It’s unbelievable to me that various states are fighting to keep their drug court funding. It costs far less to send someone to drug rehab than to prison and they get rehabilitated so they can stay off drugs, hold down a job and live a better life. They also stop their involved in the drug-related crime that affects so many lives in addition to their own and costs individuals, businesses, health insurance companies and the government so much money. When you consider that the majority of people who go to prison end up back in prison, the expenses are even higher. There are so many things desperately in need of the tax dollars used for prisons – all the money saved could be diverted to something other than locking someone up.

Nevertheless, lawmakers are threatening to cut drug court funding in Virginia (which has a serious prescription drug addiction problem and needs help more than most other states).

This is an issue the general public really should be up in arms about. It helps everyone – parents who are worried about their kids being exposed to drugs will have less to worry about, the environment will be safer overall, the cost of private health insurance could go down if we’re not paying for people showing up in hospital emergency wards because of overdoses or drug-related accidents – the list of potential benefits goes on and on.

As taxpayers, we have the ability to influence how our tax dollars are spent. If you don’t want our money to be wasted on systems that don’t work, like our penal system, get active – speak to your congressman to get them to back up drug courts, addiction treatment centers and other things that can effectively handle the drug problem.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Merry Christmas!!

We at Drug Rehab Referral have helped a lot of people over the last year. Thanks to their hard work in an addiction treatment center, they’ll be enjoying a sober Christmas – for some, it’s their first in many years. No drugs, no alcohol, and with new family and personal relationships that truly make the holidays the warm, joyous and fun experience they should be!

If you are among the millions of people who still have loved ones with a drinking or drug problem, even a problem with prescription drug addiction, contact us soon. No matter what you’ve been through already, no matter what you’ve tried or how hard you’ve worked at it, it is not a hopeless situation. Contact us, and we will find a way to help you.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Many people feel that a drug rehab center is the last place they want their loved one to spend Christmas. But for alcoholics and drug addicts, it can be a relief. One center in Canada even says admissions are higher during Christmas than other times of the year. It’s an ideal time for families to get together, do an intervention, and send their loved one to get some real help.

So, what about the idea that Christmas is a happy time when everyone lets by-gones be by-gones. Some experts say it’s a myth. And anyone who has an alcoholic or drug addict in the family would probably agree. The addicts are filled with guilt, the families are embarrassed and frustrated, and it often ends with recrimination and hopelessness.

Imagine the relief of knowing that the person you love will feel good about themselves this Christmas, and the family will feel they’ve given a gift that’s really life-changing. It’s not too often you get to give someone something like that.

Here’s the story of one alcoholic who is thankful she spent Christmas without alcohol and without guilt.

It’s not hard to find an addiction treatment center than allows visits from family and friends at Christmas – some even have their own celebrations and parties. Check it out.

Popularity: 20% [?]

The University of Georgia has the right idea about preventing and handling alcohol and drug addiction. They have a program called SAAF (pronounced ‘safe’ - stands for Strong African-American Families program), and its statistics show alcohol use reduced by 28% two years after starting, 25% six years after starting, and a decrease in sexual behavior problems, marijuana use, and caregiver depression. They also estimate that the likelihood of conduct problems was reduced by 74% – they checked that after two years.

They’re really changing lives. And that’s what it takes to get rid of or prevent problems with drugs and alcohol.

Unfortunately, the program is only for African-Americans. God knows there are just as many caucasians and other races that need the same thing.

How do they do it? With videos, games and activities, the parents learn how to monitor their kids and how to communicate with them and give them emotional support. The kids – both younger and older kids - learn to set goals, handle peer pressure, and build strong relationships with their parents and other adults.

The program also includes instilling pride in being African-American. Something I’m sure Obama’s election also strengthened.

Someone should Obama about this program so it can be used more widely.  And parents who are having trouble with their kids or want to form a better relationship should find out more about it. Even if they don’t live in Georgia, they may be able to get some helpful hints on how to do something like it on their own.

Parents whose kids are already involved in drug or alcohol abuse - or parents in the same position – should get into an addiction treatment center for help. A good alcohol or drug rehab program will actually address some of these issues.

But if your kids aren’t taking drugs or drinking, and you want it to stay that way, consider something similar to SAAF. It will do a lot more than curb alcohol and drug abuse.

Popularity: 20% [?]

If you want to educate your kids about the dangers of drugs, it’s a little hard when you don’t understand much about them yourself. StopMethAbuse.com provides a video that educates parents about drugs. Check it out – Truth and Secrets Revealed About Drug Abuse.

Even parents who took drugs when they were younger sometimes don’t realize how the scene has changed. They’re looking for certain signs and, not seeing them, think their kids aren’t involved. But did you know, for example, that kids hide drugs in drug parphernalia in felt-tip pens? Probably not. And did you know that there’s a legal drug on the market that can be bought over-the-counter in tobacco shops that causes hallucinations more severe than LSD? Probably not.

The video includes info on drugs like heroin and cocaine, but also covers tobacco and alcohol. Arizona kids have a serious alcohol problem. According to an official survey 24 percent of eighth-graders, 39 percent of 10th-graders, and 47 percent of 12th-graders drink.

However, considering that nearly half the adults in Arizona think it’s okay for kids to drink under parental supervision, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Does it never occur to the parents that if the kids are drinking at home they’re probably also drinking elsewhere? And what about others’ kids? How do they get home safely from the home where drinking was allowed?

If you don’t want your kid to end up in an alcohol or drug addiction treatment center, watch this video. Kids whose parents talk to them about drugs and alcohol are 50% less likely to use them. But you’d better know what to say. This video will help.

Popularity: 18% [?]

The family that plays together doesn’t look like they’re having a very good time. Redmond O’Neal, son of movie stars Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett, was busted for drugs and on probation. An apparently routine probation search uncovered methamphetamine in Ryan’s bedroom (Redmond also lives there) and drug pharphernalia around the house. Both Ryan and Redmond were arrested.

Ryan’s lawyer says Ryan doesn’t do drugs of any kind and he was hiding the drugs in his bedroom so his son wouldn’t find them. That’s the story right now – but they just got their court date moved up to January 9th, presumably to come up with something more believeable.

The obvious question will be why didn’t he just flush the drugs down the toilet or something? If he doesn’t do them and wants to keep them away from his son, why have them around at all?

They say it’s all a big “misunderstanding,” but this sad picture of father and son tells a different story. That’s one shamed father, and one reproachful and shamed son. Let’s hope they both get into an addiction treatment center that can really help them.

There are a lot of fathers who do drugs. Do you really want to bear the guilt of what you’re doing to your kids? If not, get into drug rehab. You can do it. Drug Rehab Referral can help you find a good treatment center.

Popularity: 14% [?]

When someone is facing losing their home, it is possible that they’ll also drink more and take more drugs. Not that either will do anything to handle the problem, but when you’ve worked hard to get somewhere, it’s hard to see it going down the drain through no fault of your own. 

Of course, drug and alcohol abuse only makes the problem worse. You can’t figure out how to solve problems when you can’t think clearly.

While it’s not likely that someone who doesn’t normally drink or take drugs, and who is determined not to, will start because of the economy, people who already depend on drugs and alcohol to handle their emotional state are likely to do so even more.

Families in trouble financially are going to suffer even more if someone starts drinking more or taking more drugs.

If someone you know needs help, call Drug Rehab Referral to find an addiction treatment center. Times may be hard, but they’ll get even worse with a drug or alcohol problem.

Popularity: 13% [?]