Support is essential to substance abuse recovery. At the Rites of Passage Long Term Care Ranch rehab there are numerous avenues of support and treatment. From the friendships developed through team work involved in running a ranch to individual and group therapy sessions with our licensed mental health therapists and substance abuse classes with our resident chemical dependency specialists. We passionately believe that people CAN overcome addiction, walk a path of sobriety and develop a satisfying life.
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse refers to 1) the overuse of drugs/alcohol and/or 2) dependence on drugs/alcohol that results in harmful effects to an individual's physical and mental health, or is harmful to others.
Symptoms include:
- depression
- Suicidal thoughts or threats
- Reduced performance in work or school
- Loss of interest in activities
- Forgetfulness
- Increase in risk taking behaviors
When considering the question ‘Do I have a problem?’ the following behaviors may also indicate substance abuse:
- Regularly getting drunk and/or high
- Spending less time with others in order to get drunk or high
- Planning substance use in advance
- Drinking on your own
- Needing more and more drugs to get drunk or high
- Forgetting things that happened while drunk or high (blackouts)
Risk factors
There are many factors that can affect the likelihood of developing an addiction, including some that a person can’t control. Factors include:
- Positive family history of addiction
- Being male-men are twice as likely to have problems with drugs
- Having another psychological problem-If you have a psychological problem, such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder, you're more likely to become dependent on drugs
- Peer pressure
- Lack of family involvement– lack of attachment with your parents may increase the risk of addiction
- Painful emotions like anxiety, loneliness – drugs may be used as a way of coping
- Using highly addictive drugs like heroin and cocaine. These cause addiction faster than do others
Support
We believe that chemical dependence is a serious disease and that abstinence from alcohol and drugs is just the beginning.Healthy and continuous sobriety requires real change and a transformation in attitude and outlook on life. At Rites of Passage Ranch Long Term Care Program we care for and nurture our residents as they develop the necessary skills to build a rich, full, and balanced sober life; we help them find the courage to change those beliefs and behaviors that no longer fit the person they want to be.
