The calendar
12-Step Recovery Groups – offered daily at the Alano Club, 1202 S. Front St., Marquette. Clinic Services – HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, … Substance Abuse/Addiction Support Group – held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in Group Room 2 of the …
Read more on Marquette Mining Journal

Support Groups Erie Times-News
The following Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous meetings are held in Erie each week: Sunday, 6:30 p.m., UPMC Hamot Heart Institute, 201 E. Second St.; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Millcreek Community Church, 4444 Sterrettania Road; Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Park …
Read more on GoErie.com

Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

Add your own answer in the comments!

You’ll find around a hundred million routine drinkers in the states, and some reports are implying that almost 10 million of them can easily be considered alcoholics. That means that around one in ten drinkers has a problem with alcohol. Regardless if it is because of peer pressures or physical dependency, it is typically really hard to quit drinking, but each and every year lots of people make that decisions and begin the alcohol detox process.

Alcohol detox means the elimination of alcohol in the body in addition to the management of the potential withdrawal symptoms. The actual detoxification process doesn’t necessarily take away the desires for alcohol, nor does it rapidly eliminate the physical dependency which may have developed over prolonged use, but it really will get you on track in the right direction of getting sober and stay this way.

Substance dependancy, including alcoholism, is often a severe problem, and extended abuse can cause physical transformations. For example, the body transforms so much that it becomes completely dependent on the substances to be able to sustain regular systemic function. This sort of physiological change is among the reasons why a lot of people usually relapse. Despite how long they’ve been sober, the nature of these kinds of addiction signifies that they have to always be willing to continuously choose to steer clear of alcoholic beverages day after day. After you take the steps in the direction of alcohol detox your entire body will enjoy a chance to purge itself of the chemicals plus resume natural metabolic functions.

This isn’t normally going to be a simple process. Any time you get rid of something that your body has a dependency on it can go into something generally known as withdrawal. This is the length of time in which the person’s body is working to rebuild and repair its regular functions it won’t always be pleasant.

If someone hasn’t been abusing alcohol for a long stretch of time, the withdrawal symptoms could be comparatively light. However, when the individual has been taking in unhealthy quantities for many years, there is a good possibility that he or she may undergo some intense symptoms once the alcohol detox process has begun.

Examples of these symptoms are the sweats, queasiness, throwing up, tremors, stress and fatigue, uneasiness, and possible convulsions and seizures. For anyone who is trying to undergo alcohol detox by yourself, these kinds of symptoms usually are overwhelming. Because of this many people look to various medically administered programs for detoxification. When you’re supervised by a healthcare professional, they are able to prescribe some medications that will help minimize these symptoms.

Certainly, these kinds of medications are not the only way for you to get through these trying times. There are lots of support groups which could provide you with the reassurance and determination required to face every one of these symptoms and begin the subsequent portion of the treatment.

Remember, alcohol detox is known as a fundamental starting point to conquer addiction however it most certainly not the last. After you have gotten the alcohol from your system and defeated the withdrawal symptoms you should begin the next step, which is the ongoing endeavours to be alocohol free using counseling, support, and incessant willpower to be sober.

They always say that admitting to a problem is that hardest part of recovery. However, this isn’t always true. What do you do after that? Where do you turn to? For those battling drug addictions, this can be a very difficult process. When dealing with drug rehab, Los Angeles is often the city to go to. There is a Los Angeles drug treatment center every couple miles. But, getting to the point where rehab is an option is also a very hard battle. Those battling with drug addictions need support. It is important not to feel punished or guilty when dealing with a drug issue. Here are some tips for those dealing with addiction or helping someone who is.

Friends are crucial in a time like this. No one can beat an addiction alone. Often times, family can be too helpful or too angry, where as friends want nothing but to help. If your friend is addicted to drugs and looking for help, reach out to them. One of the most powerful tools to be addiction is support. Feeling like someone else wants them to quit and is willing to help them can be the deciding factor. Also, don’t be a fair weather friend. If you quit as soon as the situation gets sticky, you will hurt the person greatly.

Also, for those who are dealing with addiction, the people you surround yourself with is important. If your drug abuse is a social thing, or started as a social thing, you need to find new friends. Don’t attend parties while trying to get clean. However, don’t sit at home and have no social life. It is important to go out and stay busy so the temptation is lessened. Even if your friends are not addicted to drugs, explain to them that you are, and it is difficult for you to resist when they do drugs around you. If they won’t change for you, it is time to invest in a new group of friends.

Local support groups can also be a godsend in a time like this. If rehab is too expensive, or perhaps you’re simply not ready, these are a great alternative. They are support groups similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, but they target specific drugs. These are usually more popular than you realized especially if you live in the city. The sessions are usually held in gyms or local meeting halls, so they are easily accessible. Through groups like this you can find other people suffering like you who may help your beat you addiction.

A lot of people turn to religion when dealing with drug addiction. Religion can be something to focus on or a way to call out for help. Lots of people find god and use god as support. Some people turn to more spiritual religions as a way to channel their addiction into something more positive. Also, activities such as yoga and running can be a great way to keep busy. The key is getting help and not leaving any room for relapse.

Addiction is an incurable disease that can be treated and managed successfully. With the help of qualified addiction recovery therapists and effective addiction counselling, addicts can live positive and enriched lives, devoid of substance abuse and relapse.

Addiction is a manifestation of severe underlying emotional issues and therapy sessions directed by professional addiction recovery therapists provide a safe environment to confront these issues and work through them.

Importance of therapy

Addiction recovery therapy is a critical element of treatment because addictive behaviours are symptoms of underlying problems. Simply ceasing addictive behaviour, while an important part of recovery, does not address the root causes of that behaviour.

While the fundamental nature of addiction treatment will remain the same, different individuals may require regimens that emphasise different approaches. Intensive one-to-one counselling and support group therapy assists addicts in the emotional phases of addiction recovery therapy.

An experienced addiction recovery therapist can assess individuals and determine a recommendation of individual or group therapy sessions, or a combination of both.

Individual therapy

Addicts need to learn how to cope with their feelings of fear and anger, as well as other feelings and emotions that they might have difficulty processing in order to express them healthily.

Focused individual therapy provides a safe and confidential setting, where addicts can divulge their problems and deal with their troubled pasts and core issues. This holistic approach to reaching the root of the addiction is instrumental in helping addicts understand their dependencies and avoid relapses.

Group therapy

Support group therapy provides an interactive platform for sharing experiences, and members can relate to the challenges and worries of fellow addicts. Support and hope emerges from friendships created at these meetings and addicts feel less alone and isolated in their struggle for recovery.

This environment of mutual support is in itself a source of encouragement and helps addicts in better managing their emotions and improving self-awareness. Receiving support from peers as well as giving that support back are some of the ways that group therapy empowers addicts to overcome addiction and step back into society.

Family therapy

Family counselling is an important aspect of effective addiction recovery therapy. Family members are able to provide more information about an addict’s dependency and lifestyle, allowing trained addiction recovery therapists to apply this insight to the addiction recovery process.

This also allows family members of the addict a chance to heal as they undergo counselling that mends relationships and re-instils the trust within families. With the help of qualified addiction counsellors, family members can be equipped with valuable knowledge to aid them in continuing to help their addicted relatives when they leave the rehabilitation centre.

While working through the difficult issues at the heart of addiction, addicts should be reassured that they are not alone, and that they have the support of their family, counsellors and peers.

By combining professional addiction counselling and treatment, in an environment of love, trust and understanding, addicts are able to learn the tools they need in the pursuit of abstinence and recovery.

Gun Control Battle Shifts To States After Newtown Massacre
Electoral and legislative fights since Newtown – including the election last month of a Democratic gun-control supporter, Terry McAuliffe, as governor of Virginia, the home state of the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby – are likely a …
Read more on Huffington Post

Support groups in the area are ready to assist you in many ways
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP MEETING: Family Life Center at Higher Ground Baptist Church, Room 217, first Tuesday of the month, Virtual Dementia tour with Sharon Durnin from Preston Place, 10 a.m. Support group designed to help those who care for loved …
Read more on TriCities.com

Ohio initiative unites physical, mental care
Integrated care has proved so successful in fostering recovery that Ohio has launched a new statewide initiative called “Medicaid Health Homes” that is entirely dedicated to integrated care for individuals suffering from severe mental illness. Despite …
Read more on Toledo Blade