Once you attend a treatment center and find the cause of your pain, the need to use drugs and alcohol to numb the pain will cease once you have worked through your issues.  If you only focus on the addiction itself and not on the underlying problems, then relapse is very probable. Whether you are dealing with an undiagnosed physical ailment, childhood trauma, family problems, a chemical imbalance, or one of the many other underlying causes of addiction, one-on-one therapy is much more helpful in uncovering what is driving you to use drugs and alcohol.  Passages Malibu is a holistic drug rehab centers that is extremely effective when it comes to uncovering underlying issues, healing addiction and preventing relapse.

Recently, a new study has found that stimulant drugs actually change and manipulate the brain’s circuitry, which makes recovery following addiction to such drugs an even more difficult process.  At the University of California, Berkeley, researchers found that individuals with a history of using cocaine now show changes in their brain’s chemistry that cause the neurotransmitter dopamine to immediately be released whenever the recovering addict is exposed to cocaine-associated stimuli.

The study also showed that dopamine is released into areas of the brain that are more vulnerable and susceptible to changes.  These findings may help explain why recovering cocaine addicts still feel cravings for the drug, even after they have gone through withdrawal, attended a treatment program, and remained sober for extended periods of time.  Researchers are not sure yet if this alteration in brain chemistry can be reversed, but they do agree that there is a better chance of success with the help of an inpatient drug rehabilitation program.

Alcoholism and drug abuse are typically easier for the general population to understand.  However, individuals can be addicted to food in the same way that they are addicted to substances.  If you are concerned that you or someone you may know is a food addict, there are several things to look for.  When someone is addicted to food, they become physiologically and mentally dependent upon eating and feel a complete loss of control. If you know that you’re eating ritual is harmful, but continue to engage in the destructive behavior anyways, you may be addicted to food.  Many individuals with a food addiction also suffer from other mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse.  At Passages, we help our clients overcome food addiction with therapy, by modifying eating patterns and lifestyle, and with a manageable exercise program.

Research studies do show that specific drugs used vary from country to country and from region to region. Throughout the world, the main substance of abuse is alcohol, and the three main illegal drugs of abuse are marijuana, opiates (particularly heroin), and cocaine.  Drugs have been present in every culture throughout history, whether used for medical, religious, or recreational purposes.

The problem of drug abuse around the world has dramatically increased during the past 100 years, as advances in chemistry and science have allowed new drugs to be mass-produced and created synthetically from old sources.  Unfortunately, these new drugs that are refined and created synthetically are often more dangerous, powerful and addictive than any drugs in the past. While great advances have been made in the creation and use of drugs for medical purposes, drug use for recreation and pleasure has increased sharply, resulting in a much higher occurrence of addiction around the world.

For the second consecutive year in the United States, the adolescent birth rate dropped and underage educational dropout rates decreased, both of which are clear indications of effective social and educational programs. Unfortunately, the report also found that  children ages eight-grade and up have increased their use of illicit drugs from 8% in 2009 to 10% in 2010.  These findings are so startling because the earlier an individual begins to abuse drugs and alcohol, the more likely they are to become full blown alcoholics or drug addict’s later in life.  In order to decrease this problem and prevent further adulthood drug issues, education, familial support, and awareness are essential.

In a recent study conducted by the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, millions Americans admitted to habitually smoking pot, drinking alcohol, snorting cocaine or taking prescription drugs, yet many of them were not completely honest about their level of use and many of them who met the criteria for needing treatment did not recognize that they have a problem. The study estimates that those “in denial” of a problem is close to 5 million, which is a much higher number than the people that actually seek and get professional treatment.  It seems as though there is a large and growing denial gap when it comes to drug abuse and dependency in our society.  Drug and alcohol abuse is often glorified and readily accepted in the media, which may in part add to the nation’s large issue with denial.  At Passages, we help our client come to terms with and be honest about their behaviors and help them get back to healthy, drug free lives.

Characteristics of Holistic Addiction Rehab Facilities

Here are just a few of the key characteristics of holistic addiction rehab facilities. If you are seeking enhanced results in drug or alcohol recovery through holistic treatment, make sure that the holistic addiction rehab facility you choose has the following important traits.

• Multidisciplinary Approach
  Holistic addiction rehab facilities should incorporate a range of treatment approaches, considering physical, emotional and spiritual health. Since alcoholism and drug addiction are multifaceted problems, a truly holistic approach will incorporate treatment of the entire person.

• Caring Treatment
  Holistic health care centers around kindness and dignity, recognizing the individual as the foremost expert on her or his own body. If you find that a treatment program takes a demeaning approach, it likely has not fully embraced the spirit of holistic treatment.

• Prevention
  Holistic addiction rehab facilities will emphasize preventative medicine. By seeking ways to promote overall health and strength, holistic practitioners will focus on solutions that solve recurring problems rather than simply offering symptom management.

• Natural Approaches
  Truly holistic addiction rehab facilities will favor natural approaches whenever possible, leveraging the body’s ability to self-heal.

• Prioritized Health Care Planning
  Holistic addiction rehab facilities will employ physicians that consider all possible solutions in their health care plan for you. These options will then be analyzed and prioritized, allowing for lifestyle modification, alternative approaches, supplements, and prescription medications only when necessary.

• Solid Patient Relationship
  Any rehab facility that is truly holistic in nature will partner with you for your recovery. Patient feedback will be valued and incorporated into the decision-making process, rather than summarily dismissed.

• Individualized Care
  Each patient at a holistic addiction rehab facility will be viewed as an individual and solutions—whether for emotional, mental or physical recovery—will be custom tailored instead of generalized.

Some Amenities Common to Luxury Alcohol Rehab Facilities

While each rehab program is different, here are some of the amenities common to luxury alcohol rehab facilities.

• Individualized Counseling
  Individualized therapy sessions are one of the most important amenities common to luxury alcohol rehab facilities. Sadly, most inpatient alcohol rehab facilities do not have the capacity to provide intensive hours of private alcohol counseling. The emotional and mental factors that create the drive to use alcohol are often exceedingly private, and difficult to share in a group setting. Additionally, the walls of self-preservation grow thick over the course of alcohol abuse, requiring individualized attention and care by therapists in order to break through deeply ingrained patterns of denial.

• Somatic Healing
  While many alcohol programs focus only on talking, reading and reflecting, luxury alcohol rehab facilities take into account the overall health of the body by providing bodywork services such as massage, acupuncture and acupressure. Regular use of these techniques during the alcohol recovery process helps reduce stress, eliminate pain and release toxins trapped in the body. Relieving tension and removing harmful toxins allows the body to better function and helps the individual return to a state of homeostasis to maintain sobriety.

• Fitness Coaching
  During alcohol abuse, we often neglect ourselves and feel disconnected from our bodies. One amenity common to luxury alcohol rehab facilities is physical fitness coaching. Certified fitness instructors can find the level and type of activity that suits each individual. For some that might include a weight training regime, while others might gravitate towards yoga or Pilates training, hiking, tennis or biking. Luxury alcohol rehab facilities will help you find the correct balance of activities to meet your fitness goals and strengthen your body.

• Gourmet Cuisine
  For many, food became either an indulgence or occasional fuel during alcohol addiction. By providing delicious and healthy food, a luxury alcohol rehab facility helps your body heal by providing proper nutrition and helping to foster a healthy relationship with food. Gourmet chefs thoughtfully prepare meals for you to enjoy and savor, while taking your special dietary needs into consideration.