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passages venice

Passages Venice Celebrates 2 Years in Addiction Treatment

By Jennifer McDougall

Since 2015, Passages Venice has been offering outpatient addiction treatment in the vibrant city of Venice, California. On August 10, 2017 we celebrate two years of outpatient treatment at our Venice location. Passages Venice is part of the Passages Addiction Treatment Centers family, which includes:

Passages Malibu – A luxury residential/inpatient holistic treatment center located in the beautiful and very exclusive city of Malibu, California

Passages Ventura – An affordable residential/inpatient holistic treatment center located in coastline city of Ventura, California

Passages Santa Monica – A luxury sober living home located on the beachside of Santa Monica, California

Passages Addiction Treatment Centers originally started in 2001 with Passages Malibu, by father – son duo, Pax and Chris Prentiss. After 10 miserable years of battling an addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin, Pax Prentiss and his father created a holistic program that helped Pax get sober, once and for all. This program is what is utilized at Passages for treating and healing the root causes to a person’s addiction. By identifying the reasons why, Pax was using drugs and alcohol, him and his father were able to end the cycle for good.

To read more about Pax and his person story, please visit his website at www.PaxPrentiss.com.

Are you ready to experience treatment at Passages Venice?

When you make the choice to get sober and let go of every weight that has ever held you back from living out your full-potential, you are making the choice of a lifetime. If you are someone who has tried other treatment centers, but you were not able to fully overcome your core issues driving your addiction, it’s time to give Passages Venice a try. When you are ready to truly live, Passages is here for you.

What to Expect at Passages Venice

When you enroll in our one-on-one holistic treatment program, you are assigned to a team of therapists that will diligently work with you to help you discover and heal the underlying conditions causing you or your loved one to use and abuse drugs and alcohol. We offer non-12-Step healing methods that are much different than traditional and out dated methods used in most other programs. At Passages Venice, we want you to get better. We want to help you discover a life free from dependency. Here is a list of the therapists you will be working with during your time with us.

  • Psychologist
  • Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Hypnotherapist
  • Chemical Dependency Counselor
  • Spiritual Counselor
  • Life Purpose Coach
  • Medical Doctor
  • Nurse
  • Continuing Care Specialist

For more information on the specialized treatment team at Passages Venice, please visit www.PassagesVenice.com or call us at 1-(888) 397-0112.

Most Insurance Policies are Accepted

To verify your insurance, please take a moment to fill out our confidential insurance form with no obligations. Our team of admission professionals are on call 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about our program at Passages Venice. We are excited to help you get started on your journey of self-discovery and freedom from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

How to Contact Passages Venice

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

August 9, 2017 by

Passages Venice Outpatient Rehab

After 14 years of leading in the drug and alcohol addiction treatment industry, we have opened our first outpatient rehab center, located in vibrant Venice, California. Much like the treatment offered at Passages Malibu and Passages Ventura, the outpatient center will offer non-12 step, holistic therapy methods that will help our clients discover and heal the underlying conditions which are causing them to use and abuse drugs and alcohol.

At Passages Venice, we offer a unique set of treatment methods to all of our valued clients. Unlike the cookie-cutter group approach offered by most rehab centers, our program is customized specifically for each client who walks through our doors. We consider each individual situation and scenario before a personal addiction treatment plan is introduced and implemented. By utilizing a set of diverse methods of addiction treatment, we are able to deal with your addiction from all angles and concentrate on every aspect of your healing process.

We are proud to provide the following methods for addiction treatment at Passages Venice:

  1. Chemical Dependence Counseling
  2. Acupuncture
  3. Body Work
  4. Hypnotherapy
  5. Marriage and Family Therapy
  6. Various Group Therapy Sessions
  7. Life Purpose
  8. Continuing Care/ After Care
  9. Psychotherapy
  10. Spiritual Counseling

At Passages – Addiction Ends Here ™

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Read more about our Passages Venice Outpatient Rehab Facility at PassagesVenice.com

September 1, 2015 by

How to Discover Your Life’s Purpose

By Jennifer McDougall

 

Many of us ask ourselves this simple question, “What was I put on this earth to do?” The answer is different for every person. What we do- which direction we decide to take is purely up to us. No one can decide where our future lies besides our own individual selves.

When we take a step back and look at our lives, we see an array of choices that have lead us to this exact point. In every moment we breathe, think, and live in a reality we create for ourselves. If you find yourself unhappy and losing focus on the things that bring you joy, you may need to re-center your energy into what it is that you were put on this earth to do.

Through our skills and talents there lies something very special within every one of us that we were created to share with the world.

Many of us have often felt lost and confused. We have been in the middle of a cold fog without a clue of where to go next. With technology being the leader in our day to day lives, it’s no wonder why many of us feel overwhelmed with the amount of opportunities and choices available to us. Now more than ever we have the power to choose where we live, who we marry, if we marry, how far we travel, what we drive, wear, eat, and do.

People all across the world have the luxury of having so many options and choices they can make. The downside of that is no one can seem to decide what it is they want to do with their lives.  That is why it is important to set your sights on the things that bring you the most happiness and fulfillment at the end of each and every day.

For some, it is creating works of art that opens the eyes of others to see a perspective on something that is so abstract and brilliant that it changes the way people see the world. For others, it’s running a successful empire that conducts business in such a way that has never been done before.  There are those who hope to advocate for a nonprofit organization and help save the lives of people in less fortunate circumstances.

Finding your life purpose is a process that you should not hesitate to aim for. Read these 5 simple tips that will help you narrow down what it is that you were created to do here on earth.

  1. Write down the top 10 things you enjoy doing the most outside of work.

Think of what makes you smile the most. Ask yourself what causes you care most about? If you could teach something, what would it be? Dig deep and find what matters most to you.

  1. Use exercise and meditation to gain mental clarity.

Being active is a good way to clear your mind. It is also a great way to see where your mind wanders when you’re not busy working on other things. More importantly, it will help you preserve balance in times of excitement and distress.

  1. Listen to what other people say about your strengths and weaknesses.

They have the insight to see what best suits your abilities, personality, and skills.

  1. Embrace moments of solitude.

Put your cell phone away for at least an hour every night, and disconnect from the world and chaotic things happening outside the four walls that surround you.

  1. Find what brings you true inspiration.

It could be music, a specific person, an activity, or a book. Whatever it is that reveals inspirational qualities specifically for you is what your subconscious mind feeds from. That is the heart of your soul’s wish. That is what you should pay close attention to.

 

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also read: Life Purpose Counseling at Passages Malibu.

 

Photo via We Heart It

March 9, 2015 by

20 Fun Sober Date Ideas

By Jennifer McDougall

Are you and your sweetheart looking for something fun to do, and would prefer not to be in an alcohol or drug infused environment? Well, that’s simple. Here are 20 ideas for the two of you love birds to enjoy some precious time together.

1. Take a hike

Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hiking is a wonderful form of exercise that the two of you can enjoy together and take photos along the way. Just don’t forget to bring a bottle of water with you!

2. Grab a cup of coffee together 

Find a unique little coffee shop nearby to sit down at, and enjoy a nice cup of coffee together. This is a good way to talk about what is on your mind and share a few good laughs.

3.  Lunch or Dinner Date

Who doesn’t love to eat? Go grab a bite somewhere neither of you have ever been before. This will be a fun experience for both of you and when you think about the place again you will think of each other, and remember the great time you shared, hopefully. Visit Eater to see all the best places to check out near you.

 4. Be tourists for a day 

Who cares if you’ve lived in the same city for the past 5 years; you probably have not explored everything the city has to offer! This is the time to go roam around and check out some of the places on your list you’ve been wanting to visit, but “haven’t had the time.” Visit Things To Do to see what there is to see and do in your city.

5. Go bowling 

You may be surprised to see how much better your game is without blurred vision and feeling off-balanced. There’s a much less chance you’ll slip and fall on the alley too. #ThanksSobriety

6. Dance Lessons

Whether you are a beginner or a skilled dancer, check out your local dance studios for you and your honey to swing in some fun on the dance floor. Don’t be shy! Get out there.

7. Ice Skating

Many cities have an indoor ice skating rink where you and your sweetheart can go ice skating all year round.

8. Go out for brunch

Switch things up and take your loved one out to a nice brunch. Get dressed up and take photos of one another while you dive into your favorite breakfast or lunch item.

9. Take a fitness class together

Break a sweat and shed some calories by getting involved in a fun fitness class. Look at available classes at the gym or local fitness studios. Groupon is a great place to find some local fitness deals.

10. Photography adventure

Plan a day for you and your sweetheart to get out visit a variety of fun and beautiful places in your city. Bring your camera and begin capturing priceless moments together.

11. Go for a boat ride

If you don’t have a boat of your own, visit a local marina and inquire information on renting a small boat for a couple hours. Get out on the open water and enjoy the tranquil scenery.

12. Improv show

Laugh the night away at a local improv show. These shows are usually inexpensive and a lot of fun.

13. Wander a bookstore

Go into a local bookstore and wander around. Browse through the store and pick out the books that spark your interest. Take about the different book titles, covers, and content with your loved one.

14. Visit a local fair or amusement park

Connect with your inner-child and ride some of  your favorite childhood rides.

15. Take a cooking class together

Those who cook together, stay together. Right? Well, maybe, but its certainly worth trying.

16. Take a mini vacation or road trip

Nothing like the feeling of freedom out on the open road. Enjoy some time away from your day to day routine and explore new places and new horizons with the one you love. Don’t forget the music and of course your camera too.

17. Have a nature picnic

Plan a nice little picnic lunch out in the fresh air. Go to a local park, beach, or even your backyard.

18. Get out the old board games

Who doesn’t love a game of Monopoly, or Life? How about Guess Who? There are so many fun board games we might have forgotten about over the years. Maybe its time to break them out and have a game night.

19. Spa day

Spa days are not just for women. Men deserve a spa day from time to time too. Call up a local day spa and reserve a spot for 2, where you and your boo can relax, de-stress, and recharge.

20. Stargaze

Grab a blanket and head outside when the sky is perfectly dark and the stars twinkle bright. Watch for shooting stars and  point out the Big Dipper. Men: don’t forget to bring an extra jacket for your lady in case its chilly outside!

 

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Image via We Heart It

January 16, 2015 by

10 Ideas for a Fun and Sober New Year’s Eve

By Jennifer McDougall

New Year’s Eve is a time when friends and family gather together to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. Many of those who make plans to go celebrate out on the town are bound to be surrounded with heavy drug and alcohol intake. For those of us who are sober, it could be uncomfortable and more of a headache to be in that type of a toxic environment.

So what do you do if you are sober and would prefer not to go out to a night club or be around people who are using drugs and alcohol? Well, don’t worry. Here at Passages Malibu, we have 10 fun ideas for you to enjoy the most perfect sober New Year’s Eve yet!

  1. Enjoy a nice dinner out on the town and finish off with coffee and a delicious dessert.
  2. Have some laughs at a local comedy show.
  3. Pamper yourself with a spa night in the comfort of your own home.
  4. Volunteer your time to serve others in your community.
  5. Ice skating after dark with a couple friends.
  6. Become a designated Uber driver  and make some extra cash.
  7. Take an afternoon hike with a friend or two. Enjoy the fresh air and take fun photos of your adventures.
  8. Meditate on your New Year’s Resolutions and think about the positive changes you wish to make in the coming year.
  9. Stay at home or go to a friend’s house to have a movie marathon accompanied with hot tea or sparkling cider.
  10. Host a game night with tasty appetizers and a few non-alcoholic beverage selections for your guests to enjoy.

 

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Image via We Heart It

December 30, 2014 by

Heal Anxiety Without Prescription Drugs

By Jennifer McDougall

You can feel it explode from your very core and spread through your entire body. Your heart is racing at an excessive rate and that tightness in the center of your belly sends several waves of discomfort making it hard for you to concentrate. Some people experience anxiety because of their own worries and fears. This can include a wide range of reasons, but no matter what that reasons are the truth is that anxiety is stealing your happiness and life is too short to be anything but happy!

What can you do to stop this dreadful feeling? The first thing you need to know is you don’t need prescription medicines to ease any of this tension; anxiety can be healed through natural remedies such as essential oils, breathing exercises, natural herbs, as well as many other techniques. Here are 10 ways you can naturally heal anxiety and live life more comfortable and breathe freely.

1. Meditation

2. Avoid drugs and alcohol

3. Take a break every now and then and cut yourself some slack from the overwhelming emotions of stress

4. Be sure you’re getting enough sleep

5. Limit your coffee/caffeine intake

6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes per day

7. Welcome good humor and laugh your day through the day

8. Eat well-balanced meals to maintain proper nutrition

9. Close your eyes for 10 seconds and take three deep breaths

10. Talk to a professional who can help you manage your stress and anxiety to avoid it becoming a life threatening problem

 

Also see:  Anxiety Disorders and Substance Abuse

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Image via We Heart I

December 29, 2014 by

Are you the Enabler? Here’s How to Change That

By Jennifer McDougall

When someone you know is battling an addiction and desperately needs help changing their current conditions and lifestyle the last thing they need is to be influenced by an enabler. If you are not careful, that enabler could be you.

Do you have a loved one who wants to quit drinking or using drugs, but on the weekends you try to persuade them to loosen up and have some fun by encouraging them to indulge?  If so, you are not helping this person get to where they want and need to be. You are enabling them.

Sometimes a person who is trying to come off drugs or alcohol has a difficult time communicating the problem. They may even have difficulty saying no to you. Maybe they have not realized yet why they are using drugs and alcohol; all they know is they want to stop, because it is creating a mess out of their life.

If someone you know has talked to you about making a positive change such as quitting smoking, drinking, or using drugs please listen to them carefully. In many cases, there is a lot more to it than the substance abuse itself. Persuading them to do something they actually don’t want to do could reside in anger quickly down the road. They may wake up with a hangover the next morning and yell at you asking you why you don’t take the situation seriously and respect their wishes to get sober. Surprisingly enough this happens a lot within families, circles of friends, even co-workers who do not understand the sincerity of one’s wishes.

Here are 10 ways to stop being an enabler to a friend or loved one battling an addition:

  1. Remove all temptation. Do not encourage or provoke drug or alcohol use at any time.
  2. Motivate and support the positive changes the person is making.
  3. Allow them to take responsibility for their daily life (finances, job, rent, etc.) while offering help when things become too overwhelming.
  4. Help provide the skills and resources needed for the abuser to become the best version of themselves that they can reasonably achieve.
  5. Do not try to sugarcoat the truth. Be real with them, but be ready to listen to their confessions and questions.
  6. Keep a close watch on what you say around your loved one. Don’t entice them of stories about partying and reminiscing of times when you would get wasted.
  7. Make sobriety fun (see: 23 Fun Sober Activities).
  8. Stop coming to the person’s rescue every single time they fail. Failure can actually be a good thing if you allow it to work in the way that teaches the abuser a valuable lesson. Coming to their every call with a solution of your own does not actually help this person.
  9. Do not punish the person for their actions. Be open to listening to them. Be there to hear them express themselves without you getting angry at them.
  10. Do not be ashamed of your loved one for their behaviors. Do not tell them how they have embarrassed you or made you look bad in some way. It is important to be stable and compassionate in any disheartening situation your love one may endure with you. Your shame towards your loved one will leave them feeling depressed and withdrawn.
  11. Reward them sporadically with gifts, notes, and a listening ear.

 

 

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo by: Jennifer McDougall

December 8, 2014 by

What is GHB or γ-Hydroxybutyric acid?

By Jennifer McDougall

 

GHB, short for γ-Hydroxybutyric acid is another drug wreaking havoc on today’s club kids. It is popular among teens, young adults, and those in the bodybuilding community (used to increase muscle growth and athletic performance). So what exactly is it?

GHB, otherwise known as “G”, was synthesized in France over 50 years ago and originally used as an anesthetic, but many rejected it due to its unwanted side effects. It was reintroduced in the medical community in 1987, and was used in research studies to determine whether or not it could be used to help patients with severe pain, sleep disorders, and to help with weight loss. Some have reported to use it as an anti-aging component.  Bodybuilders have been told that this drug would help to increase muscle size.

What some physicians prescribing this drug are not telling their patients is that it is extremely easy to overdose on GHB when mixed with alcohol or any other chemically induced substance such as cocaine and ecstasy. Even though some confuse this drug to be related to ecstasy because of its other name “Liquid X,” there is actually no relation; “G” is a completely separate drug.

It grew popularity in the early ’90s in North America among the club scene and regardless of many overdoses on the drug “G” was approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat narcolepsy under the name of “Xyrem.”

GHB is a powerful nervous system depressant and psychoactive drug and has been said to be one of the most dangerous drugs in the country. One very alarming thought about “G” is that many young adults believe they can use “G” responsibly. This is completely untrue.

The average measurement that is consumed is in the amount which fills a water bottle cap, or one teaspoon taken orally. It may be clear or blue, and it has a salty taste. “G” is used to relax and calm a person’s mind, but can cause a lot of anxiety, sweating, blurry vision, tunnel vision and it can even result in sudden unconsciousness, a coma, and in many cases death. Many club-goers use it as a “pregame” drug either before they get to the club, or while partying to increase the euphoria of other substances, such as cocaine, alcohol, and/or ecstasy, which can be instantly deadly. “G” stays in the body for about 12 hours and feelings of euphoria may last up to 48 hours.

When mixed with alcohol and any other substance, “G” becomes one of the deadliest drugs out there. Many reports have shown cases of women dying every year from “G” being poured into their drinks at a bar or nightclub and being used as a date rape drug. It is important for both men and women to be extremely careful and consciously aware of their surroundings. It does not take much for someone to slip up alongside you and pour something very dangerous in any beverage while looking the other way.

A person who consumes even just one water bottle cap size of “G” is expected to experience numbness all over their body, time-lapse,  a disengagement in intellect, difficulty speaking, shallow breathing, delusion, slow heart rate, amnesia, and potentially overdose or death. It was actually approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2002 to use as a treatment for narcolepsy (sleeping disorder) and has been found to be addictive.

There is not a whole lot of information out there about “G,” and many people are unaware of the serious dangers that just a small amount of this liquid can cause.  Below you’ll find additional information that can help save a life or help someone in need.

How to avoid being “drugged”:   

  • Never accept a drink from a stranger.
  • Never leave a drink unattended.
  • If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
  • Stay consciously aware of surroundings.

Signs you have been drugged:

  • You feel more intoxicated than you should.
  • You feel intoxicated when you haven’t been drinking alcohol.
  • You suddenly become very sleepy and light-headed.
  • You experience a significant loss of coordination.
  • You wake up feeling fuzzy and can’t recall any events of the night before.
  • You believe sexual contact occurred, but you cannot remember details of the incident.

What to do if you suspect you’ve just been dosed:

  • Get to a safe place as quickly as possible.
  • Call a friend, family member, or even police for help.
  • Seek out medical assistance and describe all of the symptoms and what you remember.

Street names used for “G” or GHB:

  • Liquid X
  • Vita-G
  • Liquid Ecstasy
  • Cherry Meth
  • Fantasy
  • Liquid E
  • Blue Nitro
  • Georgia Home Boy
  • Juice

Short term effects:

  • Intense relaxation
  • Increase in blood pressure
  • Hallucinations
  • Decrease in heart rate and body temperature
  • An increase in confidence
  • Memory impairment

Effects when consumption is increased:

  • Disorientation
  • Significant impairment to speech and bodily function
  • Convulsions
  • Stiff muscles
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness
  • Sudden loss of consciousness
  • Possible overdose
  • Possible death

Common Side Effects:

  • Nausea
  • Amnesia
  • Depression
  • Vertigo

 

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Follow Passages Malibu on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Image via We Heart It

December 8, 2014 by