Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. I cannot believe that any person starts out drinking or drugging with the intention of becoming an addict. However, people obviously do become addicted.

What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction - that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction is defined as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain.

No single factor can predict whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Risk for addiction is influenced by a person’s biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.

Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs that involve families, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. Although many events and cultural factors affect drug abuse trends, when youths perceive drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking.

Are you wondering if you or a loved may be struggling with an addiction? Please, don't hesitate to contact us for assistance with getting addiction treatment in Los Angeles.

Labels: Addiction, Drug-Addiction, Los-Angeles, National-Institute-Of-Drug-Abuse

Memorial Day is an oddly apt time to write about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because the condition is so strongly associated in the public mind with combat veterans. We think of veterans, exposed over long periods to high levels of stress, violence, and brutal conditions, who come home to a safe place, a loving family, unable to find peace. Even when the outer war is over, the inner war continues for some.

PTSD occurs after experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic, terrifying or tragic event. Combat PTSD is more common in soldiers who have experienced active military action on the battlefield. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why some soldiers can perform well on the battlefield with no problems, while some get PTSD. Sometimes the symptoms of PTSD - terrifying recurrent nightmares or flashbacks - don’t start until after the soldier has returned home.

According to the latest Pentagon study, published in 2004, about one in six veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from PTSD, depression or anxiety. A more recent RAND Corp. study, released in April this year, found that nearly 20 percent - or one in five returning war veterans - reported symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression. But, only slightly more than half of them sought treatment, the study found.

This Memorial Day, we remember not only those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, but for all veterans still dealing with the lingering effects of war.

Thank you for your service.

Are you or a loved one coping by combat PTSD? Help is available.

Labels: Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder, PTSD

Binge drinking continues to be a significant problem on college campus across the country. College is a unique time in a young adult’s life, a time for experimentation and perhaps even recklessness, a time that's often believed to be free of long-term consequences or repercussions. For too many college students, binge drinking is viewed as a rite of passage on the road to adulthood.

I was not an exception to the rule. I thought college was a time to get knock-down, drag-out, torn-up drunk, and I did. But all good things come to end. My wakeup call came while during one Christmas break; my friends and I had a just recently turned 21 and we were celebrating. We had spent the day bar hopping; I had consumed over 10 to 15 beers and a couple of shots within a couple of hours. As the day progressed I found myself in the passenger’s seat of one my friend’s trucks. My friend, who had also been drinking most of the day, accidently made a wrong left turn. He ended up running head on to at palm tree at 65 mph. Luckily, I ended up with minor injuries but, unluckily, lengthy legal problems.

I had become a statistic. A federal government study found that 48 percent of college-age kids engaged in binge drinking. Each year, college drinking contributes to an estimated 1,400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape.

Binge drinking, as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is the consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks in about two hours for a male, or four or more drinks in the same amount of time for a female. Unfortunately, a lot of young people ignore their own limits in an attempt to keep up with their peers. The results can be deadly.

Sadly, many more students are at risk of alcohol poisoning and the dangerous consequences of binge drinking. These are senseless tragedies that lead to the important question: What can we all do to make sure it doesn't happen again?

Check out the movie trail for the documentary, HAZE. It was created with the intent of placing a focus on the issues of binge drinking, alcohol-laden hazing rituals, and rapid-fire drinking games. Simply stated, the film’s goal is to save lives and prevent harm. Note: This trail contains adult language and content so think carefully before you begin viewing.



Do you have a loved one or a family member who is struggling with binge drinking? Creative Care located in Los Angeles, CA would honor the opportunity to help you and your family member, please don't hesitate to contact us today.

Labels: Alcohol, Alcohol-Poisoning, Binge-Drinking, HAZE

The Twelve Steps are a plan of action for recovering from addiction. They channel us step by step through our addiction and into a new way of life, and are the basis for working a program of recovery. At first, we apply them to our substance abuse, but then over time many of us apply them into our daily lives. The Twelve Steps are truly a guide for living.

But, learning about the Twelve Steps is just not enough. The steps are meant to be worked. So as a continuous part of this blog, I will walk through each step of the Twelve Steps; give you my interpretation, and a few ideas for working them. Please note that this is a humble undertaking. For specific directions on how to work the steps please see your sponsor.

Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

I need to prelude this by stating that I am not speaking as an expert on AA or the Twelve Steps, but through my personal and professional experience, I have gained much insight into their workings. Most of what I share with you I have picked up from people with many years of sobriety, these people include my personal sponsor, professors, therapist, and friends.

Step One: Placed first for a reason. The reason is obvious. Unless we concede to our innermost self that we are powerless over most situations, then we will again try to control reality. When that doesn’t’ work (and who has control over reality), we then engage in our addictive behaviors. I like to call those attempts at reality control “surface work.” “Surface work” is what we do to appease others i.e., family members, authority figures, etc. Admitting that you are powerless over your addictive behaviors is essential to long-term sobriety. Only admitting this, however, in my opinion, is not enough. We must also believe this to the core of our very being and accept life and its unknowns. I reinforce this belief in my life by keeping a list of the consequences I endured while and after living an addicted and disordered lifestyle.

I encourage you to make a consequence list and read it over often. It can make a believer out of you, too.

What was your experience with Step One?

Labels: Addiction, Alcohol, Recovery, Twelve-Steps

On the typical American college campus – substance abuse, depression, and suicide are hardly rare. Looking back at my college years, it is a miracle that I survived. As a young freshman I found myself away from home for the first time and under academic pressure to perform. I had placed high expectations on myself as did my parents. Couple these factors with the traditional hallmarks of college life – I had found a new love for Jack Daniels and cocaine. Combine this with a lack of sleep and it is no wonder that one in four students will experience a depressive episode by the age of 24.

Going to college can be a difficult transition period in which students may feel lost, lonely, confused, anxious, inadequate, and stressed. And these problems may lead to depression. Put that together with alcohol and drugs and you understand why untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.

With rates as high as they are, suicide has become an important but feared issue on many campuses. According to American College Health Association, the Jed Foundation, and National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, claiming approximately 1,100 lives per year. Although most suicides are in fact committed by white males over 85, more young people die from suicide than from all other medical illnesses combined.

Reflecting back, today I see that the warning signs were there. My escapades no longer provided me the rush of freedom, individuality, and significance that I so desperately desired. In fact I was feeling the opposite. I was feeling trapped by my new found addiction; plagued by reoccurring feels of despair and hopelessness.

Luckily for me, my family and friends noticed my downward spiral into depression and substance abuse. If it was not for them, stepping in and getting me the treatment that I so desperately needed, I am not sure if I would be here today.

Do you have a friend or a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse, depression, or you think that might be suicidal? Find out what you can do to get them help.

Labels: Cocaine, Depression, Substance-Abuse, Suicide

VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, A&E’s Intervention, and HBO’s Rehab has led America into a frenzy about rehabilitation programs. Every week thousands of Americans turn in and watch yet another troubled soul struggle with the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Are these television show educating the public on addiction or are they exploiting addicts as the struggle with their personal demons? The jury is still out.

These are the first television series to chronicle the real life experiences of a group of celebrities and a handful of other participants as they make the life-changing decision to enter themselves into treatment for drug, alcohol, and process addictions. These shows provide the public with an all access pass (season pass, E ticket, sky box view?) into the private lives of celebrities and others as they each try to achieve rehabilitation and recovery. No holds barred. But, are they good for the public or merely pandering to the tremendous interest in the famous and infamous?

Some critics of these shows argue that programs like Celebrity Rehab and Intervention are exploitative and showcase the participants as they self-destruct. Many argue that the confrontations that occur in intervention are milked to show only the most dramatic moments and that the final results of the intervention and subsequent rehabilitation is glossed-over.

On the other side, it is clear, if you watch, that these individuals are having the struggle of their lives to get control of their addictions. Even though only a portion of the treatment program may be seen, the continuing battle is plainly hard for those clients trying to rehab. Moreover, the difficulty of maintaining sobriety has become more widely understood than before.

However, whether you are a fan or a critic of television shows like Celebrity Rehab and Intervention, they have raised a new awareness and opened dialogue on addiction and treatment options that have, until now, been kept in the closet.

Here's some clips from the television show, Intervention:



What do you think? Do televisions shows like Celebrity Rehab and Intervention educate or exploit the masses?

Labels: Alcohol, Celebrity-Rehab, Drug, Intervention, Process-Addictions, Rehab, Treatment-Program

“Free From Addiction: Facing Yourself and Embracing Recovery” was written for you. I have worked with people who have been effected by alcoholism and addiction and their families for more than 20 years and the most frequent feedback that I have received from those that I have treated is: “this is the first time I have really understood what is going on, this is the first time I am able to make the connection between how I feel and what I do”. Families for the first time see their loved one in a new light, they begin to understand the issues that their loved one faces and how the family’s behavior affects this individual and the whole family dynamic.

It is imperative for all concerned to understand that to put something effectively behind you; you must first put it in front of you. In understanding these connections addicts and those close to them will be able to move forward towards recovery and begin to lead happier, healthier lives.

In writing this book it was my wish to share with you the knowledge and wisdom that I have gained over these last 20 years so that I may help those battling to free themselves from addiction.

Sincerely,

Dr. Morteza Khaleghi
Executive Director,
Founder of Creative Care Inc.

Would you like to read an excerpt from “Free From Addiction, Facing Yourself and Embracing Recovery”?

Labels: Alcoholism, Drug-Abuse-and-Addiction, Embracing-Recovery, Free-From-Addiction

Marijuana may not be good medicine if it increases the rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia later in life. Recent research at Cardiff University (Stanley Zammit and colleagues) found a connection between frequent marijuana smoking and psychosis, schizophrenia, hearing voices and hallucinations. People who haven't smoked marijuana are less likely to display the same psychotic illnesses.

"The available evidence now suggests that cannabis is not as harmless as many people think," said Dr. Stanley Zammit, one of the study's authors and a lecturer in the department of psychological medicine at Cardiff University.

The researchers said they couldn't prove that marijuana use itself increases the risk of psychosis, a category of several disorders with schizophrenia being the most commonly known. There could be something else about marijuana users, "like their tendency to use other drugs or certain personality traits, that could be causing the psychoses," Zammit said.

Other marijuana experts such as Dr. Wilson Compton, a senior scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the study persuasive. According to Dr. Compton, "The strongest case is that there are consistencies across all of the studies, and that the link was seen only with psychoses - not anxiety, depression or other mental health problems. Scientists cannot rule out that pre-existing conditions could have led to both marijuana use and later psychoses.”

Some experts say governments should now work to dispel the misconception that marijuana is a benign drug. "We've reached the end of the road with these kinds of studies," said Dr. Robin Murray of King's College. "Experts are now agreed on the connection between cannabis and psychoses. What we need now is for 14-year-olds to know it."

Do you think that there is a association between marijuana usage and mental illness? Let us know.

Labels: Anxiety, Cannabis, Depression, Marijuana, Schizophrenia

You might be wondering why on earth your loved seems to be choosing drugs over family. You might be struggling with finances, or even from the painful realization your loved one is in trouble with the law. Or you might be asking yourself why you are taking drugs again, when you swore just a few hours ago that you needed to cut down.

Drug addiction is not a matter of moral weakness or faulty willpower. It is a vicious cycle that actually causes changes in the brain, leading to stronger and stronger impulses to use. Without help, drug abuse destroys families and takes lives.

Different drugs have different effects. Some, such as cocaine or methamphetamines, may produce an intense “rush” and initial feelings of boundless energy. Others, such as heroin, benzodiazepines or the prescription oxycontin, may produce excessive feelings of relaxation and calm. What most drugs have in common, though, is overstimulation of the pleasure center of the brain. With time, the brain’s chemistry is actually altered to the point where not having the drug becomes extremely uncomfortable and even painful. This compelling urge to use, addiction, becomes more and more powerful, disrupting work, relationships, and health.

What makes one person abuse drugs to the point of losing their home, their family and their job, while another does not? There is no one simple reason. Drug abuse and addiction is due to many factors. A powerful force in addiction is the inability to self- soothe or get relief from untreated mental or physical pain. Without the self-resilience and support to handle stress, loneliness or depression, drugs can be a tempting way to deal with the situation. Unfortunately, due to the changes drugs make to the brain, it can only take a few times or even one time to be on the road to addiction.

What makes drug addiction problems so challenging to face, as opposed to other mental or physical problems? Drug abuse affects the person’s life in many ways, including health, finances and stability. But it also affects the entire family, friends, colleagues-- and even the community. What’s more, the strong denial and rationalization of the person using drugs makes it extremely difficult to get help, and can make concerned family members feel like they are the problem.

You may not immediately realize that someone you love has a drug problem. It may have started slowly, and your loved one might also have tried to hide the extent of the drug use from you. You might have gotten so used to the drug abuse that coping with it seems almost normal. Or the realization that there is something seriously wrong is almost too painful to admit. Don’t be ashamed, and you are not alone. Drug abuse affects millions of families, from every socioeconomic status, race and culture. There is help and support available.

Would you like to learn more about drug treatment programs, including rehab and peer support groups?

Labels: Addiction, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Depression, Drug-Abuse-and-Addiction, Heroin, Methamphetamines, Oxycontin

Dual diagnosis is when a person is affected by both an alcohol or drug problem, and an emotional/psychiatric problem. Both illnesses may affect an individual physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. Each illness has symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively and relate to themselves and others. Not only is the individual affected by two separate illnesses, both illnesses interact with one another. The illnesses may exacerbate each other and each disorder predisposes to relapse in the other disease. At times the symptoms can overlap and even mask each other making diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

Dual diagnosis is more common than you might imagine. According to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and fifty-three percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness. Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs.

There are a variety of different mental health disorders that can be associated with substance use and labeled dual diagnosis. Some of these disorders include: Mood Disorders, including Depression and Bipolar Disorder; Anxiety Disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Trauma; as well as Personality Disorders. Depending on what disorder is present, the symptoms of a dually diagnosed individual can vary.

A person may sincerely try to recover from one illness and not acknowledge the other. As a person neglects his or her mental illness, that illness may recur. This recurrence may, in turn, lead a person to feel the need to "self-medicate" through drug use. Over time, the lack of progress toward recovery on both fronts may trigger feelings of failure and alienation. Perhaps the greatest tragedy is the damage that occurs to the individual’s self-esteem.

Families who have mentally ill relatives whose problems are compounded by substance abuse face problems of enormous proportions. As a relative or friend, you can play an important role in encouraging a person to seek professional diagnosis and treatment. By learning about dual diagnosis, you can help this person find and stick with an effective recovery program.

The more you know about dual diagnosis, the more you will see how substance abuse can go hand-in-hand with another psychiatric condition. As with any illness, a person with dual diagnosis can improve once proper care is given. By seeking out information, you can learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis - and help someone live a healthier or more fulfilling life.

Do you know a friend or a family member who is struggling with a Dual Diagnosis?

Labels: Alcohol, Anxiety-Disorders, Bipolar-Disorders, Dual-Diagnosis, Journal-Of-The-American-Medical Association, Mental-Health, Mood-Disorders, Personality-Disorders, Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

Creative Care is dedicated helping individuals and families who seek recovery from addiction, mental health issues, and dual diagnosis discover new paths in their lives. Since opening in 1989, Creative Care has prided itself on having a treatment program based on an integration of psychodynamic theory and the 12 step principles of treating addiction and emotional problems.

Creative Care is one of the first programs to treat the dually diagnosed individual. Our purpose is to assist those struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and co-occurring disorders in first determining, and then resolving, the underlying issues that contribute to addiction and mental health issues. Our goal is to help you achieve your maximum potential for a healthy sustainable lifestyle, abstain from addictive and self-destructive behavioral patterns, and assist you in understanding and improving the relationships that are meaningful in your life.

The Creative Care treatment philosophy is based on our strong emphasis on individualized treatment in an intimate setting fosters a unique environment for growth and healing. In addition to proven therapeutic techniques, Creative Care Inc. considers the individual's unique personal journey when creating a treatment plan. We start with a blank slate and figure out with you, the plan that will best fit your needs. Creative Care Inc. utilizes a Biological-Psychological-Social-Spiritual Model that strives to get to the core of what makes each individual tick.

Creative Care holds the opinion that the current low rate of alcohol/drug and dual diagnosis treatment success is a consequence of traditional treatment which does not typically address coexisting conditions. At Creative Care, we understand that an individual must be treated for all of the ailments of mind, body and soul simultaneously, or relapse may be inevitable.

While the traditional 30-day treatment model is an appropriate level of care for many clients, we at Creative Care have found that they are not able to fully address the wide range of psychological problems complicated by addiction within this time. For some, treatment seems to take longer. Statistics show that recovery outcomes are directly related to length of stay in a residential type of setting.

Treatment for dual diagnosis must include interventions that fully address the underlying issues of addiction. At Creative Care, we will provide you with mental, emotional and physical resources so that you can live a more purposeful life free from substances and self-destructive behavioral patterns.

While you are in recovery, it is essential that you have support of the people in your life who matter to you. Alcoholism, addiction and dual diagnosis affects your family members, friends, co-workers, etc. We will assist you in understanding and improving the relationships that are meaningful in your life. We will also educate and support your loved ones through this process so that they can better support you when you go home.

Treatment of alcoholism, drug addiction and coexisting disorders is complex and it can vary with each individual's life story. A treatment center that does not attempt to uncover and resolve the underlying issues of these disorders will inevitably fail to treat you in the way that you deserve.

Each treatment plan is based on your specific needs. Our professional team of physicians, psychologists, licensed therapists, psychiatric nurses, and certified chemical dependency counselors meet on a continual basis to customize a personal treatment plan that takes into account the subtleties of your history and needs. This allows us to effectively help you change your addictive behavioral patterns. Then, when you are ready, together we can deal with the underlying causes and effects. By discovering the "why" we reduce the chances that you will relapse into a chemically dependent lifestyle.

Creative Care provides individualized treatment for the following conditions:

• Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse
• Psychiatric Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Organic Conditions
• Personality Disorders
• Abuse and problems related to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
• Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Self Mutilation
• Addiction other than substances

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or mental health issues, tomorrow doesn't matter. You need answers now. Creative Care can help. The first step in seeking treatment is to contact one of our qualified staff members who will determine if our program is the right one for you. We are willing to answer all of your questions and will accommodate you or your loved one in any way possible.

Creative Care would honor the opportunity to help you and your family on your path to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Please contact us today.

Labels: Alcoholism, Anxiety-Disorders, Chemical-Dependency, Co-Occurring-Disorders, Coexisting-Disorders, Creative-Care-Inc, Drug-Addiction, Dual-Diagnosis, Mood-Disorders, Pyschiatric-Disorders

Creative Care Inc. is the nation’s premier dual diagnosis residential treatment center. Creative Care is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains located in Malibu, California. Our private treatment center provides a tranquil and serene haven for people who are in need of treatment for substances and coexisting conditions. Creative Care, Inc. offers an environment that preserves the privacy, dignity and respect of the clients with whom we treat.

Creative Care Inc. is licensed by the state of California and was founded in 1989. Unlike many traditional treatment centers, we at Creative Care believe in treating the entire person rather than just treating the symptoms. We offer a comprehensive treatment approach, in which we tailor individualized treatment plans to meet the needs of you or your loved one. The goal of our dedicated and compassionate staff is to assist you or your loved one in their transformation from a person who is suffering from alcoholism, addiction and emotional pain, into a sober, healthy individual who is in control of their life.

Creative Care believes in the proven effectiveness of the twelve-step program and incorporates these principles with a wide array of therapeutic modalities. In addition to proven therapeutic techniques, Creative Care Inc. considers the individual's unique personal journey when creating a treatment plan. We start with a blank slate and figure out with you, the plan that will best fit your needs. Creative Care Inc. utilizes a Biological-Psychological-Social-Spiritual Model that strives to get to the core of what makes each individual tick.

Our goal is to help as many individuals suffering from not only the physical symptoms, but also the emotional difficulties of addiction. At Creative Care, we pride ourselves in being able to assist our clients with reaching their greatest potential, particularly those who have been unsuccessful in other treatment modalities. We are committed to helping you turn your life around.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or mental health issues, tomorrow doesn't matter. You need answers now. Creative Care can help. The first step in seeking treatment is to contact one of our qualified staff members who will determine if our program is the right one for you. We are willing to answer all of your questions and will accommodate you or your loved one in any way possible.

Please don't hesitate to contact Creative Care today for more information on Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

Labels: About-Us, Addiction, Alcoholism, Creative-Care-Inc, Drug-Addiction, Dual-Diagnosis, Emotion-Pain, Malibu, Mental-Health-Issues