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Making Amends After Drug Abuse Stops

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Call to Action / Detox Centers / Disease of Addiction / drug addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Long Term Recovery / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Rebuilding Relationships / Recommendation / Substance Use Disorder / Understanding Addiction
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After addiction treatment, men and women suffering from the disease of addiction come to realize that successful recovery means following all the steps. Two of these are critical and they both involve making amends. But it’s not as easy as one might think. And making amends isn’t about the addict at all. It’s an attempt to make up for the destruction one’s addiction has caused others. Below, we talk about making amends after drug abuse stops.

The question an individual suffering from substance use disorder aka drug addiction probably while reading this is: How does one make amends for all the hurt, pain and destruction that was caused during active addiction? First, let’s look at what making amends isn’t – and what it is.

Making Amends is Not an Apology

When you brush up against someone in line or invade their personal space by accident, the polite thing to say is “I’m …

William’s Experience with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Alcohol / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Call to Action / Clinic Reviews / Disease of Addiction / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation / Understanding Addiction
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In this blog, William Charles shares his personal experience with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

I want to disclose upfront that I’ve only been to a little over 2 dozen AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings and didn’t obtain a sponsor or go through the steps.  Now, I already know upfront that many will dismiss my point of view (which remains positive and open minded) or what I have to say because they believe the Big Book of AA is an authoritative source on alcohol and drug addiction, treatment and recovery and that Alcoholics Anonymous is the “only way” to sobriety.  I have always disagreed with this and still do.  I believe there are multiple ways to get addiction treatment, help and maintain one’s sobriety and long-term recovery.  I do however, believe that Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are valuable tools that can and maybe even should be used by most …

The Role of God in Healing Drug Addiction

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / drug addiction / Drug Rehab / God / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Higher Power / Myths About Addiction / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation / Religion / Spirituality / Substance Use Disorder / Understanding Addiction
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Religion, spirituality and God are very personal subjects that many are afraid to talk about because they often result in arguments amongst even the best of friends.  However, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and even many drug rehab facilities and addiction treatment centers discuss the role of a “higher power” when it comes to healing drug addiction and alcoholism.  They use and discuss the abstract concept of “powerlessness” which ultimately means that men and women suffering from the disease of addiction have no control over their disease and they need something or someone bigger than themselves to heal them or at least stop them from using drugs and alcohol.  This is where the concept of “God” is usually discussed or at least thought about.  Do you believe in God?  Who or what is your higher power?  Perhaps God doesn’t come to mind at all.  Many …

Turned Down By Drug Rehabs and Treatment Hotlines? There’s a Solution!

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Addiction Vs. Dependency / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Call to Action / Detox Centers / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Medicine Assisted Treatment (MAT) / Methadone / Naltrexone / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Opioid Addiction / Protecting Our Children / Recommendation / ReVia / Suboxone / Substance Use Disorder / Understanding Addiction / Vivitrol / What to Expect / Withdrawal Symptoms
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Our community is inundated with emails and phone calls by men and women without money and without insurance claiming that nobody will help them overcome their addiction. They’ve made dozens of phone calls and contacted a multitude of drug rehab facilities all to be turned down because they don’t have money or the right private PPO insurance policy. There is something these men and women simply don’t understand. Forget for now, whether it’s right or wrong for drug rehab facilities and/or organizations that claim to help people find addiction treatment to turn people away without money or insurance. Instead, consider the reality that there are actually more affordable and even free ways to conquer heroin and drug addiction without needing to attend an elite, private addiction treatment center and a plethora of cash.

Drug Rehab Facilities are Great But…

Private addiction treatment centers, drug rehab facilities and detox …

Why AA Members Believe the 12 Step Program is the Only Way

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcohol / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Call to Action / Disease of Addiction / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Medicine Assisted Treatment (MAT) / Methadone / Naltrexone / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation / Relapse Prevention / ReVia / Suboxone / Vivitrol
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For members of Alcoholics Anonymous and even Narcotics Anonymous, the dogma that “AA is the only way” is far from offensive. In fact, the 12 step program has become a significant meaning of life for each individual regularly attending AA and NA meetings. However, for individuals seeking addiction treatment elsewhere, such as through medical means often referred to as medicine assisted treatment (MAT), hearing this can be overwhelming and even downright destructive for their individual mindset and addiction recovery. Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that medicine assisted treatment and other modalities are simply not effective. What’s more, those who use Suboxone, methadone and even naltrexone (Vivitrol and ReVia)  aren’t considered part of recovery. So why do 12 step program members feel this way?

Being Authentic at AA meetings

While the 12 step program has a long history of being effective for some men and women suffering from …

Dangers of Putting Off Addiction Treatment – Is It Just That Simple?

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Disease of Addiction / Drug Dealers / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Overdose / Protecting Our Children / SMART Recovery
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It may sound incredibly simple to most people reading this. Of course its dangerous to put off addiction treatment if you are still using drugs. But believe it or not – to the man or woman still using heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc., it’s not that simple. Some men and women suffering from the disease of addiction wish they could just put it down. They convince themselves they have it under control, telling themselves that this will be the last time they buy and use, handing over $500 to a man (or woman) who tells them they are making very little money from the transaction while meanwhile, the drug dealer is making at least 50% off of each drug buyer. It’s sick and nobody knows or cares…not until somebody overdoses and dies.

Noticing Before a Heroin or Drug Overdose and Death

It doesn’t matter which drug of choice the addict has …

Breaking Free From Drug Addiction

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation / Understanding Addiction
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Despite all the information available at one’s fingertips today, so many still don’t understand addiction and feel that those who regularly use drugs are just regularly making bad choices or are just simply immoral, lazy or less intelligent.  And while addiction may start with one bad choice, addiction is a disease that literally changes the brain’s structure and chemical makeup.  These changes to the brain creates an ongoing, powerful compulsion that makes resisting the substance that triggered the onset of addiction feel almost impossible.   So how does someone suffering from the disease of addiction break free of the disease?  Is it even possible?

Breaking Free From Drug Addiction

No cure exists for the disease of addiction.  However, much like a cancer, addiction can be sent into remission where compulsions simply aren’t as strong.  Moreover, coping strategies and life skills can be acquired that will make resisting the urges and compulsions to use …

Do’s and Don’ts for Finding a Sponsor

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation
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Addicts helping drug addicts is part of what makes Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) so effective. Sponsorship involves one recovering addict walking another through the 12 step program and helping them stay sober. A sponsor is someone you call when you need emotional support or feel threatened by relapse. They will respond without judgment or criticism by teaching you the language of AA/NA, encouraging you to continue working your recovery program, providing emotional support by staying in regular contact and sharing their experience of recovery.

Working with a sponsor is like any relationship – it requires some navigating in order to be mutually beneficial. Here are a few dos and don’ts to follow when making this important decision:

DO Get a Sponsor

While it is true that not everyone needs a sponsor, most recovering addicts benefit from giving sponsorship a try. A sponsor is in the unique position to understand …

Jesus Loves The Heroin Addict

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Celebrities / Depression / Depression / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Overdose / Protecting Our Children / Recommendation
jesuslovestheheroinaddict

Each life is a precious gift and each person was born with a plan from God. Even an addict was born with a purpose, died for by God (Jesus) Himself and was knitted together in his/her mothers womb, destined.

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”– Jeremiah 29:11

When Jesus came on Earth and ministered, He didn’t surround Himself with kings and upper class people with money and riches, fancy houses and wine and expensive jewelry and clothing. He actually quite preferred to spend His few short years with murderers, tax collectors, lepers, fisherman and the handicapped.

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting …

Real Addiction Treatment Takes Care of The Mind, Body and Soul

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Holistic Approach / Long Term Recovery / Recommendation
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Individuals suffering from drug addiction often neglect taking care of themselves.  Whether the drug of choice is heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines, etc. drugs uses it’s power to destroy the mind, body and soul.  Thus, getting the best addiction help and treatment must focus not just on stopping a drug habit and addressing underlying issues that led to drug use during therapy, but must focus on the work necessary to repair our broken bodies, psyches and spirit.  So what does it look like to take care of your mind, body and soul during and after initial treatment and recovery?

Many addicts suffer from low self esteem and their only coping mechanism of using drugs stunts any self-improvement or growth.  This is a recipe for disaster.  Thus, in addiction treatment and long-term recovery, we must learn to love ourselves again (or for the first time).  We show how we love by how we take or neglect …

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We are a community of recovering heroin addicts providing support and recommending the best treatments and clinics to people interested in conquering their addiction.

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