by Sally Rosa | Jun 18, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
Written By: Katie Schipper
Dealing with a Relapsing Roommate Isn’t Easy
One of the first things you’ll hear in treatment or a twelve-step fellowship is that not everyone stays sober. There are a lot of reasons people relapse into active addiction, but it usually comes down to whether or not someone’s ready and willing to give recovery as much focus as they gave getting high.
In a place like Delray Beach, where the recovery community is huge, chances are high that you’ll know a lot of people who relapse. The longer you stay sober, the higher that number will be. So, what happens when a relapse hits close to home? What’s there to do if you know your roommate is getting high or drunk?
Recovery Contracts
If you’re living with someone who starts using, it isn’t always easy to pack up your things and walk out the door. It’s probably just as hard to try and force someone else to leave. While it’s wise to go into any roommate situation with a recovery contract, once someone relapses that contract becomes pretty worthless. So, what do you actually do?
Moving in with others in recovery? Learn what to avoid.
Stay Focused!
The first thing to do, and continue doing, is working your program. You’re safe from the first drink, as long as you’re doing the right thing and not coasting along. If you have a sponsor, go to meetings, help other women, and do what’s suggested you’re not going to magically get drunk or high. At that point, you’d have to make a conscience decision to go out. So, the real question is a bit more complicated than simply “what do I do?” The real question is how to live with someone who’s relapsing, whether that’s the right thing to do, or how to get out of the situation.
Most sober women aren’t going to choose to stay in a living situation where someone is getting high or drunk. Sometimes though, there isn’t another option. If your roommate is using and you have no way out of the lease, make it that much more difficult for your roommate to continue “getting away with it.” At this point, there’s no reason to protect your roommate, harsh as that may sound. Trying to save face is also a waste of time. Tell people in your life, and in her life, what’s really going on. They might be able to help her. If she threatens to hurt herself or anyone else, tell someone that too, probably the police. The worst possible thing to do is to sit back and pretend like nothing’s happening. Addiction articles and stories repeat this truth. Simply put, if you know something isn’t right, say something.
How do those living with addicts recover? Read one woman’s personal story.
Leave if You Can
If you’re able to get out of your living situation, do so. Part of getting sober is recognizing that you no longer have to live the way you used to. You don’t have to settle for a subpar, painful existence. You don’t have to stay in situations where you no longer belong. You’re allowed to move and grow. You’re absolutely allowed to remove people from your life who don’t serve a positive purpose.
If your roommate is relapsing, bring extra focus to your own recovery. That’s where the answer lies and it’s where your solution is found.
by Fiona Stockard | May 7, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
2 Chainz Arrested For Drug Possession!
Rapper 2 Chainz was sentenced to three years probation and over a year in drug and alcohol treatment. Wait, there’s more! 2 Chainz will be required to wear a sobriety bracelet. Unfortunately, the court was all out of sobriety chains.
The sentence came after the thirty-six year old rapper, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, was arrested in June of 2013 at the Los Angeles International Airport.
So, What Happened?
Narcotics were uncovered in 2 Chainz’ checked baggage. Authorities immediately evacuated him from the plane and placed him in custody. “At more or less 1 p.m., Airport Police Officers found narcotics in the baggage check area of Terminal 5,” read a report from airport security.
“Transportation Security Administration prompted Airport Police officers they discovered marijuana and a flask of promethazine with codeine (also known by the street name of “purple drink or syrup) in the checked bag of Tauheed Epps (2 Chainz), an occupant of Riverdale, Georgia,” claimed authorities.
“Airport Police Officers examination uncovered Mr. Epps was ready for outbound flight, he was uprooted from the flight and arrested due to California Penal Code Section 11350a H & S – Possession of a controlled substance. Mr. Epps was transported to the Airport Police station for preparatory transforming and transported to and booked at the LAPD Pacific Division Jail without further occurrence,” claimed authorities.
The narcotics uncovered turned out to be Promethazine. Promethazine, along with codeine, makes up the drug known as “sizzurp” and “purple drank.” Less than an ounce of marijuana was also found in the rapper’s belonging.
Now, 2 Chainz would normally be sentenced to jail, not probation and treatment. His decreased sentence came from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz. The honorably Mr. Schwartz is known for implementing treatment resources, rather than strict jail sentences.
by Sally Rosa | Dec 20, 2013 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
Watch as Recovering Addict Matthew Perry Schools a Journalist Who Doesn’t Understand Addiction!
by Fiona Stockard | Nov 24, 2013 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
Meet Kratom a.k.a. Legal Heroin
Illicit drugs like crack and heroin have been problems for years. Addicts are flooding into detoxes, treatment centers, and halfway houses all over the country. The substance abuse industry is flooded with people battling deadly addictions. The War on Drugs isn’t anything new. The police and the government have been fighting drugs for decades. They’re always on the lookout for new ways to combat the increasing number of illegal drugs. Well, it looks like the number of illegal drugs may soon increase by one.
A new drug, Kratom, is being found all over south Florida. Hell, it’s being found all over the country for that matter. It’s sold in smoke-shops and Kava bars. It’s hotly sought after for its euphoric effects. Kratom is a member of the opiate family and shares many similarities with its cousin, heroin. It sedates users, causes strong feelings of relaxation, and depresses central nervous system functions.
Just Because It’s Legal Doesn’t Mean It’s Safe
Kratom is sometimes said to be stronger, more addictive, and more dangerous than illegal drugs! Kratom is sold as a powder or, in some cases, as a liquid. This legal powder has sent people to the ER, detoxes, and treatment centers.
“I enjoyed taking the substance because it’s easily available. I could walk right into the local shop and purchase Kratom. There was no waiting around or drug dealer,” states Randy, a twenty-five year old former Kratom abuser. He goes on, “it got to a point where I’d choose to do Kratom over eat food that day. I was heavily addicted to the substance, and entered rehab for the second time in my life. The first time was for cocaine and alcohol use.”
Unfortunately, stories like Randy’s aren’t all that rare. More and more, people are seeking an easy way to deal with the anxiety and stress of the world. New substances, like Kratom and “spice,” may seem like safer alternatives than illegal drugs. However, they often turn out to be just as dangerous as any illegal substance.
We need to educate ourselves about the dangers of legal highs! We need to learn what we’re putting into our bodies! We need to stop thinking just because something’s legal, it’s safe. Look at alcohol. It’s legal and causes far more deaths each year than all illegal drugs put together!
For information on Comprehensive Addiction Treatment, please visit Lighthouse Recovery Institute
by Fiona Stockard | Nov 22, 2013 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
What Happens When Heroin First Enters the Brain?
After heroin enters the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier, it’s converted back to morphine. This morphine binds to cells called opioid receptors. There are a bunch of different types of opioid receptors, but getting into all that is for another article.
Opioid receptors are located all over our brains, and our bodies for that matter. They’re especially prevalent in areas involved with the perception of pain and reward. That’s why opioids make such good pain relievers. Opioid receptors are also located in the brainstem. This controls automatic processes like blood pressure, respiration, and sexual arousal.
Once heroin is injected, users get a feeling of intense euphoria. This is commonly called “the rush” among us junkie folk! This feeling comes over the entire body and doesn’t last for very long. After the rush, the user goes into a drowsy, half-conscious state. This is called nodding out. Over time, the brain demands the same levels of heroin for the body to feel normal. When this happens, tolerance and physical addiction have set in.
If the brain doesn’t get the needed level, it goes into a sort of panic state. This is withdrawal. Our bodies all react to withdrawal differently, but some common symptoms include: nausea, cramps, aching, pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sensitivity to light, and headache. Basically, think of a bad flu. Also, after receiving heroin the brain produces large amounts of dopamine. After a heroin addiction, it’s hard for the brain to learn how to produce dopamine in a natural way. This leads to ex-heroin addicts being severely depressed.
How Does Heroin Affect the Brain?
The pleasurable effects of heroin come from neurons in the brain which use dopamine. Dopamine is one of several key neurotransmitters, or message carriers, in the brain. When heroin enters the brain, it releases a ton of dopamine and then blocks it being absorbed back into the cells.
Our brains naturally produce endorphins, which are opioid like molecules. These endorphins are used as natural painkillers by our brain and body. Think about running for a long period of time. Afterwards, you get that “runners high.” This is caused by a release of endorphins, which causes dopamine to release, and then block the dopamine being absorbed back into the cells.
Recent studies have shown that long-term heroin addiction actually changes our DNA! This affects the production of protein and how our brains function. Hopefully, these new studies will give insight into the disease of heroin addiction and offer new methods of treating it.
Short Term Effects On the Brain
- Analgesia (Reduced Pain)
- Euphoria (“Rush”)
- A Feeling of Well-Being
- Sedation (“Nodding Out”)
- Reduced Vital Signs (Blood Pressure, Respiration, Heart Rate)
- Relief of Withdrawal Symptoms
Long Term Effects on the Brain:
- Impaired Memory
- Impaired Cognitive Ability
- Impaired Decision Making
- Physical Tolerance
- Mental and Physical Addiction
