Do rehabs drug test? As a general rule, it depends on the treatment center. The entire goal of drug rehab is to help people recover from substance abuse. Because of this, it is normal for new clients to test positive for drugs or alcohol when they start treatment. Afterward, drug tests can help clients stay accountable.

Once someone has finished the detox process, they can choose if they want to be a part of inpatient or outpatient treatment programs. An outpatient rehab drug test is fairly normal because clients do not live at the treatment center. Instead, they get to go home each night.

An inpatient treatment center provides around-the-clock care. Because of this, it is very difficult for people to access drugs or alcohol while they are still in treatment. The freedom of outpatient treatment means that temptations are easier to find. To help clients avoid a relapse, many treatment centers offer a drug test for rehab.

Does Outpatient Rehab Drug Test Regularly?

Does outpatient rehab drug test on a consistent basis? It depends on where you go and the type of program. Research studies show that drug testing can increase the effectiveness of treatment programs, so many rehabs choose to drug test current and prospective clients.

An outpatient rehab drug test is especially common because clients can access drugs and alcohol when they leave the treatment center each night. By providing clients with a drug test, the rehab can encourage accountability. Rehab is only effective if you are actually following all of the treatment steps, so accountability measures can help.

In fact, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) says that drug testing is a useful part of the diagnostic process for substance abuse and mental disorders. The amount of the drug present can indicate the severity of someone’s addiction. These tests can also help medical professionals monitor the client’s ongoing status. Drug tests can help clients in the following ways.

• They help with the treatment program’s design. By learning about the severity of your addiction, addiction specialists can design better treatment programs for your needs. In addition, they can easily track your progress during the program.
• Tests can help family members trust you again. Unfortunately, substance abuse can destroy relationships with family members and friends. By getting regular tests, you can show loved ones that you are accountable and trustworthy. Over time, this can help you rebuild broken relationships.
• You can improve your physical health. Each time you get tested, a medical professional can use the results to determine if you need additional medical care. As a result, you can improve your overall health.
• Drug tests make sobriety more likely. When you know that you will be tested, it is harder to cheat the system. It is also incredibly good motivation to stay clean. Because of this, people are more likely to remain sober if they know that they will be drug tested on a regular basis.
• Tests are a source of personal pride. It is easy to feel doubt, frustration and other negative emotions during the treatment process. Each drug test is concrete proof that you have successfully completed another stage in your treatment plan.
• You can get positive reinforcement. Clean test results are a source of positive reinforcement. You can use them to show your loved ones, doctors and friends that you are truly sober. Becoming sober can be difficult, and drug tests can clearly demonstrate your success.

What Happens If You Fail a Drug Test in Rehab?

Do drug rehabs test before they kick someone out? Will you get a second chance? While each rehab is different, the response to a failed drug test is generally the same.

Failing an inpatient or outpatient rehab drug test is never a positive development. At a drug rehab center, addiction specialists and your peers trust you to remain sober. While many people fall off the wagon at some point, a failed drug test is a sign that the treatment center cannot trust you.

If the individual is in an inpatient treatment center, the only way to fail a drug test is by smuggling drugs and alcohol into rehab. At an outpatient center, failed test results can happen because of drug use at home. In either scenario, the treatment center will generally escalate treatment or remove the client from the rehab center.

Escalate the Treatment Process

After someone fails a drug test for rehab, most treatment centers will encourage an escalation of treatment. If someone seeks treatment, they have a 20 to 80 percent of relapsing in the long run. Meanwhile, people who do not get professional treatment have relapse rates that are closer to 80 percent.

Becoming sober is difficult, and addiction treatment centers are aware of this fact. Because of this, they do not want to kick someone out of treatment for a single mistake. Instead, most rehabs will encourage you to escalate your treatment program. For example, you may switch from an outpatient program to an intensive outpatient program or a partial hospitalization program. If you were already in a partial hospitalization program, you may be encouraged to switch to an inpatient program.

Leave the Treatment Center

If the client is not willing to escalate their treatment, the rehab will generally ask them to leave. Sometimes, the rehab will give them one more chance to follow the rules. If they fail a second drug test in the future, they may be told to permanently leave the rehab center. Rehabs have a limited amount of resources, so they cannot afford to spend precious resources on people who are not ready to become sober.

Will Addiction Rehab Centers Admit Me if I Fail a Drug Test?

Do rehabs drug test on the first day? Often, drug tests are incorporated into the intake process. By testing each person who shows up for treatment, the rehab can determine the extent of their addiction and their treatment needs.

When someone fails a drug test for rehab on the first day, it is generally not a major issue. Rehabs already know that new clients suffer from drug and alcohol abuse. Because of this, they expect many people to fail their initial drug test. While the rehab will care about your future test results, the initial test is just to see where you are currently at.

Additional Questions About Rehab

Many people feel worried and anxious about starting a rehab program. An inpatient or outpatient rehab drug test should not feel intimidating. In reality, drug tests are just additional tools that you can use to become sober. Other than learning about drug testing, you may also find the following questions and answers useful as you prepare for your treatment program.

How Many Days Does It Take to Detox Your Body?

The length of detox depends on the substance involved and the individual’s physical chemistry. In addition, the severity of the addiction can impact how long detox lasts. For alcohol, initial withdrawal symptoms can begin after a few hours. Then, these withdrawal symptoms will peak after about 72 hours. For other drugs, detox can take a week or longer to complete.

Once the initial detox is complete, individuals may still feel ongoing symptoms. For instance, some people experience fatigue, anxiety or brain fog for weeks or months after they become sober. In addition, cravings can appear for months or years afterward.

What Can a Urine Test Detect?

A urine test can detect a wide variety of substances. For instance, it can spot opiates, benzodiazepine, methadone, oxycodone, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and barbiturates. Additionally, alcohol can show up on urine tests and breath tests.

What Is the Shortest Amount of Time You Can Stay in Rehab?

In general, the shortest amount of time you will stay in rehab is 28 days. While there may be shorter programs available, you need at least 28 days of treatment so that the program has a chance to work. For the best results, you should consider an aftercare program or a 90-day option.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of an Addiction?

An addiction is a chronic disease. Because of this, it is never truly cured. Instead, addictions are said to go into remission. Individuals can manage their addiction and stay sober, but the addiction never truly disappears.

Start Your Sobriety Journey Today

Do rehabs drug test? Does outpatient rehab drug test before you begin? Ultimately, the answer to these questions depends on the rehab. While some treatment centers do not require a drug test for rehab, other centers request drug tests on a consistent basis.

Ultimately, the point of an inpatient or outpatient rehab drug test is to help you remain sober. It provides accountability and concrete proof of your success. If you have questions about the testing process or how rehab works, Long Island Interventions can help. To find out more information, call us today.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-05-12
Updated on: 2024-03-08

If you live in Long Island or anywhere within the surrounding area and know someone who is struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction, you will be pleased to know that help is available on a local basis. The Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Inc. (LICADD) is fully staffed with clinicians, social workers, educators, and care coordinators whose desire is to alleviate the pain and suffering that goes along with addiction.

Who Is LICADD?

LICADD was first formed in 1956. Originally, it was known as the Nassau County Committee on Alcoholism. At that time, many people considered alcoholism to be a moral issue rather than a treatable medical condition. The general consensus was that anyone could escape alcoholism if they only had enough willpower. One of the main reasons for forming the council was to educate people on the nature of alcoholism and to provide resources for recovery. Since that time, the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Inc. has grown into a strong, multi-disciplined organization that serves the entire Long Island community.

Programs and Services

The independent nature of the council allows it to offer a number of programs and services that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of Long Island residents. It operates in a dual role as both a healthcare agency and a nonprofit business. It also serves as an educational institution. The council is supported through voluntary contributions and is governed by a board of directors made up of community leaders, healthcare professionals, and interested laypersons.

What Does LICADD Do?

LICADD’s mission is to help those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse to recover and to provide the tools for sustaining that recovery. It also supports families who are dealing with a family member who has an addiction. Additionally, the council provides assistance to both employers and employees. Here are three of the initiatives and programs presently being offered by LICADD:

1. Advocacy

This initiative is designed to increase public awareness of the effects of alcoholism and drug dependency. Efforts are made to shape public policy and practices in order to benefit individuals, families, schools, and communities. Interactive relationships are maintained with local treatment centers and with larger organizations such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

2. Open Arms Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

This EAP is designed to help both employees and employers by offering screened referrals, crisis intervention, and substance abuse management. The goal of this EAP is to boost employee morale. The result of this is an increase in production, which subsequently provides benefits to both parties. EAP programs like this have been shown to reduce both employee absenteeism and workplace disruptions.

3. Family Services

This program provides education and services to families living with someone who has an alcohol or drug dependency. It deals with the disease itself, the effects on the family, the role of the family, and available treatment options. Sessions are held in a private setting so that family members feel freer to participate and ask questions. Family interventions are also available when a family member obviously needs help but continuously refuses it. Additionally, educational services are provided to students from kindergarten through high school.

What Are LICADD’s Strengths?

For more than 60 years, LICADD has helped to remove the stigma of drug and alcohol dependency through education. Their intervention programs have been highly successful in transforming the lives of both individuals and families. Through their charitable contribution efforts, they have been able to provide some of the nation’s finest programs for only a small fee.

Statistics Concerning Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Alcoholism and drug abuse is a widespread problem throughout the United States and in Long Island. During 2020 when the pandemic was in full force, the occurrence of alcohol-related deaths skyrocketed by almost 40 percent to more than 150,000 people. Drug overdoses also reached more than 100,000 people during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, as compared to the previous 12-month period. This represents an increase in drug overdoses of almost 30 percent.

Other Services Offered

In addition to its other work, the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Inc. also offers programs that deal with anger management and grief support because each of those is often associated with alcoholism and drug abuse. The anger management course lasts for 12 weeks and covers such topics as responding instead of reacting and developing defense mechanisms. The grief counseling program concentrates on the stages of grief and effectively navigating through each one of those stages.

Summary

If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or drug addiction, you may be depressed, thinking that your situation is hopeless. However, that is not the case. Local resources are available to help you recover and to be able to live a life free of alcohol and drug dependence. As previously discussed, one of those resources is the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Inc. Other resources, though, may fit your particular circumstances better. To learn more about what other resources are available, contact Long Island Interventions.

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Published on: 2022-04-29
Updated on: 2024-03-08

Alcohol is already bad for a person’s health when consumed on its own, and it can be even worse when mixed with DayQuil. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the risks associated with consuming cough syrup and alcohol at the same time. In some cases, mixing DayQuil and alcohol can lead to severe organ damage or even death.

If someone in your life struggles with alcohol addiction, then there is a chance that they might mix alcohol and cough syrup at some point. Therefore, in order to be ready in case this ever happens to one of your loved ones, you need to check out this comprehensive overview of the dangers of mixing alcohol and DayQuil.

What Is DayQuil?

Vicks DayQuil is the brand name of an over-the-counter cough syrup that contains acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine. DayQuil is similar with Nyquil. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) relieves pain and lowers fever. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant and is commonly used in over-the-counter cold and flu medications.

Phenylephrine is a decongestant, meaning that the drug clears the nasal passages and sinuses so that you can breathe more easily. All three of these ingredients are processed in the liver. People often take DayQuil to deal with congestion, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, minor aches and pains, runny nose, and similar symptoms.

What Are the Side Effects of DayQuil?

DayQuil and other daytime cough syrups are often marketed in a way that implies that they won’t affect a person’s energy levels. However, the dextromethorphan in DayQuil can still make a person drowsy. Which means a person who took DayQuil should not drive because of the drowsiness.

Other side effects include dizziness, anxiety, lightheadedness, headache, and nausea. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, then you should immediately seek medical attention.

Why Are Alcohol and DayQuil Dangerous Together?

Alcohol is processed in your liver, and it takes a lot of effort for the liver to properly metabolize the substance. This is why heavy drinkers often develop liver disease. Acetaminophen is especially taxing on the liver, and the other active ingredients in DayQuil are also processed in the liver. Thus, when someone mixes alcohol and cough syrup, they are bombarding their liver with chemicals that are difficult to process, potentially resulting in severe damage.

Other dangerous side effects of combining DayQuil and alcohol is high blood pressure, sleep disorders and hallucinations. Without prompt medical attention, an overdose on alcohol and DayQuil because of acetaminophen overdose can quickly lead to death. It only takes two or three drinks to cause harm when mixed with a normal dose of DayQuil.

Naturally, the extent of liver damage will increase as a person takes more DayQuil or drinks more alcohol. Aside from liver damage, people often become very dizzy and lose control of their motor skills after mixing alcohol and DayQuil, and this may cause them to fall and injure themselves.

Do People Intentionally Misuse DayQuil?

When consumed in large quantities, dextromethorphan can have psychoactive effects that some people find desirable. Thus, many people intentionally abuse DayQuil to experience hallucinations, euphoria, and dissociation, which is already considered as substance abuse.

If someone has taken more than the recommended dose of DayQuil, then they will often be confused, lethargic, or unresponsive. Other symptoms of DayQuil intoxication include numbness, increased heart rate, agitation, vomiting, and extreme dizziness.

Even without alcohol, ingesting high doses of DayQuil is extremely dangerous, so you must call an ambulance as quickly as possible if you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms. In case you suspect substance use disorder, opt for treatment options right away.

How Can You Use DayQuil Safely?

Generally speaking, DayQuil is a safe drug. However, just like any drug, there are safety precautions along with it. To avoid any untoward adverse effects, there are points to remember on how to use DayQuil safely.

Read the Label

People sometimes just drink cough syrup straight from the container. This is a very bad way to take it. While someone may think that they’re not taking too much, people often consume a lot more than they expect when they swallow it straight from the bottle.

To avoid taking too much, you need to find the recommended dose on the label. Once you know how much DayQuil you need, you must use the measuring cup that comes with the bottle. Otherwise, you may end up taking the wrong dose.

Avoid Other Substances

Alcohol isn’t the only substance that doesn’t mix well with DayQuil. Over-the-counter pain relievers, cold and flu medications, antihistamines, and many other drugs may negatively interact with cough syrup.

Many of these medications contain acetaminophen and other substances that are metabolized in the liver, so carelessly mixing over-the-counter drugs may lead to severe liver damage. If you take a prescription drug, then you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using DayQuil. Always listen to your doctor’s medical advice to prevent liver failure.

See a Doctor About Cold and Flu Symptoms

While DayQuil is generally safe to use over short periods, prolonged consumption of cough syrup at the recommended dose can cause liver damage and other medical problems. Therefore, if your cold or flu symptoms have not subsided within a few days, then you should see a doctor. They will give you the best treatment plan to ease your symptoms and overcome your illness without risking your health.

How Can You Minimize the Harm of Alcohol Consumption?

Binge drinking on alcohol may seem to be harmless at first. However, one drink leading to another is a red flag for alcohol addiction. Drinking alcohol may be minimized and it all starts with self-control. Here are ways to avoid the temptation of drinking too much alcohol:

Count Your Drinks

It’s easy for a single drink of alcohol to turn into a dozen of bottles by the end of the night. This is because people often lose track of their drinks when they go out. To avoid intoxication, you should set a hard limit for yourself and find a way to accurately track how many drinks you’ve had. If you aren’t confident in your ability to self-regulate your alcohol consumption, then you might want to avoid drinking altogether.

Avoid Other Substances

Alcohol can interact negatively with several street drugs, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. Therefore, you should avoid alcohol, pain relievers, and most other medications when consuming alcohol.

Even when there is no risk of overdose, alcohol may weaken your immune system or nullify the effects of many medications. If you’re already sick, then you shouldn’t drink until you’ve fully healed. Otherwise, it will take longer for you to feel better, and you may experience negative drug interactions.

Plan Your Transportation

Every day, nearly 30 people die in accidents resulting from drunk driving in the United States. Even a single drink can affect your reflexes and impair your judgment enough to make it dangerous behind the wheel.

Many people end up drunk driving because they didn’t plan ahead. If you’re going to consume alcohol outside of your home, then it’s a good idea to secure a ride before you start drinking so that you’re not tempted to drive drunk when the night is over. Perhaps you can call an Uber or arrange transportation from a loved one.

Avoid Risky People and Questionable Situations

Some people don’t have your best interests at heart. They may pressure you to drink excessively, use drugs, or engage in other risky behaviors. Although you may have the best judgement to stay safe when you’re sober, alcohol can impair your judgment and cause you to do all kinds of wild and dangerous things.

Furthermore, you should avoid drinking in unfamiliar places or with people whom you don’t fully trust. You’re a much easier target when you’re intoxicated, so you may be at greater risk of robbery or assault when you’re not drinking in a safe and familiar environment.

Take Inventory of Your Drinking Habits

Alcohol dependence often creeps into a person’s life. Thus, if you consume alcohol, then you should regularly reflect on your drinking habits. Has drinking caused any problems in your life lately? How often do you drink?

Do you get incredibly intoxicated when you drink? Do you find yourself regularly thinking about alcohol, bars, and parties? By consistently taking inventory of your drinking habits, you will be more likely to identify a problem and take action before your life spirals out of control.

Don’t Drink When You’re Feeling Bad

If you’re already in a bad mood, then drinking isn’t going to help. It may make you feel good for a short time, but you will be more likely to drink excessively and engage in risky behaviors when you’re not in a good mental state.

Moreover, you’ll just feel worse when you sober up. Bottling up your feelings is a recipe for disaster. If your emotional problems persist, then you should seek support from your loved ones and reach out to a mental health professional.

Is Mixing Alcohol and DayQuil a Red Flag?

Even if it’s an accident, mixing alcohol and DayQuil is a sign of a much bigger problem. People who don’t struggle with alcohol addiction can easily abstain from alcohol while taking DayQuil. In contrast, when someone is dependent on alcohol, they need to keep drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Consequently, they may inadvertently mix alcohol and DayQuil, and this could lead to complications. Consuming alcohol and DayQuil at the same time implies an inability to drink responsibly. Therefore, if someone close to you has mixed alcohol and DayQuil, then you should help them find an effective addiction recovery program.

What Are the Most Common Signs of Alcohol Addiction?

 Are you concerned that a loved one may fall in the dark place of alcoholism? Perhaps your loved one is in denial, but their actions is absolutely concerning. You should watch out for signs of alcohol use disorder and confront your loved one about seeking help. Here are the signs you should look out for:

Erratic Behavior

Even two or three drinks of alcoholic beverages can cause someone to lose their inhibitions. When someone is under the influence of alcohol, they may exhibit increased aggression, disregard for their own safety, melancholy, and socially unacceptable behaviors. DayQuil and other drugs may exacerbate mood swings and other abnormal behaviors when taken with alcohol.

Unfulfilled Responsibilities

Alcohol typically starts to play a more central role in a person’s life as their addiction progresses. They may stop going to work, attending family functions, showering, cleaning their home, and taking care of other responsibilities as they continue to drink more and more.

Alcohol also leads to depression in many patients, which may further exacerbate their inability or unwillingness to fulfill everyday responsibilities. The inability to fulfill their daily responsibilities may lead to unemployment or legal problems.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Early withdrawal symptoms typically start around six hours after a person’s last drink. These symptoms include fatigue, headache, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. After 24 hours without a drink, individuals with alcohol dependence may start to experience hallucinations, tremors, vomiting, and other serious symptoms.

However, although all of these symptoms are common signs of alcohol addiction, they are also common symptoms of other illnesses. Thus, you shouldn’t automatically assume that someone with these symptoms has a drinking problem unless they also exhibit other signs of alcohol dependence.

Slurred Speech and Poor Motor Skills

Alcohol affects a person’s ability to speak correctly and maintain balance. Consequently, people often start to slur their words or stumble around after a few drinks. Nonetheless, many individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction can mask these symptoms, so you shouldn’t necessarily take clear speech and good motor control as sure signs that someone doesn’t have a problem.

How Can You Help Someone Who Struggles With Addiction?

Once you realize someone in your life struggles with addiction, you need to find a way to bring it up to them. When speaking to someone about their addiction, you mustn’t act angry or judgmental. Instead, show them as much support and love as possible. They may deny it or even lash out at you, but you shouldn’t take it personally.

If you’re having trouble getting through to them, then you may want to contact an addiction specialist to find the best way to help them deal with their addiction. They may be tempted to overcome their addiction alone, but this might not be a good idea. Social pressures, severe withdrawal symptoms, and other complicated factors make it very difficult for people to overcome addiction without outside help.

For this reason, you should help them find a reputable recovery center in their area. Addiction treatment centers have skilled doctors, experienced therapists, and good facilities to help people get through their withdrawal symptoms and achieve sustainable sobriety. By helping your loved one recognize their addiction and seek treatment for it, you will drive them towards a happier and healthier life. Long Island Interventions is here for your loved one, we are one of the best treatment facilities in the country.

Find the Right Addiction Treatment as Soon as Possible

DayQuil is not your ordinary OTC cold medicine, cough medicine or fever reducer. Since it contains acetaminophen, overdose is a possibility and unfortunately it is abused for its sedation and dissociative properties. Which are both life-threatening and should be taken seriously. Addiction is a serious problem that affects millions of people around the world.

Without proper addiction treatment, individuals who struggle with addiction may face legal trouble, health problems, and many other serious issues. Therefore, if your loved one struggles with alcohol addiction or abuses DayQuil, then you need to help them find the right addiction recovery center before it’s too late. Contact us today and start the journey of living a better life.

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Published on: 2022-03-31
Updated on: 2024-03-08

Drinks are a common part of most social and professional events. Whether you’re at a birthday party, a wedding reception, or a networking happy hour, you’ll be surrounded by people drinking. And you’ll probably be offered a drink more than once.

Learning how to say no to alcohol at these events is crucial. The pressure and the temptation to accept a drink can be immense, especially when people respond to a refusal with ridicule or negative judgments. They may keep encouraging you to give in and relax with a beer, enjoy a glass of wine, or celebrate with a shot of vodka.

The following tips can help you avoid alcohol confidently and stick to your resolution.

Offer a Simple and Polite Refusal

Many times, you won’t be asked to give a reason for turning down a drink. Especially if you’re at a crowded event, people probably aren’t going to focus on your choices or give much thought to your reasons. There are various unremarkable reasons for not wanting to have a drink on a particular day.

If somebody does ask why you aren’t drinking, you may simply want to say that you don’t feel like it or that you don’t drink. You aren’t obligated to add anything more, and you don’t need to discuss your sobriety or alcohol use with acquaintances, colleagues, or anyone you don’t feel like opening up to.

Give a Plausible Reason

A polite refusal with no explanations is perfectly acceptable. However, in some situations, you may feel more comfortable offering an excuse, especially if people react with surprise or curiosity.

• Say that you need to drive. You may even volunteer to be a designated driver.
• Claim that you’re on medication. Many medications, including over-the-counter varieties, shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol.
• Let people know that you’re making some changes to your diet or fitness regimen. Healthy living is a major reason people cut back on drinking or completely abstain.
• Tell people that you need to remain alert for an upcoming meeting or for some work you have to complete later on.

The reason you give can be truthful, even if it doesn’t express your entire motivation for avoiding alcohol. And you can pick an excuse that doesn’t reveal much about your life. For example, if you feel that bringing up medications would cause people to speculate too much about your health, you can go with another explanation. You can also mention a medication that’s mild and common, like something for allergies.

Make a Joke

If someone asks why you’re refusing a drink, you may want to make a light-hearted comment. You can joke that you’d rather not have to be carried out of the building or that you have a hard enough time thinking clearly even when you aren’t drinking.

Depending on who you’re with, humor isn’t always the best approach. You also need to feel and sound comfortable when making a joke. But a light-hearted comment is sometimes a good way to deflect curiosity about your drinking choices.

Change the Subject

Whether or not you give a reason for turning down a drink, you may want to calmly steer the conversation to another topic, especially if somebody seems overly curious about your refusal.

For example, ask people about themselves. Maybe you have questions about their family, their work, what they’re reading, or the vacation they went on recently. People will generally be happy to share things about themselves, and they’ll find it a more interesting subject than your beverage choices.

If somebody keeps pestering you about your refusal to drink, you can sigh, shake your head, and say that you find it a boring topic. You can then bring up something else.

In most cases, people will go along with your change in topic, and they won’t pry further. If they do, you can repeat what you’ve already said. You can also walk away from anyone behaving rudely.

Have a Nonalcoholic Drink in Hand

If you’re already holding some kind of drink, you’re less likely to be offered one. Nobody even has to know what you’re drinking. Coke doesn’t need any rum, and sparkling water with a slice of lime can be free of gin.

If a waiter or someone else tries to fill your glass with alcohol, you can remove the glass from the table, cover it with your hand, or quietly shake your head with a polite refusal.

Remind Yourself That People Have Their Own Issues

Generally, people aren’t going to give you a hard time about not drinking. However, if someone mocks you or tries to pressure you, remind yourself that you’re not the one causing problems. The person giving you a hard time may have their own problems, and you aren’t responsible for how they behave.

Maybe they’re struggling to control their own drinking, or they hold the mistaken belief that people need to drink to fully enjoy themselves. They may have an issue with being overly involved in other people’s lives and not being able to accept different choices.

Regardless of the reasons, try not to take their comments personally. If they tell you that you’re killing the mood of a party or making other people unhappy by not accepting a drink, you can calmly reject their comments or roll your eyes at how ridiculous they sound. You can point out that belligerent remarks or accusations are what really ruin people’s fun.

Let People You Trust Know What’s Going On

Maybe you can open up to some people about any problems you’ve been having with alcohol. If you’re in recovery, you can let them know. There are multiple benefits to having people you trust on your side.

Once they understand why you don’t want to drink, they’ll know not to ever offer you alcohol. They can also give you solidarity and support. For example, if you go out to a restaurant together, they may choose not to order an alcoholic beverage for themselves.

Navigating tricky social situations becomes easier when you have the support of people you trust. If you’re worried about feeling tempted to drink on certain occasions, they can remain at your side and help you stick to your resolution. They can also help deflect other people’s drink offers without calling attention to you. Their presence will give you strength and encourage accountability, making it easier for you to turn down a drink.

Prepare and Practice

To help make yourself more confident, plan what you’ll say if people ask why you aren’t drinking. Practice certain responses ahead of time, and choose the ones you think will work best for different people and occasions.

Also, plan for how to respond to alcohol cravings. For example:

• Try not to position yourself next to a bar, a drinks table, or a wine cabinet.
• Talk to someone you trust at the social event, or reach out to someone by calling or texting them. Receiving another person’s reassurance and support can make you feel stronger.
• Take a quick break. Step outdoors for some fresh air, or splash some water on your face in the bathroom.
• If you need to, leave the event early.

You don’t have to feel obligated to attend every social event, especially if you’re in the early stages of your recovery. Along with skipping certain events, you may be able to find alternatives that won’t have any alcohol on the premises.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for further advice on achieving and maintaining sobriety, including in social situations that surround you with drinkers. You deserve to receive care, support, and tools for building a healthy life.

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Published on: 2022-03-26
Updated on: 2024-03-08

When it comes time to prescribe a medication to treat anxiety, medical professionals have two options. One is Klonopin, and the other is Xanax. Both medications are instrumental for easing symptoms of panic disorder, depression, and anxiety in the short term. Along with the positive attributes of these drugs, they also have a few negatives. For example, they both create euphoric feelings, and this increases the risk of abuse. If you or someone you love has become addicted to either Klonopin or Xanax, treatment centers have the ability to help you. The next step is to learn something about these drugs.

What Is Klonopin?

Klonopin is the brand name for “clonazepam,” and it is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are depressants, and they have the effect of causing the patient to become sedated. They also relieve anxiety, reduce seizures, and calm muscle spasms.

Klonopin works by counteracting chemical imbalances in the brain. Specifically, it works on the chemical imbalances that cause panic and anxiety disorders. Gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA sends signals to the central nervous system. When there is a lack of GABA activity, a person may experience seizures or panic attacks. If GABA activity increases, it reduces the incidences of panic attacks and seizures.
Klonopin stimulates GABA receptors in the brain, and the receptors block neurotransmitters and prevent feelings of anxiety when you are in a stressful situation. As a result, you experience fewer panic attacks and seizures.

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is also a benzodiazepine. It is known for producing sedative effects and relieving anxiety. It also binds to the GABA receptors so that the neurotransmitters cannot produce anxiety. It has the effect of reducing the amount of stress people experience in their daily lives. Xanax is known for its ability to allow people to sleep well throughout the night.

What Is the Difference between Klonopin and Xanax?

One difference between Klonopin and Xanax is that Klonopin is a long-acting benzodiazepine. This means that it has a half-life of 30 to 40 hours. Klonopin levels are at their highest after one to four hours have passed. Xanax, on the other hand, is a short-acting benzodiazepine, and its half-life is approximately 11 hours. Therefore, it only takes one to two hours for peak levels of the drug to be present in the blood. Another difference is that Klonopin comes in an orally disintegrating tablet. Xanax also comes in an orally disintegrating tablet, but it also can be prescribed as an extended-release tablet.

Klonopin vs Xanax: Why Are These Medications Prescribed?

Physicians prescribe Klonopin to treat panic and anxiety. It is prescribed more often than Xanax because Klonopin also treats epilepsy and convulsions. Therefore, it is prescribed for people experiencing seizure disorders and epileptic disorders, such as myoclonic seizures, absence seizures and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. It also treats the convulsions and spasticity of multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s Syndrome, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Xanax is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. These include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and anxiety disorder that is accompanied by depression. Physicians also prescribe it for patients experiencing panic disorders. Many times, patients also suffer from agoraphobia or fear of situations or places where the patient cannot easily escape a perceived dangerous occurrence.

Klonopin vs Xanax: What Are the Dosages?

Dosages for Klonopin

If Klonopin is prescribed for an adult to treat anxiety and panic disorders, the dosage will be 0.25 mg to be taken two times each day. If this dose needs to be increased, the physician can increase it to between 0.125 mg and 0.25 mg every three days until the patient obtains sufficient relief from panic. The maximum amount prescribed is usually 4 mg each day.
Physicians prescribe 0.5 mg three times each day for adults experiencing seizures. If the dose needs to be increased, the physician increases it to between 0.5 mg and 1 mg each day. The maximum amount never exceeds 20 mg each day.

Dosages for Xanax

Physicians prescribe between 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg to be taken three times each day for anxiety disorders. In the event that this is not enough to relieve the symptoms, the physician may increase it, but it must not be increased to more than 4 mg each day.
Whether a physician is prescribing Klonopin or Xanax, he or she will begin with the lowest dose possible. Then, the patient will be monitored regularly. Once the panic attacks stop, the patient cannot stop taking the medication because withdrawal symptoms may develop. Instead of stopping the medication entirely, the physician will slowly reduce the medication. This will be the case for both medications.

Klonopin vs Xanax: What Are the Side Effects?

Klonopin and Xanax both cause side effects, and they are listed below:

Klonopin Side Effects

Common side effects of Klonopin include the following:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Issues with memory
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Unsteady gait and shakiness
• Drowsiness

Rare side effects of Klonopin include the following:

• Difficulties with urination
• Problems with the menstrual cycle
• Reduced blood platelets that cause bruising and bleeding
• Insomnia
• Troubles with speaking
• Anxiety
• Abnormal movements of the eyes
• Sweating
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Thoughts of suicide or depression

Xanax Side Effects

The most common side effects include the following:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Weight loss or gain
• Appetite differences
• Pain in the joints
• Constipation
• Difficulties urinating
• Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness
• Becoming talkative
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Fatigue and drowsiness

Rare side effects of Xanax include the following:

• Severe rash
• Thoughts of suicide or depression
• Memory issues or confusion
• Hallucinations
• Changes in mood
• Seizures
• Poor balance and coordination
• Difficulties speaking
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin

Klonopin vs Xanax: Is One More Addictive than the Other?

Klonopin and Xanax both have the potential to cause users to develop psychological or physical dependence. However, the medical community determined that Klonopin has a greater ability to cause addiction than Xanax. The reason that Klonopin is more addictive than Xanax is that Klonopin causes a greater feeling of euphoria. Every time a person experiences this feeling, he or she wants to feel it again. Therefore, if someone takes Klonopin for a long period of time, it is likely that he or she will become dependent on it.
Tolerance means that your body is not responding to a drug in the same way that it did the first time the drug was ingested. Therefore, as someone takes Klonopin or Xanax over a period of time, the effects are not as strong, and the user needs to take more of the drug to experience the desired effects.
A tolerance to Klonopin develops faster than tolerance to Xanax. This may be because the effects of Klonopin wear off sooner than the effects of Xanax, so the patient needs to take more Klonopin to experience the desired feelings again.
Both medications are only prescribed for a short period of time. If patients need medication to relieve their symptoms for a longer period of time, their physicians will switch them to another course of treatment.

Klonopin vs Xanax: Which Withdrawal Symptoms Are Worse?

The withdrawal symptoms that Xanax causes are worse than those that Klonopin causes. The half-life is the amount of time that half of the medication needs to leave the body, so when a drug remains in the system for a longer period of time, the withdrawal symptoms aren’t as severe. Since Xanax has a shorter half-life, the withdrawal symptoms are worse. Xanax withdrawal symptoms include muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, tremors, hallucinations, convulsions and agitation. The worst withdrawal symptoms come after someone has been taking Xanax for a long period of time at the highest doses.

Klonopin vs Xanax: When Is One Better than the Other?

Klonopin and Xanax are very similar to each other, but it may be better for you to use one than the other. For example, Xanax cannot treat seizures, so it would be more effective for you to receive Klonopin if you are experiencing seizures. In the treatment of anxiety disorders, you will need to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both with your physician.
Which medication you will receive will depend on your medical history and your symptoms. Also, it will be important to discuss other medications that you are taking. For example, if you are taking other drugs that produce central nervous system depressant effects, Klonopin and Xanax may both interact with these medications. For example, if you are also taking tricyclic antidepressants or opioid drugs, there is an increased risk that you will experience respiratory depression or severe drowsiness. Some people have even died.
Other central nervous system medications may change the way that Klonopin and Xanax work, and they may lead to serious side effects. Examples of these other central nervous system depressants include the following:

• Pain medications
• Seizure medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Tranquilizers
• Sleeping pills and sedatives
• Antihistamines
• Cannabis

If you believe that a loved one has a dependency or you believe that you are dependent upon Klonopin or Xanax, a drug treatment center can help you overcome this addiction. Contact a treatment center, and the staff can give you more information about their programs.

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Published on: 2022-02-26
Updated on: 2024-03-08