Substance abuse affects people from all walks of life

Substance abuse affects people from all walks of life. It does not discriminate

It does not matter where you come from. The disease of addiction can invade your life. It can affect co-workers, bosses, family, and friends – actually anyone in your life.

Addiction is characterized in five ways:  compulsive use, loss of control, continued use despite consequences, tolerance, and withdrawal.

Addicted individuals display obsessive and compulsive behaviors.  They typically spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about using, planning to use, and obtaining their drug of choice.  These behaviors often become so much a part of the individual’s routine that they become automatic or compulsive.  The user may not even realize the behavior is taking place before it is too late.

Here are some signs that you or someone in your life may have a problem with alcohol or drugs:

-Repeated tardiness or no-shows for scheduled shifts or appointments

-Disappearing during scheduled shifts or activities

-Erratic behavior and/or moods

-Lack of focus while on the job

-Working in a position that is well below their qualifications

-Deterioration of physical appearance

-Coming to work smelling of alcohol or appearing hung over

-Positive drug screen

-Repeated use of the hospital and/or legal system

-Careless/risk-taking behaviors

-Disregard for consequences to self or others

-Documented family history of addiction

-Frequent financial problems

-Isolation

Treatment is often successful, especially when the need is identified early.  When addiction is treated as a chronic disease, better long-term outcomes result.  Treatment typically involves a continuum of care and may include:  detoxification, residential treatment, and/or outpatient treatment.  At each level, the emphasis is on initiating and maintaining a person’s recovery.

Regardless of the level of care, treatment that is holistic ensures that all needs contributing to a person’s substance abuse will be addressed.  For example, a well developed treatment plan will address the biological, psychological, and social needs in one comprehensive approach.  Engaging in the 12-Step self-help community is encouraged as well.

If you or someone you know wants help, please contact the Vince Carter Sanctuary. We are able to help the addict recover and find a new way to life. 

www.vincecartersanctuary.org

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High-Risk Situations in Recovery from Addiction

High-Risk Situations in Recovery from Addiction

High-risk situations are those times that involve the people, places, and things that trigger an individuals craving for alcohol or drugs.  The counselor discusses situational triggers with the person and helps the person to avoid these if possible or learn to cope by developing the alternative responses necessary to deal with these situations without “using”.  This is a review of what the person has learned about people, places, and things in general with an emphasis on the actual situations that occur in the person’s own life and trigger a craving for the drug.  Learning how to avoid these times or to develop alternative responses to whatever triggers the desire for the drug is central to recovery from addiction and bears regular repeating.

The counselor reviews with the person actual and potential “high-risk” situations that might occur and what can be done to avoid them.  Examples of high-risk situations are being offered drugs, being around a drug-using friend, or attending a social function where drugs are available.  The counselor will rehearse with the person alternative responses to exposure to these situations. Identifying such situations well in advance and rehearsing how one could deal with such exposure will provide a better chance of avoiding a relapse from such exposure.

After the person identifies his or her particular high-risk situations, the counselor will work together to develop strategies for avoiding these situations.  Other potential high-risk situations also will be considered.  The counselor will offer reasonable alternative responses to unavoidable high-risk situations, such as calling a friend or talking to a family member.  The person should be encouraged to use the support of drug-free or recovering friends, family members, and AA and NA acquaintances.

We at Vince Carter Sanctuary are strong advocates of this process in addiction recovery.  As an adjunct to this therapy, we utilize state of the art addiction treatment interventions such as Virtual Reality.  Give us a try…..we are able to help.

www.vincecartersanctuary.org

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Do you have a family member who needs help or know someone who does? Take the first step and contact us.