DMX was arrested in Arizona last month for cocaine possession. In addition to being a charge that stands alone, DMX (born Earl Simmons) is also in violation of his parole. He was taken to a local county jail to await further action from the court.

About a year ago, DMX spent 90 days inside on charges of fraud, drug possession and animal cruelty.

DMX’s lawyer, Gary Jenkins, blames the rapper’s history of problems with the law on drug addiction. Jenkins says those problems are a continuing issue and one that requires an intervention.

Jenkins told TMZ: “He’s been battling addiction for some time and he’s in need of treatment. We’re hoping that maybe Dr. Drew might be able to help him. He’s a talented man…we’re praying for him.”

For his part, DMX doesn’t take much of the blame for his actions on himself. Rather, he blames law enforcement and others for targeting him. He also claims that his rights were abused and ignored.

DMX told the court: “Look at the fair treatment going on. I’m the only one in here, I’m the only one who got arrested today. Every time they do it to me! My rights are being violated but I got to be quiet about it.”

While DMX believes that he isn’t to blame for his arrest, others heartily disagree. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is one such person. He believes that DMX should be punished with jail time for his behavior. He sees DMX’s latest behavior as part of a longstanding pattern that needs to be dealt with.

Says Arpaio: “I’m surprised he came back. He doesn’t like the sheriff, he doesn’t like my office. I’m sure he doesn’t like all the times he’s been arrested. He’s also been a problem. He doesn’t show up for court. I had to send my deputies to Florida twice to bring him back. We’ve been treating him with kid gloves. I think it’s about time to give him hard time.”

Enabling Versus Assisting: How Much is Too Much Help to Give a Loved One Addicted to Drugs

While there’s something to be said for helping friends and family members who are going through hard times, when continued drug and alcohol addiction is the source of your loved one’s problems, there needs to be a limit to the amount of assistance given for your sake as well as theirs. Continuing to “clean up” after someone who consistently causes problems for themselves and their family due to drug and alcohol use only enables them to continue to live actively with addiction. The best way to help someone you love who is addicted to cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, heroin, and other drugs of addiction is to help them understand that getting help is the only way to heal.

If you are concerned about someone you love, call The Canyon. We can give you more information about drug and alcohol interventions as well as the type of treatments that are available for your loved one. Call now.

Are you watching someone you love struggle with drug and alcohol addiction? Have you been trying to figure out the best way to intervene and help your loved one get the medical treatment they need at a drug rehab center? Even if you can’t afford to pay for the full bill or even half of their treatment, there are ways you can help the addict in your life get treatment: a drug rehab intervention is often the catalyst that gets people the help that they need to stay clean and sober. Can you think of a more useful gift or a better way to start the new year?

Drug Addiction Treatment: Talking to Your Loved One

Chances are, the person you care about living with drug and alcohol addiction is well aware of that fact, at least on some level. Depending upon how long they have been abusing drugs and alcohol, they may not feel that their abuse has risen to the level of addiction. They may also claim that they are merely recreational users or looking for a good time. If you’re catching them in lies about how much or when they are using or if you find paraphernalia laying around that is used for deadly street drugs, then talking to them is the first step. Try and point out specific incidents in which their drug use has caused them big problems or hurt your personally. Explain that you are not judging them but that you want the best for them and that the life they are living now isn’t it. In many cases, just talking to your loved one is enough to get them to understand that they need help.

Drug Addiction Treatment Intervention

If talking to them doesn’t work, or if your loved one becomes belligerent when confronted, an intervention may be an effective and safe next step. By gathering together a group of people who care about the addict you love, you may have strength in numbers. Just like when you spoke to your loved one on your own, the focus of what everyone says to him or her should be on how their addiction is hurting them and others. Making them understand that without help, they will kill themselves with drugs is essential. When they fully grasp the severity of this concept, they will be more likely to get treatment.

Drug Addiction Treatment: Don’t Let Them Wait

The other goal of a drug addiction intervention is for them to accept help at a drug rehab immediately. To help them do this, you can find a drug rehab for your loved one ahead of time and pack a bag for them so that they can literally leave immediately for treatment if they accept your offer for help. Not tomorrow and not next week—right now. You should be prepared with transportation as well as an escort should they accept your offer and if they refuse treatment, you should be equally prepared to levy the consequences (i.e., they will have to move out or they will lose their job or their relationship).

If you would like assistance setting up an intervention or if you would like to pre-enroll your loved one in treatment at The Canyon, call us today.

A story was recently published about a man in England who reported to police that he purposely committed a crime just to get the drug addiction treatment he needed and knew would be available in prison.

It’s a sad statement on health care availability when you feel like you have to rob a convenience store in order to get medical treatment. Unfortunately, even in the United States, it is often easier to get the help you need that way than to try to figure out how to pay for it.

Paying for Drug Addiction Treatment: Crime

Though it isn’t recommended that you perpetrate a crime specifically for the purpose of receiving the drug addiction treatment you need, it certainly seems that the laws are set up as if to say: “We only believe that your drug addiction is serious when it costs us money and since it costs less to put you in a drug rehab than prison, we’ll wait until you commit a crime before we help you.” California, for example, has had great success with the Prop 36 program that offers drug rehab to those who are charged with possession or other nonviolent crimes attributable to drug use. Though the California prison system is still extremely overcrowded, it is considerably less so than it would have been otherwise.

Paying for Drug Addiction Treatment: Insurance

If you do have insurance, make sure that you look closely at your policy or contact your insurance agent. Even if the whole bill isn’t covered, part of an inpatient drug rehab problem or the full cost of specific treatments may be included. For example, some health insurance companies will pay for outpatient treatment programs only or they will only pay for a detox centers if you have a doctor’s verification that you are physically addicted to a drug and experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Insurance companies can be tricky with the language in their policies, so make sure to verify what you are eligible for before you enroll.

Paying for Drug Addiction Treatment: Family

Asking your family for a loan at the end of drug addiction is going to be difficult, if not impossible. You’ve likely abused any resource available from family and friends through the course of your drug addiction and no one wants to get burned twice. If anyone you know even has enough money to help you pay for what you can’t, consider asking them anyway. Do not allow them to give the money to you but ask them to pay the drug rehab facility directly. Set up a repayment plan for after you graduate and let them know that you intend to honor your debt by signing a written contractual agreement obliging you to pay. The worst that could happen? They’ll say ‘no’ and you’ll be no worse off than you are now.

So did the English man I mentioned above get the drug addiction treatment he sought when he robbed the convenience store? That still remains to be seen. The latest update is that he was being arraigned on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and theft. His bail is 50,000 pounds… more than enough to pay for drug rehab.

The Recovery Project, sponsored by A&E television networks, just might be the largest initiative ever to reach out to addicts and families in need of this kind of specialized guidance and support.

The press release on the show highlights findings from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to drive home the importance of the project: “More than 22 million Americans struggle with addiction to alcohol and other drugs, yet fewer than ten percent receive the treatment they need because of stigma, lack of awareness or cost.”

So how does one lead an addict from the depths of despair to the shores of hope and recovery?

Build a Bridge toward Recovery

On September 27 last year, thousands of individuals, families, friends, treatment partners, advocates, celebrities, and community leaders linked arms and crossed the Brooklyn Bridge showing solidarity in the fight against the stigma of drug addiction. As a symbolic vow to support those on their quest through recovery, the human bridge progressed towards Lower Manhattan and rallied on the grounds of City Hall Park.

“Inspired by the incredible response from viewers, individuals and families in recovery to the Emmy-nominated documentary series Intervention… The Recovery Project strives to shed light on the scope of the addiction crisis, and its impact on society,” the release said.

Partner With Organizations Committed to Successful Recovery

A&E is joining forces with nation-wide non-profit groups and federal agencies to spread the word about this multi-year campaign through education, personal stories, recovery and treatment options, plus resources to help parents connect with their kids in an effort to prevent drug abuse:

• NCADD – National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
• SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• PDFA – Partnership for a Drug Free America

Participate in Awareness Rallies or Organize One in Your Hometown

They are doing the rally again this year on September 12, 2009. To become a part of this historic nationwide event, just visit www.therecoveryproject.com to sign up. If you can’t make it to New York, you can rally your own town to join forces against the stigma of addiction by hosting your own march for solidarity. Spread the word through your town’s newspaper and local radio station, then visit Recovery Month to add your event to the history books.

Tell Us: Do you think this is an effective way to raise awareness about the issues that drug and alcohol addicts face?

Every intervention ends with one thing: an ultimatum. The person addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol is offered the opportunity to drive to go to drug and alcohol rehab like The Canyon or else ….

That “or” can be a huge and weighty decision for family members. It must show that you are serious, that you are not going to put up with the bad behavior brought on by drug and/ or alcohol addiction any longer. And it must also be something that you are willing to follow up on. Whichever choice the addict in your life makes, your life is about to change as drastically as his or hers.

If Your Loved One Chooses Drug Rehab After an Intervention

We’ll start with the hoped-for outcome: choosing drug rehab at The Canyon. The intervention is over and your loved one is on his or her way to The Canyon in southern California. If you choose an inpatient drug addiction treatment program, there will likely be a blackout period, which means that you will not be allowed to contact your loved one by phone, email or letter and they will not be able to contact you. This is necessary so that they can focus on physical detox if necessary and begin to settle into treatment. Soon, though, when they are able, you may even be invited to participate in family therapy sessions and group meetings as well as family visitation days so that you can see the progress your loved one is making in treatment.

If Your Loved One Doesn’t Choose Drug Rehab After an Intervention

If they chose not to get help for their drug addiction, then you will most likely be experiencing an odd mix of depression and relief. It’s hard to let a loved one go but when that person is hurting you and your family, it is a necessary step. You may feel like a load has been lifted and, in a way, it has. Stand strong behind your determination and know that you are making the right choice for everyone in your family. There is still a chance that your loved one will choose to get help and if that happens, it will be due in part to you and your strength.

A drug addiction intervention, like we’ve been discussing this month, is an organized meeting that allows friends and family members to confront those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol with the effects of their addiction in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. A successful intervention will end with the addict choosing to get help, actively getting in the car to go to the airport or drive to a pre-chosen drug rehab like The Canyon.

A Drug Addiction Intervention Can Be Successful

Though it is often an emotional experience, if done right, an intervention can help the one addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol to see how the drugs are hurting them and those they love… but without blame or judgment. Drug addiction is no one’s fault. But the ability to take responsibility for the future is the light at the end of the tunnel and offering an intervention and the option to take that responsibility can be a pivotal point in the recovery process.

Here are a few tips to help you set up a successful drug addiction intervention:

• Bring just one example of how you have been hurt to the meeting to illustrate the severity of this person’s drug addiction.
• Write down the incident you would like to share before you arrive. It will help you to focus and keep it short.
• If you are the one delivering the ultimatum, then stick to it. No one will be helped by you backing down later.
• Make sure that you secure your space at a drug rehab like The Canyon before you have your drug addiction intervention. That way, when your friend or loved one is ready to leave the intervention and get help, there is no need to wait: both of you can go directly from the intervention to The Canyon without delay.

Intervention: It’s a popular TV show for some reason and also the hardest day of a drug addict’s life… though likely significantly harder for the loved ones who have to confront the drug addict they care about. It’s most likely the tragedy that makes the show so popular but when it comes to drug addiction, how to realistic is the reality show?

The Reality of a Drug Addiction Intervention

Not very. First, it’s not always obvious when someone’s recreational abuse of a drug has become a full blown drug addiction and drug rehab is necessary. For the most part, the one taking the drug recognizes it as a problem before others do, even if they won’t admit it. Only they know the depths to which their physical and psychological dependence upon drugs of addiction has overtaken their lives. A drug addiction intervention is a way for them to come to terms with the severity of their drug addiction and the fact that they need drug rehab now.

But if you find yourself in the position of having to stage an intervention for a loved one who doesn’t realize that his or her drug and alcohol abuse has reached the breaking point, it will most likely look much different. The stumbling, slurring threats probably won’t happen. More like shame, embarrassment, irritation, denial. These are commonly seen when someone is confronted with their drug and alcohol addiction.

Prescription Drug Addiction Versus Other Drugs of Addiction

It is especially difficult for people who are addicted to prescription painkillers to recognize the serious nature of their problem since they likely don’t consider themselves to be addicts in the same way as those who are addicted to street drugs. They didn’t start using the drugs to get high but to manage pain so addiction most likely came as a surprise. Admitting it and facing a detoxification treatment and the withdrawal symptoms that accompany it when attempted without help is not easy.

Drug Addiction Intervention: A Gift?

An intervention with a ride to a drug rehab like The Canyon sitting at the end of it is actually the nicest thing you can do for someone addicted to pain meds: with a team of medical professionals backing them up, your loved one will be able to swiftly and simply kick their habit without the embarrassment of enrolling in a drug rehab or a local addiction maintenance clinic.

So take heart. A drug addiction intervention—if conducted in that window of clarity after the last dose has mostly worn off and before the next dose has been taken—can be a calm and ultimately enlightening experience.

Some may feel insecure about confronting their loved one or friend about their drug issues, especially when the drug in question is a prescription drug. The abuse of and addiction to recreational drugs like heroin, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol may be a little bit easier to spot and point out to your loved one, but the problem with prescription drug addiction is that it starts with a valid doctor’s prescription.

Prescription painkillers are tricky: yes, they serve a purpose but taken too long, they can become a problem in and of themselves. Family members who notice changes in those taking prescription opiates like Vicodin, OxyContin, Norco, Lortab and more may not know when these changes are merely side effects and when they denote an unacknowledged addiction worthy of an intervention.

Here are some clues to help you tell when it’s time to set up a drug addiction intervention:

• Inability to maintain commitments at work and home
• Inability to successfully care for children and elder family members resulting in neglect or abuse
• Losing a spouse, partner, close friends or jobs due to lack of focus and drug use
• Health problems due to opiate use including breathing problems and overdose
• Purchasing supplemental pills outside of their original prescription or attempting to procure additional prescriptions from different doctors
• Supplementing prescription medication use with alcohol and other drugs
• Suicidal behavior
• Abusive behavior to others resulting in emotional or physical harm
• Financial problems including not paying the bills, losing possessions and defaulting on credit cards
• Driving while obviously impaired by prescription drug use
• Criminal activity or legal problems due to behavior while under the influence of their prescription

A drug addiction intervention is not a negative thing, though the person being confronted may initially take it as such. Should they choose to get the help they need, they will thank you for it later and even if they don’t, at least you can take yourself and your family out of harm’s way by taking away the addict’s ability to hurt you again.

It’s a fine line when you’re trying to help someone you love who is addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol. Too much help can be termed “codependent,” essentially making their addiction possible by providing them with a place to stay, money to feed their habit and helping them to lie and cover up addictive behavior in front of others. Too little help and your friend or family member may not realize that there is a way out of addiction through detox and treatment.

Offer Medical Help Instead of Financial Support

One way to help your loved one not only realize that there help is available but also recognize that they have a problem that is affecting their life and the lives of those around them is to organize a drug addiction intervention. A staged meeting that includes close family, friends and community leaders like clergy who are close to the person suffering from addiction is most common. A neutral mediator is often invited to help everyone maintain focus and keep things short and specific.

The Goal of a Drug Addiction Intervention

The point is of an intervention is two-fold. The first goal is to give concrete examples of events that illustrate how the addict is hurting herself and others. This is usually done first to help the person being confronted understand the depth and severity of the situation.

The second goal of an drug addiction intervention is for the addict to choose drug rehab—immediately. An ultimatum is usually made: go to drug rehab or lose something specific and important. This “something specific and important” can be a spouse saying, “Get help or I’m divorcing you,” or it can be a parent telling a child, “Get help or move out.” The point is that the consequences for not choosing to get help immediately—that is, walk out the door, get in the car and drive directly to a drug rehab like The Canyon—are dire and also immediately effective.

Though it may sound harsh, a drug addiction intervention can be a valuable way to help your loved one get the help they need now. If you need assistance, check here the rest of the month for more tips or contact The Canyon if you would like a professional interventionist to assist you in approaching your loved one on the subject of drug addiction treatment.

When your loved one enrolls in drug rehabilitation, whether it’s inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment, it’s likely that your first reaction is relief. Unfortunately, drug rehab is not the end of the game but the first step to a meaningful recovery, i.e., a life without drug abuse and addiction.

Outpatient drug rehab treatment is a top choice for professionals and those with families who simply cannot take time off from work and their responsibilities to check into an inpatient facility. There are a great many benefits to choosing an outpatient treatment program, especially one that provides an outpatient medical detox, but no matter how you do it, detoxing off of a drug addiction can be an emotionally messy business.

Here are a few tips for family members with loved ones in or just home from drug rehab:

* Keep the faith. The road to recovery is a long one and there are bound to be bumps along the way. Just remember the ultimate goal and know that your loved one’s recovery is a personal process and one that you can’t control. Just hope for the best, be supportive and have faith.

* Show up. No need to hibernate or leave your loved one alone to deal with his or her recovery.

* Be patient. No doubt you harbor a few resentments over bad behavior when your loved one was using: missed events, lying, stealing, laziness, and undependability. Now is not the time to air that dirty laundry, at least not right away. Give it time and make sure everyone has their own space.

* Take care of yourself. Oftentimes in a family where one member is an addict, another member may become codependent. If you are codependent, it means that you have lost focus on yourself, making choices according to how they will affect the addict in your life. Now that your loved one is in recovery, you might consider a little recovery of your own. Attend an Al Anon meeting for family of alcoholics and drug addicts or set up a regular time where you go do something for yourself.

* Take care of the rest of your family. Often addiction is a big “attention sucker” stealing the focus from the entire family. Make an effort to pay attention to the details of other family members: attend games, practices, plays. Sit and talk about school and work. Go out to movies or take an afternoon with each one just to make sure that they know that they are just as important as your loved one who is going through recovery.