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Haven House Addiction Recovery

Individual Healing

    Haven House Addiction Recovery offers treatment to men suffering from alcohol addiction and drug addiction. We know treatment works! Individuals who have lost hope can find treatment, recovery and hope at Haven House. Residents of Haven House receive a broad base of addiction treatment which addresses the whole person-- mind, body and emotions. Haven House staff encourage and foster the proper atmosphere needed to work with all addiction issues. This approach to healing, joined with the extraordinary qualifications of our staff and injected with individualized attention produces the catalyst to makes the difference.

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    Haven House believes alcoholics and addicts should be treated  with  unconditional positive regard. The individual  in need of  healing requires close attention be paid to the physical, mental, spiritual and social areas of their lives. A unique and  individualized plan is designed to provide the right combination of support to help the resident learn to live life happy, joyous and free. We provide support in a loving, caring and nurturing environment.

A Distinctive Approach

  The crux of Haven House treatment is its unique ability to look at the whole person to provide an effective and distinctive individualized program. Haven House works with each individual to identify and resolve the unique core issues that underlie presenting problems,

as well as address destructive life behaviors.

addiction info:

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol are both substances which alter the perceptions of the individual who consumes them. Using these substances regularly can cause a lot of trouble for the user. Many find that their occasional use turns into habitual use, which is more often than not just a step away from addiction. Addiction is where the individual depends on these substances just to feel good or get through their day.

Here are a few of the early warning signs that a person may have problems with drugs and alcohol:
relying on drugs and alcohol to have fun, forget problems, or relax
having blackouts (when a person can't remember what happened when drunk or high)
taking drugs and alcohol by their self
withdrawing or keeping secrets from friends or family
performing differently in school (such as grades dropping and frequent absences)
building an increased tolerance to drugs and alcohol - gradually needing more and more of the substance to get the same feeling

There are probably as many definitions of "addiction" and abuse as there are substances to abuse. Misunderstandings occur when we get lost in quibbling over "how much" and "how many times" we take drugs and alcohol. In addition, many of us have cultural, religious, and social baggage about the use of drugs and alcohol. A more useful way to decide if a person is chemically dependent is to consider whether an "impairment" or "negative consequence" occurs as a result of use. This can happen in their physical, emotional, and/or social functioning. Sometimes they notice the effects of drugs and alcohol on their lives, sometimes others have to point it out to them. The range of use includes "experimentation" (use a few times to discover the effect), "regular" or "social use" (use without impairment or negative consequences), "problem use" (impairment in one area of functioning), and "addiction" (the inability to stop using or to stay stopped despite negative consequences in one or more areas of one's life). This includes compulsive use and the loss of control over use.

It is usually hard for people to recognize that they have a problem with drugs and alcohol. This is why friends or family often step in. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol may promise over and over that they'll stop. However, quitting is hard to do. Many people find they can't do it without help. The best thing for an individual who has problems with drugs and alcohol is to talk to someone they trust, preferably someone who can support them emotional. This way they don't have to deal with their problem alone. There are also lots of resources for people who have problems with drugs and alcohol.

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is the compulsive use of drugs to the point where the individual feels that they have no choice but to continue using. This phenomenon has occurred to some degree throughout history. Drug addiction can happen to anyone and does not depend on age, social status, or economic status. Drug addiction does not discriminate. An important point to keep in mind is that drugs and alcohol work on the individual as painkillers. When a person takes a drug, they ingest chemicals that emotionally or physically kill their pain and alter their perception of reality. Drugs make people feel “numb”.

An estimated 19.5 million Americans over the age of 12 use illegal drugs. Many other people abuse or are addicted to legal drugs. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. While not everyone who uses drugs develops a drug addiction, many people do. As many as 19,000 people die of drug-related causes every year.

The cycle of drug addiction typically follows a pattern. When an individual begins to abuse drugs there is almost always an underlying sense of hopelessness, unhappiness, or physical pain that they are trying to escape. The individual finds these problems very hard to deal with. They do not know a healthy and constructive way to handle their problems. These problems could be not fitting in when they were a teenager, a divorce as an adult, or even a physical injury or chronic pain. These problems consume the individual and seem un-endurable. They are unable to find a workable solution.

Almost all of us can relate to the above mentioned problems or feelings. The only difference is that some people turn to drugs to escape from their problems and develop a drug addiction. Just as an adolescent in their first crush, a person who abuses drugs becomes obsessed with their drug of choice and turns a blind eye to the rest of the world. At this point the individual has started the downward spiral of drug addiction. They no longer think of the initial problem that they were looking to escape, they only think of their next high. They loose the ability to control their impulses, become unable to curb their usage, and disregard the terrible cost of their actions.

As the individual spirals downward into drug addiction their body goes through changes too. Their body becomes accustomed to the drugs in their system and expects the substances to be there. When the drugs are not present, their body experiences withdrawal. Often, addicts will do almost anything to avoid the pain of withdrawal. They experience drug cravings as their body thinks it needs the deadly drugs in its system to work properly. As time passes, the individual’s drug addiction changes and they now need more and more of the substance to achieve the same high they desire. This is the dangerous cycle of drug addiction.

People on Drugs
 

One reason people often give for taking drugs is that it makes them feel good. Actually, it does feel good because most drugs act directly on the limbic, or "pleasure center," in the brain. Some might light up a cigarette at a party. They might not consider themselves to be a "smoker," but they do it to feel good or to "look cool." Someone might smoke pot at their friend's house because they think it could be fun. So what’s the problem? Drugs don't care what the reason is. The same effects occur whether you're drinking to have fun or drinking to forget a problem, whether you're doing drugs to see how they feel or doing them to fit in with the crowd.

People take drugs to change the way they feel. Often they want to change their situation. If they're depressed, they want to become happy. If they are stressed or nervous, they want to relax, and so on. By taking drugs, people on drugs often think they can be the person they want to be. What’s the problem? It isn't real. You haven't changed the situation; you've only distorted it for a little while. Following are some of the reasons people on drugs say they use drugs to feel good or change their situation:

1. People on drugs use them because they want to fit in.
Nobody wants to be the only one not participating. No one wants to be left out. So, sometimes they make bad decisions like taking drugs to cover-up their insecurities. They don't think about how drugs can isolate them from their friends and family. They forget to look past that one party to see how things could turn out. Or maybe they just don't see the people around them who aren't using drugs.

2. People on drugs use them because they want to escape or relax.
You'll hear a lot of people saying things like "I'm so stressed, I need to get messed up!" or "Drugs help me relax." What they're really saying is "Drinking or doing drugs is just easier than dealing with my problems or reaching out for help." The thing is, the problems are still there when they come down. Not only do they still have to deal with it, they have to deal with it when they're not 100% and they are feeling guilty or even worse when they're not thinking straight.

3. People on drugs use them because they're bored.
Lots of people turn to drugs for a little excitement because they say there's nothing else to do but watch the same symptoms rerun for the tenth time or hang out at the Burger King. But people who make these kinds of decisions usually find out that drugs are ultimately a painful waste. Drugs don't change the situation, they just might make it worse.

4. People on drugs use them because the media says it's cool.
Even though there's an anti-drug ad on every minute, and more rock stars and ball players than you can shake a stick at tell you to stay away from drugs, the truth is the entertainment world still manages to make drugs appear very attractive. Kind of like how they encourage people to be really skinny even when they say anorexia is bad. Or when they say you should be super muscular but steroids are bad. But if you're wise, you'll understand that the entertainment world is not the real world. Basing your life on these messages is superficial.

5. People on drugs use them because they think it makes them seem grown-up.
This is one of the weirdest reasons. Think about it…Why would an adult want to use drugs? Probably for many of the same reasons you would consider. The reality is that the most grown-up people out there aren't users. They're too busy living their lives to bother with stuff, like drugs, that will interfere.

6. People on drugs use them because they want to rebel.
Sometimes people turn to drugs to make a statement to someone else, such as their families or society in general. Somehow, they think taking drugs makes them outlaws or more individual. The problem is that taking drugs ultimately robs these people of their ability to be independent, because it makes them dependent on drugs and their drug connections.

7. People on drugs use them because they want to experiment.
It's human nature to want to experiment. Trying things out helps you decide if they're right for you. But it's also human nature to avoid things that are obviously bad for you.

Many people don't become addicted to drugs, but may continue to do drugs for the same reasons they started: because they want to fit in, because they want to escape, because they're bored, etc. These are people who have issues with insecurity, and are scared or unwilling to confront their problems head on in an intelligent way. A better way to deal with them would be talking to friends, counselors, even parents!

For other people on drugs, once they've started using drugs, they become physically or mentally addicted. They want more. In fact, they feel like they NEED more! Eventually, trying to get drugs becomes the most important thing in their lives. It uses up all their time, money, and energy and really hurts people they're close to.

Media reports and official publications have frequently portrayed people on drugs as lacking self-esteem, unable to resist peer pressure, seeking oblivion, rejecting traditional norms, anti-social and willing to violate laws. This research by a team at Demos tested these impressions by examining young people's attitudes through quantitative re-analysis of a survey of 854 young people (respondents - divided into those who had tried and had not tried illicit drugs) and a qualitative study of 110 young people (interviewees - classified as non-users, recreational users and problem users). The study found:

In the quantitative survey, those who had ever tried an illicit drug tended to be similar to those who had not in terms of:
sociability (those who had tried drugs tended to be slightly more independent, more at ease in complex situations, and less introverted)
levels of trust and respect for their families
levels of resignation and self-esteem
holding a 'puritanical' outlook

In the qualitative study, recreational user interviewees were as likely to disapprove of behavior they regard as being “out of control” as were non-users.
Recreational users were a little more distrusting than non-users of authority figures in general, and had a significantly less positive attitude to the police and law enforcement.
Attitudes and behaviors that reduced the potential harm of drugs were evident within the youth sub-cultures of interviewees. For example, there was a strong sense of duty to help those in trouble with drugs or those they perceive to be becoming addicted.

Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction is when an individual is dependent on a drug. This can mean the individual is emotionally dependent, physically dependent, or both. Often when a person becomes addicted to a drug they will experience intense cravings for the drug and want to use it again and again. When they stop using the drug they may experience unpleasant physical or psychological discomfort.

Addiction treatment can be for a specific drug or for a broad range of drug addictions. It can also vary depending on the characteristics of the individual. Addiction affects people from all walks of life. Many suffer from problems associated with their mental health, personal health, careers, or even their social abilities. Because of these problems helping an individual recover from drug addiction can be more difficult than just the actual addiction itself. Treatment needs to involve all aspects of their life.

Because every individual is unique there is a wide range of addiction treatment approaches available. Here are some of the top choices in addiction treatment: counseling, inpatient, outpatient, and residential. The primary goal of each of these methods of treatment is to assist the individual in stopping their drug use and return them to their families and communities as productive functioning members of society once again.

The first addiction treatment method mentioned is counseling. This method focuses on the individual’s drug addiction symptoms, the person in their entirety, and the subject matter and structure of their recovery. Counseling provides the individual with coping strategies as well as tools for addiction recovery.

Inpatient is another addiction treatment method that is widely accepted. The ultimate goal of this form of treatment is long-term abstinence from drugs. This is an ideal treatment for people who feel their addiction has affected their family, friends, or work. They will be in a new environment removed from their former drug using surroundings. This will help them adjust to living a drug-free lifestyle. Their days will be very structured as they learn new tools and coping strategies to help them re-enter society drug-free.

Another form of addiction treatment is outpatient care. This type of treatment is designed to provide long-term abstinence from drugs. This form of addiction treatment implements a broad variety of techniques. They may include problem-solving groups, specialized therapies such as insight-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step programs. When an individual attends an outpatient program they do not live at the treatment facility and travel to the location on a regular basis. Low-intensity outpatient drug treatment programs may offer little more than drug education and counsel. Other outpatient drug treatment models, such as intensive day treatment, can be comparable to residential programs in services and effectiveness, depending on the individual's characteristics and needs.

The last type of addiction treatment mentioned is residential. This particular type of treatment model has existed for over 40 years and has experienced huge success when it comes to drug addiction recovery. This type of treatment is also known as therapeutic communities. They are often located in residential settings and benefit the individual because they are able to live in a drug-free environment. It is in this environment that they are able to see what life would be like drug-free and experience day to day life without turning to drugs to solve problems that arise. As time progresses they are able to handle more and more responsibility within the residential treatment facility and are expected to be part of the community in which they live. Additionally, they are able to connect with others who share their same goal of addiction recovery 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This availability of individuals and staff at any hour is priceless when a person is going through addiction treatment.

It is important that an educated decision is made when choosing an addiction treatment method. For many individuals addiction recovery has become a revolving door of treatment center after treatment center. This does not have to be the case. Drug addiction recovery is possible with the right addiction treatment model.

Drug Free

There are many ways to keep your family and friends drug free. Every family has expectations of behavior that are determined by principles and standards. These add up to "values." Children who decide not to use alcohol or other drugs often make this decision because they have strong convictions against the use of these substances. These convictions are based in a value system. Social, family, and religious values give young people reasons to say no to drugs and help them stick to their decision to stay drug free.

Here are some ways to help make your family's drug free values clear:

* Communicate values openly. Talk about why values such as honesty, self-reliance, and responsibility are important and how values help children make good decisions. Teach your child how each decision builds on previous decisions as one's character is formed, and how a good decision makes the next decision easier.

* Recognize how your actions affect the development of your child's values. Simply stated, children copy their parents' behavior. Children, who see their parents smoke for example, are more likely to become smokers. Evaluate your own use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines, and even over-the-counter drugs. Consider how your attitudes and actions may be shaping your child's choice about whether or not to use alcohol or other drugs. This does not mean, however, that if you are in the habit of having wine with dinner or an occasional beer or cocktail you must stop. Children can understand and accept that there are differences between what adults may do legally and what is appropriate for children. Keep that distinction sharp however. Do not let your children be involved in your drinking by mixing a cocktail for you or bringing you a beer. Absolutely do not allow your child to have sips of your drink.

* Look for conflicts between your words and your actions. Remember that children are quick to sense when parents send signals by their actions that it's all right to duck unpleasant duties or to be dishonest. Telling your child to say that you are not at home because a phone call comes at an inconvenient time is, in effect, teaching your child that it is all right to be dishonest.

* Make sure that your child understands your family values. Parents assume, sometimes mistakenly, that children have "absorbed" values even though they may be rarely or never discussed. You can test your child's understanding by discussing some common situations at the dinner table. For example, "What would you do if the person ahead of you in line at the theater dropped a dollar bill?"

America is a long way from being drug free:

• 60% of the world's illegal drug market is in the U.S.A. (with 6% of the world's population)
• Over 20 million Americans use marijuana
• An estimated 6 million Americans use cocaine
• An estimated half million Americans use heroin
• An estimated 13 million Americans are alcoholics
• Almost 1/3 of Americans between ages 20 and 40 have used an illicit drug once in the past year
• Almost 1/2 of Americans entering the work force have used an illicit drug once in the past year