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Making the decision to enter a drug detox can be life altering. For some, the choice to seek help through a drug detox is one that comes after a repetitive bout of relapses; broken promises, heartache, and poor health.

Yesterday, I asked my friend to enter a drug addiction treatment facility. To be honest, I was hesitant to go down that path with him. My experience with him is that he feels he can do without drug addiction treatment. Unfortunately, my further experience with him is that he, so far, is unable to string together more than three months.

Pointing out when a friend needs the help of a drug treatment center is difficult. It seems the words 'drug treatment center' can be considered dark and ominous. I suppose they can be. If someone wants to think about all a center might 'take away' from them, but they aren't dark at all. In fact, they can be three words that will shine a beacon of light in their direction.

Buprenorphine is the only opiate addiction therapy drug that can be prescribed in a physician's office; others must be dispensed in a clinic. For some people there is a stigmatizing effect that can come along with clinic-based therapy, so buprenorphine reduces this effect because of its office availability.

In October of 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved a formulation called Subutex. Subutex is used in the initial stages of opiate addiction therapy to help alleviate withdrawal symptom pain while allowing the patient to experience a lesser degree of sedation and respiratory depression. It also doesn't allow any significant impairment of cognitive of motor skills.

Suboxone is one of the leading medications being used to help during detoxifications for opioid dependence. Suboxone, which is a pill and taken sublingually, which means under the tongue, has risen in popularity because it truly helps with withdrawal pain while at the same time minimizing a patient's ability to become addicted to it.

Creating a safe environment for someone unsure if they need help from a drug abuse treatment center isn't the biggest challenge. Convincing yourself or a loved one that you need drug abuse treatment is the biggest challenge.

I've been trying hard to get my friend into an alcohol drug treatment program, but haven't been able to convince him it's what's best for him overall. For some addicts, an alcohol drug treatment facility is the bottom rung, the proverbial safety net before falling into the abyss of the disease. My friend thinks this and he couldn't be further from the truth.

I received a text message from a friend of mine who has yet to attend an alcohol and drug treatment facility like the one we have here...or any for that matter. Unfortunately, he has been struggling for many years.

Once Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is identified you should get help right away. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you've just stopped using alcohol or other drugs, either with the help of a treatment facility like our Orange County detox or some other avenue, it is okay to ask for more help.