Family Attitudes to Avoid During a Rehab

If you have an alcoholic in the family and he or she is trying to recover then there are 12 attitudes you should avoid taking towards the problem or it could make the problem worse. Whether the 'problem child' in the situation is actually your child or a spouse, there is a big risk of sabotaging your own best intentions if you are not careful about how you deal with the drug addict or alcoholic.
1. Do not encourage shame by portraying this as a family disgrace as recovery from addiction is a disease that can be recovered from.
2. Don't nag or lecture the alcoholic. This will only increase their need to lie and make promises that cannot be kept.
3. Do not take a martyr-like attitude that gives the alcoholic to feel the guilt and shame that triggers drinking
4. Don't use 'if you loved me' as an appeal as this only increases the guilt that triggers drinking.
5. Avoid threats (including ones to take them into alcohol treatment) unless you intend to carry them out as this badly complicates any trust that is between you
6. Don't hide their drugs or alcohol as this only pushes them to a state of desperation
7. Do not use alcohol with the alcoholic if you want him or her to stop
8. Do not try to protect the recovering alcoholic from situations where drinking is involved as they must learn on their own to say no
9. Do not demand that the person recover immediately and totally during alcohol treatment; there are going to be relapses no matter what happens
10. Do not be jealous of those in alcohol treatment who may also be trying to help your loved one stay sober, even if they are taking up a great deal of his or her time
11. Do not save the alcoholic. Instead let him or her suffer the consequences of his or her actions.

The one thing you should do is offer as much love, understanding and support that you can during the recovery. Be patient as alcohol treatment really can take some years to be effective. You should avoid being controlling, critical or cornering the addict in any way, especially if they are a rebellious teen or a teen that has a dual diagnosis of ADD, schizophrenia or bi-polar mania. The teen addict is especially rebellious and resistant to most good intentions seeing them as meddling and smothering rather than actually helpful.

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Recovery for Teens On Ecstacy

Ecstasy is also known as the 'love drug' or 'thrill pill' but in reality it is a potentially lethal chemical compound that can create a drug addict. It is sold in powder, tablet or capsule form and can be inhaled, injected or swallowed. Unfortunately it is one of those drugs that teens tend to do most often.
It is also called 'E', 'X' and 'XTC'. Doctors and researchers refer to it as MDMA or N-methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyamphet-amine. DMA itself is a member of a chemical family known as phenethylamines. It is chemically related to speed and the hallucinogen mescalin. The drug has actually been around since 1914 but it got its reputation as the 'love drug' in the seventies.
Ecstasy is said to boost insight, lower inhibitions and increase communications. On the other hand it is thought to deplete the brain of the neurotransmitter serotonin and damage the brain stem. It is the depletion of serotonin that creates the drug addict as she or he will do more and more 'E' to try and recapture a high they are no longer capable of feeling.
The drug starts acting within half an hour and the effects last up to six hours. Side effects are dilated pupils, dry mouth, and nervousness and muscle tension. However the most dangerous effect is disorientation and dissociation which can lead to taking other kinds of pills and drugs in order for the person to try and calm down.
Long term use has been shown to cause drug-addict related memory loss and learning problems. Attention deficit disorder, bi-polar mania and depression are also linked to XTC addiction.
If your teen does become addicted to this drug it is not the end of the world. Recovery from Ecstasy often requires a great deal of psychiatric or psychological counseling as it tends to only really be identified with the drug addict who is immature or toxic emotionally. The drug addict on ecstasy gets hooked because they are never able to find a way to feel good again thanks to the brain damage done by the drug. As a result, the drug addict that is unfortunate enough to be damaged by ecstasy often needs to be treated with several drug cocktails, including anti-depressants; it is best that this treatment take place in a rehab where the person can be observed as the recovering addict is more prone to suicidal depression in this case.

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