Author: Lara

People living the California sober lifestyle

What Does California Sober Mean?

Written by Lara on . Posted in California Sober, Sober Living.

The California sober lifestyle isn’t limited to people who live in California, and it doesn’t require actual sobriety. So what, exactly, does this term mean?

What Does California Sober Mean?

California sober is an informal term that is typically used to describe a “healthier” approach to substance use that is focused on limiting yourself to a few drugs instead of aiming for complete abstinence. 

There’s no standard, universally agreed-upon definition for California sober. For some people, it means avoiding all drugs except cannabis (marijuana). For others, it means limiting their substance use to alcohol and weed. In still other cases, psychedelics may be included in the list of acceptable substances, either with or without alcohol.

The two most common aspects of California sober seem to be an acceptance of marijuana and a refusal of so-called hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, meth, and PCP.

Just as there’s no consensus on what California sober means, there’s also a lack of certainty about the term’s origins. Many sources cite an April 2019 newsletter from VICE, in which writer Michelle Lhooq describes limiting herself to marijuana and some psychedelics as adopting a “Cali sober” lifestyle. 

However, Lhooq notes in her newsletter article that Cali sober is “a term some people also use when they quit everything but weed,” which implies that the concept didn’t start with her.

What Are the Main Concerns With Living a California Sober Lifestyle?

In 2021, Demi Lovato released a song titled California Sober. The title referred to their choice to use only weed and alcohol after nearly dying from an opioid overdose in 2018.

Lovato has since disavowed this approach, saying that “All I did was replace my addiction with something I thought was safer.”

This highlights one of the primary concerns about the California sober lifestyle. When someone develops an addiction to alcohol or another substance, it becomes challenging to return to moderate drug use. Overcoming such habits often requires sustained recovery efforts.

Risk of Relapse

Frequently using drugs in greater amounts or for a longer period of time than intended is one of the criteria for a substance use disorder. This criterion is outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Through treatment and effort, a person can learn to manage their compulsions and regain control of their behaviors. However, most experts see substance use disorders as chronic conditions, which means that people aren’t ever fully cured, but remain in continuous recovery.

From this perspective, attempts to have “just one drink” or a few bong hits can quickly lead to a full-blown relapse and a return to uncontrolled drug use.

Illusion of Safety

A second concern about the California lifestyle is that it implies that some drugs are safe to use, while others pose an unacceptable risk.

There’s no doubt that different substances present different dangers. For example, few people would equate drinking one beer with injecting one dose of heroin. However:

  • As alluded to in the previous subsection, for someone with a history of addiction, having one beer can lead to a devastating downward spiral, just like having one dose of heroin could.
  • Safer isn’t a synonym for safe. Every addictive or mind-altering substance has the potential to cause considerable, possibly irreversible, harm. This doesn’t only refer to the risk of addiction. It also acknowledges the many other types of physical, psychological, and social damage. A person may expose themselves to these risks when using alcohol, marijuana, psychedelics, or other substances.

Sober Means Sober

A third concern about describing yourself as California sober is that it undermines the meaning of words like sober and sobriety. 

Within the recovery community, these words are absolutes. This means that you can’t be mostly sober any more than you can be a little bit pregnant or somewhat dead. If you’re not using any substances, you’re sober. If you are using any substances, you’re not sober.

This concern may not appear to be as substantial as the previous two mentioned in this post. But for people who have been working diligently to remain substance-free in the aftermath of active addiction, changing the meaning of the word sober alters a fundamental principal of recovery itself.  

Common Misconceptions About California Sober Living

Another concern about this approach is that people who attempt it are basing their efforts on misinformation or misunderstandings. Many misconceptions about California sober living relate to topics already mentioned in this post. However, their potential impact makes it important to revisit them.

To be clear, statements like the ones listed below are not accurate, and they can be sources of great harm. But the unfortunate truth is that you probably wouldn’t have to spend much time online before finding people who believe them:

  • California sober describes a lifestyle with established rules and limitations.
  • Alcohol and marijuana are safe substances.
  • As long as you avoid hard drugs like heroin and cocaine, you’ll be fine.
  • Moderate substance use is a sustainable approach for anyone who has previously struggled with compulsive, uncontrollable drug abuse.
  • If you only use a few drugs, or limit yourself to infrequent substance use, you can still describe yourself as sober.

How California Sober Differs from Other Recovery Approaches

For decades, the dominant perspective on recovery in the U.S. has been the 12-Step model that was established by the founders of AA in the late 1930s.

Here are a few ways that California sober differs from this approach:

  • You don’t need to give up all substances. 
  • You define sobriety in whatever way you feel works for you.
  • You don’t have to admit that you are powerless over alcohol or other drugs.
  • You don’t have to turn your life over to a higher power.
  • There’s no established peer-support component.

One of the more popular alternatives to the 12-Step model is SMART Recovery. Similar to California sober, this approach lacks the spiritual element of the 12-Step model. It allows participants to choose their own methods and set their own goals.

However, California sober differs from SMART Recovery is a few key ways, such as:

  • There are no meetings or established means of mutual support.
  • SMART Recovery takes an evidence-based approach, while California sober isn’t based on any science or research.
  • California sober doesn’t address the mental, behavioral, or social aspects of addiction and recovery.

Contact Sanctuary If You Need Help With Returning to Complete Sobriety

If you need help to end your substance use and start living a truly sober lifestyle, Sanctuary Treatment Center is here for you.

Our rehab center in Los Angeles offers a full continuum of care. This includes medical detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programming. We’ll work closely with you to assess your needs. Based on this, we’ll recommend programs and services to guide you toward a healthier future.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Man who is in early recovery from addiction is experiencing the pink cloud

Understanding the Pink Cloud

Written by Lara on . Posted in Addiction, Recovery.

You know that the challenges of successful recovery include getting through detox, making essential lifestyle changes, and developing vital relapse-prevention skills. But has anyone told you that you might also be impacted by something called the pink cloud?

What Is the Pink Cloud?

The pink cloud refers to a temporary period of supreme confidence and elevated mood that some people experience after completing withdrawal.

Other terms for this phenomenon include the honeymoon phase of recovery, pink clouding, and pink cloud syndrome.

Discussions of early recovery often focus on the pain of withdrawal and the frustrations of trying to adopt a drug-free lifestyle. These are legitimate concerns, but they don’t encompass the full scope of emotions that people can feel after finally ridding their body of alcohol or other addictive substances.

For some people, these emotions can include a dramatic resurgence of hope and possibility, a sense of pride in making it through withdrawal, and a renewed belief in their ability to achieve a healthier and more promising future. 

Individuals who develop these or similarly positive feelings are said to be in the pink cloud. Though this experience isn’t permanent, it can be a significant step (and also pose a substantial obstacle) for those who are working to achieve long-term recovery from addiction.

How to Recognize the Pink Cloud

You won’t find an entry for a pink cloud recovery stage in the withdrawal sections of the DSM-5. So there’s no universally agreed-upon set of criteria for what this phase consists of. But generally speaking, someone who is pink clouding may exhibit signs such as:

  • They seem to be especially happy, even to the point of euphoria.
  • They are committed to making the lifestyle changes that will support their continued recovery.
  • They are confident that they’ll be able to maintain their sobriety.
  • They believe that their recovery journey won’t be as difficult as they once feared.
  • They’re focused on the progress they are making, but ignoring potential threats that could undermine this progress.

There’s nothing wrong with having a positive outlook, especially when you’re trying to accomplish something as arduous as ending your compulsive substance use. However, as we’ll elaborate on in the next section, optimism that doesn’t acknowledge reality can cause a range of problems

The Pink Cloud Effect: Benefits and Challenges

Being able to find moments of joy during particularly dark or difficult days can keep you going when your motivation is lacking and your urges are kicking in again. One of the many important lessons you can learn in an addiction treatment program is how to prevent despair from pushing you back into active substance use or other self-defeating behaviors.

But when you’re looking on the bright side, it’s important not to forget that the darkness still exists. 

Keeping with the color-coded theme of today’s post, it could be said that people in the pink cloud are looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Ignoring hardships or setbacks doesn’t make them go away. It only delays your inevitable reckoning with them. Additionally, it gives them time to become an even greater threat to your well-being.

How Long Does the Pink Cloud Last?

There’s no set timeline for how long a person’s time in the pink cloud sobriety stage will last. For some people, it’s a few weeks. For others, it can be months. And of course it’s also important to remember that many people don’t go through this phase at all.

What just about everyone can agree on, though, is that pink cloud syndrome is not permanent. And when your time in the cloud comes to an end, your continued successful recovery can hinge on how well you respond.

What to Do When the Pink Cloud Goes Away

If you’ve been pink clouding, the end of this experience can be the first significant roadblock in your recovery. Here are a few tips for how to get over this obstacle without undermining the work you’ve put in:

  • Remain positive: The end of the pink cloud recovery phase doesn’t mean the positive thoughts you’d been having are now null and void. It simply means that you’ll begin to realize that the process isn’t as easy as you momentarily believed. Don’t think of this as an either/or situation. You can acknowledge difficulties while remaining optimistic.
  • Stay connected: Reach out to the members of your personal support network. Isolation can be a breeding ground for negative emotions. This can threaten to push you back into active substance use again. Keeping in touch with people who care about you can prevent this type of backslide. 
  • Practice self-care: Continue to follow a healthy diet plan, incorporate physical activity into your daily schedule, and get an appropriate amount of sleep. Efforts to maintain your physical strength can also do wonders for your emotional stability. 
  • Write in your journal: Journaling can be a great way to acknowledge difficulties without reacting in a negative or self-defeating manner. Writing about what you’re going through also forces you to consider your experiences from a slightly different perspective, which can help you respond more intentionally and thoughtfully.
  • Set small, achievable goals: There’s a reason why “one day at a time” remains such a significant mantra within the recovery community. Focus on what you can accomplish in the next few hours or days. Small wins add up to substantial victories. 

Perhaps most important of all, don’t rule out a return to treatment. Getting additional professional help can prevent a minor setback from becoming a major threat to your health and your recovery.

Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center for Help

Sanctuary Treatment Center is a trusted source of personalized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We offer in-house detox, residential rehab, and outpatient programming in a beautiful Los Angeles residence.

Whether you’re seeking treatment for the first time or returning for a “tune up,” our team will work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs and help you set meaningful goals. Then we’ll develop a customized plan that can put you on the path toward a much healthier future.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Published: 12/06/2024

How long does cocaine stay in your system for?

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

Written by Lara on . Posted in Cocaine, Uncategorized.

Maybe you’re concerned about testing positive on an upcoming drug screen. Maybe you just want to know when the drug will be out of your body. Whatever your reason for wanting to know how long does cocaine stay in your system, this post has the answers you need.

Cocaine and the Body

Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that typically appears as a white powder or small crystalline rocks. 

When you use this drug in any form, it causes a buildup of dopamine throughout the CNS. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in functions such as reward, mood, and motivation. 

Cocaine’s ability to elevate your dopamine levels is responsible for effects such as:

  • Improve mood
  • Boost of energy 
  • Talkativeness
  • Increased self-confidence
  • Greater sensitivity to external stimuli

These effects are typically short-lived, which often prompts people to use cocaine multiple times within a short period. 

There’s no such thing as risk-free cocaine use. Every time you ingest the drug, you expose yourself to outcomes such as:

  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Abnormal heart rate
  • Heart attack
  • Seizure 
  • Stroke

As the amount and frequency of your cocaine use increases, so does your risk of these and other effects. 

The best way to avoid cocaine-related damage is to keep the drug out of our body. But what happens if you’ve already ingested it? How long does cocaine stay in your system?

How Long is Cocaine in Your System?

Cocaine has a half-life of about 1.5 to four hours. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for your body to eliminate half of a substance from your system.

It usually takes four to five half-lives for a substance to fall below a clinically significant level, which means that the drug should be out of your system in less than 24 hours after your last dose.

However, as you will notice in the following few sections, the length of time that cocaine can be detected in your system may vary depending on the type of test you take. Thus, the answer to how long does cocaine stay in your pee can be different than the answer to how long does cocaine stay in your blood or how long does cocaine stay in your hair.

There are two general reasons for these differences:

  1. Cocaine remains in different parts of your body for different lengths of time. For example, even after it’s been eliminated from your blood and saliva, remnants will still be present in your urine.
  2. Drug tests don’t only detect cocaine. They also look for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite that your body produces as it breaks down cocaine molecules and prepares them for elimination. Having benzoylecgonine in your system is proof that you used recently used cocaine, even if all the cocaine itself has been eliminated.

So let’s divide the question of how long does cocaine stay in your system into separate queries depending on what’s being tested.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Urine​?

If you are taking a drug screen for employment-related purposes, you will probably be taking a urine test. 

Cocaine or the metabolite benzoylecgonine can usually be detected for up to 96 hours (or four days) after your most recent cocaine use.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Blood​

Since your blood interacts with every organ in your body, you might expect that it would retain traces of cocaine for much longer than other fluids. This is not the case. 

How long does cocaine stay in your bloodstream? You will usually test positive for cocaine on a blood test for no more than 48 hours after your last exposure to the drug.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Hair​?

The answer to how long does cocaine stay in your hair can be quite surprising to some people. 

Unlike the various body fluid tests, which usually can’t find evidence of cocaine use after about four days that the most, a hair follicle test may detect cocaine for up to 90 days after the last time you used the drug.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Saliva?

The answer to how long does cocaine stay in saliva is the same as how long it stays in your blood: about 48 hours.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay In Breast Milk?

Knowing how long does cocaine stay in breast milk can be extremely important.

Exposure to cocaine in utero can be harmful to fetal development. But the risk of incurring cocaine-related damage doesn’t end at birth, as it’s possible for the drug to enter an infant’s system through breast milk.

You shouldn’t use cocaine or any other addictive substances while breastfeeding. But if you’re unable to stop using cocaine completely, most experts advise waiting at least 24 hours after you’ve used the drug before you breastfeed your child again.

How to Get Cocaine Out of Your System

As we noted earlier in this post, if your organs are functioning properly, it usually takes about 24 to eliminate cocaine from your system. There’s no way to hurry this process or to cut down the amount of time that benzoylecgonine remains in your system.

In other words, the only way to get cocaine out of your system is to wait.

If you’ve only used cocaine a few times, getting it out of your system shouldn’t be much of a problem. But if you’ve become addicted to the drug, this process may trigger withdrawal symptoms.

The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal aren’t usually as painful as what you would experience if you were withdrawing from opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. For some people, cocaine withdrawal symptoms can include depression, anxiety, paranoia, an unrelenting sense of despair, and suicidal ideation

If you have been unable to get through withdrawal on your own, you may benefit from starting treatment in a detoxification (detox) program. 

Contact Us About Safely Detoxing From Cocaine

If you need help getting through cocaine withdrawal, Sanctuary Treatment Center is here to help.

When you choose our detox center in Los Angeles, California, you will be under the care of a team of professionals who can keep you safe and as comfortable as possible. 

Once your withdrawal symptoms have subsided, you can transfer directly into our inpatient rehab or outpatient program, where you can begin to build a foundation for successful, long-term recovery. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Published: 11/19/2024

Drug test shows how long meth does stay in your system

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?

Written by Lara on . Posted in Meth Abuse.

How long does meth stay in your system? This is a deceptively simple question that can have a wide range of correct answers. 

What Is Methamphetamine? 

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that poses a high risk of both abuse and addiction. As its name suggests, it is similar to another dangerous stimulant, amphetamine. 

Meth use affects the central nervous system (CNS) by boosting the levels of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These chemical messengers affect energy, mood, reward, arousal, and several additional functions and characteristics.

When a person ingests meth, the drug usually triggers a euphoric rush that is accompanied by:

  • Increased energy
  • Racing heart rate
  • Improved focus and concentration
  • Decreased appetite
  • Minimal need for sleep

As these effects begin to dissipate, the individual will typically experience a physical and psychological crash.

To maintain their high and stave off this crash, people often feel compelled to use more meth. In addition to causing considerable physical and psychological damage, meth binges can also cause a person to become addicted to the drug.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

  • Nearly 17 million Americans ages 12 and above (or about 6% of the people in this age range) have used meth at least once. 
  • About 2.5 million people in the U.S. used meth in the previous 12 months.
  • In 2022 alone, NIDA attributed more than 34,000 overdose deaths to “psychostimulants with abuse potential (primarily methamphetamine)”

Given the drug’s powerful effects, high potential for addiction, and elevated risk of overdose death, it is understandable to want to know, how long does meth stay in your system?

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?

The answer to the question, how long does meth stay in your system, can vary depending on several factors, including:

  • How much meth you used
  • The potency of the meth you ingested
  • If you used the drug on a regular basis, or just once
  • Your body’s metabolism rate

The answer will also be influenced by which type of drug screen you take. As we will discuss below, the correct response to “how long does meth stay in urine?” will be different than the answer to “how long does meth stay in your bloodstream or saliva?”

How Long Does Meth Stay in Urine?

Many common drug screens look for the presence of substances in urine. Features that make this type of test popular include cost (urine tests are relatively inexpensive) and ease of use (providing a urine sample is much simpler than having blood drawn).  

So, how long does meth stay in your pee? A urine test will likely detect meth if you have used it within the previous three to five days.

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Blood? ​

Blood tests aren’t as common as urine tests, but they are still used quite often. 

How long does meth stay in your blood? It may surprise you to learn that blood tests have a shorter detection window than urine tests do.

Blood tests will usually be able to detect the presence of meth for 24-48 hours (one to two days) after the last time you used meth.

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Saliva​?

Saliva test are often also referred to as mouth swab tests or oral fluid tests. Collecting a sample for this type of test is a simple matter of rubbing a cotton swab along the inside of a person’s mouth, then exposing the swab to various substance-specific reactive agents.

For testers, one of the main benefits of saliva tests is that they can produce results quickly, since the sample doesn’t need to be sent to a lab for analysis. 

How long does meth stay in your saliva? You may test positive on a saliva test if you have ingested meth within the previous 96 hours (four days).

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Hair​?

Evidence of prior drug use can be found in hair long after the substance is no longer detectable in urine, blood, or saliva. 

How long does meth stay in your hair? This form of test can usually find evidence of prior meth use for up to 90 days (three months) after you stopped using meth. If you had been using meth on a regular basis before stopping, it’s possible that you could test positive four months after quitting.

Though meth stays in your hair for three to four months, the slow growth rate of hair means it can take while before the drug shows up in a sample. There’s usually a seven to 10-day window between when a person stopped using meth and when evidence of their meth use will be detectable in a hair sample.

For comparison purposes, meth will usually show up in a saliva test within about 10 minutes after you use the drug. 

How To Get Meth Out of Your System

The process of getting meth out of your system consists of two steps:

  1. Stop using meth.
  2. Wait.

It usually takes 40-60 hours for the meth in your system to fall below a clinically significant amount, and there’s no way of speeding it up.

Even after meth has been eliminated from your body, you can still test positive for it. This is because drug screens don’t only look for the actual presence of meth. They also detect metabolites, which are substances that are created as your body breaks the drug down for safe elimination. Some metabolites will remain in your system for days or weeks after the meth itself is gone.

If you have become addicted to methamphetamine, the absence of the drug can trigger a variety of distressing withdrawal symptom. If you try to stop using meth on your own, the intensity of these symptoms can prevent you from doing so.

The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone. When you receive effective care from a reputable treatment provider, you can get through withdrawal safely and with minimal pain. Then you can begin to build a foundation for a healthier life in recovery.

Is Meth Becoming a Problem? Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center for Help

Sanctuary Treatment Center offers a full continuum of customized care for adults who have become addicted to meth and other substances.

Depending on your unique needs, your experience at our meth rehab in Los Angeles can include detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care. In each of these programs, you will be cared for by a team of experienced and compassionate professionals.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Published: 11/01/2024

Woman experincing the signs and symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Understanding Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Written by Lara on . Posted in Uncategorized.

With more states legalizing marijuana, cannabis has been in the headlines a lot in the past few years. However, amid the many articles about the drug’s possible benefits and potential risks, relatively little attention has been paid to a weed-related health condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

What is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, is a health condition that causes people to become extremely sick when they use marijuana. 

Two fundamental features of cannabinoid hyperemesis system are:

  • It typically affects people who have used cannabis on a regular basis for an extended period of time. Some people have developed CHS after a year or so of heavy marijuana use. However, others used the drug frequently for a decade or more before exhibiting CHS symptoms.
  • Once a person develops CHS, they may have the condition for the rest of their life. Though sufficient research has not been conducted to confirm or disprove this, it appears that a person’s risk of developing CHS symptoms after using marijuana doesn’t dissipate over time

What Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is Not

In addition to understanding what cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is, it is also important to know what it’s not. For example, people may have unpleasant experiences after using cannabis for several reasons that have no relation to CHS, such as: 

  • They ingested more cannabis than their system could handle. This is most common among people who have little experience with the drug, or who are trying it in a form they haven’t used before (such as edibles or as concentrates).
  • They used cannabis that had been sprayed with certain pesticides. Recent investigations into California’s legal marijuana industry have revealed that many dispensaries have been selling weed that has been contaminated with a variety of harmful substances. 
  • They used marijuana in combination with other dangerous drugs, or while taking certain prescription medications. Various legal and illicit substances can interact with marijuana in ways that can cause a person to experience considerable physical and/or psychological distress.

To summarize: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome does not result from overusing cannabis one time, or from being briefly exposed to tainted weed. The primary risk factor for developing CHS appears to be using marijuana on at least a weekly basis for several years.

What Causes Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

Researchers have not conclusively identified the cause of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. 

Some experts have theorized that the condition may result from extended overstimulation of endocannabinoid receptors. 

These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system (EDS). EDS is a recently discovered network that is involved with myriad functions, including how the body responds to inflammation and controls pain. 

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Symptoms

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome causes four types of symptoms:

  • Persistent nausea
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite

Please note the presence of the adjectives persistent, repeated, and severe in the list above. The symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome are decidedly unpleasant. 

Here are a few examples of how bad CHS symptoms can be:

  • The vomiting that is characteristic of CHS can include throwing up four or five times per hour, or up to 15 times per day. This experience is often so intense that it has spawned the slang term “scromiting,” which combines the words screaming and vomiting.
  • A 2019 article in the journal Missouri Medicine reported that severe vomiting has caused some CHS patients to develop inflammations of the stomach and esophagus, as well as pneumomediastinum (a painful and potentially dangerous buildup of air around the lungs).
  • The same Missouri Medicine article also noted that CHS patients are at risk of extreme dehydration, to the point that they could incur permanent kidney damage.

CHS symptoms can also put people at risk of various other health concerns. These include electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, fainting, and seizures.

Some people have found that hot baths or hot showers can ease some CHS symptoms. However, while this can briefly alleviate discomfort, it is not a cure for CHS itself. Also, spending too much time in hot baths or showers can cause increased perspiration, which contributes to dehydration.

Can Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Cause Death?

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is unlikely to cause death. A person’s risk of dying from CHS is especially low if they get appropriate medical care and stop using marijuana.

The greatest risks of CHS-related death secondary effects of its symptoms. For example, if a person doesn’t receive enough fluids to stave off severe dehydration, they could experience kidney failure, which can be fatal. 

Also, persistent vomiting could cause aspiration pneumonia, which can also be deadly.

Is There Treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

There’s no known cure for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. However, there is a simple way to avoid its symptoms: Stop using marijuana.

Once you stop using marijuana, your CHS symptoms should dissipate within a week or two. However, if you start using the drug again, the symptoms are likely to return.

If you’re unable to quit using cannabis even after experiencing CHS symptoms, that could be sign that you’ve developed an addiction to marijuana. In that case, you may need professional help such as marijuana rehab. Rehabilitation will help rid your body of cannabis and learn how to resist future urges to use it again.

With appropriate treatment and a concerted effort on your part, you can end your weed use for good and start living a healthier life in recovery.

Treat Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome at Sanctuary Treatment Center Today

If you want to stop using cannabis, but you’ve been unable to successfully quit, Sanctuary Treatment Center is here for you. 

Depending on the full scope of your needs, your care at our marijuana addiction treatment center in Los Angeles may include detoxification (detox), inpatient rehab, and outpatient treatment.

In each of these programs, your treatment will be guided by a personalized plan.

To learn more about how we can help you, or to schedule a free assessment, Contact us or call our team today.

Published: 10/23/2024

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Written by Lara on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Knowing how long alcohol stays in your system can help you make important decisions regarding your health and safety.

How Does Alcohol Interact With Your Body?

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. This means that it slows the delivery of messages between your brain and various parts of your body. However, its initial effects are similar to what you might expect from a stimulant. 

After your first drink or two, you may experience effects such as: 

  • Diminished inhibitions
  • Increased talkativeness
  • Improved mood
  • Burst of energy

Eventually, though, alcohol’s depressant properties will make themselves known, and you will likely start to feel effects such as:

  • Impaired coordination
  • Slurred speech
  • Delayed reaction time
  • Impaired cognition
  • Poor judgement

Alcohol elicits these effects in part by altering the performance of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. These chemical messengers are associated with pleasure, learning, motivation, and mood. 

Initially, alcohol use increases your body’s dopamine and serotonin levels, which accounts for its early stimulant-like effects. Following this initial rush, as your dopamine and serotonin levels begin to fall. Additionally, your mood and energy level may also begin to crash. 

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

The question “how long does alcohol stay in your system?” can have several correct answers, depending on your purpose for asking. For example, do you want to know how long alcohol will be present in your body, or are you trying to find out how long alcohol will show up on drug test?

If you are inquiring about alcohol being detected on a drug test, that answer can also vary depending which type of test you’re talking about. The answer to “how long does alcohol stay in urine?” will be different than the response to questions about alcohol’s detectability in breath, blood, saliva, or hair.

Let’s start with the first version of the question, how long does alcohol stay in your system?

There’s no precise answer to this question. Many factors, such as a person’s weight, metabolism, and overall health can influence how long it will take their body to process and eliminate alcohol.

However, the following information can help us make an informed estimate:

  • The half-life of alcohol is about four or five hours. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for your body to reduce the amount of a substance by 50%. 
  • It usually takes four to five half-lives for a substance to fall below a detectable, clinically significant, level.
  • Applying this formula to alcohol gives us a range from 16 hours (four hours multiplied by four half-lives) to 25 hours (5 hours multiplied by 5 half-lives).

So, how long does alcohol stay in your system? According to the information above, you can expect to have some amount of the drug in your body for about 16-25 hours.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the second version. How long can a drug screen detect alcohol? Since there are many types of drug screens, this question is actually asking, how long does alcohol stay in urine, blood, saliva, breath, and hair?

Depending on which type of screening you complete, here’s how long you’re likely to test positive for alcohol:

  • Breath analysis: Usually up to 12 hours after your last drink. However, some people may test positive for up to 24 hours
  • Saliva test: Up to 12 hours
  • Blood test: Typically a maximum of 12 hours
  • Urine test: 72-120 hours (three to five days)
  • Hair follicle test: As long as 90 days after the last time you consumed alcohol

You may have noticed that some of these tests can detect alcohol long after the drug should have been eliminated from your system. How can that be?

The answer isn’t as mysterious as it might first appear. Drug screens aren’t only set up to only identify the actual presence of a specific substance. They can also detect metabolites, which are byproducts that your body creates as it processes and eliminates a drug. The presence of these metabolites are proof that you recently had alcohol in your system.

Thus, while alcohol may only stay in your system for 24 hours, alcohol metabolites could be detectable for a few days to a few months, depending on which type of test you take.

How To Get Alcohol Out of Your System

Here’s a quick overview of how your body metabolizes (or breaks down and eliminates) alcohol from your system:

  • When you take a drink, most of the alcohol enters your bloodstream by passing through the lining of your small intestine or stomach.
  • Your bloodstream carries the alcohol to organs and tissues throughout your body. 
  • Your liver plays an essential role in removing alcohol from your body. The liver produces several enzymes – including alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) – that begin to break alcohol down on a molecular level.
  • Initially, the ADH enzyme converts alcohol into a poisonous, potentially carcinogenic compound called acetaldehyde.
  • Then, the enzymes convert the acetaldehyde to a less dangerous substance called acetate.
  • Your body breaks the acetate down into water and carbon dioxide, which it can then easily and safely eliminate.

The speed with which this occurs can be influenced by several factors. These factors include your age and body weight, how much you’ve been drinking, how long you’ve been drinking, and the health of your organs. 

Contrary to what you may have seen in films or on TV, you cannot speed up this process by activities such as drinking black coffee or taking a cold shower. As far as your behaviors are concerned, there are only two steps you can take to get alcohol out of your system:

  1. Stop drinking.
  2. Wait for your body to do what it’s designed to do.

If the first of these steps is difficult or impossible for you, it may be time to get professional help. Untreated alcohol addiction can be devastating – but when you get the care you need, you can start living a much healthier life in recovery.

Is Alcohol Becoming a Problem? Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center for Help

Sanctuary Treatment Center offers a full continuum of customized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol.

Treatment options at our alcohol rehab in Los Angeles include detoxification, inpatient care, and outpatient programming. We also offer detailed discharge planning services to ensure you are connected with the resources that can support your continued recovery after you transition out of our care.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

How long does weed stay in your system?

How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System

Written by Lara on . Posted in Uncategorized.

When you use recreational drugs, traces of the substances will remain in your system even after their effects have worn off. Your body can eliminate some drugs relatively quickly, while others take much more time. If you’ve ever wondered how long does weed stay in your system, the answer may surprise you.

How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System After Quitting?

The question, how long does weed stay in your system after quitting, can have multiple correct answers depending on why you asked it.

For example, you might be asking simply because you’ve decided to end your cannabis use, and you’re wondering how long any remnants of the drug will stay in your system. Or you may have been forced to quit because you have to take a drug screen, and you want to know how long you might still test positive after quitting.

The answers to these questions can be further influenced by factors such as:

  • Your weight and metabolism
  • The type and amount of cannabinoids in the weed you’ve been using
  • How often you use cannabis, and how much you typically use

Having established all of these variables, let’s explore some answers. First, let’s focus on how long you might have weed in your system after you stop using it:

  • According to a November 2020 article in The Permanente Journal, the plasma half-life of THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) is one to three days in casual users, and five to 13 days in heavy users. 
  • Experts estimate that it usually takes four to five half-lives for a substance to fall below a clinically significant amount. 
  • This means that if you use marijuana on an occasional basis, you will likely have the drug in your system for four to 15 days after you stop using it. If you’ve been large amounts of the drug on a regular basis, might have traces of cannabis in their body for 20-65 days.

The drug screen timeline can vary depending on which type of test you take. Here are estimates for how long weed can show up on various types of drug screens:

  • Blood: About 12 hours after the last time you ingested marijuana
  • Saliva: 24-48 hours after your last use
  • Urine: Up to 30 days after you quit 
  • Hair: As long as 90 days (three months) after you stop 

Benefits of Quitting Weed

If you have decided to quit using weed, you probably have your own reasons for doing so. These may involve your health, your job, your relationships, or other factors.

Regardless of what prompted you to stop using this drug, the general benefits of doing so can include:

  • Healthy brain development: This especially applies to younger people. Research suggests that those who use marijuana prior to age 17 may have an elevated risk of myriad cognitive concerns. These include problems with attention, memory, processing speed, verbal learning, and sequencing. 
  • Cardiovascular health: A February 2024 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) linked past-month cannabis use with several adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, and coronary heart disease. The study also found that a person’s risk increases along with the frequency of their cannabis use.
  • Improved lung functioning: The American Lung Association has reported that the effects of smoking marijuana can include chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, thickening and inflammation of the airway, and respiratory infections.
  • Better mental health: For some people, cannabis use eases the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. But for others – such as those who abuse marijuana as a way of avoiding difficult emotions – the use of this drug can exacerbate their psychological distress and delay their efforts to seek appropriate help.

What if You Are Having Trouble Quitting Weed on Your Own?

If you’re having trouble quitting weed on your own, this may indicate that you have developed an addiction. (And yes, contrary to what you may have heard or read elsewhere, it is possible to become addicted to marijuana.)

Research indicates that about 10% of people who begin using marijuana will eventually develop cannabis use disorder, which is the clinical term for weed addiction. Among current weed users, experts estimate that about 30% meet the criteria for addiction.

Addiction is a chronic, progressive disease. This means that the urges, compulsions, and other symptoms that it causes are unlikely to simply disappear on their own. Thankfully, there are treatment options that can help you end your weed use and build a healthier life in recovery.

Depending on a variety of personal factors, your path to freedom from compulsive weed use may include:

  • Detoxification: If you’ve been experiencing particularly severe withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using weed, a detox program may be the ideal starting point for you.
  • Residential treatment: At the residential level, you will live at the center where you’re receiving care. This allows you to focus your full attention on therapy and other support services, without having to deal with the typical stresses and distractions of daily life. Residential programs usually include a customizable variety of therapies and support services to help you establish a strong foothold in early recovery.
  • Outpatient programming: In an outpatient program, you may take part in full or partial days of treatment, but you won’t stay at the center when treatment isn’t in session. This gives you the freedom to practice your new skills in a real-world environment, while still benefitting from structured clinical services. 

Contact Us to Detox and Recover from Weed Addiction

Untreated weed addiction can be devastating. However, when you get the right type of treatment, you can rediscover your innate strengths and abilities and reconnect with the best version of yourself. 

Our rehab center in Los Angeles, California, offers a full continuum of care in a comfortable and highly supportive environment. We never have more than six people in treatment at any one time. You can rest assured that you will receive the individualized care you need and the close personal support you deserve.

When you’re ready to get started, the Sanctuary Treatment Center team is here to help. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today. 

About sleeping pill addiction

Sleeping Pill Addiction: Dangers

Written by Lara on . Posted in Addiction.

When they are used as directed for a limited time, sleeping pills can be both safe and effective. But misusing or abusing these drugs can lead to a variety of problems, including sleeping pill addiction.

Are Sleeping Pills Addictive?

The term sleeping pills can refer to variety of prescription medications and over-the-counter supplements. For the purposes of today’s post, we’re going to focus on prescription sleeping pills, a category that includes:

To answer the question at the top of this section, yes, sleeping pills can be addictive. A person’s risk of developing sleeping pill addiction can be influenced several factors, including:

  • Which type of sleeping pill they have been taking
  • How long they’ve been using the medication
  • How much they usually take in order to get to sleep
  • If they also abuse sleeping pills for recreational purposes
  • If they have also been abusing alcohol or other drugs

The Signs & Symptoms of Sleeping Pill Addiction

Someone who has developed a sleeping pill addiction may have symptoms such as:

  • Frequently taking larger doses of sleeping pills than they intended
  • Experiencing strong cravings for sleeping pills
  • Becoming agitated or irritated when they can’t use sleeping pills
  • Continuing to use sleeping pills even after incurring harm as a result of previous use
  • Using sleeping pills in ways that are clearly dangerous, such as by taking them in combination with alcohol or other drugs
  • Missing school or work, or failing to meet other obligations, as a result of their sleeping pill use
  • Lying to family and friends about the frequency and amount of their sleeping pill use
  • Exaggerating their symptoms or visiting different doctors in order to get additional prescriptions 
  • Trying to borrow, buy, or steal sleeping pills that weren’t prescribed to them
  • Wanting to end their use of sleeping pills, but being unable to do so

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms like these, or if someone that you care about has been exhibiting signs of sleeping pill addiction, the best first step is to schedule an evaluation with a doctor or an addiction treatment specialist.

Being evaluated and getting a diagnosis can be essential steps toward finding the treatment that’s right for you or your loved one.

Dangers of Sleeping Pill Abuse and Addiction

Untreated sleeping pill addition can have a negative impact on virtually every part of a person’s life. As with the risk of addiction, the potential dangers can vary depending on a variety of personal factors, including which type of sleeping pill a person has been using.

In general, though, compulsive sleeping pill abuse can lead to:

  • Conflicts with loved ones
  • Injuries due to impaired coordination and judgement
  • Automobile accidents
  • Decline in performance at work or in school
  • Legal problems, especially if a person illicitly acquires the drugs
  • Diminished cognition, including memory problems
  • Onset or escalation of co-occurring mental health concerns
  • Overdose

The danger of overdose may be greatest among people who use benzodiazepines as sleeping pills, especially if they combine them with alcohol or opioids.

Signs of a sleeping pill overdose can include:

  • Profound confusion or disorientation
  • Slow or faint pulse
  • Extremely shallow or slow breathing
  • Inability to be awakened
  • Skin that is cool or clammy to the touch
  • Blue coloration near lips and/or fingertips

If you are with someone who is showing signs of sleeping pill overdose, call 911 immediately. Once you’ve called 911:

  • If the person is awake, help them into a sitting position
  • If they are unconscious, roll them onto their side to minimize risk of choking if they vomit
  • Cover them with a blanket or coat
  • Stay with them until the emergency first responders have arrived
  • Be prepared to tell the responders as much as you can about what medication the person took, how much they ingested, and if they had also been using other drugs

Do NOT try to wake the person up by slapping them, putting them under a cold shower, or forcing them to drink coffee. None of these actions can counteract the effects of the sleeping pills, but they could expose the person to additional harm.

Is There Treatment for Sleeping Pill Addiction?

Sleeping pill addiction can clearly be quite dangerous, but there is piece of good news about this condition: It can be treated.

When you get the right type of care, you can free yourself from the grip of compulsive sleeping pill abuse. Depending on how you have been affected by your addiction to sleeping pills, you may be best served by spending time in one or more of the following programs:

Detoxification, or detox, is a short-term program that may be necessary if you develop intense withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using sleeping pills. While you’re in detox, you will be cared for by professionals who can safeguard your health and help you manage your discomfort.

While you’re in a residential or outpatient program, your treatment team can help you:

  • Understand the issues and concerns that may have led to your sleeping pill abuse and addiction
  • Develop relaxation skills and habits that promote healthy sleep patterns without relying on medication
  • Address any co-occurring mental health concerns that may have contributed to or been intensified by your sleeping pill abuse
  • Put together an effective personal support network
  • Begin to repair any harm that you incurred as a result of your dependence on sleeping pills
  • Share support with others who are working toward a similar goal
  • Connect with the community-based resources that can assist you after you have transitioned out of treatment

Contact Sanctuary to Start Treating Sleeping Pill Addiction Today

If you aren’t able to control your use of sleeping pills or other prescription medications, Sanctuary Treatment Center is here to help.

Our detox and rehab center in Los Angeles, California, is a safe and welcoming place where experienced professionals offer personalized care for addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders. With our assistance and a concerted effort on your part, you can stop abusing sleeping pills and build a foundation for lifelong recovery.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Man wondering if he can drink alcohol with high blood pressure finds out

Alcohol and Blood Pressure: What to Know

Written by Lara on . Posted in Alcohol, Physical Health.

Alcohol use can expose you to a wide range of life-threating health effects. Many of these effects result from – or can be made worse by – the relationship between alcohol and blood pressure. 

Does Alcohol Raise Your Blood Pressure?

Does alcohol raise blood pressure? It most definitely does. And while many sources cite the negative impact of binge drinking and chronic alcohol abuse, a recent study indicates that you can be at risk even if you don’t drink excessively.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), consuming just one alcoholic drink per day can cause an increase in blood pressure. The AHA based this warning on a July 2023 analysis of seven studies involving more than 19,000 participants.

That analysis also found that alcohol’s affect on blood pressure mostly follows a linear pattern. This means that heavier drinking is usually associated with larger increases in both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Analysis Team’s Findings About Alcohol And Blood Pressure

  • Among adults who consumed an average of 12 grams of alcohol per day – which equates to just a bit less than one standard drink – systolic blood pressure rose by an average of 1.25 mmHg over a five year period.
  • Over the same time period, adults with an average daily alcohol consumption of 48 grams experienced an average increase of 4.9 mmHg in SBP.
  • For men, drinking 12 grams of alcohol per day also led to an average increase of 1.14 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure, while 48 daily grams of alcohol was linked to a 3.1mmHG increase in DSB.
  • The one exception to this pattern is that alcohol intake didn’t affect diastolic blood pressure among women. 

SPB (which is the top number in a standard blood pressure reading) measures blood pressure when your heart is beating. DPB (the bottom number) represents blood pressure between heartbeats. These numbers are expressed in mmHG, which refers to the pressure created by a millimeter of mercury.

In general, a blood pressure reading of less than 120 mmHG systolic and less than 80 mmHG diastolic is considered normal for most adults.

Can You Drink Alcohol With High Blood Pressure?

Knowing that alcohol does raise blood pressure, a common follow-up question is, what happens next? Can you drink alcohol with high blood pressure? And, if you do, what type of damage could you incur?

Dangers When Drinking Alcohol With High Blood Pressure

If you have developed hypertension, but you continue to drink, your blood pressure problems are likely to get worse. This can put you at risk of several negative health outcomes, including:

  • Vision loss
  • Angina (chest pain)
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney damage
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Brain damage

How Else Does Drinking Alcohol Negatively Affect Your Body?

The detrimental relationship between alcohol and blood pressure is just one example of the many ways that drinking can negatively affect your body. 

Other potential health effects of alcohol use include:

  • Heart problems such as abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) and a stretching of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
  • Liver damage, including steatosis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis
  • Increased risk of many types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast, and colorectal cancers
  • Increased risk of stroke
  • Physical injuries due to accidents, fights, and other behaviors related to alcohol’s impact on coordination and judgment
  • Malnutrition

The health risks of alcohol aren’t limited to the person who is drinking. For example:

  • Alcohol use has been linked to increases in various forms of violent crime, including rape and murder.
  • In 2022, automobile accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers caused 13,524 deaths in the U.S. This works out to an average of about one death every 39 minutes. 
  • Alcohol use has been identified as a factor in about 40% of confirmed cases of child maltreatment.
  • People whose mothers drank while pregnant with them may develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which can include a variety of lifelong impairments.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol use was a causative factor in an estimated 2.6 million deaths across the globe in 2019. This total included 1.9 million deaths from alcohol-related diseases and 700,000 deaths from alcohol-involved injuries.

Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center if You Can’t Stop Drinking

The best way to avoid or delay the progression of alcohol-related health damage is to stop drinking. If you have developed alcohol use disorder – which is the clinical term for alcoholism – this can be difficult and potentially dangerous to accomplish on your own.

But when you get appropriate treatment from a trusted rehab center, you can safely end your alcohol use and begin to build a brighter future in recovery.

Sanctuary Treatment Center offers a full continuum of alcohol rehab services, including detox, residential treatment, and outpatient care. Our center in Los Angeles, California, is a safe and comfortable space where you can work in active collaboration with a team of skilled treatment professionals.

You don’t have to wait until you have incurred irreversible health damage or otherwise “hit rock bottom” before you can benefit from quality clinical care for alcohol addiction. The sooner you get the treatment you need, the quicker you can start living the healthier life you deserve.

To learn more about how we can help you, or to schedule a free assessment, visit our Contact page or call us today. 

Woman learning the truth about alcohol and sleep

Alcohol and Sleep: How Drinking Affects Your Rest

Written by Lara on . Posted in Alcohol.

You know that alcohol can be harmful to your physical health and your psychological well-being. But at least it can help you get a good night’s sleep, right? It may surprise you to learn that the relationship between alcohol and sleep isn’t nearly as beneficial as many people believe.

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Sleep?

Alcohol is a depressant that, over time, can cause fatigue and loss of consciousness. When discussing alcohol and sleep, being unconscious isn’t the same as getting quality sleep.

Several studies on alcohol and sleep have found that drinking can have a direct negative impact on both the amount and quality of a person’s sleep

For example, a November 2015 study in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine reported that men who consume alcohol are more likely than non-drinkers to experience:

  • Poor sleep quality
  • Trouble staying asleep
  • Shorter duration of sleep
  • Disrupted sleep due to snoring

KJFM researchers found that alcohol is less likely to affect women’s sleep duration but more likely to disrupt its restorative functions. As a result, women may sleep better than men but still feel the effects of poor sleep during the day.

According to the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, the effects of alcohol use before bed can include:

  • Alcohol can delay the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It can also reduce the overall amount of REM sleep that a person gets, especially in the first half of the night: 
  • REM sleep, which should account for about one-fourth of the time a person is asleep, has been linked with an array of benefits, including better mental health and a stronger immune system.
  • During the second half of the night, people who drink alcohol before bed are more likely to wake up or spend more time at the N1 sleep stage.
  • Characterized by very light sleep, the N1 stage should ideally only take up about 5% of your time asleep.

Alcohol-related sleep disruptions can lead to a “downward spiral,” as described in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology. A person self-medicates exhaustion with caffeine, then uses alcohol at night to offset it and attempt to sleep.

Can Any Particular Type of Alcohol Help Your Sleep?

Contrary to what you may have heard or read, there is no type of alcohol that can actually help you sleep better. 

Yes, alcohol can help you fall asleep quicker – but the drug may cause you to wake up several times during the night and prevent you from getting an adequate amount of the quality, deep sleep that can be essential to your continued health.

If you’ve had difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, the National Sleep Foundation suggests:

  • Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
  • Avoiding alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine
  • Not eating for at least two to three hours before going to bed
  • Establishing a sleep schedule that includes going to bed and getting up at the same time every day (yes, even on weekends and holidays)
  • Exercising on a regular basis throughout the week

What if I Can’t Fall Asleep Without Alcohol?

If you can’t fall asleep without alcohol, it’s time to talk to a professional.

Insomnia can be symptomatic of a medical problem or a mental health concern. It may also be a sign that you have developed alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism.

The first step is to schedule a thorough evaluation with your primary physician or a qualified healthcare provider. Once the issue is identified, you can explore treatment options and choose the best path forward.

If your evaluation reveals that you have become addicted to alcohol, your options may include:

  • Detoxification: This is a short-term program to help you get through alcohol withdrawal safely and with minimal discomfort. In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can include life-threatening symptoms, which underscores the value of detox.
  • Inpatient rehab: At this level, you can participate in full days of treatment and benefit from 24/7 support. While you’re in an inpatient program, your care will likely include a variety of therapies and support services, as well as nutritious meals and therapeutic leisure activities.
  • Outpatient programming: After you have completed inpatient rehab, outpatient care can be an ideal source of continuing support, which can help you establish a stronger foothold in early recovery.

Treatment for alcohol addiction may include the following, depending on your needs and program:

  • Medication to ease withdrawal symptoms and minimized alcohol cravings
  • Individual, group, and family therapy sessions
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

If your alcohol abuse and addiction are related to untreated trauma, services such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may be vital components of your treatment plan.

There is no standard course of treatment for alcohol addiction that works for everyone. This is why it can be so important to find a provider that will closely review your history and thoroughly assess your needs, then develop a customized plan just for you.

Personalized care can be particularly important if you also have anxiety, depression, or another co-occurring mental health concern. In such a case, dual diagnosis programming – which incorporates care for your struggles with both addiction and mental illness – can best prepare you for long-term success.

Contact Sanctuary Treatment Center to Treat Alcohol Dependency

If you’ve been unable to quit drinking on your own, Sanctuary Treatment Center is here to help.

At our alcohol rehab in Los Angeles, California, you can receive a full continuum of personalized care. Work with skilled professionals to end alcohol use and build a healthier, hopeful life in recovery. When you’re ready to get started, the Sanctuary team is here for you. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today. 

We Take Insurance!

Sanctuary Treatment Center accepts most private PPO insurance plans, as well as some private HMO plans. Through private insurance plans, individuals and families can access high quality addiction treatment services. If you have questions regarding insurances, please give us a call.

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