When is it time to get help?The sooner the better. Some people say you have to hit rock bottom before you’re ready to change, but the evidence shows that the earlier the intervention, the more successful it will be.

When people engage in dependent behavior, their whole lifestyle revolves around using and obtaining the substance, and dealing with the after-effects. Therefore, changing that lifestyle is a very big step. Often the hardest part is not stopping the addiction but maintaining the change.

When people become addicted, their lifestyle revolves around using and obtaining the substance, and dealing with the after-effects. Changing that lifestyle is a very big step.

What can friends and family do?
 Whether you’re a relative, friend or an employer, as soon as you detect a problem relating to addiction you should tell the person that you’ve noticed a worsening pattern in their drinking, drug use, mood or physical health. If this is said in an accusing way, the person is likely to be defensive and will distance themselves. The more positive and constructive you are, the more likely it is that you will be able to help the addicted person and get them into treatment.

The evidence for the benefit of support from people close to the addict is so strong that many specialist services offer treatment that’s based on recruiting a network of family and friends. It’s important that the person with drug and alcohol problems is helped by people who are concerned, constructive and who don’t have problems themselves.

Who should the person go to first?
 If you are suffering with alcohol or drug addiction or someone you love is, it is oftentimes difficult to know what to do. If you are experiencing this, there are people you can talk to and who will listen to you. They can also recommend what to do next or the right steps for you to take. You will most likely want to discuss our issues with your family and last s well as a physician and a therapist.

How is an addict treated?
 Treatment is adapted to suit the individual. There are several treatments that are proven to work. These mainly combine talking therapies with medication; however, Common Bond Recovery Center does not provide medically assisted treatment. Cognitive behavioral treatments are typically used because they work very well with addiction problems.

Treatment usually starts with getting the person with the problem to think about how they want to change. It’s important to avoid condemning them. They need to believe that they can do it, and that their life will be better as a result.

Professionals will discuss how the addicted person sees their life in the future, what obstacles they feel they face in changing, and what methods they think will help them to deal with those obstacles. Then they can identify the situations the addicted person will find difficult, and make plans to deal with those situations. Through this process, they can set the target, which is ultimately abstinence.

Once you’ve identified the target and what the person needs to do to reach it, you set up all the resources available. As well as treatment agencies, resources include family and friends who support change. You want people who won’t encourage the person to “just have one drink because it won’t matter” but instead offer support.

How do self-help groups and residential rehab work?
 Some self-help groups are extremely useful because they provide a network, often in the absence of family and friends. Groups are very useful for giving support during aftercare.

Residential rehabilitation helps many people to overcome the initial phases of withdrawal and to start making lifestyle changes that will allow them to continue in recovery and transition back into society sober. These programs are long-term (1 to 2 years) residential transitional programs and have been proven to be very effective overall.

Do the self-help or home-based recovery programs work?
 Most definitely. People are more likely to find a way to recovery that suits them if there’s a wide range of options available. People don’t respond well when they feel they’re being pushed into a corner. However, a self-help manual can rarely replace being with supportive people in a social setting that rewards abstinence and/or control.

Does recovery always have to mean abstinence?
 Some treatment philosophies support the idea that a minority of people with moderate drinking problems a controlled drinking goal is possible. Common Bond Recovery Center supports the philosophy that people at treatment centers need to aim for abstinence. With any chemical dependency, abstinence is the only option.

How does an addict guard against relapse?
 Lots of ways. One would be removing or avoiding the triggers of addiction. Another might be making contact with new people who don’t use drugs. That’s a big step to take, and some will advise the opposite, saying it’s important to stick with people who are in recovery because they understand and can offer support. This is fine as long as they’re supporting your abstinence rather than stimulating your addiction.

In the case of drug users, the people who recover successfully are the ones who change their drug-using surroundings. This can be very difficult, especially if their partner is a drug user (unless they change their habit too).

It’s also important for recovering addicts to change their activities so that they have alternative ways of feeling rewarded, alternative ways of coping with feeling down or lonely and alternative ways of having a good time. Very often, people get into drug and alcohol addiction simply for relaxation, enjoyment, or to cope and manage their life, but then they lose control. When that happens, they have to find alternative ways to continue to feed their addiction.

What are the signs and symptoms of drug use?

The common misconception with drug use in the US today is that it either involves the distribution, trafficking, and abuse of illegal substances or that it is confined to specific socio-economic groups. Unfortunately, you cannot define the characteristics of drug use that easily. Drug use id not selective. It affects a wide range of individuals from all walks of life regardless of age economic status, gender, or religion. No one is immune to the potential dangers and suffering associated with drug use and addiction or dependency.

No matter what substance you are abusing, there will be certain behaviors and warning signs that indicate the person is using drugs. These behaviors and warning signs include:

•   Failing to stop using the substance or constant relapsing into drug abuse, addiction, or dependency
•   Feeling that you cannot cope with everyday pressures and stress without the drug
•   Focusing more energy into keeping the drug on hand while shirking other obligations and responsibilities
•   Making sure you always have the drug on hand
•   Participating in illegal or unacceptable behavior in order to obtain the drug
•   Spending money on your substance of choice even when you cannot afford to do so
•   Taking dangerous risks when you are under the influence of the drug such as driving a vehicle or operating heavy duty equipment
•  The feeling you cannot get through the day without using the drug

Although these are the basic signs and symptoms of drug use, there are other more specific “red-flags” to be aware of based on the addiction or dependency the individual is suffering with. Specific signs and symptoms of drug abuse, addiction, or dependency will vary depending on the particular substance you favor. The bottom line is the physical behavior and signs that indicate when drug use id present.