Month: September 2020

Many addictions began experimenting with commonly abused prescription drugs. It’s not uncommon for someone to be involved in an accident and is then given oxycodone for pain relief. What starts off as a simple pain reliever, can quickly turn into a full-blown addiction. Because it’s extremely easy to build a resistance to commonly abused prescription drugs, an addict may eventually resort to using heroin to get high.

Many people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 25 are abusing or misusing prescription drugs belonging to themself, friends, or family members. In 2017 alone, 18 million Americans reported that they had misused prescription drugs. The demand for prescription drugs has significantly increased over time as more and more people are beginning to abuse them. It’s becoming even harder to control the widespread misuse of prescription drugs since these drugs are commonly prescribed by doctors. Unfortunately after a prescription is written, doctors are not at home with patients to monitor their intake.

What Are the Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are three commonly abused prescription drugs.

Depressants

CNS depressants are drugs that are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are commonly known as sleeping pills or tranquilizers because they can slow down the nervous system’s activity.
Depressants can be used for hypnosis, as sedatives, or as tranquilizers. Drugs in this category are:

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are commonly used by medical staff to treat seizures, insomnia, and headaches. These drugs are often not prescribed for anxiety and insomnia because of a high risk of overdose. The forms of barbiturates available in the United States include:

• Nembutal
• Butisol
• Seconal
• Donnatal
• Amytal
• Luminal
• Mebaral

And the side effects? Nausea, headaches, and dizziness are common side effects.

Benzodiazepines

Belonging to this group are triazolam, diazepam estazolam, Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, stress reactions, panic attacks, and seizures.
The side effects of abusing benzodiazepines include dizziness, nausea, poor concentration, and so on.

Non-Benzodiazepine Sleep Medication

Non-benzodiazepines are also commonly abused prescription drugs.
Drugs belonging to this group are Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta. They are used to treat insomnia and have the same effect on the brain as benzodiazepines. However, they have few side effects and reduced potential dependency when compared to benzodiazepines

Opioids and Morphine Derivatives

Opioids are used to treat pain. They reduce the intensity of pain perception in the brain and spinal cord. Common opioids and opioid derivatives include Fentanyl, Morphine, Methadone Oxycodone, Codeine, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and propoxyphene.
The main side effect of abusing opioid prescriptions is addiction. Opioid addiction is difficult to kick and can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants

Stimulants are used to treat health conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. They increase focus and alertness, raise blood pressure and heart rate, and make breathing easier.
Common drugs in this group include Adderall, Dexedrine, and so on. Abusing stimulants can lead to dependency and addiction in the long run.
Dangers of the Most Abused Prescription Drugs
The dangers of abusing prescription drugs include:

• Death
• Slow or arrested breathing
• Reduced pulse and blood pressure
• Addiction
• Coma
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Inspired motor function
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Listed above is not an exhaustive list of the dangers of abusing drugs. Always consult a doctor or licensed healthcare professional if you think you’re struggling with a prescription pill addiction.

Get Help With Prescription Drugs at Anchored Tides Recovery

Anchored Tides Recovery is a female-only drug addiction center dedicated to helping women with their addiction. We are located in Huntington Beach and have diverse programs for everyone. Whether you personally are struggling with addiction, or know someone that is, please contact us today for more information regarding our program.

Substance abuse treatment programs are increasingly adopting more individual-centered approaches to treating substance abuse. This comes on the heels of a deeper understanding of how substance abuse affects people differently, especially as it concerns women. 

You might be surprised to know that women have a different experience with substance abuse. 

Research has shown that substance abuse affects women in a significantly different way than it does men. Therefore, if women are to be fully treated for substance abuse, they need a treatment program designed to tackle the peculiar differences they face. 

This is why one of Anchored Tides Recovery founding principles is treatment for women by women.

What Is a Substance Abuse Program?

A substance abuse program is a treatment process designed to help people with substance abuse problems. Substance abuse programs have two major components:

• A medical component 
• Therapeutic component

Both components, when combined, make for an effective treatment for substance dependence or addiction. In the medical aspect of substance abuse treatment, drugs are used to manage detoxification symptoms, especially in cases of certain substances like opioids. 

The therapeutic aspect of the treatment process aims to teach recovering addicts how to understand themselves and understand their triggers to prevent a drug or alcohol relapse. 

Different Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

There are various substance abuse treatment programs, but there is no one-size-fits-all program. This is because the effects of substance abuse differ amongst individuals differ, and so treatment programs must be as individualistic as possible to cater to peculiarities. 

As a result of that, there are various treatment programs designed to cater to everyone’s needs. 

• Inpatient Treatment Program 

Just like its name implies, people in an inpatient treatment program have to stay within the facilities to receive treatment, and it typically lasts between a few weeks to a few months. 

• Outpatient Treatment 

In an outpatient treatment program, the patient commutes to the treatment center from his home. Also, an outpatient treatment program lasts a few weeks and costs less than inpatient treatment.

• Individual Counseling 

Individual counseling provides an opportunity for the patient and the therapist to discuss strategies that help them reintegrate into society and maintain sobriety. It is during individual counseling that the patient learns techniques that help them manage their triggers. Individual counseling occurs at both inpatient and outpatient treatment. 

• Group Counseling 

As important as individualized counseling is to a patient’s continued sobriety, group counseling is equally important. Group counseling reinforces the techniques learned in individualized counseling. Group counseling also provides a community of sober individuals the patients can fall back to. 

Why Seek Addiction Treatment at Anchored Tides Recovery?

Choosing an addiction treatment program can seem quite daunting. There are so many programs available, and they all may seem like they’re right for you. 

The biggest thing that sets us apart at Anchored Tides Recovery from other treatment centers is we provide addiction treatment for women, by women. Our staff truly understands how substance abuse affects women specifically and how to treat it properly. We also know the importance of harnessing the power of women recovering together. 

Aside from getting help from people who understand your addiction as much (or maybe even better than you do), we’re located in beautiful Huntington Beach, CA. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area during and after treatment. 

Reach Out to Us Today

Anchored Tides Recovery is a substance abuse treatment program located in Huntington Beach, that focuses on treating only women. We offer various types of outpatient treatment programs to ensure our clients are set up for long term sobriety. Reach out to us today for help with your addiction!  

Have you ever had a rough night and wondered why you feel so down? You wake up feeling a little sad or uncomfortable. Someone may even say to you “sounds like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today”. Generally speaking, there can be several reasons that explain why you feel the way you do. One option to explore is the food you’re eating; food indeed can affect your mood! 

If you’ve never heard this before, then you may not suspect your diet when you feel ‘off’ or a little blue. In today’s health-conscious world, it’s common to see or read about foods that help keep you physically and mentally healthy. Just like how healthy foods affect the body positively, they can also affect your mood and emotional well being. 

Can what you eat affect your mood? We’ve got answers for you. Keep reading to know! 

How Food Affects Your Mood

Do you remember when you were in a bad mood, but felt better after eating something? 

While that is a great example, there is more to this than feeling better because you’ve satisfied a craving. The brain is the powerhouse for all activities in the body. And like all powerhouses, it needs to be fueled. The type of fuel you give your brain determines how efficient it will be. 

Certain foods are harmful to your mood because of how they affect your body’s daily activities. For instance, foods that contain a high concentration of refined sugars can mess up insulin regulation. When everything isn’t working as it should, your brain struggles to function well, which can affect your mood. 

But how exactly does this happen? Is there scientific proof that shows how food affects your mood? Yes, there is.

Remember that your mood at any given time is dependent on what chemicals are produced in your body. The chemical/ hormone that controls mood, pain, appetite, and sleep is known as serotonin, and it is produced in the gut. 

Furthermore, serotonin functions better with higher numbers of good bacteria. What does good bacteria do? Good bacteria helps the body digest food and absorbs nutrients from the intestinal walls. 

Guess what helps control the number of good bacteria in the body? Food that contains large quantities of high fructose corn syrup reduces the number of good bacteria. Conversely, foods that contain tryptophan have the opposite effect. 

How Being in a Good Mood Affects Your Overall Wellness

Can you remember your most painful breakup? Not just any breakup but the one that made you watch The Notebook (or any movie similar) while consuming scary amounts of ice cream and rubbing your chest because you could feel your heart breaking. That’s proof enough that how you feel can affect you physically. 

Knowing how food affects your mood is the first step in determining how it affects your overall wellness. Your mood manifests itself physically – not just in your health but also in your decisions.

Good moods beget good feelings and ethical decisions. When you are happy, you’ll be more energetic, more productive, and make better decisions. 

The same goes for a negative mood. It begets tiredness, less productivity, feelings of illness, and bad decisions.

Mood-Boosting Foods

You already know that you should avoid processed foods and foods that contain refined sugars, these foods can negatively affect your mood and health. But, are there foods that you can eat to improve your mood? 

Of course! When you feel bad, resist the urge to eat high-calorie snacks. Go for any of the foods listed below. 

• Dark Chocolate 
• Nuts and Seeds 
• Fatty Fish or Foods containing Omega-3 Acids. 
• Whole Grains 
• Green Vegetables 
• Coffee

If your triggers as an addict are linked to your moods, you may want to take what you eat seriously. Eating the right foods for you will not only preempt your triggers; it’ll make you feel healthy again.

Seek Overall Wellness at Anchored Tides Recovery

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we encourage our clients to understand their triggers. Knowing how food affects your mood and the things you can do to boost your mood is essential to the healing process. 

Anchored Tides Recovery is a female-only addiction treatment center located in Huntington Beach, CA. We believe that healing from addictions requires a holistic approach tailored to suit women specifically. We also offer a variety of treatment options like our outpatient treatment. Contact us today; let us help you fight your addiction.