Cravings - First Barrier to Addiction Recovery

Recovery? What is it really? How is it maintained? What are the main barriers to staying clean and sober? Is there such a thing as mental cravings as well as physical cravings? I have found a lot of opinions and thoughts on this over the last couple of weeks during my readings and internet adventures. I located a really good article on the subject of cravings that I would like to pass along and get others opinions and feedback from. The subject of drug addiction can be a complicated one, to say nothing of drug rehab treatment. Hopefully this article when lend so light into an all to often murky area.

The First Barrier to Addiction Recovery

Cravings

The first challenge for any addict wishing to kick his addiction is overcoming the mental and physical cravings for drugs or alcohol. Cravings are strong, uncontrollable urges to use drugs or alcohol that drive the addict to once again use addictive substances.

To get an idea of what drug cravings are like, think of a time when you went for a long time without eating a meal and you were really hungry. Hunger is a mental and physical sensation that is triggered when the body needs food for nutrients and energy.

The craving for food, driven at a physical level, stimulates memories of eating food, which is followed by a strong desire or compulsion to consume food. Usually when a person is very hungry, they will think about their favorite foods; if they get hungry enough, they can sometimes even smell and taste certain foods.

If a person goes long enough without food, compelling thoughts of eating plus a growling stomach and shakiness due to not having eaten will become so great, making the person so uncomfortable, that they will drop whatever it is they are doing and arrange to get food and eat it. As soon as the food is consumed, the hunger pangs stop and the person feels good about satisfying their hunger.

Read the entire article...

Addiction Treatment - What is Narconon

When I got clean and sober in March of 2001 I was pretty hopeless and sort of figured I was going to be an addict and alcoholic for the rest of my life. Walking through the door of Narconon absolutely changed my life! First there was the drug free withdrawal that ease me off the drugs and alcohol. They worked on nutritional, physiological, and emotional issues right from the start in withdrawal and this continued all the way through the entire treatment program. The New Life Detoxification Program enabled me to actually flush all the drugs and toxins out of the body. The overall sense of well being I got from this is indescribable - both emotionally and physically. The fog had lifted and the lights came on so to speak. In the life skills sections I had a chance to confront and handle the barriers to remaining clean and sober. These of course are very individual for each person. I can remember like it was yesterday when I was standing out front of the facility and realized for the first time that my drug and alcohol addiction was at an end. It wasn't that I hoped it was at an end - I knew! I can honestly say I haven't had a single urge or desire for drugs or alcohol since. All I can tell you is it worked for me, and continues to do so daily.

What were your rehab experiences like, I'd like to know

Drug Education as Addiction Treatment

There are many modalities and theories when it comes to the subject of addiction treatment. Some traditional, some not so traditional. Each theory of course has it's own practioners and advocates with various diologues and debates concerning each, many of which have been going on for years. There does seem to be agreement however that effective drug education which prevents drug abuse, addiction and alcoholism is a desirable modality of preventative treatment.

I recently came across an independent study concerning the Narconon Drug Education methods and found it quite educational and informative my self. I have supplied a link below to the actual study itself, rather than trying to paraphrase a scientific paper.


Take a look, and decide for yourself, being an alumni of the Narconon program I found the paper to refinforce concepts and ideas I have been using for over 7 years to remain drug free, happy, and energetic towards life.

Love, Kayakotto



Read the Drug Education Study...

Addiction Treatment Works!

As a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor this particular story is what make my career rewarding day in and day out. As a recovered addict and alcoholic myself this story is inspirational and reminds me of what my personal recovery is all about. As a personal friend of this individual it gives me true joy to see a once hopeless addict return to the land of the living and regain lost talents and abilities.

Enjoy!

Unique Drug Rehab Program Restores Love of Music to Formerly Addicted Concert Violinist

For fifteen years, concert violinist Michael Ginsburg lived in a nightmarish world composed only of drugs and his addiction to them. His musical skills were left far behind as he sought out and used the drugs that his addictions demanded.
“Drugs completely robbed me of my music,” said Michael. “I started out studying music at The Julliard School, the New England Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. But then after starting to use marijuana, my grades plummeted, I stopped studying or playing music and quit school.”

Over time, Michael developed addictions that included all the most commonly abused drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs. Michael started working as a DJ at all-night raves, using other drugs all too often found around Dallas: Ecstasy, ketamine and LSD. When he got into trouble in a city where he was working as a DJ, he usually wound up homeless, so he would move on to a new city. “In fifteen years, I lived in eighteen states,” he said.

read more...

What is Addiction

Welcome to my new blog. I am starting this in order to create an active dialog with readers to explore the various aspects of addiction treatment. Whether you are an addict, a concerned loved one, a drug rehab graduate, or whoever it is hoped that this is the beginning of offering much needed hope, inspiration, and assistance to one another. There may be quest bloggers from time to time as well as articles of interest from the news arena or other websites. Your feedback and suggestions are needed and wanted. Here's to a future drug free and productive life for all of us!