LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

I have watched Celebrity Rehab and I have to tell you that it is like a citcom. The fact that these people in Celebrity Rehab downplays the real importance of a drug addiction rehab. It is as if drug addiction rehab is not important as the major of element is automatically breached, as well as, it looks like the celebrities on Celebrity Rehab are acting.

 I saw one actor on a talk show recently and he tried to describe celebrities as different, especially regarding their access to drugs and less than desireable people. It show just how little they or he is getting out of drug addiction rehab. Their access to drugs is no greater than a physician or pharmacist and the illicit individuals they speak of are no worse than a heroin addict meets on the street every day.

In my opinion, Celebrity Rehab can and should do a much better job or portraying drug addiction rehab. Since when can patients miss group to run out to an outside activity. This is why so many celebrities relapse or run into trouble because they are treated different than others in drug addiction rehab. While they can afford better amenities of which I have no problem with I do have a problem when drug addiction rehab services are comprimised. So much for Celebrity Rehab!

For quite some time drug addiction recovery in the gay community suffered due to lack of drug addiction services which is ironic because the incidence of drug addiciton in our community is so high. Whether it is due to issues with our sexual orientation or the bar scene we frequent, drug addiction is higher in our community than the heterosexual community.

Today, drug addiction recovery is much higher than it used to be. This is due to an increase in addiction recovery program services across the country that are geared to meet our needs. Addiction recovery programs have integrated sexual orientation groups, as well as, groups focused on homophobia, internalized homophobia and more. After completing the addiction recovery programs, we now have support groups which give us the choice of where to go to bolster our addiction recovery. It is great.  I have met a ton of new friends all of who are clean and sober. By staying close and providing support to each other I believe my recovery from addiction will last forever one day at a time.

If you are looking for an addiction recovery program, call the addiction recovery helpline. The addiction recovery helpline is toll free and is available 24/7. The addiction recovery helpline number is 1-800-511-9225. 

Growing up gay presented a multitude of problems for me, many of which I chose to deal with by taking cocaine and alcohol. Everything seemed so difficult to me, whether it was maintaing a relationship in the gay world, the social scene, issues with my parents or issues within myself. Cocaine and alcohol just seemed to make things easier. One problem though, I never counted on drug addiction or alcoholism. I never dreamt that I would require drug addiction treatment or an alcohol rehab program.  Not me, drug addiction treatment and alcohol rehab was for the losers. Regardless of who it was for, I needed it and within a week I was in rehab treatment.

After being in drug addiction treatment for about a week I started to be introduced to other patients and their lives. It seemed as though there were more things we had in common than differences. With the exception of me being gay, we were very much alike. We all wished we had gone to drug addiction rehab sooner, none of us could stop on our own and we were all in denial of needing alcohol rehab help. Rehab treatment was hard, but not as hard as my drug addiction and alcoholism. That was killing me, rehab treatment was helping me.

By the time I was finished with drug addiction treatment I had an entirely different picture of myself and of other people. While I still had urges to use, I had developed coping skills while in drug rehab treatment. I had learned that feelings do pass and I can make different choices. The rehab staff was great and I would urge anyone with a drug addiction or alcoholism to get into drug addiction treatment. Alcohol rehab treatment saved my life and a quality drug addiction treatment program can save yours. Whether you are gay or straight.

For a gay friendly drug addiction treatment or alcohol rehab program you can call the national addiction or alcohol helpline at 1-800-511-9225. Call Now for HELP.

People who require crystal meth rehab are referrred to as “tweakers” by many in the rehab busines. Tweakers are really just people with a drystal meth addiction and were given that name because of the incredible amount of time they are awake due to their crystal meth addiction.  Almost every person with a crystal meth addiction requires crystla meth rehab, even though most “tweakers” are resistant to treatment until they have run out of meth.

Crystal Meth Rehabilitation

Crystal meth rehabilitation is no different than any other rehab except the “tweaker” may enter rehab more deficient from a nutritional perspective, are at high risk for STD and will require much more rest than the typical person recovering from addiction. Crystal meth detox is almost never enough when speaking of complete drystal meth rehabilitation. Crystal meth detox is only the first step and they need to go on to participate in the complete drug rehabilitation program. Keep in mind that the detox for crystal meth is not really a physical detox, but more of an emotional detox. A person experiencing cetox from crystal meth will be anxious, irritable, experience mood swings and craving for the drug. During the crystal meth detox phase of rehab, medications are provided to produce a calming effect for the patient, allowing them to relax and recooperate.

 Although there is not a physical withdrawl associated with crystal meth detox, do not be fooled, these people require medical supervision. The “tweaker” has literally poisoned themselves with their meth use causing medical damage and creating medical problems for which they require assistance.

Orlando, Florida certainly was an interesting place to live with all the amusement attractions and clubs to frequent. Unfortunately, with all this excitement came lots of alcohol and with the alcohol came the crystal meth. After some time, although I denied it, I was suffering from an addiction to both. It wasn’t until I received my second DUI and fell down some steps and cut my forehead, that my partner insisted I get into addiction treatment in Orlando. With great hesitance, I began to research Orlando addiction treatment which could treat a gay man and wanted to treat a gay man. Addiction treatment in Orlando, Florida was really limited and especially so regarding the LGBT.

I later stumbled on addiction treatment in Jacksonville, Florida for the LGBT. I was excited and scared at the same time. I would be away from my partner, I didn’t know Jacksonville, Florida and was scared what life would be like without crystal meth and alcohol. I was excited because I was going to an addiction treatment program that understood me. After a few days, I finially left Orlando and headed to Jacksonville. When I arrived at Freedom Rings I felt really welcome. This addiction treatment program was much nicer than the others in Orlando.

I have to admit that it has only been four weeks since addiction treatment ended, I still think about alcohol and crystal, but I am committed to staying clean and sober. thank you to Freedom Rings and the addiction treatment staff. 

From what I could see, there doesn’t seem to be very much addiction treatment in Key West and even less inpatient addiction treatment that focuses on the needs of the LGBT. Yes, there are outpatient therapists, but for the individual that needs addiction treatment in an addiction treatment center there are few to choose from. There irony here is that the population in Key West, Florida is predominantly LGBT.

There is a gay friendly addiction treatment center in Florida which is located in Jacksonville, Florida. This addiction treatment center, which is called, Freedom Rings, is not an entirely gay treatment center. It is an addiction treatment program which meets the needs of the LGBT community. This approach is considered more effective than the “gay only” addiction treatment approach. The general belief in the addiction treatment world is that a person’s last day in an addiction treatment program should resemble their first day in the real world. This is what Freedom Rings is all about. You can find Freedom Rings addiction treatment center at www.gay-rehab.com.

We welcome our friends from Key West in advance. CALL NOW for Addiction Treatment at 1-800-511-9225.  

Research has shown us that drug addiction in the gay community is higher than the heterosexual community.  So what!!!!! As with the heterosexual community, pride will keep us from seeking addiction treatment. Pride will keep us from asking for help with almost anything. It is not until we  have lost what we value most where  we put our pride in our pockets and ask for  drug addiction help.

The opposite from pride is humility, supposedly a key ingredient in addiction recovery. I agree. My drug addiction was killing me. I tried everything I could to stop, but it was impossible. I just didn’t want anyone to think I needed them. Finally my drug addiction got to be too much and I didn’t care what anyone else thought. I needed drug addiction help NOW and needed it bad.

My pride almost killed me, not my drug addiction. When I entered drug addiction treatment I found out I was not the only one. Every gay man and woman I spoke to understood how pride kept them out there longer. Today, it is not my pride I talk about, but my gratitude for drug addiction treatment. Without the drug addiction help, I never would have found drug addiciton treatment. Today, asking for help is easy, not comfortable, but easy.

For drug addiction help, Forget pride and Call 1-800-511-9225 NOW!!!!!!!!!

Alcohol Detox and Alcoholism 

When I was looking for an alcohol detox center I was so sick I couldn’t see straight. My alcoholism had progressed to a point where blackouts were common. I was about to be fired from a career it had taken me 20 years to build. Who would have ever have thought alcoholism would beat me, but it did.

All of the alcohol detox centers I heard about were ditry buildings where the homeless and less fortunate went. These people were not the ones I associated with. I had insurance and savings I could use for detox. Finially I met someone that knew of an alcohol detox center that his brother went to. His brother suffered from alcoholism and a cocaine addiction. I thought I was better off because I only suffered from alcoholism. Was I nuts or what?

I lived in New York City, Manhattan to be precise and ended up in an alcohol detox in Florida. I felt that if I was going to a alcohol detox center, I might as well go to detox in a beautiful climate. God forbid, I considered whether they provided good care. Luckily for me, the Florida detox center was great. After 5 days I was feeling much better. they gave me medication to make the detox easier. After alcohol detox, believe it or not, I went on for further alcoholism treatment.

Today, I am 5 years sober thanks to Florida’s Lakeview Health. Their alcohol detox can be found by calling 1-800-99-DETOX.  

Drug Treatment Centers  

With over 11,000 drug treatment centers in the United States, you would think more of the drug treatment centers would be focused on the needs of the gay and lesbian community. The drug treatment program services include inpatient drug treatment programs, drug detox, outpatient drug treatment centers and partial hospital programs. There are drug treatment centers that focus on women and men’s issues and adolescents which number in the hundreds, but gay friendly drug treatment programs are far less, while the LGBT community poses a higher incidence of drug addiction and alcoholism.
 
If you are searching for a drug treatment center that is gay friendly, I suggest you call a national drug treatment helpline with ties to the LGBTQ drug treatment community.  It is not as easy as you think because every drug treatment program will tell you they are gay friendly, but which one’s really are. The staff at this drug treatment helpline has access to those services. For more information you can CALL 1-800-511-9225 for HELP NOW!

In addition to the drug treatment program services they provide, the drug treatment helpline will also find you treatment programs you can afford. Not all drug treatment centers are affordable to you. Let them help you find a drug treatment center that is.