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We are very pleased to announce the new release of the book The New Face of Recovery: Unlabeling Addiction as a Disease and Finding Treatments that Work!

This book is the compilation of years of research and work in the addiction treatment field and helping thousands of people find workable solutions for substance abuse.  We invite you to order your copy from http://www.newfaceofrecovery.org and provide responses and feedback, or even helpful hints for others searching for answers.

Greetings and Welcome All New Users!

Due to the insane amount of forum spamming these days, the forum has been deleting new registered users up until now.  In order to be able to add posts and contribut to this forum, please also visit http://www.newfaceofrecovery.org/contact-us.html and submit a contact form so that your new user account will be flagged and it will be activated usually within 24 hours.  We're sorry for the extra hassle, but the spambots have made this a necessary action.

Thank you for your help and we look forward to your contributions and comments!

Sincerely,

The New Face of Recovery team

Did you read this Newsweek article http://www.newsweek.com/id/232781 about antidepressants?

Some good information in it regarding studies, typical suppressed evidence from clinical trials, etc. 

What's scary is that drugs like Abilify are going to be using this (they already are) to promote how you should take an antidepressant and their drug too - crazy!

One More Essential Tool For Preventing Relapse in Early Addiction Recovery
by Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D. @ SelfGrowth.com

Most non-addicted people have routines and organizing structures in
their lives that help provide stability. An addict's lifestyle is often one of chaotic instability and disorganization. A general lack of structure and routine
contributes to this disorganization and chaos. An addicted lifestyle is often missing daily routines of fulfilling personal and family responsibilities, engaging in predictable and consistent eating and sleeping habits, and appropriate self care. These missing elements are self-reinforcing in addiction. Their absence increases probability of continued use and continued use of the chemical increases the probability of the absence of these internal and external structures.

Many people go to inpatient treatment at the beginning of their recovery journey. Although there are many benefits of inpatient treatment, an important benefit that is often underrated, is one of structure and organization. With its regimented wake-up time, scheduled meal times, and mandatory participation in daily treatment schedules, the treatment program provides the needed structure and organization. Once the newly sober addict leaves treatment, s/he must re-create a similar level of structure and organization for his/her own daily life.

Having your time closely scheduled helps to reduce the obsessive thoughts about drinking/using. It is also difficult to become bored while tightly scheduled in highly engaging activities. Boredom is correlated with thoughts about drinking/using. While in active addiction, the addict's life becomes prioritized by drug seeking, the actual use of the drug, and then getting over the use of
the drug. Suddenly faced with the absence of these drug-centered behaviors, the newly recovering person can struggle to try to figure out how to replace those old lifestyle behaviors with new, recovery enhancing behavior.

All good to do!  I think the exercise and diet should be much higher on the list with the # one spot going to no more association with anyone you use with -- even if it's your spouse, for at least several weeks - mine took 6 weeks with cocaine use and my son took 12 weeks with Oxy use.  To some extent I think it all depends on how strong your "mind-over-matter" willpower is and how many of the other things (like diet and exercise) you put in place to help re balance your depleted neurotransmitters and help sweat out the toxins stored in your body. 

One last thing that one should consider, if it's an issue for them, is excessive sugar intake.  Sugar is a drug in it's own right ~ just like nicotine, alcohol, heroine and
cocaine, sugar is an addictive and destructive drug and we are a
nation that is addicted? It is estimated that Americans eat more
than 150 pounds of sugar each year. Sadly, most people are unaware
of their addiction, in denial, unaware of the serious consequences
this addiction has on their health or simply unwilling to give up
their beloved vice.

Sugar can be classified as an addictive drug for the following
reasons:

   1. It is eaten compulsively despite negative consequences
   2. It alters the neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and
dopamine, in the same manner as hard drugs
   3. Tolerance develops and more and more sugar is needed to
experience the same results
   4. With continued use, sugar is needed to function normally
   5. When sugar consumption stops, withdrawal is experienced
   
Because of the aforementioned facts, addiction to sugar can and
often does lead to addiction to harder substances and anyone in
recovery for addiction to alcohol or drugs will face continued
relapse if they continue to eat sugar.

Sugar is a highly refined and addictive substance that is
completely void of any nutritional value and has many devastating
effects on the human body. It alters, disrupts or damages the
nervous, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, immune, endocrine and
metabolic systems and plays a role in many chronic health
conditions, illnesses and syndromes like depression, anxiety, heart
disease, hyperactivity, asthma, high blood pressure, acne, chronic
headaches, mood swings, PMS, OCD, Candida overgrowth, binging, type
2 diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hypoglycemia, obesity,
food sensitivity, attention deficit and even cancer to name only
a few.

It also damages the kidneys, pancreas and liver, disrupts proper
digestion and absorption of protein, impedes healthy colon
functioning, leads to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and many
more.

[8 Tips for Preventing Relapse to Alcohol or Drug Addiction]

8 Tips for Preventing Relapse to Alcohol or Drug Addiction
From Addiction Recovery Consultants http://www.addictions-recovery.com

1. Attend a long-term rehab program – If at all possible, a longer-term (more than 30 days) drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility will often provide a solid foundation to work with that includes counseling and education about addiction and staying sober.

2. Have some type of support group – many people choose to attend meetings, but this doesn’t have to be the case. The support can come from family, co-workers, teammates, clergy, and of course staff at the treatment center that was attended. Don’t be afraid to communicate problems and ask for support from people you trust, but try to focus more on solutions than the problems themselves.

3. Get involved with other drug-free groups and activities – this may include becoming active in your church, some sort of sport or hobby, volunteering with community organizations, or anything that helps to keep you busy and productive.

4. Stay away from old drug-using associates – people who get help for substance abuse all too often make the mistake of hanging out with their old friends who still abuse alcohol or drugs. Over time the general agreement of “it’s okay to do it as long as it’s not out of control” kicks in and causes a relapse. It is not a good idea to stay connected with people like that who can have a negative influence on your sobriety.

5. Do not hang out in bars and clubs – whether or not alcohol was your main drug of choice, bars and nightclubs often have a very high rate of substance abuse and can be extremely damaging to someone who is trying to rebuild a life without drugs and alcohol. In addition, people who drink alcohol lose their inhibitions and sense of good judgment and typically decide that it’s okay to use drugs “just this once,” causing their downfall again.

6. If at all possible, stay away from prescription drugs that have abuse potential – in today’s society we are constantly bombarded with advertisements promoting the latest “feel-good” drugs and the idea of taking a pill for every symptom. Drugs with either heavy abuse potential or possible heavy side effects may include painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, antidepressants or anti-psychotics. Prescription drug addiction has become a major problem in America, so consult your doctor and get a second opinion to see if prescriptions are really necessary for your circumstances or to see if there is a drug-free alternative treatment for them.

7. Maintain good health – exercise, adequate sleep and proper nutrition are important to feeling good. Since drug and alcohol addiction is usually the result of trying to feel better about some unwanted condition, the more you can do to stay healthy the better your chances are for staying away from substance abuse. This doesn’t have to mean a grueling workout program, but it does mean to stay active in some way, take vitamins and other nutritional supplements and get enough sleep to be energized for each day and keep you free from toxins. You may be surprised at how far these simple things can take you.

8. Set and work toward achieving goals in life – one of the best ways to maintain happiness is to stay productive and achieve goals you have set for yourself. This could be little things at first, but also include mid-range and long-term goals so that you are always striving to improve your condition in life.

The 8 tips for preventing drug relapse listed above are just some common sense examples of how you or someone you love can remain sober. In many cases the simple things, when applied, are what work the best, yet unfortunately many treatment professionals try to complicate the issue. If you have any questions or would like more information about finding successful drug and alcohol rehabs, you may speak with someone by calling 1-877-421-9659 or visiting www.drug-alcohol-rehabs.org

http://www.prweb.com/releases/addiction/recovery/prweb3391314.htm

Addiction Recovery Advocate Offers Reward for Disease Theory Proof

Co-founder of The New Face of Recovery™ uses personal experience to challenge the idea that addiction is an incurable brain disease.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) December 31, 2009 -- In the 1950’s alcoholism was voted on as being a disease by the American Medical Association (AMA) and has since been promoted as such, citing there are common characteristics with other diseases. Even today, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) classifies alcoholism as a brain disease and claims it cannot be cured.

However, more than 50 years have passed and even with the most advanced clinical testing there is still no solid proof that addiction is an incurable disease. Brain scans can’t take a sober person who was once labeled as an alcoholic and tell that he has a disease, and there is no blood test to identify someone either. The same holds true with many other mental disorders.

“I was a classic alcoholic with major depression and social anxiety,” explains Lucas A Catton, CCDC, co-founder of the advocacy group The New Face of Recovery ™, “However, it’s been more than a decade since I have displayed any of those symptoms and I will personally give $1,000 to any doctor, psychiatrist, government official or pharmaceutical company that can prove that I have an incurable brain disease.”

Catton says what helped him beat his addiction was a non-traditional program that was long-term and drug-free, which is the type of programs his group supports now as being the most effective. The advocacy group points out that results should be what matters most in addiction recovery, looking at all areas of life including happiness at home, employment and productivity at work, activity in groups, churches and other social settings in addition to measuring sobriety.

The New Face of Recovery movement also says that the use of certain prescription drugs should be a part of this measurement, especially any mind-altering substances, as many of the drugs prescribed in today’s treatment centers still leave people dependent on drugs in their daily lives. In addition, drug and alcohol rehabs that tell their clients they have an incurable disease and give them replacement drugs typically have higher relapse rates.

More addiction treatment centers lately have been using the holistic buzzword and not following the disease theory of addiction, although there are several different types of rehabilitation methods even in the non-traditional category. To find out more information about successful drug rehab centers visit www.newfaceofrecovery.org.

# # #

More from www.jointogether.org ...

Methadone OD Deaths Up 390 Percent, Report Finds

Deaths from overdoses on methadone rose 390 percent between 1999 and 2004, and the trend is continuing, according to a new report from the National Drug Intelligence Center.

USA Today reported Dec. 6 that the report attributes the trend mostly to increased use of methadone as a painkiller; the drug is seen as a cheaper alternative to drugs like OxyContin, which also have more potential for abuse and diversion. Doctors prescribed 715 percent more methadone in 2006 than they had in 2001.

The methadone overdose rate was highest among those ages 15 to 24; the rate was lower than that for other narcotic painkillers but is rising faster.

"The larger story is the widespread abuse of prescription painkillers in America," said Tom Riley of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. "The abuse and misuse of prescription drugs is far more dangerous and far more widespread than most Americans realize."

Isn't it just amazing how long it takes to figure out something that very basic common sense would conclude ... drug switching will never work if the goal, in fact is, getting drug free.  We now have almost 20% of our nation addicted to prescription drugs.  Way to go Pharma Giants.  Guess we won't need to give you a bail out.

I have found another source of therapy I find very interesting:
                             Neurotransmitter Imbalance. 

I find these studies fascinating and with all my research - literally having become a full time job - through my own addiction (to research) in an effort to keep my now, almost-1-year-clean-from-opiates, 20 year old son alive and well, and of course anyone else wanting help, somehow this subject has completely been missed!  This makes so much sense to me that I'm wondering if all the other stuff we did combined was the reaaallllly long road to the same (hopefully) happy ending! Honest to God, after all the work... I feel like I've been living in a cave!  Has anyone out there had the testing and therapy to balance your neurotransmitters? 

The human brain contains over 100 billion cells, called neurons or a nerve cell that is the basic unit of nerve tissue found in the brain and throughout the body and may become dysfunctional at the genetic level, and may induce addictive behaviors. Other factors may also cause neuron damage. Neuron damage also is associated with Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder and depression.

Abuse of alcohol and drugs, in turn, causes severe damage to the brain - damage which can now be "seen" by virtue of photo-imaging

Scientific research has shown that addiction, withdrawal and recovery are all related to brain chemicals such as the opioid peptides - sequences of amino acid mimicking the effect of opiates (narcotics) in the brain. Stress regulating hormones may also be affected and over time affect memory and can present a predisposition to other pathological diseases and weight gain.

Specific receptors are genetically encoded and made from long chains of amino acids. Knowledge of these receptors has provided the groundwork to address specific neurological damages as well the oxidative damage (lack of oxygen to the cells) that occurs in addiction.

Neurotransmitters, chemicals in our brains that work as messengers between brain cells, are responsible for most of what goes on in our bodies. They regulate our behavior, our emotions, our ability to learn, and the way we sleep. When these chemicals are not present in the proper balance, it can affect everything from our energy levels to our ability to focus to how we feel.

http://www.utexas.edu/research/asrec/addiction.html

http://www.txtwriter.com/Backgrounders/Drugaddiction/drugs1.html

www.ihs.eu.com/attachments/File/Addiction.doc ~ interesting and easy to understand

http://www.neuroassist.com/neurotransmitter-testing.htm


And a good quote to close ~

"Disease does not occur unexpectedly.
It is the result of constant violation of Nature's laws."

- Hippocrates

I'm going to delete my post above, because through more research, I've found it to be incorrect.  Opiate abuse does not "grow more opiate receptors" as this article states, it actually closes some down!  My original post was actually taken from a well established Medical Help site and even though I sent them an email regarding the incorrect info, it's still there along with the barrage of pleading blogs from broken souls "I've relapsed again", "should I take Suboxon or Methadone?"  It's heartbreaking to see such struggle and the uncorrected misleading info on top of that! So much to learn!

The following is a cut and paste from an article on
http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/addiction/guide/lesson4-1.htm
and the effect of opiates on opiate receptors is the last two sentences. 

...Drugs of addiction do not merely cause short-term changes in an individual's cognitive skill and behavior. A drug "high" lasts a short time, ranging from less than an hour to 12 hours, depending on the drug and dose. The changes in the brain that result from continued drug use, however, can last a long time. Scientists believe that some of these changes disappear when drug use stops; some disappear within a short time after drug use stops, and other changes are potentially permanent.
One of the first changes in the brain that occurs in response to repeated drug abuse is tolerance. Tolerance develops when a person needs increasing doses of a drug to achieve the same "high" or "rush" that previously resulted from a lower dose of the drug. Two primary mechanisms underlie the development of tolerance.3 First, the body may become more efficient at metabolizing the drug, thereby reducing the amount that enters the bloodstream. Second, the cells of the body and brain may become more resistant to the effect of the drug. For example, after continued cocaine use, neurons decrease the number of dopamine receptors, which results in decreasing cocaine's stimulatory effect. Opiates, on the other hand, do not cause a change in the number of receptors. Instead the opiate receptors become less efficient in activating the second messenger system, thus reducing the effects of the opiates.