What to Do When Facing a DUI Charge

Posted by on June 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

DUIs come with some serious legal and personal consequences. The penalty in many states for a DUI charge varies from suspension of a driver’s license to jail time ranging from a few months to years.

If you are facing a potential DUI charge it can be a scary and stressful time. Luckily, there is DUI help right around the corner. Here’s a look at a few things you should do when facing a DUI charge.

Seek the Help of a DUI Attorney

There are attorneys out there that specialize in DUI cases. If you are facing a DUI charge, you will want to look into hiring one of these attorneys. They might not be able to get the DUI charge erased, but they can help represent you in the court of law and get you the best results.

If this is your first DUI, you may want to consider seeking the advice of a DUI attorney, as they can help guide you through the court process and give you the best legal advice for your current situation.

Get Help for an Addiction

For many people, this won’t be first time facing DUI charges. If this is the second or third time you’ve found yourself facing a DUI, you may want to consider getting help for your addiction. Not only will getting the help you need help you in the eyes of the court system, it will also help you in your personal life.

By getting the DUI help you need, you can turn a stressful and frustrating situation into one that is more manageable.

Filed Under: General Rehab & Addiction | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

The Facts About Drinking and Driving

Posted by on June 19, 2011 Leave a Comment
Drunk driving

Image by usag.yongsan via Flickr

Do you have someone in your family who drinks and drives? Alcohol has taken and ruined many lives; families have been ripped apart. Allowing someone you know and love to get behind the wheel of a moving vehicle while impaired could be a life changing experience for everyone involved.

Did you know that 4x the amount of men are likely to drive drunk than women? Most men think nothing of having a few beers and getting behind the wheel. Just one drink can impair driving abilities. Alcohol side effects include:

*Slowing a person’s reactions

*Makes it hard to concentrate

*Impairing a person’s judgement

*Blurring of the vision

*Giving an over confidence

Here are a few facts that may open your eyes to the dangers:

*Every 60 seconds someone is injured in a drunk driving accident.

*It is estimated that one in three Americans will be involved in a drunk driving accident in their lifetime.

*Over 10,839 people died in 2009 from alcohol related accidents in the United States alone.

*In 2009 it was estimated that on average 8 teens between the ages of 16-19 died everyday in a drunk driving accident.

These are staggering facts to have to absorb. What can you do to stop them from driving?

*Be sure they know why you do not want them drinking and driving.

*Offer to drive them home.

*Call a taxi to drive them home.

*Take their keys away.

*Call the police if they will not listen.

If someone you love is placing their life and others lives on the line, shouldn’t you do something about it?

 

 

Filed Under: Alcohol Drug Intervention | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Care for Addicts is a Money Game

Posted by on May 5, 2011 Leave a Comment

Health care might ideally be a basic right, but many people struggle with the same aspect of care – the cost. Insurance on the front end of any accident, injury, or illness is often very costly. However, those costs pale in comparison to the prices charged to visit a doctor in search of treatment. Exorbitant pricing alone has scared many potential patients away from seeking treatment for serious ailments. And that’s the dark side of health care – that the needy often don’t get any, while those who can afford to do so will visit a doctor simply because they’ve got a common cold.

 

Without insurance to cover inpatient screenings for health checkups, as well as a possible extended stay in rehab, it can be extremely costly to ‘get cleaned up.’ Even with nearly unlimited funding, it’s a difficult mental struggle for most people to come to terms with their addictions. But it really does come back to funding. Without it, most addicts find that it’s easiest to just continue along in their self-destructive ways. Mention a recovery program to someone who has a chronic drug abuse problem, and they’ll laugh at you.

 

Why? Not because they can’t envision living a clean, substance-free life. In fact, most addicts dream of just that. But the laughter is mirthful, as they know that it takes a business-like investment of cash plunked down to hire the specialists who can help make treatment effective. While groups like AA are free, they’re less able to help someone cope with the first stages of recovery which often involve strong physical reactions. It’s here that doctors and their expertise are necessary.

 

Filed Under: Drug Addiction Recovery | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

A Look Behind the Mystery of Inpatient Rehab Programs

Posted by on March 28, 2011 Leave a Comment

One of the scariest parts of the drug addiction recovery process is entering rehab. There are so many misconceptions about inpatient rehab that it can make the experience of heading to rehab an anxiety filled experience. The only way to clear away the anxiety is to research what the inpatient rehab process is like. Here is a brief overview of the inpatient rehab process and what you can expect should you enter rehab.

Inpatient rehab programs are very intense drug rehab programs. No matter what type of inpatient rehab program that you enter you will have to undergo multiple therapy sessions in a day. These therapy sessions can include behavioral, psychological, individual, group, family and occupational therapy sessions.

During inpatient program stays the individual will also undergo a number of various activities in an effort to help them learn that there are other activities besides engaging in drugs. These can include sports programs, art programs and even reading programs.

Inpatient rehab programs will also focus on any medical needs that you might have. Many drug addicts suffer extreme withdrawal symptoms as well as various medical problems. An inpatient rehab program will help with any medical needs that you may have.

Many misconceptions of inpatient rehab programs develop around the structure of the inpatient program. Some people believe that it is a strict hospital regimen almost like a prison. However, most inpatient programs are not like that. There are thousands of different types of inpatient rehab programs. Some can take a more hospital setting approach and have hospital rooms, while others take a more relaxed approach and treat it almost like a resort style stay. Neither inpatient program is right nor wrong as the treatment is the same in each inpatient program.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Programs | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Alternative Medicine Approach to Drug Addiction: Acupuncture Therapy

Posted by on March 24, 2011 Leave a Comment

Acupuncture has long been a respected form of alternative medicine. While acupuncture has been accepted in America as a form of treatment for a number of illnesses and disease, it has just recently started to gain attention for its success rate for treating those with alcohol or drug addictions.

Acupuncture has been used by the Chinese as a way to treat those that have alcohol and drug addictions. The practice of acupuncture operates on the belief that the body has a life energy known as qi. In health people the qi is perfectly balanced amongst all the parts of the body. However, in those with drug or alcohol addictions the qi is off balance and that causes the craving for alcohol or drugs.

While acupuncture will not cure the addiction completely it will allow the addict to complete withdraw from the drug or alcohol addiction and even reduce ones craving for the substance of choice. This allows the addict to work on the issues that caused the addiction to form in the first place.

Acupuncture therapy for drug or alcohol addiction is usually a course of treatment that lasts several times a week for a number of months. The treatments include placing needles on the tips of the ears so that the qi is balanced throughout the whole body.

In a recent study of those that engaged in acupuncture therapy while they were treating their substance abuse showed that over 50% of the addicts did not suffer from a relapse. This study has caused many alcohol and drug treatment facilities to consider adding acupuncture to their treatment programs.

Filed Under: Addiction And Recovery | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

What Not to Do When Approaching a Drug Addict Part 1

Posted by on March 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

Many times those that are around a drug addict or drug abuser get these great ideas of being able to save the addict from themselves. However, depending upon what you do to get the drug addict help it could help or hinder the recovery process. If you are looking into getting help for a drug addict here is a look at some of the things you should not do as it could push back the recovery process.

Do Not Bribe, Preach or Punish. It can be hard not to offer a bribe to the drug addict but it could be the worst thing that you can do. Bribes rarely work because the addict will take the bribe and not go through with the recovery process.

Do Not Add Emotional Guilt. Many supporters feel if they guilt the addict into feeling bad for their actions they will get the help they need. However, addicts will rarely get the help they need when they feel guilty. In fact, they will often turn to drugs to deal with the guilt they are feeling. When you do approach an addict about their addiction talk to them rationally and try no to get emotional during that time. Those can often lead to feelings of guilt.

Do Not Cover Up For the Drug Addict. Many supporters will help the addict by covering up situations that they got into. They will handle the legal aspect and talk the addict out of any trouble that they are in. This will only validate the addict’s behavior and allow them to continue to engage in dangerous behaviors.

Filed Under: Addiction Counseling | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Alternative Medicine Approach to Drug Addiction: Nutritional Therapy

Posted by on March 16, 2011 Leave a Comment

The first thought when someone is trying to overcome an addiction is to head to the local hospital or health care provider. However, there is a growing number of drug addicts who are finding help through alternative medicine. These drug addicts take an alternative approach to their addiction by using natural supplements or therapies to treat the underlying addiction. Many people believe that an alternative approach to addiction might be more successful because it allows the body to heal itself from the inside out and therefore cure the addiction.

One of the most popular forms of alternative medical treatments for drug addictions is the use of nutritional therapy. Almost every drug addict shows a significant amount of malnutrition and decreased amounts of vitamins and antioxidants. Those that use alternative medical treatments believe that the malnutrition or lack of vitamins and antioxidants can often cause the person to become addicted to specific types of drugs. Therefore they undergo nutritional therapy to replenish the body of important elements and in the end cure the addiction.

Nutritional therapy requires a large amount of vitamins, supplements and antioxidants. It is not uncommon to see a multitude of B vitamins to be included in a nutritional therapy program as many drug and alcohol addicts suffer from a vitamin B1 deficiency. Other vitamins and supplements that are used in the nutritional therapy include calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and E, Zinc and Selenium.

Nutritional therapy will also work to regulate the addict’s blood sugar as many drug addicts have low blood sugar. It is assumed that the low blood sugar might cause the body to crave alcohol or drugs. By curing the low blood sugar you can break the addiction.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Different Inpatient Rehab Settings

Posted by on March 9, 2011 Leave a Comment

Almost any drug addict or drug abuser will find themselves looking into an inpatient program to help them on their road to recovery. However, when researching the various inpatient programs you might notice that there are numerous different inpatient programs. While each inpatient program offers similar therapy programs the structure and setting of the inpatient programs are different. Here is a look at the various types of inpatient programs that are available to someone who is looking to recovery from a drug addiction.

Hospital Setting. Many inpatients will use the hospital setting approach. The therapy and other group sessions are all held in rooms that resemble a hospital room. The lodging facilities are very similar to those of the hospital. The hospital setting might not be for everyone as many drug addicts feel it is impersonal and too stiff of a routine for them to follow.

Resort Style. Some inpatient rehab programs will offer a resort style program. These rehab centers are usually situated on a lake or ocean and offer a relaxing setting. The treatment program is the same as the hospital setting. The lodging facilities of the resort style inpatient program usually resemble lavish hotels or even small houses. One of the benefits of the resort style inpatient program is that it offers addicts the chance to recover without feeling as if they have a medical condition. Another benefit of the resort style inpatient program is that is will typically offer more treatment options for the addicts which can range from massage therapy to acupuncture.

Retreat Style. The retreat style inpatient program is very similar to the resort style. However, a retreat style program can be found in the middle of the woods or on a lake. The treatments are the same but the focus is on relaxation and getting away from the source of the problem while focusing on yourself.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction Facilities | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

What Not to Do When Approaching a Drug Addict Part 2

Posted by on March 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

Approaching a situation where someone you are close to is suffering a drug addiction can be tough. There are certain things that might seem right at a glance that can really make the situation even worse. Here is a look at some of the things that you should not do when approaching a drug addict that could potentially make the situation worse than it was before.

Do Not Take Over Their Duties. It might be hard not to take over any of the drug addict’s responsibilities but you need to try and leave them there. Many addict’s will feel as if they don’t have any responsibilities they are not important or have any type of dignity. It is a good idea to leave any of the addict’s responsibilities until the very last minute so that they feel they have some type of worth.

Do Not Hide Drugs. When comforting someone with an addiction the first instinct is to toss out all the drugs or hide them. This is not recommended. Many addicts feel that because the drugs are not visible they do not have an addiction to the drug. It is a good idea to not toss out the drugs or hide them from the addict.

Do Not Argue With An Addict. If you plan on confronting an addict it is a good idea to try to do it when they are sober. Drugs will often lower the brains ability to process information or see reason because of this it is not a good idea to argue with an addict because there is no reasoning with them.

Filed Under: Addiction Counseling | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Things Parents Can Do To Avoid Drug Addiction Problems

Posted by on February 23, 2011 Leave a Comment

For a parent finding out that your child might have a drug abuse problem can be your worst nightmare. While you can’t eliminate the risk of a drugs from your child’s life completely you can take a few steps to reduce your child’s risk of becoming addicted to drugs. Here is a look at what parents can do to avoid a drug addiction problem.

Make Rules and Consequences. Many parents believe that if there are no rules and consequences their child will not engage in drugs because of the freedom. However, that is not true. Teens need to understand that drugs come with problems and consequences not only in the real world but at home. Make sure all the rules and consequences are reasonable and obtainable and enforce them every time your child breaks them.

Watch Your Child’s Activities. It is important to be actively involved with your child’s life. Make sure that you know who they are hanging around with and where they are. If your child has already been caught with drugs it is important that you do routine checkups on them as well as checks for drugs.

Encourage Other Activities. As a parent you can be supportive of your child and encourage them to engage in other activities that are healthier than using drugs. Try to find out if there is an interest that they can pursue and sign them up for that activity. This will reduce their risk of wanting to turn to drugs.

Talk To Your Child. Many teens turn to drugs because they feel it is the only way they can express themselves or their emotions. Make sure that you talk to your child and let them know that you are always there for them regardless of the problem. If your child can turn to you when they have a problem they are less likely to turn to drugs.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Programs | Tagged: Tagged With: ,
«Older Posts