Domestic violence as it relates to substance abuse is not as simple as it may seem.  While alcohol abuse or drug abuse may increase chances of a violent incident, and vice versa, one does not suggest the other exists.  The good news from this is that domestic violence is known to be a separate issue from substance abuse, and it is treatable.

The stereotype of alcoholism in the family being the catalyst for spousal abuse and child abuse is not the norm in terms of domestic violence.  It is more likely that a person with violent tendencies will become violent in cases of alcohol abuse rather than alcohol dependence.  In other words, domestic violence occurrences happen more with occasional binge drinkers than daily heavy drinkers.  When inhibitions are relaxed with alcohol, violence may seem justified to the abuser.

Domestic violence occurs more with illegal drug abuse than with alcohol abuse.  It is widely believed that individuals with violent tendencies use drugs to avoid feelings of anger.  The impairment from drugs can spark their anger at any time, likely during withdrawals at the end of a binge, and again justify violence in their minds.

In any case, domestic violence is inexcusable, and is not connected to alcohol or drug use.  If alcohol or drugs are involved they are not the cause of violence, but are simply catalysts.  Because of this, domestic violence must be treated along with the substance abuse problem.  Otherwise, when the alcohol or drugs are removed the violent tendencies will remain a problem.

Domestic violence and anger management treatment includes individual and group sessions, as well as mental health treatment for those who need it.  Family counseling is valuable in that victims of domestic violence also need to heal.  These programs are equally effective for individuals whether or not they are in alcohol and drug treatment.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides the services for domestic violence above as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or domestic violence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

People have a hard time understanding why loved ones suffering from alcohol dependence or drug addiction wait so long to enter alcohol and drug treatment.  A major reason for this is denial of reality.  As bad as things look to the outsider, alcoholics and drug addicts just don’t see it.

Denial should not be compared to a blindfold.  It’s more like blinders on a racehorse.  Alcoholics and drug addicts are well aware of the problems they face in life.  But they are incapable of accepting the consequences they suffer because alcohol and drugs are an important part of their lives.  As far as they are concerned, alcohol or drugs are a solution and far from a problem.

It comes from a belief that absent their calming substance things would be much worse, not better.  When a thought that problems stem from alcohol or drugs begin to enter their minds, it is quickly dismissed as preposterous.  There is a tunnel vision that temporarily pushes these thoughts out of sight along with all of the problems that need to be solved.

Even deeper in their psyche is an incapability to deal with emotions.  Denial protects alcoholics and addicts from feelings.  When they are confronted by a loved one, they will run to the comfort of alcohol or drugs to “clear their heads”.  The escape from emotions is a comfort.  In fact, it is usually the only comfort they have.  

This cycle is never-ending because alcohol and drugs are both the solution and problem for the alcoholic and addict.  But the solution illusion always wins in their minds.  Thus, they will not seek alcohol and drug treatment until problems are insurmountable or the family calls for an intervention.

Sadly, it takes a shock to the system to drag the alcoholic and drug addict into reality.  Once denial is shattered they may feel lost, so care must be taken to avoid provoking them back to denial.  The best bet is to be firm with the shock, but have loving arms to catch them when they fall.  Then immediately contact an alcohol and drug treatment center.

Drug-addiction.com, an informative website, posted an article a few years back that offers a glimpse at the problem of denial with the disease.  The portion excerpted below shows pertinent statistics, and the full article offers some additional insight.

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According to the results of the survey, of the 5.0 million people who needed but did not receive treatment in 2001, an estimated 377,000 reported that they felt they needed treatment for their drug problem. This includes an estimated 101,000 who reported that they made an effort but were unable to get treatment and 276,000 who reported making no effort to get treatment.

"We have a large and growing denial gap when it comes to drug abuse and dependency in this country," said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "We have a responsibility--as family members, employers, physicians, educators, religious leaders, neighbors, colleagues, and friends--to reach out to help these people. We must find ways to lead them back to drug free lives. And the earlier we reach them, the greater will be our likelihood of success."

-- Source: http://www.drug-addiction.com/drugs_and_denial.htm --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles can help with intervention as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Drug addiction is a disease that can result in death.  The subject is certainly not pleasant to discuss. However, in order to save lives we must face this fact.  More people need to be aware that drug treatment helps to prevent drug-related deaths.

Drug abuse and addiction results in death from several consequences.  Overdose is the obvious one.  These days it isn't just the addict who injected too much heroin.  Even those who use prescription drugs, like pain killers and benzodiazepines, ordered by their physician can accidentally overdose and be lost.

Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines affect the heart, causing possible heart attacks.  And the erratic behavior of these users can lead them to destructive activities that can cause serious injury and death.  The sad thing is that most of these users are seeking to be in that state of mind.

We've all seen individuals say they are okay to drive after an evening of alcohol abuse.  Driving under the influence of drugs is equally dangerous.  Drug users tend to actually believe they drive better on drugs, though, because of the false notion they are more attuned to things around them.  Sadly, DUI and other factors of drug abuse leads to lost innocent lives.

Drug addiction leads individuals to commit crimes that harm innocent bystanders.  The impaired mind of a drug addict only seeks to satisfy its need for more of the drug of choice.  It is selfish and lacks remorse if when life is lost in the pursuit of its needs.  This, above all other reasons, should persuade anyone of the urgency to get drug addicts into treatment.

Treatment helps drug addicts to stop using drugs and learn how to live productively without them.  When drug detox is complete, entering residential rehab or outpatient treatment gives addicts a chance to understand why they use drugs and what may trigger a relapse.  It is urgent that treatment is sought before a life is lost.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a report from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) about drug-related deaths in the United States.  A portion is below, followed by a link to the full report.

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DAWN is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related deaths referred to medical examiners and coroners in selected participating metropolitan areas and states.  Although the DAWN data cannot be extrapolated to the entire United States, the information can be helpful for analyzing the nature and scope of substance abuse-related deaths in the areas it covers.
 
For example, analysis of the 2007 DAWN Report reveals that among the 10 states participating fully with DAWN, rates of drug-related deaths ranged from a high of 21.0 deaths per 100,000 population in New Mexico to a low of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 population in Virginia.  The rate for the State of Oklahoma saw a 79 percent increase from 2006; while Vermont's rate dropped 12 percent. 
 
-- Source: https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/pubs/ --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides medical detoxification, and residential and outpatient treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Many people with chronic alcohol dependence or other drug addictions experience liver disease. This is no accident. The liver is used to digest food, absorb nutrients, and get toxic substances (like alcohol and drugs) out of your body. The liver is an important organ in the body; you only have one and cannot survive without it.  And with alcohol’s effects on the body, liver problems could just be the beginning.

Alcohol abuse is not the only way to damage your liver. Unprotected sex, sharing needles, prescription drug abuse and addiction, and getting tattoos or piercings from places that do not properly sterilize the needles also can put you at risk of liver disease and damage.

There are many forms of liver disease; the conditions listed below are most common among alcohol and other drug abusers.

Cirrhosis – scarring of the liver that is caused by having another liver disease (like Hepatitis), or by many years of heavy alcohol drinking. Cirrhosis is not curable, but there are treatments that can help slow the scarring.

Hepatitis C – a disease that is passed through blood-to-blood contact. It is caused by a virus that attacks the liver, causing the liver to become inflamed. There is a cure, but it takes months to complete treatment, has severe side effects, and does not work for everyone.

Hepatitis A – a disease that is similar to the flu.  You get Hepatitis A by eating food containing human waste. People rarely die from it, and there is a vaccine to prevent you from getting it.

Hepatitis B – a disease that is passed through body fluids during sex, through the breast milk of infected mothers, and through contact with contaminated blood. People can die from it, but there is a vaccine to prevent it.

The best way to prevent liver disease is to not abuse alcohol or use illegal drugs.  Only use drugs as prescribed by your doctor, or as indicated on over-the-counter packaging.  Never engage in unprotected sex (unless you and your partner are completely monogamous and have tested negative for all STI’s recently).

If you have not been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, talk with your doctor to see if it is right for you. There are treatments and some liver disease is reversible, so talk to your doctor about the choices that are out there.

For most information, check out the American Liver Foundation website: http://www.yourliver.org/learn.html.

If you or a loved one need help for alcoholism or drug addiction, and also suffer from liver disease, Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles can help.  As part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare, our alcohol and drug treatment program includes primary medical care.  Please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

We know that drug and alcohol abuse has many negative health effects, but something that is not frequently discussed are the harmful effects that drugs and alcohol can have on the health of our teeth, gums, and mouth in general.  Good oral health is not just about having pearly white and straight teeth.  

Having strong teeth and healthy gums/mouth helps you eat and digest food, and helps you speak and pronounce words clearly. Left untreated, decay on the teeth leads to the formation of cavities which can become infected and spread throughout your whole body making you sick

While all drugs can have negative effects on your teeth, gums, and mouth, methamphetamine (meth) and tobacco (both in cigarettes and smokeless) are the worst offenders.

Methamphetamine: The use of meth has been linked to rapid formation of cavities. Dentists think this could be due to teeth grinding and clenching, dry mouth, or poor oral hygiene all of which are linked to meth use. When left untreated, the only treatment is to pull out all the teeth and wear dentures.

For more information about meth and oral health go here: http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/methmouth.asp#additional

Tobacco: Both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco have harmful effects on the health of the mouth. Cigarettes can lead to dry mouth and gum disease. Dry mouth negatively affects oral health because without saliva to rinse off the teeth, bacteria grows on teeth and near the gums which can quickly become decay which then leads to cavities. Smokeless tobacco seriously damages gums and increases the risk of oral cancer.

For more information about tobacco and oral health go here:
http://www.hooah4health.com/prevention/disease/dentaldisease/oralfitresources/TobaccoAndOralHealth.pdf

If you are concerned about the health of your teeth/gums there are a few easy steps to take:

1. Make an appointment with your dentist; current guidelines recommend seeing your dentist every six months.
2. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride keeps teeth strong and may stop or slow down the formation of decay.
3. Floss your teeth daily. You must floss in order to remove food from in between teeth and near the gum line – your toothbrush does not reach everywhere in your mouth.
4. Drink water – Sugary drinks (including alcohol) coat your teeth in sugar, which is the basis for tooth decay. By drinking water you are removing food and sugar from your teeth.

Visit this site for basic information about keeping your mouth, teeth, and gums healthy:
http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/index.html


Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides alcohol and drug treatment that includes nutritional education as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.  For more information, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

California alcohol and drug treatment professionals know well that drug addiction continues to be a problem in this state.  Surveys are a good tool for providing facts to the general public, since most people are not aware of the extent drugs effect society.  So it is important to keep this information flowing in order to bring greater awareness to California citizens.

A recent opinion poll taken by an online resource for addiction and substance abuse information found that marijuana remains the most popular drug abused in California.  The poll focused on use rather than drug addiction, and provides a look at what the future may hold for today’s adolescents.

Of the parents polled who stated their children have used drugs almost 25% listed methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, hallucinogens, or recreational use of prescription drugs as the child’s drug of choice.  This is a very real future problem for California.  Children who use these drugs are at high risk of developing a drug addiction or even cross over to alcohol dependence by the time they are adults.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides adolescent alcohol and drug treatment.  For more information please call 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Here are some points of interest from the report on www.keepcomingback.com.  For poll result details, go to http://www.keepcomingback.com/files/KCBDrugPollTopline.pdf.

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The survey found that nearly half (44%) of Californians have tried marijuana at least once and 1 in 6 residents have used the drug within the last year. Clearly it is the most common drug used, in a category far different than cocaine (13% said they had previously used), methamphetamines (9%) or have used prescription drugs without a doctor’s order (9%).

KeepComingBack.com also explored how Californians view the impact of drug use. Consistent with its widespread use, respondents had a very different attitude about marijuana, with only 30% saying that the drug was very harmful. This contrasts with the harm that participants believe results from using cocaine (91% saying it was very harmful) or heroin (96% saying it was very harmful).

The survey also found that nearly one in four Californians with at least one child over the age of 10 reported that their offspring has tried illegal drugs. Another 11% were unsure about whether their children had tried illegal drugs. As with adults, by far the most prevalent drug used by children was marijuana (60.6%) though a disturbing number of parents (11.7% of the subsample) reported that the main drug their child used was methamphetamine.

-- Source: http://www.keepcomingback.com/node/1463 --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community.  The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles, California knows that the bad economy has had a negative effect on everyone.  Tough financial times are especially difficult for alcoholics and drug addicts.  Those who have recovered from alcoholism and drug addiction are at risk for relapse.  Also, many others will notice that they are using more alcohol or drugs to relieve the stresses of a bad economy.

The current economic crisis is a classic example of a relapse trigger for those in recovery.  An alcoholic may be sober for several years, going to AA meetings, using the tools of recovery, and enjoying good relationships with family and friends.  Economic conditions that may result in a lay-off, delinquent bills, foreclosure, or other financial problems can lead to a feeling of “what’s the use” and a drink.  For an alcoholic, that one drink is like medicine that cures all problems, naturally leading to many more drinks.

Using substances for relief is a clear sign of trouble for people in recovery, but denial of reality sets in quickly.  Knowing that alcohol or drugs led them to personal destruction before sobriety is not always enough to overcome the perceived benefits they currently bring.  Alcohol and drug use will most likely be hidden to avoid confrontations with family, friends, and co-workers, so changes in behavior may be the only clues that relapse has occurred.  

These problems can also affect people who control their drinking, take drugs as prescribed by a doctor, and have rarely or never used illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.  The diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction do not always take hold upon first use.  A life event usually triggers the use of substances for relief.  The discovery of this dramatic relief from overwhelming stress is quickly related to substance use by the addict and alcoholic brain, which leads to cravings and then dependence.  This process usually occurs early in adulthood, but can at any time.

In most of these cases increased alcohol or drug use is waved off as being needed to get through the current crisis.  Family and friends will usually go along with it for some time because they don’t know bigger problems may be ahead.  Most of the time, though, loved ones notice there is a problem before the alcoholic and drug addict.  So risking an argument for the sake of a better future can at least bring awareness to the individual.

Both groups described above should seek alcohol or drug treatment, and medical detoxification if necessary, at the earliest signs of abuse and dependence.  The temporary relief of alcohol and drugs do not make the problem go away.  Problems will worsen and mount as long as they are ignored.  The short-term investment in alcohol or drug treatment now will pave the way for a better future.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

The link between Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS has been known since the beginning of the epidemic. The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) public service campaign, Learn the Link, explains that although injection drug use is well known as the cause of many new HIV infections, the role that non-injection drug abuse plays in the spread of HIV is less recognized. Drug abuse by any route can put a person at a higher risk for getting HIV. Many drugs alter judgment and inhibition.   Crystal Meth, Cocaine, Ecstasy, GHB, and Alcohol are just a few of the non-injected  drugs which lead people to engage in unsafe behaviors that they would not normally choose if it were not for  the influence of drugs.

Altering judgment and inhibition is not the only link between non-injected drug use and HIV/AIDS. Drug abuse and addiction often affects a person’s overall health, thereby increasing their susceptibility to HIV.  For those already infected by HIV, drug abuse can increase the rate at which HIV progresses to AIDS.

Research has shown that drug abuse treatment is an effective way to prevent the spread of HIV. Drug abusers in treatment stop or reduce their drug use as well as the risky behaviors related to their drug addiction.  Tarzana Treatment Centers takes its 35 years of experience in drug addiction treatment and combines it with its expertise in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and develops unique and effective drug treatment programs.  This uniqueness and effectiveness can be found in TTC’s Medical Detoxification program, Residential Drug Treatment programs, and Outpatient Drug Treatment programs.

More information about the link between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse is available at NIDA’s Learn the Link public service campaign’s website, http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/learn/abuse.html.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community.  The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.