Category: Education

Celebrity Recovery Coach David Charkham Visits DARA

Alternative Treatment, Articles, Education

David Charkham at DARA Rehab_1 We were recently visited by David Charkham, as very well know therapist and recovery coach based in the UK.

He has been in practice since 1989 in both private and public health services. His Recovery Skills workshops, created in 1989 to support clients with substance misuse conditions, have been presented across the UK as well as internationally.

In his role as a recovery coach, he has accompanied many performers on their world and European tours. Most recently, he was the recovery coach to Ozzy Osborne on his Black Sabbath European Tour 2014.

David is also the guest lecturer at the Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies, University of Bath.

Please find his comments after visiting DARA below:
“After my recent visit to DARA, having spent several days visiting both centres I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending either of these excellent programmes. Having visited and worked in many treatment programmes on several continents, I have gained a good insight in to the mechanics of successful treatment. DARA ticks all the boxes.

It is a big bonus having two treatment methodology’s for clients. For those not comfortable with the twelve-step method, there is an excellent alternative using the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based approach.

After presenting several workshops and meeting clients, I was able to receive unbiased feedback and observe the treatment process close up.

The experienced staff that I witnessed interacting with clients were supportive, boundaried and compassionate in their approach.

David Charkham at DARA Rehab_2 Managed by ex-senior NHS trained staff with multiple years of experience, the completion rates at both centres remain impressive.

With extremely favourable all-inclusive costs, excellent accommodation and catering, clients are able to start their recovery process in a peaceful, tropical setting.

Upon completion, clients are also invited to return five days every year for a renewal free of charge.”

Heroin Epidemic in the US

Education, United States

heroin epidemic in the us According to data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the US, heroin use in that country doubled between 2007 and 2012. The governor of the state of Vermont proclaimed a “full-blown heroin crisis” in a speech earlier this year. Deaths by overdose in his state doubled last year.

Unlike the traditional demographic for addiction—disproportionately the urban poor—today’s heroin epidemic is no respecter of boundaries: young or old, rich or poor, black or white, urban or rural, all can be affected as individuals and communities. This is because the path to addiction has undergone a fundamental change over the last twenty years.

Traditionally, heroin addiction was the last stop in a cycle of abuse that usually started with alcohol and marijuana. Users would escalate the abuse cycle with sleeping pill abuse (mixing them with alcohol), speed (often starting with prescription diet pills), and perhaps hallucinogens. Most young people weren’t exposed to heroin until they were fairly entrenched in the culture of drug use.

According to a US news broadcast—an NBC multi-part special on America’s heroin epidemic—the path to heroin is now shorter and quicker, and it begins with prescription pain pills. In the late 90s and the first decade of this century, medications like Vicodin and Oxycodone became abundantly available, and young people quickly embraced the powerful and—at the time—cheap high that they afforded. Meanwhile, the threshold for determining the level of pain needing these treatments was lowered and more of the medications were prescribed. “Pill mills” sprang up all over the country, from rural areas in Virginia and Kentucky—where the drugs were nicknamed “hillbilly heroin”—to middleclass neighborhoods in the suburbs. High school and college students, stay-at-home moms, white-collar workers, and high-profile professionals and entertainers found themselves trapped in dependency, whether they started out getting high or medicating real pain.

From one perspective, it was clear that more pills were being manufactured than were needed for legitimate medical purposes, and that the surplus was being diverted to an illegal market. Profit was available at all levels, from the street all the way up to bulk theft at the wholesale level. Ultimately, law enforcement cracked down on the pain pill phenomenon, and the natural consequence was that prices went up, creating—ironically—a demand for something cheaper.

Enter heroin, with all its attendant dangers and complications. For the user, needles, HIV, hepatitis, potentially lethal adulterants, and a new brand of criminal to deal with for access; for law enforcement, following the trail of street dealers up the food chain to international smuggling rings that are often also involved with guns and dangerous cartels.

Public awareness and treatment are being emphasized, along with law enforcement, to try to stem the flow of narcotics, especially to young people. Policies are being examined, and the trend is toward drug diversion programs, wherein addicts are referred to treatment rather than incarcerated.

Drug and Alcohol Problems among the Elderly

Education, Understanding Addiction

drug and alcohol problems among the elderly A largely unnoticed but increasing trend is that of drug and alcohol abuse and misuse among older people. Between 2002 and 2010, hospital admissions related to alcohol more than doubled for men and women over 65, and alcohol-related deaths for those over 75 are steadily rising.

Part of this can be explained by the fact that the “Boomer” generation is aging, and long-term substance-abusers—those who survived—are now filling the ranks of senior citizenry. However, there is also the phenomenon of the late starter. Some may simply have, now that they’re retired, free time to experiment, and experimentation can often lead to problematic use. Others find themselves self-medicating or attempting to augment drugs that they need for pain, anxiety, depression, or other ailments that have developed over time. (The elderly constitute the largest group of prescription and over-the-counter drug users.)

Above and beyond the usual problems associated with substance abuse—for all demographics—there are numerous issues that affect older people more dramatically:

  • Alcohol and drugs may have dangerous interactions with prescription medications
  • Alcohol and drugs affect nutrition and sleep, both of which have increased importance for the elderly in terms of general health and quality of life
  • Alcohol- and drug-related accidents, such as falls, can have more severe consequences (broken hip, etc) for the elderly. This in turn has social costs, as medical care becomes more expensive
  • Alcohol and drugs can increase the likelihood of stroke, cardiovascular issues, balance problems, and liver failure

Furthermore, substance abuse can increase isolation for the elderly—a problem that becomes self-reinforcing as the isolation prompts further substance abuse. Anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, and addiction are all potential consequences.

It is often difficult for older people to distinguish between the consequences of substance abuse and the symptoms of various physical issues as well as the side effects of legitimate medications. They also may feel embarrassment about discussing the issue, mistaking secrecy for privacy.

As with any age group, if the consequences of drug and/or alcohol use are considerable—or if they outweigh the perceived pleasure they provide—then an attempt should be made to moderate or quit altogether. If this proves difficult, treatment should be sought.

Moderation for Extreme Personalities

Education, Understanding Addiction

Moderation for extreme personalities Many who have struggled with substance abuse also identify as having strong personalities, unable to moderate very well in numerous areas of their life.

One of the key challenges to achieving sobriety is finding balance in recovery, letting go of the drama and chaos that a life drinking and using supplied. Individuals who have serenity in their sober life generally learn extremes of any nature are not helpful.

Moderation, Balance and Harmony

The idea of harmony is as old as Aristotle’s Ethics and Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet, where virtue is described as the temperance of two opposites. Successes will be conditioned by failures, courage achieved by experiencing fear and facing it. Potentially the greatest risk to our natural ability to moderate is when we are too focused on what we believe we should do; having failed this standard the alcoholic or addict will resort to using drugs and alcohol to temper feelings of self-pity, shame or remorse.

It can be characteristic of alcoholics and addicts in early recovery to have a very polarized view of their life, mainly due to the ups and downs which take place as the body and mind adjust to life without drugs and alcohol. They are caught up in the past or planning the future, possibly devastated by what they perceive to be the loss of their social life while at the same time energized by finally being clean and sober. Individuals walking through life tightly wound up in the struggle to meet predetermined standards are rarely tuned into the pleasures of living in the moment.

Learning to Let Go and Just Be

Part of the process of recovery is learning to be gentle with yourself; letting go of the idea that things are a personal reflection or a value judgment about who you are. Be it fear of failure, criticism, mistakes, or something as simple as not knowing what the next indicated step is, having flexibility and acceptance, embracing failures with successes promotes a healthy awareness of what really is important, how we determine our value and value systems.

Practicing balance in recovery means allowing our self- worth to generate from within. Accepting we are not perfect and life will not always resemble what we think it should, we can then make healthier choices about what we really want.

A life based on recovery permits individuals to find a better path than the one spent addicted to substances, discovering enduring satisfactions and serenity from chaos.

5 Habits that will Help in your Recovery

Education

5 Habits Healthy habits in recovery promote a mental strength which will carry an individual in sobriety through the ebbs and flows of life on life’s terms. Mental strength is the ability to manage challenging emotions and situations and is an important projection for success and happiness. The five suggestions listed here characterize the emotional intelligence, grit, resilience, self-control, mental toughness and mindfulness successful individuals cultivate in recovery.

1. Be Objective!

The ability to see things clearly, evenly and with a degree of detachment is a vital component in changing responses and attitudes. What’s required here is a sort of philosophical approach to situations, taking a step back and examining emotions and impressions, while considering various possible outcomes with an open and honest perception. The way we perceive things can have incredible power to help overcome challenges and setbacks.

2. Let go of Entitlement.

While we all deserve the opportunity to achieve success and happiness, there is no guarantee that says life will be free of obstacles, worry and sometimes failure. The attitude that we should get what we want most of the time can lead to an unproductive cycle of self-pity. People with mental strength recognize the possibility that their plans can be derailed, and life can take one completely by surprise.

3. Be Flexible.

Accepting some things are beyond our power, and being able to bend with curves in the road gives an opportunity to learn resiliency. It’s impossible to avoid negative emotions, particularly when we meet with several large obstacles at the same time; the key is not to get taken hostage by these emotions. Keeping a steady emotional balance increases the potential to recognize new and unique solutions when the next indicated step appears.

4. Take Charge & Responsibility.

While having flexibility and acceptance are important to healthy mental strength, this should not be at the cost of achieving important goals. Taking responsibility for interests and maintaining persistence with goals is paramount to finding success and joy in life. Like the tools of recovery, this is an everyday practice where results will not show overnight; one must have perseverance to make goals become realities and the ability to overcome hardship along the way.

5. Practice Gratitude, Always.

Healthy habits will find a lasting place in daily routines with this compelling step toward having a reasonable understanding of our place in life and enjoying the ups and downs. Having mental strength is finding gratitude in the obstacles we face, embracing the situations life presents and assigning greater significance to what is really important. Whether making a gratitude list or simply taking a breather to evaluate all we have to be grateful for, a renewed serenity and inner clarity will direct toward a future full of possibility.