Etta James, the legendary singer, passed away this month, leaving behind a library of incredible music and a success story to inspire any woman in recovery. The 73-year-old singer infamously struggled with dependence upon multiple drugs during her career but ultimately overcame addiction. Unlike most who live through what she experienced with drugs, James did not die of an overdose or a health problem related to drugs but of complications of leukemia. Her story is a shining example of what can be accomplished with a life saved from drug addiction.

Drug Abuse and Women in the Workplace

Etta James’ fight is one that many women can relate to. The music business was one that did not value the contribution of women when James was first starting out. Perhaps in an effort to deal with some of the injustices she came up against in her career, James may have turned to drugs, particularly heroin, to escape.

In 1998, another female artist who came up during the same time, the late Ruth Brown, said: “No one who wasn’t there could understand how hard someone like Etta had to fight.”

Though her R&B hit, “At Last” hit #2 in 1961, it only hit #47 on the pop charts. The wider public didn’t notice James until her song was used in a Jaguar car commercial in the early 90s. When Beyonce played a character that was loosely based on her and sang her hit song, “At Last,” in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records, she again was in the spotlight.

Heroin Addiction: An Obstacle to Success

Though it can be theorized that James’ experience in the music business may have had something to do with her addiction to drugs like heroin, it may also be said that her struggle with the drug may have caused her to have more problems making progress in her career.

It’s a combination of hard work and luck that brought Etta James back into the public eye after her initial success on the R&B charts. For women who are currently struggling with heroin addiction, what can be learned from James’ story? If nothing else, had James not beaten her issues with heroin, she would have been unable to enjoy the renewed success of her song in the ‘90s and again in 2008, performing again and again for huge crowds who appreciated her talent and music.

If you are struggling with heroin addiction, don’t let it stop you from showcasing your talent to the world. Contact us today at The Orchid and learn more about our woman-centered rehabilitation programs. Call now.

Darryl Graves’ was a cocaine dealer in Lynchburg, Virginia, and a convicted felon, so when he decided to fire a weapon in his home, he ended up with multiple firearms charges as a result, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a weapon in an occupied building, and attempted malicious wounding. The alleged intended victim of that discharged weapon? His wife.

Cocaine Addiction and Violence

The court records say that Graves shot in the direction of his wife in the home that they shared in Lynchburg, Virginia. This one act earned him a total of 10 years with eight suspended for the shooting charges and then two years for having the weapon at all. But how did he get here in the first place?

Graves’s attorney says that cocaine addiction was the impetus for the latest issue. Graves was convicted for selling cocaine in 1996 and 2002 and though he received jail sentences for each of them, he still continued to abuse and sell cocaine after he was released. It’s well known that one of the effects of cocaine abuse and long-term addiction is irritability, angry reactions, and violent outbursts – and for Graves, it may have been part of the reason that he was unable to handle issues with his wife in a calmer, more collected manner.

Cocaine Addiction and Domestic Violence

Graves’ attorney also explained to the court that Graves’ cocaine addiction may have been due in part to his upbringing. He was raised in a home with both domestic violence and substance abuse, two factors that may have contributed to the development of those issues in his adult life. Selling the drug, according to his lawyer, is what he had to do to support his habit.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Graves’ attorney asked the judge to make the sentences concurrent, saying that with time to get the right treatment and to get away from the bad influences that were keeping him in his current lifestyle, he could make changes that would last and no longer be a problem for the court - or his wife. The request was not granted, however, and Graves will be expected to serve each of his sentences one after the other, no matter when or if he gets the treatment he needs.

If you are abusing cocaine regularly and you, too, suffered a difficult childhood, it’s important that you receive addiction treatment to help you deal with both the addiction and the early trauma that you experienced. Without treatment for both, legal problems, health problems, and more become a risk. Call us now to learn about the different programs we offer for women fighting cocaine addiction here at The Orchid.

Mindy McCready lost custody of her five-year-old son to her mother due to issues with illicit substance abuse, according to CNN. However, she made headlines recently when she took her small son from her mother’s Florida home and fled, refusing to return him for days and asking that he be returned to her custody because she feared for his safety with her mother.

Though the judge in the case made no decision about who should have custody of the child (the hearing was continued), it will be up to the judge whether or not McCready’s son is returned to his grandmother, given to his mother, or put into foster care. An emergency pickup order was given for McCready’s son and mother and child were found hiding in a closet a few days later; McCready’s son was then taken into custody by the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services.

McCready’s mother and stepfather have legal custody of her son, but she has visitation rights. Her very public struggle with addiction played a huge part in that development; the country singer took part in the 2009 season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1.

Fighting Addiction and for Custody

Though many women struggle with issues of child custody and volatile family relationships after drug addiction, it’s not an easy road to travel. The emotional stress of being without a child, the guilt involved with losing them in the first place, and the physical issues that come with drug addiction detox and treatment can make it seem like an overwhelming experience. The good news is that, though many women will fight the battle with addiction, many will win. The challenge then becomes proving to the courts that you are ready to regain custody of children who were placed elsewhere during your treatment – again, not a simple task, but one that can be managed with the right perseverance.

Staying Focused

Just like in the achievement of any goal, both drug addiction and navigating through the legal system and child protective services takes focus and commitment. There will be setbacks and surprise obstacles, as well as unexpected twists and turns – some positive, some negative – throughout both experiences. Staying focused on the goal of peace in recovery with your family around you is the only thing that will help you to get to the other side of the experience successfully.

If you would like to start your road to recovery with a comprehensive drug rehab program here at The Orchid, contact us today.

Opiate addiction – or dependence upon drugs like heroin and prescription painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone – has been a growing problem in Russia for years. Despite the government’s interest in correcting the problem and providing prevention and treatment to those who need it, they are adamantly against the use of evidence-based treatment protocols like methadone maintenance and Suboxone treatment.

Substitution Therapy Ban

In the United States, the effectiveness of methadone and Suboxone is well established through multiple studies and thousands of success cases. In Russia, however, that’s not the case. According to the Toronto Media News Co-op Russian experts say that: “The effective way to solve the problem of drug addiction treatment is an intensive search for and introduction of new methods and means that focus on complete cessation of drugs use by patients with addiction, their socialization into a new life style free from drugs, but not on exchanging from one drug to another.”

Naysayers believe that “substitution therapy” is nothing more than trading the object of addiction. They believe that addicts will continue to be addicts after treatment and that nothing substantive about their life and habits will change as a result. The evidence says, however, that those who use a controlled substance under the care of medical professionals have a lesser chance of overdose and can slowly lower their dose over time until they are completely drug-free, allowing them the opportunity to immediately begin to live a functional life that is not controlled by drug dependence.

Krocodile Abuse

The problem with avoiding well-known, positive treatments for opiate addiction in Russia is that addicts are left to fend for themselves, often overdosing, contracting HIV and other transmissible diseases by sharing needles, and creating new drugs that have effects similar to heroin but are less expensive – drugs like Krocodile. When heroin gets too pricey for addicts – most of whom live in poverty – they instead turn to homemade drugs like Krocodile. Similar to morphine, Krocodile, or desomorphine, it is made from codeine, which does not require a prescription in Russia, and actually turns the skin of the user scaly and green like a crocodile, an effect caused by gangrene and phlebitis. Krocodile users are expected to live only two to three years.

Fighting Addiction

In some ways, Krocodile is a substitution for heroin, but one that is devastating to addicts. In the same way, in the United States, those who can’t afford prescription painkillers often turn to heroin, which is far less expensive. If opiate addiction is an issue for you, rather than opt for a more dangerous substitute, consider choosing a positive substitution therapy at a medical rehabilitation center. Call us now to find out more about how we can help.

The pending closure of important Georgia drug treatment programs aimed at helping women break free from drug addiction has a number of people worried. Because the need for addiction treatment has not lessened, many are concerned about the impact to the community when help is no longer available – as well as the impact to the women themselves and the wellbeing of their families.

The good news is that private rehabilitation is available and can provide an even more comprehensive level of care and treatment for women who are ready to stop drinking and abusing drugs.

Federal Funding Cuts

Federal funding provides the backbone of support to a number of treatment facilities in Georgia and with the revocation of those funds, many will be unable to keep their doors open. The ones that advocate for female addicts and their children are in the spotlight right now because their far-reaching programs extend beyond the addict herself to the family she supports. Such programs offer long lasting results and could potentially save the state – and the country – hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future when mother and children get the help they need early on.

In total, about 14 outpatient programs and 80 openings in residential treatment programs may be cut from Georgia rehabilitation centers.

Neil Kaltenecker is the executive director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. Kaltenecker says: “Nationally, we know that about 13 percent of all state costs are because of addiction, whether that’s crime, whether that’s emergency room visits, healthcare, kids in foster care, unemployment, homelessness, all of those sort of social costs. That safety net just [will not be] there for these folks.

“We know that addiction is a family illness, it affects the families. So what we do in these programs is have therapeutic childcare where you’re teaching kids [and] kind of shoring up their strengths so they don’t have to go down the same road [of addiction].”

The Private Drug Rehab Option

Many who qualify for treatment at facilities that rely heavily upon federal funding may not think that they would be able to afford care at a private drug rehab. The fact is, scholarship programs are available as is sliding scale treatment for those with middle to low incomes. There are also financing options for those who can afford some now but prefer to make payments on treatment later.

If you are interested in traveling to The Orchid and experiencing our drug rehabilitation programs for women here in Florida, contact us today for information about how you can get started on the enrollment process.