Midwest Institute for Addiction

Where your experience will exceed your expectations

Midwest Institute for Addiction

A Quality of Life Approach

Midwest Institute for Addiction

A Comprehensive Treatment Team

Monday, February 24, 2014

Great Things about Outpatient Drug Rehabs

People who fall into a dark descent to narcotics dependence can definitely benefit from the services of a reliable drug rehab center. Nevertheless, being in a rehabilitation facility for months on end could also affect their mental and emotional health, as they are essentially cut off from the people they hold dear in their lives. Thankfully, today there are many organizations offering outpatient rehabilitation services.

Life Goes On

One of the main benefits of the outpatient rehab system is that the sufferer doesn’t have to lose a significant part of his life before he can be re-introduced into the world. Such a program actually allows the participants to maintain a regular, if not guided, presence in their workplace or school.

Personal Support 

No matter how efficient a treatment center might be, the truth is that no amount of outside support can supplant the affectionate care given by members of the family, and in many cases, sufferers need this most of all. Through outpatient rehabs, these personal bonds need not be severed for the rehabilitation to work.

Remember that ultimately, the choice between outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation will depend on various factors like the social stability of the sufferer. There are instances where the victim is no longer able to efficiently function in society without comprehensive medical care, and this might call for the latter.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

On the Gradual Process of Alcohol Recovery

Many people drink alcohol for various reasons. Whether one consumes alcohol in a social setting or on his or her own, alcohol's effects on an individual's way of life can't be ignored. However, at times, some individuals tend to drink more than they can handle and thus end up getting addicted to alcohol. 

Dependency is a real problem and and do have major consequences if one does not make an effort to solve the problem. Fortunately, some rehabilitation centers specifically focus on alcohol recovery. However, the treatment method isn't quick; the road to recovery is often long and tedious but it is nonetheless effective. 

Self-discipline is a surefire way to treat alcoholism. Making a commitment against drinking should always come from one's self. However, doing so is easier said than done, and at times, one can only win the war over alcoholism if he or she seeks outside help.

Fortunately, those who are battling alcoholism can rely on alcohol rehab centers to provide them with the assistance they need. These facilities provide a safe environment for people to get alcohol out of their system. Oftentimes, more than one method is utilized to achieve the goal, and it is actually a combination of multiple methods, including psychological counseling and group therapy, that lead to optimum results.

Friday, February 14, 2014

On Detoxification of Drugs and Treatment

Drug addiction is a severe illness. A person who is addicted to these harmful substances constantly craves for them and eventually becomes oblivious to their negative effects. As a result, this person's main concern is how and where to acquire the next much-needed dose. 

As drugs tend to cloud a person's mind, typically, he or she won't realize how bad the situation is until his or her loved ones point it out to her. When the drug addiction is extremel, an intervention from loved ones though simply won't do. The person in question will have to undergo specialized sessions to get rid of the unwanted substances in his or her body and start anew. 

The treatment process for substance abuse consists of multiple components. Detoxification or removing the drugs from one's system and replacing them with nutrients are usually part of the treatment methods. At times, patients may also have to undergo psychiatric counseling so psych professionals can help them cope with their current situation and avoid falling in the same trap again. 

 Detoxification and psychiatric counseling goes hand in hand for a patient's full recovery against the drug habit. However, drug addiction recovery is not an overnight process. On the contrary, the process is often long and intense, but similar to the old adage, “Time heals all wounds,” a stay at a rehab facility can lead to a successful healing.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Beating Alcoholism—Some Facts You Need to Know

Alcohol dependency is just as dangerous to your health and life as drug dependency. While the cause is still unknown, this type of addiction is often associated with continuous alcohol consumption. Such a habit may cause the brain to consider alcohol as a necessity, making drinking the most important activity you do in your everyday living.

The risk of alcoholism increases as you get exposed to people suffering alcoholism or to situations that involve constant drinking. Having an alcoholic parent, for instance, may cause you to think that drinking alcohol is a normal activity, and you will acquire the same habit. In some cases, alcoholism serves as a coping mechanism for mental and psychological conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia.

The signs that you are suffering alcoholism are simple to identify. At first, you will experience high tolerance of drinking, something far from the sensation you previously felt. Then you become a frequent drinker with or without occasion. In fact, you will start to enjoy drinking alone.

Detoxification and withdrawal are among the most effective methods for cleansing your body from alcohol and from the habit of drinking. Entering a rehabilitation center will also help as you will learn different coping skills and behavior. The staff in rehabilitation centers will help you every step of the way to recover the healthier habits you’ve lost to intoxication.

Negative Effects of Alcohol Addiction

Drinking large amounts of alcohol can damage your digestive system, specifically the liver. Heavy drinkers may suffer from alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). In the worst-case scenario, some alcohol-related liver diseases can cause death. 

One of the functions of the liver in a human body is to metabolize or break down substances like alcohol. However, when the liver isn't capable of breaking down alcohol anymore, the substance goes through the rest of the body. The alcohol that flows through the brain, for instance, impedes speech, memory, judgment, and other motor skills. 

What's more, long-term and excessive alcohol consumption can increase a person’s risk to heart disease. Tolerance to alcohol’s unpleasant effects can be a result of constant drinking. In this situation, one tends to drink even more than usual amounts. 

People who want to turn things around and leave their alcohol drinking habit behind can seek the help of a rehabilitation center. A person who has developed a severe alcohol addiction require the 24 hour support and care of rehab personnel. Rehab professionals can help an individual to kick the bad habit in a safe environment, without any danger of him or her inflicting harm to others.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Understanding the Dangers of Drug Dependence

Once you start using them, you’ll hunger for more, and your life will soon be ruined. That’s what drugs can do, and if treatment is delayed, worse things can happen. Here are some of the known dangers and negative consequences of drug use and dependence.

Heightens emotions
Drugs affect the brain’s production of neuropeptides, which are responsible for a person’s emotion. They disrupt, alter, and exaggerate your emotion until you become extremely depressed whenever the intake routine is delayed. That is when you get hooked on the substance and become desperate to have another pack, increasing your tendency to hurt yourself and other people in the process.

Changes body responses to illness
As the brain’s ability to control your emotion is affected, the way your body responds to current illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, and epilepsy is also affected. Drug dependence actually intensifies your risk of contracting those illnesses. It is particularly harmful for people with eating disorders as it can exacerbate their condition.

Before the situation worsens, drug dependence must be treated in the right rehab center. Admittance in such a facility allows a person to get proper and effective treatment, instead of trying to cure it himself. The environment and the professionals present help a drug user transition from the previous drug-dependent lifestyle to a normal, healthy one.