The Truth About Prescription Pill Addictions

prescription pill addiction

Prescription pill addiction involves more than just opioids and other pain medications. There are four broad classes of prescription pills that are commonly abused. These include opioids, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and stimulants. Although many who are prescribed prescription medications take them properly, there is still a substantial portion of the population who misuse them, resulting in addiction and the need for intensive addiction treatment. In 2017 it was estimated that more than 18 million people had misused prescription medications in the last year. While current data is not available, it is assumed based on historical statistics that this number has only continued to grow with misuse rates among adults ages 18-25 being some of the highest at nearly 15%. In these surveys, more people report using controlled prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine combined putting prescription drugs just behind marijuana when it comes to illicit drug use.

The Types of Prescribed Prescription Pills

The rate of prescription drug abuse and addiction is currently considered a pandemic in the United States and only worsening with time. Unfortunately, many who end up addicted to prescription pills do so after being prescribed the drug for legitimate reasons. Also, many teens believe prescription medications to be “safer” than other drugs because a medical provider prescribes them; thus, they are more likely to misuse them. As previously noted, prescription pill addiction generally applies to four categories of drugs.

Opioids

  • Opioids or prescription painkillers are used to treat severe or chronic pain conditions. They are also among the most over prescribed medication classes. Common opioids include OxyContin, Lortab, Morphine, and Percocet.

Stimulants

  • Adderall, a commonly prescribed stimulant, is typically prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Other medications similar to Adderall include Concerta and Ritalin.

Sedatives and Tranquilizers

  • Sedatives and tranquilizers are quite similar and generally produce the same intoxication effects. This category includes sleeping pills, which are classified as sedative-hypnotics. Other drugs that fall into this category are benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines or “benzos” are a form of prescription sedative. They are commonly prescribed to treat symptoms related to anxiety or to help with insomnia. The most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines are Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Klonopin.

How Do You Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs?

Opioids, stimulants, and sedatives can be beneficial for some individuals who have been diagnosed with certain medical disorders or who struggle with chronic pain. However, many of these medications have extremely high addictive potential and, consequently, are often abused or sold illegally. But why is it that some people who take these medications develop a prescription pill addiction and others do not? For some, it may be related to a genetic predisposition for addiction in general. Also, those who have a first-degree relative who suffered from a substance abuse disorder are significantly more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder than those without such a family history. Environmental factors such as peer influence and family dynamics can also play a role in prescription pill addiction.

While all of the above and other factors play a role in prescription pill addiction, one of the most common ways people get addicted to prescription drugs is through the use of the medication itself. It is not uncommon for someone who is prescribed prescription pain medication for chronic pain to take these medications for extended periods. Eventually, the initially prescribed dose is not sufficient to mitigate the pain, and higher doses are consumed to achieve the same feeling as before. This is called developing a tolerance, and it is one of the most common ways addiction develops.

Signs of a Prescription Pill Addiction

The signs and symptoms of prescription pill addiction will vary based on the specific pill being used. Some of the common behavioral signs that may indicate addiction may include:

  • doctor shopping
  • changes in sleeping and eating patterns
  • requesting refills more often than necessary
  • “losing” prescriptions and seeking replacements
  • sudden mood changes
  • demanding more privacy

Aside from the signs and symptoms mentioned above, long-term prescription pill addiction without addiction treatment can result in a host of adverse complications including overdose, incarceration, broken relationships, legal problems, failing physical health, developing a co-occurring mental health disorder, financial strain, and job loss.

Our treatment team at Soba Recovery Centers across the United States is skilled in providing individualized treatment for all types of addiction. We believe addiction treatment programs must be designed to suit each person’s needs, and therefore we focus our treatments on your needs as opposed to a standard design. If you are ready to seek treatment for a prescription pill addiction, reach out to Soba Recovery Centers today.

Heroin Addiction: Stats & Facts

heroin addiction

Heroin is an opioid drug derived from morphine. Heroin is sometimes called by other names, including smack, hell dust, and big H. Heroin can be either a white or brown powder or a black and sticky tar-like substance known as black tar heroin. Heroin is used in a variety of ways, including injection, smoking, and snorting. In some cases, people mix heroin with crack cocaine to form an even more potent substance. This practice is called speedballing.

Since 2007, the rate of heroin use in the United States has continued to climb. According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health published in 2016, the most prevalent demographic for this increase is among adults ages 18-25. In direct contrast, the rate of use among teens ages 12-17 has been declining and is currently at the lowest levels since 1991. Over the last decade, nearly one-third of all opioid-related deaths involved heroin leading to the deaths of almost 15,000 Americans in 2018-that’s approximately 130 people per day!

Death from opioid use is preventable with proper heroin addiction treatment ; however, many who need heroin addiction rehab either do not seek it or cannot get it. 

What Are the Effects of Heroin?

Heroin use has many short and long-term effects on the body and brain. Initially, heroin enters the brain and attaches to the cells responsible for feelings of pain and pleasure. It also impacts the brain’s areas responsible for essential life-sustaining functions, including heart rate, breathing, and sleeping.

In the short-term, heroin use can result in “rush” (feelings of pleasure and happiness). Despite pleasurable effects in the short-term, heroin can also result in nausea, vomiting, itching, dry mouth, and hot flashes. Long term effects of heroin include a wide range of medical difficulties, including liver and kidney disease, lung complications, mental disorders, and sexual dysfunction, among others.

How to Recognize Heroin Addiction

Heroin is highly addictive, and those who regularly use it generally develop a tolerance that requires higher and more frequent doses to get the desired effects. Those who are addicted to heroin often exhibit changes in mood and behavior. Also, there are physical signs to look for, which may indicate a heroin addiction.

Behavior Changes

Heroin addiction can result in significant changes in behavior. Individuals may distance themselves from friends, family, and other members of their social circle. Also, they may exhibit a decline in academic or professional performance. 

Physical Changes

Heroin use, whether short or long-term, can cause difficulty breathing, weight loss, and various other physical changes in the body. Heroin can also cause extended periods of drowsiness, a sudden reduction in energy, and a lack of muscle coordination.

Drug Paraphernalia and Needle Marks 

Heroin can be consumed in a variety of ways, including injection and snorting. Someone who is struggling with a heroin addiction may have visible puncture marks on their arms or other places in their bodies. As the arms have become the most common place people look, some long-term users have resorted to injecting in different places on the body, including between the toes, the thighs, or the ankles. 

Injection is the most common way of taking heroin, so someone who has syringes without a valid medical reason could potentially be using heroin or another injectable drug. For powdered heroin to be made injectable, it must be made into a liquid, so the presence of filters, a lighter or candle, and burned or charred spoons may also be indicative of a problem if they are found in conjunction with other indicators of heroin addiction. 

Heroin Addiction Treatment and Rehab

A wide range of heroin addiction treatments, including medications and behavioral therapies, have been proven effective in helping people overcome heroin addiction. For treatment to be the most successful, treatment plans must be individualized to meet each patient’s needs.  

The initial withdrawal stages from opioid addiction, including heroin addiction, can bring about intense and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Thus, it is essential to undergo detox (sometimes also called medically assisted detox) at a heroin addiction (rehab) treatment center where trained medical professionals can closely monitor the initial stages of detox and ongoing treatment.  

Once the body has cleansed itself of heroin, it is possible to begin an intensive treatment program. Addiction treatment programs must be individually designed to achieve the best results. Through a combination of behavioral therapy, counseling, and a focus on developing new and healthy lifestyle skills, sobriety is possible. 

Beat a Heroin Addiction With Soba Recovery Center

Our renowned treatment team at Soba Recovery Center is highly trained to provide individual, one-on-one therapy designed to treat all aspects of addiction. We believe the key to addiction treatment’s success is to provide individualized care from the beginning of your journey through to sober living options we provide for our alumni. If you are ready to seek heroin addiction treatment, reach out to Soba Recovery Center today. 

Stages of Relapse

relapse stages

Recovering from addiction is not an easy process and rarely goes according to plan. Often, by the time people have reached the stage where they seek addiction treatment at a rehab center, they have already tried and failed to defeat their addiction to drugs and alcohol on their own. Relapses are a normal, but dangerous phase many people experience during recovery.

Long-term and even sometimes short-term substance abuse results in changes to the way the brain operates. This causes those who struggle with addiction to actively and compulsively seek out substances despite the adverse consequences of using it. The time it takes for the brain to restore a “normal” function can range from months to years, depending on the severity of a person’s addiction. During that time, everyday triggers and overwhelming cravings can lead to relapse.

What Is a Relapse in Addiction?

Statistics show between 40% and 60% of individuals in recovery experience at least one incidence of relapse. Some may experience several before successfully attaining and maintaining sobriety. Where addiction is concerned, a relapse is the downward spiral back into compulsive behavior and addiction. A relapse does not occur suddenly. It is not like a broken bone or a car accident. Relapse is generally a combination of several events or repeated exposure to triggers that lead an individual to reach for drugs or alcohol as a way to cope. Historically, their substance of choice has been their methodology for coping during stressful or emotional times. Therefore, they reach for that same substance when their current situation has become too difficult to handle.

Often there are a variety of signs and symptoms one might exhibit when experiencing a relapse. Some of the most common include destructive thoughts, compulsive behavior, a return to unhealthy behaviors or environments, mood swings, recurrence of previous mental health symptoms, and isolation from groups or activities.

What Are the Stages of the Relapse Process?

As previously mentioned, relapse is a process. It often takes weeks or even months before someone “slips” for the first time after leaving a treatment program. There are several steps to the stages of the relapse process that one goes through before fully relapsing, and those have been divided into three phases to make it easier to understand.

Emotional Relapse

The first stage of relapse is emotional relapse. During this stage, a person has not returned to or even considered drinking or using yet. However, during emotional relapse, they do not practice the coping behaviors or self-care techniques they were taught during treatment to help cope with triggering events and maintain their sobriety.

Some signs of emotional relapse may include distancing oneself from supportive friends or family, attending recovery meetings, but not participating and mood changes. The lack of proper self-care during emotional withdrawal often leads to feelings of unhappiness, negative emotions, and increased levels of stress; All of which cause them to use in the past. As inadequate self-care continues, a progression into mental relapse occurs.

Mental Relapse

During the mental relapse phase, people begin to consider turning to drugs or alcohol to cope. Because they know using is not a healthy or positive solution, they try to use the coping behaviors learned during therapy; however, a negative mental state often overpowers learned protective factors.

During this second stage of relapse triggers such as places, people, and events associated with past addictive behaviors can trigger cravings. During mental relapse, addicts in recovery may minimize the adverse side effects of drinking or using. Also, they may start to look for opportunities to relapse or even make a plan to relapse.

Physical Relapse

The final stage of relapse is physical relapse. This stage begins when the person uses again or “slips.” Sometimes, immediately after a slip, people regret using or drinking and find an even more powerful passion for recovery. Still, for others, this may not be the case.

It is essential to seek recovery after a slip to prevent a potentially dangerous spiral back into addiction. Those who do not seek treatment after a slip will generally experience physical relapse (withdrawal). To avoid the symptoms associated with the stage of relapse, they often turn to obsessive or compulsive substance use.

Learn Coping Mechanisms at Soba Recovery

Achieving sobriety can be difficult. The first and most crucial step is to seek treatment. At Soba Recovery, we offer an affordable substance abuse treatment program in a luxury setting. Our team of highly trained addiction treatment professionals understands how challenging the decision to seek treatment can be. But we also know detox and therapy at a center like Soba Recovery is the safest and most effective way to defeat addiction. If individualized one-on-one treatment at a renowned residential treatment center is the next step for you, contact Soba Recovery today.

Sober Vacation Ideas

sober vacation ideas

For sober travelers, it might seem difficult to “get out” without “going out.” Vacations are about exploring a new place and having a good time and for some, that may feel difficult to travel sober and still have fun. But while sobriety might change your travel experience, sober vacations are still fun and relaxing. Sobriety isn’t the end to being able to enjoy fun things in life like vacations and traveling. On the contrary, sobriety more often than not enhances the enjoyment of vacation and traveling—no days wasted nursing a hangover means more time and energy to explore new places! Soba Recovery encourages you to keep on reading for sober vacation ideas!

Where to Go on a Vacation Sober 

If you’re sober you can go anywhere, but depending on your comfort levels, some destinations may be sober-friendlier than others. At some vacation destinations, alcohol, drugs, or a party scene are less emphasized than others. Skip locations like Napa, Las Vegas, or Ibiza where alcohol and partying are highly emphasized in the tourist culture and check out these destinations instead!

Sober Vacation Destinations in the United States

  • San Antonio, Texas—In this vibrant city you can explore the historic Alamo, check out the Natural Bridge Caverns, stroll the San Antonio River Walk or walk through the King William Historic District. San Antonio also has an abundance of great museums, as well as the San Antonio zoo, SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
  • Nashville, Tennessee—The Music City of the United States is also known as the soberest city in the United States. This is a great spot for country music fans, from opportunities to see live music, to checking out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Radnor Lake State Park is also on the outskirts of town for outdoor recreation. The Grand Ole Opry and the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the original in Athens, are also top attractions. Additionally, Nashville has a plethora of city tours and plenty of art and science museums.
  • Denver, Colorado—While you might think of Denver as a city where breweries are abundant and weed is legal, Denver also has a huge range of outdoor activities from skiing and snowboarding to hiking, whitewater rafting, and ziplining. Denver also has many sober attractions like the zoo, the aquarium, an abundance of art museums, and Red Rocks park and amphitheater. Denver also has great food—you can check out The Source, an artisanal market, or Denver Central Market, a gourmet food hall. Denver also has several sober bars and often has sober pop-up entertainment like sober sunrise dance parties by Daybreaker.

Sober Vacation Destinations Abroad

  • Sri Lanka—The culture in this island nation south of India de-emphasizes drugs and alcohol meaning as a tourist you’ll have reduced exposure to these substances. Sri Lanka has a beautiful and diverse landscape that offers visitors the opportunity to relax on serendipitous beaches, explore the rainforests, or climb a mountain. Sri Lanka is also home to breathtaking historical sites like Sigiriya, a rock-top fortress that has served as a royal palace as well as a Buddhist monastery.
  • Japan—Alcohol is available but much less emphasized than it is in the United States. In Japan you can visit vibrant cities to experience the sights and delicious food. Cities like Kyoto and Tokyo have no shortage of things to explore, from bamboo forests to restaurants to festivals. 
  • Morocco—In the culture of Morocco, alcohol is available, but not a part of the culture and easy to avoid altogether. Morocco has accident cities with beautiful architecture and buzzing street markets. Morocco also has breathtaking sites like the Atlas Mountains, the blue village of Chefchaouen, the red arches of Legzira and the UNESCO World Heritage site Aït Benhaddou.

Additionally, different kinds of vacations lend themselves to being sober vacations like hiking or trekking trips, and meditation, wellness or yoga retreats. There are also sober resorts in Mexico and sober cruises to different locations all over the world. Sober tourism is an increasingly booming business, and sober traveling companies are becoming more abundant. Companies like Sober Vacations International and Travel Sober create all-inclusive (save for airfare) trips with pre-planned sober-centric activities that bring like-minded individuals together over experiences that aren’t centered around drugs or alcohol. 

Activities to Do on a Sober Vacation 

A big component of sober vacations is the activities you plan to do. Even vacation destinations that are less sober-friendly can still be an enjoyable sober vacation destination so long as the activities are sober-centric. Of course, the activities you plan on a sober vacation depend to a degree on the destination you choose, but here are some ideas of activities you might do:

  • A walking or biking tour of the city you’re visiting 
  • Visit historic sites
  • Visit museums
  • Try a beach activity like surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, or sailing
  • Try a snow sport like skiing, snow-boarding, ice skating, snowmobiling
  • Go to a spa 
  • Check out the hiking trails or try rock climbing
  • Attend local events like art markets or music 
  • Try local foods

If you’re planning a sober vacation it is a good idea to plan ahead so you don’t feel bored or aimless or have too much free time. When you pinpoint the perfect location for your sober vacation, do some research on the local attractions to schedule some activities! On the other hand, make sure you don’t plan so many activities that you feel stressed or rushed. 

Tips for Staying Sober on Vacation 

Vacations might have more temptations than you’re used to in your day to day life, so it is important to check in where you’re at in your recovery before going on a sober vacation. If you decide you’re ready, here are some additional tips to keep in mind for how to stay sober on vacation:

  • Go with a supportive or sober friend who will not prioritize alcohol or other substances on the trip and can hold you accountable.
  • Make plans ahead of time for activities to keep busy, but also leave room for spontaneity and don’t overpack your schedule if you feel rushed or stressed.
  • Choose accommodations that don’t include happy hour drinks, have hotel bars, have minibars in the rooms or are right next to bars or nightclubs. One way to do this is to stay in vacation rentals where you can avoid partying vacationers. 
  • Prepare for triggers and take reminders of your sobriety with you.
  • If you find yourself struggling, reach out to your support network back home, attend an online support group meeting or find a local fellowship meeting. Support groups like AA have meetings all over the world.

The most important component of sober vacations is the commitment to sobriety that comes before, during, and after the vacation. The best time to plan a sober vacation is after you’ve been able to maintain a stable period in recovery, so you are able to truly relax and have fun on your vacation. If you feel like you aren’t quiet at that point in your recovery, keep working! You can get there. At Soba Recovery, we believe in individualized treatment for long-term recovery. If you’ve decided it is time to get sober, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to see how we can help!

Making Sober Friends

sober friends

Recovery can often necessitate meeting new people, as you may realize some of your friendships revolve around the substances you are working to avoid. But meeting new friends is hard, especially in sobriety when you may be more focused on your recovery than meeting new people. Because friendships can impact not only your happiness but also your health and overall well-being, it is important to build a community and make friends in sobriety.

Sober friends are essential to recovery not only because they can help you avoid drugs or alcohol by replacing activities that involve these substances with enjoyable sober activities, but also because they can encourage you on your path to recovery through support and helping you heal emotionally and spiritually. At Soba Recovery, we hope all of our clients can build a sober support system post treatment.

What Are Sober Friends?

Friendships in addiction may center around drugs or alcohol. These types of relationships unsurprisingly tend to fall apart if one friend decides to become sober. Friendships rooted in addiction may even be damaging to your psychological well-being if you are trying to get sober. Healthy friendships are an important part of recovery, which is why a crucial component to sober living is often finding new sober friends. Sober friends are friends who are supportive of your sobriety, which often means they are also sober. Sober friendships aren’t rooted in the consumption of drugs or alcohol, instead, they revolve around enjoyable sober activities.

How to Meet Sober Friends

Meeting new friends can be intimidating and meeting sober friends can be especially intimidating if you don’t know where to look. However, there are countless ways to connect with sober friends.

Support groups and sober communities

One of the most sure-fire ways to meet sober friends is to join a support group because everyone in attendance is pursuing similar goals of sobriety. The traditional Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have helped countless people because they offer great resources and help build a community of support. However, these groups aren’t for everyone and there are a number of other sobriety support groups that may be the right fit for you.

Some alternative sober communities to the traditional AA include:

Non-alcoholic/drug-free events

One great way to meet sober friends is to attend events where addictive substances aren’t involved. These events could range from activities that don’t normally involve substances, like fitness classes, hikes or free museum days. There are also substance-free events that deliberately remove alcohol and drugs to create specifically sober events like pop-up non-alcoholic bars or alcohol-free early morning dance parties, such as those put on by Daybreaker in cities all around the world.

Online groups

Sober communities or even mission-focused groups that revolve around a shared hobby can be difficult to find locally if you don’t know where to look. In the digital age, online groups through Facebook Groups are a growing resource for connecting people over a shared interest. There are Facebook Groups for an assortment of hobbies and you can find a local group and attend events put on by the group. Meetup is another online forum that connects people—you can look for groups in your local area with sober-centric interests or use search terms like “sober” or “sobriety” to find a sober meetup.

Tips to Maintain Sobriety

Sober friendships are beneficial to the maintenance of sobriety. Not only do sober friendships help you avoid substances by partaking in sober-centric activities, sober friends are an invaluable support to recovery through encouragement. In addition to meeting sober friends and building healthy relationships, here are some other tips for maintaining sobriety:

  • Take sobriety one day at a time.
  • Identify your personal triggers and create plans to prepare for and avoid them.
  • Practice healthy living with regular exercise, getting ample quality sleep, and eating regular well-balanced meals.
  • Develop hobbies and make time for them. Hobbies improve mental wellbeing and prevent boredom.
  • Take advantage of aftercare. Whether it’s local recovery support groups, AA meetings, online forums, or aftercare offered by a rehabilitation facility.
  • Celebrate milestones in your recovery. Sobriety is hard work and it is important to acknowledge and celebrate that work to continue to stay motivated.

Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out

Reaching out to people and building new relationships can be daunting, especially when you are navigating meeting new people while working on your recovery. But healthy relationships are fundamental to addiction recovery and building sober friendships will be worth putting yourself out there. At Soba Recovery, we are committed to your long-term recovery and we know sober communities are a part of building a healthy sober lifestyle. We integrate social interaction into our custom treatment to help build socialization skills and remind you that you are not alone in your journey to sobriety. Reach out to us today to take the first step on your road to recovery.

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

am i addicted to alcohol

The stereotype of someone addicted to alcohol is a person who always drinks in excess and as a result, their life is crumbling. However, the reality is some people are functioning or high-functioning alcoholics, which means even though they depend on and abuse alcohol, they have the appearance of being fine. Though you may know problem drinking as alcoholism or alcohol abuse, addiction to alcohol is officially referred to as alcohol use disorder, an addiction that is estimated to affect 15 million people in the United States. At Soba Recovery, we feel receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder is critical to success in overcoming it, but the first step toward treatment is identifying the problem.

Identifying an Alcohol Addiction

The signs of alcohol use disorder vary from person to person, but some common red flags in assessing whether you or a loved one has an alcohol use disorder include:

  • Needing alcohol to relax or feel confident
  • Drinking when you are alone or in secrecy
  • Feeling hungover when not drinking
  • Drinking more or longer than you intended
  • Losing friends or having relationship problems due to drinking
  • Drinking or being sick from drinking interferes with taking care of your family, working or attending school
  • Experiencing short-term memory loss or temporary blackouts
  • Feeling irritable or having extreme mood swings
  • Having legal problems related to drinking
  • Denying drinking or getting angry when confronted about drinking

If you or a loved one is exhibiting these symptoms their drinking may be cause for concern. Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe and the urgency for treatment depends on the amount and severity of the symptoms displayed, though recovery is possible regardless of the severity.

How Is Alcohol Addictive?

Though alcohol is legal, it can still be a dangerous substance with serious side effects. One of these is the addictive qualities of alcohol which keeps people coming back for more and consuming it in unhealthy amounts. Alcohol is a chemical that causes our brains to release endorphins, making us feel more content and less sensitive to pain, associating these pleasurable sensations with drinking can encourage us to keep drinking even when we know it can harm us. In addition to the chemical reaction alcohol causes, we often tend to socially and in our own lives associate alcohol with positive stimuli, like having a glass of wine after a long day or getting beers with friends. When we make alcohol a reward or a treat that we use to socialize and celebrate, we create positive associations with it. Alcohol dependency doesn’t happen all at once, but rather over time as our brains are trained to crave the endorphin release of alcohol.

  • An individual’s personality and genetics might make them predisposed to alcohol use disorder as well.
  • Thrill seekers have a greater risk of addiction to alcohol because they seek the endorphin rush alcohol offers.
  • Shy individuals are also prime candidates for developing alcohol use disorder because alcohol can help alleviate social anxiety and an individual can get addicted to or reliant on that effect.

What Happens When You Quit Drinking Alcohol

Quitting drinking can be daunting because physical alcohol withdrawal is particularly tough on the body. However, there are many benefits of stopping drinking:

  • Improved heart and liver health
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Elevated self-esteem
  • Better sleep quality
  • Increased ability to concentrate
  • Improved focus on relationships and work
  • Lower cancer risks
  • Strengthened immune system

How to Get Help For Alcohol Abuse

If you think you are struggling with alcohol use disorder or are not sure if you have a problem or not please contact Soba Recovery today. We have professionals who can assess your situation and help determine what kind of treatment is suitable for your individual needs. Our two locations in Texas and Arizona are both amazing options for anyone struggling with alcoholism or substance abuse.

How to Get My Friend Help With Addiction

help a friend with addiction

Watching a friend struggle with addiction can make you feel powerless, but you can help your friend along the road to recovery. By knowing the signs of addiction and treatment options, you can recognize whether your friend needs help and find them the help they need. At Soba Recovery, we know broaching the topic of addiction may feel as though you’re overstepping your bounds, but if someone you care about is suffering from addiction, starting a conversation about their addiction is an important step toward life-saving help.

Signs of Addiction

If you suspect a friend might have an addiction, you might notice changes in their physical appearance, such as:

  • Unkempt appearance
  • Decreasing personal hygiene
  • Weight loss
  • Pale skin

Addiction also affects people mentally and emotionally. Commons signs of addiction as a result of this mental and emotional toll include:

  • Defensiveness when asked about changes in behavior or substance use
  • Depression
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Becoming argumentative
  • Noticeable lack of energy
  • Failure to fulfil obligations at work, home, or school
  • Self-isolating and secretive
  • Risky or erratic behavior

If you notice a friend constantly displaying any of these warning signs or symptoms of addiction, they may need treatment.

Addiction Treatment Options

The purpose of addiction treatment is to help individuals struggling with addiction to stop compulsive use of drugs or alcohol. Because addiction is chronic, treatment is often a long-term process. Soba Recovery offers holistic drug and alcohol treatment in Mesa, Arizona as well as San Antonio, Texas from detoxification to continuing care.

Detoxification

Detoxification is the medical treatment of freeing the blood from toxins. At Soba Recovery, detoxification is medically supervised by certified doctors, registered nurses, behavioral health technicians, and drug and alcohol counselors. Our inpatient facility has 20 beds, allowing for 24-hour monitoring of the process and individualized care. Detoxification is the first step on the road to recovery and usually takes three to seven days.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment, sometimes known as residential treatment is a treatment for addiction in which individuals struggling with addiction stay in a controlled environment. At Soba Recovery, inpatient treatment is tailored to individual needs and all those participating in inpatient treatment are at similar points in their journeys to sobriety. Inpatient treatment allows patients a critical point between detoxification in sober living in which to transition and gain more confidence on their road to recovery.

Outpatient Treatment and Sober Living

In outpatient treatment, a patient goes to treatment during the day but lives at home. Outpatient treatment can be stand-alone, or part of a long-term treatment program. At Soba Recovery, outpatient treatment is one step in a longer treatment process to continue to provide support to those on their way to recovery. Outpatient treatment can also include sober living homes, which are spaces specifically for individuals working on their addiction recovery. Sober living homes are free from drugs and alcohol and offer a community for motivation and support as well as assistance to rebuild skills lost or muted during addiction. Soba Recovery offers sober living in conjunction with outpatient treatment to create a supportive, community-oriented environment for recovery.

How to Approach My Friend About Their Addiction

Approaching a friend about addiction can be uncomfortable, but early intervention is important for recovery. Remember, a common sign of addiction is denial, so it is important to be gentle rather than accusatory. Make sure the conversation doesn’t take place while your friend is under the influence, as they may react more negatively than they would otherwise.

To start a conversation about a friend’s addiction, begin with your observations that you’re concerned about. This might look like:

  • “I wanted to check in on you because I’ve noticed you’ve been acting different lately”
  • “I’ve been worried about you because I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately”

After starting the conversation, you might ask questions about how they’re feeling; if they are dependent on a substance, how you can support them, or if they’ve thought about getting help. When providing support it’s important to listen to your friend to allow them to tell you about what is going on in their lives. If you know a friend is struggling with addiction, your presence as a friend can be invaluable to their recovery.

Get Help With Addiction at Soba Recovery

Please don’t hesitate to contact us today at Soba Recovery regarding a loved one’s addiction or your own. Soba Recovery offers multiple locations in Arizona and Texas. We offer a full range of addiction treatment options, from detoxification to aftercare. We know addiction is a lifelong journey, and we’re dedicated to helping anyone and everyone pursue it!

TV Shows About Drug Addiction

tv shows about addiction

Hollywood has been very interested in addiction for a long time, using it as a minor or major plot point in many television shows and movies. However, there is an increasing number of television shows that offer a more diverse portrayal of substance abuse, dependency, and addiction. From reality TV to drama to comedy, producers have created a range of shows depicting active addiction and recovery. While some shows portray addiction more sensationally, others seek to show the nuance of addiction as a long and complicated disease, through the acknowledgment that addiction is gradual and seldom starts or ends with a singular dramatic event. Keep reading for Soba Recovery’s list of TV shows about drug addiction!
 

Top TV Shows About Drug Addiction

 

Nurse Jackie

  • Nurse Jackie is a medical comedy-drama on Showtime that follows a nurse in a New York City hospital who is addicted to prescription opioids. The co-creators of the show Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem all struggled with alcohol addiction at some point in their lives and created the show to portray a high functioning addict who is competent at her job but jaded by the self-centeredness of active addiction. Nurse Jackie avoids stereotypes of addicts to portray a realistic version of high-functioning addiction as a tight-rope walk, in which falling off results in pain and destruction.

Intervention

  • Intervention is a docu-series on A&E profiling individuals struggling with addiction, following the consequences of those addictions and the effectiveness of interventions. The daily life of an individual who is substance dependent or suffering from addiction leads up to an intervention staged by their family and friends offering them an ultimatum: go to rehab or be cut off from the support of their family and friends. The involvement of the addict’s loved ones in Intervention offers a look into how addiction affects an addict’s loved ones. Intervention doesn’t glamorize drug and alcohol dependency for plot points in the way that other drama shows do, offering a raw look into the destructive power of addiction for everyone involved.

Mom

  • Mom is a comedy on CBS about a sober single mom and her estranged mother who is also struggling with addiction. Allison Janney and Anna Faris play the mother-daughter duo navigating how to repair their relationship while trying to pull their own lives together. Mom is one of few shows that emphasizes addiction recovery rather than active addiction and demonstrates the obstacles individuals face in navigating sobriety without getting weighed down by the despair or denial of addiction. Mom approaches recovery as it is, a difficult life-long healing process, with characters who endure setbacks but approach sobriety with hope and determination.

Euphoria

  • HBO’s teen dramaEuphoriapremiered in 2019 and almost instantly became wildly popular thanks to its raw portrayal of teenage mental illness and substance abuse. The show follows 17-year-old Rue Bennet who is a recovering drug addict as she returns home from rehab and attempts to navigate high school. Euphoria’s visuals and acting are alluring, and the show has received praise for its empathetic but brutally honest depiction of the challenges of addiction.

Recovery Road

  • Freeform’s Recovery Road is another teen drama series about addiction that follows Maddie, a high functioning 17-year-old addict, as she navigates teenage life after deciding to live at a sober living facility. Based on a popular novel by the same name, Recovery Road one ran for one season in 2016, but offers portrayals of various topics related to substance abuse and recovery including teen partying, the benefits of 12-step meetings, and the consequences of substance abuse.

Love

  • Love is a Netflix comedy show about navigating modern relationships that quietly depicts two individuals, Mickey and Gus, struggling with addiction. Addiction is not the main focus of the show, but it is prevalent. Mickey abuses alcohol and prescription medications and then tries to stay sober, but smokes before AA meetings, lies to her sponsor, and struggles with the urge to resist drinking or using drugs. However, Mickey never truly reaches an explosive rock bottom as so many other shows depict, sensationalizing addiction. Instead, addiction prevents Mickey from connecting with others and living a fulfilling life. The dark, quirky humor of Love might be too much for some, but others enjoy the honest portrayal of non-sensationalized addiction.

Shameless

  • Showtime’s comedy-drama show Shameless depicts a family that is poor and dysfunctional as a result of their single father’s alcoholism. The show balances portraying the compulsive and damaging behaviors of addicts with comedy while shedding light on the impact of addiction on families through Frank Gallagher’s actions and their consequences for his six children. Shameless can at times be over-the-top and far-fetched, but it’s often a realistic portrayal of a less-than-functioning addict and his family’s struggle to take care of him and make ends meet. The show offers an honest and eye-opening depiction of the impact of addiction on everyone, not just the addict.

Get Sober With Soba Recovery

While Hollywood has at times exploited addiction for ratings, more and more shows are trying to take an increasingly nuanced approach to addiction whether it be by portraying non-stereotypical characters, depicting the effects of addiction as a family disease, or focusing on lesser told stories of recovery. The diversification of television shows depicting addiction help break down taboo about addiction itself and open up conversations about it. Few of these shows shy away from the gory details of drug and alcohol use, abuse, and dependency, so be mindful watching if you are personally recovering and struggling with these sorts of triggers. Otherwise, enjoy watching these shows whether you find yourself critiquing them or reflecting because of them!

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or substance abuse, please reach out to us today at Soba Recovery. We can treat a wide range of addictions at either of our two locations in Arizona or Texas. We look forward to helping you with your addiction!

Support Groups for Parents of Addicts

support group for family

Addiction is currently a serious public health problem in the United States. Addiction has been better understood in the past few years as a disease, but addiction is not only a disease that the individual addict struggles with—addiction is a family disease. Addiction hurts everyone with a relationship with the addict. Parents of addicts especially are confronted by the challenges of navigating relationships with their children struggling with substance abuse. However, the increased recognition of addiction as a family disease has resulted in an increase of resources designed to not only help parents find their loved one help to tackle addiction, but also to help for parents of addicts themselves.

Addiction Is a Family Disease

At Soba Recovery, we can’t stress enough that addiction is often referred to as a family disease because it doesn’t only affect the individual struggling with substance abuse, it also impacts the loved ones of the addict. Parents of addicts in particular struggle with a complex mix of emotions when faced with the realities of their loved ones’ addiction, whether their child is a minor or an adult. Parents of addicts may take on the guilt, blame, or shame belonging to the addict, or experience these emotions as a result of embarrassment.

Parents of addicts can also easily be engrossed in the behavior of an addict, hyper-focusing on their child’s addictions and trying to fix them. If they are close to their loved one, parents of addicts may bear the brunt of unpleasant behaviors their loved ones exhibit as a result of their addiction. Addiction can also affect the marriage of parents of addicts. Most of all, like any parent, parents of addicts are faced with a situation where their child is facing a dangerous disease that they may feel powerless or hopeless against. If you have a child struggling with addiction, you are not alone—there are several resources that offer help for parents of addicts. One of the most invaluable resources are support groups for parents.

Support Groups for Parents of Addicts

Parents of addicts may feel alone in their experiences with their child’s addiction, but support groups for parents of addicts can help combat these feelings. It is common for parents of addicts to focus on the addicted loved one rather than themselves, however, support groups for parents can offer them emotional support in navigating their loved one’s addiction.

Al-Anon

Al-Anon is one of the oldest support groups for family members of someone with a drinking problem. Al-anon offers free family groups open to any family member of an alcoholic looking for support. Meetings are usually one hour where attendees are encouraged to listen, learn, and share if they’re comfortable doing so. All meetings are anonymous and confidential is a foundational aspect of the groups. Al-Anon uses an adapted version of the Twelve Steps of Alcohols Anonymous as a tool for healing and growth for family members of addicts. Though Al-Anon family groups are not specifically for the parents of addicts, they are often among the family members of addicts that attend the meetings. The meetings can offer help for parents of addicts in finding validation of their experiences by individuals who have intimate understanding of the same issues through their own experiences. If you are interested in attending an Al-Anon Family Group, you can begin by looking for a group in your community on their webpage.

Nar-Anon

Whereas Al-Anon is for family and friends of individuals with dependency on alcohol, Nar-Anon is for the family and friends of those with dependency on drugs. Though the stories of how addiction to alcohol impacts families are similar to those of addiction to drugs, the stories at Nar-Anon focus specifically on drug use rather than alcohol. Nar-Anon similarly uses a Twelve Step Program to help families and friends of addicts find strength and hope. Nar-Anon does not require dues or fees and though its membership is not limited to parents of addicts, many attend the meetings. If you are interested in joining a Nar-Anon group, you can begin by looking for a family group in your community.

PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones Group)

Unlike Al-Anon and Nar-Anon, Parents of Addicted Loved Ones, or PAL, is a support group specifically for parents of addicts. PAL was created based on the recognition that parents have a different relationship with the addict than a sibling, friend, or spouse. When confronted with a loved one addicted to drugs or alcohol, parents have the tendency to revert to treating adult sons or daughters like younger children. PAL acknowledges this reaction to addiction is unique to parents and uses nine individual non-sequential lessons in meetings that teach about addiction both from an addict’s and a parent’s perspective.

How to Get Your Loved One Help

Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and PAL are all useful support groups for parents of addicts. But it is important to remember these are non-professional support groups, meaning they offer a space for members to share their experiences, hope, and strength—they do not offer professional treatment for addicts. If you’re seeking help for your loved one’s addiction, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, is the agency leading the public health effort to combat substance abuse and offers a range of resources.

Get Help With Addiction at Soba Recovery

If you’re looking for professional treatment for a loved one’s addiction, Soba Recovery is also here to help. We offer compassionate, quality addiction treatment services in San Antonio, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona. Please contact us for information about how we can help. Our professionals are here to help individuals and their families get through drug and alcohol addiction.

What Is a Sober Living Home?

what is a sober living home

One of the most important elements of recovery often overlooked is the transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. The continuation of sobriety after inpatient care can be difficult if a recovering addict is faced with returning to their old home and habits. Sober living homes are one element of treatment for addiction that supports those recovering as they ease back into daily life. For some people in recovery, these supportive environments can make the difference between relapse or maintaining sobriety. Soba Recovery encourages you to continue reading to learn more about sober living homes!

What Is a Sober Living Home?

Sober living homes are group homes in a controlled environment free from drugs and alcohol, created specifically for individuals recovering from addiction. Sober living homes help with the transition from inpatient and outpatient care, assisting individuals in their sobriety maintenance. These homes are often owned and operated privately but can also be owned and operated by businesses or charity organizations. Residents living in sober living homes do things like pay rent and go to work, just as they would in a regular home, but they also offer additional structure with things like house meetings and chores to contribute to the maintenance of the house. All residents must remain sober and follow house rules to stay in the homes. Residents are also encouraged to continue seeking outpatient treatment and participate in a 12-step program.

Benefits of Sober Living Homes

Sobriety is a lifelong journey. However, the transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment is critical, and sober living homes can help prompt a lasting recovery. Sober living homes are substance-free, offering a controlled and supportive environment that decreases the chances of relapse. Studies have shown sobriety can be difficult to maintain in dysfunctional homes and sober living homes improve sobriety outcomes. Sober living homes have a multitude of benefits, some of which include:

  • Support: Though individuals from all walks of life may be in sober living homes, all residents living in sober living homes are working towards the goals of recovery and sobriety. Sober living homes thus offer a space to build sober fellowships, mutual support systems, and positive friendships for those in recovery.
  • Accountability: Sober living homes can assist with building accountability of sobriety. Sober living homes have rules residents must adhere to, helping to rebuild personal responsibility. Individuals are ultimately responsible for their own recovery, therefore teaching accountability and responsibly are invaluable to maintaining sobriety.
  • Stability: Sober living homes are fundamentally safe, comfortable, and secure places, providing individuals recovering from addiction with a stable home environment. Structure in sober living homes is often created through chores, house meetings, attendance to 12 step programs, and other meaningful activities that not only help re-establish stability but also help maintain purpose. By avoiding boredom, depression, or uncertainty, sober living homes offer stability critical to relapse prevention.
  • Skills: Sober living homes provide an environment that encourages recovering addicts to build healthy coping skills and habits to manage triggers and prepare for their return home. Sober living homes also have resources for finding employment and mending broken relationships.

How to Get Into a Sober Living Home

Though not all sober living homes restrict who can live there, often the majority of residents have completed a rehabilitation program for addiction before moving in. Sober living offers a space to maintain sobriety, so it makes sense that most residents have already started the process through means such as detoxification or other inpatient treatment. If you are interested in living in a sober living home, you can start by researching programs to find one that is the best fit for you.

How Soba Recovery Can Help

Soba Recovery’s sober living in Texas and Arizona understands that sobriety is a lifelong journey and to support the longevity of that goal, we believe in spending quality time and effort in treatment by investing in an individual’s care for an extended period all at once. With this goal in mind, sober living homes are integral to long-term recovery at Soba Recovery.

We offer individualized treatment at our two locations: our Substance Abuse Treatment in Mesa, AZ, and San Antonio Recovery Center, both of which offer detox and inpatient treatments, as well as outpatient and sober living homes for aftercare. If you’re interested in sober living, please contact us. We are here to help you take that next step on your road to recovery.