Addiction related information and news from Solace

An explanation of the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Dentistry in Recovery: The Importance of Assessing dental health.

Meth, Crack Cocaine, Marijuana, and eating disorders have also contributed to oral illnesses. Tooth decay, gingivitis, and other chronic oral infections await the unwary addict in recovery. This is because dental illnesses may still pervade long after sobriety is achieved.

Herbal Treatment for Drug Addiction

The NHS (National Health Services) in the U.K. has noted that some herbal remedies may be unsafe for your health.

Cocaine Addiction and Treatment

In seeking that "high", cocaine use develops into an addiction due to tolerance. The damage results when cocaine replaces everything in life. At this point, the addict will need treatment to recover from cocaine addiction.

Treatment for Hashish Addiction

Hash or hashish is a drug made from the same substance as marijuana. It contains THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). As a result of that, it has acute addictive and withdrawal effects.

Sexual Addiction - A Controversial Issue

Is sexual addiction an illness worthy of any diagnosis? In the field of mental health, it is still a controversial issue.

The Matrix Model of Drug Treatment

The Matrix model is an integrative model for treating drugs. The model helps to treat drug addiction such as cocaine and methamphetamines. The Matrix model was invented by Dr. Richard Rawson.

The Solace Continuum: Unique and Scientific Aftercare Program

Addiction treatment and care, even as it helps to find the rhythm of your life, always runs the risk you going back to the state of chaos. It has a name: relapse. And at Solace Asia, it has a solution; it has a phrase: The Solace Continuum.

What is Codependency?

Codependency is an addiction to others. It is a relationship addiction. In the beginning, it was used only in reference to loved ones of alcoholics or drug addicts.

Trauma as cause for addiction

Survivors of trauma will thus suffer from post-traumatic stress illness (PTSI). PTSI is a comorbidity among addicts. This means that addicts could be suffering PTSI alongside addiction.

Overcoming Barriers to Communication in Recovery

In recovery, we learn how to overcome barriers to communication. It's like learning how to talk once again.

Life after Marijuana Dependency

Marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug (World Drug Report, 2015) but there has been very little evidence on what it is like being a user of marijuana who is in recovery. This brings upon the question of “what are the effects of heavy users who have abused drugs before who have currently quit using?

Addiction: How to discover it and how to treat it? Dialogue with the psychologist Specialist in the treatment of addiction Dr. Prem Kumar Shanmugam

Questions answered by the psychologist specializing in addiction treatment Premkumar Shanmugam in this interview

What are Central Nervous System Depressants? How does it work?

Central nervous system or CNS depressants are chemicals that slow down brain activity.

Acceptance In Recovery

Addicts do not suffer from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, nor behavioural addiction. These are merely symptoms of a life denied of acceptance. What's fundamentally at the root of addiction is a lack or denial of acceptance.

How Peer Pressure is a gateway to Addiction

Pressure here refers to any stimuli that pushed the addict towards an addiction. It could be that a family member or friend was abusing substances, and steered the addict towards it. Or it could be the absence of care provided by loved ones who were not aware of what was happening to their loved ones.

Who is a sober companion at Solace Asia?

A sober companion is somebody who is watching the addict when he/she is not in treatment.

New Age Addiction: Desomorphine

There's a drug that's capable of changing humans to become crocodiles or zombies. It's cheaper and easier to produce than Heroin.

Addiction Coping Mechanisms Part 1 - The Masks We Wear

Everyone uses masks to entertain their various roles in society. The masks people wear can be equated to the many hats we wear for the roles we play.

Personality Traits of Alcoholic Children

Growing up in an alcoholic home, will leave alcoholic children in roles that would cause a life of pain.

Binge Drinking as a symptom of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol Use Disorder or AUD is a problem. Anyone with a drinking problem who meets 2 out of the 11 question criteria of AUD will be diagnosed as AUD. This can range from mild binge drinking to severe alcoholism. In all this, binge drinking is a defining symptom of this illness.

Recovery and Humility

Recovery is about dispatching or sending the ego off. This will involve learning to be humble and patient with the self and others. It means replacing a life of fear for a life of love.

Drug addiction among young people / Adolescents in the Middle East.

Youths in the Middle East, face a mental health crisis. But, local attitudes towards mental health are scornful and judgmental. This is due to the conservative nature of Middle Eastern states.

Coping With Resentments

Resentment is to feel a feeling again. Anger kept long enough breeds resentment. It’s the obsession of an angry moment repeated time without number.

What is the serenity prayer?

The widespread use of the serenity prayer can be found in all 12-step programs. One would find that meetings usually start with the prayer and end with it.

Eels, opioid deaths and caffeine in Thames: A watch out call

Imagine this: the lord of death has arrived and is in a mood to award you a boon. It tells you, “Dear…, your time in the world is up. But given that I am on a high, I am letting you live. But death will come to you nonetheless. You can either die by overdose of opioids or by a motor vehicle crash. The choice is yours!” And the deity simply disappears.

Tramadol Addiction Treatment at Solace Asia

Tramadol functions as an opioid analgesic. It's a painkiller. It releases opioids such as endorphins into the user. Dependency to the drug can cause lifelong addiction.

Alcoholic Hepatitis – A Fatal Illness!

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and alcoholic hepatitis is a liver disorder caused by the overconsumption of alcohol.

The Cause of addiction in the LGBTQ Community: Discrimination and Trauma

Like institutionalised racism and sexism, many LGBTQs suffer from legalised "heterosexism". It is no wonder that the ratio for substance abuse between non-LGBTQs and LGBTQs has been reported as 3:10.

The Difference Between Medical and Non-Medical Detoxification

Drugs and alcohol take some time to exit the body's system. Detoxification is a necessary step in becoming alcohol and drug-free.

Religion and Codependency

Religions predispose people to codependence due to its theology, dogma, and organizational structure. Yet, once people can make the decision to be fruitful, honest, loving, and caring over the demands of their respective religions, their practice of religion, may in fact, ennoble them to be better human beings.

Addiction Treatment For Women

There's an imperative need to recognise ways in which women can be treated for addiction. In treating women, it's important to realize that gender, relations with family and friends; play an important role.

The Importance of Emotional Sobriety

It's not just addicts who dream about being emotionally sober. It's everyone's dream to be able to be calm in stressful situations. Yet, for the addict, such transformations to higher levels of emotional well-being is a must.

Community Service: Solace partners with Sri Emas International School

To teach and empower students of Sri Emas International School to make a choice and a difference.

Opium, Addiction Treatment and the War For and Against the West

The last thing you want is a parrot invading your poppy fields and eating your poppy! That is, if you are an opium farmer from India…

The Drug Issue in Southeast Asia: THE Golden Triangle

The Drug Issue in Southeast Asia: The Latest Updates from the Golden Triangle.

When An Addiction Doesn’t Look Like You Would Expect

When you think of an addiction you most likely think of addiction to drugs or alcohol, however addiction does not have to be related to a substance such as drugs or alcohol.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION ON THE RISE DUE TO COVID19

September 27, 2021

From financial and economic instability, to mental health disorders, the consequences of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid 19, are numerous. One of the often-overlooked consequences, is addiction problematics, which have been on the rise in Malaysia since the implementation of the movement control order.

How To Help A Loved One Who May Be Addicted To Alcohol

September 27, 2021

If you or someone you love enjoys alcohol, it may be difficult to recognize the line between use and overuse. Unlike drug use, alcohol is widely available and often accepted as the center of social gatherings and celebrations. Because of this, it can be hard to tell the difference between a friend who enjoys having a few drinks and someone who is on the verge of alcohol addiction.

Addiction Recovery is Possible

September 27, 2021

Those who are struggling with a substance addiction often think that they can handle the situation on their own.

Risk Factors for Addiction

September 21, 2021

When it comes to the likelihood of a person experimenting with drugs or alcohol developing an addiction, the playing field is not equal. There are a number of factors that affect addiction, most of which the individual has little to no control over. Here are a few of those risk factors.

Addiction and Brain Changes

September 11, 2021

If you have never struggled with an addiction, it might be easy to think it is just as simple as turning off a switch and saying “no” to the addictive substance.

Drug Addiction Fact vs. Fiction

Though we hear about drug addiction in the media and even displayed in movies or on television, there are many aspects of drug addiction that are misunderstood in our modern society. Let’s take a look at some common ideas surrounding drug addiction and parse out fact versus fiction.

Signs of a Drug Addiction

Most of the portrayals of drug addiction that we see in the media are extremely overt and anyone walking down the street could identify the individual’s struggle. In reality, drug addiction can be very covert and those closest to the struggling individual may not be able to readily identify that there is a problem, at least at first. Since early intervention is critical to reduce the impact on life, relationships, and work, identifying early signs of a drug addiction is imperative.

3 REASONS TO CHOOSE SOLACE ASIA DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

Epidemiologists on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, have warned that the next wave will be that of mental illness.

DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF 2020 WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR

Despite the hardships of 2020, we have a lot to shout out for. The challenges of 2020 forced us to implement innovative and unique ways of serving our communities in Malaysia and abroad.

How Addiction Affects Relationships

An addiction doesn't just affect the person struggling with the addiction; it also affects those closest to them. Whether it be a romantic partner, a parent, a child, or a best friend, the loved ones of those facing these challenges most likely feel the effects of the addiction as well. Here are a few of the common ways that addiction may affect relationships.

Signs of a Hidden Substance Addiction

Sometimes a drug or alcohol addiction is very easy to see but other times an individual may be struggling with a substance addiction and the signs are not as obvious as you would think. If you are concerned that your loved one might be struggling with a hidden addiction, here are some signs and symptoms to look for.

Drug Addiction and its Treatment in Malaysia

September 2, 2021

Drug Addiction in Malaysia has had an incremental history in spite of desperate measures by the government to prevent such things from happening. The ubiquity and pervasiveness of drugs has been due to the small time drug dealers who operate in the private spaces of the young due to having access to easier means of communication such as the ability to be online and connected through mobile and computing devices.

METHAMPHETAMINE REHAB IN KL AND MALAYSIA

September 2, 2021

Meth has become a considerable problem to communities in Kuala Lumpur and other states in Malaysia, resulting in widespread addiction. It is by far the biggest enemy on addiction in Malaysia. Read more on how we treat Meth Addiction.

Character Defects Or Flaws - A list of major defects.

August 20, 2021

Character Defects Or Flaws - A comprehensive list of the major defects. One of the main reasons why addicts suffer in recovery is due to their character flaws.

Sports Gambling - A Controversial Issue

August 18, 2021

Sports gambling is a form of betting on sports events. The higher the stakes, the greater the high. It has the potential to become an addiction.

Does smoking turn into a risky habit for addicts?

There are a number of reasons for ceasing the smoking habit, notably wanting to live a drug-free existence.

Sober Living - Does it help recovery?

A Sober Living setting is supposed to provide those who have left treatment with adequate structure, social support, and stability to face the world outside the walls of the rehab facility.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) And Addiction

Some addicts do not isolate on purpose. Some actually have an underlying disorder that predisposes them to isolation. Social anxiety disorder or SAD is a grim reality for some addicts. With addiction, it is considered a dual diagnosis.

Virtual Drug Deals - The cyber danger

Drugs can be purchased just about anywhere and by any means. It is not simply sold by scrawny, suspicious, dirty-looking street-peddlers, as the old cliché would depict them as.

Binge Eating Treatment

There are a number of treatment options available for Binge Eaters to overcome the problem of binge eating.

RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION AT SOLACE ASIA – AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR DAY IN TREATMENT

In this blog edition, we will write what you can expect during your stay in our addiction retreat.

Does Giving Up Drugs Mean giving up Smoking?

Giving up drugs does not necessarily mean giving up smoking – The Perspective of Smokers in Recovery.

SOLACE ASIA REDUCES ADDICTION REHAB COSTS

In conjunction with the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, Solace Asia is launching a one-month long campaign, offering addiction treatment at a reduced rate.

What happens after Relapse

If experiencing relapse is good for continual growth in recovery, why is it viewed as a failure in the process? What exactly happens after a relapse?

Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Alright for Recovering Alcoholics?

Recovery is a period of experimenting what works well for an individual. These experiments take on many forms; one of which is the alcoholic retreating to non-alcoholic beverages to soothe the sorrows of “not drinking”.

A Message from Dr. Prem Kumar Shanmugam of Solace

Six years have passed since the day I decided to establish Solace out of the need to provide a safe space where those suffering from addiction, could receive the treatment they most needed.

What are triggers?

Triggers are the stimuli that make an addict want to use again. They originate from the addict’s memory in active addiction. Triggers can be any sensation: sights, sounds, smells and touch. At an emotional level, triggers could be: anger, sadness, depression, anxiety and fear to name a few. Spiritually, or in essence triggers happen due to a lack of serenity and connection in one’s life.

I saw Quaaludes in Wolf of Wall Street - What is it?

The word “Quaaludes”, which is a brand name for Methaqualone is a portmanteau for the phrase “quiet interlude”.

Delirium Tremens and the Alcoholic

Delirium Tremens (DT) is a state of hallucinating, sweating unusual amounts (diaphoresis), fast heartbeat (tachycardia), hyperthermia, hypertension and agitation as a result of abstaining from alcohol over a period of time.

MALAYSIA HONORS SOLACE WITH A 5 STAR AWARD FOR HIGHEST QUALITY TREATMENT IN THE NATION

With eleven criteria used to asses each facility, Solace is proud to announce to have been awarded a 5-star rating by the National Anti-Drugs Agency Director-General CP Dato' Sri Zulkifli Bin Abdullah, ranking at the highest of its category in Malaysia.

How exercise aids in addiction recovery

Working out, going to the gym, pumping iron, yoga, Tai-Chi, martial arts, going for a run, a walk, crossfit classes, sports of any kind: take your pick!

Prescription Drugs – The Cure or The Curse?

The Legal Peril: Prescription Drugs – The Cure or The Curse?

Complications of Polysubstance Abuse

Drug addiction is a formidable foe. Needing an often-illegal substance just as much as you need food or water is not a nice thing, to say the least. Some addicts abuse one drug while some abuse numerous. The case is generally classified as polysubstance addiction when the number of simultaneously abused substances reaches three or more. Sounds like a sticky situation, right?

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN COMING TO OUR ADDICTION INPATIENT TREATMENT

Coming to treatment is an incredibly important step in your process in recovery for your addiction, be it alcohol, drugs or behavioral.

ONLINE ADDICTION TREATMENT DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Solace Asia has launched a completely online addiction treatment service simply called “Solace Online” to specifically help addicts as they are at a greater physical risk for the coronavirus as well. They often have weak immune systems and higher rates of infections and mandated self-isolation doesn’t work too well for the addicted, as social support is a key recovery element.

Healthy Boundaries when a Loved One is Struggling with Addiction

If your loved one is struggling with an addiction, you may feel at a loss as to how to help. By permitting addictive behaviors, covering up mistakes, or trying to alleviate the consequences of their addiction, you may inadvertently perpetuate the problem. Your loved one may continue to live in denial or think everything is under control if they are not aware of the seriousness of their struggle. One of the important ways you can help them is to set and maintain healthy boundaries. Here are some helpful tips to remember as you seek to love and help your loved ones well.

The Benefits of Internal Locus of Control

Some people are motivated by their inner resources, whilst others find outside inspiration to tag them along to the next part of their lives.

The Benefits of being Clean and Sober from addiction

Active addiction with all its perks and pleasures. Getting high and wasted. Why would anyone who is satisfied with that blissful existence want to change? That was how I thought 2 years ago, but using did not deliver one thing – Life.

When life has more meaning to offer, why not “live for life”

It has been a while since I last had a chance to sit down and put some thoughts together….

THE RISE OF SINGAPORE’S BINGE DRINKING PROBLEM

As social drinking becomes an acceptable norm, alcohol abuse has been on the rise. A nationwide study conducted by the Institute of Mental Health Singapore (IMH), found that one in 32 Singaporeans aged 18 and above suffers from alcohol misuse.

THIS MAY BE THE BEST TIME TO SEEK TREATMENT FOR YOUR SUBSTANCE MISUSE PROBLEM

With the current Covid-19 situation around the world we would first like to wish everyone to be safe and responsible during this time. With the extra time in your hands now, we believe this is the best moment to seek treatment for your substance misuse problem so you can return to your family in a healthy state of mind, body and spirit, free from addiction.

EASE OF REGULATIONS FOR MEDICAL TOURISM IN MALAYSIA

Foreign citizens can now travel to Malaysia for medical reasons.

MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE THERAPY IS NOW POSSIBLE IN MALAYSIA

In an effort to provide mental health services to as many as possible and come to the rescue to those unable to find support, Solace Asia has put together a team of mental health professionals offering online counseling and psychotherapy under the brand name of Solace Wellness.

Why people who invest or trade have a higher risk of addiction or becoming addicts.

Albeit true, markets are unpredictable and putting one’s happiness in the lap of unpredictability is just asking for trouble.

Anatomy of Addiction

The Origins of Addiction

Is Gaming Addiction Really an addiction?

Gaming addiction is a legitimate illness as it contains within it the neurochemistry of addiction.

Getting Back The “Natural High”

An informative article from Solace on how to get high - without drugs.

5 Different Forms of Internet Addiction

As a followup to last week’s blog post, now that you know about internet addiction, let’s dive deeper into a few of the different subtypes. Since some are less known than others, it’s important to know about all forms of an internet addiction to more readily identify if you or someone you love is struggling with one of these and seek professional help as soon as possible.

Why do people take drugs?

I was reading a Time magazine post about how Kay Warren, an American woman, fought drug use in her family. It is a horrible tale. Her younger brother fell prey to heroin addiction and pretty much lost everything. Then it took tons and tons of forgiveness, love and courage by that family to reclaim his life. He was virtually dragged back from hell leaving a trail of destruction and awe.

What is Aversion Therapy?