The Hard Reality of Drug Addiction

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The Hard Reality of Drug Addiction

12 January, 2022Articles, News

In today’s world, the prevalence of substance abuse and drug addiction is reaching alarming levels. Recent studies conducted by the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) have unveiled staggering statistics, shedding light on the gravity of the situation. It is estimated that a staggering 240 million people worldwide, constituting approximately 4.9% of the adult population, grapple with alcohol use disorder. Additionally, a harrowing 15 million individuals find themselves ensnared by addiction to various drugs, including heroin, pethidine, and methamphetamine. The spectre of substance abuse casts a long shadow, and its consequences are profoundly felt across the globe.

It is imperative to acknowledge that drug addiction is a formidable adversary, as highlighted by the renowned author Lorelie Rozzano. Shockingly, addiction-related fatalities now surpass the combined death toll of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. This unsettling reality knows no age limits, as the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) has raised a red flag concerning the surging numbers of individuals under the age of 21 seeking treatment. A study involving 57,000 school respondents has further deepened concerns, revealing that 34% of teenagers had used drugs and alcohol in the last six months, with 27% continuing to use substances within the past week. Most alarming is the revelation that individuals under 17 years old constituted a significant 22% of those seeking treatment.

The global repercussions of substance abuse have been documented in the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report of 2017. This comprehensive report grimly noted over 190,000 drug-related deaths in that year alone. This heart-wrenching statistic encompasses a wide spectrum of substances, ranging from opioids to prescription medications and heroin. Even more disconcerting is the far-reaching impact of substance abuse, with an estimated 1.6 million people living with HIV, 6.1 million living with hepatitis, and 3.1 million coping with both conditions—a direct result of needle use.

The harsh reality is that drug and alcohol abuse exact a substantial toll on individuals and society at large. They erode our families, strain our relationships, undermine our physical and mental well-being, and significantly diminish our overall quality of life. The repercussions reverberate through disability, deteriorating health, and the emergence of co-occurring disorders, including depression and related psychiatric conditions—often culminating tragically in premature death.

Amid this bleak landscape, there shines a beacon of hope—Crossroads Recovery Centre. We stand ready to offer professional help and guidance to those in dire need. The path to recovery may be challenging, but with the right support, it leads to a life of sobriety and renewed health. We beseech you not to let your loved ones become mere statistics in this battle. Reach out today and discover that help is readily available. Whether you or someone dear to you is grappling with drug addiction, battling alcohol abuse, or seeking help for various challenges like gambling, sex, or food addiction, our dedicated team is here, providing a free assessment and extending a compassionate hand towards a brighter, addiction-free future.

Take the First Step to Recovery from Drug Addiction

Find compassionate support and expert guidance at Crossroads Recovery Centre. Our Johannesburg and Pretoria centres are here to help you or your loved ones break free from the chains of drug addiction. Start your journey to recovery today.

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Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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Treatment of drug addiction at a drug rehab

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Treatment of drug addiction at a drug rehab

24 November, 2021Articles, News

Effective Treatment of Drug Addiction at Crossroads Recovery Centre

Drug rehabilitation is a process of treatment that aims to help people overcome their dependence on psychoactive substances, such as alcohol and cocaine.

There are various types of programmes in terms of rehabilitation from addiction. These include residential treatment centres (inpatient or outpatient), local support groups, extended care centres, sober houses, addiction counselling, mental health, and medical care. Some drug rehab centres offer age and gender specific programmes as well.

According to NACADA – drug rehabilitation programmes should not be administered to any client prior to an assessment which entails a brief history of the client, the substance used, any past treatment, risk potential for instances of suicidal attempts as well as a mental status examination (MSE). This forms the baseline needed to develope an appropriate treatment plan to address the actual problems of the client.

An effective drug rehab treatment programme addresses the multiple needs of the patient rather than treating addiction by itself. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that medically assisted drug detoxification or alcohol detoxification alone is ineffective as a treatment for addiction. It is an important part of the process, however, it is exactly that – a part of a therapeutic process. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends detoxification using medications (where applicable) and behavioural therapy, followed by relapse prevention. According to NIDA, effective treatment must address medical and mental health services as well as follow-up options, such as community or family-
based recovery support systems. Whatever the methodology, patient motivation is an important factor in treatment process.

For individuals addicted to prescription drugs, treatments tend to be similar to those who are addicted to “street” drugs. Medication such as methadone and buprenorphine can be used to treat addiction to prescription opiates, whereas behavioural therapies are used to treat addiction to prescription stimulants such as benzodiazepines, and other drugs.

Types of behavioral therapy include:

  • Cognitive-behavioural therapy, which seeks to help patients to recognize, avoid and cope with situations in which they are most likely to relapse.
  • Multidimensional family therapy, which is designed to support the recovery of the patient by improving family functioning.
  • Motivational interviewing, which is designed to increase patient motivation to change their behaviour and to enter treatment.
  • Motivational incentives, which use positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from the addictive substance.

Treatment can be a long process and the duration is dependent upon the patient’s needs and history of substance use. It been has shown that most patients benefit from at least three months of treatment and longer durations are associated with better outcomes. Prescription drug addiction doesn’t discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life and can be a devastatingly, destructive force.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with addiction – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best possible care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s only a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

Reference:
1. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-drug-abuse-nida

2. https://nacada.ksu.edu

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Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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How do we know we are enabling?

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Home / Posts tagged "drug rehabilitation"

How do we know we are enabling?

04 December, 2020Articles, News

If you have a loved one who is an alcoholic or addict, you’ve probably already heard that you may be an enabler. Al-Anon is an excellent organization which helps loved ones of alcoholics, not only cope with a loved one’s alcoholism, but addresses the role played by loved ones in enabling that behaviour. But how do you know if you are being an enabler or if what you are doing is normal helping? If you find that you have been an enabler, how can you stop?

Let’s talk about the difference between enabling and helping and then we will give you some practical tips and examples on how to stop enabling your alcoholic.

What Is Enabling?

Enabling is defined as doing things for the alcoholic that they normally could and would do for themselves if they were sober. In contrast, helping is doing something that the alcoholic could not or would not do for themselves if sober. Helping does not protect an alcoholic from the consequences of his or her actions. Anything that you do that does protect the alcoholic or addict from the consequences of his or her actions, could be enabling them to delay a decision to get help for their problem. Therefore, it’s in the best interest of the alcoholic, in the long run, if you stop whatever you are doing to enable them. Enabling is not helping.

How to Stop Enabling an Alcoholic or Drug Addict

You may realize at this point that you have been enabling your loved one with alcoholism (though you probably thought you were helping) and wonder how to change. In a way, learning to stop enabling an alcoholic or drug addict is very empowering. We can’t change other people, but we can change our behaviours and reactions towards those people. Here are several practical ways in which you can stop being an enabler today.

Do :

Support recovery efforts

Set boundaries

Let the alcoholic deal with consequences

Don’t :

Make excuses for the alcoholic

Take over personal responsibilities

Save them from legal consequences

Cease Doing Anything That Allows the Alcoholic to Continue Their Current Lifestyle `

Are you working and paying some of the bills that the alcoholic would be paying if he hadn’t lost his job or missed time from work due to drinking? Or are you providing the alcoholic food and shelter? If so, you could be enabling. You are providing them with a “safety net” that allows them to lose or skip a job with no real consequences for those actions.

Do Nothing to “Help” the Alcoholic That They Could or Would Be Doing If Not Drinking

If the alcoholic has lost his license, giving him a ride to an A.A. meeting or a job interview is helping because that is something he cannot do for himself. However, looking up the schedule of meetings in the area, researching the requirements for getting his license back, or searching the classified ads for employment opportunities are things that the alcoholic should be doing for himself.

Stop Lying, Covering Up or Making Excuses for the Alcoholic

Have you ever had this conversation: “Sorry, he can’t come into work today, he has picked up some kind of bug” when in fact he is too hungover to go to work? That conversation is enabling because it is allowing the alcoholic to avoid the consequences of their actions. You might say, “But, he could lose his job!” Losing his job might just be the thing that needs to happen in order for the alcoholic or addict to decide to seek help.

Do Not Take on Responsibilities or Duties That Rightfully Belong to the Alcoholic

Are you doing some of the chores around the house that the alcoholic used to do? Have you taken on parenting responsibilities with your children that the two of you used to share? If you are doing anything that the alcoholic would be doing if she was sober, you are in a way enabling her to avoid her responsibilities.

Do Not Give or Loan the Alcoholic Money

If you are providing money to the alcoholic for any reason, you might as well be going into the alcohol store and buying their booze for them. Buying alcohol for them is enabling behaviour. That’s what you are ultimately doing if you give an alcoholic money, no matter what they say they plan to do with the cash.

Don’t “Rescue” the Alcoholic by Bailing Him Out of Jail or Paying His Fines

Rushing in to rescue the alcoholic may satisfy some personal desire you have to feel “needed,” but it doesn’t really help the situation. It only enables the alcoholic to avoid the consequences of their actions. In Al-Anon, they call it “putting pillows under them” so that they never feel the pain of their mistakes.

Do Not Scold, Argue, or Plead With the Alcoholic

You may think that when you are scolding or berating the alcoholic for their latest episode, that it is anything but enabling, but it actually could be. If the only consequence that they suffer for their actions is a l “verbal spanking” from someone who cares about them, they can slide by without facing any significant consequences.

Do Not React to His Latest Misadventures by Allowing Them to Respond to Your Reaction Rather Than Their Actions

If you say or do something negative in response to the alcoholic’s latest screw-up, then the alcoholic can react to your reaction. If you remain quiet, or if you go on with your life as if nothing has happened, then the alcoholic is left with nothing to respond to except their own actions. If you react negatively, you are giving them an emotional out.

Do Not Try to Drink With the Alcoholic

Many family members, feeling abandoned by the alcoholic because of their love-affair with alcohol, have tried to become part of their world again by trying to drink with them. It rarely works. The alcoholic’s relationship with alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful. “Normal drinkers” can rarely keep up.

Set Boundaries and Stick to Them

Saying, “If you don’t quit drinking, I will leave!” is an ultimatum and a threat, but saying, “I will not have drinking in my home” is setting a boundary. You can’t control whether someone quits drinking or not, but you can decide what kind of behaviour you will accept or not accept in your life.

Carefully Explain to the Alcoholic the Boundaries That You Have Set—And Explain That the Boundaries Are for You, Not for Them

One thing that members of Al-Anon learn is that they no longer have to tolerate unacceptable behaviour in their lives. You may not be able to control the behaviour of someone else, but you do have choices when it comes to what you find unacceptable. Setting boundaries is something that you do for your benefit, not to try to control another person’s behaviour. In order to effectively do this, it’s helpful to detach to some degree. Detaching is letting go of another person’s alcohol problem which allows you to look more objectively look at the situation.

When You Stop Being an Enabler

Many times when an alcoholic’s enabling system is removed, the fear will force them to seek help, but there are no guarantees. This can be extremely difficult to accept.

Take some time to learn more about enabling and the family disease of alcoholism, attend an Al-Anon meeting in your area. It may also be helpful to learn more about the resources and information available for families affected by alcoholism.

Attending Al-Anon in person will help you feel more empowered as you stop enabling, and less alone in the process. Unfortunately, none of us can control what another will do. Yet we do have the power to set boundaries and respect our own lives. Consider 10 things to stop doing if you love an alcoholic that can help you take back your own life whether or not your alcoholic gives up drinking.

If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

RESOURCES

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-stop-enabling-an-alcoholic-63083

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Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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What Does A Recovery Treatment Programme Entail?

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Home / Posts tagged "drug rehabilitation"

What Does A Recovery Treatment Programme Entail?

26 November, 2020Articles, News

When an individual is looking for help with their addiction, they usually seek out a recovery centre that offers various treatment programmes suited to an individuals needs. Most recovery treatment programmes start off with a detox programme- clients are given a medical detox programme under the supervision of the consulting physician. This can be anything from 3 to 7 days depending on the history of the patient. They are then declared medically fit to enter the programme once the physical side effects have subsided, they begin a process of understanding the mental side of what has led to their addiction in the first place.

Crossroads Recovery Centre is a 12-step treatment facility that believes in a complete individual treatment programme for each client. Clients are guided through their programmes by an addiction counsellor. Upon exit, clients are assisted with the reintegration into society which is sometimes done with the assistance of secondary care. Whilst in care, clients are introduced to the Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous fellowships. Crossroads offers a 30-day treatment programme or a 90-day programme. Our programme is based on the Minnesota Model of addictions treatment. This approach is typically characterized by a thorough and ongoing assessment of all aspects of a client as well as multimodal therapeutic approaches. It does include group and individual therapy, family education and support and other methods. A multidisciplinary team of professionals’ plan and assist in the treatment process for each client, tailoring it to their needs.

Specific treatment programmes include welcome groups, didactic groups, powerlessness and damage, recovery coaching, occupational therapy, AA meetings, NA meetings, topic groups, spirituality, resident house meetings, goal-setting and farewell groups. Individual counselling is part of the process. This includes one-on-one therapy, addiction counselling, spiritual counselling, step-work counselling, trauma therapy, family counselling and co-dependence counselling.

Most treatment programmes make use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is very relevant for addiction treatment because it is behaviourally based, and most substances abusers need a practical approach to dealing with their abuse. The core element of any
personal behaviour change is based on the relationship between the client and either the personal counsellor or the approach of the treatment centre.

Treatment facilities focus on both long-term and short-term clients. Usually, clients will come through the centre with short-term stays in mind, due to finances. Long-term treatment is usually suggested as this will give clients the best possible chance of recovering from their addiction going forward.

Treatment centres may also make use of the Jelinek Curve as an assessment tool to help members of the community understand addiction when they come for an assessment for themselves or their loved ones. The Jelinek Curve is a chart that describes the typical phases of alcoholism and recovery.

If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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