Is Substance Abuse Common Among Soldiers and Veterans?

The Department of Defense’s Survey of Health Related Behaviors reveals that prescription drug abuse and heavy alcohol use has become a significant problem among active soldiers, returning soldiers and veterans. Prescription drug abuse rates have almost tripled from 2005 to 2008, it is estimated that 27 percent of soldiers who have returned home are at risk for alcohol abuse. Mental illnesses such as PTSD, TBI and depression are reported to affect close to 20 percent of active military personnel and 42 percent of soldiers who have returned home. These mental health conditions can trigger substance abuse problems. When someone is dealing with both a mental health concern and substance abuse, the results can be fatal. Behavior may be erratic, hostile, aggressive and unwarranted. Abuse, fighting, arguments, violence and suicide are all possible for a soldier who is dealing with co-occurring disorders. The Department of Defense’s survey shows that drug or alcohol use was involved in 30 percent of the Army’s suicide deaths from 2003 to 2009. Drugs or alcohol were also found in more than 45 percent of non-fatal suicide attempts from 2005 to 2009.

Getting a Soldier or Veteran into Rehab through an Intervention

Substance abuse and mental health disorders affect each soldier and his or her family differently. However without proper treatment both addiction and mental health issues will progress. They perpetuate one another and lead to a number of severe consequences to one’s physical and psychological health. The earlier a soldier or veteran finds help, the better the chances are that he or she will find lasting benefit from treatment. Getting a soldier or vet into addiction recovery treatment can be difficult. Families may be frightened or unsure of how to approach the subject. The soldier or vet may have shown aggression, hostility or denial at earlier suggestions of finding help or reducing drug or alcohol use. However these thoughts, actions and feelings are not controlled by the subject. He or she is a victim to the disorder or addiction and may need caring family and friends to gently push him or her into treatment. This is why an intervention may be the best route for finding help. Soldiers are able to see how their disease is affecting their loved ones, and they may be motivated to get help. Staging an intervention is a complex process, and families or friends should get help from a professional interventionists to make sure the event runs smoothly and is as effective as possible.

Help for Families Affected by a Soldier’s Substance Abuse

Families or loved ones of a soldier or veteran may also reap the effects of combat, deployment and injury. When getting help for a loved one, families and friends may need treatment too. Quality treatment programs will offer individual or family counseling and therapy for everyone who has been affected by the situation.

Stage an Intervention

If a loved one has returned home and is facing a mental health and/or substance abuse issues, please get help now. The longer you wait, the more devastating the consequences become. Call our toll-free helpline to get information on interventions, treatment programs and recovery services. We are here 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have. Don’t risk losing a life that means so much to you. Please get help now.

Friends and family must understand that the addict is no longer in control of her thoughts, feelings and behaviors; the addiction is in control. While the addict may have done or said things that are unacceptable, it was never her intent. Participants must keep this in mind, and understand that anger will only push the addict further away. If there is any chance of getting the addict into treatment, she must feel loved and supported by her friends and family. Anger will only cause the addict to feel alone, judged and under attack. Participants must control their anger while speaking to the addict or they should not be present.

How Do I Make an Intervention Run Smoothly?

One factor of an effective intervention is preparation. You cannot prepare enough. Every last detail of the intervention should be planned out ahead of time. Whoever wants to speak should always write out ahead of time what he wants to say, no matter what. The group should include only a small number of the addict’s closes friends and confidants (no larger than 10) and they must all be on the same page. The goal of the intervention is to get the addict into treatment and there is no room for excuses. Yes, an intervention can be nerve-racking, intense and even scary. To ensure that the intervention runs smoothly, most families hire an intervention specialist.

Ways to Keep Your Cool during an Intervention

If you feel overwhelmed with your emotions, you might try the following to help keep your anger under control:

• Focus on the big picture
• Focus on the positive
• Forgive
• De-stress
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques

Do I Need Professional Intervention Help?

If you are considering having an intervention for a loved one you will want to do it right; an intervention gone wrong may result in the addict not getting the treatment help that she so desperately needs. To avoid this, you can get help from the experts in the field. Call our toll-free helpline today to speak with a rehab professional who can answer your questions about staging an intervention and can also connect you to an intervention specialist. Whether you are looking for information or would like to meet with a specialist who can assist you through this process, we can help. We are here 24 hours a day to assist you with your addiction recovery needs. Your call is free and it could be the catalyst to your loved one’s recovery. What are you waiting for? Call us today.

Getting Addiction Help for a Friend or Family Member

The following are a few of the ways that you can help an addict get professional recovery care:

• Reach out to the addicted person’s closest friends and family members, and discuss your concerns
• Engage in conversations about staging an addiction intervention
• Hire an interventionist who can provide you with guidance and support
• Research the intervention process so that you are prepared and informed
• Reach out to a quality rehab facility to learn more about available programs

When you work with professional interventionists, you will learn all there is to know about the intervention process including what you should share with your addicted friend or family member. You will also be prepared for the reactions that you may receive from your loved one during the process. Many addicts react defensively which can lead them to say and do things that would otherwise be completely out of character for them.

After a successful intervention a rehab program will use a variety of beneficial treatments and therapies to treat your loved one’s addiction. Integrated treatment plans will work to understand the root cause of the addictive behavior and also treat the addiction itself. Many addicts develop their addiction as a direct result of trying to self-medicate the symptoms of another issue. A mental health concern like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or even posttraumatic stress disorder can be the root cause of their addiction.

Get Confidential Addiction Help

If you are worried about an addicted friend or family member, please call our toll-free helpline. We are available to help you 24 hours a day. Our counselors can help you to find interventionists or determine the next steps in getting your loved one the quality addiction care he or she needs.

What Top Quality Addiction Rehab Looks Like

While some rehab programs can feel like a hospital combined with a factory, the most effective modern programs function more like personal retreats. Addiction is a complicated disease that involves both physical and psychological components. Most addicts also suffer from additional underlying psychological disorders such as the following:

• Anxiety disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Depression
• Behavior or process addictions

While traditional addiction rehab focuses solely on the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol, the more caring, modern programs address all aspects of the disease in a fully integrated and holistic way. Patients are treated body, mind and spirit. After a thorough diagnosis of the individual’s disease a detailed treatment plan is drawn up. Following diagnosis a process called Dual Diagnosis Treatment uses a wide range of therapies to address all emotional and physical aspects of the addiction. Some of the most popular and effective treatment tools include the following:

• Medically supervised detox
• Private counseling
• Spiritual care
• Introduction to new healthful relaxation and coping techniques
• 12-step programs
• Healthy and relaxing environments
• Emotional and intellectual preparation for life after treatment

Addiction recovery programs are not all created equal. It’s worth the extra effort to find the best program for your unique needs. Our specially trained addiction counselors can help you do just that.

How to Find a Caring Addiction Rehabilitation Program

Top-quality, caring addiction recovery programs are available if you know where to find them. Our toll-free helpline is open 24 hours a day and our counselors are ready to help you find the best treatment options for your unique needs. Call today and you’ll notice the difference in quality care.

Our goal is to help you reestablish your physical and emotional health and we have the experience to do just that. We can even help you with logistical concerns or insurance issues. The call is confidential and free. You have nothing to lose. If you have been burned by traditional, institutional treatment in the past let us show you another way to freedom from addiction. Call today.

Hiring an Intervention Professional to Ensure Safety

Before staging an intervention consult with professional interventionists who will be able to advise you on the process. The following are the benefits of hiring an interventionist:

• You will receive access to intervention resources
• You will receive information and guidance about the best types of interventions
• You will receive wisdom and experience from someone who has been through several interventions
• You will understand what your role in the intervention is and will be able to express to your friend or family member how much you care about him or her
• You will understand what reactions to expect from your addicted loved one

Learning how to do an intervention is not something that can be fully learned by reading a book or a website. It takes a thorough understanding of the entire process that can generally only be imparted to you by an experienced interventionist.

Safety Tips for Conducting an Intervention

As a part of learning how to plan an intervention, you will learn about important safety procedures such as the following:

• Reconsider including children or even adolescents in the intervention due to the language that could be used and the erratic behavior that may be seen in an individual being confronted with his or her addiction
• If your addicted family member has a history of domestic abuse then you may want to include friends and relatives that can help diffuse the situation should it become violent

A safe drug or alcohol intervention requires an understanding of the process.

Getting Help for Safe Interventions

We can connect you with experienced and knowledgeable interventionists who can help you to learn how to plan an intervention that runs smoothly and accomplishes its goals. Call our toll-free helpline so that we can help you locate reputable and licensed interventionists, addiction professionals and rehab services. We can also offer drug and alcohol rehab information that will help you plan for your loved one’s recovery needs. Calls are confidential, and we are here to talk 24 hours a day. Let us help you get your loved one on the path to sobriety.

How Interventionists Work

The majority of interventionists have orchestrated a successful intervention. While the plans for interventions are similar, they will also be customized to meet the unique needs that your loved one has. Interventionists do the following:

• Your interventionist will get a bit of background information about your family member in order to develop an idea about his personality and the severity of the addiction.
• Then interventionists will develop a customized plan for this intervention.
• You will learn the basics of how to do an intervention, as well as what could be expected during the process.
• You will receive family meetings, planning assistance and more.
• During both the planning stages and the actual intervention, you will have the full support and help of the interventionist that you hired.

The Goal of an Addiction Intervention

Remember that an intervention’s sole purpose is to help your addicted family member recognize that she needs help. Interventions are not the following:

• An intervention is not an opportunity to scream and otherwise express displeasure for your family member.
• An intervention is not meant as a chance to deal out blame.
• An intervention is not a chance to judge your family member for his addiction. Remember that addiction can happen to anyone at any point in time.

An intervention is a method of demonstrating to your family member how her addictive behavior is damaging the family as a whole. As a general rule of thumb, kids under the age of 15 shouldn’t be included in the intervention due to the sensitive topics being discussed.

Addiction Intervention Help

Once you have conducted an intervention, it is then time to get your family member into a rehab facility. Give our knowledgeable counselors a call so that they can confidentially provide you with the intervention help that you and your loved one need.

We can provide you with a list of intervention resources and referrals to point you in the right direction for your intervention planning. When you stage a rehab intervention you are giving your addicted family member and your family as a whole the opportunity to seek out help that can transform your lives back into something that you recognize.

Calls are toll free and completely confidential to our 24 hour helpline. Ask us how we can make rehab possible and affordable for you and your family.

Hundreds and thousands of people are affected by addiction every day. You don’t have to do this alone. Learn more about the intervention process and let us help you plan a successful and targeted intervention for the person you care about.

What Is an Intervention?

An intervention is a loving and carefully planned confrontation that brings friends and family together to help a person acknowledge an addiction problem. Interventions conclude with an offer of treatment for your loved one and are sometimes assisted by intervention specialists, clergy or a counselor. It is important that your intervention include the following:

• A preplanned and prearranged call to treatment
• Specific examples of addiction related behaviors and their impact on loved ones
• Specific and reasonable consequences of not seeking treatment

Signs That It Is Time for an Intervention

You may be hesitating to stage an intervention, but it can save your loved one’s life. The following are some key signs that it is time to consult someone about an intervention:

• Your loved one seems like he or she cannot stop once drug or alcohol use begins. Once the person is using, it seems as if the substance abuse takes over completely.
• The person continues to use even when substance use has caused serious life problems such as arrest, illness or job or relationship loss.
• Your loved one is in denial about addiction and may become defensive or angry when confronted.
• In other instances, your loved one may admit there is a problem and resolves to stop without success.
• You find yourself enabling your loved one. Enabling is a clear indication that you are in over your head and need to seek assistance. We can help.

Find Family Rehabilitation and Family Intervention Help Now

If you or your family is ready to make a change, give us a call. Our 24 hour, toll-free helpline is staffed by experienced and knowledgeable recovery professionals who can to help you learn more about planning an intervention, arranging detox, therapy and rehab options. We will take the time to work with you to find the most effective, affordable and successful treatment for your loved one. We can even help you arrange insurance coverage for rehab treatment or find an intervention assistant to help you every step of the way. All calls are confidential and free to you. There is hope for a happier future. Call now.

Love and Don’t Enable Your Partner

Most people who struggle with addiction have some emotional burdens that they must work through. Whether your partner has struggled with past abuse or trauma, mental health issues, or problems brought on by addiction, he or she must work these issues out in order to become well. Many times, we tend to want to protect and comfort our loved ones. Families become trapped in cycle of enabling loved ones. You may have caught yourself thinking or saying the following thoughts:

• I feel helpless, and I don’t know how to help my partner
• My partner has an addiction, but it isn’t his or her fault
• I’d rather my partner use here in the house, where it is safe
• My partner’s addiction is sometimes my fault
• I feel bad, I don’t want to make my partner angry or more upset

While this list is not all-inclusive, all of these statements are signs that you may be enabling your partner. You don’t want to live the way you have been living, so how do you stop enabling without pushing your partner away? Remember, if a person struggles with addiction, it does not mean that person is a bad person. We can help you find ways to gently confront your loved one and help your loved one get the treatment he or she needs.

What Can You Do to Help Your Addicted Partner?

There are two important things you must do to help your partner overcome addiction. First, you must seek support for yourself. Second, you must seek help for your partner.

Even if you feel that your partner’s addiction is not harmful to you, you may be surprised to learn how much your partner’s addiction has affected your life. By seeking support for yourself, you will learn how to deal with your partner’s addiction and learn how to best help your partner achieve full recovery.

You can find support for yourself through local Al-Anon meetings, and you can also find support through your partner’s rehab. Some of the more advanced rehab facilities now offer programs such as family weekends and couple’s counseling to help heal the entire family affected by addiction. In some cases, these extra services are included in the cost of treatment, so they are free to you.

Find Help for Your Partner’s Addiction Today

You may be wondering how to get your partner started on the path toward treatment. In many cases, people can prove to be extremely stubborn and unwilling to seek help. This is why you may need coaching to make the case for treatment effectively to your partner. We can help.

We offer a 24 hour, toll-free helpline that is staffed by experienced counselors who can help you determine the right level of treatment for your partner and match you up with the best treatment available for your family. We can help you accomplish the following goals:

• Arrange family interventions
• Talk with your loved one about addiction treatment and rehab
• Arrange for insurance payment and coverage of rehab
• Arrange travel to and from rehab
• Find family support and ongoing treatment in your area

All of our calls are no pressure, free to you and completely confidential. Call now to find out how we can help you through this difficult time.

What to Do If Your Parent Is Addicted

If you are watching one or both of your parents struggle with a controlled substance addiction, it can be difficult to know what to do or say. First, remember that it is okay to ask for help. If you have older siblings or a close relationship with family members outside of your household, you should utilize these relationships. They can be a valuable resource to you during this difficult time. It can also be easy to convince yourself that your parent has his or her drug habit under control. Remember that addictions have no sympathy and will only develop into a more powerful addiction that will ultimately endanger your parent and the entire family.

Addiction Help for Parents

You may be afraid. You may be worried about your safety or even your parent’s reputation. But please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline. We can protect your privacy and work with you to find the best solutions for your parent. If you do make the decision to talk with your parent, we can help you prepare. We can provide information on addiction, intervention, insurance coverage for treatment and more. We are available 24 hours a day, so please call now.

Santa Monica, CA Intervention Help for Marijuana Users

More so than with any other drug, Santa Monica marijuana users are often able to believe that they do not have a problem.  Even alcoholics who deny they have a problem are likely more aware that alcoholism is real and that they may suffer from it, while marijuana addiction is often scoffed at by users.  One of the reasons is that there is much less of a physical component to an addiction to marijuana.

Drugs like heroin and meth as well as alcohol are all highly addictive physically, and it becomes obvious immediately that you are going through withdrawal if you stop taking the drug.  In fact, with these drugs, it can be dangerous and even fatal to stop cold turkey and medical supervision is highly recommended for detox and recovery. There is no such danger with marijuana addiction.  When someone who smokes a lot of pot doesn’t use any for a while, they may get irritated, anxious, depressed or sleepless but most of these symptoms can be ignored or explained away.

Getting Santa Monica, CA Intervention Help for the Psychological Aspects of Addiction

None of this actually means that marijuana is not addictive or cannot be abused.  The addictive aspect is psychological.  Addicts feel that pleasure and sensory awareness are increased and they are loathe to give up that feeling.  Few of them understand, however, that the tradeoff is a long-term loss of cognition and memory.   While other drugs’ effects stop within hours, the loss of memory and mental function can last for weeks after a single episode of smoking marijuana.  Regular users are often operating at a sub-standard level of brain activity.

Most often, family members and friends become concerned that the user has lost interest in his previous passions and stopped making much of an effort at work or school.  If this sounds familiar, call (888) 371-5722 for Santa Monica, CA intervention help for marijuana or any other drug.  Experts will help you with everything from planning an intervention to evaluating treatment options.