It’s not an easy discussion to have, but talking to your kids about the medical disorder that is drug addiction is something that you will need to do before you head off to drug rehab. You’ll need to let them know where you’ll be going, how long you’ll be gone, that you need to get treatment help in order to get well and – above all else – that you love them and want to get better so that you can be a better parent for them.

Your Kids Know More About Your Drug Addiction Than You Think

Before you talk, listen. You may be surprised by how much your kids know about your relationship with drugs and alcohol. Though you may feel that you’ve kept everything a closely guarded secret, they may have found your drugs, seen you getting high, recognized the changes in you after drinking, and certainly noticed the mood swings that happen when you are on or off your drug of choice.

Start the conversation by explaining that drug addiction and alcoholism is a medical illness. When you say that you have that illness, immediately let them know that you can go to the doctor to get treatment and get better before they get scared. Tone your conversation to suit the age and understanding of your children, and ask them if they know that you have the illness of drug addiction. If they say ‘yes,’ let them talk about how they know and share what they think about the effects of drugs and alcohol on you.

Explain How Drug Rehab Can Help You Get Better

When you let your children know that you are going to drug rehab, remember to phrase it as the medical treatment that it is. Emphasize that you don’t want to leave them and that you will call and see them as much as possible but also let them know that that may not be for a couple days or weeks, depending upon the requirements of the drug rehab program. As soon as you are doing better though – show younger kids how long you will be gone on a calendar – make it clear that you will be coming straight home to them.

Emotional Reactions are Understandable but Keep Them in Check

Remember to keep your emotions in check as much as possible. It’s hard to say good-bye to your kids, but hysterical crying or an overload of sadness will only make it harder on them. If you feel yourself starting to break down, take a moment and get yourself under control before going on. On the other hand, be sure to let your kids know that it’s okay for them to have feelings about your addiction issues – anger and sadness are both perfectly acceptable – and be willing to listen to them talk through their feelings with you.

Contact us at The Canyon today to find out how we can help your family get on the healing path after your drug addiction and how children and significant others can be involved in your rehab and recovery process.

Cocaine addiction reached the height of popularity during the 1970s and 1980s. As new drugs came onto the scene – especially cheaper stimulant drugs like crystal meth –  its popularity dropped off and many stopped viewing the drug as much of a threat. As a result, educational focus on the dangers of cocaine addiction fell off in schools and the numbers of those living with an active cocaine addiction has slowly started to creep up in some areas of the country.

So how do we handle the threat of cocaine addiction? Do we increase education and prevention efforts in the schools? Do we up legal enforcement of the ban on cocaine trafficking? Do we increase availability of cocaine rehab programs for those who need it? What’s the best way to handle a problem that is stealthily growing every day?

Increasing Cocaine Addiction Prevention and Education

Most adults seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addiction report that they first began abusing drugs and alcohol during their teen years. Because prescription drug addiction, marijuana addiction, and alcohol abuse are the top three drugs of choice for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18, most drug prevention and education is focused on the effects and dangers of these drugs specifically. Perhaps a little bit more attention paid to the effects of cocaine on its users as well as the families that are destroyed and the lives lost during its processing and distribution path may well help to open up the eyes of young users to the risks they are taking when they “experiment.”

Increasing Cocaine Drug Trafficking Laws and Enforcement

There’s been no change to the status of cocaine as an illegal substance despite the decrease in popularity. The US Coast Guard regularly stops boats carrying shipments of hundreds of thousands of pounds of cocaine and confiscating the substance before it can hit the streets. When police find cocaine in large amounts or small among a person’s possessions, charges are pressed. It certainly isn’t taken lightly to even be under the influence of the substance and law enforcement officials are already doing what they can to curb the sales and distribution of the drug.

Increasing Access to Cocaine Rehab

One of the best ways to fight cocaine addiction is to make sure that all who are struggling with dependence have access to the medical and psychological care that they need to effectively heal. Cocaine detox and addiction treatment programs like the ones provided at The Canyon are a great way to begin a new life in recovery. Contact us today to learn more.

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.

Over the counter drugs (OTC drugs) are often heavily abused – especially by teenagers – and often used in the creation of other more lethal drugs, like crystal meth. Though OTC abuse and addiction are serious problems in the United States, the latest research says that a relatively small percentage of those seeking treatment for any drug and alcohol addiction in the United States were seeking that help for OTC addiction only.

In fact, researchers commissioned by the Department of Health from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse found that just over 32,500 patients sought treatment in 2009 and 2010 for addiction help that included OTC drugs and that only 11 percent of those reported that their addiction issues were solely related to OTC medications – only about 3700 patients.

Meanwhile, addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin, Percocet, Lorcet, and other painkillers as well as anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax are on the rise.

Common OTC Drugs of Addiction

In recent years, many states have begun to better regulate the sale of certain medications containing specific drugs of abuse.

• Dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is commonly found in strong OTC cough syrups. Between 1999 and 2004, the number of poisonings and overdoses related to the drug increased seven times over. The majority of patients reported experiencing DXM overdose and poisoning? Teens aged 15 and 16.
• Pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is found in a number of OTC cold medications – all of which are now kept behind the pharmacy counter at drugstores and grocery stores. This OTC medication is often used in the making of crystal meth and is regularly abused by teens in its pill form for a stimulant high.
• Diet pill and laxative abuse. These two OTC medication are most often abused by teen girls in the interest of losing weight. Laxatives are used in large amounts to quickly get rid of excess food eaten before the body has a chance to process the calories while diet pills are taken in place of food to maintain energy without eating.
• Sexual Performance Enhancing Medications. These drugs are available over the counter and online and many teens take them in large amounts together with alcohol in order to enhance sexual pleasure. In large amounts, these drugs can cause heart problems in the short-term and in the long-term with continued abuse.

OTC Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment can help those who are living with an active addiction to over the counter medications. Contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about our drug rehab programs and get started building a life for yourself without drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll: the saying is that they go together. Unfortunately, both sex and drugs have taken down some of the biggest bands in rock and roll history. Here we take a look at some of the bands that have lost their front men to drug addiction – and continued to rock.

Iron Maiden Lost Paul Di’Anno to Bad Behavior Under the Influence

British heavy metal band Iron Maiden let go of Paul Di’Anno, their first singer, when his wild behavior under the influence of drugs became too much for his band mates to handle. That’s saying a lot – Di’Anno’s band mates were hardly clean and sober and they were an up and coming heavy metal band, not a religious choir. The fact that he got kicked out says quite a lot about the rate of his drug abuse and the depth of his addiction. But Iron Maiden went on to hire Bruce Dickinson and made one of the best known metal albums around: The Number of the Beast.

Pink Floyd Booted Syd Barrett for Psychedelic Addiction

To be more specific, Pink Floyd let Barrett go when his abuse of psychedelic drugs affected his mind so deeply that the band couldn’t take it anymore. Given the tone and theme of Pink Floyd’s music in their two bestselling later albums, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, Barrett must have been pretty far gone to be shunned by these guys.

In the hole left by Barrett, Pink Floyd put no one. Instead bassist Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour split the duties of lead singer and became one of the most successful and unique rock bands in the world.

The Temptations Fired David Ruffin Due to Cocaine Addiction

A classic, early rock band, The Temptations, lost their lead singer, David Ruffin, when Ruffin’s cocaine addiction got too out of control for the band to handle. Already topping the charts with hits like “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “My Girl,” the band risked plummeting into obscurity by getting rid of their popular front man. They took the chance. Replacing Ruffin with Dennis Edwards turned out to be a smart move, though, and the band went on to even more success with hits like “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” and “I Can’t Get Next to You.”

What happened to Ruffin? He went on to a sporadic, yet occasionally successful solo career, but ultimately died of an overdose in 1991.

Many parents say that their kids are addicted to video games, but they say it jokingly, not realizing that evidence supports that kids can, in fact, by physically and psychologically dependent upon playing their Nintendo DS or their Xbox. In fact, according to Metro News, about 9 percent of grade school kids across several countries including the United States show “unhealthy video-gaming behavior.” There are even organizations dedicated solely to the treatment of technology-based addictions: Internet addiction, video game addiction, cell phone addiction. Yes, all those things exist and the longer technology is a part of our society, the more studies becomes available stating that excessive use of any one technological advancement – like video games – can lead to an addiction that requires treatment.

The Definition of Video Game Addiction and Who is Commonly Affected By It

Much like drug and alcohol addiction, a number of those who are living with video game addiction are from middle class to upper class families and test well academically. Video game addicts, though, are also characterized as high functioning and highly motivated, unlike most drug and alcohol addicts. Unfortunately, those who are identified as displaying addictive behavior also live with social problems and have a hard time connecting to peers. The social nature of many video games gives them an anonymous outlet to interact with others and socialize in a way that they simply can’t in person.

Identifying Video Game Addiction

Just like any addiction, video game addiction is best identified by taking a look at the effects of chronic video game playing on the player’s life. Some signs of video game addiction include:

• Playing video games hours at a time on a daily basis.
• Choosing to play video games over other, more socially interactive activities.
• Choosing to play video games rather than go to work or school, causing you to lose your job or get expelled as a result.
• Forgetting to eat or sleep in order to continue playing video games.
• Finding joy in nothing but video game play.
• Feeling closer to anonymous “friends” who also play video games online than to anyone in person.
• Feeling bored and disconnected with society.

Causes of Video Game Addiction

There is no official definition of video game addiction and there is certainly no research on the causes of the issue. What we have are numerous theories. Some say video game addiction occurs in middle class and upper middle class kids because those kids feel disconnected from their families. Grandparents, aunts and uncles rarely live nearby. Both parents often work, or they are divorced with new partners and everyone involved works full-time to support the middle class lifestyle. Kids are left to their peers when they are in need of support and many only connect with them through video games.

Treating Video Game Addiction

Just like any addiction, it is possible to treat video game addiction. Though no physical detox is necessary, inpatient or outpatient treatment that teaches addicts how to find comfort, entertainment and support without yielding their entire lives to video game play. If you would like to learn more about our addiction treatment program here at The Canyon, contact us today.

Johnny’s mom buys her son and his friends a helium tank for which to blow up balloons. Johnny wraps his mouth around the tank’s tube and sucks the vapors into the depths of his lungs. He subsequently recites lines from the latest comedy flick in his helium-infused voice. Friends laugh – it’s a knee slapper.

Unfortunately, Johnny – and most likely many of his friends – lack awareness of the risks associated with “huffing”. Inhaling vapors and gaseous substances, commonly referred to as huffing, wreaks serious damage on the brain and body. Huffing kills brain cells – permanently. The user’s liver, lungs, heart, and respiratory system become compromised. The more frequently inhalants are abused, the higher the risks correlated with the abuse. Inhalant abusers also gamble with the possibility of instant death, known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.

Users who huff inhalants experience euphoria initially. Furthermore, users report feelings inclusive of:

• Muscle weakness
• Slurred speech
• Impaired motor coordination
• Tingling in the extremities
• Limb spasms
• Dizziness
• Stupor
• Depressed reflexes
• Mood swings
• Belligerence and volatility

Inhalants produce effects that parallel the sensations invoked by alcohol intoxication. The stimulating, euphoric effects inhalants induce leave users susceptible to inhalant addiction. For example, Johnny may enjoy the way his body feels after inhaling helium, and begin to seek out inhalants even after the party ends. He begins hoarding aerosol cans in his bedroom to keep his habits hidden from family members. Over time, he inhales such an excess of chemical-ridden vapors that he begins hallucinating and lashing out in uncharacteristically aggressive ways. His grades at school slip. He withdraws from social activities that used to be of interest. His friends wonder where the change in personality stems from, unaware of his rapidly growing inhalant addiction. A direct result of Jonny’s addiction is an increased tolerance to the substance. He slowly requires more and more vapors in order to feel the same effects.

Central Nervous System (CNS) damage, brain cell loss, and organ destruction corrodes his capacity for athletics. Johnny has lost his libido, his pride, and his social standing. He’s riddled with:

• Depression
• Guilt and shame as a result of his actions
• Irritability
• Inattentiveness

Without professional intervention and treatment, Johnny may suck his way toward an early grave. His body will progressively deteriorate without help.

Johnny is not alone, as research reflects a rise in teen inhalant abuse within recent years. Thankfully, parents can intervene in a positive way. Most notably, parents can engage in conversation with their child in a preventative manner – taking action before a potential problem sprouts. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, “If parents talk to their kids about the risks of drugs, kids will be 36 percent less likely to abuse an inhalant.” The official government-run website on inhalants goes on to suggest that if a reader suffers from an inhalant addiction — or is interested in exploring the possibilities of treatment – he or she may call the Poison Control Center. Other action items for recovery include:

• Book an appointment with a drug and alcohol counselor or specialist
• Attend a local, 12-step fellowship meeting such as Narcotics Anonymous
• Enroll in a residential, inpatient drug treatment center
• Research local outpatient treatment programs online or by phone

With help, inhalant abuse can be overcome. Through treatment, Johnny will learn how to reinvent his energy that was previously invested in huffing.

Adolescents tend to respond well to treatment for inhalant abuse. Education on the dangers of inhalants is the first step toward inhalant abuse prevention. With help and support, inhalant addiction can transform from an overwhelming force into energy exerted toward productive life goals. What was once a damaging addiction is now a reinvention of life passions — such as art, music, or volunteer service. A life marked by abstinence from mind-altering substances presents a meaningful, emotionally present path.