December Blog

Happy New Year from all of us at Channah
Dec. 31, 2009

Everyone at Channah would like to wish you a happy, safe, and fulfilling 2010.

Christmas in Rehab
Dec. 25, 2009

Christmas in rehab can be a difficult time, you might be missing your friends and family, many people get depressed around Christmas due to pass disappointments etc. It doesn't need to be a terrible experience however, a world class rehabilitation centre will make it as comfortable and easy to deal with as possible. Remember why you are here and what you came for, the best gift you can give yourself and your family is the new clean you.

What to do after attending a drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme.
Dec. 23, 2009

So you have finished a drug or alcohol rehabilitation programme and are back at home. What can you do now to stay clean? The first thing you should do once getting home is seek and attend aftercare, a good centre will always help you with this. At Channah we locate a local therapist near you home and contract with them for you in order to be sure your aftercare is arranged and appropriate for your needs. Remember you might of just spent a lot of money, time, and effort getting clean of drugs, make sure you stay that way, there is no need to do it on your own, get help.

The Cost of Rehab
Dec. 16, 2009

When it comes to the cost of rehab there is many items to consider. Value for money is always important. There are very different levels of rehabilitation centres. From government run with limited or extremely over extended services to very nice 5 star resorts with huge compliments of staff to serve your needs. Before attending a rehabilitation centre you need to decide what you need and what you can afford. The number one question I receive is how much does rehab cost? When asked I send a full fee schedule with a complete breakdown of fees stating exactly what is included and what is not. At the end of your rehabilitation programme for drugs or alcohol the last thing you want is to get a large bill for items that were extras and you didn't realize it. With the wide spread in fees at rehabilitation centres around the world you will be happy to know Channah's fees are 1/2 to 1/3 of the fees at any equivalent centre in the USA or UK.

Drug Rehab
Dec. 8, 2009

When it comes to going to a drug rehab there are many choices. Do you want a 12 step program or a CBT program? Do you want something close to home or get as far away from temptation as possible? You will find many substance abuse referral services that will tell you they can help you decide. However what you really need is a place that understands what you are going through, can help, and are willing to listen to you. Referal services can be very helpful since they have access to many different programs and understand the differences between them and can hopefully match the program to your needs. As I have said in previous posts the best rehab in the world is the one that you go to, get clean, and stay clean. 12 step or CBT makes very little difference if it works for you. However this is a time of choice and you want to make sure you make the right one for you. Generally when someone asks me which drug and alcohol program would be best for them, I have to ask them, "do you believe that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease and the only way forward is to accept that you will never recover and always be a recovering drug addict/alcoholic" If that is what someone believes then a 12 step program might be right for them. However if you don't believe that drug and alcohol addiction is a disease and when you stop drinking you are no longer an alcoholic or drug addict, and that you are responsible for everything you have done, and everything you are going to do, then a CBT program is probably your best choice.

Signs of Drug Addiction
Dec 4. 2009

How to tell if you or a loved one has a drug abuse or addiction problem?
Different drugs have different effects on overall mental and physical health. However, the basic patterns are similar. More and more time is spent either acquiring or using drugs, even to the point of neglecting your responsibilities to family, work, friends, and just about everything else in your life. As addiction progresses, you might be finding it more difficult to function and your judgment might be impaired, even to extremely dangerous levels.

Signs of drug abuse and addiction:

Different drugs affect the body and mind differently. Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine increase your metabolism or "speed you up" your heart rate and blood pressure are increased. Depressants slow your body down. Drugs like opiates and benzodiazepines reduce your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and alertness, sometimes to extremely dangerous levels and even to the point of repertory or heart failure and death.

Some physical signs of use and abuse of drugs are:

Abnormally slow movements, speech is impaired, reaction time is reduced, are common signs of opiate, benzo, and other depressants being used.

Cycles of increased energy, agitation, restlessness, and an inability to sleep are common signs of cocaine, meth, and stimulant use.

Rapid weight loss or weight gain.

Cycles of little or no sleep followed by excessive sleep, sometimes for days.

Scarring and bruising at injection sights.

Chronic trouble with sinuses or nose bleeds for inhaled drugs

Persistent cough for smoked drugs.

Potential money issues for no apparent reason.

Rapid mood changes, up or down.

These are only a few of the signs to look for and seeing one or two of these signs is not necessarily an indication that someone is using or abusing drugs. Also not having some or all of these signs does not mean the person is clean. Many people function for years while in the grip of drug addiction with no apparent outward signs. If you suspect you or someone you love might have an issue with drug addiction consider speaking with your doctor or call and expert for advise.

Dec. 1, 2009
Best Rehab in The World

Many times I see the above title on my search engine report. It comes from people looking for help and searching on words such as "best rehab in the world". What exactly does that mean when someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol? I would like to put forward that the best rehab in the world is the one you go to, get clean, and stay clean. The best rehab in the world for one person might not be for another. So how do we make Channah the Best Rehab in the World for everyone? First of all we can't, however we can try our hardest to make it the best rehab in the world for the largest majority of people. How do we do this? It starts with treating every individual as a unique person with their own personal needs. By creating an individualized program for each client we stand the best chance of serving that persons needs in the best possible way. Some rehabilitation centers will do almost all group therapy that has to follow a specific set of rules and procedures. This might be appropriate for a minority of people but without a flexible approach you are not going to be able to serve the needs of the majority. At Channah we do daily group therapy as there is a lot of benefits to the groups, however we also supplement this with a minimum of 3 one to one sessions with a therapist weekly to individualize your program and serve your needs at your pace. For individualized programs, value for money, quality of care, accommodation, professionalism of staff, I believe Channah is one of the best rehabs in the world.