2012 NAATP Annual Addiction Treatment Leadership Conference

May 19 -22, 2012

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass

Chandler, Arizona

Presented by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers

Where the Leaders in addiction treatment come together to discuss the important issues, showcase innovative resources and programs and network with other decision makers of addiction treatment.
Right Step / Spirit Lodge / San Cristobal : booth #53-54

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »

Addiction is a disease, and those who suffer from this deadly disease use a variety of different substances. People generally separate these into drugs and alcohol, which we’ve already discussed and which is the most common and accessible drug. What follows is information on different drug types that can help identify what substance may be in use.

In addition to the long-term effects listed below, each of these drugs is addictive and an addict will show signs of use and possible dependence on the substance. These include major life changes, such as job loss and a shift in social circles, rearranging one’s life to gain more frequent access to the substance(s), and a diminished interest in hygiene and appearance.

If you believe a loved one is addicted to or abusing any of the following substances, Right Step strongly urges you to seek help, support, and guidance. You did not cause the addiction, you cannot cure the addiction and you cannot control the addiction. If you choose to contact us, we can help begin the healing process for you and your loved one. Addiction affects the one who is using and those around him or her.

Click here for part one of this article.

LSD
Class: Hallucinogen
The effects of LSD use are infamous: dilated pupils; increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; and flashbacks—even after use of the drug has ceased. It is difficult to identify a person on LSD because the effects of the drugs depend so heavily on the user’s situation at the time it was taken. There are documented cases in which its use has resulted in panic attacks and psychosis. The terrifying thing about LSD is that its long-term effects can mimic the short-term, such as persistent hallucinations and psychosis.

[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Addiction // Add Comment »

Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/emagineart/4655345131/

Addiction is a disease, and those who suffer from this deadly disease use a variety of different substances. People generally separate these into drugs and alcohol, which we’ve already discussed and which is the most common and accessible drug. What follows is information on different drug types that can help identify what substance may be in use.

In addition to the long-term effects listed below, each of these drugs is addictive and an addict will show signs of use and possible dependence on the substance. These include major life changes, such as job loss and a shift in social circles, rearranging one’s life to gain more frequent access to the substance(s), and a diminished interest in hygiene and appearance.

If you believe a loved one is addicted to or abusing any of the following substances, Right Step strongly urges you to seek help, support, and guidance. You did not cause the addiction, you cannot cure the addiction and you cannot control the addiction. If you choose to contact us, we can help begin the healing process for you and your loved one. Addiction affects the one who is using and those around him or her.

Amphetamines
Class: Stimulant
The amphetamine family of drugs includes prescription medications like Adderall™ and Ritalin™, as well as street drugs such as methamphetamines and Ecstasy. In the short term, these drugs can cause decreased appetite, increased energy, involuntary bodily movements, rapid talking, nystagmus, paranoia, and hallucinations. Long-term effects include damage to brain cells, symptoms that mimic schizophrenia, malnutrition, reduced concentration and performance, and increased aggression. [Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Addiction // Add Comment »

Doc Talk: Identifying and Treating Alcoholism
By: Dr. Jason Powers
Title: Chief Medical Officer, Right Step and Spirit Lodge
Info: Among the first doctors certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). H Magazine Texas’ “Top Doc” in Addiction Medicine, 2007-2009. 2008 winner of Sierra Tucson’s Gratitude for Giving, Compassion Award.
Dr. Powers, Right Step Chief Medical Officer, has worked in addiction recovery for over eight years and has helped Right Step’s inpatient detoxification program reach out to, and reform, hundreds of addicts over the years. We asked him to share some information on detoxification for addiction victims and their loved ones.

Addiction Confusion

Addiction is a disease. The substance that imprisons a person is merely a symptom of the larger disease that we call addiction. Alcoholism is different than addiction to controlled and illicit substances, only in perspective. Even the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous freely offers that alcohol is but a symptom and not the problem.
There is also a difference between “abuse”—when problems arise as the result of drinking and/or using other mind-altering substances—and “dependency,” which is a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional dysfunctional process. It is commonly known as “addiction” although the medical establishment calls it “dependency.” This is confusing to most people, especially since someone can become physically dependent on substances without becoming addicted.

Identifying and Helping an Alcoholic

As with any addiction, Dr. Powers says the primary ways to identify someone with a problem are to observe their habits. Significant lifestyle changes— such as new jobs, isolation, elaborate excuse making, developing a new social circle, less attention paid to appearance and hygiene, or a rearrangement of activities to allow for better access to alcohol and other mind-altering substances—are all strong signs of addiction. “It is always okay to follow your gut if you’re truly concerned,” Dr. Powers urges, “and just let your loved know you are concerned.”
Dr. Powers also encourages addicts’ loved ones to get help for themselves as well. “You can’t control addiction in someone else or cure it [yourself],” he says. However, visiting with a therapist or counselor can help prepare you for the difficult road ahead and can provide resources to help the addict, as well. The most common obstacle that stands between victims and recovery is “understanding the disease of addiction,” and visiting with a counselor will develop that understanding. [Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Doc Talk // Add Comment »

The following story comes directly from a person in recovery and a Right Step alumnus. For his privacy, we have removed all references to his name. However, we hope that this story will inspire others who are addicted and their loved ones to seek out recovery programs like Right Step’s to learn how to live life sober.

To read the first part of this story, please click here.

My previous treatment center experience in 2001 was not a good one. This one [at Right Step] was refreshing from the moment I stepped onto the property. There was humor, love, and a feeling of serenity like I had never experienced.

I spent five days in detox, where the nurses continually assured me that I was going to be okay. I emerged from detoxification and checked into the residential program, which began a 30-day journey full of laughter, tears, structure, balance, insight, solution, reflection and, most importantly, hope.

My most memorable experience at Right Step, and there were many, was about two weeks in, when a counselor asked me to talk to one of the clients that was checking out that day. He had only been there a week and felt he didn’t need it. I remember at that time feeling like a piece of crap…what did I have to offer? She asked that I just talk to him about my story, and I did. Remarkably, he stayed…that day and the rest of my time there. I actually helped someone and, in doing so, I helped myself.

Another moment of awakening was in group…the counselor handed out obituaries of clients that had relapsed and were taken by the disease. These obituaries were ones that the loved ones and families [of the victims] had asked to be shared with us. I read each obituary with no emotion, no feeling, and then one hit me like a lightning bolt…I knew her. She was a friend, she was a name and a face that was real. It was someone I cared about. I broke down and cried. Why her and not me?

[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Detoxification, Interviews of Right Step Alumni, Success Story // Add Comment »

Addiction is a disease, and every victim “treats” it in a different way: with opiates, with cocaine, with alcohol. Each “treatment” ravages victims’ minds and bodies until they are able to get clean and sober through a program like Right Step’s.  However, alcohol addiction does differ from other substances in several key ways, and it’s important to recognize both the similarities and differences.

How Alcohol is Different From Other Drugs
Many drugs are illegal to use in any situation, and most require at least a doctor’s prescription. Alcohol, by contrast, is a relatively uncontrolled substance: once you reach 21 years of age you can purchase it freely. As such, it’s everywhere, and our culture glorifies and, sometimes, even rewards drinking in certain circumstances, such as parties, clubs, and sporting events.

When an addict gets clean off of an illegal substance, it is possible to cut ties entirely with the sources and locations associated with that substance. Because of alcohol’s ubiquity, it’s nearly impossible for a recovering alcohol addict to completely avoid sources: he would have to never eat at another restaurant in his life! It requires incredible coping tools to stay sober, and Right Step’s program helps establish and reinforce those tools.

Additionally, alcohol detoxification (or, more accurately, alcohol withdrawal) is a potentially deadly process that requires medical supervision to be conducted safely. For more information on safe alcohol detox, please read this.

[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Alcohol and Drug Treatment // 1 Comment »

If this isn’t the first time you’ve considered helping a loved one treat an addiction problem, odds are good that you’ve seen information on the Internet about attempting to go through alcohol detoxification without the supervision of a doctor. While it is true that some people are able to go through the process safely, we cannot stress enough that alcohol detoxification can be deadly without medical supervision, and a trip to the ER may not be fast enough to save a life if something goes wrong. Here are some of the risks taken those who attempt alcohol withdrawal without medical help:

– Hallucinations leading to injuries or accidents

– Lethal dehydration

– Choking

– Heart attack

– Stroke

To help avoid these, Right Step offers experienced, professional support from a caring medical staff. Medical treatment during the detoxification process minimizes discomfort and provides emotional support to help the patient get past the detoxification phase and into a long-term, effective treatment program.

When an addict is brought to Right Step for detoxification, we evaluate the patient thoroughly to determine if he or she is at risk for the above emergencies. If it’s safe, we offer the patient our outpatient detoxification program, which is convenient for eligible patients who prefer the comforts of their own home.

[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Detoxification // 2 Comments »

Doc Talk: All About Detoxification
By: Dr. Jason Powers
Title: Chief Medical Officer, Right Step and Spirit Lodge
Info: Among the first doctors certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). H Magazine Texas’ “Top Doc” in Addiction Medicine, 2007-2009. 2008 winner of Sierra Tucson’s Gratitude for Giving, Compassion Award.

Dr. Powers, Right Step Chief Medical Officer, has worked in addiction recovery for eight years and has helped Right Step’s inpatient detoxification program reach out to, and reform, hundreds of addicts over the years. We asked him to share some information on detoxification for addiction victims and their loved ones.

Detoxification – The Basics

“Not all addicts require detoxification,” Dr. Powers says at the beginning of the interview. “Mostly, it’s required for [addiction to] alcohol and sedatives.” Detoxification from prescription benzodiazepines (“benzos”) such as Xanax®, Klonopin®, and Valium® can be fatal, according to the doctor. Detoxification from opiates may not be as life-threatening, but Dr. Powers calls it a “horribly wretched” experience. Most insurance companies cover the detoxification process because it can be life-threatening, as well as, a necessary first step on the road to recovery. Insurance companies know that if someone can get and stay sober it will reduce the company’s future costs considerably. However, some insurance companies do not cover opiate detoxification. Dr. Powers still feels that it can be an important step in the recovery process that should not be missed. Right Step’s opiate detoxification program can provide aid and comfort to the patient during the unpleasant process.

While detoxification can be a long process, depending on the substances in question, the primary segment people think of as “detox” is, in fact, the period of acute withdrawal.
[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Detoxification, Doc Talk, Uncategorized // 1 Comment »

 Adolescent Symposium

“Love is Greater Than Hate: The Ultimate Strategy to End Bullying”

Keynote Speaker:   Brooks Gibbs

 Thursday, April 26, 2012

Where:  Garland ISD Special Event Center – Garland, TX 75040

             CEU’s will be available

A conference for professionals who  work with adolescents

RSVP:

Sylvia Orozco Joseph

214-871-2420 ext. 119

www.mhadallas.org

Prooudly sponsored by:

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Event // Add Comment »

Name: Lewis
Addiction: Alcohol, opiates, and cocaine
Program: Residential Inpatient
Facility: Hill Country, Wimberley TX

“I am sober today because I’ve had a spiritual experience,” says Lewis, a graduate of the Right Step inpatient addiction treatment. Lewis is coming up on his third anniversary of sobriety— in fact, it’s this Thursday, March 15. He generously agrees to share his Right Step experience with the public.

Before Treatment
Lewis played baseball in college. In fact, he played first base at a school which was a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association. “Baseball was where I got all my self-confidence, self-worth, and my identity,” Lewis reveals. After graduating, his playing days ended and he began to coach; soon after his abuse of drugs and alcohol turned into a dependency.

Lewis says that living while dependent on chemicals took him “to a very dark place of depression and self-hatred.” It took a car wreck to bring him out of this place, for him to decide to seek help for his addictions. “They were making me miserable, but I had crossed the point of no return and could not quit on a non-spiritual basis. I knew that there were people happy out there in the world, and I wanted to be one of those people.”

While Lewis detoxified his body at another facility, his parents spoke to counselors in the area, who suggested the inpatient program at Right Step. Lewis selected the Hill Country location in Wimberley, Texas. “Since [I was] a kid, the Texas Hill Country has been one of my favorite places to visit,” Lewis explains.

[Click here to read more →]

Talk about the Right Step!

• 

Tags: Interviews of Right Step Alumni // 1 Comment »