When someone decides to get sober they usually think they just need to go to rehab. This can be true, but usually, there are important steps before rehab. Medical detox usually is the first step in recovery. More than likely, if you are getting sober, a rehab will require at least a few days in an inpatient detox center to ensure stability and reduce withdrawal. Detox can be vital for someone’s chances of recovery. Medical detox is the process of slowly bringing someone off of addictive substances in a controlled medical environment. Detox significantly reduces the negative side effects of withdrawal in addition to keeping the patient safe. Some people attend medical detox because it is comfortable and separates the person from their drug of choice, but for some, medical detox is extremely necessary. Some drugs can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms which require a tapering drug to reduce the risk of lethal symptoms. It is important to learn the risks of withdrawal before attempting to taper by yourself or quit cold turkey. Even if you do not plan on going to rehab, medical detox may be necessary. Alcohol Alcohol withdrawal is one of the most deadly forms of drug withdrawal. The body becomes physically dependent on alcohol over time, which means a person can no longer function normally without it. This is why many alcoholics will experience tremors if they do not drink. This is just one symptom, and the real dangers are not so obvious. Alcohol withdrawal has a high risk of causing seizures. Even if a person feels ok, their brain may be struggling to function without alcohol....
Being new to sobriety is often one of the scariest experiences of one’s life. I know first hand. Once numbed by a drug of choice, life can seem very overwhelming. Day to day tasks and stress that seem normal to some become hardships for those in recovery from an addiction. Emotions, anxiety, and fear can drive someone to panic or even relapse. When I first got sober, I didn’t think it would be possible for it to last. I had tried several times before and always failed. Luckily, this last time around I got involved with a great group of people that could give me useful suggestions for newcomers. Now that I am in long-term recovery, I find joy in helping others. Helping others is what keeps me clean today and gives me purpose in life. I like to share the same suggestions for newcomers that my friends shared with me. Seeing people gain confidence and hope for their future is one of the most rewarding things in recovery. If it weren’t for the people who helped me at my lowest point, I would not be the man I am today. That is why I like to share what I have gained so that is can be passed along to others. These are some suggestions for newcomers I give today: Get A Homegroup A homegroup is a meeting and fellowship that you go to regularly and make it a routine. Usually, a homegroup refers to a 12-step fellowship like AA or NA. Homegroups offer accountability and support. In addition to this, homegroups offer a new group of friends who can...
Addiction is like a tornado. It tramples through people’s lives and harms the most innocent people. Families and relationships are strained, parents lose sleep wondering if their addicted children will be ok, and children of alcoholics live in fear. There are nearly infinite support groups and networks for addicts, but often people forget about the innocent bystanders who are forever scarred by addiction. Luckily, there are several programs for the relatives of addicts. These groups are similar to 12-step fellowships, except they support spouses, children, and friends who have been directly affected by addiction or alcoholism. Family support groups teach people how to set boundaries and how to best support someone in recovery or active addiction. Addiction is often considered a family disease. This is because codependency and enabling frequently run rampant in homes with addicts. Families often try to help addicts- too much. They support their loved ones so much that the addict is never allowed to fail. Addicts know if they have someone to fall back on, and push that relationship to the limit. It sucks the lives out of relatives and often causes controversy amongst families. Family support groups work to stop the chaos. Many family support groups are made up of people “in recovery” from unhealthy relationships. They can offer support and experience, just like AA. Many of these groups even have ‘sponsors’ similar to AA, where an experienced person can share how they recovered and offer 24/7 support to a new family in need. There are even support groups for co-occurring conditions. Families and friends are often affected by the ripple of mental illness just...
Drug tests are extremely common in rehabs, IOP, sober communities, and halfway houses. There are many variants of drug tests that can detect many different substances. The most common form is a urinalysis 10 or 15 panel drug test. These are cheap and effective, and they work in minutes. The downside is in today’s age, there are too many drugs to count that give the user a mind-altering high. Some of these drugs can be detected in labs, but this can be very expensive and time-consuming. If there is suspicion of a specific drug being used, the tester can send a sample to a lab and test for that specific compound, which won’t be as expensive. 10 Panel Drug Test A common and cheap drug test is the 10 panel urinalysis. This test usually detects Amphetamines (Adderall), Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex), Cocaine, Marijuana, Methamphetamines, Methadone, Opiates (Heroin/Morphine), and Oxycodone (OxyContin/Vicodin). These drugs are the most common and the most desired. Rather than using drugs that do not show up on a 10 panel test, users will often try to cheat the tests. Fake urine or tampering is common, or even just using in between tests. If possible, it is best to not let the user know which drugs are on the test or how many panels. This will give them an edge if they want to beat the test. Another way to combat drug test cheating is to purchase 1 panel dip-stick tests. These test for a single substance and work similarly to test cups. The stick is dipped in the urine and works in minutes. Common dipstick tests are...
Recovery, and especially early recovery, can be very stressful and difficult at times. It can be hard to manage emotions, urges, impulsivity, and cravings. In a 12 step fellowship, it may seem impossible to remember all of the suggestions. At times, it may seem like you are the only sober person on the planet... Luckily I can say hallelujah for smartphones! There are almost endless sobriety apps out there to help people stay on their feet. Some of these apps may be simply for meditation, while others help sober people link up and meet. Some of these apps were not even specifically intended for sober people but can be extremely useful for those recovering from an addiction. If you are like me, you may think “sobriety apps” sounds pretty cheesey. Fortunately, these apps are surprisingly useful. Some of them I personally use on a daily basis and have been monumental in my sobriety. If you want to keep your recovery fresh and need a little boost to your routine, here are some helpful things to check out on the app store: My Spiritual Toolkit My spiritual toolkit is an app developed by AA members. It lets you take notes, track your sober time, read daily excerpts from the Big Book, read prayers, and most importantly helps you do your daily inventory. It can be hard to remember the 10th step inventory and all of the questions you have to ask yourself, and doing it out of the book is kinda boring. This app lets you check “yes” or “no” to each question and add notes if need be. It also...
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