Residential-Drug-Rehab-for-Men

Getting treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction is serious stuff. The programs demand a high level of commitment and motivation to be effective. Distractions while in treatment can reduce the effects of therapy, even sabotaging one’s efforts completely, so this makes a good case for seeking a residential drug rehab for men only. In a gender-specific program, individuals find they have fewer distractions and may even be more comfortable in the rehab setting.

Residential drug rehab for men is designed to acknowledge the specific needs and preferences of males, better targeting the therapies that might resonate better overall. These programs tend to incorporate recreational therapy into the rehab, as outdoor activities have been shown to enhance the commitment level as well as improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

When is it Time to Get Treatment For Drug Addiction?

In what seems like the blink of an eye, someone may find themselves suddenly dependent on prescription medication, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, Ativan, or Klonapin. The body adapts quickly to the introduction of such medications, increasing its tolerance to the drug’s effects. As tolerance ratchets up, so does the dosing. The individual notices that they no longer get the same results they had enjoyed earlier and will begin to take the medication more frequently.

Once the body has adapted to the increased dosing, it begins to rely on the drug to produce certain chemicals that once were produced by the brain. If the individual attempts to discontinue using the drug they will soon experience highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The reflexive response to this is to revert back to using the drug in order to avoid these painful withdrawal symptoms, continuing the cycle of drug abuse and addiction.

How to Prepare for Rehab

When deciding to get professional help for a drug dependency or addiction, it is important to prepare mentally for the treatment process. Men are, by nature, not as introspective or connected to their emotions as females, but in order to get the most out of therapy, it is important to be open. Therapists will work with the male client to explore areas in their lives that may have fueled the extended use or abuse of a substance, so it helps to enter rehab with a certain openness to the process.

Prior to entering a residential program, it helps reduce stress if the client takes care of any loose ends at work or home. Rallying a strong support system is also helpful, as rehab is just the launching pad for long-term recovery. Another important consideration is to plan for continuing care options following rehab, such as planning for a period in sober living and understanding the need for ongoing outpatient therapy.

Detox and Withdrawal

Some people make the mistake of believing they can safely detox off of a powerful opioid or benzo on their own. This will not only fail as soon as the withdrawals begin to emerge but can also be dangerous. Unforeseen withdrawal symptoms can present serious health risks during detoxification.

For these reasons it is important for the client to enter a detox program, often provided at the residential rehab itself. A detox can provide:

  • Ongoing monitoring of vital signs and withdrawal symptoms
  • Trained detox specialists who can intervene promptly in an emergency
  • Medications to help ease withdrawal symptoms and increase comfort
  • Psychological support to guide the client safely through the detox process

Treatment at a Residential Drug Rehab for Men

After the detox and withdrawal is completed, the individual will be in a much better frame of mind to enter the active phase of treatment. Addiction treatment should be individualized to the specific needs of each client, ensuring the best rehab experience and outcome. Therapies are selected based on the individual client’s intake interview and assessment, designed to meet their unique treatment needs.

The therapies a client will engage in a rehab will include the following:

  • Individual talk therapy sessions
  • Group therapy sessions
  • Family therapy or couples therapy if applicable
  • Classes that teach about addiction and relapse prevention
  • Inspiring guest speakers
  • Recovery group meetings
  • Medication-assisted therapy if applicable
  • Experiential therapies, such as yoga and mindfulness meditation
  • Recreational therapies

Residential rehab programs can vary in duration, from one month up to six months or more depending on the acuity of the addiction or drug dependence. When rehab is approached with a positive, committed mindset it can result in enduring, life-changing effects.

Golf Drug Rehab is a Residential Drug Rehab for Men with Golf Therapy

Golf Drug Rehab is an elite men’s drug and alcohol rehab situated in South Orange County, California. The exquisite coastal setting provides the perfect backdrop for making life-changing commitments to recovery, providing a serene and health-restoring environment. Golf Drug Rehab blends evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical therapy, solution-focused therapy, and medication-assisted therapy with golf therapy. Offering three spectacular local golf courses to enjoy while in rehab gives clients a much-deserved respite from the hard work of rehab that doubles as a key recovery tool. For more information about the program, contact Golf Drug Rehab today at (877) 958-5320

Signs of Painkiller Addiction

Painkiller Addiction Signs and Symptoms

By now the story can be recited by heart. You go in for oral surgery or for an orthopedic ACL repair and your physician provides you with a 30-day supply of painkillers, which then results in opioid addiction. This scenario has played out across the nation, resulting in over 200,000 deaths in the last decade.

Addiction may take root innocently, often within a week or two of using the legitimately prescribed painkiller for valid reasons, or by misusing the drug recreationally. Either way once addicted the usual trajectory leads to illicit opiates that eventually replace the painkillers. Heroin costs a fraction of the pills is easily obtainable and offers a more enhanced high that the opioids. The problem is, although heroin has always been a deadly drug, these days heroin is laced with fentanyl, which has led to a spike in deaths in recent years. If the problem is not reined in, there are predictions that the U.S. could lose half a million more lives over the next ten-year period to painkiller addiction.

As the opioid death rates continue to ratchet upward, aggressive steps are being taken to rein in the over-prescribing of the drugs that so many doctors, dentists, and surgeons had been participating in for the last two decades. Rooting out the underhanded practices of receiving spiffs or manufacturer kickbacks for prescribing the drugs, pill mills, opioid-related Medicare fraud, and the untruths presented by the drug makers who had claimed the drugs had a low risk of dependency, have been front and center in the news the past couple of years.

Regardless of current or future efforts to fix the problem, millions of Americans now struggle with opioid addiction. Some may not even be aware yet that they have a problem, and may only come to realize it when they attempt to discontinue using the drugs. For this reason, understanding the signs of painkiller addiction is important to getting treatment as soon as possible, before the addiction becomes deeply engrained. The earlier in the addiction that treatment is obtained, the better the recovery outcome.

painkiller addiction symptoms

How Painkiller Addiction Develops

Increasingly, science is studying brain structures and chemistry to gain a better understanding of how addiction develops. Becoming addicted to a drug or alcohol varies from individual to individual, with some becoming addicted much sooner than others engaging in the exact same behavior. This can be due to physiological differences in body composition or genetic makeup, but regardless, consistent use of a highly addictive substance like painkillers will always lead to addiction or dependency eventually.

Painkillers are the category of drugs called opioids. Opioids are the synthetic, man-made versions of naturally occurring opium that comes from certain types of poppy plants from which morphine and codeine are obtained. Synthetic opioids mimic the effects of natural opiates, and these days the terms are used interchangeably. Painkillers include:

  • Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab)
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan)
  • Methadone
  • Heroin
  • Fentanyl (Duragesic)
  • Meperidine (Demerol)

Synthetic opioids bind to our natural opioid receptors, stimulating them and confusing the brain as it is flooded with dopamine. Over time, the brain ceases to even produce its own dopamine any longer, now dependent on the painkillers to provide it. When the individual attempts to stop taking the drug, the body will, within hours, begin rebelling with highly uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. To avoid this pain and discomfort, the individual reverts back to using the drug.

What Are the Signs of Painkiller Addiction?

The signs of painkiller addiction include both behavioral signs and physical signs. The behavioral signs of painkiller addiction might include:

  • Obsessing about the next dose
  • Obsessing about obtaining the drug
  • Lying about the amount of the drug use
  • Begin to avoid activities once enjoyed
  • Isolating behaviors
  • Secretive behaviors
  • Continue to use drugs despite negative consequences

Physical signs of painkiller addiction might include:

  • Can’t stop or control the use of the drug
  • Tolerance increases, necessitating higher and more frequent dosing
  • Powerful drug cravings
  • Constipation
  • Slurred speech
  • Sweating
  • Small pupils
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Shallow breathing
  • Experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit

What Are the Steps to Detox From Painkiller Addiction?

The detoxification process from painkillers is highly uncomfortable. For this reason, in order to successfully complete detox instead of giving up, it is essential to detox in a supervised environment. The trained detox specialists can anticipate the withdrawal symptoms and be prepared to intervene with medications and other therapeutic support that will mitigate much of the discomfort from the withdrawal symptoms.

The detox timeline for opioids is approximately one week to ten days, depending on certain factors such as the length of history of abusing the painkillers, the general health of the individual, the age of the individual, and whether there is a dual diagnosis (co-existing mental health disorder). Withdrawal symptoms will peak at about 72 hours and then begin to subside as the toxins are expelled from the body and the brain chemistry starts to stabilize.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Muscle aches
  • Excessive yawning
  • Sweating
  • Agitation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Fever
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Diarrhea
  • Goosebumps
  • Drug cravings

Detox is only the first step in recovery from painkiller addiction. Once detox is completed, the individual enters the treatment phase of recovery, which can last for several weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the addiction. This guided recovery process can ultimately result in a renewed sense of joy and hope for the future.

Golf Drug Rehab Provides Detox for Painkiller Addiction

Golf Drug Rehab is an elite executive drug and alcohol treatment center serving Southern California. When the signs of painkiller addiction become clear, it is imperative that the individual begin the detox and rehabilitation process, sooner rather than later. Golf Drug Rehab provides a safe monitored detox program that will guide the individual through the detoxification process with the least amount of discomfort possible. In some cases, offering Suboxone can help support early recovery by slowly weaning the person off opioids by gradually reducing cravings and allowing for a sustained recovery to take root. Golf Drug Rehab has a unique golf recreational therapy angle to its recovery program that helps alleviate boredom, encourages fitness, gets clients outside into fresh air, and fosters peer support. For more information about the program, please contact Golf Drug Rehab today at (877) 958-5320