Providing Treatment not Punishment for Addicts - Pathways Real Life Recovery in Utah

Why We Should Provide Treatment Versus Punishment to Addicts

Approximately 66% of Americans believe that addicts need treatment and not jail sentencing, according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center Statistics. The study shows that the way citizens view addiction is turning over a new leaf. The White House also supports the idea. In 2015, they proposed the drug mitigation strategy aimed at setting aside funds for treatment and prevention. The approach notes, “substance abuse is not only a criminal offense but also a public concern.” Past researchers have shown that addiction is both treatable and preventable as any other disease.”

Despite the growing support for the compassionate approach in combating drug addition, there is a strong need to change how we treat addicts. In most cases, we focus on what meets the eye, judging them as weak and immoral instead of identifying real problem behind their actions.

The following are three wrong approaches we use to punish addicts that need to stop.

Defining Addiction as Criminal Behavior

Addiction is a health issue, not a criminal one. When we put an addict in jail for minor crimes such as possession, much less for getting a felony for minor crimes, we inhibit their resources toward finding employment and housing in order to lead a successful life. Addicts commit crimes because they have no other resources available to treat their addiction, certainly not because addicts themselves are inherently criminal in their behavior. Jail time drains the taxpayer instead of helping addicts recover, and jail is not a good environment to find help. The funds used for incarceration and criminal activity if used to treat them could save billions. Moreover, it makes them accountable for their actions reducing their chances of going back to drugs.

Addiction Counseling / Root Causes of Addiction - 04/10/2018

Teen Suicide Prevention

Per the Center for Disease Control more than 5,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 took their own lives in 2015, making it the second most common cause of death in that age group. It was also the third most common cause for people aged between 10 and 14. High teen suicide rates mean that young people of all social backgrounds and ethnicities are at risk, and these tragedies are also indiscriminate to gender. Although boys are more likely to succeed in taking their own lives, the evidence shows that girls are at least as likely to attempt to do so.

Teenage - 03/27/2018

Pathways Real Life Recovery - Teen Suicide Treatment in Utah

10 Tips for Parents to Prevent Teen Suicide

It is sad to lose a child and even more heartbreaking to suicide. As a child develops, it may get difficult for parents to know their feelings and thoughts. Adolescence has its high and low moments. However, a parent may not know when a teen is depressed. It’s essential to learn the possible factors that could cause severe depression to your kid that they contemplate committing suicide.
Here are some tips on how you could avert your child’s thoughts from suicide:

1. Avoid Ignoring Suicide Threats

Do not underestimate early suicidal signs. Teens may indulge in substance abuse or merely isolate themselves from other family members. At times, the teenager issues verbal or written statements declaring their intentions to commit suicide. As a parent, you should take them seriously.

Often, kids mulling over suicide repeatedly inform their guardians and parents about it. Scientific studies reveal that such people don’t intend to kill themselves. Instead, the threats are usually a plea for urgent help and attention.

When your child starts issuing death threats, try to keep cool. Avoid displaying shock or scolding them. Spare some time to tentatively listen to your their concerns as you reassure them of your love and commitment.

Addiction Counseling / Children Therapy / Teenage / Therapy & Counseling - 02/23/2018

5 Ways to Change Negative Beliefs

Beliefs or Believes - Pathways Real Life Recovery
Sometimes the enemy within can be much more dangerous than outside forces. In fact, struggling with negative beliefs about yourself makes it all too easy to lapse into self-destructive patterns. That’s why breaking that no-win cycle of low self-esteem — and the bad choices related to it — is the first step to a more peaceful, productive life. Here are a few methods to help you get there.

Consider the Source

A loving family does not inflict harsh judgment on young children, nor do truly responsible teachers and coaches insult impressionable young people. If you were told you were lazy, unintelligent or homely as a child, remind yourself that those characterizations reflect badly on the adult who said them, rather than on you.

Assignment: Write a letter to a person from your past who damaged your self-esteem. You don’t have to actually send the letter but focus on describing that person’s unrealistic standards or constant judgment. The act of writing the letter will help you understand how those unfair words shaped you.

Confidence Counseling / Depression / Self-improvement Counseling / Stress Counseling - 12/04/2017

Anti-Anxiety Drugs Most Commonly Abused by People Under 30

Did you know the rate of overdose deaths from anti-anxiety drugs alone increased fourfold from 1996 to 2013? And there’s a common misconception that anti-anxiety medication is safe because it’s prescribed by a doctor?

But that’s not always the case.

Let’s take a look at a few anti-anxiety drugs most commonly abused by people under 30.

Addiction Counseling / Anxiety Counseling / blog - 10/11/2017

Why is Heroin So Addictive?

Heroin is one of the most extremely addictive drugs on the planet, and its use by Americans is rising.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of total heroin overdose deaths rose from 2,089 in 2002 to 13,219 in 2016. That’s an increase of 533 percent — a shocking number.

Naturally, the first question that arises from statistics like these is why heroin is so addictive? It’s obvious that those who try the drug have trouble getting off of it almost right away. What’s going on?

Before delving into the science of why heroin is so addictive, let’s first discuss what exactly heroin is.

Addiction Counseling - 10/10/2017

Most Inspirational Recovery Quote - Pathways Real Life Recovery, Utah

Inspirational Addiction Recovery Quotes

Sometimes the right words can lend us immediate and lasting strength. We’ve gathered a collection of inspiring addiction recovery quotes to help those on the path to recovery.

Addiction Counseling / Recovery Counseling - 05/05/2017

Tips for Overcoming Pornography Addiction - Pathways Real Life

3 Tips for Ending a Pornography Addiction

As with any addiction, the first step towards recovery is an admission that you have a problem. It’s always difficult, and may even be embarrassing or even shaming to acknowledge, but if you find that a compulsive need to access internet pornography and is interfering with your life, then it may be time to seek help. With the right counseling, these self-destructive habits can be replaced by more positive behavior patterns, and fortunately, this advice is now widely available. But there are also practical things you can do to help yourself.

pornography addiction - 04/14/2017

How to Overcome Pornography Addiction? - Signs of Pornography Addiction Utah

Steps to Overcome Pornography Addiction

At a certain point, pornography viewing ceases to be merely a bad habit and becomes an obsessive-compulsive addiction. Those caught in this cycle can recognize the stages in their pornography viewing habits. From the initial sexual thoughts, a feeling of fear and a desire to avoid watching are triggered; despite these feelings, the compulsion to watch pornography is too great, leading to a sense of shame and guilt after watching. While a person trapped in this cycle will vow to never watch pornography again, sexual thoughts recur and lead to another round of this pattern.

If you recognize these symptoms of pornography addiction in yourself, here are the steps you can take to overcome your addiction.

blog / pornography addiction - 03/31/2017

Surprising Teen Drug Use Statistics

For many teens, the years between exiting high school and entering their early twenties becomes a time of experimentation and rebellion against societal expectations. Often, this experimentation includes the use of drugs and/or other intoxicating substances. But the types of drugs and frequency of usage is changing for today’s college-aged teens. Let’s examine some trends in usage among this group.

Teenage - 02/27/2017

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