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Relationships in Recovery RELATIONSHIPS IN RECOVERY Maintaining Connections Through Addiction, Recovery and Beyond BY THE STAFF OF SOVEREIGN HEALTH TABLE OF CONTENTS [Click on chapters to navigate to page] How to Recognize an Overdose 1 PAGE 4 How to Choose an Addiction Treatment Center PAGE 8 2 How to Manage and Defeat Cravings 3 PAGE 13 What to Do After a Relapse PAGE 17 4 How to Reconcile Damaged Relationships in Recovery 5 PAGE 21 How to Move Past Legal and Financial Problems PAGE 29 6 A Guide To Sovereign Health’s Facilities PAGE 34 A Directory of Behavioral 7 Health & Recovery Resources PAGE 39 8 2 INTRODUCTION CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY INVARIABLY LEADS TO LOSS. Material losses can usually be replaced in sustained recovery. Relationship loss or damage is a little trickier. An important part of the healing process requires honest self-examination and a look at our relationships. Chances are certain things will need to change so that old patterns of behavior don’t lead back to substance abuse. Perhaps amends need to be made. Maybe a toxic relationship needs to end. In any case, this process requires courage, acceptance and action. Relationships cannot heal by simply abstaining from alcohol or drugs. Whether you’re in recovery, or you are a parent, child, brother, sister, spouse, significant other, co-worker, boss, friend or neighbor of someone who is — reconciling relationships requires intentional effort. That’s where this book comes in. We explain why it is important to face the wreckage of the past and offer some practical tips to help. We also provide suggestions for protecting sobriety during the process and a handy directory of resources for everyone involved in the recovery process. Fortunately, the sober community — from the first responders, social workers, counselors, clinicians, to secular and faith-based sponsors and volunteers — is always available to provide generous support and guidance simply for the asking. Friends and families of someone in early recovery require healing as well. Professional counseling can be a lifeline, particularly during times of crisis. Over the long term, establishing a peer support network in the local community is essential. Strength, safety and wisdom lie in the relationships we build. The recovery journey is truly miraculous. Misery, pain and despair are replaced with joy, freedom and hope. We at Sovereign Health hope you find this little book useful along the way. 3 CHAPTER ONE How to Recognize an Overdose By Kristen Fuller, M.D. [Click to return to contents] HAVING A LOVED ONE WHO IS HOOKED ON DRUGS OR ALCOHOL CAN BE DEVASTATING TO BOTH YOU AND THE ADDICTED PERSON. Fearing that one day your loved one will overdose, you tremble at the thought of receiving that dreaded phone call. In 2014 alone, more than 47,000 people died from a drug overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recognizing signs and symptoms of a drug over- dose may give you the time you need to seek immediate medical care by calling 911 before it is too late. Each class of substances has its own set of symptoms that occur when an individual is under the influence. Although it is best to prevent an overdose, recognizing the signs and symptoms can potentially save your loved one’s life. HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN OVERDOSE 5 • Chest pain SYMPTOMS OF OPIOID INTOXICATION & • Dilated pupils OVERDOSE • Tremors • Pressured speech Opioids, also known as narcotics, • High energy levels are the No. 1 cause of substance • Irritability/restlessness overdose worldwide. They come in legal prescription drug forms SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL / such as morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and others, and BENZODIAZEPINE in illegal forms such as heroin. INTOXICATION & Symptoms of intoxication and OVERDOSE overdose include: Alcohol and benzodiazepines act • Pinpoint pupils on the same receptor in the brain • Confusion and have very similar effects. • Extreme fatigue / Death from an overdose of ben- loss of consciousness zodiazepines or alcohol alone is • Slurred speech very uncommon, but using to- gether can potentiate an over- • Constipation dose. Symptoms of intoxication • Dry mouth/eyes and overdose include: • Shallow breathing / • Slurred speech respiratory depression • Confusion • Impaired balance / ataxia SYMPTOMS OF COCAINE INTOXICATION & • Impaired motor function OVERDOSE • Somnolence • Respiratory depression • Nervousness • Double vision • Sweating • Racing heart beat 6 HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN OVERDOSE • Severe abdominal pain SYMPTOMS OF PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) • Nausea/vomiting INTOXICATION & • Sweating OVERDOSE • Dark urine • Yellowing of the skin/eyes • Combativeness / (jaundice) extreme aggression It is important to be aware that • Extreme agitation many of these signs and symp- • Superpower strength toms overlap. If a loved one is • Hallucinations acting strange or demonstrating • Horizontal nystagmus any of the above symptoms and (side-to-side eye movements) you have a high suspicion of over- dose, take immediate action: SYMPTOMS OF 1 If your loved one is unre- METHAMPHETAMINE sponsive, place him or her INTOXICATION & in a recovery position (on his or OVERDOSE her side) and immediately call 911. By placing the person on his • Restlessness or her side, it prevents aspiration • Vision spots in case of vomiting. Stay in the room with your • Sweating 2 loved one and continue to • Aggressive behavior talk to him or her. • High fevers Don’t give your loved one 3 • Severe abdominal pain anything to eat or drink. • Sweating 4 Don’t induce vomiting. SYMPTOMS OF 5 Follow instructions from ACETAMINOPHEN AND the 911 first responder. OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEVERS OVERDOSE HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN OVERDOSE 7 CHAPTER TWO How to Choose an Addiction Treatment Center By Kristen Fuller, M.D. [Click to return to contents] BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION IS A LIFELONG PROCESS. It takes commitment, hard work, honesty, trial and error, and a strong supportive network. It is very com- mon to relapse multiple times, but once an individual is in a program and has a supportive network, over- coming a relapse and achieving long- term recovery is much easier. Finding treatment for your loved one can be challenging. There are many types of inpatient rehabilitation cen- ters and outpatient programs, and each treatment facility offers differ- ent therapeutic approaches. FINDING THE RIGHT INPATIENT TREATMENT CENTER The most important criterion for finding the best rehabilitation pro- gram is making sure your loved one feels safe and comfortable with the treatment center. It is important that the treatment fits the individu- al’s needs and that there is enough HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER 9 supportive and ancillary staff ment. You should not feel pres- available to provide the best sured or like you’ve been given a care. The road to recovery starts sales pitch. with an evidence-based treat- • Ask to see the treatment fa- ment program, whether it is an cilities where the person will inpatient facility or an outpa- be staying. Make sure they are tient program. clean. • Ask around. Go to recovery • Ask about medication regi- meetings such as Alcoholics mens, meal services, extracur- Anonymous and obtain informa- ricular activities, counseling tion about the inpatient treat- sessions, and 24-hour care ver- ment centers in your area. Just sus part-time care. like any other type of service, • Make sure your insurance is having a primary referral from accepted and ask about all the someone you know can help nar- financial aspects of treatment. row down the treatment center Treatment is expensive and will options. require careful financial plan- • Make sure you and your ning and budgeting. loved one feel comfortable • Inquire about continuing during the tour and the admis- care after patients leave a pro- sions process at the treatment gram and ask about relapsing. center. • Do your research. Read online OUTPATIENT TREATMENT reviews and ask for the creden- tials of the clinical staff. Make Not every individual will need sure the facility is accredited and or choose to enter into an inpa- up to all standards. tient treatment center. Some • Make sure all of your ques- individuals will pursue outpa- tions are answered appropri- tient support groups. Alcoholics ately. Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics • Don’t allow a treatment cen- Anonymous (NA) are two very ter to pressure you into enroll- well-known outpatient support 10 HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER groups that follow the 12-step The pillars of the 12-step pro- programs. Other types of out- gram center on the belief of a patient programs, such as harm higher power and accepting that reduction, SMART Recovery and the addict is powerless. Without Moderation Management, are this higher power, sobriety can- great alternatives. Obtaining the not be obtained. AA and other best treatment and care depends 12-step programs have an all-or- on what your loved one needs. nothing approach: The person is The 12-step program is a spiri- either completely sober or an ad- tually based guidance program dict; there is no middle ground. used by addicts who are trying to One of the great benefits of AA, recover from alcohol use, drug and other 12-step programs alike, use and compulsive behaviors. is that they require a partnership HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER 11 between two recovering alcohol- platform. This allows users to re- ics, more commonly known as a main anonymous. sponsor/sponsee relationship. Moderation Management of- This sponsor is someone who has fers education, behavioral successfully worked the program change techniques and peer sup- and achieved port for prob- recovery and lem drink- who can give THE ROAD TO ers seeking advice and RECOVERY STARTS to decrease lend a help- WITH AN their drink- ing hand to his ing — whether or her spons- EVIDENCE-BASED to moderate ee throughout TREATMENT PROGRAM. drinking levels the recovery or to abstain process.
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