Archive for January, 2008

FREE Plus

Published by wecare on 24 Jan 2008 in Courses, Programmes and Recovery Resources. 0 Comments

Facilitated Recovery Enabling Education (F.R.E.E.) - PLUS

Target Group
People with behavioral and chemical addictions in early recovery who are referred by hospitals (e.g. Institute of Mental Health/Community Addictions Management Program, CAMP), doctors and community agencies.

The FREE - PLUS program is a 4 week educational program which aims to :

  • Facilitate maintenance of sobriety and abstinence through intensive, structured group-based activities which enable the client to develop coping skills, interpersonal and life skills
  • Allow people in early recovery to actively engage with long-term clean recovering people
  • Introduce clients to Twelve Step Support Groups (e.g. Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous) and Recovery Support Groups (RSGs)

Benefits of Program

  • Program is provided cost free to the recovering person and his/her family.- The recovering person has an opportunity to develop and maintain coping strategies within their community and family environment.
  • Continued participation in programs will be available for on-going education.- Continued exposure to long term clean recovering people.

Next Intake 

6th Intake: 4th August 2008 - 5th October 2008

  • Target Group Size : 15 pax max
  • Duration: 9 weeks

Prerequisites

  • Must be abstinent from all drugs for at least 2 weeks
  • Motivated to attend duration of program
  • Cognition intact (No history of brain damage)
  • Basic comprehension of English - Minimum Primary 6
  • No past history of frequent violent episodes
  • No pending case with CNB/Police or Prisons

For more information please contact the centre administrator at 64715346.

Gambling

Published by wecare on 24 Jan 2008 in Addictions and Gambling. 0 Comments

Gambling can be defined as playing a game of chance for stakes.

Gambling occurs in many forms, most commonly 4D, TOTO, lotteries, casinos (slot machines, table games), bookmaking (sports and horse racing), card rooms, bingo and the stock market.

Pathological gambling is a progressive disease that devastates not only the gambler but everyone with whom he or she has a significant relationship. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association accepted pathological gambling as a “disorder of impulse control.” It is an illness that is chronic and progressive, but it can be diagnosed and treated.

Pathological gambling is defined as “the inability to resist impulses to gamble, leading to severe personal or social consequences.” In other words, a gambling addiction is very similar to any other addiction, be it caffeine, drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. A pathological gambler is so addicted that he can’t break the cycle of his gambling.

Robert L. Custer, M.D., identified the progression of gambling addiction as including three phases:

  • the winning phase
  • the losing phase
  • and the desperation phase.

During the winning phase, gamblers experience a big win or a series of wins that leaves them with unreasonable optimism that their winning will continue. This leads them to feel great excitement when gambling, and they begin increasing the amounts of their bets.

During the losing phase, the gamblers often begin bragging about wins they have had, start gambling alone, think more about gambling and borrow money legally or illegally. They start lying to family and friends and become more irritable, restless and withdrawn. Their home life becomes more unhappy, and they are unable to pay off debts. The gamblers begin to “chase” their losses, believing they must return as soon as possible to win back their losses.

During the desperation phase, there is a marked increase in the time spent gambling. This is accompanied by remorse, blaming others and alienating family and friends. Eventually, the gamblers may engage in illegal acts to finance their gambling. They may experience hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and attempts, arrests, divorce, alcohol and/or other drug abuse, or an emotional breakdown.

Narcotics

Published by wecare on 24 Jan 2008 in Addictions and Narcotics. 0 Comments

While not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, many people do. Drug addiction involves compulsively seeking to use a substance, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological and physical consequences. Certain drugs are more likely to cause physical dependence than are others.

You may be hooked emotionally and psychologically. You may have a physical dependence, too. If you have a drug addiction, you have intense cravings for the drug. You want to use it again and again. When you stop taking it, you may have unpleasant physical reactions.

Drug dependence is characterized by impaired control over the drug, preoccupation with use, continued use despite negative consequence, and sometimes evidence of physical dependence on the drug. Various factors, such as your personality, your genetic makeup and peer pressure, affect your likelihood of becoming addicted to a drug. In addition, some drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, more quickly produce a physical addiction than other drugs do for many people.

Breaking a drug addiction is difficult, but not impossible. Support from your doctor, family, friends and others who have a drug addiction, as well as inpatient or outpatient drug addiction treatment, may help you beat your drug dependence

General signs and symptomsAddiction to any drug may include these general characteristics:

  • Feeling that you need the drug regularly and, in some cases, many times a day
  • Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
  • Failing repeatedly in your attempts to stop using the drug
  • Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
  • Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems
  • Driving or doing other activities that place you and others at risk of physical harm when you’re under the influence of the drug

The particular signs and symptoms of drug use and dependence vary depending on the type of drug.

Recognizing drug abuse in teenagersPossible indications that your teenager is using drugs include:

  • School performance. Your child suddenly shows an active dislike of school and looks for excuses to stay home. Contact your school officials to see if your child’s attendance record matches what you know about his or her absent days. A student who experiences a drop in performance, possibly failing courses or receiving only minimally passing grades, may be using drugs.
  • Physical health. Listlessness and apathy may indicate your child is using certain drugs.
  • Appearance. How they look is extremely important to adolescents. A sudden lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks may be a warning sign of drug use.
  • Personal behavior. Teenagers enjoy privacy, but exaggerated efforts to bar family members from entering their rooms or knowing where they go with their friends might indicate drug use. Also, drastic changes in behavior and in relationships with family and friends may signal drug use.
  • Money. Sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation for its use may be a sign of drug use. You may also discover money stolen from previously safe places at home. Items may disappear from your home because they’re being sold to support a drug habit.