Virtual treatment programs are revolutionizing mental health care by offering unmatched convenience, privacy, and accessibility. Learn how these programs are making therapy more accessible and effective for everyone.
Continue reading
Fentanyl is a potent prescription drug that is part of the opioid family. Fentanyl is used to treat chronic pain, and comes in a patch form that is absorbed through the patient’s skin. Fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain and creates a euphoric feeling, which masks pain symptoms for the duration of the patch. Fentanyl is incredibly addictive, and many patients find themselves trying to overcome their tolerance. If you are struggling with an addiction to Fentanyl, it is important to seek professional help. In this blog post, we will discuss Fentanyl detox and withdrawal procedures and expectations.
Most Fentanyl detox programs will last for a period of five to seven days. During this time, patients will be monitored closely by medical staff and will gradually have the drug tapered off. The first few days of Fentanyl withdrawal can be difficult, as patients may experience flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle aches. Patients may also experience anxiety, depression, and irritability. It is important to remember that these symptoms are temporary and will eventually subside.
After the initial withdrawal period, patients will begin to feel better and will have more energy. They may still experience some mood swings and cravings for Fentanyl, but these should gradually lessen over time. Most Fentanyl detox programs will provide counseling and support during this time to help patients through the process.
Need help quitting Fentanyl? Our professional and compassionate staff can help you through Fentanyl detox and withdrawal. We offer a variety of services to help you on your road to recovery, including counseling and support. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get through Fentanyl detox and withdrawal. We’re here for you every step of the way. Call us now at (818) 571-9841
(Please note: our phone number is confidential and only for use by people seeking addiction treatment.)
Part of the rehabilitation process after undergoing recovery is transitioning back into your everyday life. Rehab programs typically last for a couple of months. Once you are reaching the end of your stay, you should start preparing to re-enter the real world, and thus begin preparing to re-enter the workforce. Getting a job is an essential next step following rehab, and there are plenty of aftercare programs that help with the process.
Before entering rehab, it is typically a time where you are struggling with an addiction that prevents you from earning a living or carrying out tasks that are essential to work. Whether or not you had a job before rehab is not important. What is important is that following rehab, it is important to occupy your time with things that allow you to make positive contributions to society.
One of the best ways to keep yourself occupied, out of trouble, and away from temptation is by going to work. Some of the main reasons why it is important to find a job after rehab are as follows.
Most people, whether struggling from addiction or not, seek purpose and meaning out of life. Having a job allows you to feel like you have a sense of purpose and feel like you are making an impact and accomplishing tasks. Work can be difficult, but it can also be extremely fulfilling.
Along with keeping you busy, jobs also offer you a daily routine. Whether it be getting up at a certain time in the morning, taking a mode of transportation, or getting lunch at a certain time, having a schedule and a routine can provide you with a healthy sense of structure for you day-to-day life.
Although your coworkers may not be your best friends, interacting with people everyday is an added layer of support that you might need throughout your day.
There is a sense of responsibility that comes with a job, and that responsibility comes with an income. Making your own money can allow for you to live your life more freely and not have to rely on anyone else for you to be able to buy groceries or enjoy yourself. Having a set of finances that are your own is an incredibly freeing feeling.
Many people who exit rehab have the same task of going out and finding work. Diving into the job market can feel intimidating at first, however there are many tips and programs that help with advising people on getting work post-rehab.
Getting a job after rehab requires having clear and reasonable expectations, along with patience and drive. There are millions of Americans who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, attend rehab, and go into the workforce. So many people have gone on to lead successful lives and prosperous careers after rehab. It is important to not let recovery get in the way of your professional goals and aspirations in life.
Another tip would be to turn to resources. This can be anything to self-help books, YouTube videos, reading articles, reaching out to your peers to seek advice for someone in your position, and working with recruiters to help you find jobs that you are interested in.
Chances are, recruiters or people you know either know of resources to share with you that might help, or have been in a similar position and can offer their guidance as you start on your job search.
Another helpful tip is to not get scared off by rejection. Rejection is extremely common when applying to jobs, and it is important to not take it personally if you don’t get the job you wanted. If you don’t get the job, simply pick your head up, and try again elsewhere. Always ask for feedback as to why you weren’t chosen for the position, and use that feedback for your next interview.
Inneractions is an intensive outpatient rehab facility located in Woodland Hills, CA. As one of our aftercare programs, we offer our patients career counseling as they prepare to re-enter their everyday lives. We find that work is an essential element of living your life more freely and purposefully, and we therefore place a heavy emphasis on getting our patients back into the workforce. Please visit Inneractions today for more information on our amazing career counseling program.
The first step to overcoming a drug addiction is admitting that you have a problem, and from there, rehab is available for you. Although all forms and durations of drug abuse treatment have been proven to be highly beneficial, 90-day rehab is the recommended minimum duration from which to attend rehab to achieve a meaningful, long-lasting recovery.
A 90-day drug rehab is a substance abuse rehabilitation program that lasts for the duration of 90 days, or three months. Substance use disorder is a disease characterized by the consumption of harmful substances, despite the negative implications it has on your health, and it causes a chemical alteration in the composition of your brain. Addiction to harmful substances will cause you to have no control over your actions, making recovery difficult, but possible.
During a 90-day treatment program, it is likely that you may need to undergo a medically assisted detox that requires you to stop taking the drug that you are addicted to under the watchful eye of a medical professional. After you no longer have a physical dependence to the drug, there are many different therapies and programs that you can undergo to help change your mindset, and offer you insight into the ‘why’ behind your addiction.
Some of the therapies offered at 90-day rehabilitation programs offer education, insight, compassion, and everyday tools to help you process your disorder, and establish healthy, sober lifestyles free from the destruction of addictive behavior.
The idea that 90 days should be the minimum required duration of time for one seeking recovery from an addiction is due to the time both your body and brain need to heal, and to run a lesser risk of relapse. They say that it takes at least 30 days to form a habit, and that goes for habits that do not have life-threatening implications on the functionality of your brain.
With 90-day rehab, drug centers are able to take the time to personalize your treatment so that it is effective for you. Undergoing evaluations and seeing a therapist will allow the 90-day center to have insight into your condition and how you heal. Addiction recovery should be individualized based on each client’s specific needs because no two addiction experiences are the same, therefore no two rehabilitation programs should be the same.
90-day outpatient rehab programs will allow for you to live at home, or in sober living, while you attend treatment during the day. This offers clients more flexibility and an easier transition back into normal life upon the completion of rehab.
In choosing to attend a 90-day rehabilitation program, you are choosing to help yourself recover from substance use disorder, mental health disorders, or both. If you are someone who is struggling from a serious addiction or mental disorder that is interfering with you going out and living your life, it is encouraged that you look into a 90-day rehab to reset your mind and change the way you live your life.
Some of the signs that you are experiencing an addiction or mental health problem include not being able to cut down on drinking or using drugs, continuing to drink or do drugs even though it is causing health problems, skipping out on your favorite activities to engage in drinking or drugs, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using, not attending work or school, then you should consider attending a 90-day rehab.
90-day rehabs offer you the ability to focus solely on your recovery without much distraction from the outside world. The 90 days will also offer you the time you require to master some of the skills of recovery that you can take with you for the remainder of your life. A 90-day rehab program also offers you the chance to recognize and change poor habits. Inneractions is a 90-day intensive outpatient rehab for those suffering from addiction and their families to recover in a discreet and professional setting. Come visit our facility in Woodland Hills, CA to recover today.
The common denominator for those living in recovery is a need for support. No matter the nature of your addiction, what you were addicted to, for how long, etc. building a support system you can rely on is critical to maintaining the sobriety you worked so hard to achieve.
To be honest, it’s right near the top of the post-rehab checklist.
Support groups help with everything from dealing with triggers to accountability to just being a place where folks truly understand you, where they just get it.
In that sense, it’s less SMART recovery vs. AA in the competitive sense and more about how each is more uniquely suited, or better suited, to the needs of various people.
The first thing you’ll notice is the all caps and that’s because SMART, like AA, is an acronym; it means Self-Management and Recovery Training.
The fast facts are that SMART was founded back in 1994 and is currently headquartered in Ohio. Their approach focuses on science and self-empowerment in the battle to overcome addiction and meetings can be found across the whole of the United States as well as a number of countries around the world.
You can find their handbook in at least 10 languages.
Their reliance on scientifically validated methods to empower change is a key differentiator from the distinctly more spiritual approach of AA, noting in their purpose and methods statement that their “efforts are based on scientific knowledge and evolve as scientific knowledge evolves”.
Rather than a 12 step program, which AA relies on, SMART is defined by their 4 point program which is:
Arguably the most well-known support group on earth is AA or Alcoholics Anonymous.
AA dates back to 1935 and also has an Ohio link, having been started there. You may sometimes see AA meetings referred to as “Friends of Bill W.” in places like cruise ships with the Bill W. in question being the founder of AA.
They define themselves as “an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem”.
AA is where the concept of the 12 step program originated and it’s these very steps that form the core of the program itself.
A clear difference between the two programs is AA’s emphasis on spirituality in the pursuit of sustained sobriety. It’s not expressly required that you believe in God to join an AA meeting but the spiritual basis of AA is something to keep in mind. For some, it’s a wonderful thing. For others, they may prefer a different approach.
NA, or Narcotics Anonymous, was founded in 1953 and operates with the same 12-step program.
As for the meetings themselves, both SMART and AA are non-profits and their meetings are free of charge. Generally, only a small donation is recommended to cover the costs of putting on the meetings.
Conquering your addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is doable and among the best ways to go about it is through a professional treatment program that’s customized to your needs.
At Inneractions, that’s exactly what we do.
Moreover, once you complete rehab, we can help you transition back to your day-to-day life at our San Fernando sober living facility.
To learn more about support groups or aftercare, reach out to us today.
Heroin is an incredibly powerful and devastating drug that falls into the opioid class of drugs.
The word opioid alone most likely conjures thoughts of the enduring epidemic the United States is still struggling with.
“From 1999–2019, nearly 500,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids”, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Of course, that’s not all related to heroin but as an opioid, it does play a role and in that same stretch, 1999 to 2019, 130,00 people died from overdoses related to heroin. The amount of those deaths was 7 times higher in 2019 than in 2019.
It’s important to note here that heroin is illegal, an illicit opioid as it’s commonly phrased. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) labels it a Schedule I drug it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”.
As we’ve all collectively come to find out in the last couple of decades, that abuse has come to pass and the devastation that heroin and other opioids have left in their wake have been catastrophic.
What exactly is this drug that in 2019 was involved in nearly 20% of all drug overdose deaths?
As defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin.”
It can be taken in a variety of ways; smoked, injected, sniffed or snorted.
You may naturally be wondering if there is some sort of link between prescription opioids and heroin given that they function in essentially the same way.
Research shows that to some extent that does look to be the case.
Data from 2002 to 2012 showed that the “incidence of heroin initiation was 19 times higher among those who reported prior nonmedical pain reliever use than among those who did not”. Additionally, and more to the previous point, “data from 2011 showed that an estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids switch to heroin and about 80 percent of people who used heroin first misused prescription opioids.”.
Some contributing factors that drive the transition to heroin and its use in general are the extremely high availability and the low price compared to prescription opioids.
As NIDA notes, “a number of studies have suggested that people transitioning from abuse of prescription opioids to heroin cite that heroin is cheaper, more available, and provides a better high”.
Given what we’ve come to learn as a society about the ravages of opioids and heroin, it has become increasingly clear that rehab goes a long way in helping people beat their addiction.
Heroin is a powerful, powerful drug that sinks its teeth deeply into people and doesn’t let up without a lot of fight.
Dedicated treatment gives you the support system and guidance you need to create a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your life on. Heroin rehab in Los Angeles at Inneractions is honed and shaped by over 30 years of impassioned experience in helping people get through their darkest and lowest times.
Treatment is designed to help you discover the root causes of your addiction to heroin and learn new, healthy ways to deal with those issues as well as the triggers that will continue to arise going forward. In both individual and group sessions – utilizing evidence-based modalities and complementary therapies – you’ll work with our addiction specialists to break the cycle.
Reach out to us today to learn more about our program for heroin addiction.
Drug use isn’t static and it doesn’t affect everyone the same. For some, that use turns to abuse and eventually into an addiction. The way addiction grabs a hold of people is also dynamic and while some people can find their way out of it, for others it becomes a vise grip from which they can’t escape under their own volition or efforts.
The longer a person struggles with substance abuse and the further they fall into that black hole, the more likely it is that long term treatment for drug addiction is going to be the solution that truly helps them get their life back.
Fortunately, the opinions on addiction have shifted society-wide since more research into the subject has yielded a more evolved scientific view on substance abuse.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that “addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness. Addiction is the most severe form of a full spectrum of substance use disorders, and is a medical illness caused by repeated misuse of a substance or substances”.
As mentioned at the top, addiction doesn’t afflict everyone in the same way and therefore isn’t a one size fits all solution for how to see your way out of that place.
Among the best ways to treat a substance abuse disorder is through dedicated and immersive rehab where you can truly focus on overcoming the illness.
At this point there is a whole world of options available that utilize varying methods, be they evidence-based or alternative/complementary or some combination of both. As well, there are rehab facilities that cater to specific types of addiction for even more specialized care.
All of that said, there is no “best”, finding what the best treatment for you is, is what matters.
Treatment isn’t achieved overnight and longer-term care is even more important if your addiction has lasted a long time and/or was on the more severe side.
NIDA points out that it’s critical to remain in treatment for an adequate period of time, adding, “the appropriate duration for an individual depends on the type and degree of the patient’s problems and needs. Research indicates that most addicted individuals need at least 3 months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment”.
Recovery is a process and it takes time for it to stick. Giving yourself that time is crucial.
A longer time horizon means you can dive deeper into the underlying causes of addiction on top of being able to really solidify and internalize the new coping mechanisms, thought patterns and way of life you’re cultivating.
Structure is mission-critical. A regimented and formal program with a clear plan is a core component of long term treatment. Not only that but being supervised, particularly in those early days of treatment, helps tremendously with the elevated risk of relapse and getting through the cravings throughout
Being in a supportive environment works wonders for your mental state. The longer you’re in an environment like that, the better chance that your new mindset will stick and translate into a lasting recovery. Add to that the companionship and new friendships you’ll make with sober-minded people that are also in treatment means you’ll likely leave with a strong support network.
Ultimately, what matters most is finding what works best for you. At Inneractions in Los Angeles, our intensive outpatient treatment is meant to fit into, and work around, your life. If you have questions or concerns about whether long-term care is right for you, reach out to us anytime.
As our societal opinions and medical views on addiction have evolved – bringing acceptance to what was once a much more heavily stigmatized issue – so too has how we now go about solving the problem and helping people take back control of their lives. Naturally, there is still a long way to go but with substance abuse disorders now being classed as mental health issues, there’s been a sea change in how addiction is treated.
Among the most well-known methods is a rehab program.
So, what is a rehab program?
Rehab, or rehabilitation, programs are simply a systematic means by which addiction to drugs or alcohol are treated. They can range widely in the methods and modalities they pull from as well as how long they last in duration.
The end goal of any rehab program though is to ensure you finish on solid footing and on a strong foundation upon which you can carry on leading a sober life.
Before delving into the types of rehab out there, it’s worth noting that before you start rehab, which is meant to tackle the mental side of addiction, you’d go through a process of detoxification. Detox being the process by which you rid your body of the substance and begin to break the physical addiction.
The core types of rehab can be broken down as follows:
Also referred to as inpatient care or residential inpatient care, these programs are chiefly characterized by the fact that you live in the treatment facility. Inpatient programs are often recommended for those with the most severe and long-lasting addictions, people who are at high risk for relapse. Not only do they offer constant, 24-hour support and supervision but the highly structured nature of inpatient treatment means a person is, by design, going to be preoccupied with the work of recovery.
In residential inpatient care, you’re removed from your regular environment, no work, no school, no friends or family from back home. You’re immersed in recovery. Generally, there is a heavy weighting on psychotherapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, reality therapy and psychodynamic therapy) and work with psychiatrists, licensed therapists and addiction specialists in individual and group settings as well as other complementary elements.
The idea is to examine what led you to drugs or alcohol in the first place and adopt new thought patterns and coping mechanisms so you can move forward and react to future triggers differently.
In outpatient rehab, you’ll experience the same type of treatment as you did during your stay in an inpatient facility, the difference being that you don’t live in. For some, they will transfer from inpatient to outpatient as a way to slowly reintegrate back into day-to-day life. Others, with less intense addictions, can start with outpatient care if that’s what’s recommended.
Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care both fall under this category as well.
After successful completion of either an inpatient or outpatient program, continuing care is often available. Aftercare programs encompass things like sober living homes, 12-step programs and other support groups as well as continuing to go to counseling. Additionally, some rehabs have an in-house alumni program that helps you stay connected and supported with the people who helped you through treatment.
In general, part of the idea of aftercare is to stay in touch with people who understand exactly what you’re going through because not only is it nice to have like minded companionship but also it’s extremely helpful to have someone to talk to when you feel triggered or in danger of relapse.
At Inneractions, our staff of over 25 experts is focused on delivering the most helpful intensive outpatient program we can. Our decades of combined experience mean you’re in the care of those who’ve truly seen it all and understand how to get you through it.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
American’s are prescribed a lot of drugs and therefore, to put it bluntly, we take a lot of drugs.
The numbers are astounding.
Back in 2015, findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study showed that 45.8% of the U.S. population used a prescription drug in the prior 30 days. As expected, that number rose with age with 85% of those over 60 using a prescription.
Think about that for a second, that’s very nearly 1 in 2 of us.
By and large, most folks don’t have an issue and the medications they’re prescribed do the trick.
However, that’s simply not the case with everyone and the more people who fill prescriptions, the more likely it is that instances of abuse and addiction will creep in.
The beauty of modern science is that it’s slowly but surely led to the betterment of so many people’s lives by creating solutions to the many things that ail us throughout our lives. Most often that now comes in the form of easy to swallow pills.
Pretty remarkable.
From opioid analgesics for pain to amphetamines for ADHD to sedatives for help sleeping there, are over 45 therapeutic categories of drugs according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
While addiction isn’t necessarily a risk for those taking antifungals or blood glucose regulators, it is very much a real risk for someone prescribed opioids for severe pain or a benzodiazepine like Xanax for generalized anxiety disorder.
Certain medications and pills just aren’t meant to be taken long term as the risk for adverse effects as well as misuse, dependency and addiction can appear.
An addiction to drugs, be it in pill form or otherwise, is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs”.
For drugs like opioids, even taking them strictly as directed can lead to an addiction due to their drastic effects on the brain.
Just like an addiction to anything else, there will be signs of a pill addiction you can keep an eye out for. While some will be drug-specific, many symptoms run the gamut of addiction:
If you’re experiencing any of the above, you might be wondering “how do I find a rehab for pill addiction near me?”.
It’s tougher to kick an addiction than to fall into one.
Luckily, just as science has given us plenty of answers in the form of medication, it’s also provided evidence-based treatment for when we find ourselves struggling to let go of those pills. At Inneractions, our team of 25+ experts have decades of combined experience in guiding people back to sobriety through education, compassion and proven techniques. Reach out to us today if you or a loved one is grappling with a pill addiction and let’s start down the road of recovery together.
Inpatient or outpatient? Does the rehab specialize in my addiction? Stay close to home or do treatment elsewhere? If elsewhere, then where?!
With so many variables and questions, in addition to those, involved in finding the best rehab for you or a loved one, it can be tough to sift through everything and find answers. It’s understandable, nowadays there are just a ton of great resources and treatment centers out there doing amazing work in helping people overcome addiction. Making sure you find the right one is the challenge.
Outpatient rehab in Woodland Hills might just be the answer you’re looking for.
Before jumping into the benefits of Woodland Hills in particular, and there’s more to it than the 280+ sunny days, let’s talk about the difference between outpatient and inpatient rehab.
Inpatient care, to put it plainly, is when a person lives at the rehab facility.
It’s the most intensive type of treatment program where you’ll be under 24-hour care with medical, psychiatric and mental support constantly available. As far as treatment options go, inpatient is the most disruptive to your daily life. You’ll have to leave your job, friends, family, etc., and remove yourself from anything and everything that could be a distraction and instead you’ll be focusing all your attention and 100% of your efforts towards mental and physical rehabilitation from substance abuse.
Inpatient care is generally reserved for those with more severe and long-term addictions and is necessarily immersive. It can last from 28 days to a multi-month program with the length dependent on the nature of the addiction and the assessment of a treatment/addiction specialist.
On the flip side, you have outpatient care which has all the same treatment modalities that inpatient would, like; individual and group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and complementary/alternative therapy, etc. but you don’t live at the facility.
You’re able to carry on with your daily life; work, school, family errands and whatever else life entails while going to a rehab center for scheduled sessions. In other words, it’s far less intrusive.
It’s mainly meant for those with a milder addiction, who don’t need constant supervision and are at less risk for relapse.
As far as cost is concerned, outpatient treatment is a much more affordable option seeing as how you aren’t paying for weeks or months of living in a dedicated treatment center.
That said, if your addiction is severe, don’t try to save money by pushing for an outpatient option. Your life is worth more and what you save up front, you might end up paying later if you relapse.
Choose the right solution, not the cheapest one.
Woodland Hills, California in the San Fernando Valley and at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains is a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle. Aside from the sun shining for the majority of the year, there are other reasons to consider rehab here.
Whether you live in Southern California or not, leaving your state or area for treatment brings a lot of positives.
For starters, you’re removing yourself from the distractions, people, influences and triggers that can easily cause you to slip back into using.
Also, there is built-in confidence with going somewhere where no one knows your name, the opposite of Cheers. Comfort in the privacy of not accidentally bumping into someone you know and being able to open up in ways you might not have been able to before.
At Inneractions in Woodland Hills, we offer evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment. With over 30 years of experience helping people overcome addiction, we offer robust treatment with a flexible approach to scheduling and availability that works for you.
Get in touch with us and let us tell you more about gorgeous Woodland Hills and how we can help you get on the road to recovery.