Category: blog

Benefits of Sober Living in New Jersey

Sober living homes are frequently mentioned and integrated as part of a comprehensive aftercare plan. As essential as sober living options and opportunities are to many, they are sometimes overlooked or disregarded due to misconceptions around how truly beneficial they can be.

What Are Sober Living Homes?

Sober living homes (sometimes called halfway houses) provide a vital bridge between addiction treatment and a successful, sober return to one’s family and community. Once completing treatment and returning home, you may find that you struggle with adjusting back to the routines of daily life. A sober living home offers an intermediary recovery option that allows you to work with others on the lessons you learned during treatment. The truth is, spending time at a sober living home between treatment and returning home could make the difference between relapse and continued sobriety, especially if you lack essential support structures at home.

Sober living homes in Monmouth County, NJ are an excellent means of alleviating any fears or concerns you may have about going from the more heavily monitored treatment and therapy environment and jumping right back into your daily life. If you are new to recovery, a sober living environment may be your only option for a safe, sober living scenario if “home” consists of too many powerful triggers.

Sober living homes are different from addiction treatment programs in many respects. At a sober living home, you are free to come and go as you please, much like outpatient addiction treatment programs. This allows you to slowly ease back into everyday life and resume your daily tasks and responsibilities while still having support. Although sober living homes are less restrictive than inpatient treatment, there are still rules that you are expected to follow, including curfews and attendance at group meetings. Please note that addiction treatment doesn’t happen in a sober living home.

How Does New Jersey Sober Living Help With Relapse Prevention?

There are countless benefits to staying in a sober living home in New Jersey. Some of the most prominent include the ability to attend 12 step programs (or similar group-oriented support programs), creating essential structure, accountability, and creating a sober fellowship. A primary part of remaining sober that many tend to forget is creating positive friendships with those who share the same goals. This reinforces your ongoing desire to abstain from drugs and alcohol and support others to do the same.

Isolation is a significant problem for many who are new to recovery. When you return directly home after addiction treatment, you may find that you lack the essential support structures to maintain your sobriety. You may find that friends or family either still use or do not understand the support you need to maintain sobriety. Consequently, many people new to recovery often isolate themselves from others, situations, or environments that could be triggering. While this may sound logical, it often leads to relapse. The support systems developed at a sober living home help you avoid isolation and provide an environment to support your recovery further.

Sober living homes help you slowly integrate into daily life routines while instilling healthy habits essential to relapse prevention. Programs at sober living homes can help you make amends with friends and family, find employment, locate safe housing, and adjust his sober living in an environment without the restrictions and controls found in addiction treatment programs.

Beat Addiction With the Help of Relevance Recovery’s Sober Living in New Jersey

As part of a carefully designed aftercare plan, the assistance you receive while staying in a sober living home will help you further identify triggers that may entice you to use once you return home. It can also help solidify healthy coping skills that you learned during treatment. The benefits of sober living homes are essential to many in recovery. The time you may spend at a sober living home in New Jersey varies but can often be for as long as you feel it necessary to ensure long-lasting sobriety and recovery. If you are in treatment, talk to your counselor and treatment team about ensuring sober living is part of your aftercare plan. If you are considering addiction treatment, contact Relevance Recovery, and speak to one of our caring admissions counselors today. Our unique and individual treatment programs can help you get back on the road to recovery and a substance-free life.

What Is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)?

Therapy is an essential element of addiction treatment. Some may even say it is the cornerstone of addiction treatment programs regardless of the type of addiction for which you might be seeking treatment. The most common form of addiction treatment therapy is called cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. The premise behind cognitive behavioral therapy is helping people to change negative thoughts and irrational beliefs by thinking about the roots of their emotions and learning to build positive belief systems. Rational motive behavioral therapy or REBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. But what is REBT, and what are its goals? Again, this therapy type focuses on helping those in addiction treatment learn to change irrational beliefs around addiction. REBT (and other types of cognitive-behavioral therapy are often referred to as “action-oriented” approaches to psychotherapy that are designed to help you or your loved ones in treatment manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a positive, healthy way.

REBT Therapy Explained

Albert Ellis, the creator of REBT, believed that people were not disturbed by things, but rather by how they viewed those things. The fundamental idea behind REBT is that the way people feel is significantly influenced by how they think. When people hold irrational views of themselves (or others around them), problems can arise. The goal of REBT is to help you alter the illogical beliefs and negative thinking patterns that have led to addictive behavior.

REBT is best understood by looking at the steps of the therapeutic process. The first step asks you to identify the irrational thought patterns and beliefs that have led to addictive behaviors. In many cases, these are reflected as absolutes, such as “I can’t” or “I must.” Continuing to hold onto such beliefs makes it nearly impossible to respond to triggering situations positively and healthily. The next step is working towards changing irrational beliefs. Once they have been identified, your therapist, skilled in REBT techniques, will help you dispute these beliefs through various methods. The final step involves gaining insight and changing behaviors.

The REBT process can indeed be challenging as it asks you to face difficult thoughts and emotions that have been perceived as fact for some time, and accepting these thoughts as unhealthy is not easy for anyone. REBT strives to help you learn from mistakes and respond in a healthy way to triggering situations.

How Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Is Used in Addiction Treatment

REBT has proven to be a highly effective therapy model if you are struggling with a substance abuse disorder. The core essence of REBT is to change the way you think about your addiction and the situations that contribute to your addiction. Participation in REBT sessions, either individually or in a group format, can help you learn how to have more positive reactions to triggers, which, in turn, will help you resist turning to substances to cope with emotional situations. If you are struggling with an addiction, REBT can help you reduce the powerful impact of your emotions. The ability to minimize the effects of emotions leads to fewer self-defeating behaviors, such as using.

There are two primary ways REBT can help you defeat your addiction. First, it helps you learn how to react to situations in more realistic ways instead of irrational thoughts. It also allows you to realize there are things in life you cannot control, but you can control how you react to the specific situation. REBT is often combined with other treatment methods, such as medical treatments, alternative therapies (or holistic therapies), and other forms of psychotherapy.

Seek Sobriety at Relevance Recovery

REBT is a highly effective form of therapy that has helped many people meet and defeat their addiction since it was first introduced over seventy years ago. REBT is an evidence-based, validated treatment model that can help you change your negative thoughts and responses to lead a happier, sober life. If you are ready to seek addiction treatment or have questions about how REBT or other treatments may be able to help, contact the caring, compassionate team at Relevance Recovery today. You are relevant.

Seeking Addiction Treatment: What Is Outpatient Rehab?

What is outpatient treatment? When people think about addiction rehab, they often envision inpatient treatment centers where those seeking help with their addiction spend time away from home while healing. This type of treatment setting is not for everyone, and many seek alternate treatment program options that do not involve a residential component. There are situations where outpatient treatment programs can provide a successful treatment and recovery option for those struggling with a variety of addictions.

Defining Outpatient Rehab

Unlike an inpatient program, which requires people to move into a facility for a specific period (typically 30 to 90 days), an outpatient program allows people to stay home and, in their communities, while they work on their addiction challenges. Some outpatient programs have a set schedule, in which people who enroll are expected to appear in groups with other members of the program. These times cannot be varied or changed, which promotes accountability by participants. Other programs may have appointment-based systems that could accommodate issues such as work or childcare.

Outpatient programs are often considered a less intense form of addiction care. There is no around-the-clock supervision involved with these programs, and often no clinicians are available when a crisis hits off hours. As a result, these programs are usually recommended for new addiction cases and those in good mental health.

Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

Flexibility – Outpatient treatment allows individuals to continue their daily activities while receiving care. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for working professionals and those with family obligations.
Privacy – Since outpatient treatment doesn’t require an overnight stay, it can be more discreet, allowing individuals to maintain their privacy.
Support system – Outpatient treatment enables individuals to stay connected with their loved ones, which can be a significant source of support during recovery.
Individualized care: – At Relevance Recovery, we understand that each person’s journey to recovery is unique. Our outpatient programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of each patient.
Dual diagnosis treatment – Our center emphasizes dual diagnosis treatment, addressing addiction and any co-existing mental health disorders. This comprehensive approach increases the chance of long-term recovery.

Whether you’re a board-certified professional with a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD) or an individual struggling with co-occurring mental health conditions, we’re here to help. Our outpatient programs include a range of therapies, detox services, and specialized treatment options like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. We also offer 12-step and holistic therapy programs to cater to various needs and preferences.

Outpatient Rehab vs. Inpatient: What’s the Difference?

Addiction treatment programs typically fall into two categories: inpatient and outpatient treatment. But how are they different? While each has its benefits, the decision about which treatment is needed should be based on the patient’s individual needs at that time.

Inpatient Rehab

For most people struggling with addiction, detox at an inpatient rehab provides an excellent start to achieving sobriety and recovery. Inpatient rehab, also called residential treatment or residential rehab, requires the person to remain on-site at the treatment facility for the duration of their program. This arrangement gives a person complete focus on their treatment. It also provides the opportunity for medically assisted withdrawal from drugs and alcohol if needed.

At an inpatient rehab program, clients are provided with a structured environment designed to keep everyone focused on recovery. Immersive, evidence-based care concentrates on individual, group, and family therapies; all focused on promoting healing.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient is an excellent choice for people with substance abuse challenges that are milder, where they have not become physically dependent on substances, but realize they have a growing problem. Outpatient treatment is also an effective means for continuing treatment progress when transitioning from an inpatient facility. Most notably, outpatient treatment offers convenience and flexibility not available in inpatient settings.

Outpatient programs include a wide variety of options, including detox, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and opportunities for alternative and holistic treatment options.

Sobriety Is Possible at Relevance Recovery

If you are ready to seek addiction treatment but aren’t sure which type of program is right for you, contact Relevance Recovery to learn more about how our outpatient treatment programs can help you achieve sobriety and lasting recovery!

Benefits of Holistic Treatment for Drug Addiction

Most drug and alcohol treatment programs generally include a variety of traditional treatment models, including individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, and aftercare planning. As knowledge about addiction and how people react to treatment has changed, treatment options have evolved to include several holistic (or alternative) treatments for addiction.

Holistic therapies are non-medicinal recovery methods used to complement traditional treatment practices. The goal of holistic recovery is to bring the mind, body, and spirit into alignment to improve healing outcomes. Holistic therapy focuses on the addicted individual’s overall well-being while also treating the physical symptoms associated with addiction and withdrawal.

The Three Types of Personality Disorders

What Is Holistic Treatment for Drug Addiction?

Holistic treatment programs are centered around personalized, non-medical methods of addiction recovery. Therapists trained in the application of specific therapy techniques treat the physical and mental symptoms as well as emotional and nutritional imbalances that arise during

detox and treatment. Holistic therapy can help treat a lack of sleep, poor diet, and emotional stress, all of which are potential obstacles to addiction treatment. Holistic addiction treatment follows the belief that addiction can be treated more successfully by exploring how a person could be harmed by their substance abuse. Extending beyond just the most severe or the most clearly noticeable symptoms. Examples of common holistic treatments for addiction include meditation, mindfulness and stress management, massage, and equine therapy.

Types of Holistic Therapy for Addiction

In holistic addiction treatment, individuals typically engage in various therapeutic approaches to address their substance abuse issues. These may include:

Meditation: A practice that aids in clearing the mind and focusing on the present moment. During meditation, individuals concentrate on their specific goals for addiction recovery, helping overcome cravings and manage intrusive thoughts.

Yoga: Studies indicate that yoga is effective in relieving stress and anxiety, particularly when used alongside other therapies. It involves controlled breathing, strength-building, and body relaxation, complementing mindfulness practices. Yoga is beneficial for stress reduction and minimizing the risk of relapse during challenging moments.

Fitness Therapy: Taking care of the body contributes to improved mental and emotional well-being. Regular exercise has been linked to a reduction in substance abuse. Engaging in physical activities such as sports, hiking, or dance not only boosts overall well-being but also enhances interpersonal skills. Exercise releases endorphins, essential for pain relief and stress reduction, supporting long-term recovery.

Nutrition Therapy: A crucial aspect of holistic health involves maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet. Nutrition specialists guide individuals in making necessary dietary changes. For instance, avoiding sugar is emphasized to prevent the development of a secondary addiction to sugary foods during recovery.

Art Therapy: Creative activities like painting, knitting, or playing musical instruments offer therapeutic benefits for individuals managing addiction. These activities provide a safe outlet for expressing emotions, a vital aspect of recovery. Art therapy encourages individuals to channel their feelings into creative endeavors instead of relying on substances to cope with stress or discomfort.

While these practices form the core of holistic addiction treatment, some centers may offer additional therapies. It’s important to note that individuals participating in these holistic approaches also engage in traditional addiction treatments, including therapy, 12-step programs, or aftercare planning. This combined approach addresses various aspects of addiction, promoting comprehensive recovery.

What Are the Benefits of Holistic Therapy for Addiction?

1. Flexibility in Treatment:

Holistic therapy allows for personalized treatment plans based on individual needs.
Traditional treatment programs may be limited, whereas holistic approaches offer a variety of options.

2. Variety of Treatment Options:

Holistic programs provide a broader range of treatments, increasing the chances of finding the most effective approach for each individual.
Tailoring treatment to unique preferences and responses is more achievable.

3. Ongoing Impact and Aftercare:

Many holistic treatments, such as meditation, yoga, and exercise, can easily continue post-primary treatment.
These methods serve as low-cost coping strategies that individuals can use in triggering situations after formal treatment concludes.

4. Sustainability of Practices:

Holistic therapies, like mindfulness and meditation, offer practices that can be sustained long-term.
Individuals can continue these practices as part of their daily routine, promoting ongoing well-being.

5. Long-Term Benefits:

Holistic treatments have lasting effects beyond the formal treatment period.
Common holistic practices contribute to improved sleep, stress relief, healthy exercise habits, enhanced nutrition, and reduced substance cravings.

6. Mindfulness and Meditation:

These practices have proven benefits for chronic substance abuse disorders.
They contribute to stress reduction, improved sleep, and overall mental well-being.

7. Improved Coping Strategies:

Holistic therapies empower individuals with effective coping mechanisms.
Skills acquired during holistic treatment can be applied to manage challenges in the post-treatment phase.

8. Addressing Common Issues:

Holistic therapies address issues commonly experienced by those with substance abuse disorders.
They provide comprehensive solutions beyond just addressing the addiction itself.

9. Cost-Effective Approaches:

Many holistic practices are low-cost and sustainable, making them accessible for individuals post-treatment.
This accessibility enhances the chances of continued well-being without financial burden.

What a Holistic Recovery for Addiction Should Look Like

When you enter a holistic addiction treatment program, you can expect it to look a lot like a rehabilitation facility. You’ll still be meeting with counselors and other professionals. However, holistic therapy is a relaxed and comfortable environment rather than a methodical and cold one, as some traditional treatment centers may be.

If you need to detox from a substance, you’ll be supervised by staff members while you clear the drug from your body. Once you’ve completed detox, you’ll participate in individual therapy or group sessions with other people who share similar experiences to your own. Talking with other people who relate to your experiences can help you feel connected and comfortable discussing your challenges. Some of these people may even turn into members of your support network.

While you’re in recovery, you’ll learn how to make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of relapse and improve your life. You’ll be guided through each of these changes by a qualified professional, and you might see changes to your physical fitness routine, diet and coping mechanisms. You’ll never be alone while recovering from addiction, and the professional staff will become a part of your support network during treatment.

How Effective are Holistic Therapy in Rehab?

Limited evidence exists to support the effectiveness of holistic treatments in rehabilitation.
Holistic therapy options often lack comprehensive research, with few conducted studies, and existing research is incomplete or non-existent.
Techniques that aid in lasting recovery are poorly characterized due to a lack of substantial evidence.
Addiction negatively impacts health, and holistic therapy is considered effective as it addresses the various ways addiction affects one’s life.
Holistic therapy combines traditional, experiential, and alternative therapies to facilitate a more comprehensive approach to recovery.

Finding A Drug Rehab Center In New Jersey

Drug and alcohol addiction impacts millions of lives across the United States each day. Unfortunately, only one out of every ten people who struggle with a substance abuse disorder or addiction will ever seek or successfully enter an addiction treatment program. Some individuals will forego or avoid rehab due to the stigma that still surrounds addiction and addiction treatment. Others do not believe or do not realize they have a substance abuse problem.

Establishing If You Need Rehab

Determining if you need rehab is a multi-step process. First, it should include an honest self-assessment of your substance use. It can be challenging to be objective and admit that you have an addiction. However, if ongoing substance abuse is causing negative impacts in your life, it is time to take a closer look and consider that you might have an addiction for which treatment is necessary. Once you have made this decision, you have already taken the first and most crucial step on the path to recovery. Next, you must decide where and how you will achieve sobriety.

Determining if you need rehab depends on the severity and symptoms of addiction which you exhibit. One of the early signs that you may have an addiction – and not a physical dependence on substances- is the presence of new or ongoing destructive behaviors. These behaviors are often in response to uncontrollable cravings related to changes in the brain that arise from chronic substance abuse.

For those that struggle with a substance use disorder, there are certain signs and symptoms to look for, which indicate treatment is essential to ongoing health and well-being. Symptoms of addiction can and do vary from person to person, yet they generally have physical, mental, and social impacts. If your life and relationships are being adversely affected by substance use, you likely have an addiction. The severity of your addiction may range from mild to severe, depending on a list of symptoms indicative of addiction. There are eleven in total, including lack of control, inability to quit (despite the desire to), cravings, tolerance, withdrawal, and several others. Even if you have a mild diagnosis, you should still seek help to get sober.

Benefits of Going to A Drug Treatment Center in New Jersey

Several factors go into deciding where to seek treatment. Whether New Jersey is home or you have chosen to travel for rehab, it is essential to select a rehab facility that provides individual, evidence-based, holistic care. Addiction symptoms present differently for everyone, and therefore no one treatment will work for everyone struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The best drug and alcohol rehab centers provide a full continuum of care from admission to comprehensive after-care with programs explicitly designed to meet each client’s needs.

Why You Should Choose Relevance Behavioral Health

Achieving sobriety and recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a challenging road. At Relevance Behavioral Health, our treatment team understands these challenges better than many, as we have lived them firsthand. Our intensive outpatient program was created to solve addiction’s underlying causes, teach new coping skills, and heal all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit. The professionals at Relevance Behavioral Health strive to ensure that all clients leave treatment feeling healthy, motivated, and ready to begin a new life free from the struggles of addiction. Our outstanding team will custom tailor a drug and alcohol abuse treatment plan to help you or your loved one recover from addiction. Our state of the art, individualized treatment plans are designed to meet all types of treatment needs both during and after treatment as we remain by your side throughout the first years of your recovery. If you or a loved one are ready for a different kind of addiction program where everyone is relevant, contact Relevance Behavioral Health today to learn more.

How much can we blame our genes for addictive behavior?

The Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr., star of countless films including Chaplin, the Iron Man series, Tropic Thunder and Zodiac, started making movies when he was just five years old. He’s also famous for his descent into drug addiction, which he says started even earlier than age five.

Downey has told a number of interviewers that he believes he has an addictive personality, and that he may have passed that personality on to his son, Indio, who recently pled guilty to felony cocaine possession and entered a rehabilitation program. Meanwhile, Downey (the elder) has talked about how his own father introduced him to drugs.

Downey’s stories beg critical questions about how humans handle drugs and addiction:

Is addiction inherited, and genetic?
Is addiction more a cultural and environmental phenomenon?
Is there such a thing as an addictive personality?

Drug rehabilitation, medical and psychological treatments and even the criminal justice system depend heavily on the right answers to those questions.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (one of the National Institutes of Health), illegal drug abuse costs the United States more than $181 billion each year “in health care, productivity loss, crime, incarceration and drug enforcement.” And these costs are based on an assumption that drug addiction, as NIDA puts it, “is a chronic, relapsing brain disease.”

But that doesn’t necessarily make it genetic. Nor does a pattern of heritability for, say, alcoholism, make that disorder entirely genetic. Researchers are looking at addiction as a complex interaction of genes, metabolism, environment and behavior. This has come a long way from the early 20th century, when addiction was seen more as a morality problem, or even since the 1980s, when we witnessed the primitive eggs-on-a-frying pan “this is your brain on drugs” advertisements. Researchers have largely abandoned the search for an overarching addictive personality, in which a person shows an archetypal vulnerability for any addiction, be it cigarettes, alcohol, heroin, or gambling.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact us today by calling 732-702-2242.

Case for genes

Of all the people who try alcohol or illegal drugs, only 10 to 20 percent get addicted. No single gene has ever been isolated for people who get hooked on alcohol, drugs or other substances. But a number of studies show that genetics does play some significant role:

Identical twin studies have shown a fairly strong concordance (sharing a behavior and genetic trait), but even these show some variability. For example, a Medical College of Virginia twin study on cocaine use showed a 54 concordance rate for identical twins versus 42 percent for fraternal twins, but for cocaine abuse showed a 47 percent concordance for identical twins and only eight percent for fraternal twins.
Other studies showed some differences depending on type of substance. A Washington University, St. Louis, review showed that 33 to 71 percent of the variation in nicotine addiction was inherited, while 48 to 66 percent of variation in alcohol addiction was inherited, and 49 percent of variation in gambling addiction was inherited.
A search for genes has uncovered a number of genetic clusters that affect behavior and mood, and could be connected with addiction. Genes on no fewer than eight chromosomes have been tagged for some role in chemical dependence.

Related article: Plant-based meat industry start-up Daring targeting chicken-free ‘chicken’, the world’s favorite protein

Case for the environment

Also taking a step away from the early focus on moral fiber, behavioral scientists have been examining external factors that could lead to addiction:

Twin studies, this time looking at identical twins who did not have the exact same upbringing, showed that the twin who had experienced childhood sexual abuse did show a strong tendency toward substance abuse, while the twin who did not have these experiences did not share this addiction.
Some researchers have pointed to social structures as a key factor in addiction. Monkey studies have shown that those who were dominated by other monkeys are more likely to take cocaine than more socially powerful monkeys. Others have looked at poverty, and living on the fringes of society as something that prods addiction.
Certain behavioral disorders, like anxiety or impulsive behavior, have been suspected of driving addiction. Feeling anxious can fuel the need to consume drugs that alleviate these feelings and other social fears, while teenagers may become addicted because they can’t yet control their emotions effectively.

Case for nature and nurture

Many alcohol abuse studies have focused on the gene ALDH2, which controls the conversion of acetaldehyde, a rather toxic metabolite of alcohol. Some variants of ALDH2 don’t convert acetaldehyde into acetate very well, particularly in Asian populations. While some studies show that people with this version of ALDH2 were far less likely to get addicted to alcohol, the heavy-drinking business culture that developed in Japan and other Asian nations in the 1980s and 1990s forced businessmen (mostly men) to drink anyway.
While addicts may behave as if they have a disease state (compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences), and addiction does change how certain neurotransmitters like dopamine are metabolized, they also can completely recover on their own, at rates up to 80 percent.
Epigenetic changes, as we’ve written about in the Genetic Literacy Project, have been shown to also affect who becomes an addict and why. Excessive cocaine and alcohol use can determine how genes that protect against addiction are regulated, while increases in dopamine receptor numbers (and activity) can help prevent addiction.

Was Robert Downey Jr. right?

Recently, a NIDA director estimated that the genetic risk of addiction averages about 50 percent. So, Downey may have passed on a tendency for substance abuse to his son, but it may have just as much been the same way he was influenced by his father as it was through his own DNA.

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/01/18/how-much-can-we-blame-our-genes-for-addictive-behavior/

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Is your loved one headed for relapse?

Getting sober and committing to a life free of drugs, alcohol and all other mood altering substances comes with many different challenges. Relapse is a harsh reality that many people going through recovery will face. The best way that you could help your loved one is to be mindful of the different warning signs that may arise when your loved once is nearing a relapse or has recently gone through a relapse. Being aware of the signs is key to ensuring that your loved one can receive assistance during this difficult time. Some of the signs that someone is heading towards a relapse are subtle, while some of the signs can easily be missed.

Typically, a relapse happens mentally before the person actually gets to the point of picking up their substance of choice. The mental relapse can happen when a person begins to think about and glorify some of their past habits or goes back to spending time with some of their old friends, ultimately thinking about the positives from their time spent doing drugs and forgetting the pain and turmoil that their substance use had caused. Following the internal struggle of a mental relapse comes the physical relapse.

The physical relapse is what we think of most when we hear the term “relapse”. A physical relapse is when the person consumes a substance, ultimately breaking their sobriety. Once the relapse happens a person can quickly fall back into old, dangerous habits and put their own lives at risk.

There are behaviors to watch out for that may be an indicator that your loved one is heading towards or has reached a relapse:

Changes in the persons behavior
- Depressed mood, impulsive behavior, easily agitated, forgetfulness, becoming defiant, sudden mood swings
Changes in appearance
- When abusing a substance, a persons physical appearance as well as their living environment becomes a secondary priority.
Asking to borrow money or taking items that do not belong to them
- Financial problems or irresponsible financial planning can be a sign of relapse because people often prioritize purchasing their substance over purchasing what is necessary for their daily living.
Missing treatment days, therapy appointments and/or support meetings
- Distancing yourself from your support system and those who are holding you accountable is a common behavior that helps the person avoid conversations surrounding their substance use.
Reconnecting with old friends or contacts
Participating in old habits
- This could range from lying, to not attending work and/or school, coming home at late hours or not coming home at all, staying awake or sleeping for long periods of time.

These key behaviors are important to watch out for when you are questioning if your loved one is heading towards or has reached a substance relapse. As much as it is important to be aware of these relapse signs, it is also important to know that help is here and recovery is possible.

What is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a prescription opioid used to treat opiate addiction, and prescribed under its brand name, Subutex or Suboxone, among others. This drug is an opioid partial antagonist, meaning that it produces an effect similar to narcotic opioids without getting the user high. Buprenorphine essentially tricks the brain into thinking that addictive chemical substances like heroin are being introduced into the bloodstream; it does this by binding to certain receptors within the brain. Some might take excessive amounts of buprenorphine in attempts to get high – this will not work for several reasons. The reasons are as follows:

Buprenorphine has a much lower potential for abuse than addictive chemical substances like heroin and prescription painkillers.
This prescription medication affects the way opiates interact with the brain and body by putting a ceiling on the effects of opiates. This means that no matter how much of an addictive substance an individual takes while on buprenorphine, he or she will not experience a high past a certain point.
It is much harder to become physically dependent on buprenorphine, and those who take this medication in excessive amounts will not experience the side effects they would experience when taking an addictive opiate like heroin, such as euphoria or central nervous system repression.
Those who take this medication will experience less intense symptoms of withdrawal upon ceased use.

When taken as prescribed, buprenorphine will result in the following:

Reduced withdrawal symptoms, including physical symptoms like muscle cramping, stomach issues, profuse sweating, and sleep-related issues such as insomnia.
Decreased opiate cravings. When an individual is undergoing heroin withdrawal, buprenorphine may be used to prevent relapse that would otherwise result from unmanageable and intense psychological cravings.
A reduced propensity for illicit opiate abuse, usually based on a reduction of cravings.
Increased propensity to stay engaged and active in addiction treatment.

Taking Opiates While on Buprenorphine

Some individuals may attempt to take opiates like heroin or prescription painkillers while they are actively taking buprenorphine or a similar opioid antagonist. They may do so thinking that the prescription medication will enhance the effects of the opiate they are ingesting. The drug is taken sublingually (meaning it is placed under the tongue and dissolved), so an individual may assume that taking another opiate via a different method of consumption (such as intravenous injection) will lead to a more intense high.

This is not true – as previously mentioned, buprenorphine reduces the effects of other opiates. If the two are taken in conjunction, an overdose is possible, seeing as the individual will take the addictive opiate and greater amounts in an attempt to combat the lack of a high. It is extremely dangerous to take this medication other than as prescribed or to take it in conjunction with an opioid narcotic.

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What is tramadol?

Potent and Fast-Acting

Tramadol is considered a fast-acting painkiller, meaning the effects take hold rather quickly – generally within 30 minutes to an hour. This is part of the reason why the medication is used to treat short-term pain, like the pain that results from a surgical procedure or the pain that sets in after an injury (an injury that will quickly heal). When it comes to prescribing this specific medication, physicians will determine an appropriate dosage. The dosage will vary on a person-to-person basis. Prescribing physicians should conduct an in-depth assessment before administering a drug as strong as Tramadol, taking things like genetic propensity for addiction and all underlying disorders into account. However, because the drug is so addictive, it is impossible to determine who will develop a substance abuse disorder and who will not.

There are simply certain factors that make the development of a serious issue more likely. If you or someone you love has been struggling with a Tramadol addiction, seeking professional help at your earliest possible convenience will be necessary. At Relevance, we have extensive experience treating those who have developed physical and psychological dependencies to Tramadol and all other potent painkillers. Simply give us a call to learn more about our comprehensive Tramadol addiction recovery program.

Call Us Today: 732-702-2242

Tramadol Addiction Recovery

If the signs of Tramadol abuse are recognized and treated early on, the development of physician dependency will be less likely. Some of the more common symptoms of Tramadol abuse include changes in appetite that often lead to weight loss, drowsiness, slurred speech, and an inability to focus the eyes/loss of vision, nausea and vomiting, intense headaches, and impaired coordination. Some of the more common symptoms of Tramadol addiction include extreme gastrointestinal issues, high fever, profuse sweating, dizziness, muscle spasms, anxiety, and depression.

As previously mentioned, the highest dosage that should be consumed in one day is 400mg. Those who take this specific drug in higher doses are likely to experience serious and often life-threatening health-related complications, such as seizures, strokes, and coma. In short – Tramadol is strong. It is a potent painkiller, and those that take it for an extended period will generally experience some degree of consequences – whether those consequences have to do with severe side effects or the ultimate development of a Tramadol addiction disorder. If you or someone you love has been struggling with painkiller addiction and is looking for a way out, give us a call today to learn more about our comprehensive and effective addiction treatment programs at Relevance.

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Know the Danger

Drug addiction has existed since mankind discovered psycho-active substances. Addiction has been a major health concern in the United States for quite a long time. There are many different kinds of drugs available throughout the country, and whether or not an individual becomes addicted is very subjective depending on what kind of drugs he or she uses, the frequency of use, and any potential underlying risk factors. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that alcohol is the most commonly abused chemical substance, closely followed by tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs (which can range from stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine to opioid narcotics like heroin).

Not everyone who picks up a chemical substance will become addicted. Most people who experiment with drugs will not develop a serious, life-threatening substance abuse problem. When it comes to who gets addicted and who does not, the method of ingestion will play a significant role. Some drugs come in pill form, and they are taken orally, or swallowed (like prescription painkillers or prescription stimulants). Some come in a powder form, and they are ingested nasally, or snorted (like cocaine). Some drugs are smoked (like marijuana or crack cocaine) and some are injected intravenously (like heroin).

When it comes to enhancing addictiveness, taking drugs nasally or intravenously poses the highest risk. Take a look at both of these methods of drug abuse more in-depth, and reach out to us with any additional questions that you may have. If you or someone you love has been struggling with an addiction of any type or severity, we are available to help.

Dangers of Snorting Drugs

Certain illicit substances are traditionally ingested nasally, such as cocaine or heroin in powder form. Nowadays, those who are struggling with drug abuse will often snort other substances, like certain medications, to achieve a faster and more intense “high.” For example, it is now common practice to crush and snort prescription medications like Adderall, Ritalin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Some mistakenly believe that snorting prescription medications is safer than snorting street drugs like cocaine.

Unfortunately, those that choose this method of ingestion will almost always do short and long-term damage. Not only will the respiratory system suffer (after being repeatedly exposed to chemicals and toxins), but the nasal passages will suffer as well. In some cases, they may entirely collapse. Some begin to experience chronic nosebleeds, some permanently lose their sense of smell, and some will experience a chronic runny nose and issues with the esophagus. Snorting drugs can lead to throat cancer, a deteriorated nose, heart attack, seizures, coma, and death.

Dangers of Injecting Drugs

Of all ingestion methods, injecting drugs is the most dangerous by far. Not only are those who inject drugs at a significantly greater risk of overdose-related death, but they will also:

Become addicted far more quickly
Put themselves at risk of certain contractible diseases, like HIV and Hepatitis
Suffer from skin rashes, infections, and abscesses
Experience collapsed veins
Do severe damage to their respiratory and cardiovascular organs
Suffer from psychological disorders

If you know someone who has been engaging in intravenous drug abuse, seeking help immediately will be necessary.