Men’s Program arrives at the camping retreat

This last weekend Sober College men’s residential program had a chance to experience a different type of Alcohol Anonymous meeting. Our men’s program traveled to a sober men’s retreat and participated in their recovery by fellowshipping with other sober young people and attending a 12-step speaker meeting. The consensus of our men’s program was that the meeting was, “Different and cool, and the speaker was really cool.” Being able to attend a meeting at one of these retreats is just another experience that not many young adults in treatment get to have. These sober functions are extremely fun for our clients and the mood at them is up-beat and happy. Our men’s program is able to get out into the world and experience firsthand that they can have fun, get along with others, and enjoy life without drugs or alcohol.

Alcoholics Anonymous hosts many special events for the sober community to be able to participate in. It could be a picnic, a pick up sports event, or a special type of 12-step meetings like the camping retreat. The lessons and the experiences learned during these activities allows our clients in a residential rehab to learn that there are engaging and fun activities to participate in, in 12-step programs. Sober College and its young adult residential rehab program utilize these functions in an attempt to show residents that it is possible to have fun, be happy and sober.

Sober College resident counting his eggs at holiday celebration

Having to spend the holidays away from home and in young adult rehab is unsettling to most young adults. Holidays are usually spent with family, in warm, loving environment; therefore, spending these special moments in treatment could prove to be a non-negotiable for most residents but at SoberCollege, holidays are a time for bonding with residents and staff. All residents and staff gather together for all major holidays to enjoy a time of fun, relaxation and community building.

Sober College strives to create a fun and happy atmosphere for residents who are in treatment during holidays. Young adult residents who attend SoberCollege during holidays are given opportunities to have fun with their peers and to get a better connection and friendship. For example, residents have traveled to amusement parks, Hollywood and more. In addition, they’ve had countless homemade dinners where residents and staff eat and socialize.  Sober College understands how stressful being away from home during the holidays can be which is why it strives to make sure these special moments are a fun and relaxing time for residents.

Mindfulness is a healthy coping skill.

Stress can be a leading factor in drug abuse and relapse.  Studies have shown that stress may induce relapse to cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine self-administration. Stress is part of everyday life; it’s important for individuals to learn how to cope with stress where and when it is needed. An overwhelming part of life that may easily cause stress is thinking about the past and future. Thinking of all the things that need to get done or all of the problems that one may have, and doing this all at once can cause stress.

There are studies that say that mindfulness meditation is an effective way to reduce stress. It enables the individual get in touch with themselves and help ease the worry and stress in their life. This period of meditation allows the individual return to their tasks at hand with a calmer attitude. Mindfulness is able to alter the stress hormones in the brain and to keep them at a safe steady level for the individual.

Here at SoberCollege young adult treatment program, many different opportunities to learn healthy mindfulness techniques are available to its residents. There is a weekly group that residents may receive direction during the meditation period to help them get accustomed to performing these processes on their own. During a one-on-one therapy session, therapists are able to talk to the resident about the different meditation options that are available to them and help them to decide what would be most helpful.

The stressors in drug treatment can cause a resident to become depressed or anxious and it is beneficial for residents learn how to deal with and overcome stress. Sober College and its innovative drug treatment program offer its residents multiple tools for them to use in order to keep them from relapse and future drug abuse.

Many clients in Sober College’s young adult rehab program have electric cigarettes because they feel it helps them to quit smoking. While having electric cigarettes is not suggested by the program, it is not frowned upon either. It has become a popular alternative to smoking for Sober College clients who see it as a healthier option.

Sober College and its young adult rehab program allow clients to create their own program. This gives them an opportunity to create a program that works for them while in treatment. Treatment is not meant to punish clients which is why Sober College successfully makes a program of recovery for clients that can be enjoyed by any who open their minds to new ideas.

Click to read more about Sober College’s Health and Wellness Course and Young Adult Rehab Program.

Residents learn how to talk about the things that cause them to use.

Heroin being a widely used drug in the young adult community today is a danger to the lives of many. Heroin is an extremely addictive drug that creates a physical dependence early on in use. Heroin abuse can lead to a decline in responsibility, interests, relationships and most importantly, death. In addition, it is a dangerous drug to detox from; oftentimes addicts relapse before obtaining a sober life.

Sober College young adult treatment program seeks to help young addicts obtain and sustain recovery by providing the Core Competencies a stepping stones. For example, the many mental and emotional problems that follow heroin addiction are confronted and are improved through therapy and groups. Also, being alongside same age peers helps residents learn more about themselves and gives them the ability to relate on a higher level. The ability to talk about issues and problems and ask for help from peers allows residents to understand they are not alone in their journey to recovery.

Sober College and its young adult treatment program help young adults to work through the obstacles they face while recovering from addiction. Addiction recovery is an on-going process throughout life and residents are taught different techniques and tools needed for a healthy, sober future.

The toolbox needed for sobriety.

People who have tried to stop using drugs or alcohol struggle with triggers: places, people, things or memories that can cause an addict to think about relapsing. Triggers vary depending on the person but no individual is completely without them. It is important during recovery to understand these triggers and how to overcome them. Due to the various ways in which triggers can appear, it is important to learn how to work past them in order to stay on track with sobriety.

Sober College and its young adult treatment program offers students a Relapse Prevention group which teaches them how to pinpoint and overcome their triggers. Life presents countless triggers—such as certain songs, movies, conversations and/or moments of high stress and anxiety. It is important for students to acquire the tools needed to work though these moments so they can prevent relapse.

Relapse Prevention group meets once a week and is a discussion-based group that encourages residents to reflect on their triggers. With each topic, students are given countless tools to utilize if and when they are faced with a triggering situation. The goal is to prepare students for the challenges of life and to give them what they need in order to be successful.

Student at Sky High Sports.

Just recently, Sober College took a handful of its residents to Sky High Sports, a trampoline park located in Woodland Hills, CA. While a child-like, innocent and fun activity, Sky High Sports provides students with an opportunity to have fun and raise their heart-rates. The residents had a great time and left the activity with smiles on their faces and with lifted spirits. One Sober College resident said, “It is something you will not get to do in any other inpatient treatment; it gives me a sense of ‘freedom’. Plus I love to do back-flips and front-flips.”

Sober College looks for innovative physical fitness opportunities and works them into its program so that residents can have fun while exercising. Innovation is important when working with young adults who are in early recovery because it helps them to see that sobriety isn’t boring. Many residents enjoy the physical fitness component at Sober College because of their ability to get fit, build friendships and engage in healthy competition. The physical and mental benefits of exercise is important to students in early sobriety and Sober College seeks to provide each resident with countless opportunities to “get high” in positive ways!

Click on the links below to read more about our Fitness Program and the Mental Health Benefits of the Sober College Program

Our Fitness Program

Benefits of Physical Fitness in Early Sobriety from Dr. Ken Niemann – Fitness Director at Sober College

Residents having fun together.

During drug treatment it is important for students to register and confront behavioral problems that could potentially cause relapse. The goal is to acknowledge these behaviors and work to change them. “This has helped me be able to be comfortable with myself and not have to rely on how I act and other people’s reactions to be happy” says one Sober College Student.

Sober College young adult treatment program provides students with individual therapy sessions, a counselor and weekly groups in order to process their emotional growth. The goal is for students to pinpoint negative behaviors and their roots in order to eradicate or reshape them for the better. Having the ability to establish personal and emotional growth greatly benefits students in their sobriety.

Sober College teaches its young adult treatment residents how to possess self-sustaining happiness and success for their futures. This is important because after treatment it is necessary to be able to target and change threatening behaviors to allow residents to have success in their sobriety. If the offered program is taken seriously and the suggestions are followed residents of this young adult treatment program are able to accomplish life on their own healthy terms.

One of many techniques to treat dual-diagnosis.

Today, most young adults who enter in to drug and alcohol treatment have some type of pre-existing mental health problems either diagnosed or undiagnosed. For this reason, parents should seek a program that offers dual-diagnosis treatment. At Sober College,  a treatment program designed specifically for young adult, offers an extensive clinical program to help diagnose, and treat young adults with a co-occurring disorder, while helping them recover from substance abuse or addiction.

Many clients at sober college enter treatment with mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, in attrition to their drug abuse and addiction. Whether one came before, or caused the other is irrelevant when it comes to treating someone with a dual-diagnosis. Both pieces need to be addressed simultaneously in order for treatment of either disorder to be successful. In order for medication to treat depression to be successful, the client must be free of all substance. If the depression is not assessed and treated properly, than any substance abuse treatment or relapse prevention will not be successful long term. Depression has many complications including low self-esteem and social problems.

The young adult treatment program at Sober College offers treatment for both depression, and other mental health problems, as well as for and for substance abuse. This is helpful because it allows clients to better understand their dual-diagnosis and learn about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle before they leave the safety of treatment and enter back into the real world. By treating all pieces of the diagnosis they  leave Sober College in the healthiest state possible.

Depression is detrimental to young adults because it can cause self-esteem and isolation. The environment at Sober College provides the support and community to help young adults cope with depression. They are able to feel a part of the community, have support, be active and learn to structure time according to schedules. Sober College offers all of that and more to its young adult clients. Days are scheduled to keep things simple and help occupy time as well as learn how to sit with down time. Sober College offers college  classes on-site which offer a good way to help young adults gain self-esteem because it allows clients to complete something and feel good about themselves for doing it.

The environment and opportunities that Sober College has to offer young adults struggling with dual-diagnosis is endless. Clients are surrounded by staff and peers who are willing to help them and work with them to help them grow, be successful, and achieve long term sobriety. Sober College has the perfect combination of college and rehab, and incorporates both traditional and nontraditional therapies, and helps young adults struggling with a dual-diagnosis build a solid foundation in sobriety. They learn the tools they need to lead a healthy sober life, setting them up for a happy and successful future.

Read More Here.

When heroin replaces natural chemicals in the brain during usage, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to refrain from using the drug. Heroin abuse is becoming more and more prevalent and is incredibly dangerous to the teen and young adult developing brain.

Sober College young adult treatment program is aware of the effects of continuous heroin abuse and takes this into account during the treatment process.  Heroin treatment is more successful in a residential environment because of its nutritional, physical, and mental health support systems. These elements are important to have in place for heroin addicts because it assists them with acquiring skills they may have lost while abusing drugs, that will help them maintain long term sobriety.

Sober College young adult heroin rehab program works with its residents to teach alternative and healthy ways to deal with cravings and to help them create a support system and problem solve for the future. Creating a plan for the future helps to ease anxiety regarding the unknown aspects of life. The program at Sober College offers its residents diverse resources to grow as young adults, to be unafraid of their futures and to have initiative to keep moving forward.