Did you know that there are around 20.5 million adults in recovery from addiction in the United States?

Recovery is possible, and finding the right drug and alcohol detox for Ohio is important to start your journey.

If you’re in addiction treatment therapy for Ohio, you’re in luck because Ohio offers some of the best addiction treatment programs available. Many of them offer medication-assisted therapy, spirituality components, individual therapy (typically CBT or DBT), group therapy, and family therapy.

But recovery doesn’t just happen while you’re in treatment. It continues after you leave and goes on every day of your life. In order to truly recover, it’s important to avoid certain things.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant, and it can create a high that makes you feel good.

Avoiding alcohol might feel obvious after exiting alcohol addiction treatment; however, even if you weren’t in alcohol rehab for Ohio but had a different drug of choice, you should avoid it because alcohol is addictive.

There are also medications and products available with alcohol in them that you should avoid. For example, Tylenol Extra Strength Liquid.

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications

From time to time, you may need to take prescription or over-the-counter medication. After exiting drug rehab for Ohio, most of the medicines you take will not be harmful to your recovery, and you should feel free to continue to take them if you need to.

However, there are a few that you should be aware of before you start taking them. In general, you want to avoid any drugs that are sedatives, mood-altering, or impair judgment.

Make sure you have conversations with your doctor before taking any new medication. Together you can weigh the risks versus the benefits. If needed, you can work with your doctor to find an acceptable alternative.

Pain Medications

Pain medications such as codeine and Vicodin can be addictive, even if you don’t take them for a long time.

If you’re in recovery from addiction, it’s best to avoid taking these medications. There are other pain medications that are not addictive that you can discuss with your doctor.

Allergy and Cold Medications

Some medications used to treat colds and allergies include dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine. These medications can create a high and change how your brain works.

Sedatives

Sedatives include medications such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Sedatives may make you feel calmer and more relaxed, similar to how you might feel before when you used drugs. If you’re in recovery from addiction, it’s best to avoid taking these medications.

Stimulants

Stimulants include medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine. These medications can make you feel more alert, awake, and focused. Taking stimulants can lead to psychological and physical addiction.

Caffeine and Energy Drinks

Did you know that caffeine can actually raise blood sugar levels? When you’re detoxing from alcohol, you can experience drops in your blood sugar levels. This can lead to replacing alcohol with caffeine.

Caffeine is addictive too and can cause a feeling of euphoria without the hangover you would get from too many drinks. It’s important to monitor the amount of caffeine you’re drinking to avoid replacing one addiction with another. This is especially true in the early days of your recovery.

Sugary Foods

With sugary foods, you encounter the same problem with blood sugar. The sugar can help give that temporary blood sugar spike, and you can quickly begin to crave these foods and become dependent on them.

Refined sugar will give you an instant blood sugar spike and create a crash. The crash will exacerbate mood swings too, and can develop a slight depression.

Preservative and Additives

When you abuse drugs and alcohol, your liver takes a hit. It takes time for it to regenerate and recover. It’s important to adopt healthy lifestyle changes that support recovery.

Avoiding preservatives and additives can help aid that recovery. Additives and preservatives can create intestinal changes that allow oversized molecules into your bloodstream.

Since your liver is already recovering from being overworked, filtering these toxins out can be difficult and make it more difficult to fight off disease. Instead, choose fresh and raw foods that are packed with natural enzymes. These foods can help your liver recover and boost your overall immunity.

Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes is just as difficult to quit as alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medications. When you’re already trying to kick an addiction, you might feel like there’s no harm in hanging onto your cigarettes. However, studies have shown that smokers are more likely to relapse when recovering from other substance abuse disorders.

There are a couple of reasons smoking might play a factor in relapse. First, cigarettes can act as a cue that triggers a relapse. This is because smoking can often accompany illicit drug use.

The second reason is due to nicotine exposure. There have been studies that have linked this exposure to cravings for opiates and stimulants.

Herbal Supplements and Weight Loss Medications

Everyone in recovery needs vitamins, but there are some herbal supplements you should avoid. For example, mood or sleep supplements like Kava.

You also want to avoid appetite suppressants and weight loss products because they can act as stimulants.

What to Expect from Aftercare Addiction Treatment Therapy for Ohio

Aftercare is an addiction treatment therapy that offers support to those in recovery after they leave an inpatient or outpatient treatment facility.

Interventions, therapy, and peer monitoring are all examples of aftercare.

Aftercare is essential to long-term recovery because it helps to prevent relapse. Aftercare helps people with an addiction establish a new lifestyle that supports recovery. Before you exit your drug treatment program, ensure that you have a solid plan in place for aftercare.

Get the Treatment You Need Today

Addiction treatment therapy for Ohio is imperative to start the path to recovery. However, even after you’ve exited therapy, it’s important to take the necessary steps to avoid a relapse.

Are you ready to start your journey with an alcohol and drug detox for Ohio? Contact us today to find out more about our programs.