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Monitoring the Future: Alcohol and Drug Use Among Adults

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Treatment.

Since 1975, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have funded a comprehensive nationwide survey on drug and alcohol use among people of all ages in the U.S. This survey – called Monitoring the Future (MTF) – is designed and administrated by public health researchers at the University of Michigan. The Michigan team distributes, receives, and assesses detailed questionnaires from over fifty-thousand participants each year about their drug and alcohol use.

The MTF survey typically focuses on high school and college students – hence the name. But the study published in 2019 included detailed data sets on alcohol and drug use among adults. In this article, we’ll present this data, and discuss why it’s relevant, and how we can use this knowledge to help our friends and loved ones living with addiction create change in their lives.

The 2019 MTF Survey: Specific Data for Alcohol and Drug Use Among Adults

For the first time, the statisticians published detailed data for adults ages 19-30. They also included specific data for adults 31 and over. In previous years, data for people over age 18 appeared in age ranges, such as 18-25, 26-35, 35-54, 55-64, and 65 +. For 2019, however, the MTF team published MTF 2019 – Volume 2: College Students & Adults Ages 19-60. In this iteration of the report, the MTF team shared and analyzed the following data:

  • Two-year subsets for people ages 19-30: 19-20, 21-22, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28, 29-30
  • In addition, researchers sent follow-up surveys to previous respondents who are now age 35, 40, 45, 55, 60

These new reporting categories give us more precise insight, compared to previous reports, into prevalence trends in alcohol and drug use for adults. In this article, we’ll look at the key findings for people in that second group, adults between ages 35-60.

We’ll start with a general data breakdown, then move on to specific datasets we think merit attention.

Long-Term Trends Are Good – Recent Trends Are Mixed

We’ll preface this section with a caveat: all this data is pre-pandemic. The last two years have changed almost everything for most people in the U.S. We’ll publish articles on drinking and drug use in 2020 and 2021 as the data become available. This article is on the long-term trends identified before the coronavirus pandemic. Preliminary reports indicate that during 2020, alcohol and drug use increased across most age group, including adults over age thirty. We’ll address those numbers in subsequent articles.

Now, about those long-term, pre-pandemic trends.

The prevalence of illicit drug use among all age groups has decreased since 1976, with some notable exceptions. Daily and past-month marijuana use increased among several young adult categories, and past-month marijuana use increased among adults ages 35, 40, 45, and 55. In addition, the prevalence of vaping marijuana increased in every age category. While this vaping data is easily explained by two facts – vaping marijuana is a relatively new phenomenon, and recreational marijuana is now legal in several states – it’s something public health officials keep a close eye on.

The overall marijuana use data is also something we should all understand, for the same reasons. Vaping is a relatively recent phenomenon, the consequence of which no one fully understands yet because there’s no long-term data on physical health consequences. We likewise don’t have extensive data on marijuana prevalence in this new era of legalization, since the trend towards legalization of recreational marijuana use also began relatively recently, in Washington and Colorado in 2012.

However, we do have reliable data for adults in several areas: binge drinking, past-month marijuana use, and vaping marijuana. Although we offered reasons for the increases in marijuana use – vaping and otherwise – we include the data here so can see the figures for yourself.

Alcohol and Drugs: Adults 35-60

As we mentioned above, the MTF survey broke out the data for adults of specific ages: 35, 40, 45, 50, and 60. For almost all these ages, past-month marijuana use, past-month daily marijuana use, and past two-week binge drinking increased. We’ll start with the binge-drinking data.

Binge Drinking and Marijuana Use: Older Adults

Binge Drinking

Between 2015-2019, the prevalence of consuming more than five drinks in a row in the two weeks before answering the survey increased for the ages below. Data for people age 35 was not available.

The specific survey question was “Have you consumed more than five drinks in a row over the past two weeks?” The bullet points indicate the percentage of adults who answered yes in 2015 and 2019.

Here’s the data:

  • 40-year-olds:
    • 2015: 20.3%
    • 2019: 23.1%
  • 45-year-olds:
    • 2015: 20.5%
    • 2019: 23.5%
  • 50-year-olds:
    • 2015: 22.0%
    • 2019: 24.6%
  • 55-year-olds:
    • 2015: 18.9%
    • 2019: 22.2%

The overall increase in binge drinking among older adults is of significant concern. Five or more drinks in a row within two weeks of answering the survey does not prove that these older adults binge drink frequently, but it does cause professionals working in addiction and addiction recovery to think about this development. To help raise awareness, they can spread the word to their peers in other medical areas, such as general practitioners and family doctors. This appears to be a rising trend, and it’s best to arrest developments like this earlier, rather than later

Marijuana Use

Between 2015-2019, the prevalence of smoking marijuana at least once in the month before answering the survey increased for the ages listed below.

The specific survey question was “Have you consumed marijuana in the past month?” The bullet points indicate the percentage of adults who answered yes in 2015 and 2019.

  • 35:
    • 2015: 13.2%
    • 2019: 16.0%
  • 40:
    • 2015: 8.8%
    • 2019: 16.4%
  • 45:
    • 2015: 7.8%
    • 2019: 10.2%
  • 50:
    • 2015: 8.0%
    • 2019: 10.3%.
  • 55:
    • 2015: 8.6%
    • 2019: 10.9%

The increase in rates for marijuana use is of concern also. Prevalence almost doubled for 45-year-olds and increased by 20-25% for all other ages in this group. While many people downplay marijuana use, we think that’s not a smart thing to do. When an individual regularly turns to substances to manage stress or difficult emotions, that behavior can indicate additional mental health or addiction issues in their lives, which will likely not resolve themselves without professional support and care.

Prevent Stigma Through Awareness and Early Intervention

The MTF survey serves a critical role in how we understand alcohol and substance use disorder in the U.S. Physicians, therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals use the data to get a clear, fact-based idea of exactly what’s going on in the country with regards to alcohol and drug use. When they see upward trends in adults – especially trends around daily use of substances and binge drinking – it prepares them for an expected increase in people seeking treatment for alcohol and substance use disorder.

Policymakers at all levels – federal, state, and local – use this data to allocate resources to at-risk populations or populations of increasing- or near-risk. The right resources at the right time can prevent negative consequences for everyone.

An upward trend for teens would indicate a need for increased resources in high schools and colleges. An upward trend for young adults would indicate a need for increased resources for community resources. And an upward trend for older adults places an additional responsibility on family members and family physicians.

The information above tells us that family members can keep an eye on loved ones 35 and older, and ask relevant questions related to their alcohol use. Family physicians can screen for alcohol use disorder when adults 35 and over come in for regularly scheduled wellness checks and routine lab work.

Together, families, medical professionals, and policymakers can coordinate awareness and resources in order to take proactive steps to spread the word about evidence-based detox treatment for alcohol and substance use disorder.

Treatment works – and the sooner someone in need of support gets the support they need, the better their chances of achieving sustained, lifelong recovery. The inpatient rehab facility in Ohio can help you with the treatment. Contact The Ridge today!

heavy drinking and marriage heavy drinking and marriage

Heavy Drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Marriage

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Treatment.

The presence of a drinking problem or an alcohol use disorder (AUD) can cause significant harm to any human relationship, including marriage. Decades of research show that for newlyweds and long-married couples alike, disordered alcohol use such as heavy drinking or binge drinking can lead to a host of negative consequences. In 2009, the journal Clinical Psychology Review published a review of over sixty studies on the effect of alcohol on marriage.

Here’s what the study concluded:

“There is an overwhelming amount of evidence for the conclusion that spousal alcoholism [AUD] is maladaptive, and that heavy and problematic alcohol use is associated with lower levels of marital satisfaction, higher levels of maladaptive marital interaction patterns, and higher levels of marital violence.”

That study lays the foundation for a data-driven, evidence-based understanding of the specifics of how alcohol affects marriage. More recently, a long-term research effort conducted by scientists at the Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) at the University of Buffalo examined the prevalence of alcohol use and its associated problems among married couples in the U.S. They published their research in a series of articles in 2013-2014. While much of their data and conclusions are not a surprise, there are some notable observations that are important for the general public to understand.

Alcohol Abuse Ruins Mairrages

One takeaway from the research on alcohol and marriage is that in a majority of cases, moderate alcohol use does not cause significant problems. Observable and quantifiable trouble appears most often in couples where one spouse or both report heavy alcohol use and/or patterns of binge drinking.

Different Types Of Alcohol Abuse And Their Effects On Marriage

Before we go any further, let’s look at how the experts at The Substance Abuse and Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) define moderate, binge, and heavy drinking:

Moderate Alcohol Consumption

  • 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men.

Binge Drinking

  • Alcohol consumption that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) up to 0.08 g/dl. That means:
    • 4 drinks in about 2 hours for women
    • 5 drinks in about 2 hours for men
  • Consuming 5 or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days.

Heavy Drinking

  • Binge drinking on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days

Now let’s look at the prevalence of these drinking patterns among married couples in the U.S. This is data reported by the research team at the University of Buffalo:

  • 79% report neither partner meet criteria for heavy drinking
  • 4.0% report both partners meet criteria for heavy drinking
  • 12% report only the male partner meets criteria for heavy drinking
  • 5.0% report only the female partner meets criteria for heavy drinking

Those statistics introduce a consistent trend throughout all the research – yes, all the research over the past several decades – that indicates a gender difference in heavy drinking. According to the data, the male partner in a married couple is more likely to engage in heavy or binge drinking than the female partner. Another notable fact emerges here, as well. The consequences of alcohol use differ when both partners drink heavily and/or have a clinically diagnosable alcohol use disorder (AUD).

We’ll return to that fact in a moment. To read and understand the criteria and risk factors for AUD, please consult this NIAA resource page .

Now let’s take a closer look at the core findings from the research we’ve been talking about.

The Negative Effects of Heavy Drinking on Marriage

The Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) team examined several key metrics: marital satisfaction, domestic violence, aggression, divorce, and the number of positive and negative interactions between married partners.

Here’s what they found:

  • Marital satisfaction
    • Heavy drinking, problem drinking, and AUD in one or both partners were associated with lower marital satisfaction, as compared to marriages where neither partner reported heavy drinking, problem drinking, or AUD.
    • Stronger associations between lower marital satisfaction and drinking problems appeared when the male partner reported the problem drinking patterns.
    • Weaker – but still present – associations were noted when the female partner reported the problem drinking patterns.
  • Domestic violence
    • Alcohol use was identified as a contributing factor in domestic violence for perpetrators and victims
      • Physical aggression is three times more likely to occur when the perpetrator consumes alcohol
      • Physical aggression is twice as likely to occur when the victim consumes alcohol.
    • Alcohol use was identified as a contributing factor in verbal and psychological aggression between married partners
      • Verbal aggression is twice as likely to occur when either the victim or perpetrator consumes alcohol within four hours prior to the reported aggression
  • Divorce
      • Alcohol and/or substance use are among the top reasons identified for filing for divorce:
        • They’re the 3rd most common reason cited by female marriage partners
        • They’re the 8th most common reason cited by male marriage partner
      • Alcohol and/or substance use is one of the most common reasons married couples cite for seeking marriage counseling
  • Interactions
      • More negative interactions than positive interactions appeared in married couples when one marriage partner reported alcohol dependence or AUD.

These statistics clarify – with numbers – the negative effects of alcohol on marriage. Findings like these are helpful when discussing alcohol and marriage, because it’s easy to make blanket statements like “too much drinking ruins a marriage.” Although that may feel true and seem obvious – and is true in many cases – historical research data does not support that statement. It’s also not what the results from RIA studies say.

So, what do the results say?

Different Drinking Habits Cause Problems

We start this section with a heavy qualification. We do not condone excess drinking in any form, for anyone, ever, whether they’re single, married, in a serious long-term relationship, a common-law domestic partnership, or dating. Issues of marriage, divorce, and alcohol and/or substance use and misuse can be highly charged. They’re often accompanied by complex relationship histories. They can be extremely emotional for everyone involved.

That’s why we stick to facts, derived from data, obtained from reliable scientists working in good faith to understand complex topics that have real ramifications for real people in the real world. If you suspect that you or your spouse is battling with drinking problems, its worth taking a look at our latest findings.

With that said, here’s what the RIA researchers found with regards to the following metrics:

  • Marital satisfaction

    • Marriage partnerships in which both marriage partners report heavy alcohol consumption report higher levels of marital satisfaction than marriage partnerships in which one marriage partner reports heavy alcohol consumption and the other does not.

  • Divorce

    • Marriage partnerships in which both marriage partners report heavy alcohol consumption are less likely to end in divorce then those in which one marriage partner reports heavy alcohol consumption and the other does not.
    • 50% of marriage partnerships in which only one partner reported heavy alcohol consumption end in divorce.
    • 30% of marriage partnerships in which both partners reported similar alcohol consumption ended in divorce.

  • Interactions

    • Marriage partnerships in which both partners report having AUD report more positive interactions than partnerships in which one partner reports AUD and the other does not.
    • Marriage partnerships in which both partners report having AUD report a higher ratio of positive interactions to negative interactions than partnerships in which one partner reports AUD and the other does not.

Now you can see why we qualified the data before sharing it. This is tricky territory.

As the study authors say,

“The difference makes the difference.”

The data shows that for marriage partnerships in which both partners have similar drinking habits, those partnerships do not experience the same negative consequences as marriage partnerships in which partners have contrasting drinking habits.

Alcohol Abuse And It’s Effect on Children

Research identifies the presence of an alcohol or substance use disorder in the home as an adverse childhood experience (ACE). ACEs are a form of trauma. They’re a complex phenomenon by themselves. We’ll now offer a thumbnail version of what we think people reading this article should know about ACEs.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identify the following ten types of ACEs:

  1. Physical abuse
  2. Emotional abuse
  3. Sexual abuse
  4. Physical neglect
  5. Emotional neglect
  6. Mental illness in the family
  7. Witnessing domestic violence
  8. Divorce
  9. Having a relative incarcerated
  10. Alcohol and/or substance abuse in the home

The scientists who first identified ACEs published scores of peer-reviewed papers on the long-term consequences of ACEs. Taken together, these studies show that when individuals accrue four or more ACEs, they’re at increased risk of experiencing:

  • Impaired neurodevelopment
  • Social, cognitive, and emotional problems
  • Chronic disease, disability, and impaired social productivity

In addition, children exposed to four or more ACEs are at increased risk of engaging in risky behaviors. These include alcohol use, drug use, and early sexual activity. In terms of chronic medical conditions, exposure to four or more ACEs increases the risk of developing:

  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Depression

With regards to the negative effect of AUD among parents on their children, the research clearly indicates the presence of AUD – when combined with three or more other ACEs – increases the risk of those children developing a wide range of biological, social, psychological, and emotional problems when they reach adolescence and adulthood.

What Does This All Mean?

That depends on the marriage partnership, the individuals involved in that partnership, and the decisions they make with the knowledge they have.

In short, all this information means different things to different families. Therefore, we can’t tell anyone definitively what this marriage and parenting data means for them.

Does Alcohol Abuse Always End In Divorce

The presence of an alcohol use disorder in a marriage does not automatically mean that marriage will end in divorce. Nor does it mean the partners in the marriage will experience physical abuse, verbal abuse, or a disproportionate amount of negative interactions. It does, however, increase the risk for physical and verbal abuse. That increased risk is more pronounced in marriage partnerships in which the marriage partners have contrasting drinking habits, i.e. marriages in which one partner drinks heavily, and the other does not. In those partnerships with mismatched drinking habits, rates of divorce and negative interactions also increase.

The presence of alcohol abuse in a marriage does not mean that children of those parents will grow up to experience all the negative consequences associated with ACEs, either. It does, however, push those children closer to the threshold at which childhood trauma results in adolescent and adult disease and disability.

But no path is written in stone. Humans are resilient and have the ability to experience and transcend adversity of all types. That includes the trauma associated with AUD and ACEs.

Family And Marriage Counseling In Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Associated with all this data on drinking, marriage, and children is the fact that alcohol use disorder is a chronic medical condition that responds to appropriate treatment. A corollary to that fact is that children who experience trauma can learn to process that trauma with the help of a capable adult – most often a therapist – and mitigate the negative effects of experiencing ACEs.

Therefore, married partners that know and understand the implications of AUD in marriage and parenting have options. If they also know and understand that one, or both, partners in the marriage have an AUD, they can seek treatment and support for the AUD. Evidence shows that an integrated treatment model is effective. Integrated treatment includes individual therapy, group therapy, experiential therapy, and family therapy.

This whole person approach can lead to long-term, sustained sobriety. Married parents with AUD in their partnership can seek support for their children, as well. The trauma associated with parental AUD can be mitigated with the help of a qualified, capable adult. The adults most qualified for helping children work through trauma are professional therapists, as mentioned above.

Get Family Therapy For Alcohol Use Disorder At The Ridge Ohio

The takeaway here is that AUD in marriage can have a negative impact on both individuals in the marriage partnership, as well as any children in the family. But that’s not the end of the story. Spouses and parents can take affirmative, proactive steps to recover from AUD and to help their children process any trauma associated with the AUD. A step toward treatment and support is a step toward empowerment and healing for everyone involved. Seeking support and receiving detox treatment are time-tested methods families can use to author their own narrative, write the next chapter of their personal family story, and rediscover the balance and harmony that the presence of an AUD often disturbs.

how residential rehab works how residential rehab works

How Residential Treatment for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Works

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Treatment, Recovery.

In our recent article “Why Do People Fear Going to Rehab for Addiction?” we discussed several reasons people with alcohol and/or substance use disorder – a.k.a alcoholism and substance abuse – hesitate to participate in alcohol or drug rehab. We identified five main reasons people who need treatment are reluctant to seek treatment. Research shows that reluctance to seek treatment is often based on fear. When considering treatment, people fear:

  1. The unknown
  2. Living without alcohol or drugs
  3. Stigma associated with treatment
  4. Relapse
  5. The treatment process

The goal of this article is to address items one and five on this list: fear of the unknown and fear of the treatment process. To do this, we’ll describe how residential rehab for substance abuse works. We’re confident knowledge of how treatment works will change many of the unknowns into knowns, which, in turn, may help people make the decision to enter treatment and start the path to long-term recovery.

First, to ensure we’re on the same page, we’ll make an assumption: when most people think of alcohol and/or drug rehab, what they think of is residential treatment. Residential treatment comes in two forms: short-term and long-term. Data from the Substance Abuse and Health Services Administration (SMHSA) indicates the median length of stay in a short-term residential treatment program is 21 days, while the median length of stay in a long-term residential treatment program is 56 days. Therefore, for the rest of this article, what we mean when we say rehab or treatment or residential treatment is an onsite stay in a live-in, full time addiction program that lasts anywhere from three weeks to three months.

For the record, The Ridge sees the most success when our clients stay for our 45 day program, while long-term treatment programs encourage a stay of 180 days or more.

Residential Treatment: The Assessment Process

Once a person decides to seek treatment for alcohol or substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), an assessment process begins. The assessment process typically occurs in three phases or steps. Please note that the following is a general outline for how the assessment process happens in high-quality treatment centers. To learn about our assessment process, click here.

  • Step 1: Initial Screen.

    • An initial screen can happen over the phone with an admissions counselor, with a primary care physician in a typical wellness checkup, with a mental health therapist or counselor, or with physicians or other licensed and qualified personnel in a hospital/emergency room setting. If an initial screen indicates the possibility of a substance use disorder, then the screener recommends a brief assessment.

  • Step 2: Brief Assessment.

    • The brief assessment determines the possible severity of the substance use disorder. It identifies additional health, legal, or social problems associated with substance abuse. In addition, it gathers initial information on health and psychiatric history, current medications, and current medical conditions. At this point, the person seeking treatment and treatment center staff determine what level of care may be appropriate. We’ll assume, for the purposes of this article, that treatment center medical staff recommend residential treatment. But it’s possible they’ll recommend intensive outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization treatment. Those are two less intensive, but equally valid types of treatment programs.

  • Step 3: Full Biopsychosocial Assessment.

    • A comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment is exactly what it sounds like. Clinicians go in-depth. They develop a full picture of the biological, psychological, and social factors that may affect the alcohol/substance use disorder and its treatment. During this assessment, any co-occurring mental health disorders may be identified. In most cases, the full biopsychosocial assessment takes place at the treatment center after admission, within the first several hours of the treatment stay.

Once these steps are complete, clinical staff and the person seeking treatment create an individualized treatment plan. The plan reflects everything the clinicians learn during the assessment process and includes recommendations – based on their experience with the person seeking treatment – for a combination of therapeutic approaches that can lead to the greatest chance of long-term, sustained recovery.

With an individualized treatment plan in hand, the person seeking treatment begins treatment.

Residential Treatment: The Process

Detoxification

In some cases, an assessment indicates that medically supervised and/or medication-assisted detoxification is a necessary first step. Detoxification is the process of clearing alcohol and/or drugs of abuse and related toxins from the body so the person in treatment can begin with a clean slate. The length of the detox phase depends on the substance used, the amount and frequency of use, the age, and gender of the person seeking treatment, their current health status, and their medical history. Detox typically takes between two days and one week. The length of detox depends on the factors just mentioned.

Also, stopping the use of alcohol and some drugs sends the body into withdrawal. That’s why medically supervised or medication-assisted detox is necessary in some cases. Medical supervision ensures safety in the case of an emergency, and medication can help ease the uncomfortable physical symptoms of withdrawal.

Note: in some cases, alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous. In some cases, it can lead to death. That’s not an exaggeration. We recommend anyone with a history of regular alcohol consumption consult with a medical professional before quitting. We’ll put that another way: in rare cases, quitting cold turkey can kill you. Therefore, the smartest thing to do – for someone with a history of regular and considerable alcohol consumption – is to talk to a doctor or addiction professional first.

Treatment Participation

After detox, the person in treatment joins the therapeutic community and begins participating in the treatment plan they created with clinicians during the assessment process. Residential treatment typically includes:

  • Group therapy and counseling.
    • Group therapy and counseling during substance abuse treatment takes many forms. Some group sessions are highly structured, clinical experiences led by therapists or counselors. Other group sessions may be less formal, peer-led, and involve recovery peers sharing experiences and offering advice about the recovery process. Group sessions may also be educational, rather than explicitly therapeutic. Educational sessions may include:
      • The science of addiction
      • The science of recovery
      • How to identify and manage triggers (external cues that can lead to relapse)
      • Relationship management
      • Healthy eating
      • Anger management
      • Setting boundaries
      • Seeking Safety
  • Individual therapy and counseling.
    • Like group therapy, individual therapy and counseling includes various approaches, which are determined by the clinical staff and included in the treatment plan. Individual therapy and counseling may include:
  • Family therapy.
    • Most rehab centers recognize the importance of family dynamics in addiction and addiction treatment. In a nutshell, the rationale behind including the family in rehab is that to understand the person in treatment, therapists and clinical staff need to understand where they came from and how they became the person they are. In almost every case, this means understanding the family. Family therapy may include therapeutic and/or educational workshops on:
  • Experiential therapies.
    • Once in rehab, people realize that recovery is a lifelong process. They learn it will last long after their time on-site in a rehab center. Experiential therapies help people in recovery learn new skills, techniques, and lifestyle habits that support recovery. These therapies may be facilitated by licensed clinicians trained in things like music therapy or equine therapy (horses). Or, they may be facilitated by experts specific to that experiential approach. It’s important to understand experiential therapies augment, rather than replace, traditional therapies. Experiential therapies may include:
      • General exercise: calisthenics, walking, jogging, aerobics, weight training, kickboxing – any form of exercise may be included.
      • Mindfulness activities: meditation, yoga, tai chi, mindful eating, mindful walking.
      • Outdoor experiences: hiking, cycling, or anything that gets people in treatment outdoors and active
      • Sports: golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball – any activity that a treatment center has facilities to support or access to may be part of rehab
      • Expressive therapies: writing, music, dance, and drama activities may be part of the rehab process
  • Community Support.
    • The support of a compassionate community of peers is an essential element of recovery. Evidence shows that adding just one sober peer to their social group increases the chances of long-term sobriety for a person in recovery. Community support groups may include:
      • Alcoholics Anonymous
      • Narcotics Anonymous
      • SMART Recovery

Aftercare Planning and Discharge

Aftercare, also known as continuing care, means everything recovery or treatment-related that happens after official recovery is complete, i.e. after discharge. In collaboration with the person in recovery, clinicians create an aftercare plan that’s designed to help the person in recovery maintain their sobriety independently. Staff at high-quality treatment centers begin crafting an aftercare plan early in the treatment process, based on observation of what works and what does not work for each person.

  • A good aftercare plan includes:
    • Resources for ongoing treatment and regular doctor checkups. Ideally, these include names, times, and dates of individual therapy or other relevant addiction services, such as medication maintenance, if applicable.
    • A list of lifestyle or experiential therapies that worked well, enhanced the treatment process, and may contribute to a long-term, successful recovery. For instance, if yoga made an impact on the person in treatment, then resources for local yoga studios – up to and including class dates and times – may be included in the aftercare plan. The same is true for any other experiential approaches that helped, such as meditation, sports, general exercises, or expressive therapies.
    • Community support resources. Like the two components just mentioned, the best aftercare plans include specific dates and times for AA or NA meetings that are convenient for the person leaving treatment. In an ideal scenario, the person leaving treatment will already have an AA sponsor – in which case, the aftercare plan will include their phone number or relevant contact info.

It’s important to understand that in some cases, a person in treatment will not go directly back out into the world. They may step down to a less intensive level of care. For instance, a person may go from residential treatment to partial hospitalization treatment to intensive outpatient treatment to outpatient treatment over the course of six months or more. Decisions about what happens after residential treatment are made through a collaborative process that includes the person in treatment, their family members, treatment center staff and clinicians, and insurance providers.

How to Find a Residential Rehab Center

Since no two people are exactly alike, no two rehab experiences are exactly alike. The entire process is based on open, honest communication between the provider and the patient. This means that finding the best possible treatment center is similar to creating a treatment and implementing a treatment plan. It’s a collaborative process, based on factors specific to the individual. Location, type of program, insurance coverage, and treatment history all contribute to the final decision on which residential treatment program is the best fit.

Evidence shows that integrated, individualized programs that address biological, psychological, and social factors lead to the most successful outcomes. When seeking treatment for a loved one, a family member, or yourself, it’s crucial to research potential programs. Get on the phone, ask questions about everything we mention above – and when a potential match is found, make sure the treatment center is licensed, accredited, and has an experienced staff with specific training in addiction and recovery.

Treatment works – and the sooner a person who needs detox treatment for a substance use disorder gets treatment in a specialized alcohol or substance abuse rehab center, the greater their chances of achieving sustained, lifelong recovery. The Ridge offers inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization facilities to help all such individuals.

alcohol use disorder in women alcohol use disorder in women

The Consequences of Alcohol Use Disorder in Women

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Treatment, Recovery.

How prevalent is alcohol use disorder in women? What are the consequences?

Alcohol use in the U.S. is common. People serve alcohol at parties, commemorative events, and at home. They include it as an option at occasions as diverse as backyard barbecues and executive business lunches. Adolescents experiment with alcohol, college students often make consuming alcohol a way of life, and adults use alcohol to relax, facilitate social interaction, and reward themselves after a hard day of work or play.

Its prevalence – while innocuous in many instances – can also lead to misuse. The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2017 NSDUH) shows the following population-level data on alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the U.S.:

  • Adolescents (12-17): 712,000 (2.8%)
  • Young Adults (18-25): 5.2 million (15.6%)
  • Adults (26+): 22.3 million (10.3%)

Quick math tells us that almost 30 million people in the U.S. meet the clinical criteria for AUD, or what most people think of as alcoholism. Further examination of the numbers shows the rate of AUD gradually decreased for all age groups between 2002 and 2017, then increased between 2017 and 2020. However, additional research reveals an increase in the prevalence of AUD in one group over the same time: women.

A study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2014 explores the differences in the development and consequences of alcohol use disorder in women, and how they differ for women and men. This article summarizes that study and discusses its implication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in women.

Prevalence of Alcohol Abuse in Women Compared to Men

In general, men experience higher rates of AUD than women. Here’s the data:

  • AUD in men: 24.6%
  • AUD in women: 11.5%

These numbers represent a distinct shift, not only over the past 15 years, as indicated above, but over the past 90 years. In the 1930s, data places the ratio of disordered alcohol use for men, compared to women, at seven to one (7:1). When we fast forward to 2017, we see that ratio close significantly: it now hovers around two to one (2:1). If you’re not used to reading or thinking in ratios, what this means is that about a hundred years ago, seven times more men than women experienced problem drinking. Now – or according to data from 2017 – only twice as many men than women experience problem drinking.

That’s a big change. The specific reasons behind the change are beyond the scope of this article, but it’s reasonable to suggest that the increased reporting of rates of AUD for women mirror their increased ability to participate in all aspects of society, from working, to owning property, to securing equal rights and access to a variety of social, political, and cultural activities that were previously denied them, as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg observed, “on the basis of sex.”

What is within the scope of this article, however, is identifying differences in the development and impact of AUD on women compared to men.

We’ll talk about those now.

Alcohol Use Disorder in Women: The Negative Effects

Disordered alcohol use causes severe, lasting, and negative impacts for anyone. Men, women, young people, old people – any person who develops disordered drinking patterns risk damage to their brain and body. The latest research tells us two important things: some of the negative impacts of AUD are more pronounced in women than in men, and AUD develops differently in women, as compared to men.

Research indicates the following short-term differences in the effect of alcohol consumption on women, compared to men. Women show:

  • Higher blood alcohol levels when consuming the same amount of alcohol
  • Increased cognitive impairment
  • Increased sedation (sleepiness)
  • Higher levels of impairment (drunkenness)
  • Increased levels of acute, alcohol-related injury
  • Increased risk of sexual assault (as a victim)

Long-term differences in the effect of alcohol use disorder on women, compared to men, include:

  • Increased risk of brain damage and shrinkage
  • Shorter time for brain damage and shrinkage to occur
  • Increased memory impairment
  • Increased cognitive impairment
  • Elevated risk of alcohol-related liver disease
  • Elevated risk of mouth, throat, esophageal, liver, breast, and colon cancer
  • Greater risk of heart disease and cardiovascular complications
  • Increased risk of depression and mood disorders

Pregnancy And Alcohol Use Disorder

Studies also show the negative impacts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Risks to newborns of mothers who consume alcohol excessively during pregnancy include:

  • Birth defects
  • Low birth weight
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which can cause:
    • Physical deformations
    • Slow growth (before and after birth
    • Defects in major organs
    • Defects in the brain and nervous system
    • Cognitive impairment
    • Social impairment
    • Memory impairment
    • Disrupted emotional development
    • Impaired balance

These elevated risks mean, in a nutshell, that AUD – or simply excessive drinking – has the chance to cause more damage, more quickly, to women than men. The authors of the APA study cited above put it this way:

“AUD appears to be a more severe form of psychopathology in women.”

Alcohol Use Disorder Rehab For Women

There are two more pieces of information we left out – and both are relevant to our discussion. First, following initiation of alcohol use – i.e. their first drink – women develop patterns of disordered drinking more rapidly than men. Second, when women begin drinking during adolescence, the intensity and duration of alcohol use disorder are greater than that found in men who begin drinking around the same time.

Taken together, all this information is critical for primary care physicians, physicians who specialize in women’s health, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers involved with women’s issues. In other words, anyone directly involved in the health and wellbeing of women should understand the increased physical, emotional, and psychological risks associated with AUD in women compared to men.

Putting this knowledge into action means that medical and mental health professionals can include questions regarding alcohol consumption in any screenings they conduct during regular office visits. These professional caregivers can then act quickly on the information they collect. If women show signs of AUD, doctors and therapists can recommend a drug and alcohol rehab for women and treatment plan sooner rather than later – which can help women with disordered drinking patterns live healthy lives and significantly mitigate the negative short- and long-term consequences of alcohol abuse.

Sources:

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35323/NSDUHDetailedTabs2020/NSDUHDetailedTabs2020/NSDUHDetTabsSect5pe2020.htm

signs of drug or alcohol overdose signs of drug or alcohol overdose

Do You Know the Signs of Drug or Alcohol Overdose?

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder.

Drug overdose is a serious problem worldwide.

Most people in the U.S. know about drug overdose because of the ongoing opioid epidemic, which caused a staggering increase in overdose deaths between 2012 and 2017. Since then, our attention has been elsewhere, for obvious reasons. While we focused on the pandemic, the overdose crisis did not disappear: it got worse. This article will offer combined drug and alcohol overdose statistics, briefly address drug-related deaths, then share the signs and symptoms of overdose for the following drugs:

  • Alcohol
  • Depressants
  • Stimulants
  • Opioids

First, let’s look at the most recent worldwide statistics on drug and alcohol overdose. These figures appear in the Global Burden of Disease Report published by the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet. This report includes data on all causes of death for each country in the world.

Here’s the data from 2017:

Worldwide Deaths: Alcohol and Drug Overdose

  • International total:
    • Alcohol: 184, 934
    • Drugs: 166,613
  • North America:
    • Alcohol: 15,241
    • Drugs: 69,708
  • Central America:
    • Alcohol: 8,825
    • Drugs: 2,506
  • South America:
    • Alcohol: 13,046
    • Drugs: 4,257
  • United Kingdom:
    • Alcohol: 2,319
    • Drugs: 4,257
  • Western Europe:
    • Alcohol: 17,749
    • Drugs: 11,279
  • Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia:
    • Alcohol: 51,976
    • Drugs: 14,818
  • East, South, and Southeast Asia:
    • Alcohol: 62,866
    • Drugs: 78,989
  • North Africa and the Middle East
    • Alcohol: 1,803
    • Drugs: 10,012
  • Australasia:
    • Alcohol: 670
    • Drugs: 1,297

A quick read of these numbers shows that drug and alcohol overdose is a problem that affects the entire world, not only the United States. However, for a single country, the U.S. accounts for a disproportionate number of overdose deaths. Our total population makes up 4.25 percent of the total world population, but in 2017, when the report above was published, our total of close to seventy thousand drug overdose deaths accounted for 40 percent of worldwide overdose deaths. Since then, things in the U.S. have gotten worse.

Preliminary data for the U.S. from 2020 show overdose deaths increased by over 30 percent from 2017 to 2020, from around 70,000 to over 93,000.

That’s not good news – and it shows we have a lot of work to do.

Overdose: Signs and Symptoms for Alcohol and Most Common Drugs

We can start our work by understanding what overdose looks like, so we can prevent an accidental drug or alcohol overdose from leading to fatality. Preventing death is the most important goal. Reversing the effect of an overdose as soon as possible is our second goal. When an overdose does not cause death, the results may still be severe. Overdose can lead to hypoxia – a lack of oxygen to the brain – which can cause coma, seizures, and brain damage. The long-term consequences of brain damage include mild to severe impairment of:

  • Cognitive function: thinking, memory, and concentration
  • Communication: speaking and writing
  • Motor function: movement, coordination, balance
  • Senses: vision and hearing

That’s why it’s important to get medical help immediately if you suspect someone has overdosed on alcohol or drugs: you may save their life and prevent severe, life-changing brain damage. We’ll say this again, but we’ll say it first now.

If you think someone has overdosed, do not wait: call 911 immediately.

Now let’s look at the signs of overdose, starting with alcohol, which many people do not know can cause a fatal overdose. We’ll then list the signs of stimulant overdose (amphetamines), depressant overdose (e.g. Xanax), and opioid overdose.

Alcohol Overdose Symptoms

  • Confusion
  • Loss of coordination
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Irregular breathing: gaps of more than 10 seconds between breaths
  • Slow breathing: less than 8 breaths per minute
  • Pale/bluish skin
  • Low body temperature
  • Loss of consciousness

Click here for a downloadable pdf Fact Sheet on Alcohol Overdose

Stimulant Overdose Symptoms

Common stimulants include cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA

  • Psychotic appearing behaviors and symptoms when the person has no diagnosed mental illness or condition (except substance use disorder):
    • Paranoia
    • Delusions
    • Hallucinations
  • Severe agitation
  • Aggressiveness
  • Panic, confusion, disorientation
  • Hot, flushed, or sweaty skin
  • Headache
  • Chest pain
  • Unsteady gait
  • Rigid muscles
  • Muscle spasms
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Breathing problems

Click here for a downloadable pdf Fact Sheet on Stimulant Overdose

Depressant Overdose Symptoms

Common depressants include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol

  • Vomiting
  • Conscious but unresponsive
  • Limp body
  • Pale, clammy skin
  • Blue lips and/or fingernails
  • Shallow, erratic, or slow breathing
  • Choking or gurgling noises
  • Unconsciousness

Click here for a downloadable pdf Fact Sheet on Depressant Overdose

Opioid Overdose Symptoms

Common opioids include heroin, opium, methadone, and pain relievers containing hydrocodone or oxycodone

  • Unresponsive to any stimuli
  • Shallow or stopped breathing
  • Will not wake up
  • Unusual snoring and gurgling noises
  • Blue or gray lips and/or fingertips
  • Floppy arms and legs

Click here for a downloadable pdf Fact Sheet on Opioid Overdose

That’s a lot of information to digest all at once. You can see that some symptoms are common in most cases of overdose, such as unconsciousness, unresponsiveness, abnormal breathing, abnormal sounds related to breathing, and a bluish tinge to fingers or lips. If you or someone you love experiences any of these symptoms, do not wait: get medical help immediately. Most often, the best way to get immediate medical help is by calling 911.

Overdose Awareness

The best way to prevent overdose is by educating yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of overdose. We list them above, but it’s worth repeating that the two most severe consequences of overdose are death and mild to severe brain damage. Both are tragic, and both harm individuals, families, and their loved ones every day.

One reason overdose death triggers a mix of emotions in people is that almost all overdose deaths are preventable. We know most overdose deaths occur in people with alcohol or drug use disorder (AUD/SUD) – and we know that addiction disorders are treatable medical conditions that individuals can and do recover from. We also know that in cases of opioid overdose, timely administration of Narcan (naloxone) can reverse the effects of an overdose and prevent death and brain damage.

We know these things and share them so more people will know the facts about drug and alcohol use and its consequences.

If you’re struggling with addiction and looking for a detox program or an inpatient rehab center, The Ridge offers one of the best facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Functional Changes Of The Brain In The Disease Of Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder.

Addiction is a disease. It is not a choice. It is not relevant to concepts like strength, willpower, ethics, and morals. Clients have frequently said that family members or loved ones have said, “Why can’t you just stop?” We know from a scientific standpoint that it is not reasonable to ask someone to make the choice to stop. They don’t have a choice once the addiction is activated.

Addiction is a disease in the same way that we define many other diseases. In fact, all other diseases. The scientific community has three specific criteria that a disorder must meet before it can be categorized as a disease. First, it has to be detrimental. It has to damage the individual. Second, we have to know the set of signs and symptoms that go along with it. Third, there must be an abnormal test. A test that will always be abnormal with the disease.

Addiction is a disease of the brain. It is a brain-based disease. The test to recognize the disease of addiction is a brain scan. Brain scans refer to highly sophisticated imaging studies of the brain that do not look at the structure but look at the functionality of the brain. They have done enough brain scans on people whose brains have no disease state or process, totally “normal” brain function, to know what a “normal” brain scan looks like.

The way brain scans read is by different colors reflecting different overall activity. The darker the colors the higher the activity levels. The highest level of activity, predominately so, in the front of the human brain. That pattern changes consistently in people with active addiction. The front of the brain becomes much less active with addiction. There is an area in the central part of the brain that becomes much more active. The abnormal brain scan is the key to understanding why people can’t make the choice to just stop using. Willpower, ethics, morals, strength, and choice get removed from the equation.

Different parts of the brain do different things and there are connections between these different areas. One of these parts is the Nucleus Accumbens. This is referred to as the “pleasure center” or “reinforcement/reward center”. The Nucleus Accumbens is a clump of brain cells that seem to have only one function. It will get you to repeat any behavior whose result is that it stimulates these brain cells. Anything you do that causes these brain cells to be stimulated, it will then drive you to repeat that behavior.

Why would we have a part of the brain like that? The thinking is that you are supposed to repeat the behaviors that increase the likelihood of survival of the individual and/or the species. It’s there for your good and the good of the species. There are certain behaviors that have always been very important to your survival and the survival of the species. These include but are not limited to water, food, procreation, and sleep. These behaviors are considered salient and really matter to your brain. They stimulate the Nucleus Accumbens and you know to repeat them and to repeat them frequently.

Another part of the brain is the Frontal Lobes. These are located in the front of the brain and are known as the socialization center. This is where you learn about everything that your society/culture believes is good vs. bad, acceptable vs. unacceptable, right vs. wrong, safe vs. unsafe. The Frontal Lobes are the part of the brain where all of your ethics and morals are learned. When you tell someone to make a choice they will use their Frontal Lobes, no matter what it is about (good vs. bad, acceptable vs. unacceptable, etc.).

That’s all just information contained in your Frontal Lobes. That’s what making a choice is all about. Can you do what your brain wants you to do?

Now let’s talk about the disease of addiction.

We already know, by definition, the disease of addiction means that the function of the brain is altered. In a “normal” brain, the Frontal Lobes are most active and dominant. So, when someone tells you to make the right choice you go to your Frontal Lopes, your cultural norms, the things you’ve learned and you follow that. In addiction, the Frontal Lobes are not doing so much. A different part of the brain takes over and becomes more active and dominant because it has been massively overstimulated, repeatedly. That’s the key.

Scientists have identified 30 million mood-altering substances (drugs and alcohol) that affect the brain. Out of those 30 million, less than 100 of them are classified to potentially cause the disease of addiction. It is incredibly rare; a tiny fraction of the total number that does this. The one thing that all mood-altering substances have in common is that they massively overstimulate the “reinforcement center”, to an abnormal degree. They do it to a far greater degree, higher intensity and longer duration than any of the naturally salient stimulators of the “reinforcement center”.

You must remember that the “reinforcement center” does not recognize that mood-altering substances are abnormal or bad. It is just there to get you to repeat whatever behavior stimulates it. That is why they say that mood altering substances “hijack” the human brain. They affect the part of the brain that is supposed to drive you to repeat whatever stimulates it. They stimulate it way more than even water, the most life-limiting thing on the planet for human beings.

When the partially subconscious part of your brain has been repeatedly overstimulated it becomes more active and potentially more dominant. Therefore, in terms of I have a decision to make now about whether I continue the use of mood-altering substances despite the fact that I know it’s the wrong thing to do, it’s the unacceptable thing to do, the unsafe thing to do. Which part of the brain is going to win the battle? The part that is more active and more dominant. It’s not like people with active addiction don’t know they shouldn’t keep doing it. It is also like people with addiction don’t want to stop. Because want to stop comes from the conscious part of the brain. Everyone with this disease wants to stop. It has terrible consequences, it makes your life a disaster.

For people with active addiction, they can’t just make the choice to stop using. This is why it takes external controls for people to have a chance of getting this disease into remission. This is true for the vast majority. That’s why we recommend coming into a formal treatment center. So, you don’t have to make a choice you can’t make because that part of your brain isn’t in control. The decision gets made for you.

You must also understand that an abnormal brain scan does have the potential to go back to a normal brain scan. They have done some studies on this. With abstinence, it takes 1-5 years for the brain scan to go back to normal, but it can go back to normal. That’s important! That’s what getting your disease into remission means. A disease is not considered to be in remission until the brain scan goes back to normal. You can maintain sobriety long enough and you can keep from over activating your addictive pathways.

For people who need help with the recovery process, The Ridge offers an inpatient rehab center with a complete detox program. Contact The Ridge now for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder.

What does dual diagnosis or co-occurring illness mean and how common is it in the United States?

The term co-occurring disorder (also referred to as dual-diagnosis) is the term used to indicate a person who has one or more disorders relating to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs of abuse as well as one or more mental disorders.

A diagnosis of co-occurring disorders is made when at least one disorder of each type can be established independent of the other and is not simply a cluster of symptoms resulting from one of the disorders. Either substance use or mental illness can begin first. Some individuals who have mental illness may use a substance as a means of reducing their symptoms. This is often referred to as “self-medicating”.

The term mental health disorder generally refers to mood disorders (depression or bipolar), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder or social anxiety disorder), trauma or stressor related disorders (PTSD, adjustment disorders), thought disorders (schizophrenia), and other disorders not substance-related or induced by substances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 or DSM 5 is the national standard for the definition of mental disorders.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) approximately 9.2 million adults experienced both substance use disorder and mental illness in 2018.

The NSDUH data for 2018 provides a few general trends worth noting these include; increasing rates of serious mental illness, major depression, and suicidality in young adults and major gaps in treatment received by those affected.

The NSDUH data for 2018 also illustrated increased rates of substance use among those who have mental illness compared to those who have no mental illness. Suicidal thinking and attempts are also higher in those who have substance use disorders and those who have a co-occurring mental illness. Those with co-occurring illnesses have higher rates of relapse.

How can my doctor determine if I have a co-occurring disorder?

It is important to let your doctor know if you are using any substances including herbal or over-the-counter supplements. If a doctor or licensed counselor is unaware of substance use, they may provide an inaccurate diagnosis or treatment.

Your doctor will attempt to determine if the symptoms are caused by a substance, medication (given by a doctor, over the counter, or taken without a prescription), or a general medical condition. In addition to asking questions, your doctor may perform a physical examination and order other tests such as blood work or request to review your previous treatment records.

Your doctor will ask about your history of substance use and mental health symptoms. If a period of sobriety has occurred this can often help in clarifying the diagnosis. For example, If you noticed feeling depressed while using alcohol regularly the feelings of depression could be due to alcohol. If you then stop using alcohol and notice feelings of depression stop this suggests alcohol was the cause of the symptoms. On the other hand, if the cessation of substance use does not alleviate mental health symptoms an independent mental health diagnosis may be the cause.

For many a period of abstinence is not possible or waiting to clarify the diagnosis is not an available luxury and treatment of both is recommended. In these cases working closely with your doctor over time is critical.

What can I do if I think I have either a substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or both?

Speak with your doctor or a counselor. For many individuals, their primary care provider (PCP) or family physician is the first contact made. An individual can also seek an assessment with a psychiatrist or licensed mental health counselor.

Some offices/agencies require appointments made ahead of time while others offer walk-in assessment hours on specified days.

An excellent resource can be found on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA website (link below). This website provides a treatment locator for substance use disorder, mental disorders, or both.

You can also contact your insurance carrier and request a list of providers who accept your insurance. This can also be done online with many companies.

What are some of the treatment options for those with co-occurring illnesses?

The best treatment option for those with co-occurring illnesses is integrated treatment. Integrated treatment refers to a program that can provide treatment for substance use disorder and mental illness.

Treatment may include the use of medication, therapy, or a combination of medication/therapy and self-help groups. The treatment setting in which treatment is provided can vary and is based on the individual needs of the person seeking treatment. Some typical treatment settings include residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, aftercare and outpatient. It is important to remember that treatment needs can vary over time and an individual may find benefit from transitioning to more intensive treatment during times of symptom worsening. During times of symptoms remission and stability, an individual may opt to reduce the intensity of their services. Always let your doctor or counselor know if you have unmet treatment needs so you can work collaboratively to address them.

Effective treatment realizes recovery does not occur in days but rather in months and years. Those with co-occurring disorders, substance use disorder, or mental illness do not achieve functional improvements or stability quickly but gradually through regular engagement with a consistent treatment program tailored to their individual needs.

The Ridge offers you a comprehensive treatment plan that involves the inpatient rehab facility and detox program in Cincinnati to help you start your journey toward recovery.

References:

https://www.samhsa.gov/data

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders: The Evidence. DHHS Pub. No. SMA-08-4366, Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009.

 

My Child’s Father Is An Addict

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder.

When we think the parent-child dynamic in the context of addiction, we almost always think about the parent at their wit’s end trying to get help for their addicted son or daughter. The reality is, however, that it’s often the parents of underage and adult children who struggle with addiction and often wind up impacting their children for years to come as a result. Between alcohol addiction and the escalating opioid crisis affecting baby boomers and older seniors, addiction is a public health issue that doesn’t discriminate based on age.

If the father of your child is struggling with addiction, there is a whole other level of urgency you need to observe in your attempt to get them help in order to ensure the safety and long-term well-being of you and your child while getting your partner or co-parent a second chance at life in recovery. Data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services indicates parental alcohol or other drug use as a contributing factor for child removal increased from 18% to over 35% in the last 16 years. At the same time, while there is obviously no guarantee, a commonly cited body of research suggests that children of addicts are eight times as likely to become addicts themselves.

In order to break the cycle of addiction and protect your child from immediate harm, here are some steps you can take to get the father of your child the help they need.

Make Sure You & Your Child Are Safe

You need to be able to help the father of your child from a position of strength and stability. The reality of addiction is that it puts both the addict and the people they love in dangerous situations, and very often jeopardizes their immediate health and safety. Before you can take steps to help your loved one, make sure your living situation is secure and that you and your child have somewhere to go in the event of escalation. Call a friend or family member, if necessary.

“Tough Love” – Consequence-Based Treatment Motivation

While it may seem initially harsh, sometimes the best thing you can do is show the addicted father of your child what can happen if they don’t get clean. Tell the father of your child as calmly and rationally as possible, without exercising judgment, that you simply can’t put your child at risk by allowing visitation until they get clean. It may be necessary to take legal action in this case. Courts may automatically intervene and mandate treatment, depending on the specific circumstances.

Some Of The Signs That The Father Of Your Child May Have A Drug Problem Include:

  • Increasing irresponsibility regarding care
  • Professional or financial problems
  • Prolonged periods of absence or isolation
  • Erratic, risky and potentially illegal nehavior
  • Lying about whereabouts and other things

If your child’s father is exhibiting these physical indicators or any behavioral signs of addiction, it’s time to get them help.

Engage Them Calmly About Treatment

Before things escalate to the point of consequences; however, try talking to the addicted father of your child about the prospect of getting help for both themselves and your child. Offer to help them in their search for care. If they see that they have a partner in this endeavor, and that they can lean on you for support, they might be more receptive to entering treatment. Help can mean anything from assisting in their search for a treatment center by calling or going online to offering to help cover some of their treatment costs through your insurance if they aren’t adequately covered by their own plan. There is no blueprint for this, but as long you are willing to help, let them know.

Get Others Involved In Their Treatment

Even though your child’s safety and emotional well-being may be tied to their father’s recovery, and you have a tremendous personal stake in their progress, this can’t be entirely up to you. Reach out to his family, close friends, and other important people in his life to try and organize a meeting or intervention. An intervention should be led by an experienced, trained, and qualified professional who can keep the process from becoming overtly emotional, assist with making treatment arrangements, and help your group coordinate the logistics of the meeting. It’s important to make treatment arrangements ahead of time to avoid any of the pitfalls of any second thoughts your child’s father may have.

We’re Ready To Help Your Child Get His Father Back

The Ridge has helped thousands of parents just like you start to reconnect your family through comprehensive alcohol and drug addiction treatment. We offer detox programs and an inpatient rehab facility. Whether you and your child’s father are married, separated, or share parentage in any other model, your child deserves to have two parents who love, support, and show up for them.

Resources:

How To Defend Against Prescription Drug Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Addiction & Substance Use Disorder.

Prescription painkillers are necessary for people in unbearable pain after an injury or a major medical procedure, but they have a deadly dark side that has more people seeking drug detox programs by the day. Opioid painkillers are extremely easy to become addicted to and introduce people to a life-destroying habit. Every American needs to know the risks these drugs carry and how to avoid getting hooked.

Prescription drugs are more prevalent now than ever. Enough pills were prescribed in 2010 to keep every adult in the country fully medicated 24 hours a day for an entire month. The number of prescriptions for opioid painkillers has nearly tripled from 70 million in 1991 to 210 million in 2011. Unless Americans happened to experience three times more pain that year than they did twenty years earlier, something is wrong with the frequency of these prescriptions. And the statistics for deaths by overdose back that up, too: deaths from prescription drug overdoses more than quadrupled from 4,030 in 1999 to 16,651 in 2010.

Although these drugs have medical legitimacy, it’s essential to remember that they’re still opioids. The euphoric, painless sensation they cause is very easy to get addicted to. The brain will shut down the natural production of pleasure-causing chemicals in response to the unnaturally large amounts the drug causes the brain to release, forcing a person to seek more of the drug. When a person runs out of legally obtained pills, they’ll likely try to buy them through less-than-legitimate means, which can run up to $100 per pill. Many then switch to the much cheaper and much more potent heroin. People in this situation often never would have willingly tried heroin and never thought they’d end up struggling with addiction, especially since the pill that got them hooked wasn’t an illicit substance, but medication recommended by their doctor. With this kind of risk present for literally anyone prescribed an opioid painkiller, education and preparation are key!

So, how can you avoid having you or a loved one fall into addiction if you need a painkiller because of a medical condition? The best bet is to communicate your concerns with your doctor. See if there are any non-addictive, non-opioid methods of dealing with pain. If not, make sure you and your doctor agree on a limited amount of refills and a safe schedule for taking the pills. Consider having a trusted family member make sure that the drugs are only taken at the correct times in the correct dosages. These precautions are especially important since addiction usually begins when people can get their prescription refilled many more times than necessary and start taking the pills for the euphoric high rather than pain relief. If you see anyone starting to abuse painkillers in this way, act immediately and look for an inpatient drug rehab center. Don’t wait for their addiction to get worse.

A less direct action, but no less important, is to be an advocate in your community for safe, effective opioid control. By raising awareness, you’ll force doctors and pharmacists filling prescriptions to be more accountable for their actions, and gain public support for more treatment options for prescription opioid addicts.