Helping a Heroin Addict - How to Get Clean

One of the first questions I often get from heroin users is: "Is it really possible to end this addiction or will I be a drug addict for the rest of my life?"

The story in the UK in the field of drug rehab, is that heroin addicts are just not getting the help that they need and deserve. A drug addict is a person too. Friends and loved ones who once had hopes and inspirations.

This is failed help! How often did someone fail to help you or rather, betray you in its place?

The drug pusher tells you that the drug will help you feel better, have fun, be uninhibited, relax, act as a pain killer - but this is not help, this is betrayal. Drugs lead to addiction lead to ruined lives and a living hell. Just ask an addict.

A heroin addict can be anyone - dads, mums, contractors, lawyers, salespeople, musicians, engineers, bankers, shop owners, sons, daughters, children - heroin addicts are regular people caught in a trap.

It is so easy these days with the various forms of heroin available that it is no longer the old image of a junky with a needle in their arm. Today many addicts I speak to across the UK do not inject heroin they smoke or sniff or snort it.

Is there a way out of the trap of addiction? Many now believe that help is not possible but remember that maybe just today, you helped someone or someone helped you. Help is possible.

How to Get Clean - Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is - to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity AND to restore to a former state or capacity. This can be done with the heroin addict and obviously does not include alternate drug substitutes as an answer.

How To Get Clean - The Cause of Drug Cravings?

When you drink continuously or use drugs the body becomes super-saturated with metabolites (chemicals the body converts the drugs or alcohol into). These metabolites may become trapped in the fatty tissues and remain there for years. When released into the bloodstream they trigger drug and alcohol cravings. How do these drug metabolites get released? A simple jog to catch the bus, dancing, a hot day anything that gets your blood pumping. Your veins are surrounded by fatty tissue and so it doesn't take much. Suddenly you feel the urge to use, feel high, feel foggy, confused, dull, or simply focussed on nothing other than getting a fix.

How To Get Clean - Eliminating Drug Cravings

The right program will actually consist of detoxification as part of the rehabilitation. Meaning actually removing the poison (drug) or poisonous effect from the body. This is being achieved everyday. The result is a person free of drug and alcohol cravings, reduction or elimination of other addiction symptoms like depression, irritability, fatigue. Also, a regained ability to think more clearly, improved memory and attention span, increased energy and sense of well being and the kicker - Enthusiasm toward life!

A UK Success Story of Getting Clean

"I have completed the sauna program and without any doubts or reservations, I believe that my body and my mind feel cleansed. Physically I am stronger, no longer lethargic and so much more alert. Mentally, I am in fantastic shape and able to learn. The process of detoxification is something that I have needed for such a long time. My potential could never be truly fulfilled without mental clarity and physical strength, both of which I believe have been restored to me as a result of completing this part of the course. All my dreams and aspirations suddenly feel much more achievable. I can't remember when I last had such a positive outlook on life." J.D.

Would you like to help a loved one end addiction? Go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org

Paula Dewar is a professional rehab consultant and refers clients to Drug-free Detox and Rehab Programs which End Addiction for Life. Paula speaks English and Portuguese.

PS: To subscribe to our free newsletter giving our Latest Discoveries go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org/family-training/subscribe.php

Sexual Addiction - Are You a Sex Addict? - Part 2

Sexual addiction is a dysfunctional pattern of compulsive sexual behavior that continues even after the addict knows that it is causing major problems in their life. The sex addicts has a compulsion to engage in the problem behavior despite the fact that it has become emotionally dissatisfying and self-destructive. Compulsion is defined as an "irresistible" urge to engage in a behavior. The sexual acting out produces guilt, shame, and repeated unfulfilled promises to stop.

Addiction creates an experience that is called "powerlessness and unmanageability" in 12 step recovery groups. Compulsivity implies a "powerlessness" over resisting the compulsive urge to do the behavior. "Powerlessness" means the behavior is out of control. The compulsive behavior, along with the addict's attempts to stop and the over-compensation for the destructiveness of the behavior create a life that becomes more and more unmanageable. Despite the addict's attempts to keep the behavior hidden, s/he experiences an escalating sense of shame and guilt, and self-loathing. The addict tries to eliminate the problem behavior, but cannot consistently do so. The losses suffered due to addiction, including the marriage, jobs, financial, arrests, self-esteem and self-efficacy may or may not create an awareness of the need for help. The compulsive behavior persists even after addicts can no longer deny the negative consequences to their lives.

The sexual compulsions of a sex addict could involve the physical, emotional, or obsessive thoughts/fantasy. Varieties of sexual compulsivity are limitless. Examples of compulsive sexual behavior include but are not limited to masturbation, voyeurism, infidelity, internet sex, pornography, cruising and/or anonymous sex, dangerous sex.

Sexual addiction parallels alcohol and other drug (AOD) addictions in that sex is the "drug" that medicates the feelings. The compulsive sexual behavior allows the addict to temporarily escape feelings and problems, to reduce emotional or psychological pain, and/or to control stress - in other words to self-medicate discomfort. Symptoms of sexual addiction are listed below:

· Pre-occupation, or an obsession with sex that overshadows and interferes with other areas of the addict's life.

· Inappropriately large amount of time and energy devoted to planning or fantasizing about sexual activity or recovering from sexual acting out.

· Feelings of shame, guilt, despair, about your sexual behavior or thoughts

· Inability to stop engaging in the behavior despite repeated attempts to do so.

· Persistent compulsive behavior despite awareness of experiencing negative consequences from that behavior.

· Sexual compulsion or obsession is used as the main way you cope with life, feelings, and problems.

· Important social, family, career, or spiritual activities are neglected or given up because of sexual behavior

· Engaging in certain "ritualized" routines that are an important part of the sexual acting out.

· Need for increasing amount or intensity of sexual experience.

· Negative financial consequences because of the acting out.

· Negative relationship consequences because of the acting out.

· Loss of interest in sex with your partner or lack of interest in genuine intimacy with a long term partner

· Spending more time with sexual compulsivity than with intimate partners.

· Keeping secrets about your sexual behavior from significant others.

· Having regrets after acting out sexually.

· Frequenting places like sex clubs, strip clubs, adult book stores, massage parlors, cruising locations.

· Your sexual behavior is dangerous or the circumstances of your acting out could get you arrested.

If you are experiencing some of the above symptoms, you should be screened and/or assessed for sexual addiction. The addictions specialist making the assessment can provide an appropriate referral for treatment. The road to recovery begins with recognizing that you are out of control sexually and beginning to believe that the compulsive behavior can be stopped. To do that, you must take a realistic look at your behavior, the problems caused by that behavior, and becoming aware that your attempts to stop by yourself have not worked. If you see yourself in this description of sexual addiction, seek help now.

By Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Dr. Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D., LADC, LMFT, Marriage/Family Therapist and Alcohol/Drug Counselor. Whether you are dealing with addiction issues, emotional or mental health issues, relationship issues, or need some additional living skills, my website is available to you. The "Links" page offers a wide range of resources for additional help. There is a "Recommended Readings" page and an "Ask Peggy" column. My site is a work in progress with additional features, articles, and resources being added to it on a regular basis. Check it out at http://www.peggyferguson.com

For more information about sexual addiction, read my articles, "Sexual Addiction: A Brief Description - Part 1", Sexual Addiction: Help for the Sex Addict - Part 3", Sexual Addiction: Are You Suffering From Someone Else's Sexual Addiction - Part 4", "Sexual Addiction: Help For the Sex Addict's Spouse - Part 5", here at EzineArticles.com.

Click here to ask Peggy a question about this topic or others or to subscribe to a newsletter that will alert you to additional informational and educational opportunities on this topic and others. *http://www.peggyferguson.com

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