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

What is Not-At-Risk Drinking?

Looking for alcohol in Del Mar or Carmel Valley? You can find large amounts of it for purchase in the grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, bars, gas stations, mini marts and  liquor stores, throughout the north coastal areas.

Some people can ignore the multimillion dollar advertising campaign to get you to either order or pick up the alcohol for consumption, while other are seduced into purchasing alcohol regularly and enjoy evening drinks with their friends and family.

Still others will purchase alcohol daily to keep themselves from needing to enter a detoxification and treatment program,  in full alcohol withdrawal with shakes and the possibility of a life threatening seizure. Which one are you?  Are you safe from the risks of becoming the daily drinker, or the alcoholic?

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has examined the scientific literature to determine what constitutes not-at-risk drinking.  The staff at NIAAA examined the physical, mental, social and legal risks associated with drinking and identified the amount men and women can drink without increased risk.  Based on their analyses, the NIAAA recommends that:                      
--Men should consume no more than 4 standard drinks per day and no more than 14 standard drinks per week.
--Women,  who process alcohol differently than men, should consume no more than 3 standard drinks per day and no more than 7 standard drinks per week.
--People 65 years of age and older should not drink more than one drink per day.

A standard drink equals a 12 oz. beer or cooler, 8-9 oz malt liquor, 5 oz of talble wine, or 1.5 oz of 80 proof spirits.  Depending on the type of spirits and recipe, one mixed drink can equal from one to three or more standard drinks.

People who exceed the recommended daily limit have engaged in binge drinking.  

Of the people who HAVE NOT exceeded the recommended daily and weekly limits in the past year  (72% of the U.S. population over age 18), less than 1 in 100 will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

People who HAVE engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous 12 months (16% of the U.S. Population over the age of 18), 1 in 5, or 20% will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

 People who exceed both the limits recommended  for daily and weekly use, which is 10% of the U.S. population over the age of 18, 50% or 1 out of 2 people will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

Finally, people who exceed the recommended weekly limit but never binge drink (2% of the U.S. population over the age of 18) about 1 in 12 or 8% , will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

If you want to be safe and reduce your risks for becoming alcohol dependence, don't exceed the daily (a binge) or weekly limit. This is no guarantee, however that trying to reduce the consumption will work,  as there are genetic as well as environmental risks factors that lead to continued use despite consequences.   If you have tried to reduce your consumption and been unsuccessful, you are not alone. Alcoholism is often described as having an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. The overconsumption, fueled by the obsession to continue drinking, can lead to blackouts, personality changes,a loss of self esteem, physical problems, and problems with family, friends, employers and the law.

If  you or someone you love is unable to consistently control the amount of alcohol they are drinking, seek help now by using the assessments on our website, www.lastingrecovery.com,  to  to determine if you have a problem. There are solutions.  If you would like more information, give us a call at 858-453-4315.

Judy Saalinger, Ph., D., MFT, CAS

San Diego County Responds to the Amethyst Initiative

The Amethyst Initiative

PART 1

The Amethyst Initiative is a recent movement of over 130 college presidents requesting the nation lower the legal drinking age. This absurd suggestion not only could endanger young lives but it reveals backwards thinking by professionals who should be looking out for those they serve (Hazelden, 2008).

Underage drinking is on the rise. Ten percent of Alcoholics Anonymous members are under the age of 30 (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2007). This community-based support network responded to the needs of young people when Alateen spurred off from Al-Anon – a support group for loved ones of alcoholics. Among 12-20 year olds, over 47% are current drinkers and 26% meet the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence compared to 9.6% of those over the legal drinking age (Discovery Health, 2009).

In 1988, 21 became the legal minimum drinking age in all 50 states. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that in spring of 2004, over 18,000 lives were saved through decreases in alcohol-related accidents, which are the leading cause of death of young people in our country (Hazelden, 2008).

Although severe health problems associated with alcohol abuse are not as common in adolescents, studies show that young people set themselves up for these risks when they drink heavily from an early age. Brain damage can occur, as alcohol affects the maturation of young tissue. Lasting effects to long-term memory and learning skills are evident in adults who began drinking at an early age. Drinking can also elevate liver enzymes and effect growth and development. In fact, consuming alcohol during puberty adversely affects the maturation of reproductive organs and can upset the hormonal balance for normal development of organs, bones and muscles (NIAAA, 2006).

Discovery Health (2006) has stated that almost all (96.8%) of the adult drinkers with alcohol abuse and dependence began drinking prior to the age of 21. A common phrase in Alcoholics Anonymous regarding young drinkers is, if you're not an alcoholic, you're studying hard to be one. This may be true for many young people. If so, why would we lower the legal drinking age and invite them to try it on for size?

Over one third of United States alcohol sales are to underage and/or abusive drinkers (Discovery Health, 2009). It seems the financial interests of the alcohol industry may be weightier than the interests of our young peoples health. Lowering the legal drinking age certainly would not solve these problems but only serve to exaggerate them.

Tamra Anderson

Clinical Administrator

Lasting Recovery

Research Summary - Women and Smoking

U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher released a report that shows the devastating impact smoking has had on women in the United States over the past few decades. According to Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, women now account for 39 percent of all smoking-related deaths each year in the United States, a proportion that has more than doubled since 1965.

Since 1980, nearly three million U.S. women have died prematurely from smoking.
The study found that increased marketing by tobacco companies has hindered progress in cutting smoking by women. Recent increases in smoking among teenage girls also threatens to overwhelm any progress that has been made in the last few decades.

"In the early decades, smoking prevalence was more prominent among men, and it took nearly 25 years before the gap narrowed and smoking became commonplace among women," Dr. Satcher said. "Women not only share the same health risk as men, but are also faced with health consequences that are unique to women, including pregnancy complications, problems with menstrual function, and cervical cancer."

The report examined patterns of tobacco use among women, factors associated with starting and continuing to smoke, the health consequences of smoking, tobacco marketing targeted at women, and cessation and prevention interventions.

"Smoking is a critical women's health issue that must be addressed on all fronts," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "We must begin this battle in schools before girls even begin to smoke, and we must share with teenage girls that smoking is not only harmful, but it is not glamorous. Society must not glorify smoking."

"In addition, we must provide information to women and minority groups detailing the harmful affects of smoking as well as the benefits of smoking cessation," he said. "The facts are clear: smoking significantly reduces life expectancy and hampers quality of life."