ShafaHome, India’s most respected substance abuse treatment centre, regularly receives phone calls and emails regarding drugs, alcohol, and addiction treatment. Several people, including clients and their families, come to us and ask why addiction is considered to be a disease. To help those and any other individual wanting to know the answer, here is why addiction to drugs or alcohol is recognised as being a disease. Addiction and Disease Addiction is considered to be a disease because it meets the exact same ‘requirements’ as other disorders and diseases, including terminal illnesses. This is noted because all addiction treatment experts and medical professionals agree that addiction is 10
It is important that family members or friends who suspect a loved one of using heroin be able to recognise the signs of an addiction. 10 signs to help you decide if someone is addicted to heroin. From the dusty streets, to the posh neighbourhoods, heroin is being used. It is in fact one of the most abused illegal drugs in the world, and while many drugs have had their time as being ‘in trend’ and then decreased overtime, heroin use and addiction in most areas of the world has never decreased. Those who use heroin can quickly become addicted to the drug and lose control of their lives within the blink of an eye. The destructive habits that an addiction to heroin can cause should be addressed
There is not only one way to stay clean and sober in alcohol or drug recovery, in fact there are various ways to do so. Each and every addict is different and there are different stages of recovery from an addiction. This means that it is very useful to understand the different ways to help you stay clean and sober after addiction rehab. 5 Great Ways to Stay Clean and Sober in Alcohol or Drug Recovery Support Groups The first way to help you stay clean and sober is by finding a 12 step group around your area. They are found in nearly every city and town, they are free, supportive, and are open to anyone in alcohol or drug recovery. There are however, people who do not like these support grou
Seniors and elderly people today are abusing alcohol more than any other previous generation. The number of alcoholics over the age of 65 only continues to rise. Sadly, at least half of these people go completely undiagnosed, and their problem continues. Elderly Alcohol Abuse Usually goes Unnoticed Seniors and elderly people may begin to abuse alcohol in order to cope with loneliness, depression, grief, or pain from an injury. Over time, these seniors or elderly people begin to drink more alcohol, eventually this leads to abuse, which leads to addiction. One out of two times, this heavy intake of alcohol goes unnoticed. The individual may limit their drinking when family or friends are aroun
How many times in your life have you thought to yourself about slowing down or even stopping your alcohol consumption, because you feel like your addiction to alcohol is ruining your life and your families? This is not an easy thing to think about or even say, but it is much tougher to say that you are addicted to alcohol and enough is enough you need addiction treatment. It is incredibly difficult for an alcoholic to come to the conclusion and admit that they have an addiction and are in need of alcohol recovery. Enough is Enough “I am an alcoholic.” That is very tough to say for most addicts in need of alcohol recovery. It sounds harsh and may even cause you shame or disappointment. This t
Today many drugs are being extremely abused, to the extent that not only are people developing addictions to them, but abuse is resulting in overdose, severe health problems, and even ending in death. Drug abuse is becoming an increasingly common occurrence; it is likely that the reader of this article will know at least one person who abuses drugs. Because of this it is important to know what the most abused drugs are. The Top 10 The top 10 most abused drugs are in a countdown order starting with the least abused. The 10th Most Abused Drug: Inhalants Various types of inhalants are found throughout most households. Products like cleaning solutions, gasoline, and air cans for computers are al
The risk for developing an addiction is exceptionally high during the adolescent and young adult years, and worldwide families and communities are suffering because of addiction’s widespread impact. In lieu of our soon to be opened youth addiction treatment centre, we find it important to highlight how addiction effects young people and why addiction treatment for youngsters is pivotal in reducing the impact of addiction on societies. Addiction amongst youth causes devastating consequences within families and societies worldwide, one of which is the tragic loss of young life due to drug overdoses. Recently in the United States there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young people
Some people believe that addiction relapse is inevitable – but that is absolutely not true. Being aware of these relapse triggers is your first step towards long-term addiction recovery. One of most effective techniques for preventing relapse is to identify your personal relapse triggers and make a detailed plan on how you will manage them. And while some common relapse triggers are obvious — like being around other people who are using — others are less straightforward. Addiction is a tricky disease, and will try to sneak up on you when you are least expecting it. We have compiled this list of the most common addiction relapse triggers to get you thinking more deeply about how you can avoid
The grief of getting clean In the dictionary, the word bereavement is defined as, ‘a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one’. Mourning the loss of a loved one is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the word bereavement but what about the other losses we experience in life? What about the loss of identity, lifestyle and coping mechanisms (albeit unhealthy ones) of an addict going into recovery? What’s rarely talked about, or acknowledged, are the very real stages of grieving which an addict experiences when letting go of their old lifestyle and embracing a new one in recovery. There are so many things an addict must relinquish when embarking
Practicing self-expression and creativity can significantly increase your chances of success in addiction recovery. Learn more about the most useful relapse prevention strategies in this article. Learning how to manage your thoughts, feelings and emotions is an integral part of being successful in addiction recovery. Every single day humans have tens of thousands of thoughts running through their minds. But many feelings are hard to put into words, and many people have a tough time opening up and sharing their feelings. Some thoughts or emotions are not even clear to the person experiencing them – which is often why so many people turn to substance abuse in the first place. But now in recove
Heroin use has made a comeback in recent years. Understand its short- and long-term effects, signs of heroin addiction and the most effective treatment options. Understanding the effects of heroin and the available options for heroin addiction treatment is more important today than ever before. Heroin use has risen sharply in recent years. Prescription Painkillers: The Gateway to Heroin A 2013 study showed that almost 80% of heroin users start by using painkillers, which is a fairly sure sign that painkillers are in some way contributing to the increase of heroin use around the globe. But why? From the Doctor’s Office to The Streets: A Journey of Opioid Addiction The comeback of heroin is
Being nervous about addiction recovery is common. After all, your life will be significantly changed. The good news is that it will be changed into something better than you may be able to imagine. This list will get you excited about what lies ahead! For many addicts who are just beginning or have yet to begin their journey through addiction recovery, the end result can seem scary. It is often difficult to imagine a life without drugs or alcohol when they have become so deeply ingrained in your lifestyle. However, recovery is something that should be celebrated, because aside from physically getting sober, there are so many other great things that happen in recovery too. To help you get exc
Is your teenager using drugs? Make sure you know the symptoms of teen drug use and how to treat it, before it turns into a life-long addiction battle. Teen drug use is a huge problem in today’s society, and this in turn has an effect on families as a whole. This growing problem is worldwide, and research has shown that at least 50% of all teens in high school have tried an addictive substance of some kind. The reasons for this increase in teenage drug use is in large part a result of the growing accessibility and social acceptance of drugs. Drugs are more accessible now than they have ever been before, and the Internet is largely to blame for their range of availability. It has created an ea
When you love an addict – whether it is your spouse, family member or friend – it’s only natural to want to help. But how do you draw the line between supporting and enabling? Loving an addict, whether a spouse, family member or friend, is an unquestionably difficult situation to be in. Addiction does not just affect addicts, but also greatly affects their friends, families and partners. This can result in a multitude of feelings – hurt, sadness, despair, anger – but also an overwhelming desire to help. It may feel impossible to sit back and watch them tumble down the spiral of addiction, but you must be careful. There is a fine line between helping an addicted loved one and enabling them to
For many people, breaking free of addiction begins with an inpatient treatment programme, but there’s a strong day-to-day aspect involved with staying clean and sober. In this post, we explore what goes into setting up a successful daily recovery practice. Recovery from addiction is an ongoing process, and it requires a daily commitment to staying clean and sober. But after completing a comprehensive inpatient addiction-treatment programme – like the one operated by ShafaHome – you may find that the hardest work is yet to come. This is what makes it so important to set up a daily recovery practice to keep your recovery strong. Make Ongoing Treatment Part of Your Daily Recovery Practice Cogni
Some people believe that addiction relapse is inevitable – but that is absolutely not true. Being aware of these relapse triggers is your first step towards long-term addiction recovery. One of most effective techniques for preventing relapse is to identify your personal relapse triggers and make a detailed plan on how you will manage them. And while some common relapse triggers are obvious — like being around other people who are using — others are less straightforward. Addiction is a tricky disease, and will try to sneak up on you when you are least expecting it. We have compiled this list of the most common addiction relapse triggers to get you thinking more deeply about how you can avoid
Abstaining from drugs and alcohol is the cornerstone of addiction recovery, but without making other positive lifestyle changes and following a relapse prevention plan your chances of staying sober in the long-term are slim. The following guide will help you keep on track with your recovery and give you an overview of the things you must do in order to stay sober. Addiction Recovery Survival Guide 1. Find healthy ways to relieve stress. many people begin using drugs and alcohol to wind down after a long day, let loose, and forget about daily stressors. Once you are addicted, drug and alcohol abuse becomes your one and only coping strategy for managing stress. Developing new healthier ways to
Learn about the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and how to detox safely and successfully. Getting Help to Detox from Alcohol If alcohol abuse is left untreated, a drinker’s body can become physically addicted. When a person is dependent on alcohol, the threat of withdrawal symptoms makes it even more difficult to stop. One of the earliest signs of alcohol dependence is when a person requires more alcohol to achieve the desired effect. Other signs of dependence include: Lying to others to hide alcohol consumption Shame or guilt around drinking Incessant cravings for alcohol Experiencing “black outs” or forgetting what occurred during drinking Having withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop
Alcoholic drinks are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the IARC and cited as the cause of seven lethal types of cancer. However, stopping drinking or staying sober can greatly lower your risk. SHAFAHOME explores the links between alcohol and cancer and offers advice, treatment and support. Alcohol and Cancer – Are You Affected? Have you ever really thought about alcohol and cancer? Do you consider yourself at risk? Until recently, many people thought that moderate alcohol consumption lowered the risk of developing cancer. However, studies have now shown this claim to be wildly inaccurate. In truth, nobody can predict how their body will react to the carcinogens in alcohol. Anyone is pot
Medical technology is advancing rapidly, and researchers believe they’ve found a way to determine who will and will not relapse. We take a look at the pros of cons of precision addiction medicine. Medical technology like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has lead to huge advancements in how we understand addiction (in addition to many other diseases) and has been helpful in creating modern addiction treatment programmes. But now, these medical technologies are being combined with computer-driven algorithms to shift the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. In most cases of serious medical illness, this will inevitably be a good thing. But in the realm of behavioural health, and specifical
