Relapse prevention is about incorporating new strategies for the addict to deal with and overcome all of the potential issues, challenges and situations that would in the past have surely wreaked havoc and plunged him or her deeper into addiction. With all that in mind, the prevention of relapse and a relapse prevention plan are critical parts of any long-term treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

Understanding Relapse

Drug addiction and alcohol abuse are chronic diseases and, as with any chronic disease, there is the possibility of relapse. In treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, relapse is the return to a specific behavior after a period of abstinence (stopping) from that particular behavior – most often the drug or alcohol abuse.

Addiction is influenced by social, clinical and medical factors. Relapse prevention planning, however, has been demonstrated to increase the overall effectiveness, and success, of any treatment.

In order to understand the fundamentals behind Relapse Prevention, it’s important to first understand relapse itself. In medical terms, a relapse is a regression after a period of partial recovery from an illness.

There is one accepted fact about relapse:  Relapse does not come on suddenly and without warning, it is a process over time.

A relapse does not just happen by itself. There are outside influences and contributing factors, and it’s fairly easy for trained professionals to identify evidence and warning signs that an individual might be in danger of returning to the destructive patterns of substance abuse.

Relapse Prevention Plan

There are specific principles that relate to successful prevention of relapse. Learning about what general factors cause relapse increases an individual’s ability to avoid relapse increases.

Some of these factors include:

Self-regulation and Stabilization. Stabilization is an important part of the process of detox from alcohol and drug addiction. Stabilization includes many things, including recuperation from associated stress, resolution of interpersonal and situational crises that threaten sobriety and the establishment of a daily structure.

Structure. Daily structure might include a variety of things – like stress management, diet, exercise and regular contact with therapists and self-help groups. Stabilization is a critical component of not only the recovery process, but of the relapse prevention process, as well. Stabilization allows an individual to self-regulate feelings, judgment, behavior and other emotions. The risk of relapse is the greatest during the period of stabilization and it’s typically in the client’s best interests that this be done in a controlled environment.

Integration and Self-Assessment. As an individual’s understanding and acceptance grows, the risk of relapse further decreases. This is the period of time when it’s important to explore the situations, events and triggers that may have led to relapse in the past.

Preventing Relapse

The most important thing for an individual suffering from addiction is understanding one simple thing: relapse is inevitable if one takes no steps to prevent it.

Although there is no evidence of physical addiction to hallucinogens, they can become psychologically addictive. Use of hallucinogens is also likely to lead to many side effects that can result in panic and mental breakdowns. Like other drugs, hallucinogens can be dangerous and damaging to users.

What are Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens come from natural sources or are made synthetically. Although they come from different sources, they produce the same types of results – distorted perception, loss of social inhibitions and emotional changes.

There are a few major drugs on the list of hallucinogens:

• LSD is a synthetically made and affects the serotonin receptors in the brain. LSD is taken on squares of gelatin or blotting paper. It’s known as “acid,” “dots” or “mellow.”
• Psilocybin is found in certain species of mushrooms and is referred to as “Magic Mushrooms” or “shrooms” for this drug. They are taken in powdered form in capsules or eaten as dried mushrooms.
• PCP (Phencyclidine) was used as an anesthetic for years before it was taken off the market due to its mental effects. It’s referred to as “angel dust” or “peace pills” and can be smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed.
• Ketamine is used as an animal tranquilizer by veterinarians and produces visual distortions and a lost sense of time. It is often called “Special K” and is a white crystalline powder that is taken in pills or tablets. It can also be dissolved in liquid and injected.
• Mescaline is extracted from peyote cactus. When it is pure, it is a white crystalline powder but may have color variations depending on the processing method that is used. It is normally swallowed but can be chewed or smoked.

How Do Drugs on a List of Hallucinogens Work?

Although the drugs on the list of hallucinogens come from vastly different substances, they all have similar effects. They give users a deep sense of relaxation, followed by euphoria, happiness and hallucinations. Although there are no known physical addictions for hallucinogens, abuse can lead to dangerous and risky behavior. Long-term users can have flashbacks that repeat the effects of the drug and may have impaired memory, changes in personality and brain function problems.

Users have an altered perception of themselves while they are on hallucinogens. They may see distorted images in front of them, hear voices or music that isn’t really there and have a warped sense of time and space.

These side effects are what users are looking for when they reach for acid, ‘shrooms or Special K, but there are also some unintended side effects. Users can have panic attacks, anxiety or paranoia while they are on drugs. They can experience a rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure or impaired coordination.

In some cases, hallucinogens can create dizziness, nausea and vomiting. During a drug-induced state, users can become overwhelmed with the side effects and experience a “bad trip” which includes panic and negative hallucinations.

No matter how much they’ve been through in the past, a visit to a qualified rehab facility can help them overcome the physical, psychological and mental hold that drugs have had over them. If you’re seeking help for a friend or family member, it’s important to know the difference between the many types of drug addict rehabs.

Outpatient Drug Addict Rehab

Drug addict rehab in an outpatient environment is offered on a short-term basis. Outpatient centers do not offer any physical treatment options and focus on intervening in early cases of drug abuse before an individual gets too far down the path.

Detox Drug Addict Rehab

Detox centers are the next step in drug addict rehab. Detoxification focuses only on the physical aspects of addiction. At a detox center, an addict will have professional help in overcoming the physical addiction to drugs. With medical supervision, your friend or family member will move off of their drug dependence and into sobriety. Patients will only stay until they are free of the effects of the drug and then they are released.

Inpatient Drug Addict Rehab

For more comprehensive care, inpatient drug addict rehab is the best choice. Inpatient treatment centers handle the physical and emotional aspects of drug addiction. A patient will stay as long as he or she needs support in overcoming their addictions and establishing new patterns.

Inpatient drug addict rehab starts with detoxification. Depending on the drugs that a patient is addicted to they may need to step down on to sedative or pain medication. Under a doctor’s supervision, they will be able to transition from being physically addicted to free of drugs.

After the physical detox is done, patients will transition to emotional and behavioral therapy. Therapy will help an addict face the problems and issues that led to their addiction in the first place. This phase of the treatment can include self-observation, developing new habits and overcoming past trauma.

These three types of drug addict rehab can make the difference between a downward spiral and a new opportunity for someone you love.

Substance abuse is a concern for all branches of the military. In addition, alcohol abuse is a prevalent problem in all branches of the military. Soldiers and other military personnel who are dealing with alcohol problems are at an increased risk for related harmful behaviors (such as drinking and driving and using illegal drugs).

Drugs and alcohol addiction can be especially troublesome for military personnel. Drugs can slow reaction times and using while on the battlefield or in a training situation can be deadly. In the extreme, they can result in a soldier’s own death or death of another. Being on drugs or detoxing from drugs during these intense situations can impair a soldier’s judgment and lead to injury or death.

A Dangerous Environment

Addiction can also create the wrong kind of environment. The military thrives on the chain of command that goes along with that. Drug use and alcohol addiction can disrupt the proper order and make it impossible for the military unit to function properly.

Despite these consequences, military addiction is on the rise. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• Prescription drug addiction doubled among U.S. military personnel from 2002 to 2005 and then almost tripled between 2005 and 2008.
• Since 1999, over 17,000 people have been discharged from the military because of drug addiction.
• During the same time period, failed drug tests have increased in the U.S. Air force by 82% and in the U.S. Army by 37%.

There are several reasons why drug and alcohol abuse have become so prevalent in the military:

Stress – Soldiers who are serving in the current ongoing conflicts are constantly under fire from insurgents. This state of being wears even the strongest person down and leaves them looking for an outlet. Once a soldier comes home, they make seek out drugs as a way to self-treat their post traumatic stress disorder.

Downtime and Boredom – When soldiers are on duty, they may have intense periods of stress followed by days or weeks of downtime. Although soldiers are still on duty during this downtime, the boredom can make them seek out entertainment through drugs or alcohol.

Access – There is a “zero tolerance” policy in the military, but soldiers can get drugs from friends or family members who ship them overseas. Soldiers who are coming back after being on duty can also bring drugs back into service.

Even after a soldier comes home, they may use drugs or alcohol to deal with the transition of being back with their families and away from combat.

More commonly known by its generic name, Vicodin, this is a substance that is not difficult to become addicted to. With Vicodin addiction, a person becomes consumed with having the drug in their system. They may act out of character and even steal in order to get more.

Why is Hydrocodone Prescribed?

Like most prescription pain killer addictions, hydrocodone abuse starts with a legitimate need for pain relief. Vicodin is prescribed for serious pain that comes from illness or injury. As a narcotic pain reliever, hydrocodone disrupts the typical path that pain receptors travel in the brain and the spinal cord. It “mutes out” the normal signals that your brain would receive when you’re in pain. As a result, hydrocodone makes physical pain melt away.

Although this melting away feeling can be really helpful if you’ve just had an injury or illness, it can also become addictive.

What Are The Signs of Hydrocodone Abuse?

Hydrocodone can be habit-forming, in addition to having several other side effects. With excess use, you can feel anxious, develop headache or have mood changes, all of which can cause you or your loved one to use more and more of the drug. This is when addiction can start to take hold.

Other signs of abuse include:

• Taking more Vicodin than the prescription calls for
• Running out of the prescription early
• “Doctor shopping” to find a provider that will write a new prescription
• Decreasing performance at work and at home – being late, missing deadlines, making excuses
• Preoccupation with getting and taking Vicodin
• Lack of sleep or sleeping too much
• Night sweats and muscle aches when a dosage is skipped
• Money that is unaccounted for (since it’s been spent on getting hydrocodone illegally)
• Stealing from friends and family

Hydrocodone Rehab and Treatment

When hydrocodone use becomes a problem, rehab and detoxification can help. No matter how bad you feel that your problem or your loved one’s problem has become, there is hope. With vicodin rehab and detox, you or your loved one can be released from the hold of hydrocodone.

If you or someone you love is dealing with hydrocodone addiction, it’s important to know that there is help out there. With care, support and the right resources, Vicodin abuse can be a thing of the past.Under a medical professional’s supervision, a patient can safely detox off of Vicodin and then deal with the psychological and emotional factors that contributed to addiction. Medical treatment can be just the thing that you or your family member needs to overcome addiction and create a new life without Vicodin.

The high stress levels associated with the health care profession and easy access to prescription drugs can become a perfect environment for a drug problem. No one knows how widespread drug abuse is within the health care community, but with other people’s health at stake – it’s important that health care providers recognize when they have a problem and get help from a substance abuse program.

Health Care Professionals Are At Higher Risk

The health care profession, like many other high stress industries, represents a higher risk for drug dependence and abuse than the average job.
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists all work long hours under incredibly stressful conditions. Many have their patient’s lives in their hands and are required to make split-second decisions about care and treatment. This emotional and psychological stress can wear a health care provider down and make it more likely for them to turn to a substance for help.

In addition, health care professionals work physically demanding jobs. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists spend hours on their feet, don’t get enough rest and rely on caffeine to get them through the day. The body aches and pains associated with their jobs can make pain relievers and other prescription medications seem like a good choice for helping them get through the day. Health care providers may turn to alcohol and other drugs for the same reasons.

The physical and emotional stress that health care providers experience is not uncommon for professional careers – but there is one more factor that leads to a higher incidence of substance abuse for health care professionals: Unlike law enforcement officers and other employees in high stress jobs, health care workers have much greater access to prescription drugs. They can forge prescriptions or steal from a hospital’s supply with greater regularity than the average person.

Even if they try to quit on their own, they are faced with daily temptation and may find it hard to come off the prescription drugs.

The Facts About Substance Abuse Programs for Health Care Professionals

Substance abuse is a problem for anyone – but for health care professionals it can be deadly. An impaired health care provider is a danger to themselves and to their patient. Getting professional help is absolutely essential.

There are many substance abuse programs to choose from, but if a friend, loved one or coworker is a health care professional, you may want to find a treatment program that specializes in that particular field. Health care professionals face a unique set of challenges when it comes to getting off of drugs or alcohol. A program that is tailored to their needs can help them uncover the stressors and painful feelings that led to drug abuse in the first place, and provide them with tools they can use in their day-to-day life.

Most importantly, substance abuse for health care professionals can help a patient discover whether continuing on this career path is the right thing for them, or if they need a change. An industry-specific substance abuse program can pave the way for long-term success for a health care provider.

Even if your friend, loved one or colleague who is a lawyer seems to be meeting the requirements of their job fairly well, they may be struggling and need help. Learning the signs of substance abuse for lawyers and understanding how substance abuse programs for lawyers can help will empower you to speak up and help the person you care about make a decision about treatment.

What are the Signs of Substance Abuse for Lawyers?

Lawyers aren’t superhuman – although there is sometimes a perception of them being that way. The stress of meeting the public perception of being a successful lawyer can sometimes lead to drug and alcohol abuse.

Here are some of the signs to look for:

• A colleague binges on alcohol occasionally and talks about being hung over with increasing regularity.
• A friend seems to use drugs or alcohol to escape the pressures of the job and talks about experiencing euphoria when using their substance of choice.
• A loved one drinks regularly and has noted that he or she feels out of control when it comes to how much she drinks.
• A colleague has begun to experience consequences at work due to drinking or using drugs during the weekends or on weeknights. They are missing deadlines, having trouble living up to expectations and relying on other colleagues excessively.
• A friend notes that they would like to stop drinking, but feel they can’t.
• A loved one starts separating themselves from friends or family members who do not drink or use drugs to excess.
• In addition to these signs, look for a pattern of lost jobs (law-related or not), frequently changing jobs or shifting groups of friends in lawyers who are experiencing problems with drugs.

How to Suggest Substance Abuse Programs for Lawyers

If you feel like it’s time to intervene, there are substance abuse programs for lawyers that can help. Programs that are specifically geared toward dealing with the issues and problems that lawyers face can help them come off drugs and deal with the stresses of their career moving forward.

With understanding, patience and a concerned attitude, you can make sure that your friend, loved one or colleague gets the help that they need for substance abuse: Experts suggest that waiting until they are having a bad day as a result of their substance abuse or looking for signs of them hitting “rock bottom” is a good idea when determining where to first step in.

Don’t try to talk to them when they are impaired or seem to be happy about their abuse. Once you’re ready to approach them, focus on solutions and don’t label them with a diagnosis. Express concern and speak about how you’ve noticed their problems are affecting their life. If you concentrate on your feelings and concerns, they will be less likely to reject the idea of substance abuse for lawyers.

Although no one starts taking prescription painkiller medication in order to get addicted, it can happen if there are several pre-existing risk factors in a person’s life. If you or someone you love is struggling with painkiller addiction, there is hope. Getting painkiller addiction help from a rehab center can be the key to transforming your life or the life of your loved one.

How Does Painkiller Addiction Start?

Prescription painkiller addiction develops as a patient becomes physically and psychologically addicted to a drug like OxyContin, Vicodin, Methadone, Darvocet or Percocet. People who take painkillers start out feeling like they need the drugs in order to feel normal. In some cases, they may increase their dosage on their own. As they become more and more dependent on the drug, they’ll start withdrawing socially, change their habits and neglect their responsibilities.

Painkiller addiction doesn’t happen with everyone who takes the drug. While these prescription medications can be habit forming, there are a few pre-existing conditions that make addiction more likely. Prescription painkillers numb physical pain, distance emotional pain and create a relaxed state. If patients start taking a drug in order to numb their physical pain, they may increase their usage in order to limit their emotional pain. They keep taking the drugs in order to keep their pain at bay.

Painkiller Addiction Can Ruin A Life

Physical and psychological addiction to prescription pain medicine can be devastating. When a patient tries to cut back, they may find that the withdrawal symptoms are too strong to overcome on their own. If they are having mood swings, taking part in destructive behavior (like lying or stealing to get meds) or are withdrawing from friends and family in order to get more of the drug, it may be time for professional help.

Detox centers and painkiller addiction rehab can help the two main components of pain killer addiction – the physical withdrawals and the emotional turmoil. If you think you may have a problem with painkillers, or you know someone who does, seek out a qualified painkiller addiction rehab clinic so they can break free.

What is Antabuse?

Antabuse treatment can help cause a negative physical reaction to alcohol. When a person is on an antabuse regimen and they drink alcohol, the effects are so upsetting that they start to avoid alcohol completely.

As a result, antabuse has been used to treat alcoholism for the past several decades. Also known by the names “Disulfiram” and “Antabus,” antabuse is also being tested with other prescription drugs as a medication for curing cancer. There have been some positive results from initial tests, for example, in the fight against melanoma when antabuse is combined with zinc gluconate.

How Does Antabuse Work?

When someone drinks alcohol, it is broken down by the liver using an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. The liver breaks it down into acetaldehyde – which is responsible for the hangover symptoms that drinkers experience. Over time, the liver is able to break the alcohol further down into acetic acid, which is harmless.

Antabuse interrupts this breaking-down process and stops the production of acetaldehyde and acetic acid. Alcohol users experience a buildup of acetaldehyde in their system that is five to ten times greater than what they’d normally experience. If they drink two bottles of beer while on the drug, they feel like they’ve had 10 to 20, along with the headache, nausea and body aches that go along with that much alcohol.

Is Antabuse Effective?
Antabuse provides a strong physical reason to avoid alcohol and it can also become a psychological deterrent to taking a drink. However, it does not treat alcohol withdrawal syndromes or reduce a person’s craving for drinking.

Ideal candidates for antabuse treatment includes people who are heart disease-free, have no history of psychosis and do not have an allergy to antabuse. People who are taking paraldehyde or metronidazole, two other drugs used to treat alcoholism, shouldn’t take antabuse. If a patient stays on antabuse for the long term, their results will typically be a lot better. It is administered in a daily pill, and if a person stops taking the pill, they can drink a few days later with no side effects. Antabuse can help patients develop a habit of not drinking, and it has been linked to abstinence rates of 50 percent.

Effects of Antabuse

A patient will experience side effects that are equal to the amount of antabuse in their system and how much alcohol they have consumed. In addition to the aforementioned side effects, patients can experience:

• Flushing
• Confusion
• Excessive Vomiting
• Sweating
• Thirst
• Head and neck throbbing
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pains
• Hyperventilation
• Tachycardia (irregular heartbeat)
• Hypotension
• Weakness
• Blurred Vision

In addition to these mild symptoms, patients can experience cardiovascular collapse, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions and even death if they continue to consume alcohol.

Prescription drug addicts may reach for opiates because of their narcotic effect and addictive qualities. For opiate addicts, what starts as a way to overcome pain becomes a way of life: They come to rely on the drugs to ease their physical pain and deal with emotional problems.

A Partial Opiates List

There are dozens of drugs that fall into the opiate category. A few of the most commonly abused opiate drugs are:

• Opium
• Codeine
• Morphine
• Tramadol (Ultram)
• Methadone
• Buprenorphine (Subutex)
• Propoxyphene (Darvocet)
• Pethidine (Demerol)
• Hydrocodone (Lortab/Vicodin)
• Oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Oxymorphone (Opana)
• Fentanyl
• Heroin (diacetylmorphine)

What are Opiates?

The drugs on an opiates list all depress the nerve transmissions between the spinal cord and the brain. Essentially, opiates make it impossible for the spinal cord to transmit pain messages to the brain. The brain doesn’t know that the body is hurting. It’s just the feeling that a patient looks for and an addict craves.

When any of these drugs are taken for an extended period of time, the body becomes dependent on them. Patients who use opiates need to be stepped down off of the drug under a doctor’s care. Addicts that abuse opiates have an even more difficult time coming off of opiates since they are taking much more than what has been prescribed.

Opiates Rehab and Recovery

When someone develops a problem with an opiates-based drug, it’s very important that they come off of the drug with professional help. Detoxifying from opiates can be difficult and dangerous.

Signs and symptoms of opiate detox or withdrawal can include:

• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Night sweats
• Depression
• Aches and pains

For some addicts, getting professional help at an opiate rehab center makes the most sense for their needs. Under professional care, opiate detox can be safe and effective. An opiate rehab center can give a patient a safe place to detox and deal with the physical and emotional symptoms of coming off of opiates.