Future City: Eudaimonia Sober Living in Houston

Future City: Sober Living in Houston

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If you’re looking for a fresh start in recovery, Sober Living in Houston offers an active city for recovering drug addicts. Houston Texas Is known for many things: The Houston Astros who lost the 2015 American League Division Series to the Kansas City Royals, but are on the rise in baseball. James Harden and the Houston Rockets who dominate the court in basketball. The Texans who steal the spotlight on Sunday. The sports filled city was ranked 19th in Chrons “World’s most future-ready cities” article recently released. The future ready economy of Houston is growing, the infrastructure is ready to support progress and the economy can sustain innovation and growth. Between 12 step meetings and recovery, sports games, and job growth, addicts in recovery are flocking to Houston.

The Dell Future-Ready Economy Model

The new release from Dell stated that: “The study measured whether people had the right skills to drive social and economic change, whether the infrastructure was ready to support progress and whether the economy could help sustain innovation and growth.

“This ranking scores large, high-growth global metropolitan areas based on attributes that enable people and organizations to access new tools and new ideas that deliver better connectivity, better economic performance – and a greater ability to attract talent,” the release said.

Houston’s Job Growth

Houston’s job growth story has made headlines around the nation since recovery began from the worst economic downturn in recent history. Since the recession, the Houston area has led the nation in job recovery, beating out all other major metros in the U.S. In fact, Houston has added two jobs to every one job lost during the recession

Sober Living in Houston.

Sober Living homes are reserved for alcoholics and drugs addicts with nowhere else to turn. These houses cater to people who have become addicted to opiates. In recently years with the heroin epidemic and opioid abuse problem on the rise, sober living in Houston is growing. The facilities range from single houses in residential neighbor hoods to large apartment complexes. Residents living in these sober living homes follow guidelines and rules which include: curfew, random drug tests, chores, and attendance at 12 step meetings. The homes are often run by recovered drug addicts themselves, who act as a house manger watching over and helping the people in the house.

Substance Abuse in Football: Johnny Manziel - Nova Recovery Center

Substance Abuse in Football: Johnny Manziel

by Nova Editor | Apr 20, 2016 

For millions of people, Saturdays and Sundays in the fall are devoted to football. Fans come together to celebrate the game and its players week after week, but there’s a dark undercurrent in college and professional sports that is often ignored. 

On college campuses across the country, Friday night is the beginning of the party weekend. Some of the young men who play on Saturday afternoon may be binge drinking through the night before. In the NFL, alcohol abuse can mingle with prescription pain pills, creating a dangerous chemical cocktail. 

What Causes Substance Abuse in Athletes?

Many young people start abusing alcohol and drugs in high school. This behavior may be a reaction to physical or emotional abuse or stress, or it may be a way to fit into a peer group. Whatever the cause, substance abuse in high school often carries into college. 

For decades, colleges have been known for the wild behavior of their students. Binge drinking and drug experimentation have long been considered normal parts of the college years, but recently, colleges are starting to pay attention to the damage being caused by heavy drinking. 

Collegiate athletes often feel an increased pressure to perform that may lead to binge drinking. The availability of alcohol and the desire to party may be other factors that open the door to substance abuse at universities. 

For those college athletes who make it into the NFL, binge drinking can continue unabated. With the influx of income, there’s no shortage of places to go and parties to have, and because of the toll that professional football takes on the body, prescription pain pills frequently enter the mix. 

Many professional football players become addicted to the prescription pain pills they’re receiving from their team. This abuse can lead to devastating health problems, loss of athletic ability, harder drug use, legal trouble and death. 

The Sad Case Of Johnny Manziel

One athlete who exemplifies the tragic impact of substance abuse is former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel, often called Johnny Football. A Heisman Trophy winner and first round draft pick for the Cleveland Browns, the young quarterback seemed to have everything going for him. 

Less than two years after being drafted, Manziel was cut from the Cleveland Browns. His agent has canceled their contract, wanting nothing to do with the troubled athlete. Manziel also faces assault accusations from an ex-girlfriend. 

His college career was one of extremes. Before playing his first game, he was charged with disorderly conduct and possessing a fake ID during a bar brawl. On the field, his plays were electric, catapulting him to stardom and leading to a Heisman trophy. 

With entrance into the NFL came money and further notoriety. He began partying more and was often late for meetings and practices. Against the wishes of his coaches, he took advantage of a bye week to fly to Austin and party. On another occasion, he vanished for several days and was found hiding out in disguise in Las Vegas. The assault accusations are simply the next in a long line of problems for the young athlete. 

Without help, Johnny Manziel will continue to spiral down into addiction and destructive behavior. Stories like his are all too common in college and professional football. Substance abuse can consume lives and destroy futures; players like Johnny Manziel need intervention in their lives. 

What Can Be Done? 

Due to football’s popularity, the substance abuse issues that plague the sport are often ignored. Fans don’t want to see people who struggle with substance abuse. Instead, they want to watch men in peak physical condition compete for the accolades of millions. 

More awareness is a good first step toward fixing substance abuse in football. Fans and teams should not be so quick to ignore the destructive habits of players. Teams could also benefit from increased education and accountability. By providing more information and assistance, college and professional football organizations may be able to help people like Johnny Manziel and recommend him to getting treatment.

Is Marijuana a Gate Way Drug - Hill Country Detox near Austin, Texas

UFC Fighter and Drug Addict – Is Marijuana a Gate Way Drug?

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“I was a drug addict, “Jones says as lunch arrives midway through the course of a day spent with USA TODAY Sports in late March, a month out from his UFC 197 bout with Ovince Saint Preux in Las Vegas. A recent article posted by USA TODAY gained access to Jones and his substance abuse problem with marijuana. Jones is one of the toughest and most credentialed fighters in the UFC, but his habit was harder to kick than the pads and heavy bags he uses to hone his craft.

“One thing you don’t realize is that you can be a drug addict even if you are a stoner. If you are waking up every day and smoking, smoking before you eat, smoking before you train, smoking before you sleep, smoking before you watch a movie, smoking before your study session, you are an addict” says Jones. It doesn’t have to be a hard drug to be an addict.

“Smoking pot had been a part of Jones’ life since he was in high school, and through his college career wrestling. His habit carried over into his MMA career also. “IT was literally what I would do in-between fights, I was just sitting, enjoying life and thinking that I was a hippie. I didn’t feel like I was hurting anyone else, didn’t feel I was being a bad person”

In May 2012, Jones was caught for driving under the influence after running his car into a pole. In early 2015, Jones failed a drug test for cocaine. In April 2015, he was involved in a hit-and-run in New Mexico. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scène of an accident and was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation. The UFC stripped him of his Light Heavyweight Belt due to their policy.

Jones doesn’t hide his troubled past, he wants to help and inspire others to emerge from their mistakes.

People who smoke pot often think they can’t get “addicted” particularly if they don’t smoke every day. They’re right, a pot addict is able to go for a few days without smoking another bowl. There are hundreds of metabolites in pot that stay in your system for a while, extending the half-life of the drug. Its only when the half-life is over that the symptoms kick in. The first sign is craving, it’s a powerful urge to smoke again.

Some research suggests that marijuana use is likely to precede use of other licit and illicit substances and the development of addiction to other substances. In a study, early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood. To the extent that these findings generalize to humans, this could help explain the increased vulnerability for addiction to other substances of abuse later in life that most epidemiological studies have reported for people who begin marijuana use early in life

A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse said a person who smokes marijuana is 104 times more likely to use other substances than a person who never tires pot. So is here is old question, is pot a gate way drug? It seems plausible at first when you hear other addicts share that they started smoking with pot first.  The answer is simple., A person who interested in altering their state of mind and body is more likely to try other ways of doing it.

What is the Best Detox? _ Hill Country Detox near Austin, Texas

What is the Best Detox?

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The Washington Circle Group (WCG) provides a definition of what drug detox is. They say detoxification is a medical intervention process that safely helps a substance abuser through the experience of acute withdrawal. They mention that detox doesn’t solve the whole problem, once drug detoxification is complete that the drug abuser can best aid his recovery process by entering into a drug treatment center. Drug Detox is considered to be the first step in the process for drug treatment. Drug detox can last different lengths of time. The detox length depends on the type of drug and the level of abuse. Drug detox can last from several days to two weeks and the client can experience withdrawal symptoms as early as a couple of hours after last using drugs or alcohol. The fear of losing the drug, the undesirable physical, mental, and emotional effects due to the withdrawal can be a burden on the drug user. Withdrawal symptoms can occur when the body becomes physically dependent on the drug of choice after being consumed over a long period of time. Medical Detox professionals should be consulted prior to beginning any course of the drug detox process. Supervised by medical professionals can ensure the best detox possible.

Medications and Detox

Medical professionals trained in the drug detoxification treatment process can help treat the undesirable effects of withdrawal with medications. This process includes medications used to help manage the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, making the process safer and more tolerable for the drug user. Based on the choice of drug and using history, Subutex and Subonxone can be used to treat opioid withdrawal. Benzodiazepines can be used to treat withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Medications provided by a professional can ensure the best detox possible, managing the withdrawal symptoms.

Natural Detox

The concept behind natural detoxification is the allowing the body to move through withdrawal symptoms without assistance from medications.Attempting natural detox can be a challenge. Many addicts are unprepared for the discomfort experienced during the withdrawal and end up relapsing as a result. It is important to remember to see medical advice from a professional before attempting an at home detox. Due to the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms experienced, it is highly likely that drug addicts and alcohols will return to using when the withdrawal symptoms worsen. There are various medical complications that can occur during a natural at home detox.

Cold Turkey

The risk of quitting “Cold Turkey “which is a popular method of self-detox can lead to fatalities in some cases. Especially when dealing with alcohol or benzodiazepine abusers. Users of these drugs should seek medical detox programs. The effect due to quitting cold turkey is that the body loses its tolerance for the previously high doses of the abused drugs, and if those substances are reintroduced back into the body prior to completion, there is a high overdose risk involved.

UN to Talk About Drug Problem - Nova Recovery Center

World Meets at the United Nations to Talk About Drug Problem

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For the first time since 1998, The United Nations General Assembly will gather in New York for a special session to tackle the “World Drug Epidemic”. A brief history lesson brings us to 1971, President Richard Nixon declared the war on drugs. He proclaimed, “America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive war. Since then, governments have taken a punitive approach to fight the war on drugs. Our approach to the epidemic is that, the drugs themselves are the problem. We have punished manufacturers, locked up traffickers and suppliers and treated the drug user as a criminal. During this process our police departments have expanded and prison systems ballooned. With all our efforts, the problem is still here today.

Overdose deaths from opioids drugs like heroin oxycodone and hydrocodone continue to be the leading cause of unintentional death for Americans, rising 14% from 2013 to 2014. Every 19 minutes someone dies from an opioid overdose.

But President Obama has started to shift toward a more humane, public health approach to drug policy and our justice system.

For the first time since the 1980s, the federal government would spend more money on treatment and research plans than on law enforcement under President Obamas new proposed budget that was released earlier this year. The President has made clear that addressing this epidemic is a priority for his Administration. These actions build on the President’s proposal for $1.1 billion in new funding to help every American with an opioid use disorder who wants treatment get the help they need.

Expanding Treatment

Currently, prescribers are limited by the law to prescribing buprenorphine to only 100 patients per doctor. President Obama is now increasing that number to 200 per doctor. Last year, states and private sector groups proposed to double the number of buprenorphine prescribing physicians over the next three years from 30,000 to almost 100,000. This will expand access to treatment in rural areas where treatment is limited.

• On top of expanding access to MAT, the White House announced other initiatives:
• Providing an additional $11 million to increase access to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug.
• Establishing a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force.
• Ensuring that mental health and substance use benefits are offered as medical and surgical benefits are for those enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• A $7 million initiative by the Department of Justice toward policing and investigating heroin distribution.
• Guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services for federally funded needle exchange programs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines. These guidelines state that opioids should not be the first consideration for chronic pain, and that the prescriber should first consider non-opioid pain relievers or non-drug alternatives such as exercise, meditation, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Eudaimonia Recovery Homes- Coachella: Sober Survival Guide

Coachella: Sober Survival Guide

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If you were anything like me, you probably thought that sober people were dull. After giving up the drugs and alcohol, it seemed like there was nothing else to do besides drink coffee and attend 12 step meetings. In active addiction we often lose interest in the things we once loved. In early sobriety, having fun without drugs and alcohol seems impossible.

This is one the difficulties many recovering addicts face, is learning how to have fun in sobriety. I’ve realized that there was more to life than drugs and alcohol. Today we are free to live life, and enjoy it. I don’t spend my all time looking for drugs today.  The Big Book states “we aren’t a glum lot “, that if “the newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence they wouldn’t want it” and they surely would go back to what they were doing before. Recovery teaches us to be open-minded to new experiences. Involving yourself with the fellowship can spark new life in yourself to go out and have fun. My life in sobriety is full of fun moments shared with like-minded people in sobriety.  .

Every April festivalgoers turn their attention towards the California desert. The annual Coachella Music Festival takes place over two consecutive weekends stating April 15th this year. Some of the biggest names in the industry perform at the Coachella Music festival including Guns N’ Roses, LCD Soundsystem, and Calvin Harris. Along with the lights and sounds of the stage performers, the festival is also known to be a hot spot for drug users.

In 2015, police made a total of 226 arrests during both weekends for mainly drug and alcohol related instances. While over 90,000 people are expected to attend this event, only 0.1 percent of festivalgoers were arrested for drugs. Seems small, but are you willing to risk the chances in your sobriety? Daily Bulletin reports that, Of the 56 arrests made related to illegal narcotics, 49 of those were for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, while seven were felony arrests for possession of a controlled substance for sales.In 2014, 24-year-old Kimchi Truong of Oakland also died during the first weekend of the festival, but due to an apparent overdose on drugs and alcohol, according to the Riverside County Sherriff-Coroner’s Office.

Here are some tips for attending music festivals such as Coachella while in sobriety.

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Awareness of the Event.

First and foremost, be aware of the environment you’re going to. I didn’t get into recovery to be locked in the rooms of AA all day, i wanted to have fun with life. Today, i am aware of the environment and the situations that might come from them Playing it safe is a good tool to use in early sobriety.You hear it in the rooms of AA ” if you have around the barber shop long enough, you will get a haircut”. You wont find me hanging out at bars today, because i know that environment has nothing to offer me but pain and misery. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the event you’re going to, especially if you’re unsure. For further suggestions about attending an environment you’re unsure about, contact your sponsor for guidance.

Sober Buddy

Bringing a sober buddy who knows your situation and is supportive is always a good idea. This will put you at ease since you are not the only one remaining sober, and they’re someone to talk to if you’re feeling uncomfortable. Today, my sober buddies are my best friends. They are there for me when i need them the most, and are willing to let me hear the truth about any situation. They care about my sobriety and well-being.

Exit Plan

If you have followed the two suggestions above, you might not need an exit plan. Although having an exit plan can save your sobriety. If you’re attending an event and it doesn’t turn out the way you expected, have a planned exit strategy can help.  Inform your sober buddy of the plan prior to arriving at the event. If it gets late, or you simply start to feel uncomfortable, you should pack up and leave. Call your sponsor.

Upcoming Recovery Related Events and Activities

4/16/16 – Austin Citywide AA Speaker Meeting and Potluck 

4/29/2016 – 2016 Austin Addiction Symposium “Identifying Trauma & Fostering Resilience in Addiction Recovery”

4/30/16 – Freedom Riders Clean & Sober Bike Ride

5/7/16 – Wino’s Woodstock 2016 – A Fundraiser for North Austin Foundation (featuring the music of John Henry Mcdonald)

5/21/16 – Eudaimonia Recovery Homes Six Flags Residents and Friends Event

5/28/16 – Kickball Tournament

Nova Recovery Center - Rehab in Austin, Texas - Treating Heroin Cravings with Virtual Reality

Treating Heroin Cravings with Virtual Reality

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Heroin use has been on the rise since 2002, doubling over the course of ten years. With this increase in heroin use comes the need for new and improved forms of treatment. While medications and traditional therapy are important in the continued fight against heroin addiction, researchers are beginning to look toward new innovations to provide alternate forms of treatment. 

The Heroin Problem

Morphine is a naturally occurring opioid pain reliever derived from opium poppy plants that can be synthesized into heroin. Typically, heroin appears as either a white or black powder that can be smoked, snorted or injected. 

Whatever the method of use, heroin reaches the brain quickly, creating a euphoric high. As a derivative of morphine, heroin interacts with the opioid receptors in your brain that control pleasure and pain centers, blood pressure and breathing. 

As heroin is used repeatedly, the receptors in the brain grow accustomed to the steady influx. This creates a dependence that quickly develops into addiction. When the heroin is withheld, the brain reacts to the absence and sends the body into withdrawal. 

Heroin addiction can be difficult to beat, but with proper medication and therapy, it’s possible to overcome. Fortunately, as technology evolves, new possibilities for treatment develop. 

Innovative Therapy: Virtual Reality

At the University of Houston, the Graduate College of Social Work is developing a new form of heroin addiction treatment that involves virtual reality. Using cutting-edge technology, researchers are utilizing virtual reality to simulate situations that might trigger heroin cravings. 

Two different scenarios have been created that can be considered high-risk situations for relapse. Both scenarios involve a house party, but one features snorted heroin while the other shows heroin being injected. 

The room has a variety of cameras projecting 3D images that are viewed through 3D glasses, making the environment seem real. In this way, participants can simulate interacting with people and objects. Using this room, a participant would walk around the party and experience situations that could trigger cravings. 

Accompanying this virtual experience is the steady hand of a trained therapist helping the participant to work through the experience and utilize the coping skills they have learned. Unlike traditional therapy, which often involves role-playing in an office, the virtual reality experience immerses the participant in craving-inducing scenarios, albeit from the safety of a clinical setting. 

Does Virtual Reality Therapy Work?

The University of Houston’s virtual reality therapy is still experimental. There haven’t been many studies demonstrating effectiveness, but the possibilities are promising. 

Being able to go beyond the limitations of simple imagination exercises and engage in scenarios involving temptation could be revolutionary for heroin addiction treatment. Studying the brain and body’s response to stimuli during these situations may lead to new understandings of addiction and treatment. 

Therapists and clients will also be able to work together to develop better coping skills in a safe environment, hopefully leading to reduced cravings and decreased risk of relapse in the real world. 

Heroin abuse and addiction aren’t going away, but with advances in technology come new treatment approaches. For those who struggle with heroin addiction, these new technologies may help them learn to lead sober lives.