LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

Even though my parents had convinced me to attend this drug rehab program, I had all but given up. All I had left was my home and I was seven months behind in my mortgage. Crystal meth was stealing everything I had. Being in an abusive relationship brought me so low the only thing that took the pain away was another blow of meth. It was obvious that my meth addiction was killing me.

When I first arrived at this drug rehab facility I tried my best to stay away from everyone. I figured their addiction had made them as sick as me. I thought they would treat me the same way my partner did and I couldn’t stand that. After a few days in this drug rehab facility I began to let my guard down and accept help for my meth addiction. I never in a million years, imagined I could feel so good. I needed help for crystal meth for so long. Attending this drug rehab center has given me my life back. The staff at the drug rehab center has taught me how to stand up for myself, I have gained self worth and have an entirely new concept of myself. I know that crystal meth is not a solution but the problem.  My meth addiction is a thing of the past, now I must continue to mature and grow.

I have my family back and I no longer speak to my partner, although I realize this wasn’t all his fault. I stayed. Thank god this drug rehab center knew how to treat crystal meth addiction. It is tough enough being gay, but to add a crystal meth addiction on top of it was impossible.

 I will always be grateful for the drug addiction treatment you provided me with and for giving me my life back. I am no longer a slave to crystal meth or Frank. Anyone I meet I would refer to you for drug rehab.

Thankyou for the help and also thank your helpline staff. The people at the helpline were as supportive as the staff at the drug rehab center. For those of you interested the helpline number was 1-800-511-9225.

Gay Drug Addiction

Gay drug addiction and crystal meth abuse is especially dangerous because of the close relationship between gay drug addiction, crystal meth, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Gay men are still the highest risk group for HIV, and gay intravenous drug users have two methods of contracting or transmitting the virus, through sexual contact or infected needles. While clearly not all gay addicts are intravenous drug users, gay addiction is still dangerous because drug and alcohol use lowers inhibitions and often results in poor choices that have physical and social consequences.

Also of special risk are gay drug user’s especially crystal meth abuse that frequent the “party-n-play” scene, where the likelihood of regrettable sexual choices under the influence is high. These are just a handful of the issues related to gay substance abuse

Gay Drug Addiction Treatment

Gay drug addiction treatment or substance abuse treatment can take on several different looks and philosophies. The LGBT substance abuse treatment can take place in a hospital setting or a free standing drug addiction treatment facility. Most are free standing. Both can provide drug detox services, as well as, rehabilitation treatment. The drug detox service located within the same rehabilitation center is imperative.

As for the drug addiction treatment philosophy, a member of the LGBT family can go to a gay substance abuse treatment program or gay friendly drug addiction treatment program. The real difference is one rehabilitation center is gay only, while the gay friendly substance abuse treatment program treats all populations with a special emphasis on gay drug addiction.

For help locating a gay drug treatment center or gay friendly treatment program, you can call the gay addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225 and someone will be there 24/7 to help you. The gay addiction helpline is toll free and all the addiction helpline services are free of charge. Lastly, this national addiction helpline can provide you with information related to a number of different issues ranging from dual diagnosis treatment, drug detox, or intervention services.

Who Suffers From Sexual Addiction?

Over 80% of sex addicts report physical, sexual, or psychological abuse in early childhood years.  Many people who become sexual addicts grew up in normal homes, but lacked attention or sufficient affection from loved ones, and later in life sought that affection erroneously through sexual behaviors.  There are a variety of causes for sex addiction, but more surprising is the manner in which sexual addiction affects the lives of addicts.  Many sex addicts lead outwardly normal lives, having a spouse, family, stable jobs, and appear to be normal everyday people.  The reality is for many sex addicts; a secret life of sexual behaviors is putting themselves and their loved ones at risk, and gains more and more dangerous potential with each impulsive act.  Sex addicts are common people and do not stand out with noticeable signs, that may be present in drug or alcohol addiction.  Sex addicts often feel shame and guilt even more so than drug or alcohol addicts because sexual addiction is so misunderstood and unacceptable for many people.  For this reason, sex addicts often have a very hard time admitting to others that they have a problem, making the task of find treatment more difficult from fear of judgment.  The reason sex addiction is not as common as drug and alcohol addiction is because of the secretive acts of sexual addicts.  Many sex addicts engage in their impulsive activities in manners which are illusive to mainstream society, such as internet pornography, topless bars, solicitation of prostitutes and escorts, and anonymous sex (one night stands).  The disease of sex addiction is one that is progressive with the addict’s selectivity in sexual partners and objects decreasing over time, putting the addict’s personal health more and more at risk.  The very nature of this and any other addiction is the compulsive use or repetition of risky behaviors despite the ever-present and increasing negative consequences.

Is There Sex Addiction Treatment?

Like gambling addiction, sexual addiction is a treatable disease and there are several rehab centers equipped to provide effective and affordable sex addiction treatment.  While sex addiction can be efficiently treated in drug rehab centers, it may be a better plan to get sex addiction treatment in a  rehab center designed sex addiction treatment, gambling addiction treatment, internet and gaming addiction.  Even though the goal and message of addiction treatment is essentially the same, sexual addiction usually comes with early childhood trauma and could be coupled with dual diagnosis mental health issues that need to be addressed.  In sex addiction treatment, addicts learn about the nature of their disease and learn the tools necessary for a healthy and compulsive free life after rehab.  More importantly, sex addicts learn that their disease is not their fault and it’s not something for them to be ashamed of.  Sex addiction treatment differs from some drug rehab and other specific rehab center in the sense that they will place more focus on accepting sexual addiction as a disease and not a character flaw or indicator of the addict being a bad person or even a sexual predator.  Because sex addiction is so misunderstood and badly judged by the majority of the public, sex addicts are often ostracized from family, society, and job settings.  This kind of treatment leads to severe feelings of shame and guilt over a situation that is truly not under the addict’s control.  When sexual addicts enter rehab, they find themselves in a safer, compassionate, and understanding environment where they will not be judged and can receive the help they need to lead healthy and compulsive free lives.

If you need help locating a sex addiction treatment program or rehab center, you can call the sex addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225. The sex addiction helpline is toll free and there is no charge for their helpline services.

Alcohol rehab in Texas is provided on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Texas alcohol rehab also provides dual diagnosis treatment for many of its patients. The aspect of alcohol rehabilitation in Dallas, Ft. Worth or even Houston does not seem to focus heavily on providing compehensive alcohol rehabilitation for the LGBT. Don’t misunderstand me, alcohol rehabs treat the gay and lesbian population but have not really designed programs for them and their partners.

Family recovery in an alcohol rehab generally consists of the significant other, mom, dad etc. In the gay and lesbian community it would be focused on the patient and their partner. This is only an issue in the Texas alcohol rehab where other family members have not dealt with their homphobic attitudes, which unfortunately is the majority of the population.

It is treatment elements such as this which makes it more productive for alcohol rehabs that provide treatment for the LGBT to carefully look at their recovery needs and see if the alcohol rehabilitation program is designed to effectively deal with them.

To locate an alcohol rehab in Texas, call the alcohol helpline at 1-800-511-9225. The alcohol helpline is toll free and does not charge for evaluations or referrals.

Drug Rehab and Drug Addiction

Drug addiction and alcoholism research has shown that drug addicts and alcoholics who attend residential addiction treatment and drug rehab programs that provide dual diagnosis treatment, have a much better chance of recovery. Although individual addiction treatment and dual diagnosis programs can vary, the average length of time of such a addiction treatment program is approximately six weeks.
 

Drug Detox and Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug rehab is a series of addiction treatment services. Alcohol detox and drug detox is only the first step to completing drug rehab. Alcohol detox or drug detox alone is not sufficient to change the patterns created by drug addiction and alcoholism. Recovery from drug addiction or alcoholism involves an extended addiction treatment process. In most cases, dual diagnosis treatment is not provided in drug detox. The reason is that so many of the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal or drug withdrawal mimic psychiatric symptoms, it is best to wait until the patient is medically stable and completed drug detox. It is usually in the drug rehab portion of addiction treatment that the dual diagnosis treatment is provided.

Drug Detox in Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Denial is a significant barrier in dual diagnosis treatment and drug rehab. Almost all addicts tell themselves that they can conquer their drug addiction or alcohol addiction on their own without the help of addiction treatment resources. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. When an addict makes an attempt to discontinue drug abuse without the aid of professional drug rehab help, recovery is short lived, sometimes due to intense cravings and sometimes due to overpowering drug withdrawal symptoms. An addict or alcoholic who wishes to recover from their drug addiction will usually require admission to a drug detox program first followed by residential drug rehab.

For drug rehab help you can call the national addiction helpline. Therer is someone available 24/7 to help you locate a drug rehab and help you make an informed decision. For help call 1-800-99-DETOX NOW!!

A heroin rehab program in Florida seems to have attracted a number of heroin addicts in New York and New Jersey to access drug addiction treatment there. When the residents from New York and New Jersey were asked why they chose to come to a Florida rehab program instead of a New York rehab program they stated the rehab programs seemed more comprehensive down here. They had everything from heroin detox to their own halfway houses.

When the Jacksonville, Florida drug rehab was interviewed it was true. This particular drug addiction treatment program had a heroin detox program, inpatient rehab, day treatment, outpatient rehab and its own recovery apartments.

In addition, it had a four day family program and a seperate LGBT treatment center. It is no wonder people from all over the country travel to Jacksonville, Florida for treatment.

If you are looking for a Heroin drug rehab or heroin detox program, you can call 1-800-99-DETOX and someone will be available day or night to assist you.

The effects of meth addiction have been devestating across the United States. It used to be that crystal meth addiction was rampant in the MidWest such as Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois. Today, crystal meth addiction is in New York, New Jersey, Florida or Texas. It is everywhere.

 Although crystal meth is not physically addicting, it has a tremendous emotional dependence. People want to avoid the crash of crystal meth as much as they want to enjoy the high. As such, they continue to use crystal meth over and over again, known as a binge, and this may last days on end. during this time people do not eat or sleep and become anxious and paranoid. In an attempt to deal with the anxiety people lean towards tranquilizers, xanax and valium for sleep. All that happens here is another addiction.

Addiction to crystal meth must be treated before it kills. If you are suffering from crystal meth addiction and looking for a meth treatment program call 1-800-99-DETOX.

The words gay rehab sound so strange. Does gay rehab mean that  you are going to try and scare me straight or perform exploratory surgery in order for me to become heterosexual. NOT…Gay rehab are words referring to a drug rehabilitation program that is gay oriented. It really should be called a gay friendly rehab, but what the heck.To tell you the truth, as long as they help me to recover from my alcoholism, they can call it gay alcohol rehab, gay drug rehab or just gay rehab. Stop already! Rehab, rehab, rehab!

I found out about the drug rehab program I attended from my partner whose friend worked at the Gay Travel Agency. Don’t say it, I know.  I was introduced to to one of the agents who had been to one of these drug rehab programs and is still sober. Don’t tell my partner, but he was and is very cute.  The travel agencyas it turned out catered mainly to people in recovery who were yes, GAY!.  I listened and after much internal discussions said, ok, now let’s go on the cruise. I’m not that crazy, if I am going to rehab, I am going on a cruise first. When I got back, believe me I was ready and into the drug rehabilitation program I went.

 Not to draw this out, but I went thru the Freedom Rings program  and 6 months later I am still sober. I have called the man at the travel agency who helped me and thanked him, but told him I could never go on that singles cruise again. Almost fell overboard and that was the least of it. In any case, if you are thinking about a drug rehab program call Freedom Rings, they know their stuff. By the way, the guy at the travel agency……dirty boy…….lol

Prescription medications was surely something I needed, but it was was also something I abused. After neck surgery I was still in need of pain medication, something which I hoped the surgery would take care of. The Loritab I was taking worked fine, but like any good addict, I figured if one worked really well, then two Loritab would work great. Well the extra pill sure made me feel good, but as time went on my tolerance to Loritab grew. Pretty soon I went from four a day to 14 a day. I definitely developed a Loritab addiction and couldn’t stop.

I finially entered a medical detox that understood how to detox someone who had prescription medication addiction, but who also had to return to using the same drug. This terrified me as I could never give up mu Loritab, but the Loritab abuse was killing me.

After completing the medical detox, I went to a rehab that understood prescription medication addiction and Loritab addiction in general. They haelped me understand the difference between Lorityab addiction and Loritab abuse. Today I am able to take prescription pain medication and use it as prescribed. Of course I can’t do it without help so my wife is the Loritab control officer.

Medical  Detox

Withdrawal is caused by stopping or dramatically reducing drug use after heavy and prolonged use. The reaction frequently includes sweating, shaking, headache, drug craving, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, inability to sleep, confusion, agitation, depression, anxiety, and other behavioral changes. Certain types of drugs require a period of medical detox, others do not. Opiates, such as heroin and methadone do require medical detox. Prescription medications, of all classifications, also require a medical  detox. Other illegal drugs, such as marijuana, crystal meth and cocaine (crack) do not require medical detox. Often, there is a significant, self induced, psychological dependence associated with these substances and therefore, a period of stabilization is advisable. Prescription drugs such as Hydrocodone, Oxycontin, Xanax, Vicodin and Lortab, all require medically supervised detox. Treatment of withdrawal (detox) includes closely monitoring the person’s vital signs, supportive care and medications. The most commonly used medication, Klonepin, primarily reduces physical symptoms. Buprenophex, anticonvulsant medications are some of the commonly used medications for drug detox. The time period for medical detox is 3 to 7 days of medically monitored supervision.