Drug and Alcohol Relapse Prevention - Mark Houston Recovery Blog

Hooked: Marijuana (Part 5 of 5)

Janelle — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:44 PST

The History Channel put together a fantastic documentary on the history of Marijuana; here is the final part:

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

Super Skinny Me (Part 1 of 5)

Janelle — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:09 PST

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be posting an excellent documentary about the health issues that women face when it comes to how they perceive their body image. The following documentary follows two female journalists who accept a challenge to lose a tremendous amount of weight by altering their diets the way that many other women would in order to be “skinny”. Take a look.

For more information about drug and alcohol rehab for women, contact The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women today at 877.383.4426.

Women, Alcohol and Drunk Driving

Janelle — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:24 PST

There are many reasons why women drink alcohol. For some, the consumption of alcohol begins at an early age. Perhaps, as children, they witnessed one or both of their parents, siblings or other family members drinking alcohol. For countless other women, drinking is seen more as a rite of passage. For instance, when you turn 21 years of age in the United States, it is almost customary (and somewhat expected) that you will potentially become impaired after consuming large quantities of alcohol and/or liquor. But still, for other women, drinking alcohol stems from something much more serious. Perhaps a woman is suffering from depression or is struggling with the stress that can sometimes come from working too much, career, family or otherwise.

Drunk Driving: No Stranger to Women

When we hear about drunk drivers, many of us conjure a picture of a young man behind the wheel of a vehicle. Seldom, do we think of a woman behaving so irresponsibly, which is perhaps why it is all the more shocking to hear about women who have been caught driving drunk.

In a recent article that was published by TimesUnion, Albany County Sheriff, Jim Campbell was somewhat shocked when he stopped a drunk driver and discovered that not only was it a woman, but that she also had two children in the car at the time. The woman, 48 year-old Robin Ann Greene, ended up being charged with driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors. Her blood alcohol content (BAC): 0.11 percent. All of this comes in the wake of the horrific Taconic State Parkway crash in which a mother was both drunk and high while driving down the wrong side of the road, killing herself and her children.

According to an article published by CBS, driving drunk is no longer a male-only problem. In fact, according to federal government statistics, in more than half the country, the number of women arrested for driving under the influence rose nearly 29 percent between 1998 and 2007. Two possibilities for the sudden increase in drunk driving among women include binge drinking as well as general stress levels of women increasing due to increased responsibilities within their family and workplace. But is it an excuse?

For more information about drug and alcohol rehab for women, contact The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women today at 877.383.4426.

Hooked: Marijuana (Part 4 of 5)

Janelle — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:46 PST

The History Channel put together a fantastic documentary on the history of Marijuana, which we will look at over the next few weeks. Here is the fourth part:

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

Students Hospitalized for Prescription Drug Abuse

Janelle — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:00:30 PDT

If you thought that prescription drug abuse would just go away quietly, think again. This time, prescription drug abuse is making its rounds by targeting students too. According to a recent article published in the Miami Herald, four middle school students are recovering after suspected prescription drug abuse put them in the hospital. The article goes on to state:

A Volusia County schools spokeswoman says a New Smyrna Beach Middle School teacher sent the four eighth-grade students to a clinic Monday morning. The teacher thought the students were behaving oddly.

According to the local police department, deputies discovered that one of the students was sharing prescription drug medications with a friend at school. The friend then turned around and gave some of the drugs to two other students. It just goes to show you how incredibly dangerous prescription medications can be. While certain medications are intended to help people recover from various ailments and illnesses, they are not intended to be shared with other people who may have adverse reactions.

The hard lessons that these students have had to learn is a difficult one, indeed. There are too many people who are prescribed medication and abuse it in ways that only have adverse effects on their lives as well as the lives of those around them who love and care for them. People need to realize (parents especially), that they need to be role models to children. Keep medications out of reach, and talk to children about the dangers of drug abuse. Encourage them in positive ways to feel comfortable discussing any difficult issues that they may have with you so that this type of abuse may be prevented in the future.

Day-Long Conference to Deter Drug Use Among Minors?

Janelle — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:00:20 PDT

Day-Long Conference to Deter Drug Use Among Minors?

According to a recent news article posted on the Wiltonvillager.com, [http://wiltonvillager.com/story/475621 ], Harvard Medical School Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Edward Khantzian and Cambridge Health Alliance Director of Addictions Treatment Dr. Mark Albanese will be discussing treatment strategies for drug abuse among youth as part of a day-long conference at Western Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. The topic of discussion will focus on substance abuse and drug and alcohol addiction among adolescents and young adults.

Often, when people think of drug and alcohol abuse, they think of adult males over the age of 18. However, disturbing numbers of adolescents and other members of the youth are just beginning to or have already previously dabbled in drug and alcohol use/abuse or experimentation. For some of these adolescents, they have had a high price to pay with drug overdoses or DWIs that resulted in their death or the death and injury of other people around them.

If we are ever to really put a stop to drug and alcohol abuse by minors, something needs to be done now. Many critics are quick to blame parents for not stepping it up and speaking to their kids about the inherent dangers that drug and alcohol use involve. However, this is not always the case. It is the hope of those putting together the aforementioned lecture that the lecutre will provide more successful approaches as well as ideas on how to curb drug and alcohol use by minors.

According to a recent news article posted on the Wiltonvillager.com, Harvard Medical School Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Edward Khantzian and Cambridge Health Alliance Director of Addictions Treatment Dr. Mark Albanese will be discussing treatment strategies for drug abuse among youth as part of a day-long conference at Western Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. The topic of discussion will focus on substance abuse and drug and alcohol addiction among adolescents and young adults.

Mark Houston’s 12 Spiritual Laws of Consent

Janelle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:00:38 PDT

The following are a brief list of the 12 Spiritual Laws of Consent.

Law of Consent- Giving others permission to help you eliminate self-delusion
Law of Caring- If you don’t care about yourself through your actions, then the world cannot and will not care about you
Law of Cause & Effect- Having the mindset that what you put out will return to you, ALWAYS
Law of Use- If you don’t use it, you lose it
Law of Responsibility- Your Higher Power will not do for you what you are supposed to do for yourself
Law of Substitution- Turning away from negative self-talk
Law of Relaxation-In all mental work, be relaxed, gentle and unhurried
Law of Subconscious Activity- As soon as our subconscious mind accepts an idea, it will begin immediately to put it into effect, both good ideas and bad
Law of Practice- Practice is the price of proficiency
Law of Forgiveness- In your heart, and to all
Law of Growth- What you think upon grows
Law of Intent- Set your intent and watch it manifest in your life through action

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

Testing the Lungs With First Round of Smoking Trials

Janelle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:00:30 PDT

Testing the Lungs With First Round of Smoking Trials

In a recent article published by the Washington Business Journal [http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/09/28/daily38.html ], Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has received $10 million in federal stimulus funding to start running its first late-stage human clinical trials on a smoking cessation vaccine. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awareded its largest grant ever to the Rockville bioteck for the clinical testing of NicVax, a vaccine that prevents nicotine from reaching a patient’s brain, thereby feeding the addiction.

So, could there be hope for those addicted to nicotine?

For so many people who smoke and have had trouble in the past with quitting, this new drug may provide them with some hope. However, there is no guarantee that it will work. Even if the drug ends up turning into something that is mainstreamed, it’s still another drug solving the problem of another drug. Is there too much drug use already? Will those who are addicted to nicotine suddenly find themselves addicted to NicVax or some other form of smoking cessation vaccine?

In a recent article published by the Washington Business Journal, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has received $10 million in federal stimulus funding to start running its first late-stage human clinical trials on a smoking cessation vaccine. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awareded its largest grant ever to the Rockville bioteck for the clinical testing of NicVax, a vaccine that prevents nicotine from reaching a patient’s brain, thereby feeding the addiction.

So, could there be hope for those addicted to nicotine?

When the word “Party” Used to Be Safe…

Janelle — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:04 PDT

When the word “Party” Used to Be Safe…

When I was growing up (which wasn’t that long ago at all), and I told my parents that I was invited to a party, they weren’t worried. They knew that all of my friends were good kids who came from “good, wholesome homes”. Failing that, they also knew that I wasn’t the type of person who would ever dabble in drugs or alcohol. Nowadays, however, when a child tells their parent that he or she is going to a party, what does the word “party” mean? Certainly the meaning of this word has changed from going to someone’s house where there is harmless music, television, food and occasional dancing to a place where someone’s parents aren’t home and you can wreak havoc for a while without getting in trouble for it.

At one of these so-called “parties” that I went to in high school, I remember my shock when someone (who was barely invited) showed up with liquor and cigarettes. Suddenly, everyone around me was drinking and smoking.

I didn’t participate.

But this isn’t a story about how I was a “goody-two-shoes” for sticking to the straight and narrow. Rather, this is an example of how easy it is for children to become involved in drugs and alcohol from a young age. One of my best friends was at that party and smoked her first cigarette there. Only a few months later, after cigarette smoke was boring, she turned to other things such as marijuana use, LSD and ‘E’.

Not all cases end up like the situation that my friend found herself in; but they all have the potential to. Kids need to be more well informed, not just about the inherent dangers that drug and alcohol abuse possess; they also need to know that there are other, healthier alternatives for dealing with stress, emotional issues and the overall awkwardness that comes with being a teenager.

I didn’t participate.

The Link Between Spirituality and Drug Addiction

Janelle — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:11 PDT

According to emerging studies, there seems to be a correlation between spirituality and drug addiction. For instance, it has been stated that teens who have an active spiritual life are less likely to become alcoholics or drug addicts, let alon even try illegal drugs [source].

So, what is the reason behind drug or alcohol addiction? Why do so many men turn towards a bottle or to some sort of other illicit drug?

Filling the Void

Spirituality plays a significant role when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. In fact, one could say that a huge part of the reason why so many men abuse drugs and alcohol has to do with the fact that they are trying to fill some sort of a void in their lives.

Contrary to popular belief, the term spirituality doesn’t necessarily refer to going to church every Sunday or memorizing scripture passages. Rather, when spirituality is mentioned in the company of the word recovery, it is referring to the connection that you have with your innermost self. Once you are able to find that connection inside of you, then you will be able to approach your drug or alcohol recovery with a clearer, more focused mind.

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!