Daughter Discusses How Narconon Helped Her Father

The following is a Narconon review from a daughter whose father was enrolled in treatment at the Narconon program. Addiction is often known to cause damage to family members and especially children. The right solution for anyone with a substance abuse problem is to seek immediate treatment that will help to repair any relationship that was harmed by addiction.

As long as I could remember I had always been a Daddy's girl. People would say that my father and I had this unbreakable bond. My childhood was wonderful, but when things went wrong in my life, dad was always there to dry my tears and tell me that everything was going to be okay. When he made a promise- he kept it no matter what the circumstances. I thought that my life couldn't get any better; then the unimaginable occurred.

The Mechanics of Addiction In Review

Gary Smith, Executive Director of Narconon Arrowhead authored The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction, published as a Narconon White Paper (an authoritative report or guide helping readers to understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision), by Narconon Arrowhead in 2008.

History And Facts About Narconon Sauna

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Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers use an innovative and proven-effective method for helping addicts get off drugs. One of the first steps of this process involves using a sauna in order to detoxify the body of drug residues. In order to better understand how sauna use works and why it is an integral part of the Narconon program, here are some interesting facts about the history and use of sauna.

Bad Habits That Lead To Drug Use

According to statistics from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, there were 12.8 million Americans (or 6% of the population) that were current drug users. Over a one-year period statistics from the National Institute on Drug abuse indicate that there are 23.5 million that have used drugs over the course of a year.  So, why do so many people come to use drugs? First, one must understand addiction. Drug addiction, which also includes alcohol, is a chronic, relapsing condition that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the drug addict and those around him. For most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. Over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse may affect an individual’s self-control and ability to make prudent decisions. This happens when the chemicals from the drugs interfere with the brain’s communication system, disrupting the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Addictions can form from pretty much any type of drug or alcohol. Once the body is used to having something on a regular basis, it will want in all the time. This can be comparable to sugar, or caffeine. Most people can relate to needing their morning latte or their sugar fix in the afternoon. Addictions to drugs work in a similar way, only they are much more intense and much more detrimental to ones health.

Most Common Reasons For Drug Use

There are many reasons why one begins to use drugs. Listed below are the main culprits. One should take the time to go over them so that they are able to recognize and prevent them.

• Boredom/Lack of Productive Activities

Some people, especially teens, have trouble keeping themselves occupied. Many also crave excitement, but lack the resources to fulfill these desires with productive activities. This can lead to drug use, commonly marijuana and alcohol, often with other teens who do the same. This furthers the drug use, as it becomes a group activity.

• Escape/Self-Medication

Many people begin using drugs as a way to escape from the everyday problems of life. This is common with teens, as they are beginning to experience the pressures of responsibility and growing up. Stress from homework, low grades, drama with friends and/or relationships, and home life can lead to a teen using drugs. As for adults, stressful situations such as, loss of job, break-up, and money problems are all common reasons to start self-medicating with drugs.

• Giving In To Peer Pressure

There is a tremendous amount of bullying and peer pressure that takes place in schools and other social groups. Many teens believe that by giving in to these pressures, they will fit in and won’t be tormented anymore.

• Following Popular Media

As with peer pressure, there is a lot of pressure to fit in and be cool. Media also sets the standards of what is considered cool. In fact, 42 percent of teens agreed that movies and TV shows make drugs seem like an OK thing to do. In addition, 12 to 17 year olds who viewed three or more “R” movies per month were more likely to smoke cigarettes, use marijuana and drink alcohol compared to those who didn’t watch “R” rated films.

Habits That Lead to Drug Use

With that said there are also some bad habits that lead to drug use. Some of these include things like excess drinking, not saying no to drugs, staying out to late or hanging with the ‘wrong crowd.’ The best way to stay away from drugs is to not develop these bad habits in the first place as well as being educated on why people take drugs so you don’t fall into the trap.

How Do Rehab Centers Get Accredited

Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented. There are several types of accreditation programs, which include the Joint Commission, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the All-States, and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The standards for CARF accreditation are a product of over 40 years of development, by international teams of policymakers, service providers, consumers, payers, and family members. CARF designates certain classes of accreditation to each rehab facility. These include a one-year accreditation, provisional accreditation, nonaccreditation, preliminary accreditation, accreditation with stipulations, and finally the highest, the three-year accreditation. In order for a rehab center to achieve CARF accreditation, the facility has to go through grueling process. This process begins with the facilities commitment to continuous improvement and finishes with an external review and recognition that their business and service practices meet international standards for quality.

Narconon Accreditation

Narconon is a drug rehab facility that follows a highly successful program, which does not consist of the use of drugs. Narconon Arrowhead of Oklahoma was awarded a three-year accreditation by CARF, and has continued to uphold their high standards in order to keep this accreditation over the years. Along with this prestigious accreditation, Narconon has been awarded other forms of credentials, such as full certification from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. This verifies that Narconon Arrowhead is 100 percent in agreement and compliance with these criteria. The Narconon accreditation, like other rehabs is one that is renewed in a specific period of time.

Quality Of Service And Its Importance  

Quality of service is one of the most important factors in choosing a drug rehab facility. It could literally mean the difference between life and death. By choosing a center with exceptional service and quality, the individual could go on to live a happy, drug-free life. In the unfortunate event that one chooses a facility that is lacking, he may very well go on to face a miserable life of continual relapse or even death. Patients and their families want the best out of the facility that they choose. Many factors play a huge role in the successful recovery of an addict. These factors include program accreditation and licensing; the effectiveness of the program’s treatment methods and aftercare services to prevent relapse. Finally, a supportive and friendly staff is very important. These are people who are going to be surrounding the addict through recovery. They should be knowledgeable, friendly, and display a good level of ethics. The best place to start in choosing a drug rehab facility is to research which type of treatment would work best for the addict. One should then look into the success rate of the program. Finally, the facilities can be narrowed down by checking on their accreditations and credentials. These accreditations are very necessary, and should not be brushed aside because of cost or financial situations. There is always help or assistance if money is a factor. Cost should never be a deciding factor, but rather the quality of service and success. Resources for accreditation: http://www.jointcommission.org/state_recognition/state_recognition_details.aspx?ps=100&s=FL http://www.carf.org/home/ https://www.ncqa.org/   

How to Not Go Back to Drinking Alcohol

Recovering from alcohol abuse can be extremely difficult for many reasons, but the prevalence of alcoholic beverages is a major one. Imagine trying to recover from a meth addiction and finding it easily available in grocery stores, advertised on TV and recommended with your meal at restaurants. You might feel that society was stacked against you getting sober. Luckily, there are several successful strategies you can use to stay sober.

Stop Going Where the Alcohol Is

It takes work, but one successful strategy is simply to stop going where the alcohol is. DonÕt agree to meet friends at bars, and avoid parties where you know alcohol will be served. Only go to restaurants without a wine and beer list. It takes time and attention beforehand to select out these establishments, but itÕs worth it to avoid the extreme temptation of seeing alcohol poured and consumed around you. For some types of businesses, such as grocery stores, it can be almost impossible to find one that doesnÕt sell some form of alcohol. In these cases, it may be a good idea to arrange grocery shopping with a friend or family member. Give them the money to buy the groceries and you can avoid going near alcohol altogether. In time you may be able to build up the strength and self-control you need, but be willing to go out of your way to avoid alcohol on the way to this stage.

Stop Associating With Heavy Drinkers

Many recovering alcoholics realize that many of their friends are also heavy drinkers. One of the most difficult parts of recovering can be trying to maintain these friendships while not relapsing. In many cases, it simply wonÕt be possible to stay sober and continue to associate with heavy drinkers. In addition to not going where the alcohol is, a recovering alcoholic should also consider not hanging out with other heavy drinkers (unless these other drinkers are also willing to get sober.) ItÕs awful to lose a friend, but a recovering addict needs a support team that isnÕt going to tempt him or her to return to drinking. Many addicts report that their drinking buddies not only donÕt help them recover, some actively encourage the addict to return to drinking. Build yourself a supportive community that will help you get and stay sober. YouÕll find that these relationships are much healthier than any that revolve around the consumption of alcohol.

Address the Triggers that Tempt You to Drink

Many alcoholics have specific ÒtriggersÓ that can lead to a relapse of drinking. In addition to simply being around alcohol as mentioned above, some alcoholics have relapses triggered by stressful situations. These stressful situations can include dealing with stressful people like an overbearing boss at work. For others, it may be coming home to an abusive spouse. Other stress triggers could be dealing with credit card bills or trying to come up with enough money to pay the rent. Whatever your triggers are, a large part of staying sober can depend on addressing these stressful situations in your life. This step is probably the most difficult, as many of these stress triggers can be ingrained parts of your life that youÕre not ready to change. While it may seem extreme, sometimes finding a new job, moving to a new area or completely revamping oneÕs finances are included in the actions an addict has to take to stay sober. A recovering addict may have to make a lot of changes in his or her life, but most would agree these changes are worth it to stay sober. References: Examples of Alcoholic Peer Pressure: http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/newcomers-recovery/226293-today-day-one.html Drinking Triggers: http://www.treatmentsolutions.com/triggers-to-binge-drinking/

Eating Healthy While Recovering From Addiction

Of all the negative health effects caused by drug addiction, one that is often overlooked is malnutrition. Many types of illegal drugs suppress the appetite and can cause a person to not feed themselves properly. This leads to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies and unhealthy weight loss. A number of the negative health effects attributed to drug use itself are actually caused by the addict simply not taking care of themselves nutritionally. Even when an addict is recovering from addiction, for example, they will experience withdrawal. During this process the addict can experience vomiting, nausea and dehydration. ItÕs easy to observe that an addict may not have the willingness or ability to eat when they constantly find themselves lying on their sides and throwing up. Proper nutrition and hydration, then, can be some of the most important parts of successfully recovering from addiction. Here are some of the key areas to focus on.

Drink Lots of Water

In order to handle the dehydration that accompanies drug or alcohol withdrawal, water is your first and best choice. A recovering addict should simply drink more water all day. If signs of more serious dehydration present themselves, however, be aware that itÕs a medical emergency and call 911. While re-hydrating, itÕs important to avoid coffee, tea and soda, as these drinks contain caffeine and can cause further dehydration. Sports drinks such as Gatorade can be helpful, though, as they also contain some simple carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Eat Nutrient-Dense Foods

One of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol is that they can negatively affect the bodyÕs ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat. As the body recovers from addiction, it is therefore very important to eat nutrient-dense foods. Leafy greens are one good choice. Spinach, broccoli and kale all contain important nutrients like calcium and folate, and when you chew them they even release compounds called isothiocyanates that lower your risk of developing cancer. Beans and seeds are both nutrient-dense foods as well, and they have a large number of cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. If you want something a bit sweeter, many types of berries have a lot of nutrients in addition to health-improving antioxidants. Whichever ones you choose, these nutrient-dense foods can help repair the damage done to your body by drugs and alcohol, and theyÕre a lot better tasting, too.

Eat More Protein

Due to the general neglect of proper eating during drug addiction, protein is another of the bodyÕs necessities that can be out of balance while an addict is in recovery. Protein has an important part in almost all cellular functions, so getting it back in balance is vital to repairing the damage of drugs and alcohol. A good place to start is with lean meats such as poultry and seafood. These meats have a lot of protein without the potential high fat of red meats. An important point, though, is to avoid recipes with alcohol as an ingredient. A recovering addict shouldnÕt have any excuse to have alcohol around the house or in their life.

Consider a Multi-Vitamin

Some of the key nutrients depleted by drug addiction are B vitamins. While many vitamins can be absorbed through proper nutrition, many doctors recommend that a recovering addict take a multi-vitamin. Taking these vitamins can help the body replace the vital substances it is missing while the addict works to fully recover with proper eating habits. There are many different multi-vitamins on the market, and a recovering addict should consult with an addiction specialist on which ones to take. Recovery from addiction is a long process, but healthy eating can make the journey a lot easier. Start using these steps to repair malnutrition today. References: ProteinÕs Role in the Body: http://biology.about.com/b/2008/08/23/the-role-of-proteins-in-the-body.htm B Vitamins: http://www.livestrong.com/article/430209-vitamins-and-nutrition-for-brain-recovery-after-drugs/