alcohol and drug abuse treatment

Archive for November, 2011

Minor in possession classes, or MIP classes as they are sometimes called, help troubled youths that really need a helping hand rather than a jail sentence. Most likely if your teen or youth is being required to take MIP classes it’s because they have been caught drinking or with alcohol in their system or been caught with alcohol in their possession.

Finding Minor in Possession Classes

You can go to your city hall information desk and request information on the next city backed MIP class. Most cities held classes are once per month, and classes can also be found online. If you are looking for an online option, one way to find a class, for example, would be to simply type in to Googe:”MIP Classes in New Jersey”

What’s Covered?

The MIP classes are split into 6, 8, 12 16, and some even 24 hours classes. The classes are self-paced and can be taken any time of day or night. If the class is being held at a community center then the single 6 to 8 hour class is what will be most likely be required and completed on a Saturday or Sunday.

The MIP classes ranging from 6-8 hours cover the specific drinking and drug laws of the that county and state. The class instructor will spend ample time speaking and educating the youth of the physiological effects of consuming alcohol and/or drugs as well as the risks and consequences of alcohol and/or drug use. After the youths understand the physical consequences, the instructor will teach them about the steps of addiction. How something can go from occasional use to complete dependency on a daily basis just to function. Alcohol is one of the last legal drugs on the planet, and without a proper education, the long-term failure into the abyss of addiction is very real possibility.

Self-Assessment

One of the biggest steps of taking a Minor in Possession class is to complete a self-assessment. You need to be able to identify if you have a dependency issue or if you are an occasional user. The only way to do this is to honestly and openly is by discussing your chemical use history. There will be no charges for this, no repercussions other than trying to get over your own history of use and getting back on the road of pride and honor.

Their Values

Finally, in a 6 to 8 hours class, there will be the values section. By the end of the class, the youth must decide and know, if their own values conflict with their illegal use of drugs and/or alcohol. The youth must learn to have values through the strength of honor and consequence, or in other words a good lesson in personal responsibility.

The Parents

It may seem like all the work has to be done by the youth, but the parents need to be prepared to throw in a little work in class in the Minor in Possession class as well. The parent parts of the classes are usually much shorter, ranging from 2 to 3 hour and covers the parents legal responsibilities when their youth’s use or have drugs and alcohol.

Want to know how to quit marijuana? You simply have to be ready to quit. You must psychologically be prepared to do what it takes to end the addiction. If you currently have a marijuana addiction, you have to learn two things: how to deal with the withdrawal symptoms, and what to do so that you are not tempted to go back to using.

The first step in ending marijuana dependency is in dealing with your body’s craving for the substance. When your body is addicted to a type of drug, you face physical symptoms when you stop using that addictive substance.For example: If you’re a smoker, you regularly use nicotine in order for you to feel “normal.”However, when you stop using nicotine, your body begins to feel deprived of the substance, and you experience certain symptoms from not using the drug, such as headaches, nausea, among others.

In the same manner, knowing how to quit marijuana involves understanding how marijuana works on your body and how to deal with any withdrawal symptoms. THC (TetraHydroCannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana, affects your body chemistry, a withdrawal from the drug can have certain side effects such as sleeplessness, nausea, sore throat, and even vivid dreams. These side effects are the result of the THC that is stored in your body’s fatty adipose cells, which remain in your body for a long time.

Aside from these physical side effects, marijuana use has psychological effects as well. Those who are addicted to marijuana will feel that they must smoke: they fear not smoking or using, and believe that they cannot function unless they have their fix.

Getting out of this frame of mind is very difficult. This is why the best thing to do is to find a support system and a counselor whom you can confide with about your struggles. You’ll also need to get rid of anything in your possession that will lead you to smoke or use again, things like cannabis leaf symbols and merchandise. Counselors who advise you on knowing how to quit marijuana may suggest that you keep new company, especially if the people you currently associate with are the type who pressure or influence you negatively.

The key to ending marijuana dependence is personal determination, the determination to get the help you need and to make a lifestyle change that will influence you positively away from marijuana use. Remember: While you can detox, exercise to burn adipose cells, and drink lots of water to help ease withdrawal symptoms, learning how to quit marijuana is never a one man feat.

Addiction is not a disease, contrary to popular belief. Some may have a genetic predisposition to substance abuse, but it does not mean it will manifest in every person who has it. There isn’t just one reason for why individuals become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol can make one’s life swerve wildly out of control; however, addicts don’t have to be at the effect to this. Non 12 step rehabs give them the tools necessary to get back in control of life’s problems.

The idea of power is one of the biggest distinctions. Traditional faith-based programs promote the philosophy that the individual has a disease and is powerless to take control of their life and manage the behavior that led to the debilitated state. Non 12 step drug rehab programs have a completely different doctrine.

They believe the individual is in control of their addiction and the power to change is within each person. Long-term drug and/or alcohol abuse can be a downward spiral. The impact of trying to get clean and failing is lowered self-esteem and confidence. Frequently, the reason a person over indulges in the first place is because they have a low opinion of themselves from the get go.

If you are failing, it isn’t that you are not working hard enough; but the right tools are necessary in order to achieve your goals of a life free from substance abuse. It is necessary to learn new life skills to know how to live a substance-free lifestyle. Sitting in a circle rehashing your past addict lifestyle is a dangerous activity to engage in as it is a constant reminder of the old you. Any addict will tell you the best part of addiction is the drug and alcohol use because of the accompanied euphoria. Being reminded of that often creates cravings.

Treatment plans that veer away from the traditional methods have much higher success rates. Seventy to eighty percent of people who enter into one maintain a permanent change for life. These programs are usually longer in length, ranging from 8 to 12 weeks; therefore, an individual becomes acclimated to their new lifestyle before entering into their daily life that is usually full of triggers.

Life skills education and individual counseling provide life coaching. In addition, the physical side is addressed through biophysical detoxification. Individuals are taught the tools to succeed, so they can get back in control of their life. It is the blend of therapies that embodies both the emotional and physical aspects that allows them to do so.