From Bad to Worse: 5 Reasons Why Snorting Pills is Harmful
We’ve all seen the image of the rolled-up dollar bill and a line of white powder disappearing through it. Whether in film, on TV, or in real life, the image is unmistakable – the cut line and the trail of cocaine. And though cocaine can be abused in its various forms, snorting it is perhaps the most recognizable. But the abuse of drugs by inhalation does not end with coke. Other commonly snorted drugs include Methamphetamine, Heroin, Opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin, and stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall. However, more today than ever, many people who abuse drugs – especially prescription pain pills – have taken to crushing them into powder and then inhaling them through the nose, also called nasal insufflation.
Employee Spotlight – Emily Woods, Executive Director
The fight against addiction and mental health issues is lifelong and the relationships you build in treatment are incredibly important. The staff you meet at Destination Hope will be with you not only while you are with us here at the center, but long after you have left and throughout your recovery. Each of the clinical and administrative staff are dedicated to offering our clients the highest quality care and most comfortable experience possible. More importantly, each of us have stories and experiences, some of which include our own recovery or that of a loved one. These experiences shape how we see recovery and work with our clients.
Each month, we want you to get to know the people you’ll be working with when you arrive. We want you or your loved one to get here knowing that you are in good hands and we want you to know that we care passionately about your recovery and long term success. So scroll down to meet just a few of the many people that coordinate and deliver care here at DH.
Destination Hope Admissions Spotlight – Alicia Jordan, Admissions Counselor
As an admissions counselor at Destination Hope, I am able to connect with individuals in a very vulnerable moment and offer support and encouragement to help them to feel at ease as they enter treatment. It can be a very emotional and anxiety-provoking process from the time they initially reached out to admit, through their journey (whether from near or far), to finally walking through the doors of DH and into our admission suite.
My colleagues and I recognize the importance of connecting with our clients from the initial meeting, validating where they are in their process and letting them know we are proud of the decision they have made and will be here to support them throughout their treatment.
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Alcoholism Counseling – A Proven Step in Recovery
Alcoholism counseling and its importance to the recovery process should not be underestimated. Alcoholism, while medically defined as a treatable disease, is incredibly difficult to overcome without proper help.
With the World Health Organization estimating an astounding 140 million alcoholics worldwide, it’s necessary to examine some common denominators about alcohol dependency as well as the benefits of alcoholism counseling in battling addiction.
Alcoholism counseling plays a key role in the recovery process because prolonged alcohol abuse can have a lasting negative effect on an addict’s body and mind. Common effects that alcoholics experience are the symptoms of withdrawal. Physical withdrawal occurs when a person with a physical dependency on a substance abstains from it for a period of time, whether it be voluntarily or not. Several common symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, tremors, vomiting, intense mood swings and increased anxiety and paranoia. Alcoholics often continue to drink to avoid the onset of these extremely unpleasant feelings.
Informational Session on Addiction With Dr. Charles Smith
Dr. Smith, addictionologist at Destination Hope, presents an informational session on the causes of addiction, who may be at risk, and what is needed to prevent relapse. Dr. Smith also shares his story of addiction and the common thoughts and behaviors of those seeking treatment for substance abuse.
Four Reasons the Holidays Are Difficult for Clients and Families in Recovery
The holidays are a wonderful time of year during which families create precious memories as they celebrate and spend time together. However, for families with loved ones in treatment or early recovery, the holidays can be a difficult time. Understanding some of the underlying reasons for this difficulty can help families and their loved ones cope with these challenges.
Here are four reasons that holidays can be stressful.
5 Myths About Addiction Treatment
The decision to take a step toward treatment for addiction is an important one in the right direction. However, there is a lot of stigma and false information spread about rehab and what the experience entails. The road to recovery is a series of ups and downs, but knowing you are in a direction toward a better self keeps you grounded in living the life you deserve. That being said, there are some myths to debunk and addiction treatment:
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs
Alcohol and drug treatment programs can offer the best chance at recovery for those suffering from addictions and substance abuse problems. Many of the people who need the help of alcohol and drug treatment programs will also have co-occurring issues in addition to their chemical dependency. They may suffer from other mental health issues on top of the addiction such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD often due to trauma or abuse, or other addictive behaviors.
When a person has an addiction in addition to mental health issues, it is called a dual diagnosis. Since more than one third of all alcohol abusers and more than half of drug abusers have a dual diagnosis, it is imperative that alcohol and drug treatment programs be well versed in this area and offer it as a specialty track. The dual diagnoses we see the most often at our alcohol and drug treatment programs include depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
5 Ways to Make Group Therapy More Useful
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves a facilitator conducting a therapy session with more than one patient. It creates an environment of empathy and common struggle that may make a person more likely to share their own experience. However, every session of group therapy is different, and a therapist must remain flexible in order to cultivate the most welcoming and constructive environment for their patients to share. Read more about how group therapy can be used to its greatest potential.
Addiction Within the Veteran Community
November 11th marks Veteran’s Day in the United States. Veteran’s Day exists to honor those that have put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms. Many veterans have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice a great deal throughout their life and may have seen things that should never be seen by anyone. These experiences can lead to self-medication through drugs or alcohol to try to dull the pain that memories bring.
It is easy for veterans to feel alone even when others are around. It’s easy to believe no one understands their thoughts or what they went through. However, help is out there, and people care deeply about supporting veterans through addiction and mental health treatment.
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