How to Overcome Addiction

Overcoming addiction. That's what everyone wants to know, right? Well, first of all, you need help. There is help for alcoholics. There is help for drug addiction. You can't do it by yourself. Overcoming addiction is not done by cutting back or limiting use. Surprisingly, it is not overcome just by stopping drinking or using drugs!

The answer to overcoming addiction can be complicated at times (the help of a top drug rehab or alcohol rehab can get you going on the right path), but it essentially boils down to this:

Make Recovery your Numero Uno Priority! That means that nothing else is more important than your own personal recovery. I don't care if your house is on fire, recovery has to be the number one priority. After all, let's say your house is on fire, if you are falling down drunk or stoned out of your mind, you are not going to be helpful putting out the fire. In fact you might find yourself on fire in addition to your house!

The point is this: if recovery is always your number one priority above everything else, you are well on your way to a new and much better life. There is a terrific private drug and alcohol rehab program called Paradise Recovery, located in Hawaii, that can teach you exactly how to make recovery the number one priority in your life. Are you ready for change? Give them a call: 866-478-9898.

Holistic Drug Rehab

What does a holistic drug rehab really mean? It should mean a drug rehab that takes a multi-faceted, integrated approach to the treatment of addiction.

You know the saying "man does not live by bread alone"? Well, addiction is not overcome by just one method alone. The latest studies show that a more broad and varied approach is needed to treat addiction. Why is this? Because addiction is multi-factorial. That means it has many different causes. Addiction also has many different factors that keep it going. That's what is called the "fuel" behind the addiction. Addiction is expert at keeping you off-balance and off-track. A disease that has many different causes and which fuels itself in many different ways, requires a combination of multiple types of treatments.

Thus, for most people group therapy or the 12-steps alone is not the answer. Individual therapy is not the answer. Neither is family therapy, medication, yoga, acupuncture, education, nutrition, or exercise. Actually, the answer lies in a unique combination of many of the above elements. Just one without another can't treat a disease that has so many different faces. The elements that you will need in your treatment may not be quite the same as the elements another person might need. The unique combination and differing intensities of these treatments that is tailored to what you need is what produces a truly individualized addiction treatment approach.

That's why it is important to select a holistic drug or alcohol treatment program for yourself or a loved one. And not just one that says they are holistic. Select one that has a truly integrated approach, one with many facets that work in a harmonious way to help you overcome the disease of addiction.

Kauai Addiction Treatment/Rehab

Finally there is one of the best drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs in the country able to cater to the residents of Kauai and all of the Hawaiian Islands. Paradise Recovery is an addiction treatment center that also treats the psychiatric conditions that also happen very commonly with addiction (co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis).

Kauai residents now have a choice to get private addiction treatment with individualized care. Paradise Recovery can also do detox if that's what you need. But detox is only the beginning. Paradise Recovery will teach you how to live a new life. A life of sobriety. They have a HelpLine that you can call to get more information about the program. It is toll-free: 866-478-9898. They can also help you if you are looking for treatment for a loved one, but your loved one refuses to come in to treatment.

Best of luck to you and your search for sobriety. Hopefully, the search has now ended and you can start acting on a plan to get well.

Rules in Drug Rehab

The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs have a structure within which the staff and clients go about their business of achieving recovery. Why are rules so important? Because rules are a major component of the structure. OK, so why is structure important?

Structure = Recovery. Got it? Structure is the essential foundation for building a lasting recovery. The rules, adherence to the rules, and enforcement of the rules promotes addiction recovery. Addiction loves chaos and confusion. Addiction hates structure and rules. The lack of rules and structure promotes chaos. Addiction loves that!! If you want to get well in rehab, there has to be a structure rooted in personal and house rules.

Rules and structure may seem a bit painful or bothersome at first glance. However, they are the foundation to your beginning journey on the road to addiction recovery. Call Paradise Recovery at 866-478-9898 to learn more about what it takes to get on the recovery path.

Paradise Recovery: The Graduate School of Alcohol and Drug Rehabs

When choosing the right treatment center you need to determine what are your needs and what can a program offer you and more importantly, what are you prepared to offer yourself!

A Graduate Program in any University is an opportunity for a student to dedicate time and efforts to furthering their knowledge, experience and being able to articulate their learning with others. A typical Graduate program is not interested in "passive learners". They are seeking individuals who actively participate in their learning and are beginning to contribute to their chosen profession (e.g. nursing, social work, psychology, or computer science). Also, a good Graduate Program gives you more individual attention, more than your undergraduate program.

Our program was described as the "Graduate School of all Rehabs" by one of our former clients and after several re-admissions to a program in California, he came to Paradise! At Paradise Recovery, we expect a great deal from our clients and our clients hopefully expect a lot from us and themselves. Our program offers personalized care, which helps you to work on YOUR core issues that contributes to your disease of addiction.

If you, or someone you know is seriously considering recovery from addiction, please speak with one of our recovery counselors at (866)478-9898.

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." Carl Jung

Recuperatio Primoris!

Dr. Bill Heran

Help for Alcoholics

The internet is abundant with self-help articles, recommendations, treatment groups, therapies, etc. for alcoholics and drug addicts.

The truth is, alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases of isolation. Human nature being what it is, we usually try to find the "easiest" solution to our problems. It would be great if we could just stop drinking on our own or if we could just read a book that would make us stop. Maybe there is a pill or something we could take that would make us stop.

Well, unfortunately, it is not that easy. However, there is help for alcoholics and drug addicts out there. Isolation is not the answer. Addiction treatment does work. If you are thinking about inpatient treatment (and you should be.... this is a deadly disease!), the best alcohol rehabs and drug rehabs are those that take a holistic approach to the treatment of the disease. That is to say, they take a treatment approach that hits the disease from multiple angles, but in a carefully coordinated and integrated way.

If you are looking for alcohol or drug treatment, just know that treatment works. It takes time and effort on your part. But it is well worth every single thing that you put into it.

The Addiction Cure

No one has the "cure" for addiction, even though some claim that they do. Let's be realistic. If there were a cure for addiction, we would no longer see it in our society. This is far from the truth.

The reality is that addiction recovery requires a lot of work and focus. That is as close to a cure as we can get. It is very possible, with the right treatment program and focus on your part, to have a sustained recovery from addiction. Hopefully, forever. But it requires an ongoing effort.

Seeking the best addiction recovery program is the other part of the equation. The best drug rehab or alcohol rehab can put you on the path of recovery and give you a road map. Once the map to recovery is laid out, your consistent efforts and passion to remain in recovery are what will allow you to prevail over addiction.

Drug Rehab Success Rates

I see a number of drug rehabs claiming that they have the highest success rates in the country. Some say "76% success rate", some "83%", and I think I saw one that said 90%+.

The question that I have is, how did each of those facilities define "success"? That is a really important question. The industry standard is sobriety at the 6 month mark. Is that the number they are using? Also, why aren't their studies published anywhere? If they really have done these studies that show great success rates, why not publish them? Could I take a look at your study?

I can answer most of these questions. The drug rehabs that celebrate their success rates don't want to show you their study. They don't want to publish it. Why? Because the study is not good. It won't qualify as a scientific study, either because they are using lousy definitions of "success", they used a very small number of hand-picked people to include in the study, or the results are not real. It is possible that they really don't have a study. If you have a study, why not let me see it?

Here is the truth about drug rehabs: the best drug rehabs take an integrative, holistic approach to treatment that is individualized based on your core issues and particular needs. That is being borne out in the real scientific studies that are being published in the scientific literature. Those truly are the drug rehabs with the highest success rates.

Being an integrative, holistic treatment program is easier said than done. Most drug and alcohol rehabs don't understand the real meaning of those words. It is very difficult to set up a drug rehab to operate this way, but it is simple and life-changing to receive the benefits of it!

There are some good drug rehabs out there. However, not all of them are what they say they are. Don't settle for less.

Tropical Alcohol and Drug Rehab: Whats the importance of location when choosing a rehab?

When choosing a rehab for your recovery needs, there are dozens of high quality programs in the U.S. Some of these programs are located in cold, harsh climates with environments that resemble a hospital or institutional setting.

We at Paradise Recovery capture the importance of "location" and "environment" when designing our program here in Hawaii. Many of our clients have commented that our location has helped them tremendously in this early phase of treatment!Imagine if your environment was rejuvenating how that could affect your recovery in the early phases of your work. Often, at best we are ambivalent about changing our lives, but if the environment and location is ideal, then you may find yourself benefiting from the climate, floral smells, or the soft, feelings of "Aloha" in a tropical rehab setting.

Paradise offers a sun-drenched, tropical and comfortable environment. However, we also offer best-practice, medical and psychological interventions and support for you to move from an addictive state to a clean and sober life...being FULLY ALIVE!

If you, or anyone you love are experiencing struggle with addiction, please call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our recovery counselors. Make sure you factor in location when you are choosing a rehab for your recovery needs.


Recuperatio Primoris!

Oahu Drug Rehabilitation

There is a choice for people from the State of Hawaii who want to stay in the islands for holistic, private addiction treatment, including drugs and alcohol. Several years ago, the people of Hawaii had to turn to the mainland if they wanted private, quality help for alcoholics, drug rehab, or treatment for addiction of all types. This is no longer true. We have one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the entire country, located right here in our home state!

Give our HelpLine a call, today: 866-478-9898. We will help you get the help that you need.

A California Drug Rehab Alternative

California is famous for many things, including the Malibu-style drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs. Some are good, some are not so good. If you are looking for an alternative to the California rehabs, consider this: there is a drug, alcohol and addiction treatment program located in one of the most beautiful places on earth: beachfront Hawaii.

Not only is this program in Hawaii, it is one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the country. With a holistic, integrated treatment philosophy, Paradise Recovery offers an addiction treatment program that is highly private and individualized.

Hawaii has always been known as a spiritual, healing place. Experience the healing of addiction first-hand. Give us a call on our toll-free HelpLine. We can help.

Maui Drug Rehab Center

There is a choice for people from the State of Hawaii who want to stay in the islands for holistic, private addiction treatment, including drugs and alcohol. Several years ago, the people of Hawaii had to turn to the mainland if they wanted private, quality help for alcoholics, drug rehab, or treatment for addiction of all types. This is no longer true. We have one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the entire country, located right here in our home state!

Give our HelpLine a call, today: 866-478-9898. We will help you get the help that you need.

Big Island Drug Rehab Center

There is a choice for people from the State of Hawaii who want to stay in the islands for holistic, private addiction treatment, including drugs and alcohol. Several years ago, the people of Hawaii had to turn to the mainland if they wanted private, quality help for alcoholics, drug rehab, or treatment for addiction of all types. This is no longer true. We have one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the entire country, located right here in our home state!

Give our HelpLine a call, today: 866-478-9898. We will help you get the help that you need.

Is Drug Rehab for me?

Allow me to ask, "do you want to save your life? Do you want to stop the suffering that your addiction has caused and begin to turn that suffering into joy?" If the answer is "yes" to either of those questions, then drug rehab or alcohol rehab is for you.

If you truly want recovery, going to one of the best drug treatment centers offers you a chance at recovery that no other level of treatment can provide. The integrated, holistic approach of the best drug or alcohol rehabs is going to be one of the keys to your success. You are the other key to success.

Make the call today for help.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Not to be Overlooked!

Dual diagnosis (co-occurring illness) is often overlooked in primary treatment. Dually diagnosed individuals, those who have both an addiction and a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, don't fit neatly in the "program" for most rehabs. That's because they use a cookie-cutter treatment approach that does not lend itself to looking at individual issues that are important in the treatment of that person.

Fact is, most people with addiction have significant issues besides their addiction. Many of them have a bona fide anxiety disorder, depression, or history of trauma that warrants specific treatment in conjunction with the addiction. To overlook the individual issues dooms the person to a much higher risk of relapse when they leave treatment.

The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs treat the individual. This means treating the dually diagnosed as well. Trouble is, many programs say that they treat dual diagnosis, but in reality, they don't. The best way to see if a program is set up to treat dually diagnosed people is to first see if they say they do, then look at their staffing page. Is the staffing page filled mostly with therapists that have Master's level education and below? If so, they are not likely going to be a place that is going to have the skillset necessary to effectively diagnose and treat dual diagnosis. Look for programs that are more heavily weighted with PhD and MD level treatment providers. That's the best place to start.

Why Private Drug Rehab?

Because it works. Let's say you wanted to take a painting class. Do you think you would learn more effectively in a class with 80 people or in a class with 8 people? How much individual attention would you get from the professor in the class with 80 people vs. 8? How much would your individual needs and talents be recognized in the class of 80?

Now consider a life-threatening condition like drug or alcohol addiction. Intuitively, a smaller, private drug rehab or alcohol rehab with highly trained therapists is going to allow for more individualized attention and care. Your needs are going to be met. If your "brush strokes" are incorrect, someone is going to notice right away and be able to gently nudge you back on track.

The answer is obvious. Most people get lost in the sea of people in a large drug rehab. They go along with the herd, receiving cookie-cutter treatment. If they are off track, it is difficult to notice because of the number of people involved.

You are only in drug or alcohol rehab for a very short time. Make the most of it and give yourself the best shot at addiction recovery in one of the best drug rehabs. A private one.

Drug Rehab from the Inside Out?

The best drug rehab and alcohol rehab centers are those that take a holistic approach to drug and alcohol treatment. Most say that healing takes place from "the inside out". Basically, this means that you are making internal changes in your thinking and behavior that leads down a path of sobriety.

I want to point out that a truly holistic drug or alcohol treatment program also promotes healing from the outside in. Like we have talked about before, addiction recovery involves a multi-faceted but integrated treatment approach. The treatment approach does not focus solely on what's inside. Sometimes, things need to change on the outside before the inside can begin to change. For example, there are certain nutritional needs that you are going to have in early recovery. The provision of food and the food being seen as medicine is an outside change that will begin to affect the inside of your body and allow it to heal. Acupuncture is an external process that literally goes from outside in, and works to promote internal healing as well. Physical exercise and your physical environment certainly play a role in the healing process.

So, when drug rehabs promote healing from the inside out, they are missing a big part of the best treatment that can be used for addiction recovery.

Owning up to Drug Addiction

Although drug addiction is a disease, it is very important for the drug addict to "own up" to their part of the disease. Oftentimes when the drug addict is in drug rehab, they are taught that although they have a disease, they are responsible for allowing the disease to continue. How so, you may ask? Let's look at the drug addict that continues to blame others for their misfortune, if they continue to place blame on others, they are not taking responsibility of the part of the disease that wants the addict to place blame. If the drug addict were to assume responsibility, they are then allowed to look within themselves, understand the disease of drug addiction and move forward in a healthier way. And as a result are more likely not to relapse. Taking responsibility for the disease of drug addiction is an integral part of sustained recovery!

To find out more about the best drug rehabs, please call our 24 hour help line at
1-866-478-9898.

The Symphony of Drug Rehab

Most people try outpatient treatment for their addiction before considering drug rehab or alcohol rehab. Most of those people fail.

The reason is that addiction is extremely resistent to treatment. It takes a supreme, concerted effort to get an addict on the road to a lasting recovery. The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs are those that orchestrate a multi-pronged approach that involves a myriad of individualized and common treatment elements. However, each of these elements do not exist in isolation. They are integrated, much as a conductor would conduct a symphony of many players and instruments. The result is not a conglomeration of noise but, rather, beautiful music.

There are only a few top rehabs out there. Ours is one of the few. Call our HelpLine at 866-478-9898 for more information. Let's get you on the road to recovery.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual Diagnosis refers to someone who has two or more "psychiatric" conditions at the same time. Generally, one diagnosis is addiction related, although it does not necessarily have to be so.

Why treatment of dual diagnosis is important as it relates to overall addiction treatment is that both conditions need to be treated concurrently. Common co-occuring conditions include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

All of the recent studies show that you need treatment for both the addiction as well as the co-occuring diagnosis at the same time for your treatment to have the best chance of success. The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs are able to correctly diagnose and treat dual diagnosis conditions effectively. Paradise Recovery's staff are adept at diagnosing and treating individuals with dual disorders. We are here for you.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Opiate Detox. A Successful Start.

Opiate detox is one of the most difficult detoxes to have to endure. It is also a medically intensive detox for the drug rehab program that is orchestrating the detox. At least it should be. Common opiate drugs that people frequently become addicted to include Oxycontin, Vicodin, morphine, heroin, methadone, Tylenol with Codeine, and oxycodone, among others. The best drug rehabs will orchestrate your opiate detox in such a way that you will experience only mild opiate withdrawal symptoms. At Paradise Recovery, this is accomplished through the direction of a highly experienced addiction psychiatrist and internal medicine physician. The physicians work in concert with the acupuncturist and dietician to tackle the detox from several different angles.

Our experience with even very difficult opiate detox situations has been very positive. Please remember: the detox process is only the first step in your recovery. You will need a clear mind and clean body to be able to absorb the critical concepts you will need and to do the transformation work required for a lasting recovery. Give yourself some time to allow this to happen.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Individualized Treatment is Key in Drug Rehab

The most recent studies show that individualized treatment is the cornerstone to successful rehab from drugs or alcohol. The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs offer individualized care that is balanced with the other therapeutic modalities.

Let's talk about that balance a little bit. What I mean here is that individual therapy is one of the major components to a successful recovery. Studies also show that group therapy is a very important component when it comes to recovery. What we have then is a need to balance group and individual work. Individual work focuses on your specific core issues that have brought you to this point. There are certain warning signs and triggers that are specific to you and your risk of relapse. There are family dynamics that are special to you and no one else. These issues and more are all addressed in the individual and family therapy process.

On the other hand, addiction is a disease that is not unique. There are many aspects of the disease that addicts all have in common and all must face. Many of these issues are best addressed in group therapy sessions. There is a certain support and knowledge that comes from being involved in group work that can not be gotten from individual therapy alone.

When choosing a drug rehab, alcohol rehab, or addiction rehab center make sure that there is a balance of the right things that you are going to need in order to get on the road of a sustained recovery.

My Cat is an Addict... the Power of Addiction

Yes, my cat is an addict. To be specific, he is a sex addict. When there is a female cat around in heat, he becomes a different cat. It's not my cat. Must belong to someone else I think.... he is no longer the friendly, playful and loving being that he was. Now, he is completely focused on getting outside to mate with that female cat that is howling incessantly. He won't eat. He barely sleeps. He no longer grooms himself. He doesn't care about me anymore, the one who has loved him more than anyone.

As the loving father that I am, I had mercy on my cat. I had the family jewels removed in an unceremonious procedure. Now, he is happy again. He is loving, playful, and attentive. He eats and takes care of himself. I have my cat back.

Was my cat really a sex addict? Sounds kind of funny, but think of the human parallel. What happens with humans as their addiction spirals out of control? I would argue that the same thing happens with the human being as what happened with my cat. My cat didn't necessarily have a disease per se, but he did have a biological drive to reproduce that was rather overwhelming for him. He couldn't overcome it on his own. No one could reason with him or talk him out of his state of mind. Nothing could stop him, even though he was literally wasting away. Well, almost nothing... the orchidectomy did the trick this time.

Please don't run out to have an orchidectomy in order to overcome your addiction. It wouldn't work, of course, but ironically having a surgery would be much easier than what the addict has to do in order to maintain on a path of recovery. Fighting addiction is a battle. There is no easy answer. There is no easy solution. However, there are answers. And, there are solutions. Addiction treatment works. To have the best chance of success, look to the best drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs for help. The best rehabs will have a holistic treatment approach and they will work side-by-side with you to overcome your addiction.

Whatever you do, just get help. You can't do it on your own. There is no reasoning with addiction. There is no talking yourself out of it. Addiction is very powerful. There are other ways, however, which are clinically proven to be highly effective. Give this HelpLine a call and they will point you in the right direction: 866-478-9898. You have the power to dial the number. It is the first step.

Who are the best drug rehabs?

Simply, the best drug rehabs are those that are able to provide a holistic approach to your treatment. They will tackle addiction from every angle. They don't overly focus on just one aspect of the addiction.

Imagine if you took your car to the mechanic's garage because the engine was running too hot. The mechanics feel that the radiator is the problem because that's what they usually do if the car is running hot. They replace the radiator, the fluids, the hoses. A lot of time and money is poured into fixing the radiator. You take the car home and it is still running hot. There is no improvement.

You take it back, and they determine that it must be a faulty radiator or hose, so they replace everything again. But still to no avail. The engine still runs hot. You later find out that the mechanics only know how to change radiators. They don't know any other fixes. They never checked the thermostat or the oil level, which were the actual problems behind the engine overheating.

Many drug rehabs have one approach to treating addiction. They hammer away at that one approach. This is usually a group approach, often solely of a 12-step model. Often it is just not enough. Not enough of what you actually needed. It's not that the approach isn't good. Just like the mechanics who put in a perfectly good brand new radiator. It's just that your car didn't really need a new radiator. Of course, a new radiator is always good, but it didn't work for your car's particular problem that it was having.

The best drug rehabs tackle addiction from every facet. This is what is known as a holistic treatment approach: Group therapy. Individual therapy. Psychiatric intervention. Eastern medicine. Western medicine. 12-steps. Non 12-steps. Core issue work. Inner child work. Addiction is a deadly disease. It is best to have a strong team in your corner who knows how to fight the disease on all fronts.

Exclusive Drug Rehab and Personal Accountability

Sometimes people get the wrong idea about private or exclusive drug rehabs. They might think it is a spa or mini-vacation. Some people may think that personal accountability goes out the window as soon as they enter a private rehab. There may even be some drug rehabs that are very much like this.

In the best private rehabs, nothing could be further from the truth. The best private drug rehabs are those that take care of you but also expect personal accountability. You need to have personal accountability for yourself, your thoughts, and your actions in order to be successful in recovery. That accountability starts the moment you walk through the door in the best private rehabs. I didn't say that the surroundings are not nice. Or that the food is not great. I am saying that it is not easy. Recovery is a challenge. And personal accountability can be a challenge. You will have to work hard in rehab in order to be a participant in saving your own life. You will be personally accountable for your actions. Personal accountability can be as simple as needing to follow the house rules and as complicated as committing to attending meetings/therapy no matter what else is going on in your life. (Remember, "recovery above all else" is your new mantra).

Sometimes personal accountability feels like a real downer. It means accepting consequences for your actions. But it can also be a beautiful thing. Especially when it becomes the one thing that sustains a lasting recovery.