LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

Club drug addiction can cause serious health problems and even death, especially when used in conjunction with alcohol. Though club drugs may be popular with some teen and young adults in party situations, they also pose real and life-threatening health risks. At an age when many youth may feel invincible, feeling the negative effects of club drugs may come as a shock as true human vulnerabilities to taking illicit substances are exposed and brought to light. The increase of the use of club drugs in the gay community is also on the rise, leading to a higher incidence of club drug addiction. Since so much of the club drug use is found in bars, and so many of the social activities of the gay community center around the bar scene, the consequences are obvious. Club drug addiction is treatable, so FIND TREATMENT NOW!  1-800-511-9225…..

Ecstasy, Rohypnol, Ketamine and GHB are the most common club drugs on the scene. Rohypnol is also known as the “date rape” drug and has been implicated in many sexual assaults over the past 5 years teens and young adults are attracted to the club drugs because of the euphoria one may feel when at first taking the substances. Most club drugs are also easy to obtain and cost little compared to other illegal substances, which easily leads to club drug addiction.. Ecstasy (MDMA) is perhaps the most famous of the club drugs, which is both a stimulant and a hallucinogenic. XTC, as it is often referred, is a “hug drug” that loosens inhibitions and gives a feeling of temporary wellbeing, energy, empathy and openness. Ecstasy was legal in the

If you require help with club drug addiction or use you can call the national helpline at 1-800-511-9225. DON”T WAIT, CALL NOW for HELP….Please don’t misunderstand me, the club drug scene is certainly not limited to the gay and lesbian community. More people than we want to recognize have ruined their lives over club drugs..

Heroin Addiction Treatment
A variety of effective addiction treatment is available for heroin addiction. Heroin addiction treatment tends to be more effective when heroin abuse is identified early. The addiction treatments that follow vary depending on the individual, but methadone, a synthetic opiate that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has a proven record of success for people addicted to heroin. Other pharmaceutical approaches, such as buprenorphine, and many behavioral therapies also are used for the treatment of heroin addiction. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the array of medications now available for the treatment of heroin addiction and other opiate addictions. This medication is different from methadone in that it offers less risk of addiction and can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor’s office. Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is a combination drug product formulated to
minimize abuse. The best situation to administer this medication is within an addiction treatment program for the additional support people need..

Heroin Detoxification or Heroin Detox

Heroin detoxification programs aim to achieve safe and humane withdrawal from opiates by minimizing the severity of withdrawal symptoms and other medical complications. The primary objective of a heroin detoxification program is to relieve withdrawal symptoms while patients adjust to a drug-free state. Not in itself a treatment for heroin addiction, heroin detox is a useful step only when it leads into long-term addiction treatment that is either drug-free (residential or outpatient) or uses medications as part of the treatment. The best documented drug-free treatments are the therapeutic community residential programs lasting 3 to 6 months. Heroin addiction treatment programs today, generally last 40 days.

Opiate withdrawal is rarely fatal. It is characterized by acute withdrawal symptoms which peak 48 to 72 hours after the last opiate dose and disappear within 7 to 10 days, to be followed by a longer term abstinence syndrome of general malaise and opioid craving.

Buprenorphine Addiction Treatment

A medication for opiate addiction treatment was developed to treat opiate addiction in the privacy of a physician’s office. This has not proven to be especially effective on an outpatient basis as a person suffering from opiate addiction tends to hang around old friends who are also suffering from opiate addiction and relapse results. You are better off taking buprenorphine for opiate detox in an addiction treatment program.
 
Methadone addiction treatment programs

Methadone addiction treatment has been used for more than 30 years to effectively and safely for opiate addiction treatment. Properly prescribed methadone is not intoxicating or sedating, and its effects do not interfere with ordinary activities such as driving a car. The medication is taken orally and it suppresses narcotic withdrawal for 24 to 36 hours. Patients are able to perceive pain and have emotional reactions. Most important, methadone relieves the craving associated with heroin addiction; craving is a major reason for relapse. Among methadone patients, it has been found that normal street doses of heroin are ineffective at producing euphoria, thus making the use of heroin more easily extinguishable.

Methadone’s effects last four to six times as long as those of heroin, so people in opiate addiction treatment need to take it only once a day. Also, methadone is medically safe even when used continuously for 10 years or more. Combined with behavioral therapies or counseling and other supportive services, methadone enables patients to stop using heroin (and other opiates) and return to more stable and productive lives. Methadone dosages must be carefully monitored in patients who are receiving antiviral therapy for HIV infection, to avoid potential medication interactions.

Addiction Treatment and Behavioral Therapy

Although behavioral and pharmacologic treatment for addiction can be extremely useful when employed alone, science has taught us that integrating both types of treatment for addiction will ultimately be the most effective approach. There are many effective behavioral therapies available for heroin addiction treatment. These can include residential addiction treatment and outpatient treatment approaches. An important task is to match the best treatment program approach to meet the particular needs of the patient. Moreover, several new behavioral therapies, such as contingency management therapy and cognitive-behavioral interventions, show particular promise as treatments for
heroin addiction, especially when applied in concert with pharmacotherapy’s. Contingency management therapy uses a voucher- based system, where patients earn “points” based on negative drug tests, which they can exchange for items that encourage healthy living. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help modify the patient’s expectations and behaviors related to drug use, and to increase skills in coping with various life stressors. Both behavioral and pharmacological treatments help to restore a degree of normalcy to brain function and behavior, with increased employment rates and lower risk of HIV and other diseases and criminal behavior.

Alcohol Detox Programs

If you are suffering from alcoholism and need alcohol detox, you need to find a medical detox program. A medical detox for alcoholism is the best way to ensure your safety during the alcohol withdrawal phase. Trying to go through alcohol detox without medical assistance can be life threatening, so we strongly encourage you to find a safe medical detox program. Alcohol detoxification or medical detox is the first step of the alcohol treatment process, Withdrawal is the term used to describe the body’s reaction to the removal of the alcohol it has become dependent upon. Alcohol detoxification is the first step because until the physical dependency issue is taken care of, no other form of alcohol rehab treatment will work. Through a combination of detox medication and a relaxing and professional environment alcohol detoxification can be easier to tolerate. Until the alcohol detox process is complete, someone is just not ready for alcohol rehab treatment. Therefore, the ultimate goal of medical detox is managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and assessing the individual’s need for ongoing alcohol rehab treatment..

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms While in an Alcohol Detox Program

Symptoms can range from mild to quite severe. Mild reactions in you might experience while in a alcohol detox program can include tremors, headaches, vomiting, perspiration, restlessness, lose of appetite and insomnia. More serious effects one can experience in an alcohol detox program can be Delirium Tremens (DT’s), autonomic hyperactivity and seizures (convulsions). It has been estimated that 1 in 4 patients are at high risk of a withdrawal seizure if not medically treated during alcohol detox.  You can find an alcohol detoxification program by calling 1-800-99-DETOX.

Alcohol Rehab Treatment is the Solution

Most people who complete a detox program are in need of further residential treatment. This type of alcohol rehab is referred to as alcohol rehab treatment. Here, the emotional issues associated with your alcoholism are addressed. This can happen in individual therapy, group therapy, dual diagnosis treatment, experiential therapy, family therapy or relapse prevention. In any case, make sure the alcohol rehab treatment program you choose is capable of meeting your specific recovery needs. Alcoholism recovery takes time and commitment. An alcohol rehab treatment program can be found, as can an alcohol detox program, by calling the national detox helpline. The detox helpline is available 24/7 and is toll free. The detox helpline is 1-800-99-DETOX and all calls to the detox helpline are confidential. Don’t wait, get to alcohol rehab treatment or detox.

Crank, Speed, Crystal, Ice, Glass, Tina or Methamphetamine are some of the many different street names for Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine abuse and meth addiction is now considered a national epidemic.
When Methamphetamine is taken into the body, large surges of dopamine are released in the brain, causing an intense rush of pleasure or prolonged sense of euphoria. Over time, Methamphetamine destroys dopamine receptors, making it nearly impossible for the addict to feel pleasure without it. This causes a vicious cycle of extreme highs under the influence of Methamphetamine and extreme lows without it.  Extended and chronic use can lead to psychotic behaviors, including paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, extreme aggression, delusions, hallucinations, and even death.
Powdered Methamphetamine can be snorted, smoked, injected, diluted in drinks and swallowed or eaten whole. There are pill forms of Crystal Meth but are rare and not as widely used as powdered Methamphetamine. One year of Crystal Meth use can cause irreparable damage to the brain and body. One of the more unfavorable behaviors associated with crystal meth addiction is sexual promiscuity. An addict suffering from crystal meth addiction or meth abuse may engage in sexual acts that they normally would not do when sober. The rise in libido when high is quadruple that of the normal, average sex drive. The risky sexual behavior involved with Methamphetamine abuse or meth addiction is one of the leading contributors to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
The destructive nature of Methamphetamine doesn’t stop with the addict; it stretches to all those around them, affecting loved ones and those close to them. An addict on a Methamphetamine “run” or binge can stay up for days, or in extreme cases, weeks at a time. But eventually, the addict crashes and may sleep for days to recoup the desperately needed rest. During this time, children of the addict are neglected and may find themselves having to fend for themselves while their parents recuperate.
Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment Center

An addiction treatment center for meth abuse or addiction to crystal meth will require a medical detox program in conjunction with a comprehensive addiction treatment program. The addiction treatment program will, in most cases, require a dual diagnosis treatment component, as many meth addicts enter the addiction treatment center suffering from depression and other forms of mental illness. It is often difficult to determine which came first, the depression or the methamphetamine addiction. In either case the solution for meth addicts is to enter an addiction treatment program NOW…..for addiction treatment.
For addiction help you can call the 24 hour addiction helpline, which operates nationwide. Addiction help can be found in any part of the country and the addiction helpline is toll free to everyone. For addiction HELP CALL 1-800-511-9225 NOW!!!

It is one thing to find addiction treatment, but it is an entirely different story when you are looking for an addiction treatment program capable of treating a gay man or woman. Don’t get me wrong, not that we are sooo special, but when I first went to an addiction treatment program I wasn’t ready to discuss the idea that I might be gay. No way. I was to scared and ashamed. there might have been another gay man or woman for me to speak with, but that was it. The environment was much too intimidating for me.

Addiction Treatment Help

For me to find the addiction treatment help I needed a friend of mine told me about an addiction helpline. It wasn’t a bad idea because I really didn’t know what to ask as I was too scared to ask the question I needed to. When I called the addiction helpline they asked me a variety of questions which included whether I had a partner who was interested in the family program. I knew what they meant so I said no but I used to. It was then that they asked me if I was interested in a “gay friendly addiction treatment“? Thank god they asked me…I said yes. The addiction helpline people were courteous and knew just what to ask to evaluate me as to what kind of acddiction treatment center was best for me. By the way, the helpline was toll free. If you are interested, the helpline number is 1-800-511-9225.

I completed Freedom Rings 2 years ago and life is great. I claimed my truth and admitted that I am gay. I am still not totally comfortable with everything that brings, but it is coming and guess what…..Now I have a partner. Freedom Rings saved my life. If you are looking for a “gay friendly” addiction treatment center, give them a call.

Treatment Centers and Drug Rehabs

If you suspect a loved one of having a drug addiction problem, where do you go to find information?  Information on drug addiction can be found in a variety of places. Even if you are the one with the drug addiction – when you have as much information as possible about this disease, you will be better equipped to deal with it and overcome it.

First and foremost, start with the Internet.  There is so much information on the worldwide web; you can even get a little bit overwhelmed.  However, it’s usually better to have too much information rather than not enough.  Do a quick search on your favorite search engine for “drug addiction” and then spend some time reading through the websites you are given.

Look for books on the subject of drug addiction.  Books contain a lot of relevant information that can help when addiction is part of your life.  There are even some great downloadable e-books on the Internet that can give you instant information about the disease of drug addiction.

Go to your local library and see what resources they have available.  Libraries offer more than books these days.  They have access to documentaries, pamphlets, and magazines regarding drug addiction and recovery.  They also often can provide more extensive information regarding specific drug addictions like alcoholism or methamphetamine use.

Drug Addiction Information

Check with your local police department.  Most cities have police personnel who are specifically in charge of drug information in the schools such as the D.A.R.E. program.  They are always very eager to share information with you about drug addiction in hopes that spreading the word will help curb the problem.

Talk to a doctor about drug addiction whether it’s you who has the problem or someone you love.  Physicians have much of the latest information regarding drug addiction and dependence.  If, for some strange reason, they don’t, they will be able to direct you to someone or a drug addiction treatment program who has the information you are looking for.

Many churches also have extensive information regarding drug addiction – especially if those churches host 12 step programs.  Talk to the clergy person who presides over the church and ask their advice.  Even though they are religious people, they are not blind to the problems of society and often have some very pertinent advice to offer regarding drug addiction and recovery.

When you are dealing with a drug addiction – yours or another person’s – having all the information you can get can make the difference between a successful recovery and one that is fraught with obstacles and blockages. A way to locate a  reputable drug addiction treatment program would be to call the drug addiction helpline. The addiction helpline can be reached at 1-800-99-DETOX.

Did you ever think you were in control of something? That you could figure your way out of almost anything, well that is how I felt about crystal meth. It didn’t look like scary and all the people I saw suffering from a crystal meth addiction looked like losers and had to be stupid to let themselves go that far. While in I was in the alcohol rehabilitation program I became convinced that to drink was to die, but I never did enough drugs to really make a difference.  That is why when my crystal meth addiction became apparent I was shocked. Not me!!

 Crystal Meth Rehab

While I was in crystal meth rehab they explained the disease to me and why I had no chance against using crystal meth casually. I don’t think I had as much a problem with that as I did with my pride and ego. The therapists in this rehab kept telling me that my pride and ego would kill me. That they would keep me from taking complete responsibility. It wasn’t until I competed this drug rehab, relapsed again on meth and was readmitted to the drug rehab for crystal meth addiction. All I had left was my pride and that almost killed me. I surrendered and haven’t picked up a drug or drink since that day.

As much as I gained from going to crystal meth rehab, I believe there are better things to do with my life. If you have a crystal meth addiction or need alcohol rehabilitation, call the national methamphetamine helpline. The meth helpline is available toll free at 1-800-511-9225. The alcohol rehabilitation helpline is 1-800-99-DETOX.

A drug treatment program needs to address life issues outside of the drug addiction. Medical, psychiatric, social and legal problems also need to be addressed in order to provide an effective drug treatment program. Because a person’s addiction recovery process does not follow any particular course, drug treatment plans need to be adjusted based on patient progress. Changes in medication, dual diagnosis treatment or questioning one’s sexuality in the gay, lesbian arena are just some examples of changes that may take place in a drug treatment plan.
 
Drug treatment programs also need to take into account a person’s gender, age and culture in order to provide individualized drug addiction treatment. People with drug addictions need to stay in treatment long enough for treatment to be effective. Drug addiction research has indicated that for most people, a 6-8 stay is the minimum for effective drug addiction treatment. The longer a person stays in addiction treatment the better they do. The goal of any drug addiction treatment center is to intervene with individuals and keep them engaged in treatment long enough to make an impact.
 
Many people in the drug treatment arena believed that drug addiction treatment has to be voluntary to be effective. We have since realized that is not true. Any leverage you have to keep a patient engaged in treatment is beneficial. It may keep them in treatment long enough to turn them around. If they choose not to stay in the treatment center, then you have done everything possible to help them.

Addiction recovery happens for everyone in different ways and at different times. All we can do is provide people the opportunity, provide direction, support and the best of our professional skills. It is up to them whether they are willing to do what it takes to experience quality addiction recovery.

I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and eventually moved to Orlando. It was in Orlando I began my use of crystal meth, even though I dabbled with cocaine when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. The main reason I began using drugs in the first place was I was uncomfortable in my own skin. The more uncomfortable I got and the more pressure I felt the more meth I used until I had a crystal meth addiction. Then thing really got bad.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment

 I began stealing and prostituting myself. It became one man after another just to support my meth addiction. What I didn’t realize I was really running from was admitting to myself and claiming that I was gay. I had gotten arrested so many times in Orlando, Florida that I figured if I moved back to Ft. Lauderdale, everything would be fine. Wrong, this judge gave me two choices; jail or crystal meth addiction treatment. Stupid I wasn’t, I took the crystal meth treatment program. It was here my life turned around.

Florida Addiction Treatment for the LGBT

Even though I entered treatment for my crystal meth addiction, I was intrigued when I realized this addiction treatment center had a program for gays. Now I was terrified but excited. After several weeks I was screaming I was gay everywhere I went. Everyone laughed and I knew I had to calm down but it felt so good to come out. This addiction treatment center even had my parents come up from Ft. Lauderdale and we worked things out. Today I am a proud member of the LGBT community, free from my crystal meth addiction and as content as a gay man, three years sober can be.

By the way, the name of the program was called Freedom Rings for those of you questioning your sexuality or scared to deal with it. Good Luck!