Your Guide To Recovery

        Guiding you to the life you were meant to live. Boardwalk Recovery Center exists for those struggling with drug, alcohol and addictive behaviors. We provide the tools and support for the next phase of your sobriety journey as well as the latest evidence-based treatments proven to be successful.       

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How to Know When Rehab is Necessary

Do you need rehab?... If you have asked yourself this question, it most likely means that substance abuse has started having a negative influence on your life. Rehab can be incredibly helpful as a first step towards sobriety and might be needed to break the cycle of addiction impacting your life. So how do you know if it’s time to start your recovery and whether rehab is needed? Hopefully, this article will help bring some clarity to you and answer your questions.

Did You Know? Over 600,000 youth aged 12-17 struggled with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and only about 5% of them received treatment during this last year.

While only you can decide if you need rehab this article will shed some light on drug abuse and help you come to the right decision. 

We’ll explore crucial topics and questions you should be asking including:

The signs of drug and alcohol addiction.

Do you need to drink every day to be considered an alcoholic?

Questions to ask yourself to decide if rehab is the best option.

What is Rehab and what are the different types?

The difference between inpatient/residential rehab and intensive outpatient programs.

The benefits of being in rehab and how it can help.

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How Chronic Drinking Affects the Body

Similar to other types of mental disorders; when it comes to alcohol abuse and addiction there are common symptoms that present themselves but no two alcoholics demonstrate the same drinking behaviors. Which raises the question of; so how do you know if you’re an alcoholic? To provide you with the necessary information to be able to make an informed decision, throughout this piece we address the physical health risks and symptoms of alcoholism and AUD.

We’ll take an in-depth look at the consequences of chronic alcohol abuse and explore crucial topics such as:

The 11 criteria of Alcohol Use Disorder according to the DSM-5, APA’s handbook for diagnosing mental disorders.

How to apply those criteria to come to decision about yourself?

The link between withdrawal and alcoholic seizures.

Other physical health problems and signs of AUD.

Jaundice, alcoholic tremens and the symptoms of alcohol-related liver disease.

Treatment options if you are concerned about your drinking and feel like it’s impacting your health.

Did You Know: More than 16 million people are living with AUD and over 50% of all Americans over the age of 12 have had an alcoholic beverage in the past year.

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The Uses and Effects of Methadone

Methadone is a fully synthetic, long-lasting opioid used to treat heroin and opioid addiction as well as chronic pain conditions. It is one of the only opiates not contributing to the recent fatal trends and with the opioid epidemic underway there are many who advocate for methadone’s potential as a harm reduction solution to addiction. While Methadone is FDA approved to manage opiate withdrawal it raises important questions like: is it effective in treating heroin addiction, how it works and why methadone clinics exist? Let’s take a look at how methadone works and get to the bottom of these questions commonly asked by addicts and their families.

We take an in-depth look at what you should know about using methadone as a means of treatment and explore crucial topics such as:

What is Methadone exactly and how does it affect the brain?

Can Methadone get you high and what are the side-effects of using it?

Is overdose from Methadone possible and why do people praise its potential for harm-reduction?

Is Methadone the solution and when should it be taken?

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Prevention Strategies for Heroin Cravings

Whether it’s been a week or months since you have stopped using heroin, you will most likely experience cravings to use again that can feel overwhelming. It’s common to feel like those intense urges that you can’t explain may never end. Fortunately, there is hope. There are a number of things you can do to help put a stop to heroin cravings. By practicing these strategies each day it can help prevent relapse and undoing all of the progress you have made in your recovery.

Cravings are a normal part of the recovery process but don’t be discouraged. Let’s explore the effective techniques you can use for curbing heroin cravings and avoiding relapse in your journey to recovery. 

As you read through the full article for more details and insights here are some of the strategies you can expect to learn about and make part of your daily routine:

Practicing gratitude and meditating on the good things in life.

Practicing affirmations and being aware of how you talk to yourself.

Identifying what you’re feeling and the emotions you might be masking.

Start exercising and get moving.

Helping someone else to make you feel better.

Remember, cravings are most active when you are at your weakest, so it’s essential to practice healthy choices and positive thinking when cravings start and when you feel invincible in your sobriety.

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The Health Risks of Taking MDMA and Ecstasy

The dangers and health risks of using MDMA (or Molly) are often minimized and misunderstood. Although overdosing on MDMA is rare, the conditions and environment where users generally take this drug, often make its use even more dangerous. The tendency to take MDMA during strenuous activity and in warmer climates can present a multitude of dangers such as hyperthermia. Let's take a look at what these dangers are and the potential risks behind using substances like MDMA.

To overcome this misconception we delve into the potential dangers of MDMA and explore topics such as:

What are the risks of taking MDMA?

What are the common long-term effects of repeat use?

The differences between Ecstasy and MDMA and the dangers it presents.

Recent studies using MDMA as a treatment and it’s prevalence in the mainstream.

Focusing on sustainable recovery and developing a relapse prevention to help treat MDMA addiction.

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Help Making It Through Heroin Withdrawal

Instead of discussing how painful withdrawal from heroin can be, in this piece we share our top tips for tried and tested ways to get through the uncomfortable withdrawal process so you never have to go through it again. While painful, heroin withdrawal is almost never life-threatening and there are strategies that can be used to help get through this challenging time. Here is what you should know about how to get through heroin withdrawal.

Throughout this piece, we take a look at the different strategies that can be used to help get you through heroin withdrawal and detox. We’ll share our tips and explore effective strategies such as:

Reminding yourself withdrawal symptoms are only temporary.

Taking showers or baths to alleviate feelings of temperature fluctuations.

Drinking water to avoid dehydration.

Letting your body rest and giving it time to heal.

Getting outside and enjoying the sun to avoid vitamin D deficiency.

Seeking medical supervision to help you feel as comfortable as possible and regain your health more quickly compared to home remedies. 

Did You Know: Over 212,000 people over the age of 12 used heroin in the past year, with at least 435,000 people using heroin regularly in the last 30 days.

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Coping With Triggers & Avoiding Relapse

With millions of people in need of treatment or living sober, having the ability to cope with and deal with addiction triggers is a necessary part of achieving sobriety and avoiding relapse. Identifying what your triggers are, what you’re feeling and what coping mechanisms you can use, is a crucial part of turning your life around and maintaining the progress you’ve worked so hard for. To help you on your journey and so you can keep growing stronger in your recovery; we’re sharing our tips and strategies you can use to deal with these addiction triggers and help make sure that relapse is not part of your story.

Whether you are currently in a treatment facility, a sober living home or just beginning your recovery; you can use these tips to help deal with your addiction triggers when they inevitably present themselves. 

While you read through the full article for more tips and insights; here are some of the strategies you can expect to learn about and take advantage of to aid in your recovery:

Identifying HALT if you’re experiencing a strong desire to use.

Going to an AA or NA Meeting to benefit from others experience choosing a sober life over addiction.

Asking a Friend in Recovery for help and support.

Enjoy Feeling Good in your sobriety and appreciating the easier days.

Don’t Stop Working on developing your coping skills.

Practicing Deep Belly Breathing to relax and organize your thoughts on those more difficult days.

Benefiting from Physical Exercise and Sports you used to enjoy to help decrease depression, reduce anxiety, and improve your mood.

Seeking Help From a Treatment Center if you are finding it particularly difficult to deal with triggers

Learning to live sober is an essential step to living a long and happy life in recovery.

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The Growing Trend and Dangers of Kratom Use

As the opioid epidemic continues, more people are turning to alternative medicines and treatments. One natural treatment that has gathered national attention for its potential to lessen the severity of opiate withdrawal is Kratom. But what exactly is Kratom and why have the numbers of people using Kratom increased over the past few years? We try to get to the bottom of these questions and dive into the impact of Kratom for those in recovery and on long-term health.

Did You Know: Kratom has been implicated as a potential cause of over 44 fatalities.

Throughout this piece, we take an in-depth look at the growing trend and potential risks of taking Kratom in recovery. 

We’ll explore important topics such as:

What is Kratom and how is taken?

What impact does Kratom have on the brain?

What the CDC, FDA and research studies have to say about it?

Why more people are turning to Kratom to help withdrawal?

Recent cases of Kratom use in the news and media

What does Kratom use mean for someone that is sober or in recovery?

What side-effects have been found to be associated with Kratom?

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Is Recovery From Cocaine Addiction Possible?

Similar to other drugs in the U.S. the number of cocaine overdose fatalities has risen over the last decade. However, what the statistics don’t show are the many individuals who have been able to recover from cocaine addiction and overcome their dependence. While difficult, if you or a loved one is addicted to cocaine there is hope and successful recovery is possible.

Successful recovery from cocaine addiction involves the diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring disorders, a range of therapies as well as a plan to live clean and prevent relapse. 

Throughout this piece, we take a look at what the challenging journey to recovery looks like and try to get to the bottom of the question of whether it’s possible for a cocaine addict to recover?

We’ll explore important topics such as:

The most effective ways to recover from cocaine addiction.

The effects Cocaine can have on the brain and what that means for recovery.

The importance of seeking support from others who share similar experiences.   

Learning new coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of life.

Developing a plan to stay clean and following through.

Did You Know:

Cocaine fatalities increased by nearly 300% over the past five years.    In 2017, 14,556 people died from cocaine overdoses.

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Meth Withdrawal & Detox: What to Expect?

With the use of meth on the rise, treatment options and availability are as necessary as ever before. Unfortunately, meth dependence can be even more challenging to treat than opioid addiction and for those addicted to meth, the initial few days of quitting are an essential and acutely painful beginning of recovery. However, after detox, many of these symptoms diminish or completely disappear. Join us as we take an in-depth look at what to expect during meth withdrawal and what you should know about detox from this dangerous substance.

Throughout this piece, we dive into the recovery process for meth abuse and explore essential topics such as:

The rise of meth use over the past few years.

The tendency of addicts to turn to meth to help get through heroin withdrawals.

How meth withdrawal compares to other substances like cocaine.

What to expect during the initial stages of meth detox.

The mental and emotional side-effects of quitting meth cold turkey.

Where is the best place to detox.

Other medical issues commonly associated with meth use that might need to be treated

The risks of detoxing from home and the advantages of seeking out a treatment facility.

What comes after detox when the real treatment begins.

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What You Should Know Before Taking Suboxone

Suboxone is one of the more controversial treatment options that’s surfaced in response to the opioid epidemic. Suboxone is designed to suppress opioid withdrawal symptoms and is also used as a deterrent for getting high. But there is a dark side to this pharmaceutical drug; including risk of addiction and longer withdrawal period compared to other drugs like heroin. It’s common for those already addicted to opioids to seek out Suboxone as a temporary relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately many are not aware of how dangerous Suboxone addiction can be and how challenging it can be to get off of.

Throughout this piece, we take an in-depth look at the risks of Suboxone and explore essential topics you should know before using it such as:

What Suboxone is commonly used for and why people take it?

What happens if you take Suboxone without an addiction?

Whether Suboxone can be used to get you high?  

What you should know about Suboxone withdrawal compared to other substances.

The most common side-effects and symptoms that Suboxone presents.

The dangerous and sometimes fatal consequences of taking Suboxone.

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Helping a Loved One Overcome Marijuana Abuse

As those that have had a loved one with a problem with chronic marijuana abuse can attest; it can be very difficult to convince them to smoke less or to quit altogether. You might have tried pleading with them, scaring them or explaining how their problem is changing them but it can be tough for any person addicted to drugs to realize they have a problem; including marijuana. This challenge brings up the important question of whether it is possible to get someone you care about to stop smoking marijuana and what you could do to get them the help they need?

Join us as we take a look why it can be so difficult to convince someone to smoke less, explore what you can and shouldn’t do to help them realize they have a problem as well as share what types of resources are available that could help them overcome their denial and seek the treatment they need.