La Hacienda

The Use of Pain Medication in Recovery by Scott Mitchell, LCDC

There are times in recovery in which an individual find himself in position to be in need of pain medication.  These times include serious injuries and surgical/dental procedures.  There can be some times when pain medications are medically necessary.  Relapse occurs when the medication is used outside of the parameters of the health care provider’s  instruction or prescription.  Knowing that pain medication can trigger the phenomenon of craving, especially if it is  the drug of the choice of the person in question, it is important that the individual take precautions.  If the pain medication is not the drug of choice it can still trigger back to the individual’s original drug of choice and the same precautions apply.  Please read below:

In the event of medical or dental conditions that require pain medication, the following is recommended.

Be completely honest with the healthcare provider regarding addiction history.

You  may opt to try alternatives to narcotics such as anti-inflammatories, alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen, or using other non-narcotic pain medications such as Toradol.  Note: the use of Ultram or Tramadol is not recommended.

There are other alternative pain management techniques that may be appropriate such as TENS Units, accupuncture, meditation, etc.  Your healthcare provider can assist you in determining your best options.

If it becomes apparent that a narcotic pain reliever is needed such hydrocodone, codeine, or other similar medications, then the following actions are recommended.

Ask to have the medication prescribed for only 2 days.  If your pain persists longer than that, return to the healthcare provider to determine why your are still having pain.

Have the medication kept in the possession of a trusted friend or family member who will distribute them to you only at the appropriate prescribed dosing times.

Be aware of obsessive thoughts that may occur about the pain or the medication.  Go to your sponsor or therapist and discuss this.

Double up your support for at least 30 days after finishing the medication regimen.  Once you take a narcotic pain medication you have the possibility of experiencing cravings for that 30 day period.  So, go to extra 12 Step meetings, help others twice as much, and interact with people in recovery as much as possible.  Talk about your thoughts of using as soon as they occur with peers and professionals.  Utilize prayer and meditation more frequently.

(Source: lahacienda.com)

In Consideration of Step 1 by: Charlotte Safir, LCDC

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Of all the steps, this is the one that sets the stage for recovery to happen. Consequently, resistance, rebellion and delusion as well as the unwillingness to be rigorously honest are some of the components that keep us from recovery, from being willing to surrender to the reality of this step.

Step One is the foundation of Recovery. It is the platform on which an entirely new life can be built.  Wherever we do not stay current in our experience with this step, for it is not about knowledge,  that is where we will relapse into drinking and using. Through the refreshing review about no control, no choice and no power; it is possible to experience this vital step at a deeper and deeper level.

When we lose our truth in the first step, we fall prey to the idea that we can drink or use successfully.  It is not uncommon that over time the rebuilding of the ego, self knowledge and pride has the power to convince us that one of something will not hurt.

On first application of the steps, we  might readily admit to powerlessness and unmanageability; however as time passes and we mistakenly think that because outside circumstances have calmed and therefore life looks  manageable again, complacency forms as evidenced not only by the lack of interest in  completing the steps but reworking the steps. The “I know” mentality of  the ego creates a barrier to looking at where we are currently with no control, no choice, and no power. 

The benefits of reworking this step, in conjunction with all of the steps, are part of “continuing to grow in understanding and effectiveness”. Through the excavating process of this step, we gain more peace, acceptance and deepen the relationship to the Power that keeps us sober while gaining a healthy respect for the disease of alcoholism and addiction. When active in the disease, we stayed current, if not through daily use, we were never far from what we used. In recovery, the same holds true, we must be willing to stay current in our experience and understanding of the step that is the catalyst for making recovery possible.

Where are you with Step One today?

(Source: lahacienda.com)

The Ladder

No one who drank as I did wakes up on the edge of the abyss
one morning and says: Things look pretty scary;
I think I’d better stop drinking before I fall in.
I was convinced I could go as far as I wanted
and then climb back out when it wasn’t fun anymore.
What happened was, I found myself at the bottom of the canyon
thinking I’d never see the sun again. AA didn’t pull me out of that hole.
It did give me the tools to construct a ladder with Twelve Steps.

- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 316

(Source: lahacienda.com)

What type of medications/prescriptions do the doctors normally send home with discharging patients if they need to see an MD?

We send them home with a prescription for a 1 month of supply of their current medications.  We NEVER send them home with controlled medications of any kind except in our very, very rare patients on suboxone for pain…….about 1-2 per year.  So if they require antidepressants, or blood pressure meds, or anti-diabetic meds or whatever we send them with all of their current prescriptions.

Dr. D Boone

La Hacienda Medical Director

Substance Abuse Statistics in the Military

This post was provided by Hickory Wind Ranch, a sober living house in Austin, TX.

In reverence of the recent Memorial Day we’d thought we’d take some time to zero in on a niche of substance abuse that is often either overlooked due to stigma, or set under the pressure cooker of the mass media. As one war ends in Irag and another goes on in Afghanistan, our military members are returning home, bringing the effects of those battles with them, and turning to alcohol and substance abuse as a way to deal.

There are a number of reasons why members of our military are developing alcohol and substance abuse problems. Deployment can have several stresses. Prolonged periods of alertness or inactivity, physical danger and injury, distance from home, and more cause different kinds of pressures to build up. This inevitably leads to drug and alcohol abuse among current and returning military personnel. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse:

“Although less common, substance abuse is also a key concern. While the 2008 Department of Defense Health Behavior Survey reveals general reductions over time in tobacco use and illicit drug use, it reported increases in other areas, such as prescription drug abuse and heavy alcohol use. In fact, prescription drug abuse doubled among U.S. military personnel from 2002 to 2005 and almost tripled between 2005 and 2008.”

This statistic shows an alarming trend in the military community. When soldiers and members of the military return from abroad, they are have to the re-assimilate their former lives. It’s a very common thread among media stories, and popular culture – the story of the troubled soldier returning to home only to find him/herself disillusioned and disenchanted with his/her former life. Often times, the stress of that adjustment is coupled with post-war effects such as combat exposure, injuries, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. All of these variables lead to wide-spread substance abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs.

Luckily, the federal government is well aware of this fact and have implemented several stop-gaps in place to prevent and help with abuse. There are numerous state and federal programs implemented by the Department of Defense to help out with soldiers struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. While their efficacy is sometimes in question, their necessity is not a point of debate. With troops returning home from Afghanistan, there will be an increased need for institutions such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) who provide programs, conduct research, and produce literature to help inform and effectively diagnose this trend in our military personnel and their families.

Common Questions to ask a Treatment Center: 1of 10

1.  What credentials and licenses does the program’s clinical staff hold? 

Credentials and licenses ensure that the person providing treatment meets nationally recognized standards for professional practice. Some of the credentials held by addiction professionals include LADC (licensed alcohol and drug counselor), LPC (licensed professional counselor), CAC (certified addictions counselor), or CCDP (certified co-occurring disorders counselor).

LA HACIENDAS RESPONSE:

Our clinical staff is comprised of the following licenses specialties:  LCDC (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor), LPC ( Licensed  Professional Counselor), LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), and NCC (National Certified Counselor).  35% of our clinicians are licensed at a masters level. 

(Source: lahacienda.com)