• Will everyone be gossiping about me?
• How do I explain my stay in rehab to my co-workers? Do I even need to?
• Have I lost the respect of others through my addiction problems?
• How can I be successful at work again?
• Will people treat me differently?

These are common fears and concerns that anyone in this position may experience, but it does not mean that you should shy away from returning to your former job. During your stay in rehab you learned how to cope with challenging situations in a positive way. Going back to your old job will be one of the first instances where you can put these coping mechanisms into action.

Successfully Returning to Work after Addiction Rehabilitation

When returning to your job after rehab start by taking all your energy and putting it towards your work. Keep yourself busy, and put your best effort into all your projects. Challenge yourself, but don’t get overwhelmed. Stay focused to prove your abilities as a valuable employee.

Address any issues or problems that may have occurred in the workplace while you were using. Make sure you speak face-to-face with anyone who may have been affected by your behavior, and apologize. This can repair work relationships and help your coworkers understand where you were and where you are now. Keep your boss in the loop, and talk with him or her about what you have learned during your stay in rehab and how you will be able to apply yourself more readily now that you have received the proper care. Reassure your employers that they should feel confident in you, and ask for their support while getting reacquainted in the workplace.

Don’t feel the need to discuss your personal issues with others. What happened while you were in rehab is not your coworkers’ business. Work on maintaining a professional relationship with as many people as possible, and do not give them any reasons to doubt you or your abilities as a fellow employee.

The most important thing to remember when going back to your old job is that you are getting a second chance to mend fences, apply yourself in a positive way, and experience success in your professional life. These things are crucial to your sobriety and development as a drug-free individual.

Find Addiction Rehabilitation

If you are ready to become a more effective employee and a drug-free individual, call our 24 hour toll-free helpline. We can help you find the rehab programs that will set you up for success, and we can help you readjust to life after rehab. Call us now.

Drug Classifications and Categories

Drugs can be categorized in a number of different ways. The Controlled Substances Act allows for the controlling and classification of potentially hazardous drugs into one of five “schedules” depending on a variety of factors. These include medical use, safety and abuse and dependence potential. Another way to classify drugs is by their primary mechanism of action. Controlled drugs are divided into five classes. These are stimulants, depressants, steroids, hallucinogens and narcotics. Although the classifying of drugs in these ways is helpful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Legal substances such as alcohol and nicotine can be highly addictive, and even over-the-counter products are not always free from risk.

Commonly Used Medications with Addiction Potential

Some commonly used medications with addiction potential include the following:

• Prescription painkillers. Most prescription painkillers are narcotic or opioid drugs which are chemically similar to drugs like heroin and morphine. They function similarly and are all highly addictive. Drugs in this category include OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet and Vicodin.
• Antianxiety drugs. Medications commonly prescribed for anxiety are generally depressants that work on the central nervous system. Many of them are in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. People using these drugs can develop physical dependence within the span of a few weeks. Xanax, Valium and Ativan are some commonly prescribed benzodiazepine drugs.
• Sleep-inducing medications. Sometimes benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat insomnia. Other medications prescribed for sleep problems are barbiturates which also have abuse and addiction potential. This category includes drugs like Nembutal and Seconal.
• Amphetamines. Amphetamines can be prescribed for a variety of conditions such as hyperactivity, and narcolepsy. Ritalin and Adderall are commonly prescribed drugs in this category.
• Cough medicines. Cough suppressants may contain codeine which is an opiate with high addiction potential. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is another addictive drug often found in cough medicine. Potentially problematic cough medications can be bought over-the-counter. Many brands of cough syrup have formulations which may contain potentially addictive ingredients, and these products include Robitussin, Dimetapp and Vicks.

We Can Answer Your Questions about Medication and Addiction

If you are worried about your or a loved one’s medication use, we can answer your questions and help you find options for regaining a healthy life. Call our toll-free number and let our knowledgeable counselors help you make sense of the situation. We’re here around the clock, so there’s never a wrong time to call. Why not call now?

Can Rehab Experts Help Me Find Treatment?

There are many components about addiction that rehab experts understand and consider when creating a recovery plan including the following information:

• Addiction is a complex disease that affects brain function and behavior
• Rehab experts understand that there is not one treatment that works for everyone and that treatment needs to meet specific needs
• Treatment needs to encourage the addict to stay as long as needed so that the chance of ongoing recovery is strong
• Treatment plans need to be established for each individual, assessed on an ongoing basis, and modified to meet changing needs
• Treatment needs to look at the whole person and may have to consider other mental disorders
• Treatment needs to pick up where detox ended because it is treatment, and not detox alone, that helps overcome addiction

How Rehab Experts Are Trained

Rehab experts have a great deal of education and hands-on experience in dealing with addiction. During undergraduate education, a student in addiction counseling may take classes in psychology, sociology, clinical assessment, counseling strategies, substance abuse, and counseling and evaluation methodologies.
States that require a certification to become an addiction counselor may require a combination of examinations, education and practical experience. Professional organizations, such as the National Association for Addiction Professional (NAADAC), offer a certification track for addiction counselors specializing in drug abuse or alcoholism.

How Do Addiction Rehabilitation Experts Help People Find Treatment?

The list of therapeutic strategies continues to evolve, and rehab experts learn about these different techniques annually. The following methods can help you achieve sobriety:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps addicts recognize, avoid and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to abuse drugs
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is based on four modules that help patients stay in the present moment and operate from a place of balance and acceptance
• Rapid eye movement desensitization (REMD) is helps unplug the trauma and underlying issues associated with your addiction, allowing you to explore solutions more clearly
• Multidimensional family therapy is designed to improve family function by addressing the unique familial issues you have
• Motivational incentives, also known as contingency management, use positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from drugs

Help Finding the Right Recovery Options

With so many options and factors to consider, it can seem overwhelming to find the right recovery options. You are going to have many questions about different recovery strategies and we can help. We can answer your questions, explore your options and provide insight into programs and services. Please call our toll-free helpline today. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about recovery options. We are here to help.

Why Withdrawal Symptoms Occur

Addiction changes the way your body functions. When you become chemically dependent upon a substance, your body stops producing certain chemical processes to cope with the steady stream of foreign chemicals that you are supplying. Once your body accommodates for a drug, it’s difficult to switch back.

Every bodily function is a chemical reaction between neurons. Messages are sent back and forth, conveying to move this arm or lift your eye lids or even to breathe. Any disruption to this intricate network will require effort to reorient your body. Since you become addicted over time, you probably didn’t notice these slow accommodations your body made to keep you properly functioning.

Do Different Drugs Cause Different Withdrawal Symptoms?

Because addictive substances each have a unique chemical makeup, your body will adapt to each drug differently. All addictive substances are categorized based on how their chemicals affect the body. Each of the following substances will cause different withdrawal symptoms:

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Cocaine (crack cocaine)
• Hallucinogens (LSD, peyote)
• Inhalants (nitrates)
• Opiates (morphine, codeine)
• Sedatives or hypnotics (barbiturates, benzodiazepines)
• Steroids (anabolic steroids)
• Stimulants (ecstasy)
• Tobacco

Depending on which drug you abuse, you will experience different withdrawal symptoms. Some are relatively mild, while others can be fatal.

What Happens during Detoxification?

Just as the type of drug matters when it comes to withdrawal symptoms, so does the type of detox. Quitting cold turkey can send your body into a kind of shock and actually worsen the withdrawal symptoms. You need medical supervision to detox properly and safely. There are two main types of detox, gradual detox and substitution method detox, and these types work in the following ways:

• Gradual detox—also known as the taper or tier method, gradual detox develops a personalized plan to decrease your dosage slowly until you are no longer using the substance.
• Substitution method detox—for more serious addictions, other synthetic drugs may replace the addictive substance. That synthetic drug can then be tapered through gradual detox.

Remember there are psychological withdrawal symptoms to deal with. This is where rehab comes in. To prevent relapse, you should seek therapy to treat the underlying causes of addiction.

Can I Quit Drugs Cold Turkey?

Suddenly stopping your drug or alcohol intake after becoming addicted is called quitting cold turkey. On average, physical withdrawal symptoms completely disappear anywhere between two to fourteen days depending on the substance and the severity of the addiction. Keep in mind that professional detox services can reduce the time of detox and can avoid many withdrawal symptoms altogether.

Help with Detoxification

We want to make getting help easy. That’s why our toll-free helpline is available 24 hours a day. We’ll speak with you about how your insurance may cover the costs of rehab. Please call; you have nothing but an addiction to lose.

Coping with Your Spouse’s Death without Substance Abuse

Instead of turning to substances like drugs or alcohol to deal with your spouse’s death, find healthy activities that can help you cope or to keep your mind off things. If you have children, spend time with them. Talk to your children about what you are going through, and make it a point to get out of the house and do things you enjoy. Physical activities such as taking walks and working out in a gym can release stress and can help you avoid negative activities like drug abuse.

Treatment for Depression and Addiction

Depression and addiction can form a self-reinforcing circle. Depression may cause you to abuse drugs, which in turn add to depression and emotional instability. Increased depression leads to increased drug use, and the cycle becomes established. Traditional addiction treatment does not address depression, but Dual Diagnosis treatment can help you address both problems at once. Dual Diagnosis treatment treats mental health concerns and addiction at the same time, helping users understand the connection between the two so that they can control their depression while recovering from addiction.

Learn More about Healing from Depression and Addiction

If you would like to find out more about your options for addiction and depression, call our toll-free helpline. We are here 24 hours a day to provide quality information on Dual Diagnosis treatment and to answer any questions you have about addiction. Professional treatment may be exactly what you need to end your addiction and move forward after a spouse’s death, so please call today.

Signs of Prescription Drugs Addiction

There are a number of signs that may indicate that you have developed an addiction to prescription drugs, including the following:

• You feel like your medication’s dosage is not adequate to handle your symptoms
• You began using a prescription drug recreationally and now you are not able to stop
• You feel like you need the pills on a daily basis to feel normal and function properly

Many addicts, when they realize how their bodies have become dependent upon prescription drugs, turn to buying pills on the streets. While buying prescription drugs from an illegal dealer may seem like an attractive options for getting around the restrictions of a doctor’s prescription, this action can also present significant risks to the user’s health.

The Risks of Buying Drugs from a Dealer

While the illegal market for prescription drugs is growing, the illicit sale of street drugs continues to be a significant issue. Dealers of nonprescription drugs are likely to be working under a drug lord or distributer, who could create a dangerous situation for any buyer who happens to be present.

When you buy drugs from an unregulated, illegal and unknown source, you are likely to receive an unregulated, illegal and unknown substance. A dealer may decide to add filler ingredients to the drugs he sells in order to increase the quantity in his inventory, which leads to more profit. Those filler ingredients could be anything from baby formula and baking soda to bleach, shredded fiber glass and other toxins. Homemade drug concoctions can be volatile, especially when the recipe is made incorrectly.

Once a user develops an addiction, the drug dealer will have the ability to make him pay increasingly high prices for the product. Addicts often become a slave to their addictions and their dealers. Buying drug illegally can leave addicts financially devastated and fearful of potential trouble with the dealer or the law.

Finding Help for Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, please call our toll-free helpline now. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions about addiction and to help you find the best treatment options for your situation. We are here to help. Please call now.

Family Therapy for Drug Users

Talk to your loved one, and ask them if they would be interested in family therapy to discuss their addiction and how they can improve relationships with family members. Family therapy will center on the family relationship and how the user’s addiction has changed that. During family therapy you will be provided with a safe environment to encourage the user to attend rehab or addiction treatment and show them how addiction has affected the lives of their loved ones. Family therapy can help the user realize how harmful addiction can be and how it impacts nonusers, and it may encourage him or her to begin rehab treatment.

Discussing Addiction with a Drug User

Instead of planning a formal addiction you may wish to connect with a user on a more personal level. You can make a difference in an addict’s life by talking to them about what they are going through and letting them know you care. Ask them if they are having trouble with drug or alcohol abuse, and explain to them what addiction is. They may not be aware of their addiction or of just how great its impact is. Do not place blame and do not enable, but do talk to your loved one and offer your support during his or her recovery.

Help Your Loved One get Addiction Recovery Help

Learn more about staging formal interventions or using alternative intervention options. Call our toll-free helpline and talk to our recovery counselors. We can provide information and advice and can arrange addiction treatment, if your loved one chooses to accept it. We are here to help 24 hours a day, so please call now and learn about your options.

What Happens in Addiction Rehabilitation?

The rehab experience may vary for each individual, but the following are a few things that every person entering into rehab can expect to go through:

• The first thing that patients entering a rehab program do is meet with medical professionals and counselors or psychologists
• Mental health experts such as clinical psychologists will discuss your situation with you and use their training and experience to determine the best course of action for an effective drug rehab program
• Medically supervised detox services will help you end physical addiction with minimal discomfort
• A licensed and experienced psychologist will let you openly discuss how you feel your recovery is progressing

Working with a psychologist while you are in an inpatient rehab program will help you to effectively address the mental and emotional issues that may have been contributing to your addiction. The best drug treatment programs will work with you to get you firmly on the path to long-term sobriety.

Call Our Helpline, Today

Call our toll-free helpline to learn more about addiction recovery programs and the professionals that are available to help you. We are here 24 hours a day to provide information, answer questions or connect you to the best recovery resources for you. Please call now and learn how we can help.

How to Become a Counseling Psychologist

Requirements involved in becoming a counseling psychologist involve the following:

• An undergraduate degree in psychology with coursework in clinical assessment, counseling strategies or substance abuse
• Postgraduate degrees associated with a specialized area of treatment such as youth or seniors
• State-required certification, licensing and advanced training requirements for drug rehab counselors

Why People Become Counseling Psychologists

In today’s competitive marketplace there are few industries that are experiencing as much need as the healthcare and addiction treatment markets. From a completely financial perspective a person has a great opportunity of securing employment and advancing in her or his career within this industry segment. However most people who become counseling psychologists are not driven purely by the economic potential. Many people have some past experience with addiction either through their own actions or with someone who they have had a close personal relationship. Having direct or indirect experience with addiction often leads a person to seek productive and effective ways of treating this disease.

Psychologists realize that addiction is often a symptom of an underlying set of issues. They have the desire to help recovering addicts uncover these issues and find healthier ways to deal with them. Some of the common characteristics of a counseling psychologist include the following:

• Empathy
• Patience
• Compassion
• Non-judgmental

Individuals dealing with addiction realize that recovery is a long-term process, and counseling psychologists are committed to creating an interactive environment that is most conducive to the patient’s recovery.

How a Counseling Psychologist Can Help

A counseling psychologist strives to help addicts understand the factors that led to their addiction. When a counseling psychologist works as part of a quality drug treatment program, he or she also does the following:

• Works as part of a recovery team to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient
• Interacts with other drug rehab specialists such as nutritionists, physicians and support staff to create a healthy and supportive environment
• Works closely with patients to deal with the emotional and psychological components of addiction
• Works with family members to help them understand their role in the recovery process
• Helps the patient avoid relapse by providing ongoing counseling after the person leaves the rehab facility

Finding Help from a Counseling Psychologist

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, a counseling psychologist and addiction rehab team can create an effective recovery program for you. Call our toll-free helpline to learn more about your options and to get connected with the resources your need. We are here 24 hours a day, so please call today.

More about Our Professional Counselors

Good addiction recovery programs will hire only the highest quality addition counselors. These individual will be licensed, experienced and well familiar with the unique needs of an addict in recovery. A counselor will benefit your addiction recovery in the following ways:

• Counselors will help with family counseling for addiction recovery so all members of the family can come to terms with the addiction and learn what their role in your sobriety is
• Licensed, trained and experienced counselors will help you work through the underlying mental and emotional issues that may have contributed to the development of your addiction
• Those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD require extensive counseling help before they can wholly move on from their addiction and addictive behaviors
• Counselors are dedicated to helping you attain good mental health by helping you recognize your addiction triggers

How Our Addiction Recovery Helpline Can Benefit You

If you find yourself asking, “Am I addicted?” You should take the opportunity to talk, confidentially, with one of our counselors. We can offer you mental health help and substance abuse help that will get you firmly on the path to sustainable sobriety. Our counselors can provide you with available addiction treatment options so that you will be better aware of the types of treatment that could benefit you.

We can help you with questions that you may have about how to pay for rehab. This may involve helping you come up with a workable cash payment plan or verifying your available insurance coverage. We offer a rehab treatment placement service that can ensure you get the best rehab help possible for your unique situation. When you need help for addiction, it is important that you receive only the best addiction help.

Call Us to Find Out More

Please call our toll-free addiction helpline today. Calls are completely confidential and are handled by qualified counselors who are ready to answer your questions, address your concerns and guide you to the best substance abuse counseling. We are here to help you regain control of your life and break free from substance abuse. We are here 24 hours a day to provide you with any help you may need.