Glossary

12 Step:  A twelve step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous, (AA), as a method of recovery from alcoholism. The method was then adapted and became the foundation of other twelve step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, and more. The process involves: admitting  that one cannot control one’s addiction or compulsion, recognizing a greater power that can give strength, examining past errors with the help of a sponsor, making amends for these errors, learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior, and helping others that suffer from the same addictions or compulsions.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): A voluntary self help group concerned with the recovery and continued sobriety of the alcoholic who turns to the organization for help. The AA program consists basically of Twelve Steps designed for the personal recovery from alcoholism, and AA is the major proponent of the disease model of alcoholism.

Acu-detox (Auricular detoxification): Using the principles of Chinese and European acupuncture, specific ear points are pinned by a licensed specialist to significantly decrease cravings for drugs, alcohol, nicotine, sugar and other foods, as well as inducing an extreme sense of calm.  It decreases withdrawal symptoms, lessen the occurance of relapse, reduce anxiety, insomnia and agitation, and reduces pain (physical and emotional).    

Addiction: The medical definition of addiction has seven criteria. This definition is based on the criteria of American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV) and the World Health Organization.

Tolerance. Has your use of drugs or alcohol increased over time?

Withdrawal. When you stop using, have you ever experienced physical or emotional withdrawal? Have you had any of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, or vomiting?

Difficulty controlling use. Do you sometimes use more or for a longer time than you would like? Do you sometimes drink to get drunk? Do you stop after a few drinks, or does one drink lead to more?

Negative consequences. Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job, or family?

Putting off or neglecting activities. Have you ever put off or reduced social, recreational, work or household activities because of your use?

Spending significant time or emotional enrgy. Have you spent a significant amount of time obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from your use? Have you spent a lot of time thinking about using? Have you ever concealed or minimized your use? Have you ever thought of schemes to avoid getting caught?

Desire to cut down. Have you sometimes thought about cutting down or controlling your use? Have you ever made unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control your use?

Addictionologist: An addictionologist is a medical doctor that has earned a specialized certification from the American Society of Addiction medicine. A physician who specializes in the treatment of addiction remains current on new treatments available to clients.

Alcoholism: Alcoholism is a disease that is characterized by a strong need or compulsion to drink.  A physical dependence and the frequent inability to stop drinking once started. The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms such as, nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of drinking. Tolerance or the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to get “high.”

Clinical Program Assistant (CPA): These around the clock staff members perform a variety of duties, including supervising client activity during non-treatment hours, reviewing rules, taking role, serving as a liaison between clients and Clinical staff, as well as being a valuable resource for client questions related to recovery and treatment.

Continuing Care Plan: Upon leaving Phoenix Recovery Center, the client and counselor discuss and develop plans for ongoing treatment (outpatient, ½ way housing, physical or mental health, etc.). Clients are more apt to follow through with something that is established before they leave.

Denial: The thought process in which a person does not believe he or she has a problem, despite strong evidence to the contrary. It is a way of protecting oneself from painful thoughts or feelings.

Detox protocol: Detox or detoxification protocol means a plan for ridding the body of the toxic effects of alcohol or drugs. Medical intervention is the first step of the detox protocol. Whether or not drugs are prescribed to alleviate symptoms, close monitoring of the client going through detox is required.

Detoxification (or "Detox"): A process that helps the body rid itself of substances while the symptoms of withdrawal are treated. It is often a first step in a substance abuse treatment program.

Drug Addiction: Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in a large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus on behavior. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapse possible even after long periods of abstinence.

EMDR: (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as it relates to triggers of addiction. Using the technique of EMDR, the intensity of the urge is reduced by naturalizing the feelings and images surrounding the trigger.     

Experiential Group: Helps through role playing to identify personal issues and develop coping skills to eliminate, decrease, or learn how to cope in a healthy way.  By creating scenes or experiences from past, present or future events, it places the body and soul into the learning process, not just the mind.  It is the experience of the knowledge learned in action that is important.

Family Education Program : The Family Education Program is a series of lectures held prior to visitation on Sundays. It is well established that addiction is a family disease. This lecture program is designed to assist family, friends and loved ones in gaining clarity and understanding of the nature of alcoholism and drug addiction as a disease. It is often that through enabling, family and friends can contribute to the disease process but are unaware that they cannot cause, control, or cure it. The lectures include presentations on topics such as, feelings of guilt, isolation and caretaking at the family member’s own expense, addiction, family relations and enabling. Chances for recovery are improved when the recovering person has a supportive network. Encouragement and tools through the lecture format are offered in helping family members to detach with love. The lectures are informative and can help to strengthen and repair relations within the family.

Group Counseling: Counselor facilitated group where interaction and feedback is encouraged to increase knowledge, insight, and understanding about themselves, the disease process and most important, the recovery process.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA): A voluntary self help group concerned with the recovery and continued sobriety of the addict who turns to the organization for help. The AA program consists basically of Twelve Steps designed for the personal recovery from drug addiction, and NA is the major proponent of the disease model of addiction.

Recreational Therapy: A therapy designed to incorporate having fun, problem solving, encourage working as a group, asking for help and support from others to solve a challenge, and allowing group members to take risks. These objectives are reached through recreational means such as games and interactive tasks where group members rely on each other to reach a goal set by the group.

Rehab: A shortened word for rehabilitation, as used in alcoholic, alcoholism, and drug addiction rehabilitation.

Relapse: A recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement; that is, a person in recovery drinks or uses drugs again after a period of abstinence.

Relapse Prevention: Any strategy or activity that helps keep a person in recovery from drinking alcohol or using drugs again. It may include developing new coping responses; changing beliefs and expectations; and changing personal habits, lifestyles, and schedules.

Stabilization: Stabilization is the psycho-social process of assisting a client through their symptoms from their alcohol or drug withdrawal, to a medically stable, fully supported substance-free state. This is usually done with the assistance of medication, though not all individuals require medication for their detoxification process.