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You may think that you have a pretty strong will, which is probably one of the reasons you are frustrated that it is not working for your efforts to stop your alcohol or drug use. Even people who are successful in exerting their will to reach academic, professional, and other personal achievements are baffled that the same determination does not seem to work for a drinking or substance abuse issue.

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction can be difficult. You have to overcome physical withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and mental roadblocks in order to get sober. The path to sobriety isn’t easy, and it doesn’t get any easier the more times you tread it.

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction can be difficult. You have to overcome physical withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and mental roadblocks in order to get sober. The path to sobriety isn’t easy, and it doesn’t get any easier the more times you tread it.

Unfortunately, many recovering addicts and alcoholics tread the path several times – sometimes due to a few ‘false starts’ and for others, they get sober and relapse much further down the line. There are also those who repeatedly get sober and repeatedly relapse after a certain period of time, again and again.

Whether you have continued to stay clean and sober or have had trouble staying on track, it is important to get back to basics as we enter a second lockdown and restrictions.

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction can be difficult. You have to overcome physical withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and mental roadblocks in order to get sober. The path to sobriety isn’t easy, and it doesn’t get any easier the more times you tread it.

Unfortunately, many recovering addicts and alcoholics tread the path several times – sometimes due to a few ‘false starts’ and for others, they get sober and relapse much further down the line. There are also those who repeatedly get sober and repeatedly relapse after a certain period of time, again and again.

Whether you have continued to stay clean and sober or have had trouble staying on track, it is important to get back to basics as we enter a second lockdown and restrictions.

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction can be difficult. You have to overcome physical withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and mental roadblocks in order to get sober. The path to sobriety isn’t easy, and it doesn’t get any easier the more times you tread it.

Unfortunately, many recovering addicts and alcoholics tread the path several times – sometimes due to a few ‘false starts’ and for others, they get sober and relapse much further down the line. There are also those who repeatedly get sober and repeatedly relapse after a certain period of time, again and again.

Whether you have continued to stay clean and sober or have had trouble staying on track, it is important to get back to basics as we enter a second lockdown and restrictions.

As many people around the world enter into a second lockdown period, we want to remind those in recovery about how to stay connected and focused on recovery during these challenging times.

Whether you have continued to stay clean and sober or have had trouble staying on track, it is important to get back to basics as we enter a second lockdown and restrictions.

Crack cocaine is a hard, mineral-like substance with an off-white tint. It is most often smoked through a glass pipe (often called a stem or rose because they are sold with a rose inside of them) and inhaled, though some people use soda cans or aluminum foil to heat it.
Crack is made by mixing the powder form of cocaine with water and another substance, usually baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or ammonia. This mixture is then boiled and a solid substance forms which is then cooled and broken into smaller pieces or “rocks” known as crack cocaine

For those in active addiction, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated issues or forced hidden issues to light, while making some addiction treatment services difficult to access. For those people living in recovery from addiction, COVID-19 quarantines and isolation have made recovery difficult, cutting them off from connection, meetings or supportive services.

Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly referred to as “LSD” or “acid,” is a psychedelic hallucinogen that produces changes in perception, sense of time and space and emotions. LSD is active at very small doses (around 20 micrograms). The drug is most commonly taken orally, in the form of tablets, droplets, or most commonly blotter paper that is absorbed on the tongue and swallowed.
Although LSD is considered to be a non-addictive drug, users often become addicted to the sights, sounds, and revelations they experience while under the influence, also called “tripping.” Users can develop both a tolerance and a psychological dependence to psychedelic drugs like LSD. There have been documented cases of prolonged, intense use causing negative side effects such as paranoia or psychosis.

Ecstasy is the street name for a version of MDMA, chemically known as methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. It is an illegal, synthetic drug classified as a stimulant with potentially hallucinogenic properties. Molly is another name for MDMA. Both ecstasy and molly are made from MDMA, but ecstasy is used to describe a ‘designer’ version in pill or tablet form, while molly is the name used for the white powder or crystal-like substance.
Although molly is marketed as a pure form of MDMA, because it is a white powder there is no way to tell if it is actually pure or if it has been ‘cut’ (mixed with) other substances, which can commonly include:

Cocaine
LSD
Heroin
Amphetamine
Caffeine
Rat poison

Alcohol is a legal, controlled substance that lowers anxiety and inhibitions. It also has a broad range of side effects, from loss of coordination to slurred speech. Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic, but anyone whose life is negatively affected by alcohol on a consistent basis is considered to have an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol is commonly consumed as a drink in various forms, including beer, wine and hard liquor.

Oxycodone, as found in OxyContin, Roxicodone or Percocet, is a powerful opioid painkiller. It is one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the United States (2019 Government Health Statistics) and many other countries around the world.
Many people who abuse oxycodone start out taking a prescribed amount—but as their body develops a tolerance to the drug, they need a higher dose to maintain the same relief or high.
The transition from use to abuse to addiction can be a quick and dangerous road. Oxycodone is a powerful drug and offers much-needed relief to many people struggling with painful or terminal conditions; as such, it can be hard to stay in control.
Oxycodone addiction is a very serious condition – not only is it an expensive and debilitating addiction, overdose from oxycodone is a very real—and potentially deadly—possibility.

Morphine is an opiate drug prescribed by a physician to relieve severe pain. Morphine takes its name from Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, due to its euphoric properties which are often described by users as a dreamlike state. The drug can be taken in the form of a tablet, syrup, injection or smoked.
Morphine has the potential to be highly addictive, as tolerance to it develops rapidly. In the United States, morphine is listed as a Schedule II drug that is used to treat moderate, severe, and chronic pain. It is also used for pain relief after major surgeries, treatment for cancer-related pain, and shortness of breath at the end of a patient’s life.

Ketamine has hallucinogenic and sedating effects, which produce an out of body experience (dissociative) in which the user feels detached from themselves and reality. A ketamine user’s perceptions of sight and sound can often be distorted, making it difficult for them to move. For this reason, and because it is odourless and colourless, it has been used as a ‘date rape’ drug. In some extreme cases users have reported feeling a ‘near death’ experience while others have experienced feelings of ‘complete bliss’.

Ketamine has hallucinogenic and sedating effects, which produce an out of body experience (dissociative) in which the user feels detached from themselves and reality. A ketamine user’s perceptions of sight and sound can often be distorted, making it difficult for them to move. For this reason, and because it is odourless and colourless, it has been used as a ‘date rape’ drug. In some extreme cases users have reported feeling a ‘near death’ experience while others have experienced feelings of ‘complete bliss’.

Fentanyl is an opioid pain reliever which is between 50 and 100 time stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is a synthetic pharmaceutical drug that is legally available by prescription from a doctor.

Fentanyl is used to treat patients who are in severe pain, such as after surgery, during cancer treatment or when a patient is experiencing breakthrough pain (a flareup of intense pain that ‘breaks through’ whatever narcotic pain relief the patient is already taking). It is also used as part of general anaesthetic or conscious sedation during surgery or painful medical procedure.

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that alters perception. Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical compound that causes the drug’s effects. The effects of marijuana may be different for everyone and depend on how it is consumed. Smoking marijuana produces a faster, shorter-lived high than taking it orally.

A member of the Amphetamine family of drugs, meth, or methamphetamine, is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Under the influence of meth, users experience a rush of dopamine produced by the drug. Dopamine is the chemical in the brain that is responsible for feelings of pleasure, as well as motivation, memory retention, learning, and reward processing. The rush of dopamine produced by meth is much higher than the natural amount of dopamine that is produced in the brain, which causes people to continue using the drug in order to keep those heightened pleasurable feelings.
Many individuals who use meth take it over a period of many days and nights, staying perpetually high, which typically leads to a tolerance of the drug. Having taken it for a prolonged period of time, the user requires higher and higher doses to feel the same effects and the cycle of addiction begins.

Heroin is one of the most addictive substances in existence. It is a potent opiate drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and South America. It comes in a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin. Users inject, sniff, snort or smoke heroin.

It is important to note from the outset that cocaine is a highly addictive substance. An individual does not need to be a long-time user to develop an addiction to cocaine. It can happen very quickly and can go unnoticed by friends and family for a remarkably long time. What starts off as seemingly harmless experimentation and ‘fun’ can quickly turn into a potentially life-threatening addiction with significant personal, professional, financial, and familial consequences.

Our loved ones are the most important people in our lives; the people we want to share things with, the people who we support and who we seek support from. However, being in a relationship with a partner that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs can lead to an unhealthy relationship with emotional stress, negativity, chaos, confusion and even abuse.
Substance abuse can eventually destroy a couple by undermining trust, which weakens the bond between partners. If children are part of the relationship, conflicts over parental responsibilities, as well as neglect, can occur as the result of one partner’s drinking or drug use.

Our loved ones are the most important people in our lives; the people we want to share things with, the people who we support and who we seek support from. However, being in a relationship with a partner that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs can lead to an unhealthy relationship with emotional stress, negativity, chaos, confusion and even abuse.
Substance abuse can eventually destroy a couple by undermining trust, which weakens the bond between partners. If children are part of the relationship, conflicts over parental responsibilities, as well as neglect, can occur as the result of one partner’s drinking or drug use.

Our loved ones are the most important people in our lives; the people we want to share things with, the people who we support and who we seek support from. However, being in a relationship with a partner that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs can lead to an unhealthy relationship with emotional stress, negativity, chaos, confusion and even abuse.
Substance abuse can eventually destroy a couple by undermining trust, which weakens the bond between partners. If children are part of the relationship, conflicts over parental responsibilities, as well as neglect, can occur as the result of one partner’s drinking or drug use.

When people think about drug addiction or drug abuse they tend to think about ‘recreational’ drugs and illegal substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or crystal meth. However, drug addiction is not limited to these so called ‘street drugs’. Many individuals who take prescription medications often fall victim to abuse and addiction. Simply because the medication is prescribed by a medical professional, the risks of abuse do not go away – addiction and dependence are still very stark realities for many.

Misuse of prescribed medications, especially opioids, central nervous system depressants, sleeping pills and stimulants are a serious public health problem in the United States. In 2017, an estimated 18 million people misused such medications at least once in the previous year. The number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4% from 2017 to 2018. More than 67,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2018 in the United States and of those deaths, almost 70% involved prescription opioids.

When we look to the future and the period ‘after COVID’, it’s clear there will be a lot of changes in our lives – how we do things, what our priorities are, who we do things with, how we work, how we socialise and even how to take holidays. If you are planning to go to a rehab facility after COVID, you may now have additional safety and health concerns. The Lighthouse Bali provides individual one-on-one care. We believe this approach gives you a much higher level of personal attention to your unique program needs and wants, plus it reduces the possibility of you becoming ‘lost in the crowd’. It also means that our existing programs are already well suited to handle the post COVID period. Here’s how we help you to recover from your addiction or alcoholism whilst minimizing the risk of COVID transmission during your stay.

Alcohol is part of life for people around the world but if your alcohol consumption is increasing, at what point does it become out of control? Many people find it difficult to distinguish between a heavy drinker and an alcoholic – and there is a difference.
If the amount you are drinking, or the frequency with which you are drinking, is increasing you are right to be concerned. Here are 8 alert signs that you should take seriously if you are to avoid becoming dependent upon alcohol.
One of the most common questions people ask themselves is, “is my problem bad enough that I need rehab?” Only you can answer this, but if your addiction or alcoholism is affecting your life in a negative way, yet you still continue to drink or use, the answer is most likely yes.

When it comes to drug and alcohol abuse, it can be difficult to be objective and to admit that you need help. If substance abuse is causing negative effects in your life, it is time to take a closer look and come to terms with the fact that you have a problem. Once you can accept that, you’re already on the path to recovery. The next step is to decide how to get clean and sober.
One of the most common questions people ask themselves is, “is my problem bad enough that I need rehab?” Only you can answer this, but if your addiction or alcoholism is affecting your life in a negative way, yet you still continue to drink or use, the answer is most likely yes.

The world around us is constantly changing and we are no different. The phrase “change is the only constant” couldn’t be more true now. For those in recovery, change can be difficult and this is especially the case when in the early stages of the recovery process. It’s also important to remember that change is even difficult for those not in recovery – as human beings, we are usually more comfortable staying in the status quo.

Rehab is a big step, so being prepared is key – just as you would prepare for any other big change in your life. It’s normal to feel a level of stress; the following tips outline what you can do, both mentally and physically, in the weeks leading up to your stay in rehab.

Alcoholism and addiction are terms used to describe someone with a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol or drugs. They may have problems controlling their habits or choose to keep drinking or using even though it causes problems. These problems may interfere with their professional and social relationships or even their physical health.

An online recovery program is designed to help you embrace sober living in a healthy and balanced way. Your online program will provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve a happy and fulfilling life without alcohol or other substances. Our online recovery programs include all of the components of our residential program that can be carried out online (see inclusions below)

How are you spending your time during lockdown? Are you missing structure and finding yourself drifting? Here are 11 key components to include in your weekly schedule to endure you stay on track in your recovery…
Need some additional support? Check out our online counselling and online recovery program options!

Lockdown, although challenging for many, is an ideal time to focus on yourself and really work on developing and strengthening your recovery. It’s easier said than done though, what can you do when so much seems off limits? Here are 10 ways you can make the most of this time and emerge from lockdown even more solid than ever in your sobriety….

The beginning of lockdown offered us time to recoup, relax, and somewhat respect some much needed time off from our busy lives and busy schedules, and we found solace in the safety of our homes. With Covid-19 showing no sign of easing off the gas any time soon, this sense of isolation has become somewhat of an imprisonment with more people struggling to cope with the emotional strains of the unknown.

While on lockdown, cravings might appear to be much stronger and / or more frequent than you might have experienced previously (or you might only be experiencing them for the first time now). This is to be expected! Most of us have some element of additional stress in our lives at this time, combined with less activities, or less variety of activities, to keep us physically and mentally stimulated due to the confines of lockdown.

Deciding whether to attempt to detox at home or attend rehab is often a difficult decision to make. Depending on individual personal circumstances, you may find positives and negatives relating to either approach to getting clean and sober. In this Blog we look at the benefits and drawbacks of both methods and how these may have changed in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Most addicts and alcoholics are all too familiar with isolating and its pitfalls. For some addicts, isolating characterized their drinking and using from the very beginning. For others, isolating came later as a result of damaged relationships. Isolating is not just a by-product of addiction, it can also be a trigger and that’s why most programs of recovery promote connections and fellowship. Ask anyone who has relapsed what happened prior to them picking up again, and usually they will have stopped going to meetings and started to isolate some time before re-engaging in their addictions.

Most countries in the world are under some form of quarantine right now. Depending on where you live, the regulations are going to differ. There are three terms that are being commonly used to describe the protocols we are expected to adhere to: self-isolation, quarantine and shelter-in-place.

Substance abuse and addiction is a significant problem within the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) community. People who identify as LGBTQIA are at a greater risk for substance abuse and addiction with up to 30% of the population being affected.

These threatening statistics highlight the importance for more substance use recovery programs that support LGBTQ+ individuals.

Through mindfulness practice we learn that our feelings are not facts. Mindfulness teaches us to acknowledge and accept our current state of being with a focused sense of awareness. Often, feelings can be an overreaction to the facts.

Includes a few useful recovery tips while traveling to help you have a smooth and sober trip. The most important tip is to always have a plan and a backup up when that plan falls apart! Traveling can often include surprises that can be handled easily when you have a plan!

Our brain is the site for all mind-altering drug interactions. Drugs and alcohol manipulate the biochemistry of the brain and change how the neurons communicate with each other. These changes alter the users’ perceptions, emotions, thoughts and behaviors over time. This chemistry change can have a life long impact but often full recovers after a prolonged period of recovery.

Around the clock peace of mind seems like an impossible task. The Idealism of lofty gurus and monks is that they have devoted their lives to meditation and spiritual matters, shuttered in monasteries and temples high on distant mountain tops. Lots of ways exist to bring a sense of ease and comfort in our lives. We don’t all have to put on robes and sit for hours on end. A powerful tool that can be adopted and applied by everyone is simple: Gratitude.

Studies have shown that drug and alcohol use creates abnormalities in the brain. Drugs and alcohol can also have an effect on what we call brain plasticity. Plasticity in this context is the ability of cells to remember. Children and teens are particularly sensitive to changes in brain plasticity as a result of drug or alcohol use. The good news is that research in this area is helping us understand how to reverse the damage.