DRUG
Drug Addiction Orange County
If you are addicted to drugs and live in Orange County, California, you are likely looking for help to get your life back on track. Battling addiction is never a fun or easy experience, and most people feel trapped by the time they notice the problem. Understanding addiction and how it works can improve your odds of overcoming the problem and let you reclaim your life. Learn as much as you can if you are interested in moving in a positive direction.
How Addiction Happens
Discover how addiction happens before you do anything else. Nobody wants to let drug addiction consume their lives, but it’s often a gradual process that occurs over time. Many addicts start using with their friends during social gatherings. The drug they take starts altering the chemical signals of their brains, and dependence tightens its grip. Those who use the drug will then need to have it in their bodies to feel normal, and the withdrawal symptoms can be severe when they try to quit.
Spotting the Warning Signs of Drug Addiction
If you want to protect yourself and others from drug addiction and the issues associated with it, review the common warning signs. People sometimes isolate themselves from their friends and family when addiction takes hold of their lives. They also neglect their responsibilities in favor of getting their hands on the next dose, and it’s not uncommon for them to lose their jobs or damage relationships with the people close to them. Addicts usually end up in legal trouble and have a hard time managing their budget.
The Importance of Going to a Treatment Center
You can’t underestimate the power of addiction if you are serious about turning your life around. Since it’s about more than just willpower, getting help from a team of addiction experts is essential. An Orange County treatment center removes you from the temptation to use and places you in a safe and beautiful environment so that the healing process can begin. Where better to rehab than in the sun in California?
Drug Detox
During the detox stage, addiction experts will make you as comfortable as possible while you handle the most daunting withdrawal symptoms. They can even give you medication to ease the pain depending on the drug to which you are addicted. The amount of time you can expect detox to take depends on how long you have used the drug and several other factors.
Therapy Sessions
Facing a problem with substance abuse can take a toll on anyone, causing stress and depression. Getting the right treatment and guidance is important if you want to enhance your odds of long-term success. At a qualified treatment center, therapists will help you sort through the issues and empower you to put them in the past.
Dual Diagnosis
Instead of being the source of the problem, addiction can be the symptom of a much deeper issue. Many mental health issues can lead people down the path of addiction before they know what happened. Unless a treatment center discovers and addresses those hidden issues, the odds of a relapse are high. Going to a dependable treatment facility gives you access to professionals who are trained to perform a dual diagnosis.
Group Therapy
When you face drug addiction in Orange County, feeling alone is common and normal, but it won’t do you any good. Trusted treatment centers allow you to attend group therapy to get support and advice from your peers. This process shows that you are not alone and gives you the required strength to keep working toward your goals.
Making an Ongoing Effort to Remain Sober
Once you have completed your treatment program, you might think you have finished the job, but you still have some work to do. Rather than being a one-time process, recovery is an ongoing project on which you will work for the rest of your life. Learning healthy methods for managing stress and removing negative influences from your life is just the beginning. While these steps might seem extreme at first glance, they are the key you will use to stay on the right path.
Final Thoughts
Even though addiction can seem next to impossible to beat, you can reclaim your life sooner than you once thought possible when you go to a treatment center and have a little dedication. Putting in the effort to make smart choices will do wonders for your results, letting you know you are moving in the proper direction. Addiction will lose control of your life as long as you don’t lose touch with your goals, and you will be pleased with the outcome.
Tags: Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Orange County, Recovery, Treatment Centers
Drug Addiction Policy: Harm Reduction versus Punishment
Drug Addiction
In the United States, most drugs are currently illegal. Some people are pushing to legalize certain drugs, such as marijuana. Others believe that it would be best to just decriminalize drugs like heroin. There are other people who believe that anyone who uses a drug deserves severe punishment.
What Is Harm Reduction?
While the term was first used in the 1980s, but the idea of harm reduction is a lot older. The term originally referenced the goal to stop the spread of hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS through gay sex and intravenous drug use, but now it refers to many other policies. Harm reduction polices are marked by a few key characteristics: They are already public policy, or they are public ally supported actions. Harm reduction is aimed at reducing the risk of harm to the doer of the action, other people, and/ or social and economic costs. In most cases, harm reduction is focused on practices that are socially unacceptable.
Prescription heroin is an example of a harm reduction policy. With prescription heroin, a person who is addicted to heroin finds a clinic. At the clinic, a doctor will prescribe the person a certain amount of heroin to get them through the day or the next couple of hours. Prescription heroin helps reduce the risk of overdose and ensures that the heroin is pure rather than mixed with other substances, making it a harm reduction policy.
What Is Punishment?
Punishment is an action aimed at reducing an unwanted behavior and is often aimed at giving someone what they deserve. Punishment is made possible through the laws set in place by society. Currently, most drugs are illegal and criminal in the United States, making the sale, possession, or usage of them punishable. Sometimes, being caught with drugs will lead to only a fine. Other times, being caught can lead to a long prison sentence.
In the past, judges were able to determine the sentence of a person caught with drugs. Recently, mandatory minimum sentences were introduced that took away that ability. Another more recent method of punishing people who use drugs are drug courts. These courts specialize in drug laws. They mix punishment with other methods of treating drug addiction, such as rehabilitation.
Problems and Benefits of Harm Reduction
Some people argue against harm reduction policies for many reasons. One of these arguments is that these policies send the wrong message. In the case of prescription heroin, the policy may show that drug addiction is no big deal since we allow a medical professional to facilitate drug use. Another argument is that harm reduction encourages the behavior that society wants to stop. Again, with prescription heroin, people who are addicted to drugs are allowed to use heroin freely and have no incentive to stop.
This does not need to be the case. Harm reduction policies can and should be paired with other treatments like rehabilitation. It also is not the case that harm reduction policies increase the overall number of drug users. Additionally, harm reduction policies help to significantly cut off the spread of hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Finally, medically-assisted harm reduction drug treatments can reduce mortality rates by more than half.
Problems and Benefits of Punishment
Punishment comes with some positive attributes. For one, punishment can help to reduce harmful behaviors. This works best when the punishment comes down directly after a bad behavior is committed and when paired with positive reinforcement. Punishment also helps people to feel as if justice has been served and that a person is getting what they deserve. Prison time can be very beneficial to some people, especially when the prison focuses on rehabilitation.
Punishment also comes with problems. For one, punishments are only effective when they are administered directly after an undesired behavior has been done. Prison systems are not effective without rehab added in. Finally, the current punishments for opioids disproportionately affect racial minority citizens, while treatment is most often given to the racial majority citizens.
In dealing with drug addiction, there are two main methods with which to end the problem. Some people prefer punishment, while others prefer harm reduction and treatment. It is not impossible to mix these methods together, but it would be hard because drug addiction creates a very emotional response in many people. Ultimately, society will have to come together someday to find a solution that helps the most people, whether through punishment, harm reduction, or a mix.
Visit the Coastline Behavioral Health website
Tags: Drug Addiction, Latest News
The Dangers of Today’s New Drug Culture for Youth in Southern California
Drug Addiction
Teenagers today were born into a world that has allowed them to become one of the most culturally sensitive and environmentally aware generations. While today’s youth are full of hope for the future, they also face the constant danger of falling prey to the dangers of drug abuse. Unfortunately, the drug culture in Southern California no longer resembles the benign parties that older adults experienced in their youth. Instead, a combination of factors such as the development of synthetic drugs and the influence of technology have led to an increased danger for teens that must be addressed. Whether you are a parent of a teen or a trusted adult who works with youth, you can use this guide to understand how to protect the teenagers you love from the dangers of addiction.
Reasons For the Rise in Teen Drug Abuse
After years of drug prevention campaigns, one would hope that teen drug rates would be going down. Sadly, the opposite is true, and the rise in teen drug abuse is attributable to several different factors. For instance, drugs have become more accessible to teens that can quietly trade information with their peers online or interact with dealers through text. The legalization of marijuana in California also means that many teens may have this drug available to them at home if their parents do not practice responsible storage methods. Once teenagers get their hands on drugs, new delivery methods such as vape pens make it easier for them to use illicit substances discreetly.
Types of Drugs That Are Trending Among Teens
Marijuana and alcohol are still the most common substances for teenagers to abuse, and these still tend to serve as gateway drugs that teens eventually move on from to get a stronger high. marijuana use among teens also tends to be heavily focused on using concentrates that have higher levels of THC than other forms. Synthetic drugs such as bath salts and K2 are also enticing to teens who may not recognize the dangers of taking unregulated chemicals into their body. Teenagers also tend to experiment with pills. Often, an addiction begins with a teenager getting access to a prescription painkiller for a medical purpose, and then they continue to use the pills to get high.
Ways Drugs Affect Teens Differently
Teenagers may act and look much older than their age sometimes, but their brains continue to develop well into their mid-20s. When teenagers use drugs they slow down the development of their brain, and the disruption of chemicals in their brain can lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Teens are also at a greater risk of developing an addiction since they tend to have lower percentages of body fat which increases the strength and duration of a high. In California, it is not uncommon for a teen to overdose from what would be a normal amount of a drug for an older adult.
Dangers Teens Face When They Use Drugs
The proximity of Southern California to Mexico makes it increasingly tempting for teens to interact with dangerous criminals in an effort to score drugs. When they do, teens face serious harm from falling into the wrong crowd. A teenager who tries to sell drugs themselves to fund their addiction may wind up in legal trouble that lasts well into adulthood. Drug abuse also leads to health problems that could turn long-term if teens do not get help early enough. For instance, the use of marijuana and other drugs at a young age is linked to an increase risk of schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
Signs of Drug Addiction in Teens
Teens today have used technology to get smarter about how they hide their drug use, which means that adults must be vigilant. In the early stages of drug abuse, teens may show only a few signs such as hanging out with a new crowd of friends or breaking curfew at home. Over time, however, it becomes harder for teens to hide their addiction. Once they have a full-blown addiction, teens may begin to lose or gain weight, exhibit mood swings, and engage in dangerous behaviors such as stealing money.
How to Help a Teen Get Clean
You should never hesitate to reach out to a teen in trouble, especially since the dangers of the drugs available in Southern California are so severe. Let the teen know that you have noticed their drug use, and make sure that they know that you are available to help. Then, help them make arrangements to get professional counseling for their addiction that allows them to get their life back on track. Today’s youth face many challenges on their way to adulthood, and drugs are unfortunately a major issue in Southern California. By knowing how to do your part, you can make sure that no teenager falls through the cracks.
Tags: Drug Addiction, Womens Rehab
When It’s Time For Rehabilitation In Orange County, CA
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
You realize that your addiction is becoming more and more difficult to handle. When do you know it’s time to go to rehabilitation in Orange County, though? Pay attention to these signs when deciding if you should seriously consider rehab.
People have asked you to stop using.
If the people who are closest to you and love you have asked you to stop drinking or using drugs, you may have a bigger problem than you even realize. The people who are close to you know you well, and they probably have a good reason for showing concern. It’s hard to see the changes that have taken place in your own life sometimes, but people on the outside may be able to recognize the differences more easily.
You’ve driven while intoxicated.
Maybe you’ve driven after a couple of drinks, but you thought you were fine to drive. Driving when you’re intoxicated in Orange County, even after just a couple of drinks, is always a big deal and a huge risk. Not only are you putting yourself in danger, but you’re putting whoever’s in your car and everyone else on the road in danger, too.
Your freedom is in danger of being taken away.
If you’re been drunk in public, became violent when under the influence, was charged with a DUI or was found with a controlled substance, you could be facing serious legal trouble in Orange County. If you’re currently on probation or parole, being under the influence is more than enough reason for you to be put back in jail. For many people, a month-long treatment program is a much better option than jail time.
Your doctor has told you that alcohol or drugs are impacting your health.
Drugs of any kind are harmful to the body, even if you haven’t been using them for years and years. Alcohol can damage the brain, heart and liver; drugs can give you brain damage and affect your respiratory system. If your doctor has told you that alcohol or drugs are having a negative impact on your health, it’s time to consider rehab in Orange County.
You’ve hurt yourself or someone else.
Some drugs, including alcohol, can make the symptoms of depression worse, leading you to hurt yourself or act irrationally. If you feel hopeless or suicidal, it’s highly important that you get help as soon as you possibly can. It is possible to feel better, get out of this damaging cycle, and live a healthy life again.
Withdrawal symptoms set in after you stop using.
If you get withdrawal symptoms a few hours after last drinking or using drugs, that means they’re affecting your body in a very serious way. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, cramps, nausea, insomnia, irritability and paranoia. Withdrawal is a sign that your body needs – or thinks it needs – the alcohol or drugs in order to function.
Remember, you don’t need to be addicted to a substance physically in order to need or benefit from rehab. If alcohol or drugs are negatively affecting your life, it may be time to check into a rehab program and get your health and life back on track.