Blog

Addiction and Kids: What Do We Tell Them?

By ExecuCare Team on February 5, 2013 / For the Family / Comments Off

Navigating addiction as an adult is tricky enough, so where do we begin when it’s time to talk to the kids? Often times a child is aware of a problem existing before the words help or rehab are ever mentioned. But this doesn’t make the conversation any easier.

According to PsychCentral.com, more than 28 million children have a parent who suffers from alcohol abuse. And one of the biggest challenges in dealing with addiction is often the secrecy that surrounds the problem. Meaning, addiction isn’t something that’s talked about. Read more →

Press Release: New Year’s Resolution to Quit Drinking

By ExecuCare Team on February 1, 2013 / Alcoholism / Comments Off

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Year’s Resolutions and Relapse

Atlanta, GA, January 24, 2013- Just 3 weeks ago millions of Americans committed themselves to a New Year’s resolution to Quit Drinking. Considering 51.8% of Americans over the age of 12 are currently alcohol drinkers and 22 million of those are alcohol dependent, it’s no surprise that this resolution would make #6 of the most popular resolutions for 2013. Why will some succeed at keeping this resolution and others have already failed?

There are two central reasons for relapse:

Cravings for alcohol.
Lack of a support plan to maintain sobriety.

The reason so many people relapse soon after quitting is because the brain’s chemistry needs to be rebalanced. Chronic drinking over-stimulates certain receptors in the brain until they’re damaged. This leads to depression, anxiety, intense cravings, withdrawal symptoms and the desire to drink more. Cutting edge treatments such as Neurotransmitter Restoration Therapy (NTR) address this physical component of dependency by naturally detoxing the body from alcohol, accelerating the brain’s healing and allowing the return of the ability to feel simple pleasure.

The only treatment center in the Southeast to offer the NTR outpatient, 10-day IV protocol of amino acids, vitamins and minerals is ExecuCare Addiction Recovery Center in Norcross, Georgia. Founder Mike Sanders says, “Healing the brain is a great first step in order for the individual to be more cognitively ready for those next life changes that need to be made.”

Addressing the 2^nd component of relapse prevention, ExecuCare provides the Executive Coaching Program as a follow-up to detox. This program was designed and instituted by their new Executive Director, Jacquie Damgaard, PhD, and provides each client with the necessary coaching and treatment plan to ensure a successful recovery.

Is alcohol the problem? ExecuCare Addiction Recovery Center is offering free Alcohol Dependency Assessments at their facility in Norcross. These confidential screenings are conducted privately by Dr. Jacquie Damgaard and arranged by calling ExecuCare at 877-276-2224 or going online at www.ExecuCareARC.com. Founder, Mike Sanders, and Executive Director, Dr. Damgaard, are available for interviews and speaking engagements to explain the benefits of this holistic, all-natural, outpatient method of detox.

About ExecuCare Addiction Recovery Center

Since opening its doors in 2006, ExecuCare is the only treatment center in the Southeastern United States offering the 10-day NTR outpatient program, which is 100% natural, and a drug-free alternative to detoxing from alcohol and other drugs. ExecuCare ARC has successfully treated hundreds of clients both in the U.S. and around the world at their facility in Norcross, Georgia. For more information, call 877-276-2224 or 770-817-0711, visit www.ExecuCareARC.com and follow @JacquieDamgaard on Twitter.

Media Contact: Christie Tanner, 404-768-8447
Email: Christie@ChristieTanner.com

###

The Hangover: Tired of being Sick and Tired?

By ExecuCare Team on January 31, 2013 / Alcoholism / Comments Off

How is it that we can experience something as awful as a hangover and yet let ourselves have more than one of them? A hangove A woman is recovering from an alcohol hangover r can be one of the worst feelings in the world: the headache, the spins, aching body, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting. Some of us even promise ourselves: never again, only to repeat the behavior the next weekend or a few days later. When this cycle starts to repeat, how do we know when we’ve crossed the line from enjoyable social drinking to more problematic drinking? When is a hangover a warning sign and not just a nuisance?

If you find yourself vowing to not drink as much each week and then breaking it or spending all day in bed with a hangover, you may be at risk for alcohol abuse. Aside from negatively impacting your mental and physical health, this behavior could lead to dependency. So what’s the difference between alcohol abuse and dependency?

Some warning signs of alcohol abuse include:

Making poor choices when drinking such as drinking and driving.
Alcohol is at the root of relationship problems. Alcohol seems to fuel fights with loved ones.
Alcohol is getting in the way of your responsibilities such as work or school.
Using alcohol as a way to relax or de-stress.

Alcohol dependence is more severe and might require professional help. Some signs of alcohol dependence are:

Tolerance. This is when your body needs more alcohol to feel the effects it once did.
Withdrawal. Some of the symptoms that appear when one experiences withdrawal are: sweating, insomnia, irritability, depression, anxiety, shaking, cravings, and more.

It’s important to remember that every person is different. How an alcohol problem looks can vary with each individual. So you need to be honest with yourself about your drinking habits and whether they are interfering with your life.

Does Alcohol Promote Better Sleep?

By ExecuCare Team on January 29, 2013 / Prevention / Comments Off

Drinking alcohol to sleep better seems like a no-brainer to some. Why else would it be called a nightcap? But what researchers are actually finding is that this remedy is short-lived. In fact, drinking alcohol before bed can be much more damaging overtime than the temporary relief it may promise.

The London Sleep Center Woman wakes from restless sleep because of alcohol has found that alcohol disrupts our sleep cycles more than we realize. What’s misleading is how it seems to induce sleep. Alcohol can cause us to fall asleep quicker and into a deeper sleep. The problem occurs later in the night. Alcohol upsets one of the most crucial stages of the sleep cycle: rapid eye movement or REM sleep, where our dreams occur. Alcohol reduces the amount of time that we spend in this stage. In robbing us of this type of sleep, our entire sleep cycle is disrupted and less restful. The next morning we may feel the effects of this by being more tired or irritable. Overtime, if we continue to miss out on this crucial sleep as a result of alcohol, we put ourselves at risk of sleep deprivation. This can cause fatigue, weight gain, depression, irritability, risk of disease, aching body, poor memory, and inability to handle stress. Using alcohol too often at night can also lead to problems like insomnia, snoring, and the potential for dependency.

So, what are some better ways to sleep more sound? It may help to create a routine that tells your brain it’s time to wind down and get ready for bed. Such clues could be: drinking warm tea or milk, listening to soothing music, taking a hot bath or meditating in a low-lit room. This article on BBC Online mentions these five sleep inhibitors that confuse the body’s natural clock: noises, light, caffeine, a heavy meal, a hot room, and a busy mind. Aside from avoiding alcohol, try disconnecting from electronics to help promote better sleep. Skip the nightcap and turn off the iPad!

Stopping “Cold Turkey” with Amino-Acid Based IV Drip Detox with Minimal Withdrawal Symptoms

By ExecuCare Team on November 5, 2012 / NTR / 4 Comments

This study provides support for the use of an Amino-Acid based IV Drip Detox for successful “Cold Turkey” withdrawal from drugs and alcohol:

Amino acid-based nutritional supplementation facilitates abrupt cessation (“Stopping Cold Turkey”) of substance use by addiction patients: Reduction of withdrawal symptoms with minimal abuse potential

AUTHOR BLOCK *S. L. BROOM¹, S. OWEN², P. NORRIS³, R. MESTAYER³, C. GRACE³, G. SHEN⁴, W. HITT⁵;
¹Dept Psychol, William Carey Univ., Hattiesburg, MS; ²Ctr. for Wellness, Gulfport, MS; ³Equipoise Wellness Ctr., Gulfport, MS; ⁴GSIPO, San Diego, CA; ⁵William Hitt Ctr., Tijuana, Mexico

Amino-Acid Based IV Drip Detox

The use of amino acid-based IV drip detox type nutritional therapies for supplementing the nutritional needs of substance abuse patients has increased steadily with countless anecdotes of success, but there is a lack of statistical data on the efficacy and safety (e.g. abuse potential) of these therapies in chemical dependency patients.

Methods: A specific therapy called the NTR System™ is arguably the most recognizable and reputable therapy of this type in the addiction field[1]. This pilot study retrospectively examined the therapeutic benefits and unwanted rewarding properties of the NTR System™ in a group of 40 patients. The patients were adult males and females with addictions to drugs including opiates, psychostimulants, alcohol, and benzodiazepines.

The NTR System™ treatments comprised IV infusions of amino acid-based nutrients for 10 consecutive days ranging from 5 to 10 hours daily. Dose and time parameters were individualized to the patients’ specific addiction histories based on prescribed NTR System™ protocols. Self-reported ratings (1-10 Scale) of cravings, stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as measures of reward (joy, motivation, libido), were collected on Day 1 (before starting treatment), throughout treatment, and on Day 10 (after completion of treatment).

Findings: 1) All patients were able to achieve an abrupt cessation of their use of abused substances starting immediately prior to the 10-day treatment. 2) Self-reported ratings showed that patients experienced a continually increasing alleviation of the adverse consequences associated with psychological and physiological withdrawal throughout the treatment. Specifically, patients reported significantly reduced cravings ratings and the alleviation of several other adverse effects associated with substance withdrawal, including, stress, depression, and anxiety. 3) Patients reported a slight but not statistically significant increase in the measures of reward (joy, motivation, and libido ratings), indicating minimal or no abuse potential. The findings appeared to be most robust in individuals seeking treatment for opiate abuse.

Discussion: These data suggest that NTR System™ possesses a high therapeutic potential with minimal abuse potential for supplementing the nutritional needs of substance abuse patients. In particular, the NTR system™ provides nutritive support that may be particularly useful for patients attempting to stop using abruptly (“cold turkey”) or in relapse settings.

[1] The NeuroTransmission Restoration System™ (NTR System™) is a nutritional therapy comprised of amino acids & vitamins, and has been used on thousands of patients since 1988.

How to Get Addict Into Treatment with an Intervention

By ExecuCare Team on October 23, 2012 / For the Family / Comments Off

It can be difficult Two women, Intervention is sometimes necessary to get addicts into treatment. to get an addict into treatment. In the past people believed that an addict or alcoholic had to hit rock bottom before he or she would accept treatment for their addiction. However, it is possible to make a significant impact and to get an addict into treatment by having an intervention. Interventions are said to “raise people’s rock bottom”.

Typically, an intervention is planned out and practiced beforehand with a group of friends, family and co-workers who lovingly confront the individual about his or her destructive behavior. The goal of the intervention is to get the addict into treatment directly afterwards. This process is best handled with the help of a trained interventionist.

Interventionist Helps Get an Addict Into Treatment

The interventionist will help the participants discuss their feelings and plan what to say to their loved one. Each friend, family member or employer will be coached to gently tell the person how their behavior has personally affected them. They are encouraged to give specific instances whenever possible. Often, there is some sort of an ultimatum worked out that requests that the addict agree to go immediately into treatment or face some consequences.

Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom

The old method of hitting rock bottom is basically achieved by these emotional pleas to the addict to stop using drugs and alcohol. When the addict hears the people that he or she loves and cares about speak their truth, he or she is often willing to go to treatment. This is especially true if there are consequences to their relationship if they do not go into treatment. If however, the addict does not go into treatment, and the intervention fails, the friends and family must follow through with their stated consequences. This might include lack of contact or being cut off from certain funds or employment options. The family members are strongly encouraged to go to Al Anon to deal with their own feelings and behaviors.

Page 34 of 49« First «...10 20...32 333435 36...40...»Last »

Take the First Step: (770) 817-0711

Addiction and Kids: What Do We Tell Them?

Press Release: New Year’s Resolution to Quit Drinking

The Hangover: Tired of being Sick and Tired?

Does Alcohol Promote Better Sleep?

Stopping “Cold Turkey” with Amino-Acid Based IV Drip Detox with Minimal Withdrawal Symptoms

How to Get Addict Into Treatment with an Intervention

Navigation

Receive Updates

Privacy Policy

Contact Information