Drug addiction is becoming an increasing problem among women in Saudia Arabia, and there’s a new campaign in place to provide help for those who need it. Run by the General Presidency for Combating Narcotics, the campaign is focused on building awareness of the problem and providing education about resources and drug addiction treatment to women who are living with an active addiction.

Amal Khashoggi is the director of women affairs at the presidency. She says: “The presidency approved a plan for the awareness programs by providing social service specialists, school advisers and teachers with vital information on the impact of narcotics on the social, health and economic sides of life.”

Together with the Ministry of Education, the organization has presented workshops and lectures based upon numerous studies conducted about the issue of women and drug addiction in the Kingdom.

The hope is that if women learn the long-term health problems and risks that come with addiction, they won’t experiment with narcotics and other dangerous drugs. Additionally, they hope to be able to identify women who need addiction help resources and connect them with the services they need, according to their age and situation.

The organization does a great deal toward training the advisors who speak to women with drug addiction issues in order to help them guide these women most effectively.

Hana’a Al-Freeh is the director of the preventive unit in the women affairs department. She says: “The awareness workshops involved the participation of 60 women advisers, who learned skills and gained experience and were not only given information.”

The advisors even have pictures of narcotics and learn their effects so that they can better provide information and education to the women who attend their workshops and lectures.

Will it work? That remains to be seen. It’s a new program that has only just begun in a very few cities in the Kingdom. However, if the United States and other countries have shown, education is an excellent first step toward reducing the rate or new incidences of drug addiction and also helping current addicts get the help they need, reducing the rate of those living with an active addiction as well as the rates of issues that coincide with active addiction (e.g., emergency admissions, chronic drug-related health problems, domestic violence, et cetera).

If you would like to learn more about drug addiction treatment for women here in the United States, contact us at The Orchid today.

Arab women seeking help or attention in any way is not a common occurrence in the Middle East, but seeking drug addiction treatment – that’s a huge step given the cultural constraints put upon women. One drug abuse treatment center in Jeddah reports that about 200 women addicted to drugs sought treatment in one year, ranging in age between 18 and 43 years old. The women came from Turkey, Pakistan, Eritrea, Egypt, Yemen, and Palestine.

It’s hard to track numbers in terms of actual drug abuse and drug addiction in the area, especially among women. Reports say that though there is a lower percentage of women living with addiction in these areas than men, but a larger percentage of men seek drug addiction treatment than women. The Department of Girls’ Education in Jeddah released a study saying that about 20 percent of female addicts are secondary school students.

The center in Jeddah hopes that more women will seek help as they increase the number ads aired on satellite television.

Why Do Women Avoid Drug Addiction Treatment?

The reluctance to seek drug and alcohol addiction help in a formal drug rehab is not unique to Arab women. American women, too, are less likely to enroll in drug rehab than are men. Why? Here are a couple of commonly reported reasons women cite for avoiding drug treatment:

· Stigma. Women feel that there is greater harm done to them by the stigma of drug addiction and don’t like the idea of embracing the tag ‘drug addict’ by enrolling in treatment. Many continue to live without the help they need for years in an attempt to treat themselves.

· Childcare. Many women in America are the primary caregivers for their children or elderly family members. They don’t feel that they would have support for their children if they were to enroll in a treatment program, nor do they think that the benefits of treatment outweigh upsetting the kids by leaving for an extended period.

· Fear. Women who are fighting for custody of their children believe that their drug addiction will be used against them in court and that they will lose custody of their children if they admit to the problem by seeking treatment. Sadly, the damage done to the children as a result of continuing to live with a mother addicted to drugs is far worse than a brief separation to undergo treatment.

· Money. Women who work or have spent years working to build up their education and create solid career for themselves do not feel that they can put that on hold while they go to drug rehab. Unfortunately, many often end up doing irreparable damage to their careers and to their reputation as a result of their behavior and undependability while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

If you would like to seek treatment for addiction, The Orchid can help. We treat women who are prepared to walk away from addiction and create a new life for themselves without drugs and alcohol. Call now.

Journaling is a great way to process your recovery. It gives you the opportunity to vent about things that upset you in a productive way that doesn’t hurt your chances of making the situation better, explore your feelings about different options and future possibilities and to work through issues related drug and alcohol addiction recovery. Here are a few journaling ideas to get you started after drug rehab:

• Ask yourself a question. Pick a theoretical question, any question, and run with it. Does God exist? Is chocolate and marshmallow as good as chocolate and peanut butter? Is attitude important in getting what you want in the world? Whatever your question, explore your thoughts on the issue.
• Make a to-do list. Whether it’s a list for the grocery store, errands you need to run, people you need to call, or a combination, if you’ve got your journal with you, you may as well use it to help you get things done.
• Work the steps. If you attend 12-step meetings, journals are a great resource as you work the steps. You are often asked to assess your part in a particular issue or list people you need to make amends to or to explore past events. Even after you’ve worked the steps, you can always revisit the 4^th step or others that held meaning for you when the situation arises.
• Vent about something that bothers. Irritations will happen. People will piss you off. Rather than taking it out on them and making the situation worse, vent about it in your journal. It’s a much better outlet than relapsing.
• Talk about what happened in therapy. Personal therapy and group therapy sessions are great resources in recovery. Each session can give you a lot of food for thought. It will help you to make progress in your treatment as you work through what was discussed, be able to look back on what has happened in sessions, and create a plan for future sessions.
• Map out a budget. Money is of constant concern to most people, but when you’re in recovery is can be a high-priority focus. Use your journal to map out your budget and figure out how to manage your money now that you aren’t spending every cent on drugs and alcohol.
• Draw. Drawing pictures of what you see around you or abstract pictures that define your thoughts can be extremely therapeutic. Use your journal to draw with pencils, inks or even experiment with watercolors.
• Take pictures. Photography offers the same therapeutic effect as drawing and writing. Explore your view of the world and include some of your favorite shots in your journal.

Women are creative beings and using journals to explore different modes of creativity is an a great way to discover your authentic self in recovery. How will you use your journal to progress after drug and alcohol rehab? 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - this phrase applies strongly to addiction relapse prevention.  Women will certainly benefit from many standard practices of relapse prevention.  But they gain additional insight and support when they are in a drug rehab program designed specifically for women.  As one Orchid testimonial indicated, recurring relapse was a problem until she encountered the unique rehab experience tailored for women.

Here’s the Truth Relapse Happens

Relapse is certainly a common thing in addiction treatment.  And The Orchid Recovery Center does not perform magic or read minds to make their programs work.  They do incorporate their understanding of women into their treatment, probably more completely than other treatment centers do. 

Addiction relapse is nothing to take lightly.  A common “addiction attitude” is that you can do all this stuff by yourself, you don’t need anyone’s help.  While you can occassionally find a success story of someone who did it on their own, the risk is quite great.  The research and statistics strongly back drug detox and rehab as the best shot for addiction recovery. 

Drug Treatment With Relapse Prevention In Mind

Relapse occurs when the mind, body, and spirit are weakened and vulnerable.  In fact, it may only take one of these areas to be faltering to allow the long fingers of addiction to sneak in and get a good grip.  Keeping up healthy regimens and being proactive about overall well being will keep relapse at bay. 

The Orchid’s unique treatment approach is what sets them apart from other drug rehab facilities places you might choose.  They give close attention to the things that make women “tick”.  This can make the difference between frequent relapse and only occassional or rare relapse.  Relapse happens and can’t ever be completely prevented.  But the deeper and more personal your experience in rehab, the more you are going to take with you by the time you walk out the door. 

Here’s the key thing that makes a big difference at The Orchid.  The staff has planned the drug rehab programs to focus on the connection of the mind, body, and spirit.  And of course, the ways these elements connect for women are somewhat different for men.  Meaning and self-understanding are formed along emotional pathways for women. 

As the mind, body, and spirit are connected in these ways, women have powerful experiences in drug rehab.  The drug rehab aftercare available with The Orchid also provides an extended net of support as a woman progresses with her recovery.

Relapse Prevention Includes Nutrition and Acupuncture

Relapse prevention is a critical piece of the puzzle in the everyday schedule.  It is incorporated into everyone’s daily plan along with exercise, nutritional planning, individual therapy, and other treatments.  It’s not left to the end like a parting gift.  A woman with addiction must learn to be aware of relapse prevention every day of her life. 

Nutritional therapy helps to stabilize blood sugars and promote high levels of nutritious eating.  This puts the body in its best position to heal itself and adjust to a healthier lifestyle.  Acupuncture has also been researched and documented in relapse prevention programs.  It has shown to be an effective tool for prevention, and is offered as a treatment for all women at The Orchid.

Relapse Prevention and Drug Rehab for Women

If you are a woman with addiction, don’t take a chance with relapse.  The Orchid will equip you with nderstanding, healthy habits, and other personal tools to take a stand against relapse.

Drug abuse is a problem affecting every area of the United States.  Drugs have been around for centuries, changing the lives of women and their families.  Narcotic “tonics” were commonly given to women in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Women in the early and mid-twentieth century commonly used tranquilizers, and street drugs became more available to all by the later decades.  Alcohol has also been a readily available drug for years.  In the twentieth century it has become more acceptable, even fashionable, for women to drink.  No matter how it has happened, women have been affected by drug abuse for years, and it looks like this will continue in the future. 

Recent Drug Abuse Trends

Prescription drug addiction has come into the limelight in the last several years.  It’s come into homes of all income levels.  It’s affected everyone from teen girls to adult executives.  Easily created drugs like methamphetamine have already taken a strong hold in the country’s heartland.  Its influence is spreading rapidly through other parts of the country. 

Another alarming recent trend is the reemergence of PCP, a highly hallucinogenic drug.  It has been seen in higher numbers in a handful of metro areas in the last few years.

Difference Between Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction

The difference between drug abuse and drug addiction is simple but important  Drug abuse is the misuse of drugs, legal or illegal, in order to get high or intoxicated.  When someone abuses drugs, they may experience physical symptoms and a variety of social or legal problems.  However, they are able to stop or reduce their use by choice when their problems get too bad. 

When a person has a drug addiction, they are compelled to use because their body and their mind experiences great discomfort when they attempt to stop.  When this happens, the person usually resumes their heavy use to make the discomfort go away.  

An addicted person also spend a great deal of time, energy, thought, and money getting a good supply of their drug to have on hand.  There is no question of excessive and abusive use with an addiction.  The intent is to be completely intoxicated with the effect of the drug each time. 

Different Kinds of Drug Abuse

Marijuana and alcohol are commonly known as “gateway drugs”.  They are easy to find and are relatively cheap.  Once a person gets into using one or both of these drugs regularly, they are often more open to trying harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamines. 

Prescription drugs are easily abused.  Medicine like narcotic painkillers and Ritalin are just a prescription away.  Some people go to severl doctor so keep their supply up.  Also, kids have been known to start selling drugs by offering up their amphetamine-based ADD medications.

Drug Abuse Becomes Drug Addiction Needing Drug Rehab

A woman who is abusing drugs is dangerously at risk to develop an addiction.  This is especially true if she is having intensely emotional problems in her life.  Addiction usually forms through emotional pathways for women, so this is a particularly high risk factor.  If you or a woman you know needs to start drug rehab, contact The Orchid right away.  They understand and they can help.