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The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” keeps its fans on their toes, but the drama hit home hard for Kim Richards. The 47-year old long-time costar of the reality series has battled alcohol addiction for seasons upon seasons, but she has never admitted to an alcohol problem. Until  now.

Richards recently admitted to alcoholism in a reunion show that aired in a three part series on January 30, February 6 and February 13. The Bravo show recounts the star’s struggles in a face-to-face interview with host Andy Cohen.

Cohen bluntly asks Richards, “Can you tell us what you sought treatment for?” Richards answers with some difficulty, “Yeah, I’m an alcoholic. I’m an alcoholic.”

Thankfully, Richards has received the initial alcohol treatment she needed, and as costar Adrienne Maloof said, she is now one step closer to resolving her difficulties with alcoholism. Richards’ sister Kyle may also become one of her biggest recovery supporters, since Kyle has made comments in the past about Richards’ excessive drinking.

As stars begin to seek alcohol treatment, there is hope that fans who may also suffer from alcoholism will be inspired to seek alcohol treatment themselves. Richards’ very public admittance to alcoholism could be a turning point in the lives of fans as well.

For those living in New Mexico, Vista Taos Renewal Center can be the saving grace in alcohol treatment that these fans need. There, alcoholics can receive caring support from an understanding staff along with treatment for underlying issues that may have contributed to alcoholism in the first place.    

Tragically, Whitney Houston passed away on Saturday, February 11th, at the Beverly Hills Hilton. The singer was found submerged in the hotel bathtub not even an hour after she entered, and emergency responders tried to revive her before pronouncing her dead at 3:55 p.m. She was 48-years old.

Known best for her legendary role as a singer in “The Bodyguard,” Houston also had a long singing and acting career, which won her 415 career awards over her lifetime. Hits include: “I Will Always Love You”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, and “So Emotional”, among several other top billboard hits.

Her success came with a price: Houston became addicted to drugs, including cocaine. Performances in the late 1990s and in the 2000s suffered after her marriage to Bobby Brown, a person believed to be an influence in Houston’s illicit drug use, and Houston fell from popularity.

After divorcing Brown in 2007, Houston made plans to complete a comeback tour, and in 2009, she finally admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she used drugs with Brown, sometimes daily. In May 2011, she checked in to a drug treatment center to obtain inpatient rehab.

However, it is known that she has battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol for many years, which included attempts at drug treatment and admissions of drug use to the press. There were prescription drugs found in her hotel room.

Moving forward through the aftermath of her death, we can look at Whitney Houston’s life as one filled with success; success in her career and success in attempting to complete drug treatment, an action that in and of itself proves a strength of nature. Please, find the courage to seek drug treatment if you have an addiction. This was likely an accidental death due to a combination of prescription drugs and alcohol; it can happen to anyone. Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico is ready to help you take that first step towards sobriety.

When 57-year old Steven Slevin was jailed for two years, he was never given a chance to attend a rehabilitation facility to conquer his alcoholism. In fact, he was not given a chance for many basic human rights.

Slevin was arrested in 2005 for stealing a car and driving while under the influence. Because he was depressed and potentially suicidal, he was tossed into a padded cell for three days and then sent to solitary confinement. He was never offered treatment for his mental health issues.

According to New Mexico’s Dona Ana County jail’s procedures, any inmate who is suffering from mental health problems is immediately sentenced to solitary confinement.

A doctor was assigned to Slevin at the beginning of his solitary sentence, and Slevin received medication without proper treatment. The doctor did not even see Slevin before dispensing the prescription drugs. When Doctor Zemek left the jail staff a few months later, Slevin’s care was assigned to a registered nurse, who continued to prescribe and increase the dosage of the “complicated psychotropic medications.”

Without proper treatment, Slevin’s health and mental well-being deteriorated over the two year stay. He was denied basic necessities, and sometimes his one hour of allotted time outside of the cell was not granted. Even basics like sanitary care were denied: upon release, his fingernails curled; his body weight had decreased to one-third of his original weight; and he had bed sores and a fungal infection.

Of course, without being granted basic care, it may be obvious that Slevin was also denied access to an alcohol rehabilitation facility. Had he been provided proper care and access to an alcohol rehabilitation facility like the nearby Vista Taos Renwal Center of New Mexico, Slevin may have become rehabilitated while in jail. Instead, he now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. It may be also safe to say his alcoholism, while suppressed during his jail stay, will return sometime in the future.

A new, very dangerous method for making the drug methamphetamine, also known as meth, has begun to cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The drug-making method is known as the shake-and-bake method because producers must pour dangerous chemicals together in a plastic soda bottle and shake to mix the concoction. The chemical reaction bakes the drug within the bottle, but it means that a slight mistake can make the mixture blow up in the “chemist’s” face.

Although this method is so dangerous that thousands of meth cooks are harmed by brewing the chemical drug every year, it remains a method of choice for a number of reasons. First, the chemicals used in the concoction are quite common and readily available. Second, the method can be employed anywhere, from a car to a stall in a public restroom. And third, the drug can be made in minutes rather than hours using this new soda-bottle method.

Unfortunately, the dangers of disfiguration, chemical burns and death don’t outweigh the ease of operation for many drug-makers, and hospitals and taxpayers have had to shoulder the financial burden of meth injuries. Many meth cooks are uninsured, so when an accident does occur, the typical $130,000 cost of hospital treatment alone (not counting rehabilitation costs) often either forces hospitals to close burn units or forces the government to cover the cost.

Meth addiction does not appear to be ending soon, though. Many of those injured in meth accidents continue on the meth addiction path, since the drug is so addictive. However, when those suffering from meth addiction seek help at a drug rehabilitation center like Vista Taos in New Mexico, they are more likely to kick their meth addiction and begin life afresh. Contact Vista Taos today to learn about the meth treatment program they offer as well as the complimentary therapies that provide comfort and ease stress affiliated with drug detoxification.

Citizens caught driving drunk in 15 US states may face the issuance of a vehicle interlock system as part of their penalty, effective Jan. 1. On the first of January, Connecticut became the 15th state to require the interlock system for all drivers – even first time offenders – who are convicted of driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit.

Other states also participate in the interlock program, to a lesser degree; 24 other states require that repeat offenders or highly drunk drivers (those with a BAC above 0.15) have the interlock system installed in their cars after conviction.

The interlock system is a device that is installed into the ignition of the car. When installed, the car cannot be started until the driver cleanly blows into a breathalyzer. A sober driver may drive; a driver influenced by alcohol may not.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the group that has most heavily pushed for the state-mandated interlock system, believes that the device can save lives. If a driver who is under the influence of alcohol tries to start his car, he will not be able to until he sobers up, meaning that fewer drunk drivers will be on the road to cause harm.

As more and more states join the current 15 who immediately issue interlock systems for any driver convicted of driving while drunk, more people speculate that other states will join the less lenient program – or even require the system be installed in all cars, regardless of a drunk driving conviction.

The interlock system is only one step to keeping drunk drivers off the roads. Helping alcoholics recover at a substance abuse treatment center is also integral to minimizing drunk driving. Substance abuse treatment centers can help alcoholics realize how much harm drunk driving can cause.

For more information about alcohol rehab, please call Vista Taos Renewal Center, a premier substance abuse treatment center located in New Mexico, one of the first states to require the interlock devices for drunk driving offenders.

Anxiety and opioid abuse are linked, according to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It seems the link works two ways: researchers have found that those who suffer from anxiety and mood disorders are more likely to abuse opioids, and those who are given prescriptions for opioids, like Oxycontin, are more likely to become anxious or suffer from mood disorders after taking the prescription medications.

These two links can become a vicious cycle. Patients prescribed opioids for a purely medical reason may continue to take the medicine after the medically induced need disappears, this time to treat anxiety or mood disorders caused by the opioid. Additionally, patients with mental health needs could become hooked on an opioid prescribed to assist with anxiety or other disorders or opioids obtained on the black market.

Prescription drug abuse, particularly opioid use in America is on the rise. Opioids have become the second most-widely used illegal drugs in the United States, after marijuana. This new research could shed some light on why the drug has become so popular, since opioids can both cause and relieve feelings of anxiety, depression, and panic. This is a dangerous recipe for addiction.

While prescription drug abuse is on the rise, drug abuse treatment centers like the Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico have been staying up-to-date on the newest research and treatment options. If you or a loved one suffer from prescription drug abuse, the best way to break the addiction is to attend a treatment center, where you can find the most current treatment options available. Let Vista Taos show you how to comfortably detox from opioids and learn to live your life without a dependency on prescription pain drugs. Vista Taos can also help patients with underlying reasons for addiction, such as mood disorders; the treatment process takes the entire person into consideration.

Hundreds of children and adults in need of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prescription medication have been unable to fill  them recently. Pharmacies across the nation are in short supply of the generic form of ADHD pills, the name brand of which are called Ritalin and Adderall.

This shortage is due in part to the drugs’ manufacturers trying to limit the supply of generic brands to maximize their profits in sales of the name-brand drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is also to blame; the DEA must set limits on the numbers of drugs that each manufacturer may produce, in an effort to decrease the potential for misuse among adults and particularly among college students.

College students have taken to snorting the ADHD medications because when non-ADHD adults take ADHD medication, the pills often have the completely opposite effect from their intended treatment. Instead of becoming calmer from the drug, non-ADHD adults can become hyperactive, which can result in an almost super-human ability to accomplish tasks. For the college crowd, this hyperactivity can help them study – often late into the night with cram sessions before big tests.  

For the DEA, the increase in the prescription pill misuse is difficult to control. The agency estimates that one in four adults who receive ADHD prescriptions may be faking symptoms. Once the non-ADHD adults have the prescription, they can abuse the pills themselves or sell them on the black market.

Unfortunately, the abuse of ADHD medication and the subsequent shortage of generic brands could continue for a while until the DEA can better police the misuse. Eventually, the DEA may be able to crack down on black market rings, but until then, users who need prescription pill treatment will have to seek centers like Vista Taos for assistance.

Reports are readily available with statistics to show that students who abuse these drugs in the name of getting better grades are actually doing worse in school before they starting using. There is no positive side to abusing ADHD medication. Don’t start. If you’ve already started, get help.

If you or someone you love is in need of prescription pill treatment, please seek out the assistance of a prescription pill treatment center  like Vista Taos Renewal Center.  Their expert staff can talk to you about their programs for prescription drug addiction; get the help you need before it destroys your life.

People these days are beginning to become addicted to hard drugs like heroin through legal substances like pain pills. With about ten percent of young adults reporting they have taken prescription medications without a prescription, DEA agents are beginning to crack down on the doctor’s offices that may prescribe medications too easily. 

In a sting operation earlier this year, DEA agents investigated many doctor’s offices that had been reported as easy prescribers. They found that some patients jump from one easy-prescribing office to another in search of narcotic drugs. The drugs were then available for young adults to purchase on the black market or pilfer from adults’ medicine cabinets.

Once these young people became addicted to legal narcotic drugs, they often found that drugs like oxycodone and Vicodin were too expensive on the black market. So many young adults sought cheaper illegal drugs that could offer the same kind of high, like heroin. In essence, legal narcotic pain pills have become the new gateway drug to heroin abuse.

Since possession of legal narcotic drugs is not illegal, it has been a little more difficult for the DEA to investigate the trend. Agents must dig deeper to determine whether a young adult in possession of a narcotic drug is a legitimate act of pain prevention or an illegal act of drug addiction.

Since drug overdose is the number one cause of accidental death in New Mexico, many rehabilitation centers like the New Mexico’s own Vista Taos Renewal Center have been focusing on helping people overcome heroin abuse and other addictions. If you or a loved one suffers from heroin abuse, you may wish to contact a rehabilitation center immediately; kicking heroin abuse can help many people live more meaningful lives. Don’t wait until it’s too late; jail is no place to detox from heroin. The detoxification process from drugs like heroin (and prescription drugs) can be very painful and even dangerous. Symptoms of withdrawal should be monitored by a medical professional during the detox phase. Steps can be taken; you can comfortably detox from heroin. Let Vista Taos help you safely get away heroin before it takes your life.

Charlie Sheen’s twin boys may have another troubled parent in their lives. The boys’ mother, Brooke Mueller, was arrested on Saturday, December 3, 2011 for assaulting a woman in a popular Aspen bar. Mueller was also in possession of cocaine, which she intended to distribute. Cocaine possession with intent to distribute is a felony.

Mueller is no stranger to drug and alcohol charges. In September 1996, she was arrested for driving under the influence. In March 2001, Mueller faced charges for cocaine possession, but since she had no drugs in her system, the charges were dropped. In May 2011, Mueller entered an outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, which she completed.

As the primary custodian of her twin boys, Mueller has been the more stable influence in the twins’ lives. Sheen assaulted Mueller on Christmas Day 2009, and his past drug and alcohol abuse has been extensive. Sheen has recently battled and overcome his abuse issues very publicly, and now he appears to be back on track in all aspects of his life. In fact, in August 2011, Sheen and Mueller vacationed together, and they have recently tried to resolve their conflicts.

Unfortunately, despite Sheen’s ability to turn his drug abuse around, his ex-wife appears to be on track to a potential cocaine addiction. At this point, since charges are only pending (until her court appearance on December 19), the twins still remain in her custody.  

It is hopeful that Mueller can get the help she needs for her cocaine addiction through a drug rehabilitation program, like Vista Taos Renewal Center. Getting her life back on track and battling her cocaine addiction could very well be the stability that her twin boys need.

At the end of 2011 a number of breakthroughs have occurred in the treatment of addiction. 

2011 saw the definition that addiction is a medical disease – a multi-decade effort made irrefutable by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) in conjunction with every other branch of medical science. There has been an emergence of research in 2011 underscoring the profound poisonous effects of ‘bath salts,’ ‘spice’, essentially 2 designer substances now illegal in all countries in Europe as well as the United States.

The most profound re-discovery is that there is no one cure for addiction – it’s clearly a very complex disease affecting the human body and brain in ways yet to be discovered.  The diverse branches of medical science will continue to discover and uncover the many ways that mood altering substances bombard the brain and body with toxicity as well as reveal a multitude of new ways we can heal from addiction.

Research was introduced confirming that children with high IQs are more likely to become addicted to illicit substances. This substantiates the belief among substance abuse specialists that addicts are typically bright, creative and exceptionally talented individuals.

The correlation between underweight and overweight teenagers and illicit drug use is confirmed.  Again, as the result of so much advertising and societal pressure we are given unhealthy messages about our body types, bizarre messages about what constitutes healthy food and very sparse information on preventing food and eating as mood altering behaviors for children, adolescents and adults.  However, there have been efforts by schools to limit – or even better eliminate – high sugar and high fat foods to students. 

Best Practices among addiction treatment programs now cite an increasing array of interventions.  While there is no one best path, there is a growing movement toward providing smaller scale treatment communities and more training and professionalism for practitioners.  2011 saw repeated research that the following therapies help addicts quit and stay quit: cognitive behavior approaches such as ‘Mentalizing’ and ‘DBT;’ holistic practices such as nutrition supplements like amino acid therapy, Yoga as virtually parallel in efficacy as SSRIs in treating depression and experiential therapy such as equine therapy and challenge courses continue to be extraordinarily insightful for people in addiction treatment.

2012 will be another year with more discoveries on treating addiction.  The breakthroughs in the neurochemistry of addiction have been exponential during the past decade and will continue as we learn more about the more subtle complexities of how our brains work.  More negative myths about addiction will be dispelled such as categorizing addiction as a moral or simply genetic dysfunction.  Strategies on healing the families and those affected by the addict will emerge as well as refining techniques already in practice.

In summation, it is clear that addiction treatment has advanced tremendously and will continue to progress through this decade.