Some of the vitamins used are more than a resolution for malnutrition.  They are actually fundamental in the withdrawing person’s comfort and ability to detox.  Here we will discuss what vitamins a person can utilize specifically to help an addict through detoxification, and why they work.  Please note, however, that each person that comes to our facility is individually checked for health, deficiency, and more by a doctor before such vitamins are given.

We cannot have a discussion about vitamins without talking about what to avoid when purchasing a vitamin.  Some vitamin companies or general grocery store brands provide vitamins that are mostly “filler” – meaning there is hardly any of the actual vitamin in the pill or the vitamin isn’t immediately absorbable by the body when you take it.  You can avoid this by purchasing high quality products.  High-quality calcium/magnesium products can be found at a health food store or a vitamin store.  There are high-quality brands like Natural Vitality, Nature’s Dynamics, Biotics Research Corp, Thorne Research, Apex Energetics, and more which provide excellent, absorbable vitamins.  If you are in doubt about the best brand to go with, find out about the “filler” they use (if any) – or get a recommendation from your doctor, nutritionist, health practitioner, or other trusted source for health care.

Here are fillers to look for and, when found, to avoid:

- Hydrogenated oils

- Artificial colors

- Magnesium stearate

- Titanium dioxide

- High amounts of sugar or artificial flavoring

Additionally, avoid vitamins made by the store itself or pharmaceutical companies.  Drug companies are in the business of making drugs. They aren’t in the field of making natural substances work with the human body.  Some health food stores can produce good quality vitamins, but it’s important to check what is inside the bottle before purchasing.

Vitamins Which Can Ease Withdrawal Symptoms

Calcium and magnesium: This combination can aid addicts who are suffering from muscle pain, bone pain, bone loss, sleep issues, and mood issues (like irritability or anxiety).  A quality mixture of calcium and magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant.  Additionally, bone mass is often gained by increased calcium intake.

A balanced mixture of these two essential minerals is very important.  An over abundance of calcium, when not balanced by magnesium can cause heart and kidney issues.  An over abundance of magnesium in the system can cause low blood pressure and diarrhea.  This is why it is important take these minerals together.  It’s very common to find these minerals sold together in a multi vitamin, nutritious drink, or in a mineral pill.

Vitamin B1 (thiamin): All B vitamins help the body convert carbohydrates into essential sugars which is what your body uses to produce energy and are essential to overall body, brain, and organ health.  B1 does even more than this and is known as the “anti-stress” vitamin.  Deficiencies are known to occur in alcoholics, people who have a distressed or non-functioning kidney, people suffering from anorexia, and victims of Crohn’s disease.

Medical literature tells us that a normal, healthy person doesn’t usually have a deficiency in B1.  But those putting their kidney under extreme stress, like those abusing synthetic marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, crack, meth, inhalants, and Ritalin are likely to have a B1 deficiency.  Additionally, some people take drugs like cocaine, crack, meth, and Ritalin to help them stop eating, which will cause a deficiency in B1 – along with general malnutrition.

Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause stress, confusion, burning or swelling in hands and feet, troubled breathing, and uncontrolled eye movement.  There have also been brain disorders, cataracts, and heart problems associated to a deficiency of vitamin B1.  This vitamin often helps calm an agitated person and can fight troubled sleep or nightmares.

B1 is water-soluble, which means that if a person takes more than is prescribed, their digestive system is likely to simply flush it out instead of attempting to absorb it.  There are no negative effects from vitamin B1 listed in medical journals researched.

While B1 is a fantastic vitamin to use on its own, a B Complex vitamin which includes all of the B vitamins can be important to take along with your B1 supplement to keep things balanced.  Additionally, if you have a deficiency in one of the B’s, it’s possible you may have a deficiency in others.  Many multi-vitamins sold have a mix of B vitamins along with other vitamins which balance well with each other.  Some excellent multi-vitamins include: All B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and a calcium/magnesium combination.  Be sure to take any multi vitamin or B vitamin supplement with food or after you eat.

Evening Primrose Oil:  This is an oily extract from the crushed seeds of the evening primrose plant.  People use this oil to treat allergies, fatigue, nerve damage, asthma, and metabolic disorders.  Evening primrose oil works by providing the body with fatty acids that have been seen to decrease inflammation and help the digestion of fats.  As many addicts suffer from intestinal and digestive damage, evening primrose oil can be used to ease these disorders while the withdrawing addict is healing.

It is important that someone considering using evening primrose oil consult with a nutritionist or medical professional.  Not everyone needs this herb, and it can cause mild side effects if too much of it is taken.  These include an upset stomach, diarrhea, and headache.  It also does not interact well with certain medications, so it is important to get a medical check before using this oil.

The vitamins listed above have well-documented effects in aiding people through withdrawal of any drug – from nicotine to heroin.  However, it is important to realize that a drug addicted individual may be suffering from malnutrition, vital organ and brain damage, and other health complaints.  These can be treated by medication, or may need treatment by simply getting them onto a well-balanced diet along with multiple vitamins to improve several deficiencies.  For example, a meth addict is likely to be malnourished generally, and specifically low on Vitamins B12, C, and B5.  These vitamins may be recommended and even prescribed during the treatment and rehab of a person suffering from meth addiction.

At Suncoast Rehabilitation Center, we work closely with medical practitioners in the treatment of those going through withdrawal.  This can be a very uncomfortable time for an addict, and our job is to help them through it as painlessly as possible.  Our drug-free detoxification program, coupled with our rehab program, is extremely effective and has the highest success rate in America.  For more information, contact us today at (800) 511-9403.

Refs: Clear Body, Clear Mind, NPR.org, University of Maryland Medical Center, webmd.com, LiveStrong.com, draxe.com

Disclaimer:  The information in this article is not intended to take the place of a medical professional’s advice or a face-to-face medical assessment.  The information in this article is presented to provide educational information only.  It does not diagnose, treat, prevent or cure anything. Please contact a professional if you need a diagnosis or treatment of a condition.

The common effects that addiction and withdrawal have on sleep are:

Insomnia

Chronic exhaustion (even if you’ve had enough sleep)

Feeling cloudy or dazed

Disturbed sleep

Nightmares

These symptoms come about during addiction to and withdrawal from almost any drug.  For example, cocaine use causes disturbed sleep patterns in a user.  This means that, even if you fall asleep, you are likely to wake up, sleep at strange times, or have difficulty sleeping all together.  On the other side of the spectrum, the downer heroin can cause clouded mental functioning, sedation or drowsiness.  So, even if you’ve had plenty of sleep, heroin is going to make you sleepy or feel “out-of-it.”  It can also cause you to fall into a coma if you’d taken too much.

Withdrawal can cause disturbed sleep, insomnia or extreme exhaustion, because your body is getting rid of the poisons it was once dependent upon and has to learn to function without them.

There are instances of people taking an “upper” like cocaine and then a “downer” like benzodiazepine to get to sleep.  When your body becomes dependent upon these drugs to tell you when to get up or go to sleep – and you take these drugs away – your body has to learn how to do these basic natural functions without drugs again.  Your  body may need some help through natural remedies to make this happen.

Holistic Sleep Helpers

So, if a person is experiencing problems with their sleep while they are withdrawing, what are the natural remedies one can use?  Here are a few ideas you may find useful:

Take calcium and magnesium.  Both calcium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants.  They also help fortify bone and muscle structure.  Taking these vitamins can help a malnourished person build up their natural bone structure and muscle mass.  Calcium and magnesium can also help heart health.  Since many drugs effect blood pressure, heart rate, and other cardiovascular functions, these vitamins can help return a heart to a healthy state.

 Finding a high-quality source of vitamins and minerals can seem tough.  A few sources which usually carry good to excellent quality vitamins and a soothing calcium magnesium drink are: NaturalVitality.com, health food stores like Whole Foods, and your local nutritionist or chiropractor.

There a few things to think about when shopping for good sources of calcium and magnesium: Tums is not a good source of calcium and milk will not give the body enough calcium – plus, some people have an allergic reaction to milk or chemicals in milk (chronic runny noses, chronic colds are a couple of symptoms).

While many multi vitamins contain calcium and magnesium, it is important to make sure your doctor knows that you are taking these vitamins – especially if you are also taking other medications or recommended vitamins.

Eat leafy greens.  Leafy green vegetables are a natural source for many nutrients like calcium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E.  Depending on the vegetable, you may also consume other healthy substances like vitamin K and iron.

Some leafy greens that are both popular and tasty are: wild lettuce, kale, collards, turnip greens, Swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, arugula, endive, watercress, and cabbage.

Walking or exercising.  It may seem like exercising or taking a walk is the last thing you want to do when you are withdrawing from drugs or alcohol.  However, getting outside and going for a hike, a swim, or a nice stroll can help you sleep in two ways.

1^st, many people find that taking a walk and looking around gets them out of their own heads.  Many recovering people who go outside, get their body moving, and look at their surrounding environment find it easier to cope with their withdrawal because this exercise actually makes them think less about themselves, and more about what surrounds them.

2^nd, exercise is tiring.  Anyone who has run a marathon, raced a sibling in the pool, or gone for a long hike knows this.

Set up a consistent sleep schedule.  Many people addicted to drugs or alcohol keep odd hours and don’t get enough sleep because they are either trying to live a double life or because they simply aren’t thinking about it – they are thinking about their next fix.  It’s important to set up a consistent sleep schedule which allows for enough time to get a good night’s sleep.  This will set the person up to actually be tired at night time and alert during the day.

Work out a routine.  Many have heard of the “glass of warm milk before bed” technique.  I’m not sure how many parents have used it, but for me a cup of hot chamomile or mint tea before bedtime gets my body relaxed and comfortable.  I only drink this type of tea before bedtime, so my body has a cue that sleep will be happening shortly.

Give yourself some time before bed.  Working until 9pm, then hopping directly into bed will let you fall fast asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow may not work.  In fact, for many people, all that does is lead to a night of tossing and turning.

Allowing yourself a little time before bed to relax and calm your active mind can help you fall asleep when you actually get into bed.  A nice bath, a good book or doing some stretches before bed can help you get into the mood to actually fall asleep.

All of the above remedies are holistic and are not 100% effective.  Sometimes, a person can have a medical condition or suffer from a specific type of malnutrition which harms their healthy sleep cycle.  For example, adrenal exhaustion could interrupt a person’s sleep.  As well, a thyroid condition could also make it difficult.  In this case, they should visit their doctor, inform their doctor what vitamins they are taking and sleep techniques they are already using, so the doctor can help them discover the illness or deficiency that is harming their sleep pattern.

Additionally, a person who is already addicted to drugs or who is using drugs will not have natural physical reactions to the above techniques.  A walk outdoors may be terrifying to them, exercise can overtax their heart, and getting into a sleep routine won’t help at all if they are taking drugs which make the body believe it should be awake.

If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, be sure to contact us today for help.  We have an excellent drug-free program which utilizes holistic and therapeutic techniques that have consistently gotten addicts off of drugs.  Call us at (800) 511-9403 for a confidential phone call about your addiction.

Refs: DrugFreeWorld.org, Health.com, LiveStrong.com

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to take the place of a medical professional’s advice or a face-to-face medical assessment.  The information in this article is presented to provide educational information only.  It does not diagnose, treat, prevent or cure anything. Please contact a professional if you need a diagnosis or treatment of a condition.

The word Holistic means “relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems, rather than the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts.”

Holistic rehab works by treating both the body and the mind for drug addiction – instead of viewing it as simply a physical problem or just a mental disability.  Addiction affects both the mind and body, so only treating the mind or only treating the body would mean you are missing a key part of addiction treatment.

Our Holistic Drug Rehabilitation Program

Different rehab programs have different methods for holistic drug rehab.  Our program has a 76% success rate.  What makes it so effective?  Here is the general layout of our rehabilitation techniques.

Step I: Withdrawal
Our first step is to help the recovering addict through withdrawal using our drug-free program.  Our trained staff utilize vitamins, minerals, a healthy diet, physical therapies, and more to help the withdrawing addict through the symptoms of withdrawal as swiftly and as comfortably as possible.

The recovering addict next works through a communication course.  This course uses both study and practical application exercises to teach the student to confront and address problems honestly.  There are exercises in the course which deal with the student’s ability to focus, confront, and communicate with other people.  The ability to communicate is essential in helping the recovering addict through the rest of the program and in life.

The final part of the withdrawal phase includes helping the recovering addict through a complete detoxification program.  This is a tightly monitored program which utilizes exercise, nutrition, and time in a dry sauna to purge the toxins that the recovering addict has retained within their body.  These toxins include drug residue that they have stored up over the years.  This program has helped graduates feel more mental alertness, increased their feeling of well-being, reduced or eliminated drug cravings, and more.

Our withdrawal process is completely holistic and addresses both the mental and physical aspect of the symptoms many recovering addicts experience when withdrawing.

Step II: Social Therapy

The next step in our drug rehabilitation program was created and designed specifically to help a person learn essential study skills and help them regain control of their perceptions and their environment.  When a person is on drugs, they are not only killing brain cells, they are also often introverted due the drug’s effects on their perceptions.  Sometimes, this introversion comes before the drug use and this can be part of the cause behind the drug abuse.

In the social therapy portion of our program, we help the addict learn how to control the environment around them.  The courses here focus on the addict’s ability to focus on the present and the future – rather than past inabilities or upsets.

Step III: Life Skills

It is fine to say that a person needs to learn how to look at the present environment and future.  But how does one change this environment into a place he actually wants to live in?  That is what the life skills portion of our drug rehabilitation program addresses.

The student takes several courses – all with exercises which will help them use the information they learn when they complete their program.  These courses include:

The Ups and Downs in Life Course

This helps students evaluate those people around them to discover if the person is constructive or destructive to the student’s continued well-being.  It also provides methods which the student can utilize when they feel unstable due to the presence of a destructive personality.

The Personal Values and Integrity Course

A drug addicted person has usually betrayed their own moral code by either using drugs – or by doing destructive actions in order to obtain more drugs.  This course helps them regain the values they once held dear and restores the student’s self-respect.

The Changing Conditions in Life Course

In spite of a person’s best efforts, they may feel trapped in a certain condition or lifestyle.  This course helps the student discover how to determine which decisions will be best for them and what they can do to improve their lives.  This course is designed to help a recovering addict gain control of their future.

The Way to Happiness Course

This course provides common sense guidelines a person can live by.  The purpose is to help the student find out how they can pursue a happy, healthy, and drug-free life.

Step IV: Review, Graduation, and Follow up

When someone has completed the previously listed rehabilitation steps, they gain new insight into themselves.  Sometimes this means that they can review materials in the courses above in order to apply the information to a new aspect of life that has come to their attention.

Another part of the review is taking a look at the life the person will be going back to.  Everyone is different and has different issues they may need help dealing with.  We add any needed preparation steps to the program to help the person step back into life as seamlessly as possible.

After the review is completed, the graduate and a counselor develop a personal plan for the graduate’s life after rehab.  There is close follow up on this plan after graduation to help the graduate mold their life to a happy, healthy, and drug-free one.  There is still work to be done after rehab is over and the person is clean.

As you can see, the purpose of all of these steps is  to help the person transition from addiction to drug-free holistically.  Each step helps the person recover from addiction both physically and mentally by utilizing detox along with cognitive and manualized therapy techniques.

If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, contact us today at (800) 511-9403.  Our calls are confidential, and our program has helped thousands of people beat addiction.

Refs: Merriam-Webster.com, SuncoastRehabCenter.com

Six Drug Relapse Prevention Strategies

Strategy #1

Stay stress-free.  Summertime is usually super fun for kids, but can be very stressful for adults.  Your kids are home, you may need to fund a vacation, and your time is taken up by obligations.

Take out time for yourself every day.  This may mean you need to go to the gym to exercise – instead of using a dvd or equipment at home.  Another idea is to go to a coffee shop or park by yourself, turn your cell off for a half an hour and enjoy a good book or a delicious latte.

Making sure you have some time to yourself will help you cope with an over-full schedule, will let you recoup from the stresses of the day, and can provide you with some mental rest.

Strategy #2

Communicate.  If there are factors in your life that make you feel like you need a drink or want to take a puff, tell someone you trust about what is happening.  Sometimes just having a sympathetic ear will help you cope and find solutions to situations that seemed unsolvable.

After rehab, many former addicts begin to feel lonely or like they have no one to talk to.  This is because they have come from an environment in which they were surrounded by people who were constantly checking up on them.

Remember that there is always someone to talk to.  You probably have friends or family who supported you going to rehab or encouraged you to go.  You have those you were in rehab with or those who worked at the rehab. Give one of them a call!  Catch up!  That connection will help boost you up!  You can also meet new people every day by going to new places and starting a conversation.  No matter what, realize you are not alone and there is someone you can talk to.

Here is another little trick.  When you do talk to someone, be sure to find something positive in your life and tell that person about it.  Make it a big deal.  Even if you think it’s small.  Find a POSITIVE point and tell the person about it.  “I finally got my car washed and it looks great!”  or “My cat did NOT make a mess yesterday – now that’s a big deal.” “I got a parking spot in close to the door.”  If you look, you can find many positive things in your life.

Strategy #3

Plan your summer ahead of time.  Everyone is prone to overbooking this time of year.  There are usually work obligations, family obligations, vacations, visiting family, and more.  Take a Saturday and plan what you want to do ahead of time this summer.

One thing people who are just out of rehab often assume is that their lives will be perfect right at the start.  This usually isn’t the case and can create disappointment and upset the former addict.  Instead of trying to show everyone how “fine” you are by planning to visit the world or by overbooking and overextending yourself, take time to make your summer work for you and those you care about.  If you can’t see them this summer – there is a whole slew of holidays in winter.

Strategy #4

Follow your discharge plan.  Rehabs often help their graduates work out an after-care or discharge plan for when they leave the rehab facility.  At Suncoast, we tailor-make this plan for each of our graduates and make sure they are able to return to their life – without drugs.

Make a “summer resolution” to get certain portions of your discharge plan completed.  Perhaps this includes getting a new job, getting back in touch with family or friends, or spending more time with your kids.  Plan out how you will get this done, schedule it, and do it!

Strategy #5

Participate in new activities.  Don’t let yourself get bored this summer.  Get involved in classes at your local community college, take a specialized cooking or dance class, try out a new sport, volunteer at a local shelter.  There are many activities you can participate in this summer, so pursue something which interests you and have fun!

Strategy #6

Keep positive. And mentally note the positive!  It is easy to get stuck in those things that you didn’t do, or those things that went wrong.  But if you stop for a moment and just find five things that ARE RIGHT, you will probably find a few more after that.

Right now stop and find at least one thing at your job that IS GOING RIGHT.

Now find one thing at home that is going right.

Next, one thing going right about your car.

Find one thing that is going right with your family.

How about two things about yourself that are going right?

If things get a little too stressed, stop for a moment and think of what is happening that is going as planned, or is working correctly.  Finding what is right with the world can help you see your problems in the right perspective and keep you positive.

These are all strategies for people who have graduated a rehab program.  They have the support of the staff at the rehab, their family, and their friends.  If you are currently addicted to drugs, contact us and get clean this summer.  Achieving a drug-free life by the holidays can strengthen family ties and help you enjoy the company of those who love you even more.  Call us today at (800) 511-9403.

There are other groups which provide drug education for young people.  Some of these groups are even run by young people – or count on youths to get involved and help other kids in their communities.  I wanted to take a moment to highlight three of these groups:

SADD or Students Against Destructive Decisions was originally founded as Students Against Drunk Driving in 1981.  This is a peer-to-peer youth education and prevention group which has chapters all around the US.  In 1997, SADD expanded its mission upon the request of the students involved in the organization and became Students Against Destructive Decisions.

The message that SADD projects is one of “no use” regarding alcohol and drugs.  It also highlights prevention of destructive behavior and attitudes which are harmful to young people.  This includes underage drinking, substance abuse, driving under the influence, violence, and suicide.

SADD was started by students, for students, and continues to involve students in a productive, anti-drug, peer-to-peer group to this day.

Above The Influence is a government-run anti-drug program focused on helping teens choose to be above the influence of drugs and alcohol.  This is a nationally run campaign and encourages involvement by teens, provides drug education to teens, and is currently encouraging teens to create a commercial that will help other teens decide to live above the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Drug-Free Marshals is a youth drug education and prevention program, started in 1993 to educate children as young as 6 years old on the dangers of drugs and challenge them to remain drug-free.  They demonstrate their commitment by being sworn in as Drug-Free Marshals.  This means that they pledge to remain drug-free and they encourage their peers to do the same. 

There are many other groups who are involved in educating children about drugs and who work to get young people involved in drug education.

At Suncoast, we are involved in efforts to educate kids on drugs.  Our ultimate goal is a drug-free society – and that starts with getting kids educated so they can make their own informed decisions.  We think with a two-sided approach:  We help in drug education efforts for young people and we work with addicts through the healing process – so they are no longer addicted to drugs.  This approach is rewarding as we get to see people succeed in their goals to live drug free and we can help children stay drug free.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, be sure to contact us today.  We have a proven, effective drug-free rehabilitation program which has helped addicts off of drugs for several years.  Call us at (800) 511-9403 for a confidential conversation.

Refs: SADD.org, AboveTheInfluence.com, DrugFreeMarshals.org, Scouting.org, GirlScouts.org

World No Tobacco Day is a world-wide effort to educate people on the problems relating to nicotine addiction and to encourage them to quit smoking.  The 2013 World No Tobacco Day effort is concentrated upon banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.

But why would Suncoast be interested in World No Tobacco Day?  We don’t directly deal with smokers or quitting smoking.  In fact, many rehabs don’t address smoking at all during treatment.  Well, here are some facts about smoking that make it something any rehab interested in preventing a drug-addicted future should be concerned with:

-          Teen smoking is an early warning sign for other substance abuse and addiction issues.

-          Kids aged 12-17 are about 11 times more likely to abuse drugs and 16 times more likely to drink heavily than kids who don’t smoke.

-          65% of kids who have used both tobacco and pot by the 12^th grade smoked cigarettes first.

-          98% of kids who have used both cocaine and cigarettes by the 12^th grade smoked cigarettes first.

-          The earlier a kids starts smoking, the more likely they are to abuse drugs like cocaine or heroin.

-          Young smokers are three times more likely to use cocaine regularly as an adult than those who didn’t smoke when they were kids.

-          Kids who chew tobacco are still significantly more likely to experiment with or become addicted to illegal drugs. High school-aged youths who chew tobacco 20-30 days per month are about four times more likely to use marijuana and almost three times more likely to use cocaine or inhalants than those who don’t chew.

-          80%-95% of alcoholics also smoke cigarettes.  70% of alcoholics smoke more than a pack a day.

-          Regular smoking usually precedes alcoholism.

-          Heavy users of smokeless or chewing tobacco are almost 16 times more likely to consume alcohol than non-users of tobacco.

You can see where the concern about smoking comes from.  The reduction of young people and adults smoking means fewer people are exposed to nicotine – which is a gateway drug to illegal drug use and alcoholism.

Since this World No Tobacco Day specifically addresses banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, we wanted to take a moment to recognize it.  Reducing the amount of cigarette advertising and sponsorship in TV and movies can help lead to fewer young smokers, which will lead to fewer addicted adults.

It may seem like the dangers of smoking are known to everyone, but it’s really the adults who are becoming educated and quitting smoking.  While adult usage of tobacco products has been on the decline, the rate of kids smoking is still going up.  Reducing the appeal of smoking by removing ads and educating kids is a great step in reducing the number of young people who will later become addicted to harder drugs like cocaine or inhalants.

If you or someone you know is already affected by alcoholism or drug addiction, contact us today at (800) 511-9403 for information about our effective rehab program.  We work with addicts to get them drug-free physically and ready for a drug-free life mentally.  Contact us to learn about our program, or take a look at our website for more information.

Refs: ProgressReport.Cancer.gov, WHO.int, TobaccoFreeKids.org

Why Educate Children?

Children are the future of this planet.  To get through life successfully, they need to be educated about the troublesome things they will encounter – along with the pleasant things.  When we educate children about drugs, they are more likely to make a decision based on what they have learned.  If we let their schoolmates or drug pushers educate them about drugs, they will make decisions based on the misinformation gathered from these people.

It may seem awkward or feel like you are giving your children information about drugs that they will not understand, but teaching kids about the effects of drugs and why they are dangerous can help them make an informed decision about using these drugs.

Methods of Educating Children about Drugs

Leaving drug education to schools alone isn’t fair to your children or to the teachers.  There are only so many hours a day a teacher gets with their students.  They have a set curriculum, as well as a huge amount of rules and regulations about what they can talk about with kids.

But you – as a parent or relative – can teach kids as much as and as often as you want.  Here are some ideas and methods of drug education for children that you can use:

1. Use the news to your advantage.  There are often current events type articles about drugs on the news that can open up conversations about drugs.
2. Keep the conversation open.  Make sure your children know that they can talk to you about drugs and they won’t get into trouble.  This way, if they find out misinformation from their friends (and there is a lot of misinformation out there) they can ask you for the facts.  Being there for them and being willing to talk with them about drugs will make you the person to go to for the facts.
3. Make sure you’re educated on drugs.  Part of being the person to go to will mean that you have to get educated yourself.  We provide a articles which can help you get educated on the truth about drugs.  Here is a link to a list of drug education articles which can inform you in your search/
4. Get the kids involved in research and drug education.  Once you are educated, you can get your kids to do their own research and see if they can find out facts you weren’t able to uncover.
5. Don’t just say “drugs are bad”.  It’s fine to let kids know that drugs aren’t good for them.  But drug education is more than rule-setting.  Kids need to know what addiction is, why drugs are bad, what drugs do to you specifically, the history behind drugs, and more.  They need to understand how prescription drug abuse happens, what alcoholism is, and why people become addicted.  There is so much more to know that one hard and fast rule.  Understanding will help them make their own rules.
6. Be strong about your own viewpoint on drugs.  Make sure that you have made your own decisions about drugs and hold true to them when talking to kids.
7. Make sure your kids understand that movies and tv are made up.  A lot of movies (like Iron Man III) are trying to clean up their act when it comes to glamorizing addiction.  However, there are still plenty out there which make addiction seem fun or what “everyone” is doing.  As long as kids realize that there is a difference between characters and actual people, they can make decisions based upon reality.
8. Know your kid’s friends.  If you know the friends your children make, you can keep tabs on their attitude toward things like drugs and alcohol.
9. Praise your kids.  Be sure to let your kids know that you love them for all they do right.  If you praise good behavior like eating right, doing well in school, bathing, achieving their goals, they are more likely to try to do those things.
10. If you have a drug or alcohol problem, be sure to get help yourself.  It may seem like your kids won’t respect you if they see you go to rehab or seek help for your own addiction, but your willingness to change your life and improve will likely make a favorable impression upon them.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, we can help.  Call us today at (800) 511-9403 for information about our drug-free program.

Refs: KidsHealth.org, SuncoastRehabCenter.com, Recent Newsletter from Suncoast Rehab

For a recovering addict or alcoholic, it can be very tough to avoid drinking alcohol on Memorial Day weekend.  Here are some ideas for staying sober, while still honoring your traditions this weekend:

1. Create a custom non-alcoholic beverage for your get-together.  Here are two refreshing drinks that anyone can enjoy:

Non-alcoholic sangria

1 diced apple

1 diced pear

4 cups of cranberry-grape juice

1 cup of orange juice

2 quartered lemons

3 cups of club soda or carbonated lemon/lime beverage

-  Combine all except the carbonated beverage.  Squeeze the lemons into the drink before dropping half of the wedges into the drink with the pears and apples

- Refrigerate for 2 hours

- Add ice and soda and serve!

Non-alcoholic Bloody Refreshing Drink

4oz of tomato juice

2-3 dashes of lemon juice

1 pinch of celery salt

5 drops of Worchester sauce

1 pinch coarse peppers

2-3 drops of Tabasco Sauce

1 celery stalk

-  Pour tomato juice over ice cubes.

- Season to taste with rest of ingredients

- Stir and garnish with celery stalk

2. Instead of relaxing by drinking alcohol, do something that is scientifically proven as relaxing.  Some ideas are:

- Take a walk.  Try going somewhere beautiful and take some time to contemplate the beauty around you.

- Do something that makes you laugh.  You can have a lame joke contest or play Mad Libs.  Laughter helps reduce the physical effects of stress.

- Listen to great music.

- Surround yourself with scents that remind you of happy times.  Some relaxing  scents are lavender and citrus.  But you can go with any scent that makes you think of something you enjoy – like the smell of grilling burgers!

- Get a massage.  There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy self-indulgence.

- Take a nap.  What better way to celebrate a day off with a luxurious nap?

- Do an art project.  You can get your family into it or maybe do something to honor Memorial Day.

- Play with your pet.  If you don’t have one, get a friend to bring their dog over!

- Give out hugs!  Hugging actually reduces blood pressure.

3. Surround yourself with supportive people.  It’s tough to try to stay sober when you’re surrounded by people who encourage you to drink.  Be sure to surround yourself with positive people who won’t care if you aren’t drinking.

4. Keep busy.  Memorial Day weekend often means three days off.  We all agree that vacation time is great, but be sure to do things so you don’t get stuck in a rut.  For example, maybe you are making Monday a day to just chill out and relax.  What are you going to do to accomplish this?  Take a bath?  Grill burgers?  See family?  Sleep in?  Read a book?  Go to the spa?  You can still relax without being completely idle.

5. Spend time with your family.  If anyone understands your situation, it’s likely your family.  Spend time with them.  Share your week, your newest project, or a meal with them.

At Suncoast, we know it can be hard to stay sober during a time when people traditionally knock back a few.  But you can do it by surrounding yourself with supportive people, working out other ways to relax, and having a great time living a clean, healthy life.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from addiction, don’t wait.  Call us today at (800) 511-9403.

Refs: Drinks Mixer, Lady’s Home Journal, Huffington Post

Cigarette smoking is perceived more and more in society as a destructive habit. However, people still do it all the time. In 2011, about 43.8 million people in America alone smoked cigarettes.

Smoking has been proved to contribute to a high cancer risk, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as increased risk of lung disease. These risks, unlike many drugs that are out there, are well-publicized and well-known. Gone are the days when the idea that smoking can cause cancer was some “conspiracy theory” made up to fool all those smart, educated, upstanding citizens that wanted to take a drag on an airplane or in the office. But many people continue to smoke.

Why do People Continue to Use Tobacco?

Tobacco contains the drug “nicotine”, which is extremely addictive. What nicotine does to your brain is it activates your reward centers and makes you feel pleasure. If you keep smoking consistently, your brain will become dependent upon nicotine to feel relief or pleasure. This feeling becomes unattainable except through using drugs – unless the person stops smoking and completely detoxes from the nicotine.

Smoking tobacco delivers nicotine directly to your brain. The drug gets there about 10 seconds after inhaling nicotine. But, the effects disappear pretty rapidly, which is why smokers will smoke a cigarette to the butt, chain smoke, or go through a pack or more a day.

Withdrawing from nicotine is not fun. It can cause irritability, extreme cravings, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate, disturbed sleep, and more.

I am a non-smoker. However, many people in my family used to be smokers or are smokers. I asked one of them what quitting smoking felt like. He described it to me as “feeling like you need to go pee all the time – but you never, ever can.” Another person told me that when her husband quit smoking after doing so for almost 40 years, he would suddenly feel extremely violent and have to restrain himself from doing something he’d later regret – like throwing a table or throttling someone.

Another issue with smoking is that nicotine is an appetite suppressant. So, when someone quits they often gain weight unless they change their diet and start exercising. This is yet another incentive for smokers to smoke – they feel that if they quit they won’t be able to maintain their weight or lifestyle.

Nicotine isn’t the only addictive substance contained in tobacco. Scientists have found other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke that decrease the enzyme in the brain which breaks down dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical in your brain that makes you feel happy. If dopamine doesn’t break down, your brain will build it up whenever you smoke – meaning smoking will make you feel extra happy. Narcotics like cocaine have a similar – if much stronger – effect on the brain.

If a young person smokes, they are actually more likely to abuse drugs later on in life. Cigarettes are a gateway drug. This is one of the reasons that there are laws about the minimum smoking age. Studies show that adolescents are more likely to become addicted because their brains are still developing.

Smoking doesn’t always cause addiction to other drugs. But, if you know someone who has gone from cigarettes to more lethal and dangerous drugs like marijuana, cocaine, Ritalin, methamphetamine, opiates or others, contact us today at (800) 511-9403. We can help them get off drugs with our drug detox and rehab program.

Refs: Cancer.org, DrugAbuse.gov, CDC.gov

Last year, our golf tournament helped raise funds for our scholarship program.  Because of this we were able to provide treatment to those in need of help when it came to funding their rehab.  This year, we will be carrying on this new tradition in hopes of providing funding for even more people to reach their drug-free goal.

The funding goal for the 2013 Charity Golf Tournament is… $50,000 for our scholarship program!  This money will go directly to benefiting Florida residents addicted to drugs and alcohol by providing them with financial aid.

The Cypress Run Golf Club is kindly hosting our tournament.  With their help and yours, more people will go drug-free this year.  Here are the details:

When:

Saturday, August 24^th 2013 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT

Where:

Cypress Run Golf Club

2669 St. Andrews Blvd

Tarpon Springs, FL 34668

Want more information on the tournament, how to sign up or sponsorship?  Click here or contact Derek at (352) 200-9124.

Our goal is to help as many people as possible into a drug-free life.  This charity golf tournament, our community outreach programs, and our center itself all forward this one goal.  Find out more about our drug-free rehab program, our community outreach, this golf tournament and all sorts of additional drug education and rehab informational articles at our website: www.SuncoastRehabCenter.com.