Working To Fight Addiction All Over The U.S.

Even though I am going to college four hours away, my friends at Narconon Arrowhead still keep in touch with me on a regular basis. I get to hear how wonderful they are all doing every week. It's amazing to me that my friends at work keep in touch with me more often than some of my friends from High School. They really are the best and I am so proud to be a part of their team even though I am over 300 miles away. We all work together in some way to reach the same common goal - to help save lives of all people with a drug or alcohol addiction.

Two Main Reasons That Addicts Cannot Stop Using Drugs

According to Narconon Arrowhead, there are two main reasons that addicts cannot stop using drugs or alcohol. Those two major causes for addiction have been identified as

• Mental and physical cravings caused by drug residues which remain in the body even long after a person quits using the drug.
• The "Biochemical Personality" -- the "way of thinking" that is caused by drug addiction and the lifestyle an addict adopts to get drugs and live with a drug habit.

These two situations are intricately linked, the one feeding the other, and both must be recognized and dealt with before a person can fully free himself or herself from the addiction. The information provided makes perfect sense to me.

Biochemical Aspects of Addiction
The addict can "just say no" a thousand times, but it only takes saying "yes" one time to start the cycle of addiction again.
In essence, when a person uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate all traces of them. The traces that remain are stored in the fatty tissues. Called "drug metabolites", these traces re-enter the system and trigger cravings for the drug along with the "Biochemical Personality" traits that are a non-optimum way of life.
Left unhandled, these manifestations will haunt a person for years even if they have sobered up. Left untreated, they can trigger a serious relapse.
These unresolved symptoms and manifestations, whether physical or mental in origin, create an underlying low-level type of stress which cannot be completely ignored by the addict. The addict can "just say no" a thousand times, but it only takes him saying "yes" one time to start the cycle of addiction again.

Drug Residues Remain in Fatty Tissues
Drugs are broken down in the liver into substances called metabolites. Although removed rapidly from the blood stream, metabolites can become trapped in the fatty tissues. The one thing in common and the problem that needs to be addressed is that these drug residues remain trapped for years.
Tissues in our bodies that are high in fats are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences restimulation of a drug episode (or "flashback") and subsequent drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, even decades.

The Cycle of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse
When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain demands that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving.
Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of reasons they should begin using drugs again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal.
Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites. But, because deposits of drug metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern.
Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites even in microscopic amounts cause the brain to react as if the addict had again actually taken the drug and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety.

Handling the Drug Metabolites
The Narconon Rehabilitation Program utilizes a combination of exercise, induced sweating in a sauna, and nutritional supplements to eliminate the traces of drugs, or metabolites, stored in the fatty tissue.
No drugs of any kind are part of the Narconon Rehabilitation Program, such as "addiction substitute drugs" like methadone.

The results of this phase of the program are:
Reduction or elimination of drug and alcohol cravings.
Reduction or elimination of many symptoms associated with drug addiction and alcoholism. These can include depression, irritability, and fatigue.
Ability to think more clearly.
Improved memory and attention span.
Increased energy.
Increased sense of well being.
Enthusiasm toward Life.

Using drugs to get someone absolutely seems absoluetly unthinkable after knowing the correct information. Call 1-800-468-6933 today to recieve free information regarding drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors

I have noticed that a lot of my co-workers are active Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors. They are very proud of attaining such an accreditation, but I never really researched what was involved in earning this certificate that so pleasantly hung on the wall in their offices.

In order to receive their C.C.D.C. credentials, they are required a minimum academic education plus minimums of specialized training in specific topics. The academic requirements consist of
a Masters in counseling, health education, social work, human services, psychology or applicable field of study. The specialized training and education consists of a minimum of 300 clock hours of in-service training and other tasks dealing with substance counseling. There are many courses and tests.

All in all, many of our staff here at Narconon Arrowhead have, in fact, earned their Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification and I am very proud of all of them for working hard to help others in the downward spiral of addiction.

Controversy with Tom Cruise

If you are anyone, you have heard or watched Tom Cruise talk about psychiatry and such. He said during his interview with Matt Lauer, "I've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. And when I started studying the history of psychiatry, I understood more and more why I didn't believe in psychology."

Now, I understand the 'shaking' information that he has stirred up and the controversy that comes along with it. But the things he says makes perfect sense. I am on his side. Especially when it comes to Ritalin and Adderall. I have witnessed some peers of mine be prescribed Ritalin and they totally change. The once joking, excited kids went to still, lifeless people. They would sit and stare blankly at the wall. It was eerie! Ya know? I thought to myself, "something just isn't right!" So, when Tom stood up for what he believed and let people know that sometimes prescriptions are dangerous and people should not be so naive, I was very excited for him and pleased to find someone who shares my viewpoint.

Narconon Arrowhead provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education information drug-free. We don't use drugs to get people off of drugs. Isn't that a little ironic? To use drugs to get people off of drugs? We are a clean, and totally rehabilitating program that has helped so many people cleanse their mind and body. What else could you want? It has changed my dad and most of my friends.

I'm standing up for what I believe in, just like Tom Cruise did.

Where I Live

This is where I live. Sometimes I forget how wonderful it is around here. I can't believe that I am here, in the middle of a huge state park on the largest lake in Oklahoma, doing what I love to do... help other people. I have worked for Narconon Arrowhead for around 2 1/2 years now and I cannot believe it is coming to an end very shortly. I have enjoyed the experiences and lessons that I have learned here. I know so much and understand more now than I ever thought that I would at 18. All of this is due to working with people that are changing their lives around. Some are as young as me and have done some pretty heavy drugs and it is very inspirational to watch them just pick up and turn their lives around. They know that they could end up emotionally hurt or even dead. That realization alone is the strength to overcome addiction and then go on leading productive and clean lives. It is possible. Drug addiction is not a disease. It is curable. I have about 100 friends that I work with that could back up that story alone. Anyway, this is a dedication to everyone out there that had the willingness to help themselves which in turn helps others - getting off drugs and on the road to success!

I know that there are still people who are struggling and they need all the support they can get. Take it from a daughter's advice... one who almost lost her dad to the horrible battle of addiction, call Narconon today and get referred to a treatment program that suits you best.

Drugs Cost To Society

A study prepared by The Lewin Group for the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimated the total economic cost of alcohol and drug abuse to be $245.7 billion for 1992. Of this cost, $97.7 billion was due to drug abuse.

This estimate includes substance abuse treatment and prevention costs as well as other healthcare costs, costs associated with reduced job productivity or lost earnings, and other costs to society such as crime and social welfare. The study also determined that these costs are borne primarily by governments (46 percent), followed by those who abuse drugs and members of their households (44 percent).The 1992 cost estimate has increased 50 percent over the cost estimate from 1985 data. The four primary contributors to this increase were:

• the epidemic of heavy cocaine use
• the HIV epidemic
• an eightfold increase in state and Federal incarcerations for drug offenses
• a threefold increase in crimes attributed to drugs
  

More than half of the estimated costs of drug abuse were associated with drug-related crime. These costs included lost productivity of victims and incarcerated perpetrators of drug- related crime (20.4 percent); lost legitimate production due to drug-related crime careers (19.7 percent); and other costs of drug-related crime, including Federal drug traffic control, property damage, and police, legal, and corrections services (18.4 percent). Most of the remaining costs resulted from premature deaths (14.9 percent), lost productivity due to drug-related illness (14.5 percent), and healthcare expenditures (10.2 percent).

Narconon Arrowhead provides more drug information and assistance to people struggling with addiction. Log onto www.stopaddiction.com or call 1-800-468-6933.

Counting Down The Weeks

Yes, I am counting down the weeks until college. I only have six more weeks to work here at Narconon and visit with my dad until I am off into the big world alone. I know that I am prepared for college in many ways, and also not prepared in some. I have slacked off on my study skills over the past two years, which seemed pretty simple to me. I hope that I can get my study skills back and at least pull off mostly A's my Freshman year. I am majoring in Graphic Design at UALR. I am prepared in that I know, as an adult now, that I can handle most situations that I am faced with. My dad and my co-workers have taught me so many things; I have learned a lot about responsibility, gratitude, willingness, and strength. I know that I am strong enough to conquer anything that comes my way whether it be school, not falling into the drug or alcohol trap of college, and definitely not joining a sorority. hahaha No really, I have heard the wise words from ex-drug addicts. They preach to me about staying away from the substances and there is no doubt in my mind - I am strong than addiction.