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The controversy about Ibogaine will eventually titrate down to discussion level. For now, the mention of it as a treatment protocol seems to stir passionate discussion among all disciplines in the addiction treatment field.

Ibogaine has been around for over a century. It has extremely powerful neurological impacts and its current popular use is now touted as a quick and painless 24 – 48 hour Detox. Ibogaine is derived from a plant and has extremely potent hallucinogenic effects in addition to having the potential of eliminating the withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate cessation. A google search will reveal just how little is known about Ibogaine in clinical use.

Clearly not as toxic as the flesh eating cocaine scare, Ibogaine and its current clinical use has to be approached with caution. The United States classifies Ibogaine as a Schedule I drug and prohibits the substance from medical use. However, only four other countries in the world either heavily restrict or prohibit its use.

Based on a couple of decades of very limited research Ibogaine can accomplish a few things. It does show promise as an expedited Detox and does show neurological evidence that it disrupts the circuitry that promotes cravings. Ibogaine has its advocates and there are some facilities that have continually used this drug and there is clearly anecdotal evidence that it does help people break the addiction cycle.

It is critical to note that Ibogaine is not treatment. The deficit of research on this drug despite its growing use during the past decade is evidence that it’s long lasting effects to break addiction are negligible. This is a drug that can produce some extremely powerful psychological reactions and thus requires skilled application by medical and mental health professionals – that level of multi-disciplinary skill is not so common among those who administer this protocol. Detractors of Ibogaine submit that this is a hallucinogenic drug that can easily produce psychological damage and those seeking treatment are not carefully screened or adequately assessed regarding their resilience.

Not the miracle Detox drug that it might have been, with time and certainly more rigorous scientific study, Ibogaine is not another medication to launch into the trash bin. Ibogaine may have great potential to be part of the process that helps addicts get clean; but there is still a critical need for more comprehensive treatment and counseling to increase long term success.

S. Darcy
Vista Taos Renewal Center

Former bass player of Alice in Chains, 44 year old Mike Starr passed away in his Salt Lake City home on March 8th, 2011. Lately, Starr had been known for his substance abuse problems more than his music. He was on both Sober House and Celebrity Rehab within the past few years, publicly battling addiction. The toxicology report can take as long as two months before the cause of death is indentified, but a friend of Starr said he was mixing Methadone and Xanax the day he died. His drug rehab attempts had failed him.

In February, he was arrested for having pain medication on his person without a prescription. Charges were still pending. That wasn’t his first run in with the law, because of his behavior, he was fired by his band in 1992. In Houston, Texas, Starr spent time in jail for stealing luggage from the Houston Airport. He had experienced friends and fellow musicians around him dying from overdose through the years, yet he never appeared to take drug rehab seriously. Of course, rehabilitation is best in a private location, not posted on cable television for the world to see. Many celebrities who go on these reality shows that promise drug rehab success (and cash for appearing) do often continue with substance abuse problems.

Vista Taos Renewal Center provides drug rehab in a quiet, private setting with one on one therapies (along with group counseling) to aid a person on the road to sobriety. There’s no filming, no fan base to impress and no ratings to keep high at Vista Taos. Your only concern at drug rehab should be sobriety. Call today to learn about the benefits of private, personalized rehabilitation.

Alcohol can have a strong effect on virtually anyone, regardless of age or size. However, new studies show that people who have undergone gastric bypass surgery for weight loss fail to metabolize alcohol as effectively as they did prior to surgery, increasing their risk for intoxication, and possibly alcohol addiction.

During gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is reduced to the size of a small pouch, reducing the amount of food that is absorbed when it passes through the body. Studies were performed by having the patient digest a glass of wine within a minute, then using a breathalyzer to determine the level of effect the alcohol has on the person. Before surgery, the average breath alcohol level was approximately 0.024 percent. After surgery, the average increased to 0.088 percent, which is above the legal driving limit. The study also showed that instead of the 49 minutes it generally took to eliminate one glass of wine from the system, 88 minutes was the average length of time it took post-surgery. This means that not only would patients feel the effects of a small amount of alcohol much faster, but would feel it for twice as long.

The effects of alcohol on a person who has undergone gastric bypass surgery could be potentially dangerous. Because these people tend to feel alcohol much more easily, they could become more dependent on the euphoric feeling that alcohol provides since it is acquired much more quickly, and lasts longer. This could increase their risk for alcohol addiction, as the good feeling they receive lasts longer in their body. While 8 of 10 patients reported feeling some effect of a glass of wine prior to surgery, 10 out of 10 felt the effects post-surgery. This shows that some people, who may not have been affected by a small amount before, are now able to feel it more quickly. These new effects could open the doors to alcohol addiction.

Vista Taos Addiction Center is located in beautiful Taos, New Mexico. It offers support for those effected by alcohol addiction, and can assist those who have undergone weight loss surgery with their alcohol dependence before it takes over their lives. Contact a counselor today to learn how Vista Taos can help you.

Every entertainment news outlet is talking about the recent behaviors of actor, Charlie Sheen. Recently, his actions have cost him another failed marriage, the removal of his twin sons from his home and another run at rehab. This time, Charlie Sheen has said he wants to do drug and alcohol rehabilitation in his home, but recent reports are showing that it simply is not working for the actor.

He is now getting spots on television talk shows and radio interviews where he is slamming his CBS bosses, saying his hit TV show “Two and a Half Men” can’t survive without him. While the statement may be true, the producers of the show continue to say that if Charlie can’t clean up his act and speak professionally about the show and people involved, the show will be canceled. During a radio interview, Sheen ranted that if the show were to be canceled he would “go on to make movies with superstars.” He is in denial that his actions and addiction could actually cost him work.

Like the majority of those who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction, Sheen is in denial that his actions are wrong. It’s too easy to blame ex-wives, family and the work environment for addiction. When someone who has already had numerous stays at drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities falls off the horse, they blame everyone but themselves. Sheen said that the Alcohol Anonymous program, the program that helps people and families deal with alcoholism, is nothing but a cult that brainwashes you. Often, addicts need a solid 12-step program to help them get sober. Not to brainwash, but to reprogram the way their mind and body feels about alcohol, or any substance abuse issue. That’s what Vista Taos Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in New Mexico wishes to express to those who read this in search of help. The facility has only the best intentions for the patient and the family. 12 step programs for alcoholism prove successful when combined with expert counseling and complimentary therapies. Call Vista Taos Renewal Center to learn more about alcohol rehabilitation.

According to American comedian Mike DeStefano’s website, he’s a “stand-up comedian.” Before that, he was “a drug counselor.” Before that, he was a “drug addict.” Before that, he “was 12.” Sadly, DeStefano passed away on March 6th 2011, leaving behind his entertaining demeanor of making addiction seem comical, but serious in his own, special way. The cause of death has not been released, but reports are suggesting that it could have been a heart attack. He was assumed sober at the time of his death, but spent many years battling a heroin addiction. He lost his wife just a few years back, also a former drug addict. She died from complications surrounding her advanced form of AIDS, a result of sharing dirty needles.

After Mike DeStefano found his sobriety, he decided there was a calling for him in the world of addiction counseling. He worked hard to help others. It was during an anti-drug convention that he found a spot for himself in the world of comedy. As it poured rain, the event-goers were forced into a tent. He decided it was time to entertain the crowd, so he hopped on the microphone and starting ranting about drugs. They loved it and soon, his addiction counseling career was pushed aside as he pursued a career in entertainment.

Even when a drug addict becomes sober, the health risks can still be a reality. It is possible that DeStefano’s long battle with heroin addiction could have weakened his heart, causing him to suffer an attack. The sooner you quit, the better your chances of snuffing any health-related illnesses in your sober years after rehab. If you’re ready to seek addiction counseling and expert treatment from a New Mexico clinic just north of Santa Fe and a short trip from major southern cities like Austin, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: contact Vista Taos Addiction Treatment Center to learn how 12-step programs and inpatient therapy can help you get your life back.

Once again, Lindsay Lohan has stirred up trouble during her treatment process at a drug rehabilitation center in California.  She has been investigated for battery against a female staff member at the treatment center, but that report ended with the employee being fired for confidentiality problems.  The employee consented to give an interview about the abuse she received from Lohan, which was not allowed by the center.  Staff members are not allowed to give out names or information about patients staying at the Betty Ford Center.  

Sources state that Miss Lohan and other patients who are under order to remain in the care of the facility to receive drug rehabilitation left without the center’s knowledge to consume alcohol.  This isn’t the first time she has been a patient at a rehabilitation center.  She was ordered to return until January of 2011 for violating the terms of her court order for drunken driving.  Perhaps the center is not the best place for her to get sober.  When she was asked to submit a breathalyzer test, she allegedly attacked the staff member.

When a court order is put in place to make someone enter rehabilitation for drugs or alcohol, it can be much more beneficial than if the person is simply sentenced to jail time.  However, the person has to want to become sober.  It appears obvious that Miss Lohan has some dependency issues that are not being addressed or treated to the fullest while at the clinic.  Her next mistake she makes while on probation could result in an even heftier incarceration sentence. 

Vista Taos Drug Rehabilitation in New Mexico has helped so many people get the help they need to overcome their addictions.  There is hope for those who have an addictive style, like Lohan, as she is only 24 years old and has now been to drug rehabilitation five times.  Could this final stay be the one that keeps her clean?  It all depends on the patient’s desire to be an active participant in her treatment to achieve long term recovery.

Addictions to substances—like alcohol, recreational drugs, or prescription medications—are widely recognized by society and the medical community as genuine medical problems that require specialized treatment. But in recent years, a number of behavioral addictions have started to become well-known. For example, sex addiction was made famous by celebrities like David Duchovny and Tiger Woods, and Internet addiction is widely discussed in the media and everyday conversation. Who hasn't heard someone profess to have a “Facebook addiction,” or something similar?

Are these behavioral addictions the real thing? Is sex addiction as legitimate a problem as cocaine addiction? Opinions vary, but science is beginning to provide evidence that addictions can go beyond drugs and alcohol. Gambling addiction has been recognized as a diagnosable disorder for some time, and recent studies show that even behaviors like eating junk food and tanning can be addictive.

It is not uncommon for people with an addiction to one substance or behavior to have other addiction problems as well. Vista Taos is uniquely suited to treat people with multiple addiction issues—including those who are struggling with addictive behaviors—thanks to our commitment to providing every client with an individualized, multidimensional treatment program that focuses on healing the individual as a whole.