Getting over an addiction is not easy, and often a variety of therapies are necessary for the recovery process. One type of therapy that’s typically included is group therapy. It involves the person getting together with a therapist and a group of their peers to talk about their issues and feelings.

This article will discuss group therapy in rehab and why it is so important.

What is Group Therapy?

Group therapy is a type of therapy that takes place in a group setting. It is led by the therapist and involves people with similar issues to talk about their problems.

In addiction recovery, group therapy will involve people overcoming addiction talking about their dependency issues, feelings, achievements, and goals.

Group therapy can be carried out in a variety of settings. It may be a part of outpatient or inpatient treatment. AA is a popular type of addiction group therapy. Meetings can be found at community centers all over the country. They are free to attend, and many people use them to follow-up outpatient care.

What are the Benefits of Group Therapy?

Group therapy provides many benefits, including the following:

Provides Group Support: Group therapy involves therapeutic meetings with a group of your peers. They understand what you are going through and can give you the support you need to cope with your feelings and maintain sobriety. 

You May Find a Sponsor: Groups like AA encourage people to find a sponsor. The sponsor is a person who you can talk to when you feel your stressors are getting out of hand and you are tempted to drink. They will prevent relapse from occurring. 

Promotes Social Skills: Many people feel withdrawn after getting over addiction. It’s likely they have lost their drug-using social group, and their low self-confidence may make it difficult for them to make new friends. But a lack of socialization can cause depression that leads to relapse. Group therapy promotes social skills that keep depression at bay and provide an outlet for your feelings. 

Inspires You to Move Forward: Many recovering individuals become discouraged in their journeys. It can be hard for them to overcome their addiction and move forward to become functioning members of society again. But when they attend group meetings and hear others’ success stories, they will get the motivation they need to move forward. 

Teaches You About Yourself: When you hear others talk about their experiences and how they overcame their issues, you can relate to what they are saying and learn more about yourself. 

It Costs Less Than Individual Counseling: Individual counseling is expensive because you are the only one paying for the therapist’s time. The group essentially splits that cost in group therapy, making therapy more affordable. Some groups, like AA, are entirely free.

The Importance of Group Therapy in Rehab

Rehab typically offers several types of therapy, and it’s essential that group therapy is included. 

Individual therapy is important because it takes a customized approach and gives you one-on-one time with your therapist. But group therapy helps you learn what others are going through. It makes you realize that you are not alone. It gives you a socialization outlet that relieves feelings of depression.

How to Find Group Therapy in Rehab Near Me

When you decide to move on from your dependency issues, it’s important to find a rehab center that’s right for you. The center must offer support groups alongside other types of therapy. The facility must also offer a pleasant atmosphere, a caring staff, and an affordable payment plan.

Finding the ideal rehab facility can take hours of research, but you can save yourself time by contacting My Recovery Source first. 

My Recovery Source is a free service that specializes in matching people with rehab facilities. We provide help regardless of your location and personal and financial situation. We can assist you or a loved one in finding the care you need. 
Overcoming addiction is not easy. Group therapy can help you reach your recovery goals. My Recovery Source will help you find a rehab center that offers the treatments that are best suited to your needs. Contact us to find out how we can help you move past your dependency issues and achieve a higher quality of life.

Drug addiction is a major problem in America. While many types of drugs can lead to dependency issues, opioids are chief among them. This is primarily because they are available by prescription, unlike many other addictive drugs. Many people may start using them for legitimate medical reasons, and an addiction forms due to continued use. 

So how bad is the opioid crisis in America? According to HRSA.gov, more than 130 people die from an opioid overdose every day.

Fortunately, some steps can be taken to avoid opioid addiction. Although this needs to be done one person at a time, little by little the American opioid crisis may come to an end. 

This article will look at the opioid problem in America and possible life-saving solutions. 

What are Opioids? 

Opioids are a type of drug naturally sourced from the poppy plant. They work to block pain signals that are sent from the brain to the rest of the body. Therefore, they are commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. 

There are a variety of opioids on the market, including the following:

• Oxycontin
• Vicodin
• Fentanyl

Heroin is also an opioid, but it is illegal, unlike those listed above. Many people start using heroin when they are no longer able to get the opioids that have been prescribed to them by their doctors. 

What is the History of Opioids in America? 

Opioids were introduced in America in 1775. They were often used to treat soldiers injured in the Civil War in the 1860s. Many of the soldiers who used the drugs became addicted. 

Raised awareness of opioids’ potential to cause an addiction led to the introduction of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914. It put restrictions on opioids to limit their commercial use. 

In the 1970s, doctors avoided prescribing opiates, opting instead for surgical procedures to reduce pain. However, these procedures also came with their share of drawbacks, and opioids were reintroduced in the 1980s and 1990s for medical pain relief. 

What is the Opioid Crisis in America? 

The problem with opioids is, they are highly addictive. People start taking them for pain and become dependent on the euphoric sensations they produce. They begin taking more, either to continue chasing the euphoric sensations or because they feel they need more of the drug to treat their pain. 

After a while, they will begin to build a tolerance to the drug, so they need to take more to get the same results. They may ask their doctor for more pills or a higher dosage. 

If a doctor refuses, they may begin sourcing opioids from the streets. Alternatively, they may try to travel to new doctors to mislead them to secure more prescriptions, referred to as “doctor shopping.” The products they get from dealers can contain impure ingredients that pose a health risk. 

They may also start using heroin as a replacement for opioids. Heroin is a very dangerous drug. It can easily cause an overdose. Other dangers include collapsed veins, hepatitis, and HIV, which can be contracted through sharing dirty needles. 

Opioids are also addictive because they produce withdrawal symptoms. When people try to move on from them, their body goes through a period of adjusting to sobriety. It produces unpleasant physical and mental symptoms that can only be overcome short term by doing more of the drug leading people on a vicious cycle. 

So how bad is the opioid crisis in America? 

• 12-29% of patients who were prescribed opioids misuse them
• 8-12% of people who take opioids for chronic pain develop a disorder
• 4-6% of people who get addicted to opioids end up using heroin

Finding Help with an Opioid Addiction

The American opioid crisis is a major issue, but there are ways to get help. If you or a loved one is addicted, it’s essential to reach out. 

There are many factors that can get in the way of getting help for an addiction, and one is finding the right rehab facility. If this is a problem for you, My Recovery Source can provide assistance. 

My Recovery source is a free service that specializes in helping people find the best rehab center for their needs. They will help you regardless of your location and your financial and personal situation. Call or email them to find the solution that works best for you. 
Don’t become a statistic. If you are dealing with an opioid addiction, reach out to My Recovery Source today. We will assist you on your journey to overcoming your dependency issues and achieving the ultimate in wellness.

There are many drugs that cause addictions, and they can all be dangerous to health, but heroin is one of the deadliest. The opioid is known to produce a euphoric state that makes it highly addictive, and the fact that it is injected adds to its ability to pose health hazards. This article will talk about the drug and answer the question, why is heroin so dangerous?

What is Heroin? 

Heroin is an opioid drug that is extracted from poppy plants, found in parts of Asia, Mexico, and Columbia. It is sold as a white or brown powder, and it’s also available as a black sticky substance called black tar heroin. It can be injected, inhaled, smoked, or snorted. It can also be mixed with crack cocaine making for a dangerous practice called speedballing.

When heroin enters the body, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking feelings of pain and creating the sensation of euphoria. The receptors it interacts with are also responsible for controlling sleeping, breathing, and heart rate.

What are the Signs of Heroin Use?

Because heroin is so dangerous, it’s important to determine if a loved one is using it. That way, you can take steps to get them help. Heroin symptoms to look out for include:

• Nodding out
• Pinned pupils
• Itchy and flushed skin
• Financial difficulties
• Disinterest in doing the things you once loved
• Withdrawal from society or changing the social groups you hang out with
• Legal troubles
• Engaging in dishonest and dangerous behavior
• Spending a lot of time acquiring and using the drug
• Troubled relationships
• Mood swings
• Lack of self-care
• Lack of motivation
• Weight loss
• Track marks on the arms and legs
• Paranoia 
• Hallucinations
• Disorientation

Can Heroin Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

One of the reasons heroin is so addictive is because it causes heroin withdrawal.

The body becomes so used to having heroin in its system that it is unable to function when it is without the drug. It reacts by producing unpleasant symptoms including:

• Sweating
• Agitation
• Muscle spasm
• Abdominal pain
• Shaking
• Depression
• Cravings for the drug

The only way to get rid of these symptoms short term is to do more of the drug. This makes it difficult for individuals to recover.

Why is Heroin So Dangerous?

There are many reasons why heroin is so dangerous. These include the following:

It’s Likely to Cause Overdose: Many people that use heroin end up dying from an overdose. In fact, more than 14,000 Americans died of a heroin overdose in 2019 alone.

It’s Injectable: Many people inject heroin. This can cause veins to collapse. It also means that users share needles, increasing the risk of spreading diseases like HIV and hepatitis. 

It Can Be Mixed with Impure Substances: Heroin is mainly a street drug, therefore sold illegally and without regulation. As such, dealers and manufacturers often mix it with impure substances like starch, sugar, and powdered milk that can clog blood vessels and permanently damage the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. 

It Leads to Dangerous Behavior: Heroin makes people let their guard down. This can cause them to drive intoxicated and engage in other sorts of dangerous behavior. Studies have shown that doing the drug long-term may cause a loss of the brain’s white matter, which affects behavior control, decision-making, and the ability to respond to stressful situations. 

How to Find Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs

Heroin is highly dangerous, but fortunately, there are facilities that offer treatment. However, it’s not easy to find the center that’s right for you. You must consider the environment, the staff, the treatment offered, and other factors.

You can spend hours finding the perfect solution or saving yourself time by contacting My Recovery Source first. Whether looking for outpatient treatment programs or residential detox facilities, My Recovery Source can help you find the best possible treatment in your area.

My Recovery Source is a free resource specializing in helping people find the right recovery facility for them. They offer help regardless of a person’s income level, personal situation, and location. They can get you or a loved one the assistance you need. 

Heroin is a dangerous drug to use. Don’t let it get in the way of your ability to enjoy optimal wellness. Contact My Recovery Source for the information you need to move on to a higher quality of life.

When you are in a rehab program, you are supervised to ensure you stay clean and keep stressors under control. But once you get out of rehab, you go back to your normal life and all the factors that drew you to use in the first place. What will you do? How will you stay clean? 

Fortunately, several facilities offer relapse prevention programs that help you maintain sobriety. This article will let you know what those programs are about, so you have an idea of what happens after rehab ends. 

What Happens After Rehab Ends? 

A variety of things may happen after rehab ends. One scenario is to move on to a sober living facility. The facility will help you transition back into your everyday day. They will give you a place to stay and teach you job skills so you can find employment once you move on.

If you don’t choose to stay within a sober living home, it is hopeful that you have a family that will give you the support you need to stay clean. But no matter what your situation is, many facilities provide relapse prevention programs that include therapy, alumni events, and other programs, so you don’t go back to your old ways. 

What is Relapse Prevention? 

Let’s start by getting a clear idea of what relapse is. 

Relapse occurs when someone goes back to a state of illness after a period of wellness. In terms of addiction, it means a person will go back to doing drugs after getting clean. 

Relapse prevention programs can include several forms of therapy and treatments, including the following:

Outpatient therapy: Outpatient therapy involves the patient continuing to see a therapist after they have checked out of rehab. They may do partial hospitalization that requires them to stay in a facility 6-8 hours a day while staying busy with work and family the rest of the time. Or they may do an intensive outpatient or outpatient program instead, which involves a few sessions a week. 

Outpatient therapy may involve a variety of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, group therapy and more. The medical professionals you are working with will determine the best option for you. 

Alumni Programs: Alumni programs include events hosted by a rehab facility for those who have graduated. They include sporting events, picnics, outings, and more. The idea is to make the individual feel they are part of something. The program reduces depression that may have led them to use. 

Self-Care: if the facility does not offer an outpatient program, you may choose your own method of therapy. You may see a private psychologist or attend group meetings like AA and NA. 

Sober living facilities can also be a part of aftercare. 

What is the Importance of Relapse Prevention Programs in Addiction Treatment?

According to studies, most addicts relapse within one year of treatment. Relapse prevention helps them stay clean. 

There are many reasons why people relapse, but it often happens after they get out of rehab. They must face the stressors that once drove them to use. They may also see the crowd they used with and the places they used at and be tempted to go back to their old ways. 

Relapse prevention programs give them the support they need to resist temptation and deal with their stressors in a healthy way. 

How to Find Relapse Prevention

If you go online, you will find several facilities that offer relapse prevention programs as well as group therapy and psychologists that can help you get clean. But how do you know which is right for you? You can spend hours doing research and calling clinics, or you can save yourself time by contacting My Recovery Source first. 

My Recovery Source is a free resource that provides recommendations to help you find the rehab facilities that are best suited to your needs. My Recovery Source can help place with the facility best for you, whether that be inpatient rehab in California or an outpatient program in Florida. They will assist you regardless of your background, location, and personal or financial situation. They can get you or a loved one on a path to recovery. 
Don’t let drugs take over your life. My Recovery Source will set you in the right direction when it comes to finding a clinic that will help you get sober and stay sober. Contact us to get the help you need today.