addiction treatment
How Vivitrol Helps Families after Treatment
Those of us who have helped our loved ones manage addiction know how difficult it can be. Even after the best treatment…
Population of Addicted Homeless Rises Dramatically in Austin
If you live in the Austin area, and have noticed a dramatic increase in the region’s homeless population, you’re not imagining things….
Holding Them Accountable: Find Out Where Your Candidates Stand on Addiction Treatment
As coverage of the 2016 presidential election dominates virtually every media outlet in the country, far less attention is being paid to…
The Importance of Specialized Therapies in Addiction Treatment
Recovery Unplugged recently published a FREE white paper on the positive impact of music in addiction treatment, and its power to heal…
How Much Will the First Presidential Debate Focus on Addiction?
On Monday, an estimated 150 million viewers (approximately half the country) will tune in to see the first debate of what can safely be described as one of the most unusual presidential elections in American history. As the candidates prep to make their cases to the nation and the pundits prepare their analyses and rebuttals, it is safe to assume that the 90-minute event will focus on the usual issues in order to gain votes (the economy, immigration, national security, climate change, etc.). For the millions of American families that have felt the stinging impact of addiction; however, it is doubtless that a conversation on fighting chemical dependency and substance abuse would resonate much more….
Senate to Vote on Landmark Opioid Prevention Package
This is a potential game-changer in the way the United States will fight the spread of opioid addiction going forward. The Senate is set to vote on a package of measures aimed at, among other things, increasing access to treatment, strengthening monitoring databases and changing the problematic vocabulary and perception through which so many describe and view this disease. The legislation has received bi-partisan support, in an era when political contentiousness is at an all-time high, and is expected to be approved overwhelmingly before heading to President Obama’s desk for his signature by the end of the week. The effort is one of the most comprehensive to date by the federal government in curbing dependency on these powerful prescription painkillers….
What You Need to Know About Medication-Assisted Treatment
Over the past few decades, numerous medications have been introduced in the addiction and chemical dependency treatment landscapes. These powerful, and sometimes controversial drugs have been enormously effective in the care of various substance use disorders like opioid and alcohol addiction, and it’s natural for them to draw widespread interest among those in need of help, as well as their families. It’s important though to understand the risks, benefits, fundamentals, and parameters of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) to determine if it’s the right course of action. There are a great many variables that accompany this type of treatment, and prospective participants should have thorough understanding of the process. …
Nearly $1 Billion in Medicare Fraud Sheds Light on Addiction among Senior Citizens
Things seem to just keep getting worse for the medical community, and arguably the patients for whom it cares. Last week a study revealed that a free meal paid for by pharmaceutical companies can sway many doctors toward prescribing certain types of medications. More bad news came this week when the Justice Department charged hundreds of individuals across the country for their role in what it has found to be over $900 million in healthcare fraud. The bust is reported by the DOJ to be the largest of its kind in history, and can have far-reaching implications for the way treatment seniors access pain meds….
The Faceless Nature of American Addiction
Addiction affects Americans of every age, ethnicity and economic background. It’s important that we recognize this for treatment and prevention purposes. One of…
Recovery Unplugged CEO Dines with the Governor
On April 27, Governor Rick Scott hosted a dinner event entitled Judicial Appointments and the JNC. Among those in attendance was none other than accomplished Fort Lauderdale Attorney and Recovery Unplugged Co-Founder and CEO, Marshall Geisser. The event was an opportunity for members of the Florida legal community to exchange thoughts and sentiments regarding the judicial nomination process on both the state and federal levels, and discuss the long-term impact of judicial appointments. Eligible attendees also had the opportunity to earn continuing legal education (CLE) credits and gain invaluable insight from the Governor and some of the state’s top legal experts….
Addiction Perception – Then and Now
From the start of the 1900s we have demonized addiction. In the 1950s (just like now) heroin use was a hot topic….
GivingTuesday
Recovery Unplugged Treatment Center has joined GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. GivingTuesday is a chance for people to give back by making a donation to their favorite nonprofit organization(s) and then spreading the word of their gift to family and friends.
This year we are proud to support The Face the Music Foundation. As we will be selling a 10 song compilation album for $5.00 that all goes to giving scholarships toward treatment for people without the means to do so themselves. The compilation is completely written and recorded by the clients of Recovery Unplugged. The songs are all written about their struggles with addiction, and how the disease has affected their life….
Music Heals and Influences Change
We base our treatment around the healing power of music and how it can impact change. This week there was a study published about how music helps the healing process for everyone. Queen Mary University of London published a report in the Lancet Medical Journal that “Pre-recorded music through headphones, musical pillows, or background sound systems can be a non-invasive, safe, and inexpensive intervention compared with pharmaceuticals, and can be delivered easily and successfully in a medical setting,” Music aided in the relief of pain and helped resolve anxiety. While music didn’t help them recover any faster it did help them change their outlook on their recovery. All different types of music helped them recover (based on what was comforting for them).
Music influences everything, music heals emotionally. Think about all the times we have heard songs that bring along change such as James Brown “I’m Black and I’m Proud,” or Pete Seeger’s “This Land Is Your Land.” Think about the songs that influence you the most. I remember the first time I hard Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” it brought me to tears….
Sobriety – A Marathon
As you can tell by the title, I think it is important to take time as much as possible to look at the big picture when it comes to recovery and sobriety. It is easy to get bogged down in the little details and the hard days, but you can reinvigorate yourself by looking at your situation from a distance. Hopefully this post will motivate you throughout your journey to sobriety. Recovery is not a sprint – it’s a marathon. Sobriety is an ongoing process – a journey. It can be tough at times, but extremely rewarding as you better your life and get clean physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is very important to be honest with yourself throughout the process. Identify your strengths, weaknesses and triggers and don’t be afraid to seek help. Speaking of help, ask for it early and often. It may be in the form of a professional counselor, recovery group or just a supportive friend….
Music in Recovery @ Recovery Unplugged
Music is the great equalizer here at Recovery Unplugged, well, it is the great equalizer everywhere. I remember the first time I heard Otis Redding sing (I’m not that old, it was in a movie I swear). Hearing him belt out ‘I’ve been loving you’ was for me one of my favorite musical experiences ever (even if it was in a montage from the film “Heaven Help Us”). Working here I get to have experiences like that all of the time….
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Relapse
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is back on the wagon. The Tudors actor, who has struggled with substance abuse for years, opened up about a “minor relapse” he recently had via Instagram on Tuesday, May 26….
Things to Know about Drug Treatment
Are you part of the 20 million who need treatment? Here are a few things to understand first:
Recovery doesn’t end when treatment is over.
A one-size-fits-all approach will not help very many addicts recover…
Music Therapy Makes the Difference
We are always saying that music makes the difference….
Leaving Rehabilitation Early
If you have not struggled with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it is hard to understand the rehabilitation experience. For most people, it is a grueling time that is physically, mentally and emotionally painful. Despite the rigor of rehabilitation, it is vital that those struggling with addiction undergo intensive counseling to start recovery. When a person enters the program, they typically go through an intake process that includes an in-depth assessment of their addiction, which determines how doctors will proceed with their program. They initially determine how long they think you will need to be in the program and what steps will have to be taken to get ones body and mind clean. While the required length of stay can change based on progress, sometimes, people choose to leave before they are medically advised to do so. Time and time again we see that leaving rehabilitation early only leads to more problems down the line….
The Benefits of Youth Activities for Preventing Addiction
There is no magic combination of checklist items that are sure to keep your kids from choosing alcohol and drugs. While no one can provide a sure-fire solution into preventing addiction, research shows that participation in sports and group activities can help prevent kids and teens from falling into addiction.
There are several reasons for the effectiveness of activities in preventing drug and alcohol misuse. Team sports encourage an atmosphere of teamwork and camaraderie, amongst other strong character traits such as hard work and trustworthiness. As kids learn not only the sport-specific skills, they gain life skills that allow them to make good decisions. In addition, with this teamwork and camaraderie comes friendships and relationships. Theoretically, these friends will also possess the strong character traits learned during the activity to encourage safe fun and healthy friendships….