Category: Addiction

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What Are Designer Drugs?

Designer drugs are synthetic drugs created to mimic traditional drugs. They sell through gray areas in drug legislations—and can adapt as quickly as legislations change. For those reasons, they’re sometimes called “legal highs”.

Designer drugs carry risks health professionals and law enforcement haven’t fully realized yet. And designer drugs can evolve and change with relative ease, making all the types and variants hard to keep track of. 

But for each new designer drug, a way to heal exists. For example, you can go to rehab for designer drug use.  

What Exactly Is a Designer Drug?

Here, designer doesn’t mean fancy. The “designer” class of drugs just means someone designed the drug to act in a certain way1. It also means it was designed to skirt the law through cracks in controlled substance legislations. 

They’re sold in packaging that says they’re “not for human consumption,” which can keep their manufacturers somewhat safe from legal trouble.

Some designer drugs began as a research project2. Shady scientists can hijack the research made on the brain and tailor a drug to have a particular reaction. Designer drugs originated overseas, produced in places like China and Europe before shipping to America. 

Young teens and military members use designer drugs1 more often since they don’t always appear in drug tests. The packaging and names of designer drugs also cater to young teens, with bright colors, fun designs, and names like Green Giant and Joker.

Are Designer Drugs The Same As Synthetic Drugs?

Synthetic drugs don’t always have illegal connotations, as designer drugs do. For example, morphine is a synthetic drug. Though someone could abuse it, morphine wasn’t designed, manufactured, and sold with that in mind. 

Designer drugs specifically mimic other illegal drugs—but with chemical properties most toxicology screens won’t notice. Chemicals like fentanyl, morphine, and LSD would show.

And like any other drug, natural or synthetic, designer drugs come with a unique set of risks and side effects.

Common Risks And Side Effects of Designer Drug Use

No drug is without risk. But for designer drugs, their sneaky manufacturing and profit-motivated sellers create problems we’re yet to fully understand.

For example, most designer drug users don’t take just one2. They may combine 2 or more designer stimulants, or make a speedball with a depressant and stimulant. The process of making designer drugs hasn’t been regulated in any way either, meaning you could take a much higher dose than intended or something you never meant to take. 

The general side effects of designer drug3 use include

  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Seizures
  • Hyperthermia
  • Psychosis
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia
  • Hypertension
  • Heart attack
  • Kidney failure
  • Tachycardia

The more precise effects of designer drugs vary based on the kind you take. 

The 7 Different Types of Designer Drugs

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)4 recognizes 7 different kinds of designer drugs. They might add more in the future, but for now, these 7 are what they’ve been able to identify.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Most synthetic cannabinoids began as an innocent research project5. Synthetic cannabinoids affect receptors throughout the body in the same way as THC (found in marijuana). It creates an elevated mood and sense of relaxation5. Almost all synthetic cannabinoids go by the street name Spice.

Compared to natural marijuana, Spice usually has a stronger effect5 and higher potential for toxicity. 

The chemical compound of Spice coats plant material, making it look like marijuana. You can smoke Spice like regular weed, snort it, or eat it. Its side effects include acute psychosis, anxiety, tachycardia, confusion, paranoia, and delusions. 

Phenethylamines

Phenethylamines are synthetic hallucinogens6, called 2Cs for their 2 connecting carbon molecules. Other street names include N-Bomb, based on the chemical name 25I-NBOMe. They communicate with serotonin receptors in the brain7. 

Phenethylamines recently hit the U.S. market after they were made to research serotonin receptors7. You can snort, smoke, inject, or swallow N-Bomb as a liquid or powder. After use, side effects like depersonalization, delirium, extreme confusion, violence, tachycardia, hyperreflexia, bizarre behavior, and heart failure can occur. 

Arylcyclohexylamines

Arylcyclohexylamines cause a dissociative high. The drug compounds of arylcyclohexylamines include ketamine, phencyclidines (PCP)8, and more. PCP goes by the street name “angel dust” as it’s typically “dusted” over marijuana and tobacco before smoking. Many synthetic arylcyclohexylamines were originally designed as anesthetics. PCP began that way too, before retiring to a veterinary anesthetic for its side effects. 

Ketamine isn’t as strong as PCP but still has addictive potential, especially at higher doses. Smaller doses, however, can be therapeutic. 

These designer drugs can cause violent behavior, hallucinations, amnesia, coma, ataxia, catatonia, and tachycardia. 

Tryptamines

Everyone has naturally occurring tryptamines—serotonin, melatonin, and others. But synthetic tryptamines act as hallucinogens9. They typically mimic the effects of LSD and DMT (psychedelic found in plants and animals). Street names include “Foxy”, “Foxy-Methoxy”, “Alpha-O”, and “5-MEO”. 

Tryptamines cause hallucinations and some stimulant effects9. They can also cause agitation, muscle tension, death, and rhabdomyolysis. Designer tryptamines come as pills, capsules, powders, or a liquid. 

Piperazines

Piperazines cause many of the same effects as ecstasy10, a stimulant. Similar to ecstasy, they’re marketed toward party-goers and even created to look like ecstasy. Its slang names include “party pills”, “Jax”, “Legal E”, “Flying Angel”, and “Pep X”.

Piperazines gained popularity worldwide as a mislabeled legal alternative to meth and MDMA (ecstasy)10. There’s little regulation or control over piperazines, making them an especially risky designer drug.

After taking piperazines, which come as a pill or powder, you might experience seizures, hallucinations, kidney failure, and respiratory acidosis.  

Pipradrol

Pipradrol, a stimulant11, was first used as an antidepressant. It was also used to treat dementia and obesity. But pipradrol was quickly recalled due to its potential for abuse. Its effects mirror amphetamines—without some of the undesirable side effects. Pipradrols suppress appetite and don’t cause noticeable overexcitement, like other stimulants.

Pipradrol’s street names include MRD-108 and Alpha. Its toxic effects include hallucinations, death, anxiety, nausea, and convulsions. 

Cathinones

Cathinones mimic cocaine12, ecstasy, and MDMA as designer central nervous system stimulant. They’re commonly called bath salts and cause a sense of euphoria. Being marketed as a designer drug, you can find bath salts online, in gas stations, smoke shops, and adult stores. 

Other street names include “Bliss,” “Blue Silk,” “Glass Cleaner,” and “Super Coke.” The active ingredient in cathinone comes from a khat plant. Scientists synthesized a drug based on the khat plant to form bath salts, which look like small, opaque rocks. Taking bath salts can cause psychosis, confusion, violence, hypertension, seizures, death, paranoia, and delusions. 

The makers of designer drugs suggest they’re a fun alternative to “real” drugs. Or, a way to take drugs without getting caught—or without accidentally hurting yourself. 

But neither proves true.

Are Designer Drugs Addictive?

Yes. Some designer drugs could be even more addictive than the drug they’re copying. Fentanyl, for example, mimics natural opioids like heroin13—but it’s 50 times more potent.  

Most designer drugs are supposed to be addictive1. What begins as an experiment or coping tool can spiral out of control and into addiction. Because, with the easier accessibility of designer drugs, feeding the habit isn’t too difficult. Finding a reason to stop could feel unnecessary.

But you can. 

Getting Help for Designer Drug Use

 Designer drug addiction often responds well to the same treatments used for natural drug addictions. Some benzodiazepines can help1 with long-term treatment and withdrawal. 

Some patients confront their need for treatment in an emergency room. An ER can get you stabilized and ready for the next steps in treatment, like a residential rehab with 24/7 support.

In treatment, you’ll likely have group and individual therapy to address the thoughts and behaviors behind your addiction. You might also join 12 Step meetings, which encourage you to find support in your higher power and in your peers. Many rehabs take insurance to make the cost of care more affordable. And your family can heal with you too, since most rehabs also offer family services. 
Treatment for designer drug use has the potential to unlock a life of recovery. To learn more about your recovery resources, you can browse our list of rehabs with reviews, pricing, insurance information, and photos.

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What Is The Most Addictive Drug?

The most addictive drug varies from person to person. Some genetic mutations make certain drugs more addictive than others. Or, you might find yourself drawn to a seemingly “less addictive” drug, like nicotine, that feels just as powerful as a narcotic. 

With that said, scientists have narrowed down a few of the top addictive drugs. Their addictive potential comes from reactions, communications, and changes in the brain. 

But for each addictive drug, you have resources for recovery. You can speak with your care team to decide which route of treatment works best for you—like going to rehab. 

Heroin

Heroin comes from certain poppy plants. As an opioid, heroin is highly addictive and can change the structure of your brain1 over time. It usually comes from South America. Dealers often cut heroin with starches, sugars, or sedatives—some of which can have unpredictable and unwanted effects. 

Pure heroin looks like a white powder and tastes bitter. Impure heroin is called “black tar” for its sticky feel and dark color (from impurities). 

You can snort powdered heroin or smoke it. For black tar heroin, you can inject it into your veins or muscles once it’s been dissolved and diluted.

Heroin absorbs into mucous membranes in your nose and lungs—or, if you inject it intravenously, it dissolves directly into your bloodstream. 

Once ingested, heroin bonds to mu-opioid receptors in your brain and activates them2, which turns off GABAergic neurons. GABAergic neurons keep dopamine from rushing along your reward circuit. Once the opioid receptor turns GABAergic neurons off, dopamine runs free, which causes a rush of euphoria and a strong sense of general well-being. 

Activating the reward system like this tells your brain opioids are about as great as it gets. Add in the distressing withdrawal symptoms, and getting more can feel like an urgent need. And as you keep taking heroin, you’ll need higher doses to feel the same high as your first time2—which means you’ve built up a tolerance. 

Much of heroin’s danger lies in this rapid high-low pendulum swing.  Soon, you might need high doses to keep from feeling sick. Trying to chase your first high, you might accidentally overdose. 

Taking too much could cause your breathing to slow to null3. You might also feel constipated, nauseous, and extremely itchy. Long-term use can knock your neuronal and hormonal systems off balance4—sometimes permanently. 

Alcohol

As a depressant, alcohol suppresses the central nervous system. And, alcohol is both socially accepted and easy to get—a tricky combination. Alcohol causes a sense of happiness and well-being5, which activates your brain’s reward system. It sees alcohol as medicine and, eventually, as something you inherently need to survive. 

Because of its addictive nature and easy access, alcohol is one of the most dangerous substances to abuse6. Over half the visits to emergency rooms have something to do with alcohol. It’s also one of the 2 most-used substances, the other being nicotine. 

Different alcoholic drinks have different levels, or percentages, of alcohol. For example, an alcoholic seltzer drink is usually 5-8% alcohol; in something like vodka, the rate goes up to 40%. 

As with illicit drugs, you can build a tolerance to alcohol. So, you might need to add a splash of vodka to your seltzer or have an extra glass of wine to feel how you’re used to feeling on alcohol. The longer this continues, the more you’ll need to drink. 

Withdrawals include insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and seizures. For many, safely detoxing from alcohol requires medical supervision. 

Nicotine

Nicotine, like many other drugs, causes a release of dopamine7. But with nicotine, the rush isn’t quite as intense as something like heroin. Nicotine has such addictive power because of its repetitive nature7 and because you can use it with other activities (and substances). 

Smoking a cigarette or vaping can enhance the pleasure of other activities7, like watching a movie, partying, having a cup of coffee, or listening to music. Even though nicotine only adds to these activities, your brain still associates it as the source of joy in those situations. And so, you learn to keep smoking, subconsciously chasing satisfaction.

What used to be fun and motivating might seem boring or too mundane without the added boost from nicotine, so stopping can be challenging7. You might even feel like nothing’s enjoyable without smoking. That’s because nicotine represses your natural dopamine-release functions, and once they’ve been suppressed for so long, it can take time for your brain to adjust and provide its own. 

Though unpleasant, nicotine withdrawals won’t hurt you8. You may have a bad headache and experience cravings. You might also feel more anxious and hungry. But all withdrawal symptoms pass with time. 

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, subdue the central nervous system. They’re usually prescribed to help with anxiety, panic disorders, and insomnia9 for their calming, sedative effects. But benzos can also be highly addictive.

Some benzodiazepines can cause dependence faster than others. But usually, people use them with another drug9 to balance or complement other effects. Alcohol and benzos, for example, produce an enhanced calm but can dangerously suppress the central nervous system.

The benzodiazepine Rohypnol, AKA roofies, acts as a powerful sedative. Some misuse benzos like Rohypnol against others. But usually, benzodiazepines appeal for their countering effects against opioids and for self-sedation.

Benzodiazepine withdrawals9 can feel extremely uncomfortable. You could experience nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, psychosis, hyperpyrexia (extremely high fever), and convulsions. For those reasons, detoxing under medical supervision is a safer option. 

Methamphetamines

Doctors may prescribe the psychostimulant methamphetamine, or metamfetamine, to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)10. In healthy doses (for those who need it), methamphetamine’s effects resemble the brain’s fight-or-flight response10. This response  increases energy, alertness, and focus. But it’s also a drug of abuse with a high potential for addiction.

Methamphetamine looks like a white powder11 or crystal-like rocks. It’s relatively easy to make and cheap to buy. Many pseudo-scientists make methamphetamine in discreet labs, usually hidden off the beaten path.  But most meth comes from larger labs in Mexico and overseas countries. 

Methamphetamine releases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine10, which contribute to pleasure, satisfaction, and alertness. Using methamphetamine for pleasure can cause binges, since the desired effects only last a few minutes. And because meth is one of the cheaper stimulants and easy to get, feeding the binges might not seem like a problem. 

But, as with other drugs, your brain changes with repeated doses. You might build up a tolerance12, prompting higher doses. Your brain may also stop producing dopamine and serotonin on its own. 

Methamphetamine withdrawals12 can cause cravings, depression, anxiety, violent behavior, confusion, insomnia, hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis. 

Cocaine

Cocaine is another highly addictive stimulant13. It’s also one of the most common illicit drugs14 in America. 

Cocaine prevents the reuptake of dopamine14, meaning dopamine stacks up on dopamine receptors. This sends an intense rush of pleasure and stimulates the entire reward pathway15, causing your brain to see cocaine use as intrinsically rewarding. Even the sights, sounds, and places associated with cocaine use can trigger the need for a dose. 

As with many other drugs, you can become used to the effects of cocaine, or “tolerant”. You’ll need more and more to feel the same high as your first time. This puts you at risk for an overdose. New dangers also lie in adding vermisol to cocaine15, which is used as a cutting agent. Sometimes, fentanyl even makes its way in. 

The withdrawals from cocaine16 include insomnia, tremors, cravings, and hyperactivity. 

Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine is a smokeable version of regular cocaine17. So it’s also a stimulant, and addictive, but even more potent due to how it’s ingested. Before it’s smoked, crack cocaine looks like small rocks or crystals. 

The membranes in your lungs absorb crack cocaine18 easily and quickly, resulting in an almost immediate high. The high goes away faster than powder or liquid cocaine, which could prompt a binge—smoking until you run out of crack or money.  

The reinforcing action is even more powerful in crack cocaine17. Your brain thinks it’s a good idea to keep having more more often, trying to realize the pleasure it knows crack can give.

Barbiturates

Similar to benzodiazepines, barbiturates are a depressant19 generally used for anxiety, headaches, seizure prevention, and insomnia. Those who misuse this prescribed medication usually do to counter the effects of other drugs—typically stimulants like cocaine.

You can take barbiturates as a pill or liquid. Barbiturates make you feel sleepy, relaxed, and at ease19. They can also impair your memory and judgment, and make you irritable. You might also feel paranoid and suicidal.  

Overdosing on barbiturates19 causes your heart rate to rise, your breathing to slow, and your body temperature to lower. Overdoses can also cause comas and death.  

Methadone

Doctors prescribe methadone, a synthetic opioid20, to treat opioid use disorders (OUDs). It relieves cravings, reduces withdrawal symptoms, and doesn’t provide the same “rush” of euphoria as other opioids. At the correct dosage, these factors make methadone a valuable treatment element20 for OUDs. 

Part of what makes methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) effective is the low risk for addiction. And, in MMT, you don’t have to share needles or risk taking heroin, cocaine, etc., of unknown purity20. Doctor oversight adds another element of safety. 

But methadone does have an addictive element. The usual dose for OUD management ranges from 60+mgs20. Sometimes, patients in treatment buy extra doses from others or hoard doses to eventually get a euphoric effect from methadone. 

Taking too much methadone can cause dangerous effects, especially if you’re on other medications. Signs and symptoms of an overdose20 include dizziness, slurred speech, unconsciousness, slow pulse, shallow breathing, tiny pupils, and frothing at the mouth. 

Naloxone reverses the overdose effects of methadone20, as it does with other opioids. 

Marijuana

Marijuana, or weed, comes from the marijuana plant. Its addictive psychoactive properties lie in the THC21 (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in marijuana. You can ingest marijuana in many ways21—smoking the leaves, drinking it in tea, eating foods with weed, and smoking concentrated weed in the form of a sticky resin.

Weed produces a sense of relaxation22 and a milder feeling of euphoria. Weed can also make you pretty hungry (or, give you the munchies) and laugh easily. You’ll experience these effects right away if you smoke weed. 

Eating it slows the onset by a half hour or more, which could prompt you to redose, thinking it’s not working. Taking too much can cause anxiety, fear, paranoia, and panic22—the opposite of what weed usually feels like. Extremely high doses can even cause acute psychosis.  

Marijuana activates the reward system23 in your brain, causing a flood of dopamine to course along your reward pathway. After continued use, your brain teaches you to keep having weed as a way to feel reward and satisfaction. Continued usage can also impair your memory, learning abilities, and balance23.

Starting weed at a young age leads to a higher risk of addiction24. But anyone at any age can find themselves addicted, meaning they’d feel withdrawal symptoms and be completely unable to stop—even when they know they should. In states that don’t monitor distribution, the potency of THC continues to rise too. This creates consequences scientists and health professionals haven’t fully realized yet. 

But for each substance and its potential for addiction, you have opportunities to recover. 

Find Effective Drug Addiction Treatment Near You

The most addictive drug could vary widely from person to person. While one person might struggle to stop smoking cigarettes, someone else might not feel able to stop drinking—but drinking isn’t a problem for the first one. 

Fortunately, treatment for drug addiction caters to this variance. You can get the care you need at a residential rehab, outpatient facility, or detox unit. Your care team can help you decide which type and level of care will best meet your needs. 
To see a comprehensive collection of rehab facilities, you can browse our list of drug addiction rehabs to see photos, prices, reviews, insurance information, and more.

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Can Withdrawal Kill You?

Without proper care, the withdrawal symptoms from certain substances could kill you. A symptom this extreme depends on what you’ve been taking, how much, and how long you’ve been taking it. 

Not every drug has dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Some, though extremely uncomfortable, won’t hurt you. But alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opiates have the potential to be deadly.

After discussing your situation with your doctor or care team, you might decide to detox in a licensed, medically monitored detox environment. Many rehab centers with detox offer just this. 

What Causes Withdrawal Symptoms?

Your brain and body get used to drugs or alcohol and adapt to work around them. Once you stop taking substances, your body has to adjust to life without them. So, you experience withdrawal symptoms as your body returns to homeostasis1. Though the change is arguably good, your body still has to adjust—which might not feel good at all. 

If you’ve become highly dependent, stopping becomes dangerous. In those cases, you can seek treatment in a detox center or a residential rehab with detox. Detox centers treat non-life-threatening withdrawal symptoms too. Your comfort and safety both matter. 

Withdrawals vary across the different types of drugs and substances. Some pose no threat. Others require careful supervision. 

Alcohol Withdrawal

Detoxing from alcohol2 could be dangerous. The level of danger, and general symptom intensity, depends on how much you drink and how long you’ve been drinking. 

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms2 could include 

  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shaking
  • Delirium tremens (DT)
  • Insomnia
  • Hallucinations
  • Extreme confusion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Excessive, purposeless activity (getting in and out of bed, wandering around)
  • Anxiety
  • Grand mal seizures

Delirium tremens commonly affect those with a long history of drinking. DT’s symptoms3 include “profound confusion, autonomic hyperactivity, and cardiovascular collapse.” It’s rare, but needs to be caught as soon as possible to avoid danger. 

The other symptoms of alcohol detox may feel gross, but don’t tend to be life-threatening—especially under the supervision of doctors and nurses. Then, medications like Antabuse can help you stay sober4 in recovery.

Opiate Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawals can feel like a bad flu5, or the sickest you’ve felt in your entire life. Typically, though, it’s not one of the withdrawals that can kill you. The severity of symptoms depends on your dose and how long you’ve been taking opioids. 

The discomfort of opiate withdrawals can make you crave opioids even more. For many, temptations to alleviate the pain can cause a relapse5. Detoxing in a residential setting could help you avoid this in your early days of recovery.

During your opioid detox period, you might experience

  • Diarrhea
  • Dysphoria
  • Goosebumps
  • Restless legs
  • Muscle pains
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia
  • Malaise
  • High heart rate

You can die from dehydration during opioid withdrawals6, caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea. This catastrophic effect usually happens in jails, where prompt (and sufficient) medical care isn’t as common. 

Medications can curb the effects of opioid withdrawals7. For opioid detox, your doctor may prescribe methadone, buprenorphine, clonidine, and lofexidine. Each operates in different ways to diminish cravings and make withdrawals more comfortable. You can continue to take these medications to maintain your sobriety.

Heroin Withdrawal

As a short-acting opioid, heroin’s withdrawals typically set in 8-24 hours after your last dose7. They can last 4-10 days. 

Heroin’s withdrawal symptoms mimic a very bad flu. Turning to opioid-agonists, like methadone, can help you taper off high doses and maintain sobriety. Methadone relieves cravings and discomfort without the euphoric rush of heroin and other opioids8, making it non-addictive at the proper dose. 

And, using a maintenance medication like methadone reduces the risk of relapse by satisfying cravings8. This can also prevent HIV and infections caused by needle sharing—and, largely, relapse in general. 

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Depending on your dose and length of use, benzodiazepine withdrawals can be life threatening. Benzos treat anxiety and sleep disorders5 but could become addictive if used too long. Detoxing from benzos presents several dangers.

Benzo withdrawals resemble alcohol withdrawals5, which have a death risk. For that reason, you’ll likely need to detox in a medically monitored setting, like a hospital or residential rehab. Here’s what you might experience during benzodiazepine detox9:

  • Seizures
  • Muscle pains
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Agitation
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Hand tremors
  • Excessive sweating
  • Heart palpitations
  • Catatonia
  • Death

Withdrawal symptoms usually begin 2-10 days after your last dose and can last 2-8 weeks. You can manage the symptoms by gradually weaning off benzodiazepines5, which gives your body time to adjust to lower doses. Going cold turkey, or stopping all at once, could cause psychosis, death, seizures, and convulsions10.  

Withdrawing From Multiple Substances

There’s limited research on detoxing from multiple substances. But, the available research shows each drug needs its own attention during detox11. For example, detoxing from a stimulant and a depressant at the same time requires a more nuanced approach. So, physicians may prescribe 2 withdrawal medications to combat the effects of multiple substances. 

Withdrawing from multiple substances has its challenges, but it’s not uncommon. A study found 71% of patients in detox were withdrawing from 2 or more substances11. Your care provider will make the ultimate decision regarding any medications you’ll need during detox and how the process might look for you. 

Getting Treatment for Withdrawal Symptoms

At best, detoxing might feel uncomfortable. At worst, it could kill you. But for each end of the detoxing spectrum, you have treatment options. 

For many withdrawal symptoms, you may need the help and care of a detox center. Or, a residential rehab with a detox program. In a center like this, you can begin therapeutic residential treatment right after detoxing.
To see your options, you can browse our list of rehabs with detox that includes pricing, photos, insurance information, and more.

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2023 Oscar Nominated Movies That Include Addiction

Films and TV shows tend to shape how culture views a certain subject (or profession). Recently, the idea of therapists, mental health, and addiction in pop culture became more mainstream. However, some films and shows do more harm than good—overdramatizing addiction and mental health, or just poorly representing it.

Others capture the rawness, truth and importance of addiction and mental health. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed 

Winning an Oscar for best documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed recounts photographer Nan Goldin’s experience with addiction. She depicts her addiction to prescription painkiller OxyContin, and her frustration with the Sackler family.  

America’s Opioid Crisis

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed shows that Nan’s addiction began after an injury. Doctors prescribed a common medication at the time, OxyContin – which is highly addictive if taken incorrectly1. It contains oxycodone, which causes a high similar to heroin. 

Nan, like many others, became addicted to OxyContin after a perhaps thoughtless pain management plan. Nan formed P.A.I.N.2, Prescription Addiction Intervention Now, to “speak for the 250,000 bodies that no longer can.”

The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, received backlash for pushing OxyContin prescriptions when they perhaps weren’t needed. Nan worked to get museums and other Sackler-supported institutions to publicly separate from the family. 

America’s opioid crisis may have begun with overprescription of pain meds3, but it’s since grown for new reasons, like cheap, accessible products. Fentanyl, too, plays a large role in the 1,500 opioid-related deaths per week.

Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction

Many rehabs treat opioid addiction. In a residential setting, you’ll likely go through a medically supervised detox first, then begin therapeutic treatment. 

Therapies for opioid addiction could range from talk therapies to contingency management plans, which offer rewards for each step you complete in treatment. Talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will help you work through the thoughts and emotions causing your behaviors. Then, you’ll learn new ways to process and manage what you feel.

You’ll learn coping tools for the future, relapse prevention strategies, and typically engage in an aftercare program to keep you well supported. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed explored prescription medication addiction. Other nominated movies this year blazed new trails, like The Whale.

The Whale Explores Grief And Binge-Eating

The Oscars nominated Brendan Fraser for Best Lead Actor. The Whale depicts Charlie’s (Fraser) journey through binge eating, grief, and depression. His coping mechanism began after the death of his partner. 

The story highlights the power of grief and the hold of eating disorders, and how they can function as a coping tool. Different characters in the film try to help Charlie, but as it often is, his grief is persistent. 

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating is eating without control4—it might feel impossible to stop. Sometimes, after binging, a purge happens; this is the pattern of bulimia nervosa5. You might purge through throwing up, taking laxatives, excessive exercise, or starving yourself. It’s meant to “undo” the binge. Not every binge eater purges, though. 

Binge eating might be your coping tool, especially if you’re dealing with something as powerful as grief.

Grief And Depression

Depression is a stage of grief6, as proposed by Kübler-Ross. In The Whale, Charlie mourns the loss of his partner, who died by suicide. Depression became a strong stage in his mourning. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, you can call or text the number 988.

The film suggests binge eating became Charlie’s own way of committing suicide.

Getting Help for Grief And Depression

There’s help for the millions of others like Charlie. Grief and depression can weigh heavily—sometimes unbearably so. But you do have options to heal. 

Complicated grief therapy (CGT)7, for example, can help with grief and all its stages. Using loss- and restoration-focused care, “the therapist works to facilitate the progress of grief to help the client come to terms with the death.” 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with depression and grief7. Using CBT, your therapist can help you modify your thoughts and change your behaviors. For grief, CBT could help you process your loss in a more productive way.

To Leslie And Blonde

Both To Leslie and Blonde highlight drug and alcohol addiction. They were also both nominated for Best Leading Actress in the 2023 Oscars. Ana de Armas played Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, and Andrea Riseborough played Leslie in To Leslie.

To Leslie depicts a mother’s struggle with addiction, spurred on by a seemingly-ideal lottery win. Leslie reaches new lows and eventually seeks help for her daughter’s sake and herself. 

Blonde retells the life story of Marilyn Monroe, who tragically and famously died after an overdose. 

Drug And Alcohol Addiction: Not Just for The Famous

Movies like Blonde make addiction seem almost ritzy—something only people with deep pockets can do. Then, To Leslie goes and proves that wrong. So which is true? 

It’s both. 

Addiction doesn’t discriminate. In each movie, despite the contrasts in leading women, their reasons for substance abuse were similar. The case remains true for many today. Stressors, mental illnesses, or trauma can start a habit you can’t stop on your own. 

Stories like Leslie’s and Monroe’s can help the larger public see this through a cleaner lens. Addiction wasn’t a moral failing of either woman. It was how they coped. 

But there’s more than one way to find that same sense of control. Treatment can help you see that.

Treatment Options for Drug And Alcohol Use

Many rehabs treat drug and alcohol addiction. Here, you’d have constant monitoring, individualized care, and a structured treatment schedule. Most residential rehabs also offer on-site detox. 

Depending on your situation, you might find an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP) more suitable. Each of these programs provides effective treatment, and you get to go home at night. IOP is less intensive, usually lasting 3-5 hours a day, while PHP could go for 5-8. 

In these treatment settings, you’ll learn relapse prevention skills and work on the thoughts behind your behaviors. Rehabs typically offer a variety of therapies to meet your needs. 

You can browse our list of rehabs to see reviews, pricing, and insurance information, and more.

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Homelessness and Addiction: How Are They Related?

Homelessness and addiction are related. Despite this relationship, the correlation is not a certainty. But many think they are, so myths and speculations abound: 

Myth 1: “All homeless are addicts. They just need to stop using and things will get better.”

Myth 2: “Addicts always become homeless. It’s their fault.”

Myth 3: “Homeless people are violent because they’re always on drugs.”

Research, time, and empathy have proven both statements (and related ones) wrong. But homelessness and substance abuse do connect in some ways.

The 2 have a bidirectional relationship1—they can both feed into each other. Rehabs for drug and alcohol addiction can sometimes help with both issues at once, but usually, homeless people rely on shelters and specific resources for their population2. 

Homelessness and Addiction Statistics

A 2022 study by Statista found that roughly 55,000 unsheltered homeless people experience addiction3. In other studies, a third of addiction treatment patients say they’ve experienced homelessness1. And, 

Looking at the numbers, you can see addiction and homelessness connect. Addiction isn’t always the cause, but it definitely can be—and vice versa. 

How Does Addiction Lead to Homelessness?

Addiction doesn’t exclusively lead to homelessness, but it can cause it. Economic statuses, marital statuses, family relationships, and social-economic factors can all make addiction a cause of homelessness.

As an example, someone making minimum or median income would feel the financial effects of addiction almost immediately. As their limited income depletes, paying rent gets harder. 

For additional context, street prices of illicit and prescribed drugs average out to $356 per gram6. The price can be as high as $500 for heroin. An average 24-pack of beer costs around $17. 

Addiction isn’t cheap.

Many homeless adults don’t have the option of staying with family when they can’t afford rent. Their loved ones may have cut them off, moved away, or passed on. Their only viable option could be living in a shelter or on the street.

…And Does Homelessness and Drug Use Lead to Addiction?

It can. Some homeless people use opioids, weed, alcohol, and other substances to cope with the trauma of becoming homeless5. Others do it to fit in with the community. 

Homeless people may also start using substances to stay awake, sleep, or stay energized when they’re malnourished. Drug addiction can become a crutch for living homeless that takes up the funds, time, and energy they could otherwise use to get help. Homeless people might also run into legal trouble and tarnish a clean record.

And even though help exists, it’s not always easy for this population to get it.

Understanding The Challenges And Seeking Help

Whatever the cause may be of addiction and homelessness, getting help has its challenges. A lack of money, support, and knowledge leaves many thinking there’s no way out.

But there is. 

Barrier #1: Shelter And Safety

Getting help for addiction might not seem like a top priority if you don’t have somewhere safe to stay. You might be more concerned with getting cover, keeping yourself safe from others, and keeping yourself out of trouble. You likely wouldn’t have much time or mental energy to focus on treatment. 

Not all homeless people have access to shelter, even temporary overnight lodging. If they do find shelter, it’s rarely long term. 

Having a home base, even if it’s a temporary living situation in a shelter, can help your fight-or-flight mode ease down. Then, thinking about help and taking the next steps might not seem so unfeasible. 

Barrier #2: No Social Support Network

Many homeless adults don’t have anyone to help them help themselves. They don’t have anyone cheering them on. Getting help rests almost entirely on their shoulders, which can be overwhelming. 

And, if addiction is the norm in your community, you might lose what little social support you have if you stop. This could be the case for many homeless people. Even when they want to stop, change their lives, and get help, they might feel pressured to keep using. 

Barrier #3: Mental Illness And The Effects of Addiction

Mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD can prevent homeless individuals from wanting–and getting–help. Treatment for these conditions may also be difficult to maintain. Homeless people might miss treatment sessions, have to relocate, or feel unable to add repeated treatment to their lifestyle. These factors can make healthcare providers less willing to work with the homeless population1. 

Active addiction could also make getting short and long-term help difficult.

The symptoms and effects of addiction can mirror some mental illnesses, like schizophrenia. Some drugs, like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and opioids7, can cause psychosis. Many substances, including alcohol and weed, put you in an altered state of mind. This can make decisions difficult, even important ones about your health and wellbeing.

But for each barrier to treatment, even if they seem insurmountable, you have opportunities to reach them. Help awaits.

Find Support for Homelessness and Addiction

Homelessness and drug addiction don’t have to be your story. 

You can begin your recovery journey by finding shelter, if you’re living unsheltered. Some shelters take in men only or women only, while others welcome all genders. Others specifically welcome teens and runaways. Here’s a few options to consider:  

While shelters offering treatment options for substance use disorders (SUDs) aren’t as common as regular homeless shelters, they do exist across America. Most of these SUD-specific shelters provide medication-assisted treatment8 (MAT) for opioid use to combat the growing opioid epidemic. They also provide encouragement, hope, and can lower the mortality rates of addiction and overdose.
You can also find treatment in a residential rehab center as your journey continues. To see rehabs that treat drug and alcohol addiction, you can browse our list of centers with pricing, reviews, photos, and insurance.

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Is My Loved One Using Cocaine? How to Tell If Someone Is Using Cocaine

Cocaine doesn’t have to control your loved one. The first step to their recovery might be recognizing signs of use, and then you can help them find a rehab for cocaine addiction. 

You both have resources for recovery. But the more you know about cocaine use, and how to spot it, can help you help the ones you love. 

How to Spot Cocaine Use

Spotting cocaine use can be tricky. It has a seemingly endless list of slang names and pseudo-identities, making it hard to decipher what your loved one might be talking about. They could hide their behavior with more than sneaky names, too. But there are signs to look for1. 

Physical Signs

  • Dilated pupils
  • Lack of appetite—it might seem like they barely eat
  • Rapid weight loss
  • Poor sleep
  • Disheveled appearance, lack of hygiene 

Emotional And Mental Signs

  • Paranoid without reason
  • Hyperactivity—“bouncing off the walls”
  • Irritability
  • Anxious, more so than usual 
  • Extreme startle reactions, like jumping at the sound of a cabinet shutting

Along with knowing the signs of cocaine use, you can also familiarize yourself with the street names for cocaine.

Slang Names for Cocaine

The nicknames for cocaine2 might surprise you. They’re creative, to put it positively. And they change based on the form of cocaine (crack, regular cocaine) and what it’s mixed with. 

There’s a lot to keep track of, but knowing even just a few can help.

  • Snow
  • Stardust
  • Stash
  • Bouncing Powder
  • Coke
  • Coca
  • Flake
  • Devil’s Dandruff
  • Florida Snow
  • Joy Flakes

You can also educate yourself on cocaine itself, and how it affects the mind and body.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant1. It grows in South America. From there, it’s smuggled all across the globe.

Cocaine causes a rush of euphoria3, which can last 2-20 minutes. This rush comes from a build up of dopamine in the brain—dopamine stacks up on the transmitters meant to receive it4, causing an intense flood of pleasure. 

Neurotransmitters like dopamine jump between nerves and target cells. If the receptors aren’t working, all the received dopamine has nowhere to go—causing the high. Altering the usual transmission of dopamine can actually change the structure and function of your brain over time. 

The crash, or comedown, from this high can quickly prompt a redose, sometimes until supplies or money run out. This is considered a binge1.

You can ingest cocaine in multiple ways1. Some snort the white powder up their nose. Or, you might mix it with water and inject the mixture into a vein, using a syringe. If it’s crack cocaine, you can smoke it.

Is There a Difference Between Cocaine and Crack?

Chemically, no. Cocaine and crack are the same thing5, just in different forms. Crack isn’t any cheaper, either6. But it is more potent, easy to ingest, and wildly addictive.

Crack looks like rocks, or crystals. It’s a smokeable version of cocaine5, derived from the same coca plant as cocaine. 

For crack cocaine, you might see some of these slang terms:

  • Rock
  • Moon Rock
  • Apple Jack
  • Dice
  • Sleet
  • Yahoo
  • Yale
  • Top Gun
  • Base, Basing

Mucous membranes absorb cocaine and crack cocaine7. You have a huge plane of mucous membrane in your lungs—the alveoli responsible for bringing oxygen to your blood. The inhaled crack smoke absorbs into the alveoli in the lungs rapidly, causing a nearly immediate high.

A crack cocaine high fades faster, though. To avoid the crash, people might keep smoking until they run out of crack. And the more they ingest, the more likely they are to overdose and have negative long-term effects8. 

The Effects of Cocaine Use

Cocaine use can lead to heart problems8, like cardiac arrest and strokes. Inhaling it as crack can cause respiratory conditions. Snorting it could completely degrade your nasal passage over time. 

Short-term, the effects of cocaine could range from paranoia to seizures9. And rarely, cocaine can cause sudden death after just one use. 

Repeated use takes up more and more money and time. And the more it’s used, the more your brain changes. Addiction and tolerance to the drug can set in quickly1. 

Cocaine use can also have unpredictable effects, usually caused by what it’s been cut with. The cutting agent could be harmless, but that’s not always the case.

What Is Cocaine Cut With?

Dealers may cut cocaine to up their profit10, selling a “watered down” version to unsuspecting buyers. Powder cocaine could be cut with baking soda, caffeine, sugars, or anesthetics. Visually, you’d likely never know it wasn’t pure cocaine.

But cocaine could have harmful additives. Levamisole, a veterinary drug that kills parasites10, has made its way into 70% of cocaine in America. It causes necrosis11, which kills and rots the skin. 

You can also mix cocaine with other drugs for new, sometimes preferred, effects.

Cocaine Mixtures

Users seeking a different high mix cocaine with other substances, like marijuana and tobacco. Nicknames for these mixtures include Woo-Woo, Woolies, Candy Flipping, Cocoa Puffs, and Boy-Girl.

Certain blends, like alcohol and cocaine, are notably more dangerous. Cocaine and alcohol react12 and form a heart-toxic chemical, cocaethylene. Heroin and cocaine mix to form a speedball9, or an opiate and depressant blend. But cocaine wears off faster than heroin, potentially slowing your breathing to null as the full sedative effect of heroin hits.

No mixture is predictable, or safe. Neither is cocaine by itself. But, for single and blended use, you can find recovery. 

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction often requires a multi-pronged approach—detox, therapy, and medications13. And the more research scientists do, the better these options become. There’s even a cocaine vaccine in the works14. 

Your loved one will most likely need to detox from cocaine in a safe, clinically monitored setting. There, they’ll have constant supervision, comfort medications, and begin the therapeutic healing process. This could be at a detox center or a residential rehab with on-site detox. 

Once cocaine has left their system, inner healing work can begin.

Therapy for Addiction

Therapy can address and heal the causing factors of addiction. It can also motivate and empower your loved one to commit to their recovery, even when it gets hard. 

Behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs15. You’ll learn to shift your perspective of yourself to one that’s more positive. Rather than thinking “I’ll never get better”, CBT would challenge the thought with “Why not?”.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)16 addresses black-and-white thinking. Your loved one can accept the problem of cocaine use and know they can get better. DBT can help with relapse too, as it helps patients identify unhelpful thoughts that could lead back to old coping mechanisms. 

The 12 Steps

The 12-Step program offers a place for members to connect and recover in a respected treatment program. Members follow 12 steps together, learning responsibility, accountability, and forgiveness. And the 12 Steps can run in and out of treatment—you don’t have to be in rehab to find a local group to attend. 

The 12 Steps are often called AA (alcoholics anonymous) meetings. For cocaine use, you’ll likely see them called CA (cocaine anonymous). Each uses 12-Step practices to help members stay accountable and sober.

Aftercare

Contingency management (CM) can inspire greater dedication, during and after residential treatment. CM programs usually give out money, snacks, or vouchers as a reward13. And since you’ll actually get a reward for staying sober, attending recovery meetings, and going to treatment, you might find yourself more motivated to do it. 

Your loved one can also keep attending 12-Step meetings as a form of aftercare. If they go to a residential rehab, they might have the opportunity to attend alumni groups, too. 

Continued therapy and medications, if prescribed, can both contribute to long-term success. That’s why they’re both common forms of aftercare for cocaine addiction. If your loved one goes to rehab, they might offer continued 1:1 therapy with the same therapist. If not, they’ll likely connect you to further therapy as part of their discharge service.

Find Power Through Recovery

If you think your loved one is using cocaine, know that they, and yourself, have recovery resources. They can find new power and hope through recovery—addiction isn’t the end. 

You can browse our list of rehabs for cocaine to see pricing, reviews, insurance, and photos of each facility. 


Family members, you can check out these support groups: Co-Anon, Families Anonymous, and Stronger Together.

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Growing Past Addiction With Horticulture Therapy

Gardening can be more than a relaxing pastime. It also has clear mental health benefits—and it even supports addiction recovery. Rehabs with horticultural therapy help patients get grounded, literally. This treatment can inspire an appreciation for nature, give you a new hobby, and help you get to know yourself again. 

What Is Horticultural Therapy (HT)?

In horticultural therapy, a therapist guides you through nature-based activities.1 That could mean gardening, weeding, or just spending time outside. You might even learn how to cook the food you grow.

Horticultural therapy looks different for everyone. In some programs, you’ll tend to a small window box of herbs. Others, like Mountainside Treatment Center, have more outdoor space for clients to explore. 

mountainside treatment center campus
Mountainside Treatment Center in Cannan, Connecticut has plenty of outdoor space for clients to explore.

What to Expect in HT, Whether Your Garden’s Big or Small

Specially trained therapists facilitate HT2 in rehab. You might see them one on one, or meet with a group of your peers. Treatment takes place in a natural setting, like a greenhouse, outdoor garden, or vegetable patch. In any of these places, you’ll learn about gardening and what different plants need to survive. Then, you’ll put it into practice. 

Like most complementary therapies, HT also invites you to process your feelings. You might talk while you’re watering, or check in after you finish weeding for the day. Specifically, gardening teaches patients to be mindful.3 This skill is hugely important during addiction recovery.

How Can Gardening Help With Addiction?

Plants don’t judge you.4 They don’t know if you have an addiction or any other diagnosis. The way you treat them is the only thing that matters. And what’s more, they depend on you for care. You’ll learn how to show up for them every day, doing your best even if you feel your worst. And that skill can help you commit to every phase of addiction recovery. 

Experts at Enlightened Recovery, a rehab focused on sustainability, believe that gardening echoes the cycle of recovery.5 They explain:

“This lesson that all things must grow, live, perish, and in turn be put back into the land is a part of our holistic outlook on recovery and living.” 

In their program, gardening becomes a metaphor for your personal growth. The act of starting rehab can be a challenge, even before you begin treatment. HT reminds patients that letting go of the past is empowering. And what comes next can be beautiful.

enlightened solutions garden
Enlightened Recovery in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey shows clients how gardening echoes the cycles of recovery.

The Benefits of HT in Rehab

Rehabs around the world use horticultural therapy to treat mental health issues, including addiction. And even after treatment, the benefits of gardening can support your ongoing recovery. 

Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

Horticultural therapy helps people heal from more than one diagnosis at a time. If you’re recovering from addiction and a co-occurring disorder, this treatment might be a great fit. Gardening is especially helpful for patients with certain mental health issues,6 like depression and anxiety. 

Stress Relief

Stress raises your risk of addiction.7 So throughout recovery, it’s important to engage in calming activities. And data shows that horticultural therapy relieves stress.8 Having regular access to plants—either indoors or outdoors—can greatly improve your mental health.

summit malibu campus
Summit Malibu in California teaches clients how to cook with veggies they harvest themselves.

Nutrition

Scientists believe that growing the food you eat may have physical health benefits.9 And in rehabs like Summit Malibu, it’s easy to see why. After coming in from the garden, patients here learn how to cook with their own harvest. This process can help you reconnect to your own body, and find joy in healthy hobbies. It can also teach you about the importance of nutrition during recovery. 

“Everything you do in the garden is an act of love.”

Gardening lets patients connect to nature. Every day you can see, feel, and even taste your own impact on the world around you. At rehabs like Mountainside Treatment Center, that perspective is crucial. Sheree Surdam, overseer of their horticultural therapy program,10 explains why.

Gardening gives “people a sense of purpose and stewardship over the natural world,” she says. “Everything you do in the garden is an act of love.”

Root Yourself in Recovery

A healthy plant is tangible. When you smell a rose you grew, you’re breathing in joy of your own hard work. And by learning to nurture your garden, you can learn to nurture yourself. 


Compare rehabs with horticultural therapy to find the right program for you.

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Celebrity Rehab Centers: 9 Luxury Treatment Options for Privacy and Comfort

Addiction and mental health problems can affect anyone, even the rich and famous. But if you’re used to a high standard of living, you might worry about giving up comfort during inpatient treatment. Celebrity rehab centers offer the perfect solution. These luxury facilities provide top-notch health care while maintaining the comforts you enjoy in daily life.

What Makes Celebrity Rehabs Special?

Celebrity rehabs combine effective treatment with luxury experiences. At these centers, you might go whale watching, take a sunset yacht ride, or enjoy skydiving adventures. Many look like high-end resorts or tropical getaways from the outside. But inside, they offer much more than a fancy vacation.

These facilities maintain strict privacy measures to protect their famous clients. Most have security teams, private rooms, and confidentiality agreements for all staff. Some centers don’t even have map listings, to keep their location secret from the public and media.

The best celebrity rehabs focus on both comfort and effective treatment. They employ highly qualified therapists, doctors, and support staff. Many offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs.

Celebrity Rehab Centers Around the World

You can find celebrity rehabs around the globe, with a wide variety of treatments and amenities. Whether you prefer the tropics, a mountain retreat, or a private island oasis, there’s most likely a treatment facility that meets your needs. 

luxury holistic rehab exclusive hawaii facility

1. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

This oceanside center prioritizes privacy with a gated residence hidden from the road. A security team guards the property 24/7. The center treats a maximum of 7 clients at once, offering 3 room options: shared, private with shared bathroom, or private with en suite.

Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offers naturopathic and holistic therapies for drug addiction and mental health. They provide nutritional counseling, IV therapies, and traditional Hawaiian Ho’oponopono sessions. Clients can keep up with work during recovery, with access to phones, laptops, and dedicated workspaces.

When you’re not in therapy, you can feed manta rays, take cooking classes, visit waterfalls, or simply relax on the beach.

southern california celebrity rehab passages malibu

2. Passages Malibu

Located on the sunny coast of Los Angeles County, Passages Malibu focuses heavily on individual therapy. Clients receive 60-80 hours of one-on-one therapy each month. Famous past clients include Mel Gibson, Andy Dick, and Stephen Baldwin.

Passages doesn’t use 12-Step methods. Instead, they see substance use disorder as a treatable condition with root causes that can be addressed. Their holistic approach includes hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and massage alongside traditional talk therapy.

The center offers shared or private rooms with access to lounge areas and multiple pools. On-site chefs prepare nutritious meals customized to your dietary needs.

luxury celebrity rehab cirque lodge utah

3. Cirque Lodge

In the pristine nature of Utah, Cirque Lodge provides substance abuse and co-occurring disorder recovery in a lodge-style setting. Famous clients have included Cara Delevigne, Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, and Kirsten Dunst.

Cirque Lodge incorporates the 12 Steps along with other evidence-based therapies. They also offer unique experiential treatments like equine therapy. Clients enjoy private bedrooms with en suite bathrooms in a cozy environment.

The campus provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature, with stunning views and outdoor activities in the sunny Utah weather.

luxury celebrity treatment neoviva lucerne lakeside swiss

4. NEOVIVA

This Swiss rehab center operates discreetly within a hotel on Lake Lucerne. With no signage or staff uniforms, clients look just like any other hotel guest. Treatment sessions take place in a private section away from other guests.

NEOVIVA maintains a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio and treats just 5 clients at a time. Each private room overlooks the lake. Clients have access to all hotel amenities, including a sauna, restaurant, and outdoor pool. You can even bring your pet.

Their holistic approach includes wellness treatments like yoga, breath work, and Qigong. Weekend activities might include forest hikes, trips to nearby villages, and time at the famous lake.

aton center celebrity rehab san diego

5. AToN Center

Located on 10 acres in San Diego, AToN Center provides privacy and luxury. They offer both 12-Step and non-12-Step approaches. Their treatment combines evidence-based, holistic, and trauma-informed therapies.

Clients receive 4 hours of therapy daily, including 3 hours of group therapy and 1 hour of individual therapy sessions. Family therapy is available weekly. The center doesn’t restrict access to devices as long as they don’t interfere with treatment.

Holistic treatment options include weekly acupuncture, massage, personal training, yoga, and hypnotherapy. Clients can also enjoy hiking, painting classes, meditation, and Reiki energy healing.

luxury rehab retreat istana bespoke health ibiza

6. Istana Bespoke Health 

Istana takes privacy to the extreme by treating just one client at a time. They have locations in Ibiza, Bali, and Barbados, each offering a private villa for recovery. Family members can join if the treatment team agrees it would be helpful.

The program offers completely customized treatment using evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Privacy measures include unmarked villas, private airport pickups, and staff trained in confidentiality.

Each client receives support from a butler, personal chef, and life coach, among others. Free-time activities include island tours, cooking classes, music making, and dance lessons.

clinic les alpes exclusive celebrity addiction treatment center

7. Clinic Les Alpes

A luxury chalet in the Swiss mountains, Clinic Les Alpes treats addiction, mental health disorders, eating disorders, burnout, and more. Their world-renowned practitioners create personalized treatment plans using advanced testing and assessments.

Clients enjoy private bedrooms and amenities like a sauna, swimming pool, mountain views, and a gym. Every aspect of treatment is tailored to individual needs, including nutritional care.

The stunning Alpine setting provides a peaceful backdrop for recovery, away from the pressures of public life.

private celebrity rehab center raindrum byron bay pool villa

8. Raindrum

Raindrum offers ultra-private mental health and addiction treatment in various settings. Clients choose between several private residences, either on the beach or in the countryside. All therapy takes place one-on-one, including talk therapy and personal training.

This center treats addiction along with co-occurring conditions like burnout, depression, and anxiety. They offer experiential therapies like surf therapy, equine therapy, dance, and photography, as well as creative options like art therapy, pottery, and language learning.

Treatment is completely individualized, with staff coming to your residence rather than meeting in a clinical setting. A full support team includes housekeepers and a personal chef.

exclusive celebrity rehab facility sanctuary vancouver island bc

9. The Sanctuary Vancouver Island

This bespoke center offers high-end treatment for various needs. Beyond addiction and mental health, they focus on chronic pain management, post-operative care, and weight stabilizing.

The Sanctuary Vancouver Island combines evidence-based and alternative treatments, such as CBT with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). More than 100 on-call specialists support your recovery process, from chiropractors to psychiatrists.

Clients stay in private residences on Vancouver Island near the shore, in the forest, or somewhere in between. Between sessions, you can enjoy meals from your personal chef, go whale watching, or explore by seaplane.

Finding Recovery as a Celebrity

Getting help for addiction doesn’t have to mean giving up luxury or privacy. These exclusive drug rehab centers prove you can heal while maintaining comfort and discretion. 

The most effective addiction treatment centers combine evidence-based therapies with holistic approaches tailored to your needs. They maintain strict confidentiality via security measures, unmarked facilities, and staff training. And after treatment, you’ll take valuable coping skills with you, whether you’re heading back to the spotlight or to your private life.

Ready to start your journey back to well-being? Visit our collection of luxury treatment centers to find the perfect match for your needs and lifestyle.

FAQs

Q: How effective are celebrity rehab centers in treating addiction?

A: Celebrity rehab centers can be highly effective when they combine luxury with evidence-based treatments. They typically employ qualified professionals and maintain low client-to-staff ratios. Success rates vary by individual, but many clients find the personalized approach and comfortable environment help them engage better in treatment.

Q: What can I expect at a luxury rehab center?

A: Expect private accommodations, gourmet meals, and amenities like pools and spas. Treatment usually includes a combination of individual therapy, support groups, and holistic options like massage or acupuncture. Many centers allow access to phones and laptops, with recreational activities available. Low staff-to-client ratios ensure personalized care.

Q: How do I find the best celebrity alcohol rehab center?

A: Consider your needs, budget, and preferred location. Look for centers specializing in alcohol addiction with experienced, licensed staff and evidence-based approaches. Ask about detox if needed. Read reviews and ask questions about outpatient program options, privacy policies, and aftercare planning.

Q: How much does it cost to stay at a celebrity rehab center?

A: Mental health or substance abuse treatment costs at luxury rehabs typically range from $30,000 to $100,000+ per month, depending on the center and services provided.

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Understanding the Link Between Addiction and Schizophrenia

Drug addiction and schizophrenia can feel pretty similar. And if you have both, it might be hard to tell where one condition ends and the other begins. Learning about that dynamic is a key part of recovery. That knowledge can empower you to find the right type of treatment for schizophrenia and substance abuse.

Does Drug Addiction Cause Schizophrenia?

In short: no, taking drugs won’t give you schizophrenia. But addiction and schizophrenia have similar causes—and similar symptoms. The same factors that make you vulnerable to one can also make you vulnerable to the other.

If you have schizophrenia, drug use can trigger your symptoms. And depending on what drug you’re taking, being high can even feel like psychosis. That’s because both drug use and schizophrenia tamper with your brain’s reward system. Here’s why.

The Similar Brain Chemistry of Schizophrenia and Addiction

Taking any drug has an impact on your brain’s reward system. And it doesn’t matter what the drug’s actual effects are. The very act of getting high increases your levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. So when you take drugs, you feel a sense of reward.

Over time, you’ll need more and more of a drug to achieve that feeling. Reward might be replaced with relief. And as your tolerance goes up, you’ll likely develop a more severe addiction.

Even if you never take drugs, schizophrenia still disrupts your reward system.  In some people, it decreases baseline levels of dopamine. Or, it can make you hypersensitive to dopamine, so doing drugs feels like an even bigger reward. And if you’re taking drugs that reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, addiction is even more likely.

Self-Medicating to Manage Schizophrenia

While addiction is unhealthy, it often begins as a coping mechanism. You might feel like drug use helps you control the symptoms of schizophrenia. And, in some cases, that might even be true. For example, nicotine reduces psychotic symptoms. But that doesn’t mean cigarettes are good for you.

In the long term, addiction continues to destabilize your reward system. Because of this, ongoing drug use can exacerbate your schizophrenia symptoms. This complicates the process of recovery.

Treatment for Both Schizophrenia and Addiction

Quitting drugs isn’t a cure for schizophrenia. But for some people, it’s an important first step toward healing. And because of the overlap between addiction and schizophrenia, many of the same treatments might help with all your symptoms.

If you’re recovering from both these conditions, you might benefit from treatment for co-occurring disorders. Within that framework, there are several specific therapies that can help.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing (MI) helps patients with schizophrenia commit to ongoing treatment. It’s an especially effective treatment for people with both addiction and psychosis.

MI isn’t technically a type of therapy. Instead, it’s a conversation style that many different clinicians apply to treatment. Therapists, doctors, nurses, and others can all use this approach. During MI, they’ll use active listening, pointed questions, and other techniques. This can help you find your personal spark of motivation to heal.

Contingency Management

For patients with both schizophrenia and addiction, contingency Management (CM) can make recovery more likely. This approach rewards your participation in treatment. For example, you might get a gift card, voucher, or even cash for going to a therapy session. You and your care team will write and honor a treatment contract, defining prizes for each activity. In most cases, the value of your rewards will go up over time. For many people, this agreement motivates positive changes.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. Today, it has many additional uses. For example, DBT can help patients with schizophrenia, addiction, and other mental health conditions.

Sessions of DBT can feel more like classes than therapy. You’ll meet with a group, go through a workbook, and even do homework. You might also have 1:1 sessions with your therapist. Patients learn practical skills in 4 modules: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. These coping strategies can empower you to live a healthier life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Like DBT, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on practical coping skills. CBT helps patients with addiction and schizophrenia manage their symptoms without drug use.

Instead of trying to change your feelings, CBT shows you new ways to respond. Future episodes of psychosis might always trigger drug cravings. But you’ll learn how to accept that feeling and move on, instead of falling back into addiction.

Specialized Care in Rehab

Schizophrenia is often a lifelong condition. Instead of “fixing” all of your symptoms, treatment empowers you to manage them. These strategies are far more sustainable than addiction. And in an effective rehab program, you can heal from both at the same time.

Browse rehabs that treat schizophrenia to see locations, photos, reviews, and more.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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The Complex Relationship Between Addiction and Depression

Depression can be either a cause or symptom of addiction. Some people try to self-medicate their symptoms, which leads to addiction. Others get depressed because of their substance use. But there’s a reason these 2 conditions appear together so often. If you have signs of both, you might need specialized treatment at a rehab for depression and addiction.

Common Causes of Depression and Addiction

Depression and addiction often occur at the same time. And in fact, having depression doubles your chance of developing addiction. But the link goes both ways. Taking drugs can also cause depressive symptoms.

What’s more, these 2 diagnoses have overlapping causes. The same factors that put you at risk for depression can also make you vulnerable to drug abuse:

Addiction and depression cause similar brain activity. And acute symptoms activate the same neural pathways over and over again. If you have depression, that happens during a depressive episode. With addiction, it happens when you take drugs. Both conditions make those pathways more and more sensitive over time. So without proper treatment, either one will continue getting worse. And, you’ll become even more vulnerable to the other.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

To get the right type of treatment, you first need an accurate diagnosis. And that can be more complex than it sounds. For example, if your depression is the result of drug use, your recovery will need to include addiction treatment.

Depression can co-occur with a wide variety of health issues. These can include mental health conditions, like anxiety, and even physical ones. For example, diabetes is linked to depression. And sometimes it’s just a symptom of a more complex diagnosis.

Depression as a Symptom of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that occurs in over 50% of people with addiction. People with this condition experience periods of depression interspersed with mania. And because it’s a primary symptom, bipolar is often misdiagnosed as major depression.

If you get the wrong diagnosis, it can interfere with your recovery. And it doesn’t just delay your progress—it can also make your symptoms worse.  For a person with bipolar, antidepressants can trigger manic episodes. They can also cause intense swings between mania and depression, called rapid cycling.

Addiction can exacerbate your mood disorder symptoms. That’s true whether you have bipolar disorder, major depression, or something else. If you’re healing from both addiction and any other mental health issue, you might consider going to rehab for co-occurring disorders.

Treatments for Depression and Addiction

Depression and addiction are receptive to similar types of treatment. That means you can heal from both simultaneously. You might even find that focusing on one condition helps you heal from the other. For example, data shows that most depressive symptoms resolve during addiction treatment. But that’s not true for everyone.

When you enter recovery, you might not know which condition came first. But you can work with your care team to answer that question. If your depressive symptoms fade after detox, you might just focus on healing from addiction. But if you do have clinical depression, there are several ways to approach treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches patients to cope with difficult thoughts. You’ll learn practical skills that help you live with and regulate even the most intense emotions.

CBT treats depression and addiction by helping people build self-confidence. And data shows that it has lasting effects, supporting your long-term recovery. You can also combine this therapy with other types of treatment, like medication.

Medication for Depression

Depending on your physical health, your care team may recommend prescribed medication. For example, it’s common to treat depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like Prozac or Zoloft. Preliminary data shows that SSRIs may also support addiction recovery. Specifically, they might help people quit smoking or heal from sex addiction.

SSRIs typically take full effect after 6 weeks. And while they’re a common treatment for depression, they aren’t right for everyone. You may need to try a few medications before you find the right fit. Or, if you have treatment-resistant depression, you might need to take a different approach.

Alternative Treatments

If traditional therapy and medication aren’t working for you, there are many other ways to treat depression. Some of these methods are experimental, while others are highly researched but less well known.

These alternative treatments aren’t replacements for traditional medical care. But you can combine them with other therapies, or even attend a holistic rehab program. There’s no right or wrong way to plan your recovery—just the way that works best for you.

Clearing the Clouds

Depression and addiction have so much in common, it can be hard to tell which one has the greater impact on your life. But there’s a silver lining to their overlapping symptoms. With the right treatment, recovery can be straightforward. In the long term, you can use the same coping skills to manage any ongoing symptoms. But most importantly, healing means learning about the complex relationship between these conditions. And doing that will teach you more and more about yourself.

Browse rehab centers that treat depression to learn about their amenities, photos, and reviews.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod