Substance Abuse Treatment Must Continue Through the Coronavirus Outbreak
With coronavirus and related shutdowns dominating the headlines over the past few weeks, it can be difficult to see past that and remember that many of the societal crises that were top of mind just a couple months ago, still exist. One of these is the extreme rise in opioid addiction and overdose that the United States has been experiencing for the past few years. As we refocus on this new and exotic medical threat to our society, the substance abuse and addiction has taken a backseat. Well there’s no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic needs to be dealt with immediately, ignoring the very real and continuing scourge of addiction is at our own risk.
Destination Hope Coronavirus Update
With the continuing spread of Coronavirus / COVID-19, we understand the concerns you have about your loved one and their treatment. We also recognize the important need for continued addiction and mental health treatment. Delaying treatment for any reason can result in catastrophic circumstances.
What to Do When Cravings Hit?
Recovery is a lifelong process – a concept that every addict or substance abuser learns early on in treatment. It is important to understand this concept and know that the work to stay off of alcohol and drugs of abuse never ends. Even those with decades of sobriety can relapse despite their best efforts. Cravings are, unfortunately, part of the recovery process and often hit at times when they are hardest to manage. However, during treatment, you will have developed skills and coping mechanisms to keep them at bay and avoid relapse.
How To End a Relationship With an Addict
Addiction and mental health issues represent one of the single largest collective health problems that we, as a society, have to navigate. Despite the great deal of media coverage and interest in these issues, the epidemic is not abating. Indeed, the problem is only getting worse with a staggering rise in overdoses and overdose deaths over the past decade.
Family dynamics often play a big role in the development or worsening of the addictive behavior, but they also have the opportunity to be a part of recovery. Between the two stages however, there is often the hardest time that any family will experience. When family members and friends, having believed they can help their loved one – although sometimes they’re actually doing more damage – finally realize that they can’t help any longer.
How Common Is Addiction?
We hear heartbreaking stories of addiction, overdose and relapse virtually every day. In most cases, these stories relate to celebrities or otherwise well-known people that have succumbed to the disease. Alternately, we hear of truly shocking behaviors that happened under the influence. Sadly, the day-to-day stories about addiction are too many to cover and have, for most people, become normal and expected. Overdose deaths often become the norm, in many people’s eyes, with the overwhelming statistics we see on drug use and addiction. This is not totally surprising. Indeed, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that almost everyone has been affected by addiction or knows someone who has battled substance abuse or addiction – either alcohol or drugs.
The Family Must Recover Before the Addict Can
Families play a significant role in the circle of addiction. That, unfortunately, means that while families are critical to end destructive behavior and support long-term recovery, they may also be partially to blame for the addiction the first place. We now know that addiction manifests from a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Of course, while our genes are fully out of our control, our home environment can breed the beginnings or the worsening of addiction.
Are You Enabling the Addict in Your Life?
It’s a word that many parents of addicts are deathly afraid of – enabler. And, unfortunately, many family members play the role of enabler in an addict’s life. Typically, this role starts off innocuously and most enablers believe that they are doing their loved one a favor – mitigating the consequences of the addictive behavior. In doing so, these loved ones truly believe they are making their relationship with the addict more comfortable or even thinking that they may be removing them from a bad situation with the hopes that they will “see the light.” Indeed, a hallmark of an enabler is believing that they are doing the right thing, often despite outcomes and behaviors that may suggest otherwise.
When Does Substance Abuse Become Addiction?
When evaluating the statistics on substance use, whether it be alcohol, drugs or any other illicit or legal substance that has addictive properties, it can be shocking to see how many people use on a regular basis. And while substance use is certainly a precursor to substance abuse, not everybody who uses, ends up abusing.
The True Cost of Seeking Addiction Treatment in Florida
Florida is one of the epicenters for drug treatment in the United States. Hundreds upon hundreds of addiction treatment centers have opened, especially, in South Florida in the past several years. With promises of serene walks on the beach, effective treatment and beautiful surroundings, many clients and their families believe that Florida is the ideal place to recover.
To be sure, Florida offers a multitude of benefits, but ultimately a person’s recovery will depend on a number of factors including their willingness to recover, level of support from family and friends and the quality and care provided by the treatment center.
Open House
We cordially invite you to join Destination Hope for the Grand Opening of our new location on Friday October 26 Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be food and dessert trucks. come mingle and meet the DH staff! Please RSVP below or contact Meredith Turnbull, Professional Relations at 850-273-2112 or e-mail: Mturnbull@destinationhope.net Friday, October 26 from 12-3pm 8301 W. McNab Road Tamarac, FL 33321 Directions 8301 W. McNab Road Tamarac, FL 33321
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