Tag Archives: Family Aftercare for drug addiction in BC

Aftercare And Continuing Care Treatment Options For Drug Addiction In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Various aftercare and continuing care treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

What Is Aftercare?

When it comes to the process of treating addiction or basically any mental health issue, aftercare is a very important step. It is the process that takes a patient from primary treatments, for example residential drug addiction treatment onto maintenance treatments. There are various types of aftercare and in order to plan the best and most successful path of recovery, understanding each one is important.

Although most kinds of aftercare treatments for drug addiction are structured, there are also things that you can try on your own. For example, creating a strategy that helps to prevent relapse and adhering to it at all times, is important. You should also always have a list of emergency contact information on you. It is also helpful to keep a journal along with a gratitude list.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

That being said, here are a few things that formal aftercare treatment for drug addiction may include:

1. Step-down Residential Care

Residential care is the first kind of aftercare. This form of treatment tends to be beneficial for individuals who have struggled with extreme drug use, do not count on much support and whose social circle revolves around the use of drugs. This type of aftercare allows addicts to have more freedom while in a rehab center, this means that they are allowed to go to work, receive more social visits as well as have control over their personal schedules.

The high level of support that is available every second of every day is where the benefits of this kind of care system stem from. That being said, the step down care programs are a bridge to greater responsibilities and, even though they are structures, more privileges are included that in residential treatment for drug addictions.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

2. Daycare aka Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Daycare is another form of aftercare. This provides individuals with access to resources, for example therapy groups, addiction counselors and doctors while their evenings and nights are spent with their families. People, who have a great support system yet feel as if they would benefit from treatment that is more intensive, are the best candidates for this type of treatment.

The great thing about outpatient drug addiction aftercare is that it provides individuals with the most amount of flexibility with a schedule for their own while offering the highest amount of benefits that a residential care facility has to offer.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

3. Halfway Houses

A recovering addict could greatly benefit from residential stays for six months and even as long as a year. This form of aftercare treatment for drug addiction happens in a privately and independently owned residence. The best way that halfway houses are managed is with the use of rules and guidelines, for example house rules, regular drug testing and curfews. When living in halfway houses, recovering drug addicts are able to get support, make new friends and live in an environment that is drug free prior to moving out on their own again.

4. Support Groups and Psychotherapy

The last type of aftercare consists of attending support groups and citing counselors on a regular basis. This form of care is generally detailed in a treatment plan and is a part of weekly regimen of treatment. Those who benefit from his kind of aftercare are individuals who are ready to handle most of their recover however still require some regular help and guidance.

What any kind of aftercare is all about is helping individuals to be able to gradually ease back into their regular lives without experiencing feelings of being out of control or turning to their destructive habits. It also provides individuals with the opportunity of working on themselves on any other issues or perhaps on a recovery that was not completed after their first treatment.

Anyone who is searching for aftercare support should know exactly what they want to get out of it and be sure of the king of care they would benefit the most from. Many times a doctor or a primary care facility can help with making this decision. By choosing the best form of treatment, those suffering from an addiction can begin their recovery from a strong point and avoid any doubt or fear which may lead to a slip up or relapse.

If you have any doubts or questions regarding drug addiction aftercare treatment, please get in touch with Options Okanagan at 1-855-335-0331. It would be our pleasure to answer your question personally and promptly.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

The Latest Drug Epidemic In Vancouver, BC: Synthetic Opioids Like Fentanyl, W-18, And Krokodil

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Latest Drug Epidemic: Synthetic Opioids Like Fentanyl, W-18, And Krokodil in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Throughout North America, demand for opioids is troublingly high. Illicit usage is rampant, from classic heroin abuse to non-medical use of strong prescription painkillers. This problem has gotten worse over time. Years 2014 and 2015 saw all-time highs for drug overdose deaths in North America, with more than 83,000 people dying. Opioids were the drugs responsible for 64 percent of those cases. Seeking the source of the continent’s strange obsession with these drugs leads one to consider irresponsible behavior in the healthcare industry, a record high number of chronic pain cases (over 110 million), or the slippery slope leading from pharmaceutical painkillers to illicit drugs like heroin.

As though our relationship with opioids wasn’t scary enough, the latest news on the subject reveals a rising tide of brand-new synthetic opioid drugs that might well make the situation worse. Like other synthetic drugs, synthetic opioids are chemical mixtures designed to reproduce the euphoric and anesthetic effects of naturally-based opiates (e.g. morphine and codeine). One distinction to this new class of drug is that it breaks down into two sub-families: the synthetic opioids and the semi-synthetic opioids.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Synthetic Opioids Defined

Opiates are drugs that originally come from the resin harvested from opium poppies. It’s the plants’ natural alkaloid ingredients that give the drugs their potency. Only codeine, opium, and morphine are considered to be truly natural opiates. Drugs that have been derived from these opiates – both pharmaceuticals like Oxycodone and narcotics like heroin – are called “semi-synthetic” due to the processing required to create them.

Synthetic opioids are those drugs that owe none of their effects to compounds that originally come from poppies or the natural opiates. The particular chemicals used to imitate the effects of natural opiates vary widely; specifics can vary from drug to drug and even from chemist to chemist. It is this extreme diversity of recipes that make illicit synthetic opioids so dangerous. Without the sort of strict quality controls employed in a pharmaceutical setting, the potency of a given opioid is virtually always an unknown. Today the three most common synthetic opioids being abused are fentanyl, W-18, and krokodil.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

More On Fentanyl

Semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and heroin are dangerous enough on their own; when they’re combined with fentanyl their potency and risk increase exponentially. Fentanyl is an extremely strong prescription drug that’s usually prescribed to treat the extreme pain that comes after the completion of surgery. Healthcare professionals describe it as being 100 times as strong as morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Nonmedical usage of fentanyl is on the rise, and law enforcement personnel have seen fentanyl turn up in seized heroin and other illicit opioids. This growing problem has government agencies and experts extremely alarmed.

The issue of fentanyl abuse first came to light in the 1980s. In recent years the drug has undergone what can only be described as an explosion in popularity. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) tracks drug analysis requests across the nation. In 2013, state and municipal drug labs tested 950 different samples of fentanyl. In just one year, that number rose to 3,500 sample submissions in 2014.

Fentanyl is being used by illegal drug dealers to up the potency of heroin and other opioids while also decreasing the wholesale cost of the drugs. This has led to a significant number of serious medical complications when unsuspecting users dose themselves with far more potent drugs than they were expecting. This is frequently life-threatening. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a special alert to law enforcement agencies across the nation in April of 2015 regarding the rising tide of fentanyl abuse.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

W-18 And Krokodil

Krokodil is a street drug that earned its name in the grimmest possible fashion: It turns the skin of habitual users green and eventually causes it to rot.

Though fentanyl is still the most pressing synthetic opioid problem the nation is facing, krokodil and W-18 are coming right behind it. W-18 is still a very mysterious drug, and its very classification as an opioid is not entirely assured. It does have extremely potent analgesic effects, delivering an experience 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than natural morphine. This is another synthetic drug which has been around since the 1980s. It was never entered into the clinical testing process for development as a legitimate medication. So far very little W-18 has made it into the United States, but it is showing up more frequently in Canada. This proximity is making many law enforcement officials nervous.

Krokodil is formally known as desomorphine. It’s actually a semi-synthetic opioid which is created by combining adulterants with codeine. Examples of the kinds of chemicals used include iodine, paint thinner, red phosphorous, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, and lighter fluid. Krokodil got its start in Russia as a bargain-basement alternative to heroin, and today it’s come to North America.

An Industry Of Constant Change

The rogue chemists who feed the nation’s demand for illicit opioids are always busy. Law enforcement agencies are constantly scrambling to shut down specific drugs and formulas, but this does not stop the creators from inventing new mixtures and new opioid analogs.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Aftercare And Continuing Care: Going From Drug Addiction Treatment To Independence In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Aftercare And Continuing Care: Going from drug and alcohol treatment to independence in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Independence doesn’t start instantly after treatment is complete; former addicts need to go through a transition process before they’re ready for a sober life. The gap in between treatment and independence is a very vulnerable. Most people struggle with an incomplete understanding of their new responsibilities and limited resources while they move towards a life of sobriety.

Recovering addicts absolutely require quality aftercare if they are to make their sobriety permanent in the future. Our mission is to develop a customized aftercare plan for each individual in order to maximize their chances of success as they move toward full independence.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Preventing Relapses And Aftercare

While the individual learns how to manage his or her own recovery, relapse is the biggest threat that needs to be dealt with. Ongoing support programs and regular counselling are tremendously helpful to most recovering addicts, and these aids make it easier to break out of the substance abuse cycle. Options Okanagan wants to provide the support every recovering addict needs to steer clear of relapses and chart a bath to an addiction-free life.

Education And Familial Assistance

Good aftercare programs assist relatives as well as recovering addicts. They provide much-needed education and support to family members. Options Okanagan team members try to work with families as well as individuals in order to improve the long-term prospects of those recovering from addiction. Family members who require additional assistance are frequently referred to community-based programs including Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) programs. Bringing relatives into the recovery process is important in order to heal the instability and mistrust that addiction introduces into the family.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Communicating Freely

Recovering addicts who have completed the first phase of their treatment will have a wide range of concerns and questions. They usually want to re-build damaged relationships, establish healthy coping mechanisms, and build better habits at this point. We want to provide the safe space individuals need to address their concerns and make them comfortable with asking any type of question. Recovery takes a long time, and open communication is vitally important to making the aftercare process productive.

Recovery Choices

The best healing process differs from individual to individual. This is why Options Okanagan helps recovering addicts down many different paths to sobriety. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery are some of the popular options, but they are by no means the only ones. We start our assistance with each individual by assessing their unique recovery needs. This allows us to chart a recovery path that provides much-needed structure, guidance, and accountability on the road to sober living. Ultimately, we want to give recovering addicts the tools they need in order to connect with both a larger community of professional therapists and with peers.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Transitioning Out Of Treatment

Leaving an inpatient facility and facing society can be an extreme challenge for recovering addicts. We can provide individuals with a range of choices for transitional residences that are sensitive to the needs of recovery. This lessens the pressure individuals are subjected to and makes it easier to rebuild their lives. Being in close contact with peers who have faced similar challenges is a great help to those who are just starting out on the road to recovery.

Easing The Way From Treatment To Normal Life

Options Okanagan understands that addiction comes from many different places. The tools and techniques required to leave addiction behind and return to mental health need to be tailored to the needs of the individual. We are committed to helping every recovering addict not only complete basic treatment but also make a full recovery through our aftercare programs. Our support is intended to foster health on both a physical and mental level, and we are always open to working with other professionals in the fields of health care and recovery who can help addicts chart a path back to full sobriety.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Family Aftercare And Continuing Care: Bringing People Together In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Family Aftercare: Bringing People Together in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Addiction has an impact on everyone, including the loved ones of the addict. It creates a very stressful situation, where family members struggle to understand how to deal with the addiction and what it is doing to everyone involved. Traumatic situations are not unusual in these cases; for example, the police may have been called to the home before. The addict may have become physically aggressive. He or she may have become verbally or mentally abusive. The loved one involved may find themselves consumed with worry but powerless to alter the situation. The addict may lie to the people that are trying to help him the most. The loved ones may find that they are being blamed for situations that are out of their control. All in all, it is a very negative situation that takes its toll on everyone that is involved in the addict’s life.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Addiction leads to problems for everyone in the family. Studies show that the loved ones of the addict are more likely to receive a diagnosis of depression or other mental illness than people whose loved ones suffer from asthma or diabetes. Clearly, it is a difficult situation for everyone, not just the addict.

If you have a loved one with a drug or alcohol issue, you know how difficult it is to watch as they spiral out of control. You want to help. You want to do the right thing. Unfortunately, helping that loved one sometimes overtakes your own life. The owner of Options Okanagan, Doug MacKenzie, believes that some people simply don’t see what is happening to their own life because they are consumed by what is happening to the addict. These people try and try again to help in situations that are beyond their control. They want to “make it right” for the addict. However, often the situation spirals into isolation and resentment, and boundaries slowly slip away.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Loved Ones Need Support Too

In order to truly help someone that is dealing with addiction, you need to be patient, provide support and get them professional treatment. What many people do not realize is that the loved ones of the addict also need these same three things. Trying to help an addict is a frustrating and unpredictable process. Therefore, it makes sense for the loved one to also attend a professional program aimed at helping them better understand addiction. The program can also inspire the loved one, as it helps them see that change can happen. It gives them hope, which they need in order to move forward.

Loved ones also need to start a journey toward recovery, and a professional program is a great way to begin that process. It helps the loved one learn, gain new skills and set goals. There is also aftercare available to help the healing continue.

Doug at Options Okanagan thinks that the loved ones of the addict need to get support after the conclusion of the addiction treatment program. Loved ones were embroiled in a difficult situation as well; they were exposed to many of the worst parts of addiction. The pain does not go away overnight, and everyone needs to receive support so that they can work to rebuild their relationship.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Studies indicate that loved ones need certain things to deal with their experience and to come out on top in the end. These things include positive social support and solid information. Some treatment programs have always offered family aftercare services, believing that it has a very positive impact on the healing process for all involved. The addict has to be the one that takes control of their addiction and fights to get better. Loved ones can help, however, by not becoming enablers and encouraging the right behaviors. These things do not come naturally to most people, though, and they need to be given the right information in order to succeed.

Setting Up The Right Environment

A healing environment is made up of many components. In the aftercare process, loved ones are educated on addictions and negative choices. They start to see what their role in the negativity was. Basically, loved ones figure out what they should and should not do during the recovery process.

It is valuable to be around others that have gone through what you have gone through. Loved ones truly benefit from group aftercare for a number of reasons. First, you are with others that know what you are going through. You can talk openly; there is no need for shame or secrets. No one in the group judges you, because they have been where you are. In addition, you will hear about what others have been through and may be able to learn from their experiences. You feel hopeful. You feel confident. You even start to feel good about yourself again. Finally, you realize that your needs are important and that you have a voice, too.

Joining Family Aftercare

For the most part, you can go to a family aftercare program regardless of whether your loved one was involved in a treatment program at the facility or not. Some aftercare programs may last as long as two years. After that, there are often self-facilitated groups available. Typically, the amount of money you pay goes down every year that you are in the program.

Support programs are crucial to helping you recover from what is often a traumatic situation. These programs also help you learn how best to help your loved one going forward as well.

If you want to find out more, simply go online and search for information. You can call or email a program that you are interested in.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Comprehensive Recovery From Alcohol And Drugs In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Comprehensive recovery from alcohol and drugs in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Addiction disorders bring a lot of difficulties into a person’s life. One of the biggest such difficulties is the idea that an addict can resolve their troubles simply by getting a change of scenery, having different relationships, or being involved in situations other than their current ones. This is further compounded by a general societal attitude of immediacy, and that need for fast results often interrupts the long-view attitude that recovery necessitates. A far-horizon perspective is essential to anyone trying to recover from an addiction disorder, considering that such disorders are often progressive as well as chronic. When attempting recovery from anything, addiction or otherwise, there are no hot patches or first aid remedies that cure the ailment immediately.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Getting treatment for any addiction disorder dictates getting treatment for more than just the physical symptoms. Our psyches have serious undertows of both attitudes and underlying behaviors. Individuals attempting recovery must have their needs met on multiple levels, so any approach must be made in a multifaceted manner that incorporates the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of the patient in addition to the physical. Recovery must not revolve solely around alcohol and drugs, but must also help the individual create their entire system of operation. With increasing and fresh awareness, individuals learn to identify their specific cycles of addiction as well as learn their maladaptive coping techniques so that they can start establishing new connections with their genuine emotions.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Recovery is not something that happens for a little while; it is in fact a lifelong journey that mandates a regular regimen of constructive and positive actions. Any treatment for addiction disorder must make a goal of transmitting these tools so that recovering addicts can start making good decisions not just in terms of addiction-related matters, but across life in general. When someone invests in themself, they can make the changes that lead to lifestyles which prove happier and healthier. Fresh starts help individuals find the new paths they can take, especially ones where they get encouragement from love, serenity, connection, and meaningful relationships. The more time someone can spend free of addiction’s dark corners, the better they are going to be. There is a world larger than addiction, a world worth living in, a world free of loneliness, despair, guilt, rage, and worthlessness.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

The Dangers of Fentanyl Laced Heroin or Cocaine In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

The Dangers of Fentanyl Laced Heroin or Cocaine in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating heroin, fentanyl and alcohol addiction.

A heroin epidemic has swept across the US and Canada, faster than with any other substance the amount of North American’s abusing this drug is rapidly increasing. In the United States, the estimated amount of heroin addicts range between 350,000 to 550,000, from only five years ago, this is a 75% increase. The harsh and devastating consequences associated with heroin addiction, have affected many people from the suburban housewife to celebrities and the endless individuals in between.

Fentanyl addiction and Fentanyl abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

The ‘SuperDrug’ Sudden and Catastrophic Emergence of Fentanyl in Heroin

Although there is a greater awareness about this heroin epidemic, underground there is another type of drug abuse growing, it could be far more dangerous than a heroin addiction. There is new drug mix called ‘SuperDrug’, fentanyl laced heroin which has killed quite a large amount of people in many cities across Canada and the USA, including: Toronto, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

What Is Fentanyl and Why Is This Drug Combination So Lethal?

Originally fentanyl was manufactured in the 1960s and in the 1990s was when it was first introduced on the consumer market for palliative reasons. The painkilling powers that this drug contains are eight to one hundred times more potent than those in morphine, in hospital settings, fentanyl is commonly used as an anesthetic, for example in operating rooms or intensive care units.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Fentanyl is also used to manage long-term pain in chronic conditions, for example cancer. This powerful drug is opiate based and works by binding itself to the opiate receptors in the body´s brain this increases the dopamine levels and provides a feeling of euphoria and relaxation.

The “Ultimate High” With Fentanyl

When a physician gives fentanyl as a prescription drug, it is administered via various forms, for example a transdermal patch, a lozenge or an injection. However when fentanyl is used recreationally, it is generally synthesized in illegal laboratories, here they are often mixed with heroin or cocaine in a powder from.

Heroin or cocaine that is laced with fentanyl, which means the drugs are combined is a popular item that addicts search for on the black markets hoping for that “ultimate high” even though when taken together, these drugs are probably the most lethal. When combined, the dangers of fentanyl laced with heroin or cocaine can result in consequences that are deadly, for example:

a) Cardiovascular Complications
b) Drowsiness, Disorientation or Confusion that ins Increased
c) Respiratory Depression or Arrest
d) Gastrointestinal Distress
e) Disruption of Normal Mental Functions
f) Unconsciousness, Sedation or Coma
g) Death

Men Living with Fentanyl addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A Drug That Is Unpredictable

Perhaps what makes fentanyl laced cocaine or heroin so dangerous is the it is highly unpredictable. There are no rules or regulations when it comes to illegal drug combinations which have been synthesized on the black markets. Those who actually consume these mixtures of drugs, have no real idea of what they are putting in their bodies.

On the black markets, fentanyl may also be sold as heroin, this often causes the individuals to use it to overdose. A single overdose episode could be an incident that is fatal and costs a life. Though due to the amplified euphoric effects, addicts are drawn to this combination, they could be paying the ultimate price which is their lives.

Across the United States and Canada, many health care officials are concerned that heroin abuse which is problematic and a trend seen in North America will result in epidemics of overdose as more drug abusers start to combine these dangerous substances together.

It is Critical to Seek help

If someone you love or if you are abusing fentanyl or a combination of cocaine or heroin with fentanyl, it is crucial that you immediately seek help. The intensity of this kind of addiction which could result from abusing drugs can be extremely overpowering and without professional guidance, recovery will not be possible.

If you have become addicted to heroin, cocaine, fentanyl or any combination of these drugs, you will have to safely detoxify from them, this way withdrawal complications can be avoided. This means the assistance of drug addiction specialists such as a physician, therapists and psychiatrists who can help you to address the various factors which are involved.

It Is Important To Be Aware of The Risks

Combining prescription medications with illicit street drugs, for example fentanyl, is lethal, it can cause your life to turn for the worse. Whether you, yourself are searching for it to satisfy your personal addiction or if you are being pressured by others into taking these substances, it is important to be aware of the risks that you are taking.

Although one of the most difficult task you will ever take on is the recovery from an addiction, this is the path that can help you in overcoming the dangerous addiction to fentanyl laced cocaine or heroin.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

What Is Continuing Care And Aftercare Treatment In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

What is aftercare and continuing care treatment in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Recovering from addiction and drug abuse doesn’t stop at the end of treatment. Aftercare, at its core, should be considered as a kind of continued treatment that immediately follows a fairly shorter addiction treatment care period, like intensive outpatient treatment or inpatient rehab.

It is critical to pay very close attention to the post-treatment time interval for a patient. It is during that critical period that progress that was made during the recovery period are reinforced. Many different types of aftercare treatment options are available, which can help with preventing relapse and expanding on the coping strategies that have been learned during the rehabilitation process.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

They including the following:

– Outpatient treatment: The person lives at home and attends treatment a couple of times a week whenever it is convenient.

– Group counseling: The individual will share and listen to experiences that relate to addiction and work on developing coping and social skills within a group setting.

– Individual therapy: The person meets with a therapist one-on-one to build on the progress that was made during the initial treatment process.

– 12-step programs: Various fellowship programs,like Narcotics Anonymous (NA)and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), provide encouragement and support for people during their recovery process.

Clinicians may prescribe various lengths of aftercare or extended care depending on what the person’s disposition and needs are after the initial treatment is completed. It is critical that the patient critically follow her or his aftercare plan, since it is estimated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that substance relapse rates are 40 to 60 percent. Frequently, participating in a 12-step program on a continuous basis is strongly encouraged and actually required in some cases. It is also common to outpatient follow-up appointments scheduled on a regular basis at a clinic or hospital.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Recovery is a lifelong process. Call Options Okanagan today at 1-855-335-0331 to get the support that you really need.

Aftercare and continuing care typically involves much less frequent contact with the patient’s treatment personnel compared to during the acute treatment phase. It is therefore much ore like a real-life self-sufficiency situation, where hard work and individual determination are required for maintaining one’s sobriety.

Transitioning from acute treatment into self-sufficiency, in many cases, is monitored at different time intervals each week. This provides the patient with a strong incentive for avoiding trigger situations and resisting the urge to once again use drugs. Monitoring, as part of an individual’s comprehensive aftercare plan, can also help to detect a recent or impending release which allows for re-evaluating a treatment plan, which promotes patient safety and health ultimately.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

How To Develop An Aftercare And Continuing Care Plan

A series of aftercare goals and requirements will be set by a quality inpatient rehab program for every patient, based on the specific needs of the patient and discharge evaluation. In some cases, like with some employment/work alcohol and drug assistance programs, diversion or court-ordered treatment, aftercare participation is closely monitored and is mandatory. Although in some cases it might be involuntary, aftercare and treatment are not any less effective due to it.

Some examples of components that involve and lead up to numerous aftercare plans include the following:

a) Relapse prevention strategy that is drafted and rehearsed before the initial treatment ends.

b) Prescription for participating on a consistent basis self-help or addiction support groups (often these are 12-step meetings like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous)

c) Outpatient follow-up appointments scheduled on a regular basis for continued therapy with a clinician or counselor

d) When necessary, arrangement for a post-treatment controlled living environment such as sober living, halfway house, etc.

e) Required or recommended drug testing

f) Monitoring: may be done via email or the hone or at scheduled appointments. The information age has introduced various new continued patient care methods, including text message check-ins, video appointments and various other tracking and support apps.

Recovery From Alcohol and Drug Addiction Isn’t Easy

It is essential to have a supportive environment that helps you on a continuous basis to avoid temptation. That involves support system members taking any mind-altering substances out of the avoid, avoid using any intoxicating substances in the presence of the recovering person,and encouraging the patient to fully comply with his or her aftercare plan.

It is very important to have aftercare and continuing care programs involving a sponsor or someone else who is available at all times to talk. An aftercare program often involves individual, group and family therapy as well as other protocols that are created to meet the individual needs of the recovering patient.

Recovery From Drug And Alcohol Addiction Is A Never Ending Process

The recovery process is a life-long one, and doesn’t end when therapy or rehab is completed. Find an aftercare treatment program to get the assistance you need. Give Options Okanagan a call at 1-855-335-0331 to receive the confidential guidance that you need. We have treatment admissions specialists that are available 7 days per week and 24 hours per day to give you the information you need to determine the best aftercare treatment that will meet your individual needs.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Continuing Care And Sustaining Recovery After Treatment In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Sustaining Recovery After Treatment; Aftercare and continuing care in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Formal treatment administered by professionals to addicts seeking to recover from drugs and alcohol can prove a great start down the path to recovery, but just a month or so of rehab shouldn’t be assumed to be a permanent solution.

If you suffer from serious drug or alcohol problems, then you need to know that in order to recover successfully, you have to invest in making substantial changes to your life over the long term. They include:

a) How you identify personally as well as your individual beliefs
b) Your social and familial relationships
c) Your day to day lifestyle

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

It boils down to things like where you physically live, how you play and work, what individuals are a part of your life and which ones are not, and how exactly you deal with daily stresses in life. Recovery isn’t just avoiding drugs and drinking; it’s about manifesting a meaningful existence that has no room for drugs or drinking. Recovering from addiction isn’t like recovering from an infection, where you lay up for a week or two and then just go back to normal. Those who treat rehab like that go back to their normal addictions. Addiction recovery is more like how sufferers of heart disease adapt to their condition or how people learn to live in peace and health with diabetes. These conditions demand constant decision and certain actions to maintain life.

Good News Regarding Continuing Care And Aftercare Following Addiction Treatment

a) Addiction treatment has positive effects, and they are notable. A full third of those that get treatment achieve sustained sobriety, with the rest seeing decreases in their use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

b) You can boost your life expectancy and quality of life, as well as general chances of recovering permanently if you participate in aftercare support like AA.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

c) Recover support groups and professional treatment are both options for addiction recovery, but a combination of the two is the more effective than either one on its own.

d) The lifetime rates of recovery for addicts who seek treatment are over half of all individuals. Millions of people have recovered from substance abuse, even at severe levels, only to see fulfilling and productive lives.

e) There are a variety of ways and paths to pursue permanent recovery, be they secular, religious, or spiritual.

f) Recovered individuals often go on to lead lives of service and achievement within their communities.

Why Continuing Care Or Aftercare?
Sobering Statistics About What Happens To Addicts Following Rehab Treatment

1) Most individuals that complete addiction treatment programs are at a fragile balance, having an equal chance of landing in permanent sobriety or lapsing or relapsing within a year of their treatment discharge.

2) The first 90 days are the period of greatest vulnerability of lapse or relapse following treatment.

3) Up to a third of those that finish addiction treatment are going to be readmitted within the next year, and half get readmitted within five years.

4) Recovery of any individual is not considered fully stable for almost half a decade of sustained recovery. Fully stabilized recovery is defined as the point in which the risk of future relapse drops under 15 percent likelihood.

5) Sustained addiction can kill. Relapses after professional treatment can create high rates of death thanks to problems like homicide, AIDS, cancer, unintentional overdose, accidental poisoning, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and suicide.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Five Steps Addicts Can Take To Improve Chances Of Aftercare Recovery With Continuing Care

1) Never use drugs or alcohol under any circumstances.
2) Pick a treatment regimen that gives you a diverse spectrum of continuing care options, and then actively use them.
3) Locate a recovery support program or group, and then get involved. Meetings should be a priority, and you should find a sponsor. Establishing a sober social network and application of recovery program principles into your daily lifestyle work in great conjunction with involving your loved ones in your recovery.
4) If your current living circumstances are not conducive to your recovery, look into the budding network of available recovery homes.
5) Be an authority and expert about your individual recovery, and then own it.

Five Things Your Family And Loved Ones Can Do To Support You

Addiction strains and stresses families. There are a number of things your loved ones can do for you if you are recovering, so share these with them to see if they can help.

Authorities in the field have known for a while that addiction is a negative influence on entire families and the relationships within a family. However, recent research has also indicated that addiction recovery is also quite stressful on families right when a recovering addict could use some help as everyone adjusts to a recovery reality.

These are five things families can do speed things up:

1) Loved ones of an addict should get educated about the recovery program and process that someone is going through.
2) If you live with a recovering addict, make the environment a sober one.
3) Get support from both professionals and peers through options like Al-Anon so that you can be mindful of your own health, physically and emotionally. Support your loved one in their own meetings and support groups.
4) Help your loved one find sober housing, transportation, employment, and child care or other needs.
5) Assert yourself and intervene in any potential or actual episode of lapse or relapse.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Learn 5 Reasons You Should Have Continuing Care After A Drug Rehab Program In Vancouver, BC – Options Okanagan

Finished a Drug Rehab Program? Learn 5 Reasons you should have Continuing Care in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Have you recently finished an addiction treatment program? If so, then congratulations to you and good job! You have given yourself the chance to start over fresh and create a new lifestyle for yourself. Did your therapist recommend enrolling in any continuing care program? You might assume that your therapy is finished, but continuing care is named appropriately as it is for after a primary program of treatment. If you are wondering more about it, then you are not the only one.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A lot of the clients we serve have a serene sense of peace and even gratitude once they finish a residential treatment program for addiction, and that is a good first step. However, the world after is much different. You might have begun altering your behaviours, but the rest of your world is likely just as you left it. A lot of folks are intimidated by the idea that they must face people they have hurt or strained relationships at work due to addiction. It is critical that any recovering addict keep working on freshly developed coping skills acquired through treatment, so that the ongoing challenges can be faced with dignity and poise. Having an appropriate support network can also prove a good foundation for anyone wanting to remember why they are in a state of recovery as well as to find the strength to remain sober.

Continuing care can happen a lot of ways and take many different forms. Either alone or in combinations, you might use outpatient services, sober living houses, group therapy, and online aftercare. Group therapy often provides the strongest element of continuing care. Here, you can work through issues and then flesh out an action plan to cope with the very real and risky circumstances that fresh sobriety can challenge you with.

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

As a great number of addiction counselors will tell you, keeping with continuing care if critical to keeping sobriety maintained properly. People are able to find many things within their primary treatment, including perspective, self-esteem, efficacy, self-worth, knowledge, and awareness. On the other hand, these can all suffer once they are put back into their usual surroundings and face their old stressors. Without the consistent support of co-clients and a treatment team of professionals, then it is easy to let those gains slip away. Individuals quickly find themselves back in familiar ground, doing familiar things.

There are not one or two but in fact five huge reasons why continuing care is so very essential for individuals that have already completed a residential-based treatment program for addiction. Keep reading to learn what they are:

1) Get Some Support: If your pre-residential life did drive you to addiction, it might have been short of emotional and personal support you could rely on. Continuing care programs give you environments that are supportive and safe where you can talk about the difficulties and rewards that recovery bring. This setting is often free of judgement since everyone else involved is also going through recovery.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

2) Keep A Spark Of Hope: There will be times that recovery gets tough, and relapsing might seem like the easier and even better option at times. Continuing care is not just a maintaining strategy but a source of hope and motivation that keeps you moving in a positive direction. Listening to the stories of others can be an inspiration as well as a reminder of just why you decided on recovery to start with.

3) Personal Accountability: A lot of recovering addicts find continuing care to be a step back from the rigid structure of residential care. This transitional phase helps you move from a very structured environment to the total chaos that life can seem like. Continuing care is a support network that engenders honesty and accountability. Random drug testing and weekly group therapy often make for a good program. Group setting help keep people stay inspired and in check with their feelings, as honesty and self-awareness are critical to coping with the daily rigors of life. Counselors and fellow recovering addicts in group therapy can call you out on anything you say that is not honest or appropriate and give you a dose of cold water medicine and honesty that you might need in order to stay grounded. Sober associates and acquaintances can rub off on you in a very good way, as well as help you learn, avoid, and managed warning signs for relapse.

4) Boost Your Self-Efficacy: Keeping regular participation in a continuing care program means you get growing confidence and a strengthening commitment to your sobriety as well as an overall healthier lifestyle. When you see that others around you and before you have faced similar circumstances and kept their sobriety up, you can find the mettle to do it yourself too. Every week that you go back to a group session is another week that you pay attention to the growth you have already undergone and a chance to see where you still need to grow, but you’ll also face what’s left with increasing determination.

5) Coping Mechanisms When Faced With Higher-Risk Circumstances: Knowing your own personal behavior and patterns guides in you making wiser decisions, and this is something you learn in residential treatment. However, you do not really practice it until released back into the world when you only have continuing care to rely on. Here is when you learn how to both identify and then manage circumstances that might drive you to relapse. Work concerns, health issues, and divorce are all common triggers for anything from fatigue to stress to mood swings. Having an appropriate and robust plan of action for managing your triggers helps you to be sensitive to your own feelings so that you can be prepared for what the future throws at you.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Aftercare And Continuing Care – Alcohol And Drug Rehab In Vancouver, BC : Part 03

Drug, opiate and alcohol rehab continuing care and aftercare in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia – Options Okanagan Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Part 03
Transitional Communities (Preventing relapse following rehab)

Many individuals who have a Dual Diagnosis, after they are discharged from their inpatient treatment facility, find that a more comfortable transition can be made if they spend some time residing in a sober living home. A secure and structured environment is offered by these communities to residents wanting to focus on their recovery without having to worry about the stressors and temptations from the outside world.

Opiate addiction and drug abuse and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A transitional residential community may provide the following during the aftercare time period:

1) An environment that is free of alcohol or drugs

2) A living situation that is affordable for recovering addictions who are looking for a job

3) Encouragement and emotional support from fellow residents who have a clear understanding of the challenges that involved with a Dual Diagnosis recovery process.

4) House meetings for reinforcing a sense of community and fellowship

People Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

A majority of addiction treatment centers are more structured than transitional communities are, however enough supervision is still provided to offer a sense of security for individuals who are still might feel too new in their sobriety to be able to cope with the pressures of daily life. It is expected that residents with participate in chores, attend household meeting and comply with house curfews. In addition, they are expected to contribute to the expenses of the house to cover their living expenses through doing community jobs or paying rent.

Integrated Recovery Services

Mental health disorder treatment should be integrated within addiction treatment through the entire recovery process to ensure that the best outcome is achieved. During aftercare, addiction counselors and mental health professionals need to keep working together as your treatment team members.

Men Living with Drug addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Vancouver

Like arthritis, diabetes and hypertension, severe psychiatric disorders are a kind of chronic condition that tends to require lifetime treatment. In order to manage the symptoms of major depression, generalized anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder requires pharmacological support and long-term therapy in addition to encouragement that is provided by support groups, friends and family members. Numerous psychiatric associations say that addiction is a relapsing, chronic disease that might not ever be cured completely, but instead managed from day to day. The more resources that are at your disposal, the more likely it is that you will successfully make it through the initial challenging few months of your recovery and be able to build a fulfilling and lasting life in sobriety.

In Canada and British Columbia, there are dual diagnosis treatment facilities that understand how important aftercare is. We assist those who are leaving our facilities with finding programs that will fit their needs the best. The education and care that people get at our centers helps them with breaking their addiction cycle and get started on a new life.

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Google+ Options Okanagan

Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331