Question by Chris: My 16-year-old friend was sent to intensive outpatient drug rehab & foster care for 3 months & wont see me?
He says his foster mom is very anal and wont let him hang out or call me since im in my late 20’s.

Plus, he started dating a 23-year-old ‘recovering’ crystal-meth addict he found from his group therapy. His foster mom allows that relationship but not ours. I’ve always been clean and sober.

Anyway, my friend is bi-polar, ADD, anxiety, h.s. dropout, parents never married and split, and he now works at micky dees full time.

I went to see him at his work and he basically acknowldged my presence for 5 seconds, but he wouldnt come out to talk to me. He went in the back hiding.

My question is: do you think he will contact me when he “gets out of foster care” next month or is he blowing me off because he has a new bf or some other reason?
He was only addicted to weed by the way.

Best answer:

Answer by vert.grimble
The thing is he has to get healthy before he should have any relationship. I know it hurts but if you like or love him he needs to spend 100% of his time working on himself. He needs learn to love himself first.

As for the “woman in recovery” she might help him – Addicts helping addicts – but if she knows anything about recovery she should not be leading him into a relationship.

12 step programs (AA, NA, Ca) discourage sponsors of the opposite sex and suggest having at least 1 year clean before getting in to a love relation.

Sometimes clean friends enable the addict. Try a Al-Anon meeting to better understand this and yourself. Then you can be his friend and help him. It is a baffling disease and it effects everyone around the addict.

Best of luck – I’ll say a little prayer for the two of you.

ps pot is not as dangerous as a lot of the other addictions but it can still mess a person up big time – especially if there are other mental health issues.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Alcohol addiction is a progressive disease which can prove fatal without the proper treatment of the core causes. Alcoholism’s symptoms can be quite evident when a person has physical withdrawal symptoms, noticeable cravings, a lack of control when around the substance, becoming physically dependent, and gaining an increased tolerance through frequent usage.

Sometimes will power is not enough to get to the point of recovery from alcohol dependence as there are many personal battles that can become unbearable for the addict. Professional assistance is often necessary to help the addict recover from substance abuse completely and with lasting positive effects.

There are many rehab centers which offer various alcohol addiction treatment programs, including intervention services, detoxification protocols, one on one counseling sessions , therapy, and medication. The initial stages of recovery include alcohol intervention programs during which the core problems of the patient is sought and analyzed. This is followed by the detoxification process which eliminates the most toxic substances from the addict’s body.

Counseling and group therapy are used to help the patient deal with emotional and mental aspects of addiction. Any treatment regiment involves both physical body and psychological side of treatment. The medication stage involves improving the physical health of the patient by prescribing medication.

Alcohol addiction treatment centers employ health and addiction specialists to address the needs of the patient. The rehab center offers in patient programs, individual support, exercise, and clinical facilities for the full care of the individual in order to facilitate a quick recovery. With so many addiction treatments available, the addict should be able to find one cautiously planned to efficiently improve the person’s health physically and psychologically for a more productive and alcohol-free life.

Alcohol addiction is a progressive disease which can prove fatal without the proper treatment of the core causes. Alcoholism’s symptoms can be quite evident when a person has physical withdrawal symptoms, noticeable cravings, a lack of control when around the substance, becoming physically dependent, and gaining an increased tolerance through frequent usage.

Sometimes will power is not enough to get to the point of recovery from alcohol dependence as there are many personal battles that can become unbearable for the addict. Professional assistance is often necessary to help the addict recover from substance abuse completely and with lasting positive effects.

There are many rehab centers which offer various alcohol addiction treatment programs, including intervention services, detoxification protocols, one on one counseling sessions , therapy, and medication. The initial stages of recovery include alcohol intervention programs during which the core problems of the patient is sought and analyzed. This is followed by the detoxification process which eliminates the most toxic substances from the addict’s body.

Counseling and group therapy are used to help the patient deal with emotional and mental aspects of addiction. Any treatment regiment involves both physical body and psychological side of treatment. The medication stage involves improving the physical health of the patient by prescribing medication.

Alcohol addiction treatment centers employ health and addiction specialists to address the needs of the patient. The rehab center offers in patient programs, individual support, exercise, and clinical facilities for the full care of the individual in order to facilitate a quick recovery. With so many addiction treatments available, the addict should be able to find one cautiously planned to efficiently improve the person’s health physically and psychologically for a more productive and alcohol-free life.

Alcohol addiction is a progressive disease which can prove fatal without the proper treatment of the core causes. Alcoholism’s symptoms can be quite evident when a person has physical withdrawal symptoms, noticeable cravings, a lack of control when around the substance, becoming physically dependent, and gaining an increased tolerance through frequent usage.

Sometimes will power is not enough to get to the point of recovery from alcohol dependence as there are many personal battles that can become unbearable for the addict. Professional assistance is often necessary to help the addict recover from substance abuse completely and with lasting positive effects.

There are many rehab centers which offer various alcohol addiction treatment programs, including intervention services, detoxification protocols, one on one counseling sessions , therapy, and medication. The initial stages of recovery include alcohol intervention programs during which the core problems of the patient is sought and analyzed. This is followed by the detoxification process which eliminates the most toxic substances from the addict’s body.

Counseling and group therapy are used to help the patient deal with emotional and mental aspects of addiction. Any treatment regiment involves both physical body and psychological side of treatment. The medication stage involves improving the physical health of the patient by prescribing medication.

Alcohol addiction treatment centers employ health and addiction specialists to address the needs of the patient. The rehab center offers in patient programs, individual support, exercise, and clinical facilities for the full care of the individual in order to facilitate a quick recovery. With so many addiction treatments available, the addict should be able to find one cautiously planned to efficiently improve the person’s health physically and psychologically for a more productive and alcohol-free life.

The ultimate goal of the best alcohol drug treatment centers is to help people of all backgrounds and all life experiences establish a life they are satisfied with without addictive drugs or alcohol. The very best programs are made up of the three traditional phases of alcohol addiction treatment, which are detoxification, rehabilitation and continuing, long term care. In order to give a patient the best chance of success with their recovery, treatment plans must always be personalized to be as unique as the patient himself is. No two individuals are going to respond to a treatment plan the same way, so it is vital that every person is given the tools to recovery that are most effective for him or her.

When a person goes through outpatient detoxification from alcohol and/or drugs, it should be accomplished safely and comfortably with the help of medical personnel. Although not every outpatient program will allow it, the best alcohol drug treatment centers will allow patients to remain at the facility and be monitored for several hours a day. They will also be able to quickly arrange hospitalization if it becomes necessary.
There are many different parts of the rehabilitation phase, but the best programs will have patients attending five times a week. Patients should be taking part in group therapy and education during rehabilitation. The frequency of these sessions is gradually reduced as they make progress over a period of several weeks. By the time the rehabilitation phase is complete, they will have attended 20 to 30 sessions.

The last phase of the traditional treatment programs, the continuing care phase, consists of a group therapy session once weekly. Specialized groups in these sessions are able to focus on particular issues. Structured intensive outpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs at the best alcohol treatment centers in Maryland are just as effective as hospital rehabilitation is, and they are also more effective than non intensive outpatient programs. Families are included in treatment, and there are some group sessions every week for relatives and even close friends to attend along with the patient. Everyone learns about dependence, and they have an opportunity to discuss experiences about the illness as well as the process of recovery.

Every patient comes with a different story, a different history and different personal goals. The best centers are those that are able to customize and personalize treatment according to each individual patient. There are many factors that work together to determine the rate of success that patients achieve. Each completes different levels of recovery at different stages and at different paces; allowing this variety in pace and rate of recovery is what makes outpatient drug and alcohol treatment such a success.

Addiction is a serious disease that needs to be treated by professionals. Treatment for addiction differs from many other kinds of treatment in that it often requires a significant mental and emotional effort on the part of the addict in order for treatment to be effective.

Choosing the right addiction recovery programmes is vital both in order to support the patient during treatment, and to increase the likelihood that the addiction treatment will be successful.

Before treatment can commence, addicts need to cease their addictive behaviour.
Successful treatment for addiction must address the underlying emotional and spiritual problems faced by the addict. Without tackling the underlying causes of addiction, treatment will not be successful in the long term.

This is why therapy is recommended for people who want to overcome their addiction. Therapy may take the form of individual or group sessions, or a combination of both.

Group therapy

Group therapy has the advantage of providing addicts with peer support and helping them to understand that they are not alone, and that their problems are not unique. This can be a tremendous source of comfort and emotional strength, which is particularity important during the initial, very difficult, stages of cessation.

While the support gained from a group therapy session is valuable, it is important that these sessions are coordinated trained professionals. Group therapy is not merely a talking shop – it is about confronting difficult emotional problems – so the therapy sessions need to be guided by experienced therapists.

12 Step recovery programme

Some addiction centres incorporate a 12 Step recovery programme into their programme. Not all treatment centres use a 12 Step programme, but there is evidence that including the programme in the treatment regimen leads to a better rate of success.

Following the principles of the 12 Step programme can help patients work through their difficulties and find purpose and motivations.

Experience shows the programme increases the chance of remaining clean and decreases the likelihood of relapse.

Achieving a balanced lifestyle

A good in-patient addiction treatment centre will probably supplement therapy sessions with workshops and lectures. But overcoming addiction is, in no small part, about finding a sense of balance. A holistic addiction recovery programme may also offer activities and excursions that help addicts to lead healthier, more balanced lives. A variety of fun activities can also make the treatment process less arduous.

Centres may offer sports or hikes, and may even include activities like yoga or tai chi. A healthy eating plan is also often considered integral to a holistic treatment programme.
A tranquil, secluded environment can also be beneficial while experiencing treatment. Patients generally value the opportunity to step outside of everyday demands and focus on overcoming their addiction.

This is not because addiction recovery programmes are an escape from everyday life. On the contrary, the purpose of these programmes is to give patients the space and support to deal with their problems so that they can return as productive members of society.