A recent study proved what many of you already have come to know: faith-based addiction treatment works.

Researchers asked a small group of individuals with substance use disorders about various types of addiction treatment and how effective they were – and 92 percent favored programs with spiritual or religious guidance.

The study was spurred by a phone call three years ago between Eric Kocian, an assistant professor of criminology, law and society at St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, and county detective Tony Marcocci. During this time, local officials were just starting to fight back against the heroin epidemic.

“This is one sample, this is one study,” Kocian said. “We'd like to replicate it.”

The Benefits of Spirituality as Part of Addiction Rehab
This certainly isn’t the first or last study to prove the benefits of faith-based addiction treatment. In fact, those who choose Christian rehab have been found to have a greater chance of getting and staying sober. Beyond fewer relapses, rehab treatment that includes a spiritual component can also help you or someone you love to:

• Believe that recovery is possible
• Ask for forgiveness and make amends
• Learn to handle life’s emotional highs and lows
• Improve anger management and emotional control
• Navigate moral choices after rehab
• Develop strength and resilience
• Achieve a sense of family and community
• Discover a higher life purpose
• Gain a more positive life outlook

More About Christian Rehab
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. At Christian Rehab Network, we can help you learn valuable life skills to build a fulfilling life of sobriety and reduce your risk of relapse. You’ll learn to strengthen your relationship with Christ while overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol. To learn more, call us today: 877-310-9545.

There’s a fine line between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction. But how do you tell the difference? And how do you know when your “help” isn’t actually helping and may even be delaying treatment?

Let’s start by looking at the definitions:

• To help someone means to do something for someone else that they are not capable of doing for themselves.
• To enable someone, on the other hand, means to do something for someone else that they can and should be doing for themselves.

So “helping” by doing a loved one’s chores or completing his or her school or work obligations is really enabling him or her to shirk responsibilities in favor of pursing the addiction.

It’s perfectly natural to want to help your loved ones, whether a child, spouse or sibling. And even if your desire is well intentioned – you could be causing more harm than good. This is because picking up the pieces or pretending that everything is OK can prevent him or her from dealing with the consequences, getting help and getting well.

Here are a few more examples of “helpful” acts that are actually enabling your loved one:

• You make excuses to his/her employer or teacher about why he didn’t show up or is always running late.
• You pay bills or debts.
• You cover up any acceptable behavior or make-up lies or excuses to others (even yourself).
• You take on more to compensate for your loved one’s failure to meet responsibilities.
• You bail out your loved one from disasters created due to active addiction.
• You put your own needs aside to continually take care of your loved one.

Healing Families at Christian Rehab
If you or someone you care about is caught in the bondage of drugs or alcoholism, Christian Rehab Network can help. We help families to find faith-based drug rehab programs based in Biblical truth. To learn more, call today: 877-310-9545.

Facing your addiction and taking a giant leap to get help takes a lot of courage. Recovery is a tough journey and that’s without having to also deal with the many damaging rumors and stereotypes out there about addiction. By knowing the facts, you can have more confidence in your decision to get help. You’ll also be better equipped to educate any loved ones along the way.

Here we address some of the most common misconceptions (along with the truths) about addiction.

• Myth #1: Addiction is a choice.
  While the decision to use alcohol or drugs is voluntary, people don’t choose to become addicted. Genetics play a major role along with such environmental factors as family life, upbringing and peer influences.
• Myth #2: Addiction is caused by a lack of willpower.
  While willpower certainly can help prevent relapse, it can’t cause addiction. Nor will willpower alone help someone stop using. This is because prolonged use of addictive substances can change the structure of the brain, making it difficult to control impulses or focus on anything other than using drugs.
• Myth #3: People who abuse drugs and alcohol are immoral and bad.
  Certainly, many people lie, cheat and steal during active addiction, but these behaviors are driven by changes in the brain brought on by a substance use disorder. Addiction is a sickness, not a character flaw.
• Myth #4: Addiction is a man’s disease.
  In fact, women are among the fastest-growing segments of drug users in the U.S. – and more than 4 million women are in need of addiction treatment, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
• Myth #5: Treatment won’t work unless it was your idea.
  According to research, people seek treatment for two reasons: they were persuaded by a loved one or court ordered to do so. And regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place, drug treatment programs produce successful outcomes for the majority of people suffering from addiction.

Is Christian Rehab Right for You?
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our Christian rehab, call today: 877-310-9545.

Addiction recovery can feel overwhelming at times and we can all use a few encouraging words to remind us that we’re not alone and that recovery really is possible.

In fact, the perfect quotation can help lift your spirits and put you in a positive mindset for the long road ahead. Here are a few inspiring quotes we love – print out the ones that inspire you and tape them where you’ll be sure to see them.

1. "Life is a journey. When we stop, things don't go right." – Pope Francis
2. "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” – Mother Teresa
3. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
4. "Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason." – Unknown
5. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." – Theodore Roosevelt
6. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson
7. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
8. "Continuous effort – not strength nor intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential." – Winston Churchill
9. “When everything seems like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.” – Unknown
10. “Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Being Inspired By Faith
You’ll find that strength comes easily and your willpower is seemingly fortified by the presence of the Lord in your recovery process, and we are here to ensure you find a facility that leads you down his path and into sobriety for the rest of your life. To learn more about our addiction services, call today: 877-310-9545.

Staying physically active is one of the best things you can do for your mind and body – and it should also rank pretty high on your list of recovery to-dos. Here’s why:

• You’ll fill a void. If you’re like most people in early recovery, you may find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands – time that you used to spend thinking about, getting, using, and recovering from drugs or alcohol. Exercise is a great activity to occupy several hours, especially if you factor in getting ready for and getting cleaned up after a workout.
• You’ll increase confidence. Setting small, achievable exercise goals and meeting them can be a great confidence booster. And these little “wins” can give you the extra motivation you need to stick with your recovery and make lasting changes to your overall health.
• You’ll improve focus. Years of addiction can take a toll on your brain and you may be struggling with a lack of focus or brain fog caused by withdrawal or even neuronal damage. A recent study showed that as little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (like walking) could increase a person’s performance on cognitive quizzes.
• You’ll remain strong-willed. Being physically active will help you beat back any cravings and ease any withdrawal symptoms that could trigger relapse.
• You’ll tame tension. Mind-body techniques like yoga, Pilates, and tai chi can help you to unwind, focus, and better deal with stress, which is a common relapse trigger.
• You’ll be in a better mood. As exercise invigorates the heart and lungs, it stimulates the brain's reward pathway and heightens mood-boosting neurochemicals, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Building a Better You
At Christian Rehab Network, we can help you learn valuable life skills to build a fulfilling life of sobriety and reduce your risk of relapse. If you are searching for help strengthening your relationship with Christ while overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call today: 877-310-9545.

Relapse triggers are a very real part of addiction – but you can take steps to fight back. Your first step: Identify your personal triggers. Next, create a plan to take action so they don’t threaten your hard-won sobriety. Here are a few common triggers to watch out for:

1. HALT: Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, and Tiredness: This acronym was designed to remind you to stop and ask yourself: “Am I feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?” When these basic needs aren’t met, you’re more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors, including relapse.

2. Social isolation: Isolating yourself from friends, family, peers and professionals from the addiction community is a slippery slope into relapse. Now more than ever, it’s essential to have a solid support system in place.

3. Celebration: Not all triggers are negative. In fact, a positive event – like a job promotion or new apartment – can make you rationalize a celebratory drink, for instance. Take time to plan ahead and have a list of some sober ways to celebrate your successes.

4. Overconfidence: While self-confidence is an important part of your mental health and lasting sobriety, too much confidence can be dangerous to your recovery. It can lead you to mistakenly think you can handle a high-risk situation that could easily trigger a relapse. The trick is finding a healthy balance of confidence, cautiousness and humility

5. New relationships: Most addiction experts urge against romantic relationships within the first year of recovery. This is because it’s easy to develop an unhealthy dependence and to relapse should the relationship come to an end.

Aftercare for Lifetime Sobriety
Built on the same spiritual foundations as the inpatient facilities and detox services we offer, the use of outpatient drug and alcohol, mental health or other services can be used to help you develop relapse prevention strategies and build on the recovery you gained during rehab. To learn more, call today: 877-310-9545.

Some people call addiction “the loneliness disease.” This is because loneliness can trigger alcohol and drug use – and it can also be an emotion that sticks with you well into recovery. It’s more than just feeling alone, however, it’s feeling that no one understands or cares about you – even when your loved ones are supporting and cheering you on. While these feelings are normal, they are also dangerous to your physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing and your long-term sobriety.

Now, for the good news: Overcoming loneliness is possible. In addition to working with your addiction counselor or mental health professional, you can ease these feelings with the following steps:

• Take time for silence. Find some place of silence so that you can read, pray, meditate, listen and allow God to help you overcome these feelings of isolation and loneliness.
• Lean on friends and family. Strong social ties have been shown to help with recovery and your overall health, so carve out quality time with loved ones. This is also the perfect time to make amends, if possible, and reconnect with the people who have been deeply hurt by your addiction.
• Join a support group. Meeting others within the recovery community – whether online or in-person – will help you build a network of support and remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles to stay sober.
• Find a hobby. Discovering or rediscovering a passion is a great way to lift your spirits and combat any feelings of isolation. This is especially true if your chosen hobby gets you out and about and aligns you with like-minded people.
• Get involved. Whether you decide to volunteer or become more active in your local church community, giving back to others is a surefire remedy for loneliness. It will help remind you that you’re not alone and bolster your confidence by proving that you can have a positive impact on others.

Your Christian Partner in Recovery
The founding principle of Christian Rehab Network is that you should never have to walk the journey toward sobriety alone. We’ll help you find your way back to the Lord and achieve a truly lasting recovery. To learn more, call: 877-310-9545.

Failure to launch syndrome, the term used to describe a young person’s inability to leave home and begin an independent lifestyle, is a growing epidemic.

In general, young adults with failure to launch will have trouble following through with opportunities and display an overall lack of goal setting. And, after failing to navigate college, they often find themselves out of sync with their peers and in constant conflict with their families.

A few more red flags:

• Low levels of motivation
• Inability to find or keep a job
• Poor work ethic and inability to meet deadlines
• Lack of vision for the future
• Unwillingness to face responsibilities, such as paying bills or maintaining an apartment or home
• Inability to manage chores or daily tasks
• Inability to deal with stress or conflict
• Poor decision-making skills
• Low frustration threshold
• Fear of taking chances

Co-Occurring Disorders to Watch Out For
Many teens and young adults with failure to launch syndrome also have problems with substance use disorders as well as mental health disorders, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Eating Disorders
• Gaming or Internet Addiction
• Learning/Attention problems
• Mood Disorders
• Personality Disorders

Not only do these severe mental health problems prevent a young adult from becoming independent and reaching their full potential, but also they become compounded with a co-occurring substance use disorder. And abusing drugs or alcohol certainly doesn’t help with lack of motivation, low self-esteem and an inability to cope with the life challenges inherent in an adult world.

Getting Help for Failure-to-Launch and Substance Abuse
Substance use and failure to launch can impact brain development in adolescents, disrupting social, emotional and intellectual functioning. Our Adolescent Christian Rehab can help your young adult develop the skills needed to live healthy and sober on his or her own. To learn more, call us today: 877-310-9545.

The best thing you can do as a parent amid the current opioid crisis is to talk to your teen about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), kids who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about the dangers. And still only 22 percent of teens report discussing abusing prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription with their parents, notes SAMHSA.

What's perhaps more alarming is that more teenagers die from taking prescription drugs than the use of cocaine and heroin combined. Opioid abuse can come with some devastating neurological and physical consequences, including:

• Dependence
• Slower brain activity
• Irregular heartbeats
• Dangerously high body temperature
• Heart failure
• Lethal seizures
• Risk of mental disorders like depression, anxiety or psychosis
• Speech, vision, or hearing difficulties
• Impaired cognition and motor skills
• Poor emotional regulation
• Inability to maintain relationships
• Poor school work or job performance
• Stunted emotional maturity

Prescription drug abuse also increases emergency room visits and suicide attempts. In 2009, more than 1 million emergency room visits involved the non-medical use of prescription drugs,  notes SAMHSA.

More Talking Points on Painkillers
Experts encourage parents to develop an ongoing dialogue with their children and to look for spontaneous, "teachable moments" to lay the groundwork for open, honest communication. Here are a few more tips to help your teen avoid opioid abuse.

• Remind your teen that taking someone else’s prescription or sharing hers with others is illegal. Sixty four percent of teens say they have used prescription painkillers that they got from a friend or family member.
• Encourage your teen to ask you or a doctor about the negative side effects of a prescribed medicine, how to watch for them, and what to do if a negative effect is suspected.
• Ask your family physician to speak to your teen about the importance of proper use of prescription medicines.
• Keep prescription medicines in a secure location, like a lock box, and get rid of old or unused medicine properly.
• Monitor your teen’s use of the Internet, especially for any illegal online purchases.
• Look for ways to get your child involved in sports, hobbies, school clubs, church and other activities that reduce boredom and excess free time.
• Spend time together. Seek out activities that you and your child can do together.
• Give your child lots of positive reinforcement so he has the confidence to stand up against peer pressure.

Christian Drug Addiction Treatment for Adolescents
At Christian Rehab Network, we offer a faith-based rehab for adolescents (ages 13 to 17). Our group and individual therapy, Bible study, pastoral care, and recreational recovery activities give adolescents age-appropriate strategies for coping with issues like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance use disorders and social difficulties. To learn more, call 877-310-9545.

Just because someone holds down a good job, attends church and community events or has what seems like a healthy family life, it doesn't mean he or she doesn’t have a problem with alcohol. So-called high-functioning alcoholics typically seem to have it all together on the outside – and may even hold high-power positions in the community and at work -- but inside they are suffering from the physical and emotional effects of alcohol. They may even be struggling with such hallmarks of addiction as uncontrollable cravings, unsuccessful attempts to quit drinking and obsessive thoughts about their next drink.

Despite their best efforts at concealment, they’ll likely exhibit some subtle and not-so-subtle signs uncharacteristic of their sober selves. Here are a few to watch out for:

• Denial: Listen carefully for excuses. For example: “I haven’t had any setbacks because of drinking.” “I have a great job and pay my bills, so I can’t be an alcoholic.” “I only drink expensive wine.”
• Eating habits: Many high-functioning alcoholics use mealtimes as an excuse to start drinking or lose interest in food altogether.
• Withdrawal signs: This includes becoming irritable, nervous or uncomfortable when he or she is forced to abstain from drinking.
• Lack of control: A high functioning alcoholic won’t be able to stop after just one or two drinks -- and will likely always have an excuse for just one more round.
• Behavioral changes: For example, a mild manner person might act aggressive or a conservative individual impulsive while under the influence.

Christian Addiction Treatment For High-Functioning Alcoholics
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help for alcohol abuse, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our Christian rehab, call today: 877-310-9545.