RAMAR

1. RAMAR • SINCE 1980, RAMAR HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF RECOVERY FOR CHRONICALLY ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS IN NEED IN SUMMIT COUNTY. WE SERVE 14 MALES AND 14 FEMALES AT OUR CENTER WITH QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND RECOVERY SOLUTIONS IN A RESIDENTIAL AND OUTPATIENT SETTING.

2. CURRENT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT • THE LONGER AN INDIVIDUAL REMAINS IN • TREATMENT THE GREATER LIKELIHOOD • THAT THEY WILL E ABLE TO ACHIEVE • LONG TERM SOBRIETY. • 90 DAYS IN PATIENT • 4 WEEKS INTENSIVE OUT PATIENT • RELAPSE PREVENTION • 4 MONTHS AFTER CARE GROUP

3. ADDICTION • ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC, BUT TREATABLE, BRAIN • DISORDER. PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED CANNOT • CONTROL THEIR NEED FOR ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, • EVEN IN THE FACE OF NEGATIVE HEALTH, SOCIAL OR • LEGAL CONSEQUENCES. THIS LACK OF CONTROL IS THE • RESULT OF ALCOHOL-OR DRUG-INDUCED CHANGES IN • THE BRAIN. THOSE CHANGES, IN TURN CAUSE BEHAVIOR • CHANGES. • THE BRAINS OF ADDICTED PEOPLE “HAVE BEEN • MODIFIED BY THE DRUG IN SUCH A WAY THAT ABSENCE • OF THE DRUG MAKES A SIGNAL TO THEIR BRAIN THAT IS • EQUIVALENT TO THE SIGNAL OF WHEN YOU ARE • STARVING”.

4. WHY DO THEY KEEP USING? • 40% GENETIC – BLUNTED PLEASURE • CIRCUIT • 60% LIFE EXPERIENCE – PRIMARILY THOSE • IN SITUATIONS WHICH PRODUCE • EXCESSIVE STRESS (I.E. ABUSE, POVERTY, • ADDICTION IN THE HOME, UNTREATED • MENTAL ILLNESS).

5. HOW DOES THE BRAIN BECOME ADDICTED? • REDUCED DOPAMINE ACTIVITY. WE DEPEND ON OUR BRAIN’S ABILITY TO RELEASE DOPAMINE IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE PLEASURE AND TO MOTIVATE OUR RESPONSES TO THE NATURAL REWARDS OF EVERYDAY LIFE, SUCH AS THE SIGHT OR SMELL OF FOOD. DRUGS PRODUCE VERY LARGE AND RAPID DOPAMINE SURGES AND THE BRAIN RESPONDS BY REDUCING NORMAL DOPAMINE ACTIVITY. EVENTUALLY, THE DISRUPTED DOPAMINE SYSTEMS RENDERS THE ADDICT INCAPABLE OF FEELING ANY PLEASURE EVEN FROM THE DRUGS THEY SEEK TO FEED THEIR ADDICTION. • ALTERED BRAIN REGIONS THAT CONTROL DECISION MAKING AND JUDGMENT. DRUGS OF ABUSE AFFECT THE REGIONS OF THE BRAIN THAT HELP US CONTROL OUR DESIRES AND EMOTIONS. THE RESULTING LACK OF CONTROL LEADS ADDICTED PEOPLE TO COMPULSIVELY PURSUE DRUGS, EVEN WHEN THE DRUGS HAVE LOST THEIR POWER TO REWARD.

6. CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS • MANY, IF NOT MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE • ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS • SUFFER FROM ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH • DISORDER AT SOME POINT. • PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION AND CO- • OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS • MUST BE TREATED FOR BOTH DISORDERS • AT THE SAME TIME TO IMPROVE THE • LIKELIHOOD OF RECOVERY.

7. ILLNESSES THAT FREQUENTLY CO-OCCUR WITH ADDICTION • ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVE • DISORDER • BIPOLAR DISORDER • CONDUCT DISORDER • DEPRESSION • POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER • SCHIZOPHRENIA

8. WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED? • MEDICATIONS. • BEHAVIORAL THERAPY OR OTHER PSYCHOTHERAPY. • COMBINED MEDICATIONS AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY. • MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH.

9. TRAUMA INFORMED CARE • EMPHASIZES CORE VALUES OF SAFETY, • TRUSTWORTHINESS, CHOICE, • COLLABORATION AND EMPOWERMENT IN • EVERY FACET OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, • PHYSICAL SETTINGS AND RELATIONSHIPS.

10. RELAPSE: PART OF ADDICTION AS A CHRONIC DISEASE • RELAPSE HAPPENS AT RATES SIMILAR TO THE RELAPSE RATES FOR OTHER WELL KNOWN CHRONIC MEDICAL ILLNESSES LIKE DIABETES, HYPERTENSION AND ASTHMA.

11. WHAT LEADS TO RELAPSE? • MULTIPLE AND OFTEN INTERACTIVE FACTORS CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF RELAPSE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMONLY CITED PRECURSORS TO RELAPSE. • DRUG RELATED “REMINDER” CUES (SIGHTS, SMELLS, DRUG THOUGHTS OR DRUG DREAMS) TIGHTLY LINKED TO USE OF THE PREFERRED DRUG(S) CAN TRIGGER CRAVING AND DRUG SEEKING. • NEGATIVE MOOD STATES OR STRESS • POSITIVE MOOD STATES OR CELEBRATIONS • SAMPLING THE DRUG ITSELF, EVEN IN VERY SMALL AMOUNTS.