Turns out, actor Cory Monteith couldn’t be more different from his squeaky clean onscreen person on TV Show Glee, Finn Hudson: Monteith recently discussed having a serious teen drug addiction problem that was so severe that he dropped out of high school at age 16.

Says Monteith:  “I burned a lot of bridges. I was out of control.”

Though Monteith reports that he attended drug rehab at the age of 19, he said he didn’t really begin the process of fighting against drug addiction until he had an experience that he calls a “crystallizing event.”

Monteith tells his story: “I stole a significant amount of money from a family member. I knew I was going to get caught, but I was so desperate I didn’t care. It was a cry for help. I was confronted and I said, ‘Yeah, it was me.’ It was the first honorable, truthful thing that had come out of my mouth in years.”

His parents then staged an intervention for him and he agreed to go to drug addiction treatment. Says Monteith: “That’s when I first went to rehab. I did the stint but then went back to doing exactly what I left off doing.”

It was at that time that Monteith moved to a small town in Canada and stopped abusing drugs and alcohol. He returned his focus to school and earned a diploma as well and began to work on his acting career. It paid off: he soon landed a part on the hit TV, Glee, and hasn’t looked back.

Monteith doesn’t necessarily view his story as a success story that should be emulated.

Says Monteith:  “I don’t want kids to think it’s okay to drop out of school and get high, and they’ll be famous actors, too. But for those people who might give up: Get real about what you want and go after it. If I can, anyone can.

“I’m not Finn Hudson. I’m lucky on so many counts—I’m lucky to be alive.”

Hopefully, Monteith’s story will reach the right ears. Thousands of teenagers watch Glee religiously, and it’s likely they’ll hear Monteith’s story. While he doesn’t view his story as a success story, any story that includes drug addiction and ends with a clean and sober person living a healthy and balanced life is definitely a story of accomplishment, and it’s spreading the word that rehabilitation is possible that will encourage those living with addiction to get the help they need.

If you or someone you love is living with an active drug addiction, contact us today for more information about our California drug rehab program here at The Canyon.

One of the most effective ways to address the situation when a loved one is living with crystal meth addiction is to stage an intervention with the goal of getting them crystal meth rehab help immediately. However, no matter how well you prepare or what you do, it doesn’t always in work. In some cases, your loved one will initially refuse crystal meth addiction treatment. What do you do when this happens? Do you give up? Absolutely not. Stand your ground and prepare yourself for the fact that anything can happen.

Either Choose Crystal Meth Rehab or…

Before you stage a crystal meth addiction intervention, you should take some time to come up with something like an ultimatum to give your loved one. Spouses may say, “Either you get crystal meth addiction treatment or I will need a separation.” Bosses may say, “Either you accept the addiction help we’re offering you today or you will need to find another job.” These ultimatums are not designed to control your addicted loved one but to protect you and others who are living with the effects of their addiction. You are offering them help. It is not fair for you to continue to live with all the problems that come with their addiction if they refuse treatment. You are letting them know with this ultimatum that if they say “no,” you will begin prioritizing your own health and wellbeing.

Stand Your Ground if Your Loved One Refuses Crystal Meth Rehab

The provision of consequences can have one of many effects on your loved one: the fear of losing whatever has been put on the table may be enough to spur your addicted family member to choose crystal meth rehab – or it could make them angry and push them instead to say “no” out of spite. In some cases, your loved one may understand your position and need to protect yourself by putting distance between yourself and their continued addiction but still choose not to go to rehab.

If your loved one says “no” to treatment, the most important thing for you to do is follow through on your promise. If you said you’d file for divorce, do it. If you said that your loved one would need to move out, make it so. It won’t be easy for you or for them, but it is absolutely crucial that you stand your ground.

Are you looking for a crystal meth rehab for your loved one? Would you like to be matched with a professional interventionist that can help you help your family member? Contact us at The Canyon today and let us help you get started.

For years, Western medicine has separated the mind and body. It has tried to treat people’s minds, spirits, and physical selves as unconnected pieces of a whole. In the last few decades, Eastern philosophy has gained ground in the modern world of medicine. Mostly, this has come about in the form of holistic healing environments. Therapies deemed as “alternative” have found there way into many Western hospitals, clinics, and treatment plans.

Physicians have seen the value of their patients managing their stress more effectively. Hospitals have found that reducing noise and improving aesthetics can result in better patient experiences. These are just a few of the reasons a holistic approach to drug treatment makes sense. Follow along to learn more about the holistic approach to addiction recovery.

Comforting Environment Is Soothing

Drug addicts are often quite sensitive when they are in the early stages of recovery. Their bodies have been ravaged by toxic drugs for months or years, and the healing process has just begun. Withdrawal symptoms may still linger. Emotions may be edgy. Sleep may be disjointed. A recovering addict may have any number of sensitivities and adjustments to deal with during their time at a drug treatment facility.

Holistic treatment centers focus on creating a soothing physical environment. Colors are important for creating the right kind of energy. Private rooms are decorated to promote a sense of serenity. It’s not enough just to provide good therapy. The whole experience matters, right down to the chairs and wall hangings.

Alternative Therapies Offered To Everyone

If you tried to imagine a typical day in drug treatment, you might think everyone sits around all day talking. While this certainly does happen, the modern holistic treatment center has a lot more to offer. Yoga is a great non-competitive form of exercise and meditation all in one. It helps people learn about patience, self-acceptance, and focusing on the present moment. Besides learning how to use these skills, recovering addicts can train their body and mind to relax more easily.

The same can be said for a more mental practice like meditation. The mind of a recovering addict often hops back and forth and can be very distractible. Rather than trying to make the person stop thinking about negative things or their past drug use, they can learn how to let go of these thoughts. The inner peace that comes from letting go can be invaluable during the ups and downs of recovery.

Holistic Treatment Is The Future of Drug Rehab

The holistic medicine movement seems to have had a significant effect on the drug treatment community. The use of holistic treatments is likely to be a steadfast part of high quality drug rehab programs for years to come. They offer more than just comfort and calm. They teach each person new coping skills and ways to see the world. Everything is connected and everything matters. Find out how our holistic drug treatment programs can help you or a loved one right away.

The senior population is the group most often prescribed controlled substances. About 17 percent of seniors over the age of 60 will be affected by prescription drug abuse according to one study, and another study says that 11 percent of women over the age of 59 are currently addicted to prescription drugs.

Recognizing prescription drug addiction in seniors is tricky but hugely important. The health effects can be devastating and the money spent on unnecessary prescriptions crippling. If you or someone you love is over 60 and dealing with prescription drug addiction, call us at The Canyon for treatment.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction: Unnecessary Prescriptions

A recent study done on a group of seniors over the age of 60 showed that about half of all tranquilizer, sedative and painkiller prescriptions were prescribed unnecessarily or should have been prescribed for a shorter period. Seniors seeking prescription pills only need to mention pain to get the drugs they’re looking for. It is, unfortunately, extremely easy for seniors to begin and perpetuate prescription drug addiction due to the high number of prescriptions given to people in their age group.

Recognizing Senior Prescription Drug Addiction

It’s difficult to recognize senior prescription drug addiction. Family and friends aren’t always around so they may not notice changes. Few work outside the home so their addiction doesn’t show up in front of co-workers. Seniors also seem to get fewer driving under the influence charges, so it isn’t always recognizable that way. For this reason, it is important to notice other signs of addiction: mood swings, depression, irritability or agitation, inability to concentrate or stay involved in a conversation. Too often, these symptoms are brushed off as nothing more than signs of old age, but in many cases, they are far from normal.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction: Risks of Drug Addiction

The risks of senior prescription drug addiction are huge. In advanced age, it’s easier for people to get hurt while under the influence or have accidents that hurt those around them, and accidents later in life can be deadly.

Mixing prescription drugs is especially dangerous for seniors as well. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 60 drink heavily, defined as 12 to 21 drinks per week. When combined with sedatives and opiates, this can easily lead to an accidental overdose. Sedatives or sleeping pills are warned against for seniors for this reason. Even taken alone, accidental overdose through a misused prescription is a danger for seniors.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at The Canyon

Most seniors will not admit to prescription drug addiction or addiction of any kind. Even fewer will willingly opt for drug addiction treatment. However, withdrawal symptoms can also be devastating for those over the age of 60, so it is extremely important that seniors get medical drug addiction treatment if they are addicted to their prescriptions.

If you would like to help the senior in your life get the prescription drug addiction treatment they need, call The Canyon today.

In early 2007, Anna Nicole Smith died of a drug overdose just days after losing her son to a drug overdose and giving birth to a baby daughter. Almost immediately, charges were filed against Smith’s doctors, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, and her boyfriend / lawyer Howard K. Stern. The three were not charged with murder or even having a hand in her death but in overprescribing her the medications she was addicted to in an effort to keep her high and to secure their inclusion in her celebrity entourage.

The medical examiner ruled Smith’s death as accidental and caused by an overdose of medications that were prescribed to her. However, a number of these prescriptions were under false names. The prosecution claims that the doctors and Stern did this in order to skirt regulation limits on the anti-anxiety and painkiller medications she was prescribed. The defense claims that this is a common occurrence in the celebrity world and was done to protect her privacy.

With almost two months of testimony, the prosecution brings witnesses, videos and other evidence that they believe adds up to a guilty charge for Stern and Drs. Kapoor and Eroshevich. The defense brought just one witness: an expert who says that Smith’s ailment was not drug addiction but depression, anxiety and chronic pain.

The trial has gone on for months now and it’s finally coming to a close as the jury heads off to deliberate.

Responsibility for Drug Addiction

Is it the doctor’s responsibility when a patient abuses a prescription? More and more often, this question is asked in a court of law and the verdict is coming back: “yes.” Doctors lose their licenses and some are ordered to serve jail time when a patient dies after overdosing on a prescription. In the same way, a number of cases have put on trial the holder of a prescription who doles out their pills to friends who ultimately die of an overdose. Again, jail time is the result.

Some people believe this is exactly what should happen. They believe that if the person had not had access to the medication that they would still be alive. While this may be true in theory, the other side of the argument says that the overdose victim made the choice to take the medication, no matter how they got the drug.

Free Will and Drug Addiction Treatment

Whether or not the responsibility for death lies with the overdose victim or the person who provided the medication, free will is a huge part of drug and alcohol addiction recovery when the addict chooses to get help and avoid an overdose. Every day, the addict in recovery makes the choice: today, I will not get high or drink. It’s a responsibility that never goes away.

With treatment at an holistic alcohol and drug rehab center like The Canyon, you can get the skills you need and take the time you need to build a strong foundation in your new life. Call us today for more information.

Karo Parisyan was an up-and-comer in the UFC mixed martial arts scene until he was unceremoniously cut from the UFC when he supposedly tested positive for prescription painkillers in a random drug test. A welterweight, Parisyan has spent the last year since his dismissal struggling with rumors of drug addiction. The 24-year-old is ready to address the rumors publicly before he returns to the UFC on November 20. He even went on “Inside MMA” recently to discuss the issues of both the drug addiction issues and his return to the UFC.

According to PRNewswire, Parisyan says: “This is my sport, this is my life, and this is what I want to do. I’ve fought for a living since I was a 14-year old boy. I’m very happy that Dana gave me another shot.”

Redemption After Drug Addiction

Is it possible to truly make amends and get back what you lost during active drug addiction? Whether or not Parisyan had a sustained drug addiction to deal with or made a few mistakes that got found out, he’s back in the running for a top position in the UFC after only a year. This can be viewed as a positive boost to others who lost big due to drug addiction. Losing a relationship, losing a job, losing custody of your children – all of these are common losses that happen to drug addicts. Depending upon the circumstances, you may not be able to get back exactly what you lost, but with dedication to the path of abstinence and drug addiction recovery, you can regain visitation with your children, find a new love and possibly even get a job that is far better than the one you had before.

The only definite is this: if you continue to actively use drugs and live in drug addiction, you’ll continue to lose until you’ve got nothing left and then you’ll chip away at your health until you lose that, too.

How to Heal After Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is destroying their life due to cocaine addiction, alcoholism, prescription painkiller addiction, marijuana addiction, crystal meth addiction or is living with a dual diagnosis of drug addiction and a psychological disorder, the best way to find healing is through a drug rehab. Choosing a drug rehab that offers detox if you need it and dual diagnosis treatment if necessary is crucial to a successful recovery. The only way to truly start over and regain what you have lost is to address not only your physical addiction to your drug of choice but the underlying issues that may have led to your original addiction.

Drug Addiction and Aftercare Services

As you look around at the drug rehab services available to you and determine which one is best for your circumstance, one of the criteria you look for should be a range of aftercare services. The option of sober living, for example, should be available to you after you complete your drug rehab program as well as support services of a lesser degree, including alumni meetings, check-ins, and referral services.

At The Canyon, we offer drug addiction treatment programs for any type of drug addiction, including dual diagnosis treatment. We also provide a long list of aftercare support services. Contact us today if you or your loved one is living with a drug addiction and you’re ready to reclaim what you’ve lost to drugs.

Addiction can be hard to watch as it progresses. It’s like a car accident happening in slow motion. You know how it will likely end, you are constantly saddened and horrified as you see it develop, and you feel powerless to make it stop.

Addiction is a horrible form of self-destruction that causes a lot of collateral damage. If you feel like you are watching a disaster unfold with someone you love, keep reading for encouragement and practical ideas.

Keep Yourself Informed

Would you know what to do if your loved one comes to you for help? It’s so important that you keep informed about the type of addiction they have and its potential consequences. If he or she comes to you in a moment of vulnerability, you will have a better understanding of how to help them get sober.

Listen to them and let them know they can trust you to really help them. In that important moment, you’ll be able to speak confidently about taking the first steps toward sobriety.

Keep Communication As Open As Possible

It can be tough to deal with the constant conflict, the high level of emotion, and the unpredictability of a person with an addiction. You don’t need to tolerate verbal abuse or physical danger no matter how badly they need help. But if you are able to safely keep communication open, you may be their lifeline when everything crashes around them.

Decide on a mode of communication that would be most acceptable – meeting in a neutral location, talking on the phone, etc. Make it clear that you may hang up or leave if they become disrespectful or dangerous. But if they are in genuine need of help, you would certainly listen and help them get started with addiction treatment.

Get Support For Yourself

This is so important. An addiction lifestyle is a stressful one, both for the addict and anyone who deals with them on a regular basis. You can’t be much help to them if you are constantly feel depressed, lonely, or isolated.

Alanon is a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics and addicts. This self-support organization has helped countless people deal with the realities of another person’s addiction. Friends and family can learn how to help the person they love, not the addiction.

Witnessing A Loved One’s Addiction Is Tough

Watching someone slowly destroy their life is awful, no doubt about it. While you can’t force someone to help themselves out of an addiction hole, you can certainly be there when they are ready to reach their hand up. With good support, you can learn to cope with the ups and downs of their recovery.

Make sure you don’t just sit helplessly on the sidelines. Get informed, keep communication open if you can, and get support for yourself. You and your loved one can make it through one day at a time.