Antonio Banderas, actor and husband of actress Melanie Griffith, recently reported to the UK tabloids that his wife was making great strides in her fight against prescription drug addiction.

Says Banderas: “We had problems and she had problems which she had to put together. She did and she’s working again, and I am so happy.

“She was addicted to pills – that was her problem, but she totally recovered in the last three years and has been totally sober and great. We had to deal with that – professionally. I am telling you now about our personal life, but professionally that is why she just disappeared. Because in Hollywood that is anathema.”

Recognizing Prescription Drug Addiction

It’s not always easy to see when prescription drug use turns into an addiction that requires medical attention. Because most prescription drug addictions start with a legitimate prescription and many painkillers and other addictive medications have significant side effects, it’s often hard to tell what is “normal” and what isn’t. In general, here are a few tips that can help you identify prescription drug addiction in yourself or someone else:

• Continuing prescriptions when they are no longer necessary. Too often, those with a short-term pain issue (after surgery or an accident) are given a month’s worth of a painkiller prescription when they only need 10-days’ worth. If you continue to take the medication when your body no longer needs to fight pain, addiction can develop.
• Taking more than prescribed. If you feel that your pain is not assuaged by your prescribed dose, contact your doctor before making any changes on your own to the timing or amount of your dose.
• Drinking while on prescription medication. A synergy happens when you combine alcohol and prescription painkillers or sedatives. This means that together the two substances are exponentially more potent than the sum of the effects taken separately. If you are regularly abusing alcohol or taking other drugs in addition to your prescription, addiction may be an issue.

Fight Prescription Drug Addiction

If you believe that prescription drug addiction is a problem for you and you don’t feel that you can simply step down your prescription over time with any success, prescription drug rehab is the next best move. Contact us at The Canyon today and learn more about your options in prescription drug addiction treatment and how we can help you fight the disease.

From the moment Amy Winehouse’s body was found in her London home, the world assumed that the cause of death was a drug overdose or complications due to drug abuse. An autopsy was performed, but the results were inconclusive – and yet, people still assume that drug overdose was the cause. What do you think?

The Case for Death by Drug Overdose

Amy Winehouse had a long and famous struggle with drug addiction. Crack, heroin, cocaine – these were all drugs that she used on stage or in front of cameramen who eventually uploaded the footage to YouTube and other media venues. In and out of drug rehab, there would be reports that she was doing better or getting her life on track, followed immediately by conflicting accounts of erratic behavior that implied drug abuse. Witnesses would come forward to say that they saw her out or in a store drinking heavily or getting high while already seemingly stoned or drunk.

Most recently, Winehouse had a European tour planned, something she hasn’t done in quite some time. The first performance, however, she was booed off the stage and abruptly ended the tour to “rest.” Footage of her performance show how clearly under the influence she was at the time, barely able to sing the words, creating music that was hard to understand and barely recognizable. This happened just weeks before she died, leading many to assume that her “rest” period at home was characterized by drug and alcohol abuse that ultimately led to her death by drug overdose.

Other Possible Causes of Death

Winehouse definitely had a problem with drug and alcohol addiction, but she also struggled with a few other issues as well. Some claim that her issues may have pointed to a psychological disorder like borderline personality disorder or even severe depression. She once said in an interview that she had issues with causing self-inflicted pain. There is a chance that Winehouse’s death was a suicide, using drugs and alcohol to achieve her purpose (which is different from a drug overdose that occurs inadvertently during an active drug addiction).

Winehouse also struggled with an eating disorder. Severely underweight, Winehouse had a hard time eating healthily whether or not drugs and alcohol were in the picture. More deadly than any other psychological disorders, eating disorders mean malnutrition and the breakdown in function of major organ systems. There’s a possibility that Winehouse’s early death was related to or exacerbated by health problems caused by an ongoing struggle with an eating disorder.

What do you think?

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.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment provides those who are living with a drug addiction and a psychological disorder with the care that they need to work through both issues during the same treatment program. It’s one of the benefits that Bai Ling, an actress currently on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab on VH1, is experiencing – kind of. In fact, it’s something that has been causing her issues, perhaps because she doesn’t understand the goal of drug addiction treatment in relation to her psychological issues.

Bai Ling and Psychiatric Medications During Drug Rehab

It’s clear from Bai Ling’s behavior when she refuses to take her pills that she needs that medication badly. It’s also clear that she is physically incapable of focusing on groups and treatments for drug addiction when she is off her meds. She is living with a psychological disorder, as yet unidentified on the show, in addition to alcoholism and it is obvious that she requires treatment for both issues at the same time in order to make any real progress on either front. The first step is to stay on the meds that she is currently prescribed, adjusting the medication and dosage according to her development in treatment. While Dr. Drew and other counselors can only encourage her to take her meds, they can’t force her, but if she continues to choose not to take her medication and can’t stay on track while continuing to distract from treatment, stopping others from getting the help they need, it may be necessary for her to leave rehab.

“I Want to Get Off All Drugs. That’s Why I’m Here.”

It’s a common thought among those who are struggling with dual diagnoses – unfortunately, it’s not an effective way to handle treatment when psychological illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other disorders are an issue. Part of the stabilization process that happens during drug detox means getting the medication right to effectively treat any psychological disorders. It will be practically impossible to remain clean and sober without treating mental health at the same time since it is often the case that patients self-medicate the symptoms associated with their disorder by abusing illicit drugs and alcohol.

Medications taken to mitigate the effects of a psychological disorder are not the same as addictive medications or drugs. It’s important to utilize medication effectively and stabilize emotional issues, hallucinations, paranoia, et cetera, during the early part of treatment, begin the process of dealing with emotional issues and trauma and learn new and healthy coping mechanisms – then, if you feel and your doctor feel that it’s appropriate, consider lowering your medication dose or changing medications.

At The Canyon, we offer Dual Diagnosis Rehab to help those who are living with both drug addiction and a psychological disorder. Call now to find out more specifics about our program.

Women who are addicted to prescription medications take their addiction to a whole new level of harm when they become pregnant during their addiction. According to nurses, the babies who were addicted to drugs were generally born addicted to crack, heroin, or crystal meth due to their mothers’ untreated addiction during prenatal development. Nurses report now that more than half of the babies they treat for addiction are suffering from prescription drug addiction, addicted to everything from methadone to OxyContin to Percocet and Vicodin.

White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske recently toured a pediatric care unit facility in order to get a firsthand look at the effects of a mother’s prescription drug addiction on the babies born addicted.

Said Kerlikowske: “The most important part, I think, is the education and the awareness. Young people don’t perceive prescription drugs as dangerous. People don’t remember or think about what is in their medicine cabinets.”

One of the problems is that many mothers who become pregnant while living with an active addiction aren’t expecting to get pregnant and therefore are not prepared. Once they are pregnant, attempting to undergo an abrupt prescription drug detox will mostly likely mean a miscarriage, and many don’t want to take that risk, preferring to wait until their baby is born to begin the process of detox.

Another problem is that many doctors don’t necessarily recognize the signs of prescription drug addiction among the mothers they treat. Women who are physically dependent upon a prescription painkiller or an anti-anxiety medication may not realize that their dependence will hurt their child – and they may not report their use of the drug to their OB out of fear that the doctor will make them stop taking the drug.

Treatment of babies born addicted to prescription drugs becomes the priority in the face of unexpected pregnancies and the increasing rate of prescription drug addiction among the population. Even if the mother cannot or will not decrease her dose during the pregnancy, it’s important to report the drug usage as early as possible so that the baby can be monitored throughout the pregnancy and preparations can be made in advance for the baby’s care after birth. Every baby will react differently depending upon the dosage of the mother’s addiction and other factors, but it’s important to plan for the worst case scenario – in some cases, newborns will spend the first couple months of their lives in the NICU as they heal.

If you are struggling with prescription drug addiction,  contact us today at The Canyon. We can help you make the changes necessary to live a healthy life.

Amy Winehouse is another example of a celebrity who claims that a trip to alcohol rehab is not necessarily due to an active addiction but chosen in the interest of maintaining a hard-won sobriety.

A spokesman for Winehouse told Us Weekly that the singer “wants to be ready for performances in Europe this summer and decided to seek an assessment. She will remain [in treatment] on doctors’ advice.”

Unfortunately, anecdotal reports of Winehouse’s behavior immediately before entering alcohol rehab aren’t so diplomatic. A shop owner in North London says that the star came in on her way to treatment – to buy a tiny bottle of booze. An onlooker told The Sun that Winehouse “seemed out of it,” and that “she was stumbling about, slurring her words. I was shocked to see her buy vodka so early in the day, and even more shocked to see her knock it straight back.”

Given these reports, the next development in the story may have fans worried: Winehouse reportedly left inpatient drug rehab after only one week in treatment and opted for outpatient care instead. Though outpatient drug addiction treatment can be extremely beneficial for those with only a short history of active drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, patients who have recently completed an inpatient program, and those who have a strong support system at home to keep them from relapsing when they leave the program, they are not generally recommended for patients with a long-term drug addiction history of the caliber experienced by Winehouse. Though the singer went to drug rehab in January of 2008, reports that she was drinking heavily immediately before entering rehab suggest that her decision to opt for a less restrictive program may not have been one made with her best interest in mind.

Choosing between inpatient and outpatient drug rehab is a big decision for any patient. The good news is that no decision is set in stone: if you begin one program and realize that you aren’t getting what you need, you can always choose another program or opt for something more intensive if necessary. The bad news is that there is a risk when you choose a program that isn’t effective enough – a risk of relapse and a return to active drug addiction with all the residual risks of overdose, accident, and chronic health problems that go along with it.

No one wants to waste time and money on a program that won’t give them what they need to effectively heal from drug addiction. If you or someone you love is living with an active addiction, contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about our addiction treatment programs and how we can help you.

The fact that Nadya Suleman as 14 children and that she was a single mother of six on welfare before she chose to be artificially inseminated with eight more children is not news. The media is agog with the trials and public spectacle that this woman creates with her brood. Her defense of her decision is ongoing despite the fact that the octuplets are now about a year old and continued during a recent appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Suleman wasn’t Oprah’s only guest that day, however. Suze Orman, famed financial adviser, had a couple of bones to pick with the media mom – not the least of which is Suleman’s outstanding $450,000 mortgage for her La Hambra, Calfifornia home.

In her usual frank and straightforward style, Orman asked Suleman: “Why when you couldn’t afford the six kids to begin with, would you even have thought about having one more kid, let alone eight more kids?”

Suleman responded by saying that the babies filled an emotional need despite the financial issue. She knew that finances were a problem but went ahead with her procreation plans, anyway.

Oprah’s response? She mentioned again that she had suggested the last time they met that perhaps she was addicted to having babies.

Suleman nodded in agreement: “I’m looking desperately outside myself and using an inappropriate filler to fill something that I should be filling from within,” she said, referring to her choice to get pregnant.

Choosing an action despite its negative effects on your health, finances and others in your family is certainly a hallmark of addiction. It denotes compulsive and uncontrollable behavior. Certainly she recognized that she was putting her own health in jeopardy and that of her unborn children by having so many at once. She knew that she was limiting the options of her six children by choosing to bring so many more people into the family. Aware of the financial cost of having more children, she went ahead with the endeavor anyway.

Suleman even seems to have a bit of regret about the decision. She said: “I still ask myself why [I had the kids].”

Anyone living with an addiction suffers from the same issues, but on a daily basis. Those who crave their drug of choice feel incapable of stopping themselves from drug seeking and getting high when they feel the need. Even though they are well aware of the damage to their health in the short-term and the risks of health problems in the long-term, the issues with drug overdose, and the cost to their family financially and emotionally, they cannot help themselves. Without drug addiction treatment, few recover and regain control over their own lives.

But is that really a tag that can be placed on Suleman’s choices? Is it possible to be addicted to something like having babies? Or does the very fact of a 40-week gestation period and mandatory recuperation phase preclude calling the action compulsive and addictive? What do you think?