Author Archives: James Haggerty

About James Haggerty

Experienced Chief Executive Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Professional Business professional in the Addiction Recovery and Mental Health industry for the past 26 years. Caring, compassionate and strongly motivated to make a difference in the organizations I am affiliated with and welfare of the population we serve. Currently focused on advocating, educating and developing projects leveraging evidence based, real time technology to support individuals in recovery.

help for veterans with PTSD

For Veterans Suffering Trauma, Prescription Drugs Push Abuse and Addiction

Thirteen years of war and the now ongoing Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve in the Middle East have resulted in the highest number of veterans of foreign wars since the Vietnam era. These men and women who have made great sacrifices on behalf of our country come home and face a variety of problems, including:

  • Lack of job opportunities
  • Financial problems
  • Homelessness
  • Mental health disorders

Mental health issues – such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders and other stress-related disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) – are especially common due to traumatic wartime experiences. According to a 2015 VA report, around 24 percent of veterans returning from the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars suffer from PTSD. And about 30 percent of Vietnam War era veterans have had PTSD at some time in their lives.

ptsd military man

PTSD Symptoms

The cause of PTSD is the body’s inability to come down from the flight or fight response and “gets stuck” or the person’s inability to move forward after going through a traumatic event. It can also manifest days, weeks or months down the road when something that reminds the veteran of the traumatic event triggers it.

Although diagnosis can only be done by a medical professional, here are some basic PTSD symptoms. These are not the only symptoms, there are others any of which could manifest or not, because not all PTSD sufferers are the same:

  • Reliving the trauma, hallucinations or having intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event
  • Hypervigilance, feeling unable to relax, always “keyed up” or on edge, irritability with no specific or rational cause, feelings of aggression, etc.
  • Nightmares, sleep disturbances, insomnia, other sleep-related problems

 

Dept Veterans Affairs Sign

Because treatment of PTSD relies on a certain set of criteria to manifest and if not all those criteria are met, many a veteran is misdiagnosed and not given the proper treatment. In 2014, the VA system was woefully inadequate to properly serve the needs of our veterans. In 2017, after a $10 billion program was instituted to reduce wait times and get vets faster care, the wait times for first appointments and specialty care appointments has gotten better, however there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially in patient care.

Not only do vets still face fairly long wait times, but when they finally see a doctor they are often simply given prescription medications that have a host of potential side effects, including addiction.

Help for Vets with PTSD: Are We Too Reliant on Prescription Meds?

organizations that help vets with PTSD

Trauma-related mental disorders are complicated to treat because each individual has different circumstances and varied responses to medication. Doctors need to be able to carefully diagnose the needs of each individual and try different treatment regimens to see what each patient responds best to, while minimizing harmful side effects. Many veterans also have co-occurring psychiatric issues, such as MDD, which occurs in about 50% of veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

But if it takes weeks and weeks for a vet to get one doctor’s appointment, and even then, getting the right diagnosis within a cattle-call system that still requires a lot of overhaul, then it’s very difficult for vets to get the individualized care they need. Simply giving them a prescription and then hoping for the best opens up vets to the very real risks of drug abuse and addiction, which only adds to the problems our vets face when they return home after serving our country.

The list of medications that can be used to treat mental illness in vets is extremely long (see below). What are the odds that the doctor is going to get it just right the first time when the patient is finally able to get an appointment?

Drugs that vets can be prescribed to treat PTSD-related symptoms fall into the following five categories.

Antidepressant Medications

These can be selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and are meant to balance the chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. They should help improve mood, allow for better sleep and concentration.

  • Amitriptyline (sold under brand names Elavil, Endep, Levate, others)
  • Amoxapine (Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, others)
  • Bupropion or bupropion hydrochloride (Wellbutrin)
  • Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil)
  • Clomipramine (Anafranil, Clofranil)
  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
  • Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
  • Doxepin (Deptran, Sinequan)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, others)
  • Flurazepam (Dalmane, Dalmadorm)
  • Fluvoxamine (Faverin, Fevarin, others)
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Maprotiline (Deprilept, Ludiomil, Psymion)
  • Mirtazapine (Avanza, Mirtaz, Zispin, others)
  • Nortriptyline (Sensoval, Aventyl, Norpress, others)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
  • Phenelzine (Nardil, Nardelzine)
  • Protriptyline (Vivactil)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)
  • Trazodone (Oleptro, Trialodine)
  • Trimipramine (Surmontil, Rhotrimine, Stangyl)
  • Venlafaxine(Effexor)
  • Vilazodone (Viibryd)
  • Vortioxetine (Brintellix)

Anti-Anxiety Drugs

These work by increasing serotonin in the brain and decreasing dopamine levels,or by blocking the effects of norepinephrine, a stress hormone involved in the fight-or-flight response. thus relieving the symptoms of anxiety.

  • Alprazolam(Xanax)
  • Buspirone (Buspar)
  • Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
  • Clonazepam (Klonopin)
  • Diazepam (Valium)
  • Estazolam (ProSom, Eurodin)
  • Hydroxyzine (many names)
  • Lorazepam (Ativan, Orfidal)
  • Midazolam (Dormicum, Hypnovel, Versed)
  • Oxazepam (Serax, many others)
  • Temazepam (Restoril)
  • Triazolam (Halcion, Trilam, others)

Antipsychotics

Usually used for bipolar disorder, these also work for anxiety, as they treat the hallucinations, aggression and flashbacks that may be a part of PTSD

  • Aripiprazole(Abilify)
  • Asenapine (Saphris)
  • Fluphenazine (Prolixin, Modecate)
  • Haloperidol (Haldol, others)
  • Iloperidone (Fanapt)
  • Loxapine (Loxapac, Loxitane)
  • Lurasidone (Latuda)
  • Olanzapine, sometimes in combination with fluoxetine (Zyprexa, Zypadhera or Symbyax)
  • Perphenazine (Trilafon)
  • Pimozide (Orap)
  • Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Phenotil, others)
  • Quetiapine (Seroquel)
  • Risperidone (Risperdal)
  • Thiothixene (Navane)
  • Ziprasidone (Geodon, Zeldox, Zipwell)

Mood stabilizer

Also mostly used for bipolar disorder, these literally stabilize the mood swings caused by PTSD, by reducing overreaction to stressful situations.

  • Carbamazepine(Tegretol, Carbatrol, others)
  • Divalproex sodium(Depakote)
  • Lamotrigine(Lamictal)
  • Oxcarbazepine(Trileptal)
  • Valproic acid(Depakene, Valproate)

Sleep Aids

These drugs help the brain reduce production of adrenalin and allow a person to go to sleep. Some of these are adrenergic blockers or beta blockers. These all also allow for a restful sleep.

  • Butabarbital (Butisol)
  • Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
  • Prazosin hydrochloride (Minipress, Vasoflex, others)
  • Ramelteon (Rozerem)
  • Zaleplon (Sonata)
  • Zolpidem (Ambien)

Bottom line: Simply medicating our vets, especially without giving them adequate follow-up care with their physicians, puts them at greater risk for problems stemming from prescription medication.

PTSD and Substance Abuse

Vets with PTSD are at greater risk for substance abuse in three ways:

  1. Some prescription drugs used to treat PTSD symptoms can be addictive.
  2. Vets who don’t get proper treatment for their symptoms may turn to alcohol and/or drugs to ease their symptoms on their own.
  3. Not enough or no psychotherapy or family support to help with PTSD symptoms.

While improper treatment can lead to addiction, many vets simply don’t get any care for their trauma-related illness, which can lead to:

  • Withdrawal from or disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Job loss
  • Financial difficulties
  • Relationship problems
  • Feelings of hopelessness, guilt or shame
  • Homelessness
  • Death

woman soldier ptsd

The suicide rate for veterans with PTSD is 50 percent higher than the national average. Overdoses are more likely to occur when substances are mixed (like prescription meds and alcohol), which is more likely to happen without proper doctor supervision.

Vets who have already developed a substance use disorder need treatment for both the addiction and their PTSD. This requires timely access to dual diagnosis professionals who can properly assess the individual’s needs and provide appropriate treatment.

Healthcare organizations that help vets with PTSD and addiction need to use a combination of therapy, medication and other proven treatment methods. The important thing is to ensure that each veteran gets the care he or she needs in a timely manner and with appropriate ongoing treatment.

How Can I Help Veterans with PTSD?

stressed soldierJust as our servicemen and women have fought for freedom abroad, it is up to us to help fight for their well-being here at home. While there’s not a single solution to the problems that plague the VA medical system, our country can find solutions when concerned citizens take an interest.

The first step is engaging in open conversation about the issues and ways to solve them. We invite you to join the discussion online and share your thoughts on how we can better care for our soldiers when they return home.

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This was originally posted on May 15, 2018 and updated on August 8, 2019.

The Need for Addiction Recovery and Support after Drug and Alcohol Emergencies

The Need for Addiction Recovery and Support after Drug and Alcohol Emergencies

It can take quite a lot to encourage a person to enter rehab for a substance abuse disorder. In many cases, the event that finally spurs a person into recovery is a medical emergency, such as a near-death experience from withdrawal symptoms, an overdose, or an accident caused by drug or alcohol use. While most Americans are aware of the startling growth of the number of overdoses and overdose-related deaths in the U.S., many don’t know what happens to the people who experience such medical emergencies.

Many addiction advocacy groups are trying to bring this issue to light with the public. While awareness and prevention campaigns remain highly necessary, it’s also important to draw attention to the growing number of people who go to the emergency room for a drug or alcohol-related emergency and have no idea what to do next. At the Echo Foundation, we understand that overcoming a drug or alcohol-related medical emergency requires much more than a trip to the emergency room. After initial recovery, it’s important for people who experience drug and alcohol-related health emergencies to enter substance abuse treatment, and they’ll need help along the way.

Why A Continuum Of Care Matters

The best way to address any substance abuse case is to carefully analyze the individual’s lifestyle, medical history, social status, and other factors to determine the root cause of the addiction and the parts of the individual’s life the addiction effects. A comprehensive continuum of care should address the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of recovery in an individually-tailored treatment plan for the best results. there is a more fundamental commitment to a focus on experience and all that encompasses, from detox to sober living.

Detox And Rehab

After a medical emergency such as an overdose or drug-related injury, the patient may not know what to do next when it comes to insurance, rehab, and getting back to “normal” life. Recovery coaches all over the country are starting to devote more resources to encourage people in these situations into rehab, using their emergency room visits as the first point of contact. After a serious emergency, the victim and his or her loved ones will likely have many questions about what to do next. Recovery coaches who participate in emergency department recoveries help organize treatment and support services such as transitional housing for addiction treatment.

Preventing Relapses

One of the most valuable aspects of substance abuse treatment is learning how to prevent relapses,or falling back into addiction after starting the rehab process. This is one of the most challenging aspects of rehabilitation, as most people who leave rehab suddenly confront familiar places and people who may have negative influence over them. Medical emergencies are very common following relapses, as a person who suddenly falls back into bad habits may take things too far with too large a dose, or the sudden shock of drugs in the system again creates a negative reaction. Emergency department recovery advocates can help people in this situation realize the danger of relapsing again and enter treatment quickly.

Sober Living

The Need for Addiction Recovery and Support after Drug and Alcohol Emergencies

After detox and rehab, an individual in substance abuse recovery will need to relearn how to function in everyday life without drugs, and may also need to learn a few key strategies for making sober living easier. Rehab transitional housing is a common segue between inpatient rehab programs and returning to normal life. In these arrangements, people who complete rehab enter a transitional home to prepare for sober living on their own. Some of these arrangements are group homes while others may be traditional housing subsidized through advocacy programs.

Securing acceptable housing for these programs is challenging, which is part of the reason why increasing awareness of post-emergency care is so important. If the public grows more aware of the problem, advocacy groups will likely receive more funding to find acceptable transitional housing for the patients they help. Emergency department recovery advocates may also make use of transitional housing to help remove people struggling with addiction from high-risk or dangerous environments until they can enter treatment.

Drug And Alcohol Emergencies In Maryland

Drug and alcohol-related emergency room visits have been a big problem in Maryland for many years, especially in light of the ongoing opioid crisis. A report from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2015 collated statistics from 2008 through 2014, highlighting incidents of drug and alcohol-related emergency room visits in the state during those years. This study uncovered several disturbing trends.

In 2014 alone, there were 11,242 emergency room visits for drug and alcohol-related emergencies, and 5,103 occurred due to alcohol use. The highest rate of admission to an emergency room for drug or alcohol-related emergency was for white males between the ages of 45 and 64. Baltimore City residents visited the emergency room for drug and alcohol-related causes at more than twice the state rate.

Alcohol-related emergency room visits from 2008 through 2014 involved men at three times the rate of women. From 2008 to 2014, the number of heroin-related emergency room visits increased sevenfold, and the number of prescription opioid-related visits quadrupled. This staggering increase in emergency room visits indicates that Maryland could benefit greatly from an emergency department program focused on transitioning emergency patients to rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment.

The Echo Foundation Can Help

The Echo Foundation aims to educate and raise the necessary funding to provide more housing options to help combat the growing addiction issues in Maryland. We understand the challenges a person faces after an emergency room visit for a drug or alcohol-related issue. Traditional housing options are great for people struggling with insurance issues or who simply want to get the most out of their recovery experiences.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, or you would like to lend your time and talents to an advocacy program focused on recovery from substance abuse, reach out to The Echo Foundation to be part of the movement to provide more housing and treatment options for those that are struggling with addiction.

Overview of the Social Model Approach to Addiction Recovery

Overview of the Social Model Approach to Addiction Recovery

Americans struggling with addiction have access to a wide variety of recovery resources. Different treatment centers and recovery programs use a vast array of treatment methods, addiction counseling techniques, and many therapy options to fight addiction and help people with substance abuse disorders live healthier, sober lives. One of the best and most widely accepted methods is the Social Model Approach to addiction recovery.

While the Social Model Approach has vast support in the substance abuse treatment world, it is vital to remember that this approach is not a viable treatment method on its own. Different models and recovery options will enhance the effectiveness of the Social Model Approach, and these options work best as part of a continuum of addiction care. People struggling with addiction stand the best chance of recovery when they receive individualized treatment. The Social Model Approach takes individual care a step further and helps people see how their addictions impact the lives of others.

What Is The Social Model Approach for Treating Addiction?

At its core, the Social Model Approach is an alternative to more clinically-oriented recovery options. One of the most common examples of a Social Model Approach to recovery is Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-sustaining organization that aims to provide support and encouragement to people struggling with alcoholism. Social models and social-community models focus on personal interactions and an individual’s place in a community and society as a whole.

Social Model Approach programs focus on peer-to-peer interactions and individual recovery instead of generic treatments and clinical recovery options. These programs also help individuals understand the impact their addictions have on themselves, their families, and their communities. The Social Model Approach encourages personal interaction with community members with similar problems to collaborate, support, and share inspiring stories with each other. One of the most powerful aspects of the Social Model Approach is the fact that it is experience-based. That is, the people who participate in these programs share real-world experiences with others who suffer from similar substance abuse problems. These interactions are more impactful than clinical settings that may feel sterile, impersonal, or generic.

Social Model Residential Options

Alcoholics Anonymous is probably the most widely known Social Model Approach to substance abuse recovery, but there are also many social model residential programs for addiction. These addiction recovery homes provide stability and ongoing support to people recovering from substance abuse. There are countless benefits of sober living homes in addiction recovery, such as easy access to moral support, exemplified sober living, peer counseling, and assistance with things like job placement and legal services.

Social-community models provide a framework that an individual may use to rebuild his or her life after struggling with addiction. These programs are largely self-sustaining and depend on individual contributions to the benefit of the group. Residential recovery homes are a fantastic transition between inpatient addiction treatment and returning to “normal” life. The residential recovery home is widely considered the “original” social model for substance abuse recovery, and these homes are still relevant in today’s substance abuse treatment world.

The Social Model’s Place In Modern Recovery Programs

Some people decry social model approaches like residential recovery homes as ineffective forms of treatment. However, these criticisms often originate from misconceptions about how these programs actually work. While a residential addiction recovery home may not be a viable recovery method on its own, but it can be an invaluable asset as part of a larger, more robust continuum of care. Recovery homes or facilities are an integral part of a social model recovery program. They are usually structured as community-based residential programs where meals, guidance, shelter and recovery services are provided in a supportive environment. Services in a recovery home or residential rehab facility may also include health care, counseling, recovery education, group activities and referrals to community services.

Residential Recovery As Part Of Ongoing Addiction Care

Addiction recovery should ideally involve medically-assisted detox services, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient aftercare, and ongoing support services for long-term sobriety. A residential recovery home can be a fantastic option for transitioning from rehab back to typical everyday life. Help in this transition is lacking in most substance abuse treatment programs, another reason why the Social Model Approach still holds relevance today.

Implementing some kind of social model approach or residential recovery living arrangement after completing rehab could potentially cut down on relapse rates. Many people are shocked to return to their normal lives after rehab, only to find that previous members of their support systems are no longer available, or they have no real idea how to reintegrate into normal society. The sudden shock of everyday life after substance abuse may be stressful enough for some people to relapse. Residential recovery programs are great ways to limit this risk by helping newly recovered individuals relearn how to operate in everyday life.

Acknowledge The Value Of The Social Model Approach

While some may still assume that residential recovery programs are ineffective, this is only true if the program is a standalone recovery option. The Social Model Approach does not function perfectly by itself. Instead, these programs should form part of a full continuum of care for addiction recovery. People who have access to medically-assisted detox, inpatient rehab with individualized care, and residential recovery homes stand the best chance of maintaining sobriety and preventing relapses.

Easing back into social situations and regular life is one of the biggest challenges facing people in substance abuse recovery, and the Social Model Approach aims to enhance individuals’ perceptions of their places in their communities and their impact on the lives of others. Residential recovery homes provide stability and lay the groundwork for a return to society in a safe, supportive, and constructive environment.

Young Millennials Are More Depressed and At Risk for Addiction Than Ever - ECHO Recovery

Teens and Young Millennials Are More Depressed and At Risk for Addiction Than Ever

One Picture of Anxiety in Millennials

Seventeen-year-old Hannah Baker took her own life in her bathroom, leaving her distraught parents to find her lifeless body and wonder why. Hannah defined the why by making an audio diary on 13 cassette tapes and asking that they be circulated among those she holds responsible for her suicide in the Netflix show (and preceding novel) “13 Reasons Why.”

Hannah is a beautiful, smart girl with loving parents and a bright future. And yet, like so many of our teens in the U.S., she kills herself. The decline into anxiety and depression — terms used interchangeably by today’s teens — is a grading slope of despair.

Suicide doesn’t happen because of just one thing, one emotion, one event. Depression is a subtly dangerous illness that gradually takes over.

Though Hannah Baker’s story is fictional, the depth of pain from the epidemic of teen depression is all too real for many families today.

In fact, today’s teens and younger millennials are struggling with anxiety and depression more than any previous generation on record. Studies show millennials suffer from anxiety at a much higher rate than preceding generations. Subsequently, the suicide rate among adolescents in the U.S. is climbing more than ever.

Millennials and Depression

Suicidal tendencies are a marker of depression and anxiety. Much has been documented about millennials being delicate and having many worries despite having protective helicopter parents.

Studies do not provide a definitive answer as to why there is this continuing rise in depression in adolescents and young adults; however, mental health professionals speculate several factors contribute to the issue:

  • Many experts say teens are using more drugs and alcohol, which cause mood changes, anxiety and depression.
  • An electronically based society, with almost everyone owning a smartphone.
  • Growing up among so many school shootings.
  • Worry for one’s family finances.

Some professionals say we are raising our kids with unrealistic expectations and that having a kid-centered culture has shielded them from learning how to deal with the normal challenges of life. Raising our children with the idea they can do anything, meanwhile providing everything, fosters an era of entitlement.

Is Entitlement to Blame?

Modern society teaches young people that their possibilities are endless. However, the blessing of limitlessness brings with it the curse of too many choices, paralyzing the individual who has anxious tendencies.

In some cases, this kind of upbringing facilitates an entitlement attitude. This is a mindset of deserving everything without putting forth the effort to achieve it. As children grow into adolescents and young adults, thoughts of not being good enough to attain all that we expect of them and facing a life of making it on their own are overwhelming.

In many ways, there is more stress now than in previous generations. Stress triggers depression, anxiety and mood disorders.

During the difficult time of hormonal and brain changes during adolescence, most teens experience some symptoms of depression and anxiety from time to time. If a teenager is predisposed to mental health issues due to genetics, his or her risk of depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol issues increases.

Millennials: Depression Stats

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention routinely conducts the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) survey, which monitors unhealthy and risky behaviors among youth and young adults. Behaviors that indicate depression and/or suicidal ideation are included.

Here are some facts gathered by the YRBSS regarding anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults:

  • Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in people aged 10 to 24 years old.
  • American students in grades 7 through 12 make an average of 5,240 suicide attempts per day.
  • More people die of suicide than homicide in the U.S.
  • Only 30 percent of depressed teens are getting treatment.
  • Suicide-related behavior among American teens has steadily increased from 2009 to 2017.

Another study conducted by Jean Twenge, Ph.D., professor of psychology at San Diego State University, shows that 5 times as many high school and college students deal with anxiety now than the same age group did during the Great Depression!

The Impact of Screen Time

Modern lifestyles – less family support, living with fewer people, less exercise, less outdoor sun exposure and more computer/phone time – play a huge role in changes from traditional values toward more mental health problems.

The impact of screen time on our youth contributes to anxiety in the following ways:

  • Social media encourages insecurities: Cyber bullying, slander, comparing oneself to others, and the feeling of needing to look perfect online all contribute to low self-esteem and insecurity.
  • When adolescents and young adults want to avoid the stress of real life, school or interactions with real people, they can easily escape into their smartphones.
  • It is a known fact that the use of electronic devices for more than 2 hours a day creates mild depression.

This is not an all-inclusive list, as much has been written about the effects of the use of electronic devices among young people.

Risks for Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Addiction

Millennials And Depression Statistic Before Adulthood - ECHO RecoveryBecause of the increased rates of depression and anxiety among today’s youth, our young people are more at risk of self-medicating and addiction than ever. More and more addiction treatment centers are offering programs focused on addressing anxiety in adolescents and young millennials to meet the needs of our current climate.

The pain of anxiety and depression in young adults drives many to self-medicate. It is difficult for someone suffering with depression to reach out for help. Millennials look to ease their pain any way they can, often turning to substances to make them feel better. At a young age, it is easy to find peers using drugs or getting alcohol underage.

For lack of better options or the embarrassment of coming forward to acknowledge their anxiety, adolescents that start using substances to relieve psychological pain can easily become addicted. Alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs carry a high risk of abuse and addiction.

If someone with anxiety or depression develops an addiction, they will have what is called a dual diagnosis. These kind of cases requires specialized treatment for both issues.

Higher Risk Factors for Teen Depression

Some teens have higher-than-average risk factors for depression, addiction and suicide. In addition to a genetic predisposition as previously mentioned, some of these factors include:

  • Having a psychiatric illness without receiving adequate treatment — the highest risk for suicide
  • Being abused or neglected
  • Suffering from chronic illness
  • Family history of mental illness
  • Regularly consuming alcohol
  • Regularly using illicit or prescription drugs

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Do you worry that your teen or young adult child might be struggling with depression, anxiety or a related psychiatric disorder? Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between what is normal moody behavior and when something is truly awry.

There are some warning signs and symptoms to look for in your child or loved one:

  • Sadness or hopelessness
  • Drug or alcohol use
  • Low self-esteem or acting overly self-conscious
  • Eating disorder symptoms or not caring about appearance (lack of hygiene or changes in appearance)
  • Problems in school (lower grades, getting in trouble)
  • Scars, self-harm or cutting
  • Lack of interest in activities and alienating oneself from people
  • Interest in or talking about death

This is not a comprehensive list of warning signs. Anytime you have concerns about these symptoms or others, do not hesitate to ask questions. When it comes to mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse or potential suicide, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Getting Help

Depression and anxiety are serious conditions. Threats of suicide should always be taken seriously.

If you need personally need help for depression or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or call 1-800-SUICIDE.

Sober Living

Sober Housing Crisis: Sober Living in the Wake of the Opioid Epidemic

Stemming from over-prescription and abuse of opioid-based painkillers and medications, the Great Opioid Epidemic spread across the United States in the 21st century, contributing heavily to the more than 64,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016.

While the epidemic’s true roots reach far back to the late 1990s, the problem with prescription drug abuse didn’t seem to gain much notice or mainstream attention until around 2015. This is when several started to declare a state of emergency regarding the growing number of deaths attributed to addiction.

As of late 2017, the issues with prescription drug abuse and addiction are out in the open, and real discussions are happening on how best to treat those that are already addicted to opioids and how to prevent an epidemic of drug addiction – which started from legitimate prescription use in many cases – from happening again.

As 2018 approaches, the public’s view of opioid addicts and their needs is softening, and our society is offering more compassion toward these individuals. States have readied funding for opioid detox and addiction treatment programs, and real help is more readily available for addicts than ever before.

Still, there are some shortfalls in providing current addicts and recovering addicts with everything they need to fully recover from addiction and become productive members of society again. One major deficit is in the availability of housing for those recovering from addiction, aka sober living houses.

What Is a Sober Living House?

Stop Looking in the Same Place

Sober living houses are one of many types of transitional living facilities that offer a safe and structured environment to allow recovering addicts and substance abusers to live on the property while practicing relapse-prevention skills and being held accountable.

Most sober living homes and residences have strict, zero-tolerance policies on drugs and alcohol on the premises, providing an environment free from addictive substances and negative influences that are often the catalysts for relapse.

Common types of sober living residences include:

  • Sober Living Homes
  • Sober Living Apartments
  • Sober Living Dorms
  • Halfway Houses
  • Sober Living and Transitional Facilities
  • Oxford House Residences

Sober Housing Rules and Guidelines

Each sober living home will have its own set of amenities and offerings, as well as its own set of rules. However, the rules within a sober living house should promote health, positivity, and healing, while keeping residents as free as possible from negative influences.

Common sober housing rules include:

  • Residents must remain sober – to support the main goal of the residence, and to protect others living on the premises.
  • Drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the premises, and certain types of contraband may also be banned – if they are thought to negatively affect the sobriety and well-being of the residents.
  • In some cases, the residence may require ongoing treatment, therapy or participation in group meetings to support a full recovery and ongoing sobriety.
  • Employment: Some residences may require the individual to be employed a minimum number of hours per week. Enrollment in school may be considered a substitute for employment in some residences and in some cases.
  • Sponsorship: Some residences will require the resident to have a sobriety sponsor.
  • Chores: Many residences require each of the residents to perform ongoing chores to help keep up the property and to build a sense of pride and community.

The specific rules and regulations will assuredly change from one house to another, but the rules are implemented to keep the core values proposed by the residence. This helps keep a safe and positive environment conducive to the healing and recovery of each individual.

Why Addicts in Recovery Need Sober Living Homes

Simply put, recovering addicts who transition through a sober living house into living on their own have higher success rates in recovery, and lower rates of relapse back into old habits, including substance abuse. Addicts and substance abusers need help in all phases of their recovery to achieve successful rehabilitation and to be able to live a life of sobriety.

Individuals who detox from drugs and alcohol with the help of a professional and structured detox program are more likely to outlast withdrawal and move on to residential care and addiction rehabilitation. Likewise, those who attend a structured rehab program helmed by professionals are more likely to have a successful recovery and move on to aftercare and sober living.

The individuals who enroll in a sober living program and live in a sober home with peers under the supervision of, and with the help of, sober living house administrators are more likely to successfully transition out of these arrangements into living on their own without the risk of relapse.

Sober living is just another phase in the recovery process, and it’s a crucial one. Sober living is often the pivotal point where the responsibilities of continued sobriety begin to shift back to the individual in recovery – rather than on the treatment center staff.

Availability of Sober Living Homes and Sober Living Options

It has been established that sober living homes are an integral part of the recovery process, and actually help raise the chances of full, successful rehabilitation while lowering the chances of relapse and recidivism. So why – especially when we are entrenched in one of the greatest addiction epidemics in history – do we have a lack of sober living options for those seeking recovery?

Public Fears About Rehab Facilities and Sober Living Homes

Stigma and lack of understanding about drug addiction are two of the main reasons the recent opioid epidemic grew so out of control for many years. Many in the public – but not all – who don’t have personal experience with addiction, or haven’t had addiction strike close to them, take a very hard stance on addicts and substance abusers. They might believe that it is the individual’s fault, and that the addict does not deserve sympathy or help to make recovery easier.

The opioid epidemic introduced the general public to the fact that addiction is a disease that can start innocently enough. In the case of opioid addiction, many addictions began through the legitimate prescription of opioid-based pain medications given by a doctor.

Being that addiction could stem from an individual who innocently follows the advice of a medical professional, compassion seemed to grow for the problems that some addicts face. Many Americans who previously took a hard stance against addicts appeared to soften their stance.

While such compassion has led the most of the nation into understanding that treatment – not punishment or jail sentencing – is what is needed to stem the opioid crisis, the stigma of addiction has not completely dissolved.

Myths About Sober Living Homes in Communities

“We don’t want a facility that houses addicts in our neighborhood, or near our schools, or where our children play…” is an often-heard argument when an addiction treatment facility or a sober living facility is proposed in a neighborhood or town.

This type of argument bases itself on the fallacy that addiction treatment and sober living houses invite addicts into the community that weren’t previously there. If the opioid epidemic has shown us anything, it’s that addiction and substance abuse is not just a “big city problem,” nor limited to neighborhoods with low incomes or certain demographics.

Addiction – much like a disease – infects people. Addiction affects people, regardless of their personal qualities, income, address, or any other social characteristic.

And much like any other disease, addiction needs to be treated. Part of that treatment includes reintroducing the recovering addicts back into society. The fact of the matter is that recovering addicts will be introduced back into neighborhoods and cities regardless of whether they enter a sober living home, or simply return to an apartment complex down the street or the home right next door.

What sober living homes do is provide a safe and structured environment for these individuals to return to – one that gives them the highest chance for success and a lower risk of relapse. Sober living homes are often called “transitional living” for a good reason: They act as a buffer to help ease individuals back into the neighborhoods and cities.

Sober living ensures that the individual has the skills to avoid temptations, has become accustomed to sober living and abiding by community rules, and is not prone to criminal behaviors that often accompany active addiction. In short, sober living houses make sure that a recovering addict– who is going to return to the community either way – is prepared for re-entry.

Why the United States Needs More Transitional Housing and Sober Living Homes Now

While an end to the opioid epidemic is still far off, there are more treatment options for current addicts in 2017 than there were a year ago. More drug and alcohol users are seeking treatment every year, and with their treatment comes the inevitable re-entry back into society, cities and communities.

These recovering “addicts” are human beings that cannot simply be shunned, quarantined or confined outside of the rest of society. They have no other choice but to return, and members of the community shouldn’t hesitate to continue to live and work beside them.

The only choice available that we have in the matter is to decide if we want to help them as they return (and ensure that sober living options are available when they return to help keep communities safe for both the addicts and those living around them) or simply let them return without proper preparation and skills for a successful transition.