Inpatient vs Outpatient: Which is best?


Addiction treatment is something that doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all style. When you or your loved one has reached the place where you are ready to heal and move on to a healthier, more fulfilling life, you have some decisions to make regarding where you will seek help. One of these decisions involves whether you will enter an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. Knowing the ups and downs of both types of addiction treatment programs will help you make the best decision for you.

What is Inpatient Treatment?

This is the type of treatment you hear about most often. You are admitted to a facility that literally becomes your world for the duration of the process. The person undergoing treatment may first have to undergo a detox program for a few days at a hospital or other facility where the process is supervised by medical doctors. Some inpatient facilities are able to accommodate you during this time, but you will need to ask if they have that capability. Detox itself is the most dangerous time of addiction treatment physically and undergoing it without medical help is often dangerous. Once the drug or drugs in question are out of your system, the healing process can begin.

Inpatient treatment requires you to live at a facility where you will be scheduled for things like one-on-one counseling, group counseling, recreational activities and more. You will be totally immersed in the recovery process. Decisions such as when to eat and sleep will be made for you. Friends and family will only be able to call or visit during scheduled times. These programs normally last an average of ten weeks but the time can vary.

During an inpatient stay, your entire focus is on recovery and learning the skills that will help you stay strong when you leave.

What is Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment allows you to live in your home and visit a facility several times a week for counseling sessions. These may include individual, group, family counseling, or a combination of these. During outpatient treatment, you are able to continue living in your own home and going to work each day. You maintain your own schedule and decide when to see friends and family. Many times, outpatient treatment will include having someone to call when you feel you may backslide. Before undergoing outpatient treatment, you will likely have to spend a few days in a hospital-type setting to undergo physical detox.

Unlike inpatient treatment, your entire focus will not be on treatment. You will most often continue your job, interact regularly with friends and family and otherwise continue with the responsibilities you normally take on.

So, Which Treatment Option is Best?

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs have pros and cons and only you and an intake counselor will be able to determine which is best for your particular situation. Some of the major differences include:

*With inpatient treatment, you are in a completely new environment and surrounded by others who are also undergoing drug rehab. This allows you to be around others who can fully understand what you are going through. The downside is that you have limited contact with friends and family who may be important as part of your support system.

*In outpatient treatment, you are in a familiar environment, can continue the positive routines such as work and parenting, and can regularly access the support of positive friends and family. If, however, this environment or these people are going to expose you to the drugs or alcohol that have been a part of your problem, it can undermine your efforts at healing.

*Some insurances won’t cover the cost of one kind of treatment or another. You will have to find out in advance exactly what your insurance will and won’t cover. Outpatient programs cost less than inpatient ones because they don’t include a room to live in or food. Cost may be a factor in making your decision.

*With inpatient rehab, you are taught new coping skills and ways to replace your addiction with positive activities. When you are discharged, you have the knowledge but must take time practicing these new skills. With outpatient treatment, you will also be given these skills but must practice them immediately. This helps you master the skills earlier, but may also make it more difficult as you are putting them into practice before you may be ready.

Final Thoughts

Talking with an intake person will help you make your decision about which type of program is best for you. Each person has a different set of needs, different severity of the addiction, and different support system, so there is no one program that is perfect for everyone. When you are ready to put addiction behind you, contact Newport Beach Recovery to speak with an intake counselor. We’re waiting for your call.

Benzodiazepine Use Among Women


Drugs such as Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin are often prescribed for conditions like anxiety and insomnia. These drugs are part of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, or more commonly Benzos. These drugs are often prescribed along with opioids and are only often just as responsible for addictions. In fact, the  National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has reported that thirty percent of overdoses involving opioids also involve Benzos. The two drugs alone are highly addictive and when combined they can be a very deadly combination. Use, and abuse, of Benzos, has increased over the past several years in every age group but the most affected group is women, who have prescribed this class of drug at a rate twice that of men.

Why Women Become Addicted to Benzos

Most addictions to Benzos start out as the woman being prescribed the medication when she goes to the doctor and complains of anxiety attacks or stress-related insomnia. Women are often more willing to express these things to a doctor. Today’s women are often caretakers to both children and aging parents. They take on many responsibilities and are not as willing to take time for themselves to relax. They worry about the people under their care and forget to care for themselves.

Benzos were meant to be a short-term solution to problems such as anxiety and insomnia but many doctors will prescribe them over a long period of time because they understand the conditions causing the stress in a woman’s life are not always ones that disappear. Women become addicted easier than men because their body weight is lower and chemical changes within their bodies occur more frequently. It becomes easy to rely on the medication to unwind and get a good night’s sleep after a day of worry and stress. When waking up has the woman facing the same stressors, another dose will help her get through the day. The body builds a tolerance to Benzos quickly and larger doses are increasingly required in order to relax.

Signs of Benzo Addiction

Anyone, not just women is at risk of addiction. The fact that women are prescribed Benzos at twice the rate of men accounts in part for the increased number of addictions to Benzos we see in women. Because they are prescribed, and only a small number of women turn to illegal means of obtaining them, the signs of addiction often go unnoticed. Some of these signs include:

*An increased need for the medication to get through the day. Feeling you can’t get through the day without it.

*Immediately reaching for your prescription when you anticipate a stressful situation.

*Having to change brands (say from Valium to Xanax) because a former prescription doesn’t seem to work any longer.

*An inner knowing that tells you it is time to get help.

Treatment

Rehab for Benzo addiction must not only address the physical drug addiction but also the underlying condition that put the woman at risk to start with. While the causes of extreme stress can’t always be eliminated, learning how to deal with these situations is important. In addition to counseling, both individual and group, and possibly even family counseling, learning positive coping skills is necessary. These include learning ways you can relax, methods for taking care of your own needs, and overall skills for relaxation and stress management. Often this is best done on an inpatient basis as it allows you to put aside other responsibilities and concentrate on getting well.

Final Thoughts

Many women feel they don’t have time to devote to recovery. They are afraid that their family or job will be lost without them. It is essential to realize that if you fall apart, you can’t do your best for others. There is a good reason for airlines to caution parents to put on their own air masks first during an emergency. If you aren’t functioning, you can’t be there for others. Newport Beach recovery has experience helping women like you and your loved ones overcome their Benzo addictions. Contact us today and start on your road to recovery now. Tomorrow will dawn brighter and see a stronger you ready to face whatever may come from a place of empowerment.

Sexual Trauma & Substance Abuse: How to Recover from Both


The troubling high rate of boys and girls who experience sexual trauma and abuse leads to a lifetime of challenges that include substance abuse. The signs are all there, and the findings from the  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services support the troubling realities. These traumatized kids turn into adults who struggle to come to terms with the emotional and psychological shrapnel of abuse. Survey results indicated that of those adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse, some 70% had associated trauma.

In turn, the reports offer insight into some of the most prevalent tendencies and mental-health struggles associated with sexual trauma and abuse. Here’s a quick overview:

Depression

Sexual abuse often leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and self-deprecation, which also leads to clinical depression and often to substance abuse. It’s a vicious spiral, which also leads to severe difficulty in functioning on a daily basis in school, at work, or in your interpersonal relationships. It can just be something as simple as weight fluctuations, but there’s also the associated feeling of apathy. A depressed person may just not care what happens anymore, a self-loathing and self-destructive trend that can lead to falling even deeper into the abuse of alcohol and drugs. If the person doesn’t care anymore and simultaneously wants to forget the sexual trauma, substance abuse can be a dangerous avenue toward self-harm.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Any traumatic event can cause severe and long-lasting symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You may be most familiar with associating PTSD with war and battle, but the effects can be felt when you’ve had a car accident, a surgery, or a vicious attack. The memory becomes linked with the physical and emotional repercussions, as nightmares and panic or anxiety attacks can lead to severe physical reactions: loss of breath, distress and increased heart rate related to sudden sounds, lights, smells, or anything related to the traumatic event.

Dissociation

Also, linked with traumatic encounters and abuse is the dissociation, which is also linked to PTSD. That’s the feeling of being separate or absent from one’s own body. It’s often associated with a feeling of being disconnected, an outsider. In trauma cases, dissociation is a coping mechanism to allow the person to survive and function. Long term, though, it can lead to more troubling effects like trouble focusing or concentrating. In more severe cases, dissociation can lead to a loss of the ability to function for periods of time. Depending on the severity of the dissociation symptoms, those affected by the disorder can also turn to alcohol or substance abuse to help or reinforce the numbing feeling that helps them cope with everyday life, and avoid memories of the past trauma.

How to recover

Even by itself, sexual trauma and abuse present difficult challenges coping with life and all of its challenges. Combined with the major depression, PTSD, and dissociation (as well as the potential for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychological illnesses and disorders), the obstacles may seem insurmountable.

Just as the studies track the troubling trends of trauma and substance abuse, though, they also offer hopeful moments. Recovery is possible, but awareness of the relationship between sexual trauma and substance abuse is key. If we don’t understand or grasp what is happening, we are not able to take the steps to prevent it from happening to other young trauma survivors, and we also will not be prepared to implement the appropriate treatment that’s so desperately needed (and lacking in many cases).

The process of recovery doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not an easy journey, but with the right help and continued support system in place, you can be on the road of recovery.  Contact us today to make the first step. Newport Beach Recovery has trained professionals to help you get through this.

How to Find the Best Rehab in Orange County


Not every treatment facility is the same, but the right place for you may involve the type of treatment and therapy that you need to help you through this recovery process. So, while we go through the perks and benefits of the various treatment centers in Orange County, please be aware that the perfect place for you may change over time. It also may be different for you when compared to others, depending on your support system, the length of time you’ve been in recovery, as well as other factors like work commitments and therapy options. The good news is that there really is a myriad of options, with flexible evolutions in your treatment and recovery program. The goal is to offer support and services that are ideal for your individual stage of recovery and particular needs.

To start, you’ll want to consider the basics factors for the rehabilitation and treatment facility in Orange County that will best meet your needs. Here are some essential points to consider:

License & Accreditation

It should probably go without saying that you should check for the facility’s license and accreditation. The treatment center should be licensed via the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division (SUDCD). Other accreditations are possible. Although they are not required, further accreditation will demonstrate a dedication to excellence and the pursuit of quality care.  In other words, they want to prove that they are a great program, based on expert opinion.

Referral Requirement

Some facilities require a referral from a provider, whether it’s a primary care physician, mental-health care doctor, or other professional. It’s important to know what paperwork you need to have in place, so you don’t waste your time, or attempt to get into a facility without the appropriate referrals.

Treatment Options

What type of treatment and/or therapy does each facility offer? Is it outpatient or inpatient? Do they offer detox? Also, how is the program structured? And, are there after-treatment care, therapy, or a “safety net†in place for after you leave the facility? Will the program specifically meet your needs for recovery? It is focused on your drug rehab? Also, is a family a part of the treatment process?

Reviews

Seek testimonials from others who have gone through the program. It’s a good idea to find out what to expect from other addicts who have been through the program. You can also gain insight from health-care professionals. While he/she may not be able to give you specifics due of doctor-patient confidentiality, they can give you an idea of overall success rates as well as a consensus of which programs best met the needs of their patients.

Payment

The cost of the treatment facility is another factor you will need to consider. Does your insurance cover it? What payment plans are available for each facility? The best facilities also offer staff and resources to help you navigate the logistics of payment and insurance to find the solutions that will work best for your needs.

Availability

Some programs won’t be able to accept you for treatment right away. There may be a waiting list, or you may also be required to meet certain criteria for admission. This may also be a factor of the program’s popularity and success rates, but some rehab facilities offer flexibility. Just because one portion of the facility’s offerings are full, you may be able to access some part of their treatment, counseling, or services. Other facilities may only accept you under certain circumstances (for inpatient, etc). Ask questions, and find out how you can tap into their services and support network.

To find the best rehab in Orange County, you should consider the list of essential features that you need. With that list in hand, you can check off the items that sync up, while also realizing that the criticality of your recovery is also of the utmost consideration. The best program for you may be a combination of a detox program, with an outpatient solution that will allow you to work. Or, it may be better for you to participate in a more intensive treatment program with hospitalization and inpatient treatment. The best programs will focus on your well-being to ensure that you’re receiving the appropriate care, support, and services that will assist you on your path to recovery.

In the end, you also need to be comfortable with the staff and the place. This may be a fresh start, a new beginning, but it starts with you. The best rehab in Orange County is just a place. It has to work for you, in both a generic and a very specific and individual way. They give you the tools for recovery and then you take the steps forward.

Contact us today for more information and to speak to an addiction professional. Newport Beach Recovery Center can be the best place for your sobriety.

5 Inspiring Women in Recovery


In the world of recovery and addiction treatment, household names and celebrities have come to experience addiction and become leading women in sobriety. Despite their fallings to addiction, they were able to surpass the addiction and move forward with successful careers.

Jamie Lee Curtis

A household actress, who is known for both film and television roles of since the 1980s to present, has overcome a ten-year addiction that nearly took her life. After having an intensive surgery, she developed an opioid addiction to her prescribed pain killers. Curtis would become heavily anxious without her prescription and even embraced alcohol as a substitute to cease withdrawals until she got her next prescription. Curtis fought the battle for the next ten years, until receiving treatment that put her on the road to recovery. Since her sobriety began, she has focused her time and efforts around the addiction community and reaching out to those in need of assistance.

Drew Barrymore

Since her childhood, Drew Barrymore has experienced life in front of the camera. As a teenager, Barrymore found herself smoking pot daily and addicted to cocaine. Her addiction led her thankfully to rehabilitation a couple of years later, where she was able to grasp the addiction treatment she needed and sought recovery. Since making recovery, her acting career maximized,  and she has become a leading actress in numerous feature films, a success she accredits to her recovery. Barrymore promotes her recovery in her charitable efforts, and she is a prime example of the success that you can achieve in recovery after addiction treatment.

Demi Lovato

A loved and famed Disney Channel star, Demi Lovato battled the same peer pressures as girls her age and found stress relief through addiction in the form of cocaine and alcohol. After several years of a progressively worsening addiction, Lovato understood the seriousness of her addiction when she was unable to go for a half an hour without cocaine. At that point, she reached out for recovery assistance and was able to complete addiction treatment. She is now a leading spokesperson for addiction among teenagers. She cites the fact that recovery is an ongoing treatment and encourages teenagers that experience stress and peer pressure to utilize other outlets instead of turning to addiction.

Mary J. Blige

A hip-hop icon and a role model to women, Mary J. Blige is also a recovering addict who has become a successful leader in the Women in Sobriety community. Like many of those suffering from addiction, Blige’s journey to recovery has been a long one, since she was a substance abuse user for years to deal with childhood trauma and abuse. After seeking addiction treatment, Blige used her music as her true outlet for recovery. Even throughout her early years in her career, she was still suffering from substance abuse. She decided to take on true sobriety following the death of the icon, Whitney Houston.

Jada Pinkett-Smith

Another leading actress since the 1990s through present-day, Jada Pinkett-Smith has suffered from both substance abuse and alcohol abuse. Growing up in Maryland, Pinkett-Smith spent her early years around drugs. She even confessed to spending time as a drug dealer. While experimenting with drugs, her true addiction came in the form of alcohol, that became a daily habit. Pinkett-Smith decided that she did not want to have a career or family where she was dependent on alcohol. At that point, Pinkett-Smith took an addiction treatment and sought recovery. In 2017, she saw 20 years of recovery and is an advocate for women who are suffering from addiction.

Addiction is not subjected to only normal people. Celebrities and famous women find themselves fighting the same battles and suffering from the same struggles. These five women are role models for women across the United States and even the globe. Most of them have had careers that they suffered addiction during that time. What they have done, however, is embrace their sobriety and become advocates for addiction, shifting their role from actresses and musicians to include leaders of women in sobriety. Contact us today if you or a loved one are in need of help.

7 Tips for Women in Early Substance Abuse Recovery


Starting out on the road of recovery can be filled with challenges.  You’ve taken the most important step when you stopped drinking or using drugs but everything in your life is now new.  You may be seeking out new friends, starting a new job or developing a new daily routine.  All while working hard to prevent having a relapse.  Each one of these situations can produce stress.  Combined together, you have a recipe for anxious moments.  This puts women in early sobriety at greater risk for relapse.  It is estimated that 90 percent of those recovering from substance abuse have a relapse.  While your primary desire may be to stay sober, even the strongest people must develop skills to prevent relapses and deal with stress.  Professionals recommend that you change your social circle and the places you go to.  This makes sense when you consider that if you want to create a new path for yourself, you need to leave the old path behind.  To help you on your journey, we’ve compiled some tips based on scientific research.

Change Your World

When you are embarking on the journey to discover what recovery means to you, you are essentially creating a new world for yourself.  You’re creating new patterns and people in your life.  Developing new friendships and changing where you spend your time will play a large role in preventing relapse and smoothing your transition into a new way of life.  You may find yourself spending more time with your family by planning special outings or evenings together.  For others, developing a structured daily routine helps ease anxiety and helps to avoid situations that could let to a relapse.

Develop Solid Relationships

When you enter recovery, it may seem like a new world.  Having friends who understand the transition you are going through is important.  They can help when you are frightened or uncertain.  Having a friend to call on when you are angry or down will help keep you moving forward.  Participating in a support group surrounds yourself with people who understand the pitfalls that await individuals in early recovery.  In fact, people who have enjoyed recovery for many years will share that they still face challenges.  Anyone who is new in recovery can learn from their coping strategies and apply them in their own lives.

Start Moving

Periods, often years, of using can take a toll on your body.  Incorporating regular exercise into your daily regime will pay off by improving your health and your emotions.  Exercise is well documented to relieve stress and balance mood.    This supports your desire to constantly improve yourself while preventing triggers that lead to relapse.

Prioritize Self Care

Caring for ourselves is not a priority for women.  We are raised to nurture others but often don’t nurture ourselves.  Things like a luxurious bath or a long walk are generally not things we think about in a fast-paced world.  They are, however, exactly the things that will keep you sane as you move through recovery, process raw emotions and figure out your future.  Taking care of yourself can relieve stress and anxiety.  You can also use these moments to just ‘check in with yourself’ and see how you are doing.  Small quiet moments doing things that nurture yourself keeps you in touch with your emotions and makes you aware of any triggers lurking to take you off the right path.  Spend some time with self-care because no one else will.

Write it Out

While, at times, you may feel shame or guilt over your past actions, if you allow them to, those emotions will hinder your recovery.  One way to progress and work through the emotions that are crowding you is to search for ways to manage swirling thoughts.  Professionals recommend writing about your feelings.  Getting them on paper gets them out of your head and lets you process.

New Work

When you leave female addiction treatment, you’ve already begun recovery.  To maintain your new outlook, get a job.  Many people leaving treatment will either be unemployed or underemployed.  This is a good time to look for a new job.  Not only will you have a method of income, but you’ll also meet new people and discover new skills.  Take care of yourself, though, as stress related to a new job can trigger a relapse.

Make Honesty a Priority

As you journey along the path of recovery, prioritizing honesty with yourself and others helps everyone.  By sharing your story with others in your support group, you’re sharing the common struggles that you all have.

These are just a few ideas to keep you going in early recovery.  You’ll find some strategies work better than others to prevent triggers and keep you sane.  The important thing is to keep working at it.  You’re worth it!

Call us today to continue on the strong path of recovery. We pride ourselves in always being able to help.