She and other dieticians see deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids as one of the issues. Based on an individual’s preferred substance or primary complaints, Reuben says researchers can tell which amino acids, vitamins and nutrients are lacking.

Those suffering from substance often don’t follow a healthy diet. Moreover, drugs deplete vitamins and nutrients from the substance abuser’s body, so replacing and sustaining them are an important part of recovery. Furthermore, drugs drain vitamins and nutrients from the user’s body, so replenishing and maintaining them are an a significant part of rehabilitation.

Reuben asserts, paraphrased, that there exists an an important link between our demeanor and our sustenance, a direct link between our diet and happy disposition. When an individual starts drinking or engaging in substance abuse and their reply is, “I don’t feel high, I feel natural,” that’s the key that says they came into life with a neurochemical abnormality. They are deficient in something and we can fix that with our diet, sometimes with amino acids, fish oil, vitamin C or B. Fish oil benefits seem to be extremely important.

This method is based on a study by Professor Stephen Schoenthaler, PhD, who discovered a relationship between elevated sugar consumption, reduced vitamin intake and violence, in 1985. He noticed that prison inmates who were given daily nutritional supplements experienced as much as a 43% decrease in violence, which prompted investigators to commence researching the link between nutrition and dependency. More recent studies have also learned that giving inmates fish oil capsules also decreases violence.

The CARA program proposes that people (in conjunction with their doctor) begin a program of taking 3 meals a day, each having at least 20 g of protein, at least 4 cups of veggies, 2000 mg of vitamin C, a multivitamin, 1000-3000 mg of omega-3, 500 mg of L-glutamine, and 2-3 mcg of chromium.

It also suggests avoiding white sugar and flour, which could possibly deplete the body of vitamin B. It also encourages doing away with white sugar and flour, which can drain the body of vitamin B. Although many factors are responsible for substance and alcohol addiction, eating a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fish oil pills is definitely an essential part of the successful route to recovery and a substance-free life!

For more information on how to help a substance or alcohol addict you ought to call 1-877-782-7409 or access Addicthelp.org.

Read more about fish oil supplements on the website of Brittany W. Wallace. Brittany is an expert on health who studied fish oil benefits for over 10 years.

For Many Drug Addicts, Recovery Typically Involves Omega 3 Fish Oil is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Many people who take different types of drugs in different circumstances will each need different types of drug addiction treatment.

There are three main steps to drug addiction treatment and the first is the user recognising they have an addiction problem and wanting to do something about it. Without a positive desire to change their behaviour they are unlikely to attain long-term abstinence. This step shouldn’t be underestimated, as addicts are often reluctant to admit they are powerless to their cravings.

After initial consultations the detoxification of the body takes place, which eliminates any trace of the drug that might still be in the bloodstream. If this isn’t done under supervision there may be painful withdrawal symptoms and the addict may give into cravings.

One of the most popular detoxification methods involves substituting a drug for a weaker, less dangerous alternative – methadone is a common substitute for heroin for example. Over time the user is weaned off the drug. A drug-free alternative detoxification process emphasises the power of nutrients and vitamins and uses massaging and other techniques to ease any pains.

The third and final step potentially lasts forever – counselling or support that will encourage behaviour change and lead to last abstinence. Some of the more popular counselling methods include multidimensional family therapy or cognitive behaviour therapy. With a strong support system in place recovery is much more likely.

There are in fact many different ways to implement treatments. The obvious difference between residential treatment and outpatient care illustrate the fact that different approaches may mean the difference between recovery and relapse for different individuals.

For this reason it is not possible to say that one particular drug addiction treatment is the ‘best.’ Equally important are the specialised services available to ex-addicts that allow them to have the benefits of a drug-free life.

Find out more about drug addiction treatment

Drug Addiction Treatment is a post from: Recovery Coaching

His argument sets up what some might argue is a bogus choice between total legalisation or tough criminal sanctions. But he makes it with conviction:

“Why unleash a drug epidemic in the developing world for the sake of libertarian arguments made by a pro-drug lobby that has the luxury of access to drug treatment?”

So far, so familiar. But what do you make of this?

“I appeal to the heroic partisans of the human rights cause worldwide, to help UNODC promote the right to health of drug addicts: they must be assisted and reintegrated into society,” Mr Costa demands:

“Addiction is a health condition and those affected by it should not be imprisoned… in order to reduce the security threat posed by international mafias.”

Calling for a “shift of focus” in law enforcement from drug users to drug traffickers, Mr Costa says:

“…arresting individuals and seizing drugs for their personal use is like pulling weeds – it needs to be done again the next day. The problem can only be solved by addressing the problem of slums and dereliction in our cities.”

read more from this BBC report on “Give Drug Users A Break”

Give Drug Users A Break is a post from: Recovery Coaching

An alarming report has revealed that the number of women abusing cocaine is almost at the same level as men for the first time, with 750,000 Britons having used the Class A drug in the past year. And one in 15 women under 25 admits to using it. Read more from this Daily Mail article Housewives hooked on cocaine

Housewives Hooked on Cocaine is a post from: Recovery Coaching

In the Therapeutic Community, honesty is probably the most important concept. Without honesty your recovery is nothing, it is built on sand, with no firm foundation. When the storms of life come, and they will, your house of lies will crumble and fall.

It is impossible to achieve long-term change without being honest to yourself. A lie may solve a present problem, but it has no future.

What is honesty? Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Honesty is, according to the dictionary, to be free of deceit; to be sincere; truthful, trustworthy; wholehearted; worthy.

Honesty is personal integrity. Spencer Johnson said “Integrity is telling myself the truth, and honesty is telling the truth to other people.”

Honesty may be a simple policy but it is not easy! There are positive and negative effects to being honest. It is often the negative effects of being honest that prevent us from stepping out in this noble quest. Here are some of the negative effects of being honest;

rejection

isolation

hostility

jealousy

animosity and

hurt feelings.

This is not a list to relish. So what would prompt us to be honest when there are, possibly, dangerous side effects? The long term benefits that being honest can bring are sufficient incentive to adopt this concept as a lifestyle. Here are some of the positive effects of being honest:-

Respect

Sincerity

Openess

Trust

Faith

Peace of mind

Self belief

Responsibility

Acceptance

Insight

Adopting a policy of honesty is a courageous step. You need to overcome your fears and anxieties. Why is honesty so important in recovery?

Honesty is the main ingredient of recovery, as without it there is no progression, self-development or personal understanding. It needs to be applied to each and everything we do, whether confronting people about their behaviour, or confronting ourselves about our weaknesses and limitations. Being honest allows us to be accountable and responsible for our actions, which in turn enables us to set the agenda for our lives.

Honesty is vital in Relapse Prevention, as without it you will not receive the valuable, true support and guidance necessary to avoid relapse: You would be honest with a doctor about an acute condition or illness because you want the right diagnosis. The same applies to your recovery.

To promote and develop change in any situation there is a need to be honest. However, it is also important to be aware how other people might receive your insights. We may need to work on our tactfulness, or the issues that rise in us so that our approach is non-judgemental and constructive. Honesty is about raising the standard, not about getting the upper hand. Honesty requires a degree of humility.

We may face situations where being honest will test our resolve. We may not want to tell someone the truth, or face up to our own truths. It may often appear easier to avoid the situation entirely. However problems will not be solved unless they are faced, and by developing tactful communication skills, we can overcome the difficulties. A word at the right time, may help someone move forward in their recovery, and so, may help them to avoid relapse or worse.

Here are the key points:-

• Honesty develops peace of mind

• Honesty develops trust and encourages strong relationships

• Honesty is the first step to the right way of living

• Honesty is the only way to recover

It was the great bard, William Shakespeare, who wrote, “Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honour, I lose myself.”

Why is Honesty the Best Policy? is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Drug addicts playing havoc with family life : By Maha Sami Aboulola
JEDDAH – When looking for a bride for their son, one of the most important considerations for Saudi families is the reputation of the bride’s family, which is based on centuries-old Saudi tradition.
Reema Abdulhadi, 31, a private sector employee, has been forced to join the ranks of the Kingdom’s spinsters despite her beautiful face. A large number of suitors come to ask for her hand, but they never come back after the first visit.
“I am a well educated girl from a good family but, unfortunately, my father is a drug addict who steals and is in and out of jail because of his addiction,” she said. Read more of how drug addicts play havoc with family life

Drug addicts playing havoc with family life is a post from: Recovery Coaching

To some  “what goes around comes around” means that you will get what you deserve, or, that the chickens will come home to roost.

To others it seems to imply that you will get what’s coming to you, or that you will get what you deserve. John Lennon, who had a neat way with words, once wrote,

Instant Karmas gonna get you

Gonna knock you right on the head

You better get yourself together

Pretty soon you’re gonna be dead

What in the world you thinking of

Laughing in the face of love

So, does it all balance out in the end? All this does not bode well for those in recovery. The last thing they want, is to get what they deserve, and, that instant karma doesn’t sound too good.

So why frame this maxim and put it up on the wall in your Therapeutic Community’s dining room? What does this expression mean in the life of those in recovery from drug addiction?

“What goes around comes around” is about the skill of learning patience. The bigger picture, however, is to provide a coping mechanism to handle the circumstances that life throws at us. Most of the consequences now coming back to us, are now outside of our control. Life is not fair. We have been dealt a bad hand.

Injustices and set backs are part of life, of relationships, of trying our best and not being recognised, of not being affirmed for what we have accomplished, or in relationships yet to be reconciled. This is all part of the daily grind but it can serve to discourage those in recovery. Getting a grasp of the meaning of 2what goes around comes around” helps the person to accept the circumstances and deal with the consequences.

This maxim may have two important messages. First, patience is required to accept unfairness and injustice in our daily lives because these factors are part of life. Second, although we may feel that the circumstances are not ours to control, this doesn’t mean that we should just be resigned to our fate.  We should go forward confidently because we have a hope that things will get sorted out in the future. We are not alone in experiencing these things, and we will not be tested beyond our endurance.

What Goes Around Comes Around is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Drug addicts face losing benefits is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Abstinence was OK for everybody else, but “I will be able to control my drinking or drug taking as long as I have a short break.” Moderation seemed the best and logical option. Like, abstinence means forever! A lifetime without a drink was too much to contemplate. The very idea of a life after rehab without their drug of choice was enough to derail them and send them running up the track to the nearest bar.

I realise that Abstinence is a big thing to ask your regular addict. You are asking him to give up the one thing that has made his life liveable, the only thing that can get him through a day. This is not an easy option.

Let’s get this straight. Abstinence is not ‘recovery’. Abstinence is a pre-condition of recovery. Recovery is about overcoming addictive thinking. Abraham J Twerski, in his book, ‘Addictive Thinking’ suggests the formula:-

Recovery = Abstinence + Change

He then makes the following observation, “When we try to convince addicts of the fallacy of their thinking, it is like telling someone that his or her belief in the law of gravity is a delusion. It is the height of futility to expect an addictive thinker to abandon that concept of reality and accept ours instead.”

Perhaps timing is an important factor. In the early stages of recovery how can you make a lifetime commitment, when taking a day at a time is all you can do? “Please don’t mention the ‘A’ word until I’ve been dry for six months and then some”

When a recovering person is six months into his program, he can start to see a different horizon. He can start looking forward to make short and medium term goals. Indeed, a significant goal may have already been achieved by making it through six months. So what about abstinence then? If there is so much as a shadow of a doubt about abstinence, our recovering person is due for a fall. It may come in a month, it may come in a week, but generally it happens the day you walk out of the rehab gate. Stay with the program until you can make a heartfelt decision for abstinence.

Why should you go for abstinence? – You will have experienced many traumas in your life as an addict. You will probably have lost your job, lost your family, spent time in prison, and attended too many funerals to remember. You have a life-controlling problem.

The only sure way not to repeat the previous 10 or 20 years is to have a commitment to abstinence. Decide never to use again. Abstinence is a choice you can make when you have been clean for a while, it is extremely difficult to make choices when you are still using. You may need help. Do another program, live a ‘day at a time’ even try harm reduction – but make a commitment to abstinence.

You may be ready right now to take this step. You are sick and tired of being sick and tired. You have had enough of letting your past dictate your future. You will know that it is the right time. There is a right time for some things.

Here are some steps to help you get into the right frame of mind:-

1. A commitment to abstinence is not a commitment to perfection.

2. Understand how your body and your mind works – get to know your triggers and find alternatives to your thinking patterns and your habits.

3. Remember that a lapse does not need to lead to a relapse – don’t beat yourself up when you slip – it’s a mistake, not the end of the world. Get help’

4. When was the last time you managed to moderate your drinking or drug taking? When did you last go out and have one beer then go home? Have you tried moderation a number of times and it didn’t work? Maybe that will help you decide.

Learn different coping mechanisms. If someone tempts you with a drink, say. “I don’t drink,” not, “I’m trying to give up.” Think like a non-drinker. If emotional issues arise, deal with them – don’t use them as an excuse to derail your recovery. You are on the ‘no-excuses’ track now.

Be totally committed to your future, Remember why you are making the new choices. That old way of life is in the past where it needs to stay. You can start a new life. Clear your head to focus on your goals. Be ever watchful but don’t be consumed by the old life. Forgive yourself and move on.

Abstinence is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Addicts live to use, and use to live. Very simply, an addict is a person whose life is controlled by a substance or action. Addicts are people living with a chronic relapsing illness steadily progressing to the same end, prison, illness, poverty, and death.

Only you can decide if you have an addiction. How do you know if you are being impartial even to yourself? The following questions may help you make this decision. If you answer Yes to four or more questions, you may have a problem that can be solved with the right help, if you bring it into the open. Remember, that it is no disgrace to admit that you have a problem. Answer the following 12 questions to find out if you need to take the 12 Steps!

1 – Have you ever decided to stop drinking/drugs for a week or so, but only lasted for a day or two?

2 – Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking or drugs and stop telling you what to do?

3 – Have you ever switched from one kind of drink or drugs, to another, in the hope that this would keep you from getting hooked or stoned?

4 – Have you needed something to help you face the day when you wake up, during the past year?

5 – Do you envy people who can drink or do drugs without getting into trouble?

6 – Have you had problems connected with drinking or drugs during the past year?

7 – Has your drinking or drug taking caused trouble at home?

8 – Do you ever try to get “extra” drinks or drugs at a party to top up?

9 – Do you tell yourself that you can stop drinking or doing drugs any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk or stoned when you don’t mean to?

10 – Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking?

11 – Do you have “blackouts”?

12 – Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink or do drugs?
Did you answer Yes, four or more times? If so, you are probably addicted. Why can this be stated with such authority? It is because thousands of people in recovery have had to answer these questions. They found out the truth about themselves, the hard way. Ask yourself one more question. Where will you be in one year’s time if you keep doing what you are doing now?

Decide if you are going to take the first step to sort out your problem. Try to keep an open mind. There are many people waiting to help you move forward. Remember, there is hope. It’s never too late to make a brand new start.

Am I addicted? is a post from: Recovery Coaching