Posts Tagged ‘inpatient’

How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?

August 21st, 2011

When an alcoholic goes into a rehabilitation or treatment center, detoxification will just be the beginning of a longer process. The detox process entails a cleansing of one’s system to remove all traces of alcohol. Generally, it will take around 7-10 days for most people but it also depends on how long and how much a person was drinking. During detox, there will likely be multiple symptoms a person will experience which are known as withdrawal symptoms. How bad these symptoms are will depend on the severity of the person’s addiction. The feelings can range from mild headaches to nausea and shaking & sweating or worse.

When detox is over, the really tough part begins. Because detox is just the first step, the next part is getting treatment. If you are going to inpatient rehabilitation, your stay can last up to 45 days. Detox will take away the body’s physical dependence on alcohol, but an alcoholic must also work through the psychological aspects of addiction as well. The person has to learn what things trigger their want for alcohol and learn how to cope and handle stress in other ways besides drinking. This is because even though detox removes alcohol from the body, the desire to drink alcohol will still remain.

After detox, a person with an alcohol dependency should also seek therapy. The person will need to learn what his or her strengths are which will help them fight their urge to drink alcohol. In order to face every day life again in a normal way and to function in the real world, there is a lot of work to be done. An alcoholic has to make many changes in order to avoid relapse, including finding new hobbies and friends who will be more in line with their goal to remain sober.

If an alcoholic does relapse, it isn’t that detox was not successful. It means that a psychological aspect of their addiction was not addressed and worked out to a point that the person could cope without drinking. If there is a relapse, detox must be done all over again. A second detox may not be as difficult as the first one however it still may take about the same amount of time. Detox is a very necessary part of getting sober and unless the person goes through the process, he or she will not really learn how to abstain from alcohol. Having willpower is not enough for some addicts which is the reason that inpatient treatment is often more successful than outpatient alcohol treatment. The inpatient treatment center provides a safe place, experienced staff members and helpful tools & regulated therapy sessions to help the addict deal with detox and rehabilitation.

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How Do I Know if I Need an Outpatient or Inpatient Drug Rehab Facility?

August 8th, 2011

It is very easy to get overwhelmed with the plethora of drug rehab facilities that are available when you undergo the task of searching for the perfect treatment center. With so many drug rehab facilities to pick from, you may not know where to begin. What you can do to make it easier on yourself is to start with a few basic questions in order to narrow the field of appropriate places and help to locate just the right best drug rehab center for you. This includes choosing whether you will go to an outpatient or inpatient drug rehab facility.

Choosing Inpatient or Outpatient Drug Rehab

The fastest and best way to choose the right facility for your needs is to decide right off the bat if you need an inpatient or outpatient treatment program for the addiction you are dealing with. Outpatient drug rehab programs vary greatly, each of them requiring different commitments in terms of time. On one hand, you have outpatient drug rehabs which require you to physically appear at the facility to meet with them up front for an intake appointment at which time you will go over a treatment plan to be implemented on your own. On the other hand, there are outpatient drug rehabs which require their patients to report to them daily, in person, for up to eight hours for a variety of educational lessons, group therapy and support in addition to AA or NA meetings during the week outside of the facility. That may seem like a lot to commit to, but when it comes to addiction, the more support and education you have, the better.

If on the other hand, you think more structure is necessary, an inpatient program is ideal. This means having a place in which there are no outside temptations at all and you get support for your addiction 24 hours a day. You have the choice of 28 or 30 day treatment programs or a more comprehensive inpatient drug rehab which can allow patients to remain in treatment for up to a year. This type of treatment allows the patient to progress at their own pace and provides a strong support system that firmly grounds a patient in their new life of sobriety, armed with all of the necessary tools one needs to successfully remain drug free once treatment is over.

Most people find that if a drug addiction has been going on for a long period of time, an inpatient treatment center is best. You have to decide if it is right for your circumstances however, and take the appropriate route in order to reach your goal of sobriety.

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Can You Overdose on Xanax?

July 11th, 2011

Xanax, a medication that is used for the treatment of anxiety or other panic related disorders, can be dangerous in large quantities. The question is, can you overdose on Xanax? Just like with any other medication, taking too much can be lethal. If taken with alcohol or other drugs, an overdose is even more likely to occur if too much Xanax is ingested. Unfortunately, those who become addicted to Xanax build up a tolerance over time and feel as though they need higher and higher quantities to feel the effects of the pills, and it becomes a very dangerous situation when more than the recommended amount is taken.

Symptoms of an Overdose

If you have taken too much Xanax, signs of an overdose you need to watch for include confusion, sleepiness, slowed reflexes, lack of coordination, and breathing problems. An overdose of Xanax can also lead to a coma or even death. You need to seek treatment immediately from a doctor if you believe you have taken too much Xanax and are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned. You may need to have your stomach pumped in order to remove the medication from your body to prevent death.

How Much Xanax Does It Take to Overdose

The amount of Xanax it takes to overdose will vary greatly for each individual. Some factors that will affect how much it takes includes a person’s weight, overall physical health, tolerance to the medication, and whether it was mixed with alcohol or other drugs. While you may not get an overdose on taking an extra pill or two, it is unsafe and not recommended as only the prescribed amount should be taken at a given time. If you have taken more than the recommended dosage and continue to do so for an extended period of time, it is also highly likely that you will develop a physical addiction to Xanax that will require professional treatment.

Seeking Treatment for a Xanax Addiction

If you are at the point where you are addicted to Xanax, there are specialized treatment programs that can help you. You will go through a detox period to get Xanax out of your system followed by an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab program.

Things to Remember

Xanax should not be taken without the consent and prescription from your physician ever and a prescription written to you should never be shared with another person. Obtaining Xanax from any other place besides the pharmacy is especially dangerous, as there may be harmful ingredients – especially from the variety purchased online from overseas.

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Xanax Addiction and Dependency Help

October 2nd, 2009

Xanax and other benzodiazepines can become addicting if the medications are abused or prescribed for a long period of time. Addiction occurs when an individual takes over the prescribed dosage and use other methods, such as inhaling or “snorting” the crushed pills or even using syringes to inject the drug, into a vein in the body, once melted down.  Patients who adhere to their correct dosages but receive prescriptions over an extended amount of time can develop what is known as chemical dependency.

Whether an individual is addicted or dependent to Xanax, they will still both experience the same uncomfortable physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms if they do not have access to Xanax or other “Benzos” over a period of time. These symptoms can include nausea, headache, anxiety, irritability, and disturbance in sleeping patterns. Running out of your prescription too early to get it filled again is very good indication that you may be facing addiction. You will want to find a rehabilitation treatment center that includes the appropriate care for addiction to benzodiazepines.

You will find variations in the rehabilitation programs that are offered for addiction treatment when in comparison to the methods used for problems stemming from dependency. In-patient rehabilitation facilities are usually found to be more appropriate and beneficial to those suffering from an addiction to Xanax. Addiction is most often only one of multiple co-occurring disorders. Treatment will be tailored to fit each individual’s needs.  Out-patient counseling is used as form of follow-up treatment after the completion of an in-patient program. It also used for those who are suffering from dependency as their only disorder.

Of course the first obstacle will be admitting there is a problem and Xanax abuse or extended usage has now become an addiction to prescription drugs. There will be every reason in the world why it is alright to be taking the medication in the first place. If you know someone you care about that is addicted to Xanax and cannot reason with them then you may want to try a family intervention. Do not use accusing words or try bullying them into receiving treatment for their problem. First let them know that they are loved and you are concerned for their wellbeing. If you cannot gain their trust then it will be very hard to get them to listen to what you have to say or even furthermore, to confide in you. Be sure to assure this person that you will be there to support them through the process of ending their addiction to Xanax. If you succeed in getting through to them, you may just save their life.

Free confidential helpline for Xanax addiction and treatment / counseling:  (888) 842-3167

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