Day: December 8, 2015

Addiction: The Difference Between Men and Women

In the early days of addiction treatment, recovery was addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach — the assumption being that men and women experienced addiction and, could, therefore, heal the same way. But as the years went on and addiction grew into an epidemic, research has strongly proven that women experience huge differences in both their addiction and their treatment needs than men.
More often than not, women begin using drugs for different reasons than their male counterparts. Men, studies have shown, usually pick up drugs to cope with social or behavioral problems like career stress or relationship trouble. Women, on the other hand, are usually triggered by emotional or psychological issues like anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder or eating disorders. Stimulant drugs like amphetamines or cocaine, in particular, are widely used by women to manage or control their weight. And while men will often take the initiative to experiment with drugs on their own, women are usually introduced to them by friends or significant others as a form of bonding.
Once addiction sets in, women experience the consequences quicker than men — with their medical and psychiatric health as well as their social and family lives deteriorating at a much faster rate. As despite using smaller amounts for shorter period of time, they’re symptoms are often as serious as men’s by the time they seek treatment.
Which brings us to the topic of recovery. Unfortunately, women are often more reluctant to seek professional treatment than men, citing barriers and responsibilities such as cost, lack of child-care arrangements, work and the stigma of being labeled an addict as reasons not to go. The good news: certain research suggests that women do better in recovery than men, with shorter relapse periods and a greater willingness to ask for help after a slip.
But it’s vital they take that first step and seek treatment. At Reawakenings Wellness Center, we have a recovery program tailor-made to suit the specific needs of female addicts. Located near the warm, serene beaches of Miramar, Florida, we offer a safe, supportive environment where women suffering from addiction can rely on our staff of seasoned, sensitive professionals to help them first understand why they fell victim to drug abuse, then take the necessary steps to recover and reclaim their lives.
In addition to both one-on-one and group therapy, we offer every amenity to nurture a woman’s physical, emotional and mental health needs including medically supervised detoxification, semi-private rooms, chef-prepared meals, a swimming pool and fitness center, art therapy, yoga, tai-chi, meditation, spiritual advisement and more.
If you’re a woman battling drug addiction or you know one who is, please do not hesitate. Call Reawakenings today.

Celebrities and Addiction: What Lamar Odom Has Taught Us

The night of October 13, Khloe Kardashian got the call that anyone who loves an addict dreads: her estranged husband, Lamar Odom, had suffered a drug overdose and was in the hospital, fighting for his life. Although they were in the process of a divorce at the time, Kardashian dropped everything to be at his side. “All I knew was I had to get there,” Kardashian has since explained. “I had to make sure he was okay.”
In the following days and weeks, there was an outpouring of both sympathy and scorn for Odom. Many felt sorry for the former NBA star, who is believed to have turned to drugs to cope with a series of childhood and adult traumas. Others found the circumstances of his OD (which took place at a Las Vegas brothel after days of partying with prostitutes) pathetic. But no matter what one’s personal stance on Odom’s situation was, a larger, inescapable question loomed: how could someone with so much fame, money and access to the best healthcare possible have gotten to this point in the first place?
The lesson we have since learned through Odom — and other celebrities battling drug abuse — is perhaps the most vital one of all: addiction does not discriminate. It does not care who you are, where you live, who you know or how much money you have. It is not something you can pay your way out of or escape due to your VIP status. Once it strikes, the only way out is to seek professional treatment. It’s not easy for anyone, especially a high profile star, to admit they need help. But it’s the crucial first step to recovering and reclaiming their lives.
Through this terrifying brush with death, it’s something that Odom, who remains in the hospital, has hopefully recognized by now. Although Kardashian and other loved ones have pledged to be by his side, recovery is a choice only he can make. As Kardashian says: “There is a very long road ahead of Lamar. He has to walk that road by himself and, most importantly, he has to want to walk that road. I will be there supporting him every step of the way.”
At Reawakenings Wellness Center, we could not agree with this way of thinking more. The decision to seek and commit to recovery is one only the patient can make. But once they do, they will never be alone again.
Here at RWC, our exclusive, private accommodations are suited for even the most high profile clients. Discretion is our utmost priority and we offer luxurious, single-bed suites specifically for those seeking maximum privacy while addressing and overcoming their addiction.
No matter what your background, profession or income level, RWC is a serene haven where you can trust that our staff of trained professionals will protect your privacy while guiding you back towards the productive, fulfilling life you deserve.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call today.

Rethinking Addiction: Is Jail Time the Answer?

For those who subscribe to the theory that addiction is a disease, prison as punishment is a terrible idea. After all, if addiction is an illness, the person suffering from it shouldn’t be penalized any more than someone with a cancer or leukemia, right? As Presidential candidate Chris Christie recently remarked, “We need to start treating people in this country, not jailing them.”
Interestingly, not everyone agrees. And whether you believe addiction is a choice or not, there is growing popularity in the idea that jail might help the recovery process.
How is that possible? How can being thrown in a cell with hardened criminals actually help someone suffering from addiction?
According to addiction psychiatrist Dr. Ed Gogek, who recently spoke with Newsweek about the issue, the answer is simple: in many cases, the threat of jail or jail itself is the only thing that will scare an addict into finally seek treatment.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 90 percent of people abusing substances don’t think they have a problem and don’t think they need help. Sure, they may stop using for short — or even longer — periods of time. But there’s no motivating factor keeping them clean.
Except, perhaps, incarceration. “I’ve seen lots of people get clean and sober because they were facing possible prison time,” Gogek relates. “I’ve had patients tell me getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to them.” Simply put, Gogek explains: “Tough drug laws save a lot of lives because the threat of jail keeps people in recovery.”
In short, says Gogek, “We need the threat of jail or prison. For many addicts and alcoholics, that threat might save their lives.”
Of course many people — including police officers themselves — will try everything else possible before turning an addict in for arrest. In Dixon, Illinois for example, addicts are encouraged to call the police for help. Law enforcement then arrives at their home to escort them to detox, not jail. It’s a plan that’s been showing signs of success throughout several Chicago suburbs. In Langloss and Lee County, police announced that anyone who brought their drugs or needles in and asked for help would be escorted to a local treatment facility. Since then, property crimes are said to have decreased. Addiction, said one local police chief, “is not a crime, it’s a disease, and police can be a voice to facilitate treatment for people who are suffering.”
Whatever finally prompts an addict to finally seek help — whether it’s a jail sentence or not — there’s no question that the end goal should always be treatment. At Reawakenings Wellness Center, our clientele is made up of patients from all walks of life. And our seasoned staff has helped countless people, regardless of their histories or backgrounds, get and stay clean. If you or someone you love is serious about finally breaking the chains of addiction, don’t hesitate to call Reawakenings Wellness Center today.