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Alcohol and Prescription Drug Use in San Diego County - Are you Becoming Dependent?

Most people in Carmel Valley, Del Mar, La Jolla, San Diego and Scripps Ranch at least try drinking alcohol sometime during their life. Many others have been given a prescription for pain medication due to an injury, dental or surgical procedure. For many people, the substance makes them feel so good, that they look forward to the drink or pain pill, like a reward for having done a good job at work or school. Unfortunately, some people are genetically wired to like the drug or alcohol so much that they become physically dependent on the substance and physically have to drink more alcohol or take more pills to just feel normal. The amount of time it takes for this to happen varies with the person, gender and the substance. It can take from 6 months to a 2 years for prescription pain medication to become physically dependent and alcohol can take from 2-10 plus years for a person to become dependent. The pattern of symptoms though are similar:

-- drinking or using drugs to calm your nerves
-- occasional memory lapses after heavy drinking or drugging
-- thinking a lot about the next time you will have a drink or use drugs
-- hiding your drugs or alcohol
-- sneaking while you are drinking or doing drugs so you won't be found out
-- feeling guilty about drinking or using the drugs
-- difficulty in your relationships - angry or aggressive over small events
-- deep inside there is a feeling of helplessness; you are drinking or doing the drugs and can't even stop yourself, no how hard you try
-- beginning of depression with the frequent thoughts of feeling hopeless, futile.

If you feel you or a family member is suffering from the use of alcohol or prescription drugs, you may be suffering from a substance use disorder that is causing the problem. Seek help before the symptoms and consequences get more severe. We can help. Professional. Confidential.


Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS

Outpatient Rehab Provides Treatment for Encinitas, Del Mar and and La Jolla Recovery

Facts to Know about Outpatient Treatment for Addictions:

1. Outpatient Detoxification is the first step in developing a foundation for your recovery. Begin treatment by taking good care of your body.

2. Outpatient treatment is just as effective for early and middle stage addiction treatment (those who do not yet have severe medical or legal complications of alcohol and drug abuse and are still working or attending school.

3. Outpatient Womens morning program is ideal for many moms who want sobriety, who are unable to leave their children for 30 days and other women who want their afternoons and evenings free for school or work.

4. Outpatient rehab groups develop the similar cohesion as inpatient treatment, and a sober support system emerges from sharing the common experiences of isolation.

5. Intensive Outpatient treatment spans 70 days on average, allowing you more than double the amount of time to begin to recover from alcohol and/or drug dependence through rehab treatment, meetings, family, relationships and work or school. Adding weekly aftercare for a year provides additional amounts of support for your recovery.

6. Outpatient drug rehab treatment at Lasting Recovery includes traditional addiction psycho-education and wellness programming to help you begin reducing your stress in early recovery from alcohol and drugs.

At the end of outpatient treatment:
---problems seem resolvable. You sit next to other people who are going through the same thing. You realize you don't have to isolate anymore and that you're not alone.
---life is usually easier to manage since your brain neurochemistry is repairing.
---stress levels is down as a result of not using alcohol or drugs and receiving learning how to manage stress more effectively.
---re-connection of the emotional and reward pathways in the brain lead to clearer thinking
---significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Benefit from the experience of an outpatient group for 10 weeks and experience the benefits for yourself and your family, of living life clean and sober.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Co-Owner and Clinical Director

Prescription Drug Abuse in Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas and Carlsbad

Prescription drug addiction continues to be a growing problem that many people don't take as seriously as they should.  Join Together, reported today that according to research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) about 70 percent of 12-17 year olds see great risk in smoking a pack of cigarettes or more daily compared to 40 percent who saw great risk in binge drinking and about 34 percent who perceived great risk in smoking marijuana monthly.

Back in July of 09, after years of focusing primarily on marijuana use, there was news  from CBS News that the more urgent growing problem is prescription-drug misuse  antidrug campaigns from both the private and public sector have turned their attention to what's seen as a more urgent problem: prescription-drug misuse. 
Authorities say marijuana by comparison to prescription drug use, is 'benign'.  
        Prescription drugs that create physical dependency and addiction belong in two classes of pills; opiates and benzodiazepines.  opiates include drug such as codeine, vicodin, norco, oxycodone and benzodiazepines/tranquillizer drugs including xanax, valium, ambian and others.


Many people feel that since the medications were originally prescribed by a doctor that their prescription drug abuse is different. Getting high on an FDA approved drug, traps people into the illusion that they are safely manufactured and will not become a problem.

Yet in October 2009,  a local website in San Diego reported on the growing problems of teens and prescription drug abuse:  the county medical examiner when discussing teen deaths from drugs reported 54 oxycodone-related deaths between 2008 and 2009, up from 17 deaths between 2004 and 2006,  He also stated that adding the death rate from alcohol and heroin brings death rate for 16 - 25 year old alcohol and drug users, even higher.


The Signs of Addiction to Prescription Drugs:

          --A preoccupation with symptoms of pain or sleeplessness in order to justify the request for more medication.
          --Lack of interest in doing other activities unrelated to the drug using experience.
          --Good, drug induced feelings preoccupy the mind.
          --Mood swings.
          --Borrowing from friends and/or purchasing from drug dealers.
          --Purchasing drugs on the internet or from pharmacies in Mexico.
          --Past history of drug addiction.
          --On and off relief from anxiety.
          --Using more than the recommended amount of the medication.
          --Taking medications from family, friends or strangers medicine cabinets.
          --Hiding medications or lying about taking them.
Medication changes the brain chemistry,making it less effective at producing chemicals like dopamine or endorphin. Since the brain has stopped producing these chemicals itself, they must be introduced through another source.  At this point, the prescription drug addict has become physically dependent on the medication. 


Effects of Excessive Use of Prescription Pills:
A person who is addicted to prescription drugs may experience the following:
          --Anxiety
          --Depression
          --Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
          --Loss of interest in relationships with friends or family members
          --Withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using the medications on their own

Important:    Consumption with or without alcohol can effect the central nervous system causing respiratory distress,  failure or even death. 

Lasting Recovery provides Detoxification Services and Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Prescription medication addiction.  Recovery is possible --- we can help.   



Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Co-Founder and Clinical Director


 





 

Holistic Outpatient Drug Rehab in Sorrento Valley

Holistic treatment for drug and alcohol rehabilitation is one of the fastest growing forms of addiction strategies to help people young and old to establish long term recovery. Combining ancient spiritual practices of yoga, mindfulness meditation and acupuncture with traditional treatment methods provide lasting results.

If you live in Carmel Valley, Del Mar, La Jolla, Encinitas, or anywhere from Mission Valley to Escondido, you will be able to successfully recover from your alcohol or drug addiction using traditional outpatient addiction treatment complemented by methods that have been used for thousands of years to awaken hidden healing potential.

Addiction and mental health problems contribute to anxiety, depression, trauma,  isolation, loneliness and stress related physical and emotional problems. Through the use of acupuncture and mindfulness meditation, many people experience a reduction of physical pain symptoms and reduced craving for alcohol or drugs. We learn to relax naturally and make different choices. Integrative programs that provide this type of evidence based holistic* and psychological treatment, are treating the whole person and not just the disease of addiction.  This comprehensive treatment reconnects you with your breathing and senses, your thoughts and emotions, reducing symptoms of chronic physical and emotional pain.

Holistic treatment improves sleep, stress and anxiety through teaching you tools to help you think and act in different habit patterns. These recovery habit patterns guide, heal and strengthen your natural brain chemistry to regenerate chemicals naturally that were depleted by alcohol and drug dependence. For example, use the words I CHOOSE TO ______rather than I HAVE TO ______, or I SHOULD_______, and notice the difference in your motivation, your intention and your internal strength.  Choose life. Choose integrative holistic treatment for your alcohol or drug problem.

* Active Recovery tm, located in the north coastal area of San Diego, provides wellness programming to clients, their families and alumni of Lasting Recovery programs.

Seek help, ask questions and get answers for the best care for yourself, friend or your family.

May you find peace,


Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Co-owner and Clinical Director

Will Alcohol and Drug Rehab Help My Relationship?

The impact of alcohol and drug use on relationships can be severe:
     ---arguments
     ---misunderstandings
     ---broken promises
     ---betrayal
     ---disappointment
     ---guilt and shame

Tense situations fueled by alcohol or drugs lower the threshold of our patience, impairs judgment and lessens impulse control, damaging a person or a family for life.  This cycle of destructive relationship interactions can continue until one or both of the people get off the sinking ship.

Alcohol Rehab helps you and your loved ones to:
     ---Recognize that alcohol and drugs are the problem, not the person
     ---Stop trying to change each other and learn to accept the other person
     ---Attend support groups to talk to others who understand
     ---Overcome mistrust and find hope
     ---Experience relaxation for the first time in a long time
     ---Be honest in their daily lives
     ---Recognize the cycle of addiction that leads to relapse and build in new recovery pathways.

I began working with people who suffer from addiction problems since 1981 and have seen hundreds of couples repair and strengthen their relationships with partners, parents, children, extended family, friends and  employers. Yes, Alcohol and Drug Rehab will help your relationship. Give yourself a chance to recover.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Co-Owner and Clinical Director
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Lasting Recovery Director of Psychiatric Services Named one of the Top Three Psychiatrists in San Diego County

Lasting Recovery Director of Psychiatric Services, Kai MacDonald, MD, has been named one of the Top Three Psychiatrists in San Diego County!

Listed in San Diego Magazines 2009 Physicians of Exceptional Excellence, the article will appear in the October issue of the magazine.  To be selected for this honor, doctors received votes from their peers at the San Diego County Medical Society who were asked to whom they would refer their patients and family members.

Dr. MacDonald is a Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and Diplomate, American Board of Family Practice.  In addition to his work with Lasting Recovery, he is in private practice and, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Diego, Dept. of Psychiatry, UCSD; Medical Director, Clinical Trials, and Asst. Director, Psychiatry Consult-Liaison Service, Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit at UCSD.

Dr. MacDonald is committed to the well being and recovery of clients at Lasting Recovery.  We value his warm and concise approach to each client he helps. A part of the treatment team, our staff has received excellent supervision and our clients, superb care for co-occurring disorders.  Effective treatment of psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, ADHD and post traumatic stress disorder, occur in more than 50% of alcoholics and addicts seeking treatment for their addictions.  The goal of our team is to reduce the symptoms of these inner barriers while helping clients identify their strengths, abilities and goals as they begin the journey of recovery.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS