Drug Detox Archives | Page 2 of 2

Choosing the Right Orange County Detox Center for Your Loved One

Written by Tim Stoddart on July 13, 2018. Posted in Alcohol Detox, Drug Detox.

When a loved one is struggling with any kind of illness, it’s only natural to want to help them. When that illness is drug or alcohol addiction, however, it can be tough to know where to start. Full recovery is possible, but it’s not going to happen overnight. Addiction recovery is a journey with several steps—and the first of those steps is detox.

What is Detox?

But what is detox, exactly? Simply put, it’s the process in which the mind and body are rid of harmful toxins. If your loved one is going to be freed from addiction to drugs or alcohol, it’s vital to have a clean slate—to begin rehab without any drugs or alcohol lingering in the system. This detox process will take anywhere from three to 10 days, depending on the nature of the addiction—and it’s not without some potential risks.

Withdrawal and Detox

The big risk in detox is withdrawal. Drugs and alcohol can exert such an impact on the body that eliminating them creates havoc.

Withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones include:

Muscle pain
Excessive hunger
Restlessness
Lethargy
Shakiness
Weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Agitated, excitable, or irritable behavior
Hallucination or severe anxiety
Insomnia or nightmares
Seizures
Sensitivity to pain

These symptoms can be extreme. In the discomfort of withdrawal, it’s not impossible for the individual to reach for drugs or alcohol, hoping it will help them feel “normal” again—thus undoing their detox process. And if they reach for a higher-than-intended amount, it could result in an overdose, or even death.

Seeking Clinical Detox

Because of this, it’s important to help your loved ones seek detox in a clinical setting—somewhere with medical supervision. Not only does this ensure their safety, but it may also mean access to non-addictive medications that can ease the pain. And, clinical detox can often be faster than home-based or “DIY” withdrawal. Finally, a clinical detox makes it easy to transition into an in-patient rehab program.

What should you look for in a clinical detox program, though? Some guidelines include:

First and foremost, make sure the detox center offers treatment for the type of addiction your loved one is experiencing. Some detoxes will focus on opioid addiction, for example, while others are more wide-ranging.
Also make sure the addiction detox center you choose for your loved one is accredited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Ask about the medical qualifications of the staff. Seek a detox center where there are nurses or other clinical professionals on-site 24/7.
Don’t forget to ask about insurance! Most detox facilities will accept many different forms of insurance.
Inquire about whether the staff customizes its treatment approach to meet the needs of the individual—always a sign that you’re dealing with true professionals.
Finally, ask about options for transitioning into rehab. Make sure you’re taking the long view of addiction recovery.

Learn More About Addiction Detox from Experience Recovery

Detox is a vital first step in the recovery journey—and the best way to help your loved one is to explore local options for clinically-supervised detox centers. Experience Recovery is proud to offer a full range of addiction detox services to individuals throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.

We’d love to talk with you more about what you can expect from our detox program. Contact us today to start the conversation.

Why Choose a Formal Detox Program to Overcome Prescription Pill Addiction?

Written by Tim Stoddart on May 3, 2018. Posted in Drug Detox.

Addiction recovery is a journey—and one of the first steps on that journey is detox. Simply put, you need to rid your body of harmful and addictive toxins before you can focus on recovery in earnest. This is an important step in the recovery process, no matter the nature of your addiction—and yes, that includes addiction to prescription painkillers.

But how does the detox process work, exactly? While it is possible to go “cold turkey” and detox at home, this step is not recommended—for a number of reasons. Detox typically comes with immense pain and discomfort, and when you detox on your own, that pain can cause you to panic, reach for pills, and plunge back into drug use. In some cases, it can even cause overdosing.

By contract, there are many benefits to a formal, clinical detox program—less pain, less danger, and a higher degree of efficacy. Here are some of the specific advantages to choosing a formal painkiller detox program.

Formal Detox is Clinically Supervised

Inpatient detox, in a place like Experience Recovery, is overseen by addiction recovery specialists—clinical providers who know and understand both the physical and emotional symptoms of detox. They know what you’re going through, and can help you with some healthy and holistic pain management strategies—easing your discomfort without the risk of falling back into drug use, or of overdose. In short, they ensure that your detox is healthy and safe.

Inpatient Detox Offers You a Safe Space

When you detox in a clinical setting, you can rest assured that there are no dangerous drugs or addictive pills within your reach—so there’s no risk of an immediate relapse. What’s more, clinical providers can often provide you with replacement medications, which will ease your pain without triggering addiction.

Inpatient Detox is Stress-Free

Addiction can often be triggered or exacerbated by stress. So, when you’re trying to detox while still keeping up with home, school, or work responsibilities, it can be challenging, to say the least. In a clinical detox facility, though, these obligations aren’t there to stress you out. Clinical detox provides you with the time and space you need to rest, relax, and focus on your health and recovery—period.

A Formal Detox Program Provides Gateways to Recovery

Another important point to make about inpatient detox is that it’s the start of a longer recovery process. Once you experience detox, you then need to consider the next step along your path—whether that means residential treatment, intensive outpatient care, partial hospitalization, or something else. Transitional living and aftercare are also important. In a formal detox program, it’s easy to speak with your counselor and identify the next steps that are right for you.

Formal Detox Equips You for the Rest of Your Journey

Indeed, an inpatient detox program will provide you with the foundation you need to develop your sobriety skills—allowing you to continue your recovery over the long haul, responding to stressors and triggers in a good, healthy way. These practical skills are vital for keeping your recovery intact.

Seek Addiction Detox from Experience Recovery

It’s more than possible to overcome prescription pill addiction—and the first step toward doing so is getting those harmful substances out of your body. The safest, healthiest, most comfortable, and most efficient way to do that is through a formal, inpatient detox program—like the one we offer at Experience Recovery.

Take your first step toward freedom from prescription pill addiction. Reach out to Experience Recovery today.

Dealing with Addiction—and Getting Back to Work

Written by Tim Stoddart on April 2, 2018. Posted in Alcohol Rehab, Drug Detox, Drug Rehab.

Addiction can take a toll on your mental and physical wellbeing—and in the process, it can impede your professional success. For those with full-time jobs, then, addiction recovery is truly a necessity.

The problem is, recovery isn’t something you can achieve in a single weekend. It takes time—sometimes, a residential program can last 90 days or more. And when you have a busy and demanding profession, you likely don’t have that kind of time to spare.

Thus, a common conundrum: How can you deal with addiction and maintain your professional responsibilities? Here are just a few tips and suggestions from the Experience Recovery team.

It’s Not All Inpatient Treatment

The first thing to remember is that addiction rehabilitation is not one-size-fits-all. There are different programs available, and residential inpatient treatment is just one of them. There are other options, such as outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization, that can offer greater flexibility, accommodating school, work, and family commitments.

As you pursue addiction recovery, then, always ask about these different options. It may be that an outpatient program, requiring just a few hours per week, makes a lot more sense for your needs than a 24/7 rehab commitment.

Ask About Executive Recovery

Another option to consider is executive recovery, something that’s offered by many addiction rehab centers. Executive recovery is geared toward C-suite members who need to get well and get back to work pronto; thus, executive recovery is designed to be quick and discreet.

Executive record programs offer flexibility in a number of ways—not just a relatively brief time commitment, but also the ability to have your phone or computer with you when you’re in detox, allowing you to stay connected to the outside world. Again, it’s something to ask about as you pursue the best rehab plan to meet your physical and professional needs.

Know Your Rights

It’s also worth noting that you have certain legal protections available to you—for example, both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act offer protection for those who suffer from addiction. These laws prohibit discrimination and will allow you to take the time off that you need to pursue rehab, without running the risk that you’ll get terminated.

Make sure you know your rights and understand how to claim these protections; speak with your company’s HR professional to learn more.

Stay Committed to Recovery

Again, it’s important to note that recovery is an ongoing process—and even once you leave rehab and return to “regular life,” you’ll want to keep taking care of yourself and working to prevent a relapse. There are a lot of components to this, but here are a few especially important tips:

- Keep going to therapy appointments and support group meetings as advised by your addiction recovery specialist—even on days when you don’t feel like you “need” it.
- Keep your relapse recovery plan handy, and review it with your therapist on a regular basis.
- Even with a busy professional life, take time to eat right, get plenty of sleep, and relieve stress as needed.

Get Well, and Get Back to Work

Addiction recovery is an investment in the rest of your life—and that includes your working life. Pursuing recovery can make you far more energized, creative, and productive in your day-to-day affairs. In short, it can help you achieve at an even higher level.

Learn more about what it takes to seek recovery while maintaining your professional responsibilities. Reach out to Experience Recovery in Orange County, California, with any questions!

How Long Does Drug Rehab Take at Experience Recovery?

Written by Tim Stoddart on March 26, 2018. Posted in Drug Detox, Drug Rehab.

It’s natural to have questions about drug rehab. One of the most common questions is how long the process takes. Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question; the length of your recovery will depend on a number of factors—the nature of your addiction, the program you choose, any co-occurring issues that are diagnosed, and more.

A number of drug and alcohol rehabs offer 30-day programs, while others extend for 60 or even 90 days. Even this can be somewhat unreliable as an estimate, though; if you want a clearer sense of how long recovery will take, it’s best to call us at Experience Recovery to arrange a consultation.

Addiction Recovery is Multi-Faceted

One thing to note is that addiction recovery happens in various stages.

First, there is detox; in the detox process, your body is rid of all those harmful chemicals. The detox process usually takes a few days, a couple of weeks at the most.
From there, you might engage in inpatient or outpatient care; this just depends on your medical needs, as well as your school or work responsibilities. This is the part that can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, roughly speaking.
Ultimately, recovery is a life-long process, and aftercare is critical. Once you leave your residential or outpatient program, you may then go into a sober living or transitional program. In other cases, you may return home to your “normal life,” but regular therapy sessions and support groups will continue.

Flexible Options are Available at Experience Recovery

You may desire addiction recovery, but feel unsure about the time commitment—perhaps because of your obligations to school or work. It’s critical for us to note, first and foremost, that your recovery is the most important thing; it can literally be a matter of life and death.

Additionally, we are happy to note that there are flexible options at Experience Recovery in Santa Ana. Our Executive Rehab program, made for business leaders, is meant to be quick and discreet. And partial hospitalization or outpatient programs can help accommodate your busy schedule.

Don’t Scrimp on Recovery

A final note: Studies have shown time and time again that addiction treatment works, and that long-time recovery is possible. With that said, these same studies find that the people who spend the most time in rehab tend to have the best outcomes.

We encourage our clients to talk with us about the options available, and never to rush through rehab; it’s something worth a real time commitment, because the result can be a lifetime of freedom and sobriety.

Seek Help from Experience Recovery in Santa Ana

If you’re ready to devote your time to recovery—to building a better, happier, healthier life for yourself—our team is standing by. Contact Experience Recovery in California today, and ask us about the different programs we can offer. There’s no time like now to pursue lifelong freedom from drug addiction!

How to Pay for Drug Rehab, without Insurance, at Experience Recovery

Written by Tim Stoddart on March 19, 2018. Posted in Drug Detox, Drug Rehab.

Addiction can sometimes feel hopeless, but the good news is that treatment works, clinical intervention can be fully effective, and recovery is attainable for anyone. That’s true no matter who you are, or how strong your addiction seems. And, at Experience Recovery, we also believe it’s true no matter what your financial status happens to be.

For those who consider treatment at Experience Recovery in Santa Ana, cost can be a deciding factor. If you have health insurance, there’s a decent chance that it will pay for some or even all of your treatment. Indeed, we are proud to accept many major insurance carriers here at Experience Recovery.

But what happens if you don’t have insurance, or if your insurance carrier won’t help you with the cost of addiction treatment? Don’t worry: There are a number of other options available to you.

Payment Options at Experience Recovery, California

Financing and payment plans. It can sometimes be possible to pay for your addiction treatment in installments, over time. You can think of this as taking out a loan—and when you’re using that loan to pay for long-term sobriety, it’s well worth it.

Scholarships and grants. A number of nationally-known mental health organizations and substance abuse boards offer scholarships and grants to those in need. Be sure you ask your Experience Recovery admissions counselor about these options!

Family and friends. It’s hard to ask other people for money; far too often, pride gets in the way. With that said, we urge you to remember that there are people in your life who love you and want you to be healthy and happy for a long time to come—and as such, they’d be more than happy to help you afford the cost of treatment.

Personal savings. You may be saving your money for a new car or a big vacation—but remember: None of that’s nearly as important as your recovery, which is literally a matter of life and death.

Crowdfunding. Many individuals have used crowdfunding platforms to raise capital for their healthcare expenses—and there’s no reason you couldn’t go that route to raise support for your addiction recovery.

Ask for help at Experience Recovery. At Experience Recovery in Santa Ana, we never like to turn people away due to their inability to pay. We want to work with you to find a good solution, enabling you to seek the treatment you need. Don’t hesitate to be honest and upfront with us about your financial concerns! Remember, we are here to help!

Get the Help You Need from Experience Recovery

Recovery is attainable—no matter who you are or what your circumstances happen to be. That’s something we really believe in here at Experience Recovery, and it’s why we urge you to not let financial concerns keep you from getting the help you need.

Learn more about our programs, including financing options, by reaching out to Experience Recovery today.

How to Commit Someone to Experience Recovery Drug Rehab

Written by Tim Stoddart on March 12, 2018. Posted in Drug Detox, Drug Rehab.

Watching a loved one struggle with drug addiction can often be a helpless and frustrating experience. Those who deal with addiction are often in denial about their problem and its consequences—which means that your attempts to coax them into seeking rehab can sometimes come up short.

As such, you may wonder if there’s a way you can have them involuntarily committed to a drug rehab center like Experience Recovery—that is, to get them into treatment against their will. This is obviously a big step to take, but it may feel like your last resort. Here are a few thoughts on involuntarily committing a loved one to Experience Recovery in Santa Ana.

Involuntary Commitment in California

To begin with, it’s important to note that involuntary commitment is more commonly referred to as court-ordered commitment, which is probably a more accurate way to put it. You cannot simply show up at Experience Recovery and have someone committed against their will, as you may have seen in old Hollywood movies; there are legal steps you have to take first.

According to California’s state laws, a person only qualifies for court-ordered addiction rehab if one of these two conditions is met:

The individual poses a real threat to him/herself, or to others.
The individual is unable to provide proper self-care—i.e. unable to maintain food, clothing, and shelter.

Does your loved one meet these criteria? Sometimes, it will be quite obvious; if your loved one has threatened or attempted violence to self or to others in the last few months, that’s qualifying. In other instances, though, it can be hard to determine whether your loved one qualifies for court-ordered commitment. Here are some additional guidelines to use; you should seek court-ordered commitment if your loved one…

Has been hospitalized within the past 36 months and demonstrated noncompliance with medical treatment;
THas a condition that is substantively, demonstrably getting worse;
TIs unlikely to survive safely in the community without proper medical intervention.

Steps to Involuntary Commitment

If you believe that your loved one needs addiction rehab, and efforts to encourage your loved one to seek treatment of his or her own volition have failed, here are the next steps you might take:

1. Call your county courthouse and find out what the law says, and which court should handle your request.
2. Contact the court in question and ask for a petition for involuntary commitment.
3. Complete the petition, offering as much detail as you can.
4. File your petition with the court; you may be able to speak with a judge right away, or you may be asked to come back at a later time.
5. Attend the court hearing and give your testimony; again, offer plenty of detail when you can, but always be honest!

If you have additional questions about having a loved one involuntarily committed to Experience Recovery in California—or if you’d first like to speak to someone about holding an intervention—reach out to Experience Recovery directly.

Choosing Among the Best Rehab Centers in California

Written by Tim Stoddart on December 29, 2017. Posted in Alcohol Rehab, Drug Detox.

Addiction is an increasingly common—and increasingly well-documented—problem. It can impact people from all ethnicities, all ages, and all walks of life. Whether it’s alcohol addiction or drug addiction, the effects can feel crippling, even hopeless. The good news is that, with the proper treatment, freedom from addiction is always achievable. And now, there are more places than ever before to seek that treatment.

This can present a minor problem in and of itself. As you consider the various drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers in California, how do you know which one is right for you?

There’s no one right answer here. What you have to do is spend some time researching and ultimately determine the one you feel most comfortable with—the one that you believe best fits your needs.

As you weigh different drug rehab center and alcohol rehab center options, here are some factors to consider.

How to Find Rehab Centers Near Me

Clinical Components

First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the clinical program that’s offered. Alcohol rehab centers and drug rehab centers need to offer more than just good intentions. They need to deliver real, clinically proven protocols—backed by data, shown to be safe and effective.

You’ll want to look for a medically supervised detox, too. Detox is the first step in addiction recovery, and a clinical approach ensures that detox is as quick, as effective, and as comfortable as possible.

Finally, make sure you seek out a varied, personalized approach. There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all addiction recovery. Rather, it’s important to find a treatment plan that’s made to fit your specific mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. Look for a rehab center that will get to know you and work with you to map out a personalized plan for recovery.

Sober Living and After Care

Recovery is a lifetime endeavor—and in many ways, it can become even more challenging once your initial treatment is over. A good drug rehab center or alcohol rehab center should recognize this.

In particular, we recommend looking for a drug rehab center that will help you develop a relapse prevention plan. This might involve mastering some key life skills that will help you maintain your sobriety even once the initial treatment is complete.

Also seek out an alcohol rehab center where support groups are offered. When you’re in recovery, community is key. Support groups and alumni opportunities can be invaluable once you’re back into “regular life.”

Other Factors to Consider

There’s something to be said for the environment in which you pursue recovery. As you look at drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers, seek out a location that feels peaceful, tranquil, and comfortable. This can truly help you in your pursuit of lifelong recovery.

Also be on the lookout for a holistic approach. After all, addiction can affect all parts of your life. Nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, spirituality, mindfulness—all of these can be important components of your addiction recovery.

Good drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers will extend compassionate care to your whole family—helping to educate and support them as you undergo treatment. Always ask about these family services.

Finally, don’t forget to check on accreditation! A reputable drug rehab center will be properly licensed and certified within the State of California. As you speak with the admissions counselor at a drug rehab center, it’s never a bad idea to ask about licensure and other credentials.

Selecting the Best Drug Rehab Center or Alcohol Rehab Center in California

To recap, here are some basic bullet points—central concerns as you seek addiction treatment:

- Clinical/data-backed approach
- A personalized approach to treatment—not one-size-fits-all
- Medically directed detox
- Aftercare/support groups
- Relapse prevention/life skills
- A holistic approach—nutrition, meditation, etc.
- Family support
- A peaceful, tranquil location
- Proper certification and licensure

To bring it all together: Find a drug rehab center or alcohol rehab center that fills you with confidence—that makes you believe you’ll achieve full recovery. When you find a treatment program you’re comfortable with, that’s often the critical first step.

Experience Recovery is proud to be one of the top drug and alcohol rehab centers in California—and we’d love to talk with you more about how we can help you. We’re here to help individuals achieve lifelong freedom from addiction. Learn more by reaching out to the Experience Recovery team right away.

How to Choose from the Best Rehab Centers in California

Written by Tim Stoddart on December 22, 2017. Posted in Alcohol Rehab, Drug Detox.

Addiction can feel like bondage—but freedom is always possible, particularly through the right medical intervention. To get the help you need, it’s important to enlist the services of a rehab center—but remember, not all rehab centers are created equal.

In California, there is an especially high number of rehab centers to choose from—so how do you identify the one that best fits your needs? Here are a few tips for choosing from California’s best drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers.

Find the Best Drug Rehab Center or Alcohol Rehab Center

As you consider different rehab centers, these are some of the basic considerations you should weigh.

Personalization

Addiction doesn’t impact everyone in just the same way. As such, rehab cannot be one-size-fits-all. It’s important that you find a rehab center that will take the time to understand your needs, and develop a treatment program made especially for you.

Data

Drug rehab centers can’t just operate on good intentions and positive thinking. There has to be a real, clinical component to what they do. Their methodologies have to be backed by data, shown to be not only safe, but effective.

Flexibility

Remember what we said before about there not being a one-size-fits-all modality? Well, one implication of that is that, while some individuals will do better with inpatient care, others might fare best with an outpatient rehab. A good alcohol rehab center will offer different options.

Holistic Approach

Addiction impacts all parts of your life—including your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. A holistic rehab should address each of these things. This means that treatment might involve therapy, but also sleep, meditation, nutrition, activities, and more.

Relapse Prevention

Recovery lasts a lifetime. Sometimes, the biggest challenges come when you’re back home, acclimating to “regular life.” A good alcohol rehab center will provide ongoing support—including a relapse prevention plan and other key life skills.

Community

One of the most helpful aspects of drug or alcohol recovery is finding a sense of belonging—a community of people who know what you’re going through and share your struggle. Look for a drug rehab center that provides support groups, even after your initial treatment is complete.

Accreditation

Not just anyone can properly treat drug or alcohol addiction! Ensure that you’re being treated by the appropriate professionals; always ask about medical certification and licensure within your state.

Find the Best Rehab Center for You

Here’s the bottom line: There are many drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers in California—including many that are quite good. What matters is that you find the one you feel comfortable with—the one that seems like it will meet your needs and help you discover a life of hope and wholeness.

As you seek the best rehab center, we hope you’ll consider Experience Recovery. We’d love to talk with you about the things that make us unique. To start the conversation, reach out to Experience Recovery today.

How Do You Get a Drug Addict to Go to Rehab?

Written by Tim Stoddart on December 15, 2017. Posted in Drug Detox, Drug Rehab.

Watching a friend or loved one battle drug addiction can be painful. You want to help, and you know that if your loved one would just seek rehab, lifelong recovery would be possible. The problem is, your loved one doesn’t see the need for drug rehab—or admit to having a problem at all. What can you do to help your loved one make the connection, and seek the clinical intervention he or she so desperately needs?

You Can’t Make Anyone Do Anything

The first thing to do is step back and acknowledge your own limitations. No matter how dire the situation seems, there’s simply nothing you can do to make anyone seek addiction rehab. Trying to take a brute force approach simply won’t work. In fact, it will just be a turnoff.

Alternatively, you could try to guilt the person into seeking rehab—but this, too, is a suboptimal solution. In fact, when you make accusatory statements, it can cause your loved one to get mad, tune you out, and become further entrenched in the refusal of clinical care.

Talk About Your Feelings

Any effort to coax a loved one into recovery must come from a place of love and compassion. Express how much you care about the person—and how worried you are.

Here, it’s helpful to focus on I statements rather than you statements. Consider a few you statements:

You are addicted.
You are hurting yourself and you’re hurting me
You’re throwing your life away.

Now, you may think these things, but the fact is, saying them aloud will cause your loved one to become angry or defensive. Even if they’re true, they’re not helpful.

By contrast, consider these I statements:

I’m concerned about your drug use.
I’m worried about what might happen to you.
I just want you to be happy and healthy, because I love you.

These statements are rooted in your own feelings, and they can be suitably disarming.

Offer Your Support

Something else to remember is that seeking addiction rehab can be frightening, especially for those who have never had any previous rehab experience. The thought of doing something physically and mentally demanding, all alone, is daunting.

That’s why it’s so important to voice your support. Let your loved one know that you’re in their corner, and that you will help however you can—including by helping them find a good addiction rehab program; supporting them while they are in the program; and helping them as they re-enter “normal” life.

Helping Loved Ones with Addiction

You cannot make anyone seek addiction recovery—but you can encourage, support, and love. One more thing you can do? Research addiction recovery options, and help your loved one see the opportunities for true freedom. We’d love to talk with you more about this, and about how we can intervene. Start the conversation today. Contact the clinical team at Experience Recovery and ask about our addiction rehab programs.