Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions

September 22, 2015

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions can pose serious threats to your health and the sooner you seek for help the better

We are all aware that alcohol is the most abused substance by many users and the consequences are chokingly devastating. What is worrying is that even with this knowledge, many people are still drinking disorderly and to further complicate the matter, they are not only drinking but are also using other toxic substances as accompaniments in their drinking spree. This is what we want to focus on even as we look at the dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions. Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility, we were able to establish that alcohol consumption often has very harmful interactions with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and even some herbal remedies. To shade more light on this doctor Akoury registers that the interaction of alcohol with other prescribe medications is likely to cause problems including some of the following: nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, changes in blood pressure, abnormal behavior, loss of coordination and even savvier accidents. And besides that it is also very important to appreciate that mixing alcohol with other medications may also increase the risk of complications such including but not limited to the following:

Liver damage
Heart problems
Internal bleeding
Impaired breathing
Depression

In instances where such chronic health complications are present in an individual’s life, it is only fare for that person to seek for medication immediately. Nonetheless when medication is administered, in some cases, the consistent use of alcohol may decrease the effectiveness of such medications or render them useless all together says doctor Akoury. She continues to say that in other cases, alcohol interactions may make drugs harmful or even toxic to the body. And when we make reference to alcohol usage, it is important to note that even what is considered moderate consumption of alcohol may also intensify medication side effects such as sleepiness, drowsiness, and light-headedness, which may interfere with the individuals’ concentration and ability to operate machinery or drive responsibly on the road thereby causing serious or even fatal accidents. It is therefore very essential that when using any kind of medication, careful attention should be taken since alcohol can adversely interact with hundreds of commonly used medications. In that respect, taking time to scrutinize and make clear observation on the warning labels and ask your doctor or pharmacist questions if it’s safe to use alcohol with any medications and even other herbal remedies that you may be using.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Alcohol interactions is significant and increases the danger

Do you have any idea about the significance of alcohol interaction? If you don’t, stay tuned and be informed professionally by our team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Therefore doctor Akoury reports that according to the CDC, about two-thirds of American adults over age 18 at least occasionally use alcohol. Of this population about 51% are currently regular drinkers meaning that they have taken at least 12 drinks in the past year while about 13% are infrequent drinkers and that also means that they have taken up to 11 drinks in the past year.

Use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, as well as herbal remedies, also is extremely prevalent. Partly because of the obesity epidemic, most people of all ages are taking more drugs to control chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. Because the incidence of chronic conditions increases with age, older individuals are especially likely to take prescription medications often as many as 10 per day many of which likely react adversely with alcohol. As the population ages, the problems associated with mixing alcohol and medications are certain to increase.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Older people are at special risk of alcohol interactions

In older adults especially, alcohol use may increase the risk for falls, serious injury, and disability related to balance problems. Alcohol use also may trigger or worsen certain medical conditions. When alcohol use is combined with multiple medications, it may magnify these problems. Older adults don’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as younger adults do, so alcohol stays in their systems longer and has a greater potential to interact with medications. Even though most people over 65 drink less than the maximum recommended amount, this drinking is still considered harmful for many of them, due to their general condition, medical problems and medications.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Drugs associated with alcohol interactions

We are living at a time when so many administered drugs are easily available over-the-counter. Most of these drugs that can adversely interact with alcohol are administered for treatment of various health complications including:

Depression
Diabetes
Angina and coronary heart disease
Anxiety and epilepsy
Arthritis
Blood clots
Cough
Pain, fever, and inflammation
Seizures
Severe pain from injury, post-surgical care, oral surgery, and migraine
Sleep problems
Enlarged prostate
Heartburn and indigestion
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Allergies, colds, and flu
Infections
Muscle pain
Nausea and motion sickness

Examples of commonly used prescription drugs associated with serious alcohol interactions include heart medications, which can cause rapid heartbeat and sudden changes in blood pressure; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can increase risk of ulcers and stomach bleeding; blood-thinning medications, which can lead to internal bleeding; and sleep medications, which can lead to impaired breathing, motor control, and unusual behavior.

One of the most common causes of severe liver damage including some cases requiring a liver transplant is a combination of the pain reliever acetaminophen (available over the counter as Tylenol and in some prescription drugs) and alcohol. Other serious alcohol interactions are associated with over-the-counter antihistamines and herbal remedies such as kava, St. John’s wort, chamomile, valerian and lavender.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Guidelines for preventing alcohol interactions

Doctor Akoury reiterates that although most drugs are often safe and effective when used as directed by the physician, it’s however very important to read the warning labels on all medications. Many popular pain medications and cough, cold, and allergy medications contain more than one ingredient that can adversely interact with alcohol. Finally as a precautionary measure, if by any chance you’re not certain if a medication can be combined with alcohol, it is advisable to avoid any alcohol consumption until you’re are properly advised by either a doctor or pharmacist that it’s safe to use the two concurrently. In the meantime as you put the above into practice, when faced with situations of addiction and you don’t know what to do, help is on the way at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. All you have to do is to can and schedule for an appointment with her today and all you concerns will be professionally addressed.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity

September 19, 2015

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity are very realistic and not fiction and must be dealt with expeditiously

The body of any human being can be vulnerable to the various health complications at any given time in life. Normally when we fall sick we seek for immediate medication and some of us will get better very first while others suffering from the same illness may take a little bit longer time to recover from their illnesses. You may wonder why this is so and the explanation is very straight and simple. It is all about the variance strength every person’s immune system. And like we had said before immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs working in solidarity to defend the body against disease, infection and viruses. Any harm to this introduces us to the focus of our discussion which is the consequences of drug addiction on immunity. Drugs are substances that demoralize our health and impact on us very negatively causing us to be vulnerable to all manner of infections. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert explains that anyone using drugs or alcohol is significantly reducing the strength of their immunity greatly. It may not matter the intensity of your consumption to your substance, because research has established that any abuse of drugs can only lead to destruction of health and life in general.

As professional from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we post blogs that are very informative about health related issues so that we can have a very healthy society free from all kinds of addictions. Therefore it will interest you to note that doctor Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Therefore if you want to keep healthy your immunity must be strong enough to defend you from vulnerabilities that come with lose of immunity. You can therefore schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury on telephone number 843 213 1480 for the commencement of your addiction recovery treatment and live your life thereafter comfortably and happily.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: Methamphetamine

It is no secrete that the dangers of methamphetamine are well known to everyone, however the drug potentially impact on the effectiveness of the immune system quite negatively in very many ways. Professional studies have suggesting that the drug may increase an individual’s susceptibility to infection by crippling his or her immune function. This can further be more complicated in situations where the individual is already struggling with some of the life threatening disease like hepatitis or HIV. These can really cause complications like cancers to spread quicker in the body. Doctor Akoury registers that besides the aforementioned concerns, methamphetamine is also known to dry out mucus membranes, particularly in the mouth and rectum thereby which when not dealt with expeditiously is likely to increase a persons’ exposure to infection and disease. The drug can cause people to have significant weight loss, chronic insomnia and respiratory problems which all expose a person’s immune system to deficiency and attack by disease.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: MDMA and Club Drugs

MDMA use has long been anecdotally linked to infection of influenza and bacterial infections. There is, however, no scientific evidence to support that the use of MDMA or other club drugs cause these infections or suppress the immune system. What is known, however, is that exhaustion and dehydration associated with the use of these drugs in nightclubs, at festivals and other music events does increase the risk of being infected with influenza or developing a cold. This is because these side effects lower the body’s ability to fight infection until normal energy and water levels of the body are returned.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis

Illicit drug use has inherent risks that include serious health problems such as hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There is no cure for the disease AIDS but there are some treatments available for the virus HIV. Individuals infected with HIV are at risk of contracting other, life threatening diseases because the virus weakens a person’s immune system.

Hepatitis on the other hand is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection that lead to chronic disease including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Drug users are at higher risks of contracting HIV and AIDS due to a lowered immune system and because some users share drug injection equipment that may be infected with the disease. The reason that these diseases can be so easily spread is because infected blood is drawn into the syringe and then injected along with the drug by the next user of the same syringe. And once a person is infected with HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, they are at risk of developing further complications because of the effects of the disease on their immune system. Cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal problems, neurological conditions and tumors are some of the known linked diseases. Besides these we also have skin infections, ulcers, tetanus, septicemia, thrombosis and respiratory diseases as some of the most common symptoms of a lowered immune system because of these diseases and infections.

Finally the consequences of drug addiction on immunity is no longer a small thing that can be wished a way easily. For a good health we need a very strong and stable immune system which we can’t get with the consistent use of drugs. Therefore if you are struggling with any kind of substance abuse this is your perfect opportunity of redeeming yourself from the scourge of addiction that weakens your immunity. You can call doctor Dalal Akoury today to schedule for an appointment with her and she will be able to help you regain your life back in the most professional way.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

September 19, 2015

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: The dangers of having a weak immune system

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system is very diverse and and complicated but all the same we must do all it takes to eliminate all kinds of addiction to drugs.

Have you ever asked yourself of how drugs and alcohol affects immune system in people’s lives? Do you have any idea how this can be dangerous for your own life? These are some of the concerns we want to address in this discussion and because it involves the soldiers who protects you from attacks of diseases, be my guest as we unlock the potential truth about the benefits of keeping a strong immune system. Now to set the ball rolling, let us find out the professional definition of immune system. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center gives the definition of the immune system as a network of cells, tissues and organs working in solidarity to defend the body against disease, infection and viruses. It therefore means that the immune system is one of the strong pillars that work in defense of our health and the general wellbeing of our lives. Meaning that if this system is damaged or reduced or incapacitated and does not work as efficiently as it should, a person will become vulnerable to attacks by various sicknesses or illness from infections or viruses. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center while carrying out research has established that drugs and alcohol are some of the well-known inhibitors of the immune system. And the consequences of that can only mean that those who abuse substances of whatever kind will lose their foot soldiers that defend then to the various attacks and therefore when they are attacked and fall sick, they are likely to take longer period of time to heal from their infections in relation to other people with stronger immune system.

Doctor Akoury reiterates that the implications can be very disturbing when the immune system is deficient in anyone’s life. Under this circumstances if a person abuses drugs or alcohol, such persons shall be subjecting their health to increased risk of contracting certain diseases including pneumonia, respiratory infections, blood-borne viruses such as HIV or Hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases. Besides that, if they have a predisposition to cancer, heart disease or kidney disease, these conditions are more likely to occur. The list of substances that are likely to be abused by people is endless and the following are just but a few for the purpose of this discussion:

Alcohol
Marijuana
Methamphetamine
MDMA and Club drugs
HIV/AIDA and Hepatitis

And as we have already mentioned the list is endless and for the purpose of this discussion we are going to focus on alcohol and marijuana and the remaining three we will handle in our next article, but before we get to that let us first familiarize ourselves with the effects of binging on drugs and other substances.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Effect of binging on drugs

Exhaustion as a result of binging on drugs or alcohol can be a significant cause of illness. When a person binge drinks, they may cause their body to go into toxic shock from the large amount of alcohol in their bloodstream. Secondary infections or damage to the liver can have life-long consequences. Doctor Akoury says that binging on drugs like for instance methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin can cause people to become dehydrated and seriously ill. The impact of dehydration, mental and physical exhaustion, sleeplessness and lack of food can have a long term impact on a persons’ health more so if the individual is of weak immunity. And with such implications the immune system will be at a high risk of being overrun with infection and disease and anecdotal evidence suggests that many people will have flu-like symptoms after a binge.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most abused substances and it is well known to cause long-term and serious consequences for a person’s body and mind. There are many diseases that are known to be caused by alcohol consumption which are chronic and dangerous. Alcohol also impedes the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Excessive alcohol consumption or long term alcohol abuse can lead to immune deficiency in two ways:

Nutritional deficiency and
Reducing white blood cells

Alcohol impairs the normal digestion of nutrients due to damage caused to the cells in the digestive tract and by interfering with the secretion of enzymes needed for digestion. Alcohol can also impede the ability of the liver to store important vitamins. It has also been shown that drinking too much can prevent the body from absorbing enough protein. Therefore when consumed in excess, alcohol can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the white blood cells to multiply and inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells. This can lead to the development of life threatening conditions such as liver cancer or liver disease.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Marijuana

Smoking marijuana, or any substance, can have a negative effect on the immune system. Various studies have established that smoking marijuana causes damage to very sensitive cells in the lungs and increases the risk of contracting diseases and bacterial infections. Marijuana is known to contain more carcinogenic chemicals than tobacco smoke and because of the way the drug is inhaled deeply and held for longer than cigarette smoke these chemicals can cause severe respiratory damage. Some research has suggested that the active chemical in marijuana, THC, impairs the immune system from fighting disease. However, this research is not conclusive and further testing is required. The inhaled smoke from marijuana is often combined with tobacco which is known to cause significant damage to lungs, including the leading cause of lung cancer and emphysema. Pulmonary infections, pneumonia, respiratory infections and cancer are all real risks associated with smoking marijuana. Chronic bronchitis, impairment of air passages, inflammation of lungs and development of abnormalities in the bronchial lining and lungs are also commonly associated issues.

Finally knowing how drugs and alcohol affects immune system is not just important but should be a must for all concern people. This will not only help as an individual to take precaution in your own situations, but also to be of help to other people who may be struggling with addiction. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with addiction you can help them by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more professional touch that will resuscitate their immunity to normalcy.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: The dangers of having a weak immune system

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge

September 16, 2015

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: The endless list of substance abuse elements

Defeating drug addiction begins with understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge and taking the correct action

The reason why many people are suffering from various health complications is because of luck of luck of knowledge. This can be very painful more so if something could be done and an individual suffers ignorantly. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are taking the lead role in posting very informative blogs to the general public so that together we can find solutions to this problem. In that regard we want to focus this discussion into understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge and some of the substances that we need to disassociate with by all means. The list of substances is endless and they include the following:

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the most abused drugs and it is also known as crack, coke, snow, rock. Taking the US as an example it will be noted that cocaine use has gone down in the last few years; from 2007 to 2012 with the number of current users in the U.S. ages 12 or older dropped from 2.1 million to 1.7 million. Derived from the coca plant of South America, cocaine can be administered into the body by smoking, injection, snorting or just by swallowing. The intensity and duration of the drug’s effects depend on how you take it. Desired effects include pleasure and increased alertness. Short-term effects also include paranoia, constriction of blood vessels leading to heart damage or stroke, irregular heartbeat, and death. Severe depression and reduced energy often accompany withdrawal. Both short- and long-term use of cocaine has been associated with damage to the heart, the brain, the lung, and the kidneys and this are the complications we want this blog to help you address by scheduling for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of a veteran addiction expert doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery journey.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Heroin also known as smack, horse

There is no doubt that heroin use has been on the rise from time to time and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2012 about 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year, a number that has been on the rise since 2007. The biggest increases are among users ages 18 to 25. Effects of heroin intoxication include drowsiness, pleasure, and slowed breathing. Withdrawal can be intense and can include vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, confusion, aches, and sweating. Besides that any overdose of this substance may result in death from respiratory arrest (stopping breathing). And because heroin is usually injected, often with dirty needles, use of the drug can trigger other health complications including destruction of your heart valves, HIV/AIDS, infections, tetanus, and botulism.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Methamphetamines

This substance is also known as meth, crank, ice, speed, crystal and its use has also increased significantly especially in the West. Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant with the potential abilities of increasing alertness, decreases appetite, and gives a sensation of pleasure. The drug can either be administered into the body by injection, snorting, smoking or taken in as a mixture with food. It shares many of the same toxic effects as cocaine including effects like heart attacks, dangerously high blood pressure and stroke. It is also associated with several withdrawal symptoms including depression, abdominal cramps and increased appetite. Besides that it is important to appreciate that, methamphetamines other long-term effects may also include paranoia, hallucinations, weight loss, destruction of teeth, and heart damage. These are not the only substances that bring complications to your health.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Club drugs

The club scene and rave parties have popularized an assortment of other drugs. Many young people believe these drugs are harmless or even healthy. And as we had mentioned before that the list is endless, the following are some of the club drugs that we need to be careful about even as we desire proper understanding of the scourge of addiction in our societies.

Ecstasy also called MDMA, Adam, STP – This is a stimulant and hallucinogen used to improve mood and to maintain energy, often for all-night dance parties. Long-term use may cause damage to the brain’s ability to regulate body temperature, sleep, pain, memory, and emotions.

GHB also called Liquid XTC, G and blue nitro – Once sold at health food stores, GHB’s effects are related to dose. Effects range from mild relaxation to coma or death. GHB is often used as a date-rape drug because it is tasteless, colorless, and acts as a powerful sedative.

Rohypnol also called roofies, roche – This is another sedative that can be used as a date-rape drug. Effects include low blood pressure, dizziness, abdominal cramps, confusion, and impaired memory.

Ketamine also called Special K, K – This is an anesthetic that can be taken orally or injected. Ketamine (Ketalar) can impair memory and attention. Higher doses can cause amnesia, paranoia and hallucinations, depression, and difficulty breathing.

LSD (also called acid, microdot) and mushrooms (also called shrooms, magic mushrooms, peyote, buttons) – Popular in the 1960s, LSD has been revived in the club scene. LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms can cause hallucinations, numbness, nausea, and increased heart rate. Long-term effects include unwanted “flashbacks” and psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and mood disturbances).

PCP also known as angel dust, hog, love boat – PCP is a powerful anesthetic used in veterinary medicine. Its effects are similar to those of ketamine but often stronger. The anesthetic effects are so strong that you can break your arm but not feel any pain. Usually, tobacco or marijuana cigarettes are dipped into PCP and then smoked.

Finally the list above is represent may not be conclusive but it represent the magnitude of the problem that we are likely to go through if we don’t act expeditiously as required to defeat drug addiction and all other complications that are associated with it. Therefore individually and collectively you need to consult with your physician before taking any action so that any further complication can be addressed in the most professional way for a better, healthier and more comfortable life of full productivity thereafter.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: The endless list of substance abuse elements

What to expect at the addiction therapist office

September 10, 2015

What to expect at the addiction therapist office: The provision of quality long term addiction recovery?

We are always curious and so we have a lot in mind, however what to expect at the addiction therapist office is to find health tips that will help you regain your life back and be free from addiction

We have in the past stated that in order for us to achieve our dreams of eliminating the scourge of addiction, we must first get the basics right. It now obvious that detoxification is one of the key fundamental in laying foundation in the treatment of drug addiction complications. We are also informed that for any effective detox to be realized, the patient needs to be admitted in an institution where this service is offered professionally and that brings us to the focus of our discussion of “what to expect at the addiction therapist office”. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert of several decades says that for an individual who has substance abuse and addiction issues, the use of those substances and the behaviors tied to that use can cause major disruption and dysfunction in their daily living and lifestyle. The addict does not only experience the physical, mental and psychological impairments due to their substance abuse, but also their relationships with family and friends can also be significantly impacted negatively along with loss of employment and trouble with law enforcement. For this reason doctor Akoury reports that the admittance of such individuals into an addiction treatment facility may be the most ideal option for the commencement of their recovery process. Therefore if the choice is made to enter treatment, it is important to appreciate that the rehab therapist or counselor will have to play an essential role in the quality long-term recovery of an addict on admission, and that brings us to our nest point of focus and we ask “what are the roles of a rehab therapist or counselor?”

What to expect at the addiction therapist office: What are the roles of a rehab therapist or counselor?

Doctor Akoury states that according to the specifications outlined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a rehabilitation therapist (or counselor) is a trained professional who assists people by providing support, education and most importantly provide nonjudgmental confrontation to those addicts yearning for sobriety and long-term recovery. And as for those recovering from substance abuse, the counselor can be their ally in the recovery process and provides to those addicted an understanding of their struggle as well as support. However it is important to note that the counselor acts as a guide through the initial stages of recovery and that the recovery process and the responsibility of recovery fall on the patient. It therefore means that a very huge assignment lies before the individual patient and for effective delivery of treatment the patient must give all their attention and focus to the treatment. In many instances this is normally the biggest challenge since many addicts are always in denial of the magnitude of the problem they are facing.

Therefore if this description suits your situation, we want to be of help to you and encourage you that it is normal to be in denial at the beginning. You can talk to us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is an addiction health facility that was established by doctor Dalal Akoury one of the most respected addiction expert in our time. It will interest you to note that the main objective of doctor Dalal Akoury is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. You can therefore call her on telephone number 843 213 1480 to schedule for an appointment with her for further professional consultations about all your health concerns and you will not regret it one bit.

What to expect at the addiction therapist office: What does a counselor strive to do in treatment?

Under normal circumstances counselors will strive to achieve a balance between directive and allowing the patient to be directive. Therefore when counselors take the lead, they will provide the structure of their therapy sessions and provides feedback regarding the course those sessions is taking and the progress of recovery. The counselor may also direct the patient to change behavior that may be problematic and could lead to relapse. Besides that the counselor may also put the onus of direction on the patient such as in role play where the patient explores how best to handle situations where using may be prevalent in social situations. In those situations where the recovering individual takes the lead, the counselor’s responsibility is to note as signs of regressive behavior and provide continual acceptance in regards to things as they are in the present.

What to expect at the addiction therapist office: The goal of alliance

Ultimately, there should be the goal of a therapeutic alliance between both the counselor and the recovering addict. In this alliance, the key components are both collaboration and partnership. This ultimate goal of partnership starts with the knowledge base of the counselor’s knowledge of addiction and the lifestyle associated with addiction. Even with that knowledge, the counselor realizes or must realize that the recovering addict is the expert on their own life and experiences. When those initial concerns are met, the counselor should then be able to forge the alliance with the newly recovering individual.

The underlying mechanisms of this alliance are based on empathy, active listening and the avoidance of passing judgment. It is important that the counselor’s personal views and experiences don’t cause conflict with the patient’s goals and outcomes. The environment the counselor creates should be one of honesty and candor so it gives the patient an avenue to share their feelings openly and honestly. The focus in treatment is on the patient, so the counselor needs to be careful of too much self-disclosure. Ultimately, the counselor must be creative in their approach as well as flexible since each patient has different backgrounds, experiences and needs.

What to expect at the addiction therapist office: The provision of quality long term addiction recovery?

Tag Archives: Alcohol