Food Banks & Soup Kitchens
For a relatively low-stress volunteer experience, you can help under-privileged parts of the community secure something everyone needs: food.
What do these volunteers do?
There are many food banks and soup kitchens all across the country where you can give your time and make a big impact on your community during your recovery from addiction. You can expect to fill one of these main roles:
Food prep & service: Working in a soup kitchen or other food program for your community means spreading the simple satisfaction of a hot meal to those who need it most. Whether youre helping to prepare the nights meal or helping to unload and organize donations for the next day, volunteering at a food distribution center of any kind is an excellent way to enrich your own life and give back at the same time.
Administrative tasks: Food donations and hot meals cant get distributed without someone taking care of the logistics. If youre good with people and organization, that person could be you. Many food banks and soup kitchens can use individuals to answer phones, file records and reach out to members of the community.
Many community food sources also play other roles in the community, doubling as art or garden spaces and hosting seminars or other educational and fundraising events.
Fact: In 2014, a full 14% of American households experienced food insecurity, defined as unreliable access to adequate amounts of nutritious food.
Seeking Sobriety Before Its Too Late
The best way to avoid the problem of rehab vs. jail time is to seek sobriety before reaching that point. Drug rehab programs in Pennsylvania, such as Peace Valley Recovery, provide a path to recovery and wellness. Through a combination of counseling, therapy, holistic wellness, and sober activities, these facilities show addicts how to live life drug-free.
Are you looking for drug rehab in Pennsylvania? Reach out to Peace Valley Recovery today. Were here to walk you out of the cycle of addiction and into a lasting life of recovery. You never need to turn back to drugs and you never need to feel alone again. Were here to help. Give us a call today.
What To Do If You Suspect A Relapse
Unfortunately, relapses happen, and with great frequency. Many studies suggest that the majority of recovering addicts will eventually relapse at some point in their lives. However, just because a relapse happens, it does not mean that an individuals long-term sobriety is at risk. With careful and rapid attention, a relapse can be limited and contained. If you suspect a recovering addict may have relapsed, consider taking the following steps:
- Consult with other friends and family to see if they share your concerns.
- Express your concerns in a kind, caring, and non-judgmental manner.
- Suggest that they contact their sponsor, or contact their sponsor for them.
- Encourage them to attend a support group meeting.
- Suggest that they contact their therapist, or contact their therapist for them.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Drug Addiction
People who are addicted to drugs tend to show signs of the disease in every aspect of their lives.;The symptoms;of addiction;are varied, but common signs of a problem with substance abuse include:3,4
- Needing to use drugs to avoid;withdrawal symptoms.
- Needing more drugs to get the effects .
- Continuing use of drugs even with the awareness of the harm it causes.
- Neglecting family obligations and financial issues.
- Continuing to use drugs or alcohol despite declining physical health.
- Losing interest in hobbies.
- Changes in eating habits .
What To Know Before You Call
When you call to find treatment, youll want to gather some information before picking up the phone, especially if youre calling for a loved one. Information to prepare includes:
- How long the substance abuse has been occurring.
- An estimation of the amounts of drugs or alcohol being used.
- If prescription drugs are involved, the average dose being regularly used.
- Any medical issues, such as disease or infection.
- Any medications currently being taken.
- Previous attempts at treatment.
- Whether medical detox is needed
- The existence of any other mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or any;process disorders such as compulsive gambling.
- Whether travel to another city or state may be arranged.
- The date you want treatment to begin.
As much information as you can gather will help you to have a productive phone call and get treatment started right away.
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Do I Have To Go To Prison Instead Of Rehab
Although most individuals qualify for drug rehabilitation instead of incarceration, you should be tested by a medical professional or consult a legal expert to determine if that is the case. The drug rehabilitation centre may not consider you for admission if you have not been physically dependent on the substance or have not followed up with caseworkers to determine that you have a problem.
It is acceptable to advocate imprisonment or incarceration for those with a history of violent crimes concerning drug rehabilitation preferences. Even if you are not experiencing a violent crime, bear in mind that you need to get counsel when faced with serious life events.
Drug Rehab Facts And Statistics
While its difficult to find statistics on rehab success rates specifically, many studies show that certain approaches are effective for different addictions. This overview of treatment statistics with common substance addictions can only be a general guide. Rehab success rates vary depending on the substance, the type of treatments used and the individual circumstances surrounding each patient.;
The length of treatment often plays a key role in general. For example, people who receive medication-assisted treatment for fewer than 90 days do not show improved outcomes. Those who receive MAT for three years or longer also have lower relapse rates than those on MAT for under three years.;
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Living With A Recovering Addict
Addiction puts a major strain on all of an addict or alcoholics personal relationships, and the closer the relationship, the greater the strain. As the addiction grows stronger over time, it gradually comes to dominate every aspect of the addicts life, especially their relationships. Eventually, every interaction between loved ones and the addict become influenced by their addiction in some manner.
Family and friends often try to convince their loved one for months, or even years, to attend rehab. Rehab becomes a kind of magic cure all. Many come to hope or believe that once their loved one returns from rehab, all of the problems in their relationship will dramatically and immediately improve. While rehab is certainly an absolutely critical first step in recovery, it doesnt solve every problem, and it can actually create new obstacles and challenges.
The truth is that recovery is a lifelong process that dramatically changes things for someone in recovery on a daily, if not moment-to-moment, basis. Often, recovery will change an individuals goals, expectations, behavior, and even personality. In turn, this can cause changes in loved ones and relationships. It can also force two people to confront underlying issues that were long masked by addiction.
What Are Outpatient Programs
Finally, outpatient programs provide another treatment possibility for anyone who is unable take time away from home or work and who may need a more affordable option than executive rehab. Those struggling with severe addiction or relapse problems, however, would be well served;in searching for residential treatment options that can offer more intensive 24-hour care.
Overall, there are many different ways to get help as an employee and seeking treatment for addiction will be better for you, your job, your health, and your life in general in the long run.
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Spotting The Signs Of Drug Addiction
Absolutely anyone can make a turn down the wrong path and face issues with drugs. For some people, seeking help for a drug addiction can be extremely challenging. It can also be a struggle for loved ones who are trying to help and encourage an addict to enter rehab. Secrecy and trying to hide/use drugs unnoticed can greatly affect an addicts behaviour, mannerisms and relationships, as well as have a detrimental impact on their job, income and home life. There is a debate on whether rehab does actually work for drug addicts. The answer is that it depends on the individual there will always be some people that respond well to treatment, and others that do not.
This however does also greatly depend on the quality of services being offered at a rehab institution, and how determined the patient is to succeed in their treatment. These are two things to bear in mind when admitting someone to rehab for drug addiction. Residential treatment in a secure facility can greatly increase chances of success and to avoid relapse, as the addict is not in their typical home environment where they can have easy access to and/or seek drugs. For a rehab programme to be considered a success, overall the patient must be clean/sober for at least two years following treatment.
Multiple Therapies And Treatments
Addiction is a mental, physical, and psychological disease, and therapy is crucial in helping those in recovery understand the emotional triggers of his or her substance use and how to develop new, healthy coping mechanisms. It can also help individuals see flaws in thinking and behaviors that may lead to negative decisions related to drugs and alcohol, and how to positively alter those thoughts and behaviors so that they become more productive and healthier.
Effective therapy can additionally reduce a persons chances of relapsing and can help him get back on track if he does relapse. There are countless therapy options available through rehab programs, which is extremely important as no single treatment is appropriate for everyone. The goal of therapy in the rehabilitation process is to help patients change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors concerning substance abuse, to engage in treatment, and be encouraged to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Some of the evidence-based addiction treatment therapies that are typically offered include:
- Behavioral Therapy
- Community Reinforcement and Family Training
- Dialectal Behavioral Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
- Integrative Approach
- Multidimensional Family Therapy
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Finding A Supportive Rehab Environment
The environment you choose for drug rehab plays an important role in the success of your recovery. Whether you enroll in rehab at an outpatient center, a residential recovery community or an inpatient program, the facility you choose should provide a setting that supports sobriety.;The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;points out that both outpatient and inpatient treatment can offer a supportive environment that fulfills the clients needs.
- You have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.
- You are strongly motivated to get sober without 24-hour supervision.
- You draw strength from remaining active in your current social network.
- You want to maintain employment and incur lower treatment costs.
Outpatient rehab is often more cost-effective than inpatient treatment, but outpatient care isnt the answer for everyone.An inpatient setting may be more suitable for you if you meet the following conditions:
- You have severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Youve had complications with drug or alcohol withdrawal in the past.
- You have a serious co-existing medical or psychological disorder.
- You have a high risk of relapse if youre exposed to your usual environment.
Medication In Drug Rehab
Medications are used for 2 different reasonsto manage acute withdrawal symptoms and cravings and to maintain abstinence once withdrawal has resolved. Some treatment programs offer medical detox as a part of their services, while others require that you complete detox prior to entering their program. In some instances, once you achieve medical stability and are drug-free, you may begin a regimen of maintenance medications. Only certain addictions can be treated with medication. These include opioids, such as heroin and prescription painkillers, and alcohol. The commonly-used medications include:1,2,3
Medications are most effective if they are combined with behavioral therapy to create a whole-person, comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. This combination is referred to as medication-assisted treatment .
Dont Expect Immediate Results
Chances are, your loved one will not react well to your concern. They may deny it, fight with you, or simply refuse to talk about it. Its important to understand that it may take weeks or even months for them to come to their senses and listen to you. You must be realistic in your expectations. Long-term recovery options will work, but they will never be a quick, easy fix for the situation. Even if your loved one does accept that they need help for their addiction, some types of treatments will work while others wont. Its difficult, but you must be as patient as possible when dealing with addiction.
How Addiction Treatment Outcomes Are Measured
While addiction may be known clinically as a substance use disorder, it is actually a chronic disease. This means it is similar to other chronic diseases, like diabetes or hypertension where there are only treatments, not cures. A disease like hypertension can easily be monitored through blood pressure tests; however, addiction affects the brain instead of physical processes, meaning that it is difficult to cure through behavioral changes alone. Neuroscience is gaining momentum in treating this disease, and this will progress in the next decade and beyond.
Meth Rehab Success Rates
Meth treatment comes in many forms, each with varying levels of effectiveness. In any case, detox alone is not effective a study found that meth use was unchanged between those who only attended detox and those who did not. This study also found that 33 of 100 patients who attended residential rehab remained sober at three months and 14 patients after one year. This points toward long-term support and aftercare being an important part of meth treatment.
Research shows that the Matrix Model may be the most effective treatment for meth addiction. This four-month program uses behavioral therapy and counseling to address symptoms that stem from withdrawal, such as depression and anxiety. A study found that 60% of patients who participated in this program were sober after six months.
Full Continuum Of Care
A full continuum of care means that patients transition through multiple stages of treatment, typically starting with a medical detox and ending with long-term aftercare. Over 20 years of research studies have confirmed that progressing addiction treatment patients through stages of continuing care as they get better helps sustain positive outcomes for long-term recovery. As with other research, these studies found that continuing care tends to be most effective when treatment lasts longer.;
A typical course of treatment may include:
- Medical detox: In medical detox, a patient receives round-the-clock care for withdrawal symptoms that occur when their body removes drugs and alcohol from its system.
- Residential/inpatient treatment: The patient lives onsite and attends therapy sessions, receives counseling and learns strategies for long-term success.
- Outpatient treatment: The patient transitions back into their day-to-day life while still attending treatment at the facility.
- Aftercare: The patient follows a personalized relapse prevention plan and participates in alumni programs and support groups. They are given a variety of resources that help them when long-term recovery becomes difficult.;
Emotion Regulation And Mindfulness
A growing literature is demonstrating the importance of emotion regulation in the treatment of substance use. Considering that nicotine and other psychoactive substances such as cocaine activate similar psycho-pharmacological pathways, an emotion regulation approach may be applicable to a wide array of substance use. Proposed models of affect-driven tobacco use have focused on negative reinforcement as the primary driving force for addiction; according to such theories, tobacco is used because it helps one escape from the undesirable effects of nicotine withdrawal or other negative moods.Acceptance and commitment therapy , is showing evidence that it is effective in treating substance use, including the treatment of polysubstance use disorder and tobacco smoking.Mindfulness programs that encourage patients to be aware of their own experiences in the present moment and of emotions that arise from thoughts, appear to prevent impulsive/compulsive responses. Research also indicates that mindfulness programs can reduce the consumption of substances such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, cigarettes and opiates.
Symptoms Of Drug Abuse
There are many signs both physical and behavioral that indicate drug use. Each drug has its own unique manifestations, and symptoms of abuse vary from drug to drug. However, some general signs that your loved one may be addicted to drugs include:
- Sudden change in behavior
- Problems at school or work
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Becoming careless about personal grooming
- Loss of interest in hobbies, sports and other favorite activities
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Sudden requests for money or a spike in spending habits
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use or addiction, The Recovery Village can help. Contact us today to learn more about addiction treatment programs that can work well for your needs.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
