Drug addiction can be difficult to manage, not only because of the physical and mental strain that it puts on a person but also due to the withdrawal symptoms that come with it. Withdrawal occurs when a person stops using a drug after a long period of addiction and their body now has to adapt to be without it. The longer a person uses a drug, the more intense their withdrawal symptoms will likely be. The withdrawal process can be challenging and uncomfortable, which is why many those recovering from drug addiction revert to their old habits. While withdrawal is undoubtedly a tough experience, learning about its several phases and knowing what to expect can ease the recovery process. 

First Phase

The first phase of withdrawal tends to occur within the first 12 hours. The initial phase of withdrawal generally lasts up to 10 days and is described as the most difficult stage to deal with. However, the duration of this phase is dependent on the drug that the person in recovery has previously taken. Symptoms like depression, diarrhea, and vomiting will arise and peak after around three days. After the fifth day, the symptoms should subside and become easier to handle. Getting past the first phase of withdrawal is a good sign and signals that long-term recovery is achievable. 

Second Phase

While the second phase of withdrawal may not match the intensity of the first, the symptoms that arise during this stage will last longer. Some of the symptoms that those in recovery will experience during this phase include leg cramps, chills, and goosebumps. It is important to remember this phase, as this is when your brain will try to normalize endorphin levels and return them to their initial state. 

Third Phase

The third phase is the most tedious and will typically last between a week to two months. During this phase, you will go through symptoms like restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia. Because of the prolonged length of this phase, many patients seek out long-term addiction treatment to help them overcome their addiction. While there tends to be a sense of relief after completing this phase, drug addiction treatment is needed to help sustain healthy practices and behavior. 

How Addiction Treatment Centers Can Help

Withdrawal can be a difficult and drawn-out process for a person to experience alone. Being in a welcoming environment like a drug rehab treatment center can help the person in recovery easily work past their withdrawal symptoms, while also facilitating their healing and development. At a drug rehab treatment center, a patient will get the attention and support that they need, whether it’s addiction detox services or a drug addiction treatment program relating to their specific substance. 

At Twin Town Treatment Centers, we support those seeking addiction treatment and going through withdrawal. We know that withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, which is why our six drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County area, including one in Laguna Hills, work to help those recovering from their addiction by providing many effective outpatient programs and drug addiction treatments that have been individualized to best fit our patients and their unique needs and circumstances. Get in touch today by calling us at (866) 594-8844 or filling out our online form to get started. Our team of drug and alcohol treatment professionals will provide you with a no-cost interview and assessment for alcohol and drug issues.

Fentanyl in a Fake Prescription Pill

The DEA has issued a Public Safety Alert warning the public of fake “prescription” pills which contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The DEA’s Public Safety Alert, the first in six years, seeks to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in counterfeit pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate.

Overdose Spike

In 2020, drug overdose deaths rose by 29.4%. 93,331 people died from overdose and 69,710 of those deaths were related to opioids, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. African American and Hispanic populations were hit harder than White and Asian communities.

Approximately 21 million Americans have substance use disorders but only 10% of them access drug or alcohol addiction treatment or rehab. 50% of those with substance use disorders also have a co-occuring mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, etc.

15 million Americans have alcohol addiction but only 7% receive treatment.

Starting or increasing alcohol and/or drug use to attept to cope with stress or other emotions related to COVID-19 was reported by 13% of Americans. The pandemic disrupted accessibility to addiction treatment and recovery support.

Treatment and recovery from alcohol or drug addiction was also complicated by increased anxiety and social isolation.

Stimulants Kill More Californians than Does Fentanyl or Other Opioids

No-Cost Pilot Treatment for Stimulant Addiction

Twin Town Treatment Center, West Hollywood provides a no-cost UCLA, SAMHSA supported demonstration treatment of stimulant use disorder referred to as “TRUST”. The goal of the stimulant addiction treatment program is to create drug addiction treatment best-practices. Information may be accessed at http://www.uclaisap.org/oasis-tta/html/projects/stimulant-use-disorder-project.html

Call (866) 594-8844– Twin Town can help find the right resources.

Alcoholism is a complex addiction that can be difficult to diagnose. Its complexity comes from the fact that it encompasses more than just frequent drinking and extends to a person’s behavior as well. Not all forms of alcoholism are obvious. In fact, in many cases, a person may not even be aware that they suffer from an addiction. If you suspect that you may suffer from alcohol addiction but are unsure about it, ask yourself these three questions. 

Has Your Alcohol Tolerance Increased?

Increased tolerance of alcohol is a sign that a person may be suffering from addiction. The more a person drinks, the more their body becomes used to it and adjusts accordingly. This means that more drinks are required to produce effects that normally would come much earlier to a less-tolerant individual. Increased alcohol tolerance is an issue because it is usually accompanied by a rise in consumption as well. Both serve as indicators that a person is experiencing alcohol addiction.

Have You Had Any Negative Consequences Because of Alcohol?

A person is likely to be suffering from an alcohol addiction if their excessive drinking is leading to negative consequences for themselves and those around them. These consequences can include: 

• Worsening mental health 
• Increased anger issues 
• Deterioration of close relationships
• Frequent accidents behind the wheel

If a person’s response to these consequences is to continue drinking, this signals that alcohol has become the most important part of their life and that they prioritize it over everything else.  

Are You Having Trouble Quitting or Reducing Your Alcohol Consumption on Your Own?

A person who hasn’t yet developed a dependency on alcohol will have a much easier time decreasing their alcohol consumption. On the other hand, those who have trouble cutting back on how much they drink are likely to have become dependent on alcohol. Alcohol-dependent individuals will go through withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop drinking. Symptoms like anxiety, stomach pain, and fevers are all things a person can experience during a period of alcohol withdrawal. The severity of the symptoms is why attempting to quit alcohol consumption without proper alcohol addiction treatment is considered dangerous.

Alcoholism is a difficult addiction that shouldn’t be overcome alone. At Twin Town Treatment Centers, we provide support and guidance for those suffering from alcohol and substance abuse. We operate six drug and alcohol treatment centers throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County area, including one in Laguna Hills, where our licensed staff works daily to establish a safe and welcoming setting for anyone committed to recovering from their addiction. Get in touch with us by calling us at (866) 594-8844 or filling out our online form to get started today. Our team of drug and alcohol treatment professionals will provide you with a no-cost interview and assessment for alcohol and drug issues.

The signs of alcohol use disorder can be clear in some cases, but there are also other instances when things aren’t as obvious and the signs are much more subtle. Determining whether or not a person is suffering from alcohol use disorder can be complicated because signs of alcoholism come in different forms and feature various stages. An individual who consistently drinks and is often intoxicated may appear to be suffering from alcoholism, but is that really the case? Here’s what to look out for when it comes to alcohol use disorder. 

The Early Warning Signs

Alcoholism isn’t something that occurs overnight. It’s a lengthier process that has warning signs to start and progress over time if left unchecked. Below are the initial signs of alcoholism: 

• Frequent drinking or drinking in large amounts when doing so
• Prioritizes drinking over obligations like work
• Drinking in risky situations
• Different personalities when intoxicated

Those who consistently exhibit these early signs are expected to further progress into alcoholism. They likely have an issue with drinking and should consider attending an alcohol addiction treatment program. 

Behavioral Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Those who suffer from alcoholism will also begin to display certain behavioral cues. Alcohol becomes a bigger priority and much of your life starts to revolve around it. Many of your thoughts will be about alcohol and your desire for it will heighten. This leads to a vicious cycle of craving and consuming alcohol, and wanting for more. This desire for more comes from increased tolerance to alcohol. Those who are increasingly tolerant of alcohol need more of it to achieve the same effect. 

Alcoholism and its Physical Signs

Alcohol use disorder doesn’t just affect a person’s behavior, it will also change them physically. Because a person suffering from alcoholism is drinking more frequently than they are eating, they will lose weight. Broken blood vessels in the nose and cheek areas are another common occurrence in people with alcoholism. A person may also start to have shakiness in their hands or in other places. One of the clearest physical effects that alcoholism can have is withdrawal symptoms. The severity of withdrawal symptoms will be dependent on how much a person drinks. While mild cases of withdrawal are serious and should be treated with the utmost caution, severe withdrawal is especially dangerous due to symptoms like seizures, hallucinations, and high blood pressure putting the health of the individual at risk. 

Signs for Functioning Alcoholics

It can be difficult for functioning alcoholics to acknowledge that they have a problem because their behavior isn’t as obvious as those with more severe cases of alcohol use disorder. Functioning alcoholics don’t drink as much and can control their behavior when they’re out at social functions and having interactions. They also are still able to go about their life fulfilling their obligations, such as work. While it may appear at the surface that functioning alcoholics are just fine, this isn’t the case. There’s still a reliance on alcohol from this group of people. For functioning alcoholics, alcohol is more than just something to be enjoyed. Whether it’s for relaxation or a boost of confidence, functioning alcoholics are reliant upon alcohol to fulfill some sort of need. 

Alcohol is one of the most frequently abused substances in the country. Its wide societal acceptance makes it a difficult challenge for those who suffer from alcohol dependence to admit they have a problem and overcome their addiction. Those recovering from alcohol use disorder will need proper guidance and support to take on such a challenge. At Twin Town Treatment Centers, we operate six drug and alcohol treatment centers throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County area, including one in Laguna Hills, where our certified staff tirelessly work to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for those beginning their journey toward recovery from substance abuse. Get in touch with us by calling us at (866) 594-8844 or filling out our online form to get started today. Our team of drug and alcohol treatment professionals will provide you with a no-cost interview and assessment for alcohol and drug issues.

Addiction can intensify feelings of anger and exasperation and cause an outflow of emotion from those who suffer from the disease. These feelings can occur frequently, which negatively impact the relationships of those around the person suffering from addiction. The toxicity and negativity that spawn from the angry behavior caused by addiction, contribute to the deterioration of close relationships. Those in recovery from substance abuse addictions can employ anger management techniques to combat this and channel their emotions more constructively. Below are seven anger management techniques that can be used by those in recovery.

Discover What’s Bothering You

If you begin to display heightened angry behavior over trivial things, the cause may be another underlying issue. Think about what could be the true cause for these feelings that you are having; it could be about concerns over job security or issues with an important relationship. No matter what it is, discovering what’s bothering you is an important step toward addressing it.

Find Out Your Triggers

Closely examine how you go about your day. Ask yourself if there are any events or situations that always seem to trigger your anger. Triggers can vary from interactions with certain individuals to everyday occurrences. Learning what triggers your anger allows you to self-reflect and examine why these situations are having this kind of effect on you. You can then work on adjusting your approach to these interactions and situations so your anger isn’t projected. 

Recognize Your Anger Warning Signs

As you get angry, your body will start to exhibit various physical cues. Recognizing these signals can help you realize when you’re about to reach the breaking point. If this recognition comes early enough, you may be able to calm down and relieve yourself of this anger. Below are some of the warning signs that signal that you are currently feeling anger:

• Clenched fist or jaw
• Knot in your stomach
• Accelerated heartbeat
• Clammy or flushed skin
• Tension in your neck and shoulders
• Faint signs of a headache

Adjust Your Thinking and Mindset

One way to manage your anger is by adjusting your mindset and the thoughts that you are having. Anger tends to spur extreme negativity and the use of hyperbolic ugly language. Your thoughts are more irrational and your outlook is more pessimistic. Shifting yourself away from this type of negative mindset and having more positive thoughts can calm you. 

Try Relaxation Techniques 

Relaxation techniques will help you focus and deescalate the feelings that you are having. It has proven to be highly effective in managing anger and bringing a person back from the tipping point. Start by taking deep breaths while visualizing a calm image and thinking of peaceful words. Another relaxation method that you can employ is incorporating slow yoga poses. Concentrate on the motions that you are making, as it will help relieve some of the tension in your body. 

Address the Issue

Ignoring the issue that is causing you to be upset does nothing but perpetuate the cycle of anger. Sit down and ask yourself why this certain situation is causing you to react in this manner. Once you’ve come to terms with the root cause of your anger, formulate a plan to address this issue. Do your best to follow through with your plan even if the results don’t go your way. What’s important is that you pursued an alternative way to handle your problem that doesn’t involve lashing out or responding in anger. Instead, you were more analytical and level-headed, which is much more healthy.  

Respectful Communication

When you’re angry, it can be tough to listen to another perspective. Angry individuals will tend to speak out with emotion and express what immediately comes to mind, even if it doesn’t make the most sense. There is rarely any chance for the other person to have their voice heard because the angry person isn’t listening. Individuals feeling angry should instead watch their words and choose to listen, even if they don’t entirely agree. It’s also important to be considerate with your words. Thoughtful word choice can deescalate a situation and lower the tension. 

The process of recovery is never easy, especially when navigating emotional barriers. Those seeking addiction treatment should never have to do it alone. At Twin Town Treatment Centers, we operate six drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County area, including one in Laguna Hills, where our certified team provides personalized support and guidance for those on their journey toward recovery. Get in touch with us by calling us at (866) 594-8844 or filling out our online form to get started today. Our team of professionals will provide you with a no-cost assessment for alcohol and drug issues.