Ozzy Osbourne still fighting drugs and alcohol

Ozzy Osbourne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For those struggling with alcohol and addiction, know you're not alone when it comes to the very real threat of relapse. Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, still fights the fight every day and recently publicly stated that he did have a year and a half long relapse with drugs and alcohol.

This family certainly has had its recent problems but all the money and success are no guarantee that sobriety lasts forever.

What does need to last forever is the determination and commitment to get back on the sober path of the addict. Amid recent rumors that Sharon was divorcing Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy publicly stated that he was sorry to his family for his recent relapse and made sure he set the record straight that he and his wife Sharon Osbourne were not "divorcing."

 We wish him success in his efforts and may his family receive continued support along the way to help them too.

New one month shot for addiction approved by the FDA, shows promise

Logo of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2006) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a once a month shot that is reported to be a great help to those addicts currently struggling with various addictions. The drug is also available as a 6 month implant for a latter phase in the overall treatment of the addict.

The name of the drug is called Vivitrol and reportedly assists an addict by blocking the “high” the user gets if they have a relapse. This is particularly good news for those who have a high risk of relapse due to being unable to remove themselves entirely from former triggers that often are responsible for relapse.

The drug was tested years ago in a pill form with no real measurable success due to the fact the users were not remembering, or opting not to take the pill. This caused scientists to go back to the drawing board to find a better alternative. Alkermis, Inc. created a longer lasting version to the original pill. A recent study tested this new approach on over 200 opioid addicts in Russia and results revealed that over half of the participants stuck with the therapy during the 6 month trial.

Questions from our readers: What are the statistics for overcoming Heroin addiction?

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Well there are many variable factors that must be taken into account when looking at someone's ability to overcome any addiction. There is a significant risk of relapse for addicts of Heroin and other substances if the following situations are in place:

1. Returning to the same lifestyle
   In almost every recovery process an addict has to make huge changes in their lifestyle. In some cases an addict has to make radical changes which may include disconnecting from old friends, changing jobs, and avoiding or cutting off ties with family members that regularly use drugs, and alcohol. Some addicts choose to move from their homes and/or their state in order to assure their continuing sobriety.
   
   
2. Maintaining friendships with users and dealers
   
   Addicts usually can not maintain friendships with anyone associated with their former life that were directly a part of their descent into addiction. This means friends, partners, dealers, family etc. Continuing connections with these individuals almost always results in a relapse with an addict.
   
   
3. Financial dependance on former enablers
   
   Enablers do almost as much damage as a drug dealer does to the addicts ability to stay clean. Enablers should stick to offering emotional support and encouragement only and can not get back into the enabling role where they support the addict financially. It is too easy for both addict and enabler to slip back into the old habits. Enablers often need counseling themselves to help them come to grips with their very specific reasons that they choose to continue helping an addict in their illness. Many times enablers lack the proper tools and understanding to be able to suddenly quit helping an addict. Enablers are often caught in some sort of addiction themselves to the addict and their lifestyle and cutting off from that addiction for the enabler is often very difficult as well. This is why addiction is referred to as a “family disease.”
   
   
4. Failing to continue with counseling and recovery programs
   
   Once an addict is released from treatment they return to life and leave the safety of a controlled setting. This is where the real challenge begins in their success story. Many addicts will not maintain their sobriety when they stop attending counseling and recovery programs. Add this to a lack of familial support, goals and lifestyle change and you have all the necessary components to assure relapse.
   
   
5. Exposure to old triggers
   The first six months in an addicts life are the most precarious. Returning to old haunts, passing by familiar stomping grounds, seeing the same friends they got high or drunk with are all known triggers for relapse. Triggers must be avoided at all costs especially early in the recovery. There may be circumstances that force an addict to still encounter certain triggers beyond their control. In these cases it is imperative that the addict have a strong support system and maintain contact and attend meetings and aftercare programs regularly to help them with this problem. 
    
   
6. Lack of strong support with family and friends
   
   It can't be said enough, recovering addicts need a strong support system for their success. This may mean a certain amount of sacrifice on everyone's part. Sacrifices may mean avoiding drinking or certain activities yourself that may affect an addicts ability to stay clean and sober. Family gatherings generally have to be alcohol-free, even if your addict has never been an alcoholic, many that relapse simply switch to a new substance to become addicted to.

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• Does an addict choose to be addicted?
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New show on A&E television: Relapse

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AETV has recently introduced their newest addiction/reality show “Relapse”. RELAPSE is the new docu-reality series on A&E that follows sober coaches as they work to save the lives of addicts who have relapsed on drugs and alcohol. “Sober coaching” is a last resort for addicts who have tried other methods to get sober and have failed. South Carolina also has a vast number of resources for addiction as well. If you are currently suffering from addiction and live in Orangeburg, South Carolina, please see: The William J. McCord Center for help today. For more information about the specific services offered, or to make a referral or schedule an individual appointment, please call (803) 534-2328.

If you would like to participate in the new show “Relapse” you can do so by filling out this form at the official AETV site. This form may be filled out by either a loved one or the addict themselves. Please fill out as many fields as possible, as it will aid the producers of the show in selecting candidates.
Meet the coaches involved with the show “Relapse”.

SoberChampion.com
Doug Caine was a good kid - he went to school, got decent grades and made friends. He played music, made some recordings and toured nationwide. But Doug continually befriended the wrong people, entered the wrong environments, ended up shooting heroin; living a toxic lifestyle. Read more here

GwenCasellaSoberCoach.com

During her last time in prison, she was sent to a drug program called "Forever Free," where she met a counselor (her eskimo) who would profoundly impact her life. For the first time, says Gwen, she thought maybe there was a different way to live. She was 27 when she got clean and sober in 1997. Her daughter, who was three at the time, is now 17. Read more here.

pattypowersnyc.com
In 1972, 12-year-old Patty Powers was an Honor Student on psychedelics. By 15 she had dropped out of high-school and began working at a prestigious hair salon. In no time she had her own apartment, a brand new car, and had traveled alone to Europe where, in London, she discovered punk rock. It was 1977. The consequences of drugs were minor in comparison with the lifestyle she was living. Read more here.

thesobercoach.com
Seth Jaffe grew up in Queens, New York in a working class neighborhood. As a youth Seth was attracted to the kids who broke the rules, didn't listen to their teachers, cut classes and basically lived an antisocial life. This antisocial road that Seth took led him to drugs at an early age. Seth's early years were filled with heroin addiction, criminality, and incarceration. He has broken both arms and legs, and has been shot over a drug deal gone bad, as a result of his addiction. Read more here.

If you or a loved one needs additional information on drug abuse, support and addiction, see: .
The Addicted Family

Avoiding relapse in your recovery from addiction

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Many addicts and their family often encounter huge odds when it comes to addiction. However, many addicts do go on to do well without relapsing at all. There may be those that will relapse and knowing what can contribute to relapse is winning half of the battle. When we fall off the proverbial horse we must commit to get back on again, else we go nowhere.

There are many things we can do to avoid having a relapse or at least improve the odds of a relapse. Here is a list of things a recovering addict needs to know to make relapse less likely.

1. Avoid triggers- Triggers, are people, situations and , places where your addiction was allowed to flourish. These people are likely fellow users still using, or dealers still dealing or friends of those who are still addicted. Situations that are triggers are any that are stressful, or were stressful prior to your recovery.
2. Remember what you were taught- If you were lucky enough to get into a good treatment program, chances are you were taught a lot of life coping skills. Refer to their message, write them down and make them a part of your new credo.
3. Continue outpatient therapy- Many times an addict falls back into addiction from simply not having the proper support after the fact.
4. Consider moving- Many times old places, people and things are just too powerful as triggers to make continuing to stay in the same area a successful part of recovery. If you find that the temptations are too strong or beyond what you feel you can safely control, consider moving to a different area. You may also consider a stint at sober living as well.
5. Make new friends- You may have to establish a new network of friends, and the best places to do this is in drug and alcohol free environments.
6. Stay busy- This may sound over simplified, but steady employment, and even volunteering to help others is a great way to find new strength from within. It is important for a recovering addict to find their place in society among the giving and the productive. It does a world of good for their self esteem and their ego which may have been a big part of their downward spiral into addiction. Do not rule out going to school as another additional option. The bottom line is, in the world of sobriety lies a world of new opportunities and that is the new life, every recovering addict needs for true lifelong happiness.