some of the guilt and shame that drug users are so often riddled with.  Those with chemical dependency issues should know that they are sick people trying to get well, not bad people trying to become good.

Filed Under: Drug Detox, Drugs, Recovery Tagged With: , , , ,

What is Suboxone or Subutex?

October 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Suboxone for detox

Suboxone is a new drug that aids the detox of narcotic and opiate drug addiction. The cold turkey detox off of full opiate agonists like vicodin or heroin can be excruciating and the fear of the pains of detox is more than enough to keep a lot of people using for far too long. What suboxone can do is lessen the intensity of these pains, making a short detox far more bearable. The detox may still be uncomfortable but nowhere near as tough as it would be unmedicated.

Patients go into detox and as soon as they enter into the beginning of full withdrawal they are given either suboxone or subutex which once appropriately dosed takes away all of the immediate and intense withdrawal symptoms of the more severe withdrawal from pain pills or heroin. Patients are stabilized at a dosage of suboxone for a few days and then the dosage of suboxone is gradually tapered off  down to nothing within a day of the end of a detox period.

Patients will still feel withdrawal pains because suboxone is an opiate and therefore has a syndrome of withdrawal of its own.  By transferring onto the longer acting and less intoxicating opiate the transition through withdrawal  pains of detox become far more manageable.

After about 10 days the worst of withdrawal symptoms from the suboxone will have ended, although some lingering symptoms can endure for a month or more. Following the end of detoxification, most patients transition into a residential treatment phase, learning strategies they’ll need to stay clean over the long haul, and avoid another painful period of detoxification.

Using suboxone for a transition detoxification off of opiates of abuse makes the process far more humane, and by ending suboxone therapy within days, you lessen the need for an intense and difficult detox off of the suboxone…truly the best of both worlds.

Detox is never easy, and although suboxone can help a lot, it’s still a challenging period; but with suboxone you can make it, and once you’ve detoxed you’re truly ready to participate in the therapies and education of relapse avoidance that will ensure that you’ll never get hooked again.  You can get clean, suboxone can help.

Filed Under: Drug Detox, Drugs, Pain Medicine, Subutex Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

To be addicted to drugs?

October 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This is a question that I have been asked by parents, friends and many other concerned loved ones in my life and there is no real way to answer except through first hand accounts of my own experiences with drugs and addiction. I can still remember the first time that I realized I was physically addicted to a drug; it was twelve years ago and a night I will never forget. I had been using heroin for my first three-month stretch but I thought that I had things under control. I been snorting two or three bags every few days and thought of myself as a recreational user.  So when the night came that I ran out of dope I thought nothing of it, the idea of withdrawal never entered my mind. As the dusk turned into darkness I began to feel this awkward tension running through my body, my muscles would not sit still. I felt a cold drip of sweat roll down my back and then another, what was going on? Then this strange confusion began to set in as to whether I was falling ill or perhaps, could it be that I had developed a habit. Well as the minutes passed and my agitation grew stronger and stronger the truth became clear, that I was dope sick and in need of some more heroin quick or else I would continue to become sicker and sicker.  At this moment I realized that I was indeed addicted, but to be called an addict that was still not something that I was comfortable with and a story for another day.

Filed Under: Drug Detox, Drugs Tagged With: , , ,

Welcome to Detox off Drugs!

October 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This will be a place where I will post about my own experience with drug addiction and the pains that come along with it. There are three major areas I would like to cover including the process and experience of detoxing off of drugs. I have struggled with addiction to pain medication and heroin for over 10 years and I know that my experience with all of the various detox methods that I have encountered will be of use to many other people struggling with an addiction to drugs. The second area that I would like to cover is my own experience with the many detox, rehabilitation centers and sober living establishments that I have been to throughout the years of my addiction. I began using as a teenager when I was living in the New York area and moved to South Florida at 19 so I have covered a lot of terrain. Finally I would like to post research on current events and relevant news concerning the areas of addiction, detox and recovery methods. There is always someone or something new coming out claiming they have found the answer to a “pain free” withdrawal and this will be the place to find the truth on such claims.

Filed Under: Drug Detox Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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