Month: May 2015

Ask any recovering addict and they will tell you, recovery is no easy process. Anything that can ease the challenge is welcome, particularly in those early months. Alternative medicine practices, such as meditation, are often the piece of the puzzle needed to remain on the recovery path during trying times. There are numerous ways how meditation can benefit you during your recovery.

Lift the Mental Fog

Adjusting to life without substance abuse can be difficult for the mind. Many in the early days of recovery report a type of “mental fog” that hangs over their recovery efforts and prevents them from thinking clearly. Mindfulness meditation brings clarity to the mind, which in turn helps with stress management and the emotional roller coaster that is common during this time. Mindfulness meditation is a special meditation technique that involves focusing on the precise moment in time, with increased, non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings.

Rewire Mental Pathways

In a 2011 study that was published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, researchers discovered that daily sessions of mindfulness meditation resulted in significant changes to specific areas of the brain. Subjects in the study participated in the meditation sessions, which lasted an average of 27 minutes a day, over a period of eight weeks. MR brain images taken of the subjects and a control group before and after the meditation program revealed changes in grey-matter density in the regions of the brain associated with sense of self, empathy, memory and stress.

Manage Stress

Because mindfulness meditation requires the participant to focus on the present, rather than the future, stress levels can be significantly reduced. As the person becomes more aware of the mind’s tendency to focus on future events and worry about them, they can learn to manage this tendency more effectively. Meditation also helps the individual focus on relaxation techniques that relieve the physical symptoms of stress as well.

Satisfy the “Wanting” Mind

Addiction typically has an emotional basis, often stemming from something the mind perceives as lacking. Addicts that get sober may recognize that longing, but be unsure of how to fill it. Often spiritual pursuits are one way those in recovery can fill the void and overcome the feelings of longing. Meditation puts you in closer touch with yourself and can connect you to a higher power to meet those needs. The spiritual element is one reason 12-step programs continue to be effective and why adding that element through meditation or another discipline can make the difference in a successful recovery.

At Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, we recognize one size does not fit all when it comes to successful recovery. We offer a number of elements in our treatment programs to help our adolescent patients find the path that works best for them. To learn more about our programs, contact Visions at 866-889-3665.

Peer pressure can be both positive and negative, depending on where the pressure is coming from. When the peers you are spending time with begin pressuring you to try drugs and alcohol, the consequences can be devastating. No one starts using these substances with the intention of becoming addicted, but addictions do happen. The best way to protect yourself is to stand up to the peer pressure right from the beginning. We have five tips to help you succeed in your resistance efforts.

Choose Friends Wisely

While some friends will encourage you to make positive choices, others will try to pressure you to make negative and even destructive choices. Which type of people do you want to be around? In most cases, choosing friends that make the right choices themselves will help you to do the same.

Learn to Stop

If someone asks you to do something like drink a beer or try a drug, don’t respond to the request immediately. Take a moment to catch your breath and let your brain engage in the decision making process. Sometimes, just giving yourself that bit of time will be enough to help you make the right choice in those uncomfortable situations.

Practice Saying No

It can be difficult to stand up to peers that you consider your friends. Make it easier on yourself by practicing your responses to their questions about drugs and alcohol. Ask a parent, teacher or older sibling to role play with you so you can prepare your response ahead of time. When the situation arises, your result is more likely to be automatic.

Consider Consequences

Sure, it can be hard to say no to your friends, but consider the consequences of saying yes. What will happen if you take that drink or smoke that joint? Will one poor choice lead to another. Will you compromise your health, make yourself sick or get in trouble with the law? In most cases, the consequences of those decisions will be much more dreadful than simply standing up and saying no in the first place.

Consider Alternatives

Instead of simply saying no, consider offering up an alternative activity you can all do instead. “Why don’t we go to the park and ride skateboards,” or “Let’s hit the mall,” can turn your entire group around from a potentially dangerous behavior. At the very least, it will give you an out, and possibly one or two of your other friends that feel equally uncomfortable with the situation.

Drug and alcohol abuse begins with that first taste or try. If you have been unable to say no to peer pressure and now find yourself in trouble with a substance, we can help. At Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, we offer a variety of programs for teens struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. To learn more, contact Visions at 866-889-3665.

More than 21 percent of 12-graders used marijuana within the past month, according to a survey conducted by Monitoring the Future and reported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Nearly six percent of the teens in that age category reported using daily and more than 80 percent said the drug was easy to get. While those numbers remained stable from 2013, they have been steadily increasing in recent years, raising red flags among substance abuse specialists and the medical community.

In addition to the rise in usage, shifting attitudes about the safety of marijuana are concerning experts. NIDA reports that in 2014, only 36.1 percent of teens thought regular marijuana use put the user at great risk, versus 39.5 percent in 2013 and 52.4 percent in 2009. In light of recent studies, it appears these perceptions are inaccurate, which could lead to even more problems with marijuana use among teens in the future.

What is THC?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in marijuana that gives users their “high.” This chemical passes through the lungs (when marijuana is smoked) and into the bloodstream, where it is then transported to every organ of the body. When THC reaches the brain, serious changes can occur that can impact a young user at the time and into the future.

Specifically, THC attaches to cells in the brain that contain cannabinoid receptors. These receptors affect parts of the brain that influence concentration, memory, thinking and pleasure. This chemical affects the body’s release of dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure or the “high” associated with marijuana. THC can also impact problem solving, coordination, time perception and mood.

Studies on THC

The impacts of THC on the teenage brain can have lasting effects, according to numerous studies that have been conducted on the topic. At the annual convention for the American Psychological Association in 2014, some of the problems associated with marijuana use in teens and young adults include cognitive decline, decreased IQ and impaired memory. The organization cited evidence that shows regular cannabis use (at least once per week) led to an increased risk of neurocognitive damage and a higher risk of addiction.

Experts point to the fact that today’s marijuana contains much higher concentrations of THC than marijuana used in the 1970s or even the 1990s. More THC may mean more damage to the brain, which can be permanent for some users. Duke researchers studying marijuana use in New Zealand found that teens that began using marijuana and continued into adulthood could lose as many as eight IQ points. The more frequent the marijuana use or the younger the marijuana use started, the greater the IQ decline.

Marijuana is often considered a “social” drug, but like other drugs, marijuana can take its toll on the mind and body. If you or a loved one is suffering the effects of marijuana use, we can help. Contact Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers at 866-889-3665 to learn about our programs and get help now for your addiction.