Music
MUsic makes THE difference.
The rate at which Recovery Unplugged clients stay clean versus the national average.
How music takes over at Recovery Unplugged
4x
is our
medicine
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Why Does Drug and Alcohol Treatment Take So Long?
The stigma of relapse and how to overcome...
When did you decide that you needed help?
X ways to party sober during festival season
behind the numbers of america's overdose...
What are your triggers?
Do your genes put you at risk of addiction?
Should you seek treatment or exist in addiction?
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Our client approval rating is 35% higher than the national average.
95%
The rate at which Recovery Unplugged clients complete treatment versus the national average.
5x
Recovery Unplugged works with most insurance companies to make treatment more affordable for you and your loved one.
The time to start healing from drug and alcohol addiction is now.
start your treatment today
THE MAN BEHIND THE MEDICINE
The Recovery Unplugged treatment approach is largely driven by our Chief Strategy Officer, Paul Pellinger, CAC. A man who literally wrote the book on music-based addiction care, Paul is a bestselling author, a veteran of the addiction treatment industry, a genuine music lover and one of the most sought-after speakers in the field. Under his leadership and guidance, Recovery Unplugged has been able to help thousands of people across the country overcome their addiction and experience the power of music in addiction recovery.
Download a copy of Paul’s bestselling book, “Music Is Our Medicine,” to learn more about his journey and the Recovery Unplugged treatment process.
What You Need to Know About Helping a Loved One...
How Music Takes Over at Recovery Unplugged
After World War II, musicians toured across the United States visiting hospitals and playing music for combat veterans struggling to cope with the emotional and physical wounds of war. Gradually, clinicians began to realize that music was helping the veterans recover and modern music-assisted treatment was born. The benefits of music in treating mental health issues are well-documented. And “rocking out” is now a cutting-edge tool in the treatment of substance abuse.
At Recovery Unplugged, we have experts on staff who apply proven music interventions based on sound theory and supported by medical research to help people in recovery become activated, energized, reconnected and motivated. We use music-assisted treatment as a nontoxic, noninvasive therapeutic option during addiction treatment. For everyone from casual listeners to accomplished songwriters and recording artists, a new musical “high” replaces the feelings they used to get from drugs and alcohol.
Music Really Works
Research has found that:
Listening to music causes the brain to release dopamine. This is the same feel-good chemical associated with sex and numerous drugs.
But why? What does music do?
When instrumental and/or vocal sounds are combined to form melodies, they can have a powerful impact on the brain.
Music-assisted treatment relieves muscle tension and reduces anxiety.
Music, particularly singing, lowers heart rates, increases alertness and can enhance sleep.
Music offers pain relief and reduces the sensation of pain.
Music even bolsters our immune system by increasing the production of “natural killer cells” and the antibody immunoglobulin A.
How Does Music Work During Recovery?
We all have a special connection to music. Even if you don’t play an instrument or can’t carry a tune, you probably have a few songs that raise your spirits when times are tough.
In the specific context of addiction recovery, music:
At Recovery Unplugged, we use music in different ways to address diverse emotional, cognitive, physical and social aspects of recovery.
What is Our Goal?
The goal of treatment may vary depending on the individual. But our goal is to help our patients use the musical aspect of treatment to engage their deepest emotions and motivations, as well as to transcend any existing barriers to their recovery. For many people struggling with addiction, drugs and alcohol are an escape. For some individuals, the drugs are a negative coping skill for the difficult issues they might be dealing with, such as a traumatic background. To our clients, music is not only a tool for expression but also an opportunity for reflection. And as they listen and react to other people’s music in the program, they realize that they are not alone in their experiences. Music gives them both confidence and a safe place to heal their addictions.
How does it work? Let’s dive in.
Enables people to communicate
without having to use words.
Acts as motivation
to keep going to treatment.
works
as a kind of emotional support.
Removes
some of the stress and anxiety many feel during recovery.
Our music-assisted treatment is designed to maximize this impact. We help spark positive changes in an individual’s emotional, perceptual, cognitive and behavioral tendencies. These positive changes can then be applied in other areas of the individual’s life, such as coping with cravings, decision-making, stress management and so much more.
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Examples of some of our music-assisted treatments include songwriting, relaxation training, lyric analysis, music games and music improvisation based on different topics or emotions. That wide variety means that anyone will fit right in, even if they’ve never picked up an instrument in their life and have no musical background whatsoever. After assessing the unique needs, weaknesses, and strengths of each of our patients, our experts provide an individualized treatment plan designed to aid in recovery.
Provides an outlet to connect with other people.
Music is our medicine
Provides an outlet
to connect with other people.
Bolsters
physical rehabilitation.
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MORE stories about recovery through music
Behind the Numbers of America’s Overdose Epidemic
At least 40,000 Americans die annually
Today, the drug overdose epidemic kills an average of 130 people every single day in the United States. Take a look at the numbers below to get a sense of how families and communities are being impacted.
Putting the Ongoing Tragedy in Perspective
70,000
The CDC reports that more than
americans died from a drug overdose in 2017 alone.
over
Americans have died from an overdose since 1999.
700,000
Drug overdose is the leading cause of death for American adults under 55. Drug overdoses kill more U.S. citizens each year than HIV, gun violence and car crashes.
Drug overdose deaths are continuing to rise
In 2017, there were
more opioid overdose deaths than in 1999.
6x
There was a
increase in synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths between 2016 and 2017.
45%
For every drug overdose death that occurs, many more nonfatal overdoses happen.
Not all drug overdoses end with death
About 45% of all drug users experience a nonfatal drug overdose during their lifetime.
But overdosing always takes its toll
Even when overdoses don’t result in death, they have significant emotional, health and economic repercussions.
Drug overdose tends to recur
If a person has one overdose episode, they are very likely to have another.
And just because they survive the current episode doesn’t mean they’ll survive the next one.
An overdose puts you at higher risk of death related to other causes as well
die of circulatory system diseases, and
13%
from cancer
10%
Overdose survivors are also 30 times more likely to die of viral hepatitis, and they are 25 times more likely to commit suicide when compared to the general population.
Survivors of opioid overdoses are 24 times more likely to die later that year than the general population, but only 25% of those deaths are related to drug use.
How we respond to an overdose always matters
Every nonfatal overdose should be seen as an opportunity to save the individual from a subsequent, possibly fatal overdose.
View all our levels of care.
Prescription opioids
Opioids are involved in 2 out of 3 drug-related deaths
In 2017, opioids were involved in 68% of all reported drug overdose deaths, and more than 15,000 heroin-related drug overdose deaths were reported that year.
of all opioid overdose deaths in 2017 involved prescription opioids.
36%
on average,
Americans die daily from a prescription drug overdose.
46
Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids are on the rise
There was a significant rise in overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids in 23 states and the District of Columbia between 2016 and 2017.
Heroin is a massive problem
Heroin overdoses account for about 5 out of every 100,000 deaths.
The highest heroin overdose death rates are seen in 25- to 44-year-old males.
Cocaine caused about 1 in 5 drug overdose deaths in 2017.
About
Americans died due to drug overdoses involving cocaine that year.
14,000
Cocaine
Drug overdose deaths are not limited to opioids
Psychostimulants
Psychostimulants include illegal drugs like ecstasy and methamphetamines. They also include prescription stimulants, such as drugs used to treat depression and ADHD.
More than
Americans died after overdosing on psychostimulants in 2017.
10,000
Compared to Hispanics, whites are
more likely to die from a drug overdose.
167%
The crisis is worst in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Northeast states.
Concerning overdosing, who and where you are matters.
Compared to blacks, whites are
50%
This gives them an elevated overdose risk because they are more prone to becoming dependent on drugs.
Men are more likely than women to abuse drugs.
Males living in economically depressed neighborhoods are more likely to begin using drugs early in life.
Additional overdose risk factors
Users suffering from mental illness.
Users with low income.
Users who take multiple medications.
Users who doctor shop.
Users who inject their drugs.
Users who mix alcohol with drugs.
Users who do drugs alone.
Users who have a history of overdosing.
Polysubstance drug use is a dangerous trend of taking two or more drugs at once.
The growing danger of polysubstance use
For instance, someone might use heroin with cocaine, prescription opioids, marijuana or alcohol.
Fentanyl is frequently used as an additive
7
Contamination is when one drug is combined with another as an additive to make it more potent. This typically occurs before the user gets it and without their knowledge.
Illicitly-manufactured fentanyl is mixed into heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and counterfeit opioid pills.
One 10-state study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that:
of all opioid overdose deaths tested positive for fentanyl and/or fentanyl compounds
of people who died from an overdose of fentanyl or fentanyl analogs also had heroin, methamphetamine or cocaine in their systems
57%
more than
Drug overdoses are killing America. If you want to make sure it doesn’t happen to you or your loved one, reach out to Recovery Unplugged today.
Do you know what’s in your drugs?
When a loved one enters treatment, it’s common for friends and family to breathe a long sigh of relief. The worst is over, right? Yes and no. Making the decision to enter treatment is a huge leap forward for someone with a substance addiction. However, doing so is only the first step in a long journey for those who’ve chosen recovery – and the families who love and support them. Depending on many factors, those struggling with addiction may require different types of treatment for months – or even years – before they can truly feel ready to move forward. This can be frustrating for friends and family, who may feel like they’re trapped in a downward spiral, with nothing seeming to change or get better. But with knowledge of different types of treatment, community support and patience, you can help to shorten your loved one’s recovery time.
Addiction is an incredibly complex issue, which can include social, interpersonal, societal, and mental health issues,” said Joseph Gorordo, vice president of business development at Recovery Unplugged in Austin, Texas. “We have found that three to six months of care across a continuum of services is typically required to set a foundation for a lifelong recovery process.” Three to six months can feel like an eternity. But this is just the foundation of recovery.
Treatment time varies from person to person, but one thing is for sure: no one recovers overnight.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION?
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Drug and Alcohol Addiction?
“Addiction is an incredibly complex issue, which can include social, interpersonal, societal, and mental health issues,” said Joseph Gorordo, vice president of business development at Recovery Unplugged in Austin, Texas. “We have found that three to six months of care across a continuum of services is typically required to set a foundation for a lifelong recovery process.” Three to six months can feel like an eternity. But this is just the foundation of recovery.
Additionally, it’s important to understand that recovery is not always linear. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that up to six in 10 addicts relapse within their first year of recovery. This is a scary statistic. But it also illustrates that you’re not alone. There are many people out there who are going through this struggle. Here are a few factors that impact how long treatment takes.
Most people are aware of 12-step programs. But many find that this type of treatment is not suited for them. They turn to religious groups or alternative acceptance programs. Some people need to meet with a support group every day. For others, exercise, hobbies or lifestyle changes do the trick. Bottom line: not all programs work for everyone. Unfortunately, finding the one program that works may require trying others that don’t until you discover it.
Paul Pellinger, the strategy officer at Recovery Unplugged, once worked with a man who had relapsed 15 times. Nothing was sticking, until he brought music into the mix. “He was never afforded the Recovery Unplugged approach,” Pellinger said. “This particular gentleman I’m thinking about was from the Bronx. He kept relapsing because he thought it was okay to sell drugs and not use them. By using a lyric [or] song from an artist who is also from the Bronx, I was able to anchor the client to the concept I was trying to teach him while validating his frustration.” It may take the right person, the right mantra or the right song to make recovery stick. The positive to take from this story? Even after one, two, five or 10 relapses, there is still hope for long-term recovery. “We have a client that celebrated a year last week,” said Beth Sullivan-Jawitz, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Recovery Unplugged in Fort Lauderdale. “I believe she was with us four times and had many overdoses in between. She persistently disregarded the recovery recommendations. On her last admission, she was ready to do whatever was recommended. There are many other similar stories.”
It May Take More than One Stay
TREATMENT TIME VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE – SHORTCUTS ARE NOT ADVISED.
Different Types of Recovery Work for Different Types of People
How does a person recover from addiction? Let us count the ways.
It’s possible for anyone to lose their desire to use and find a new way of life with the proper treatment and time. But if they’re onboard from the onset, treatment is often faster. “Those that actually want to be in recovery will put forth an effort that will expedite their process tenfold,” Mariano said. But it’s important to note that desire doesn’t mean success is guaranteed. “Engagement and willingness are important but not always an indicator of outcome,” Sullivan-Jawitz said.
The Patient’s Desire to Be There Matters
The answer has an enormous impact on how long it will take to find a recovery program that sticks. One person cannot take on all of the responsibilities that come with recovery. Pellinger calls addiction “a family disease.” He often reminds families that it takes time and education to discover the type of treatment that works best. Sullivan-Jawitz agrees. “I am a strong believer that many clients will not hit their ‘bottom’ until the families do,” she said. “There is a benefit to tough love and boundaries.”
It Takes A Village
How involved are you in your loved one’s recovery?
Paul Pellinger breaks down our mission:
So Where Does Recovery Unplugged Come In?
The team at Recovery Unplugged knows that, while recovery takes time, music can help to move the process forward.
Our job at Recovery Unplugged is to re-habit people. We cannot expect what’s taken years to form, to change within a matter of weeks. We use music to establish rapport quicker, teach the necessary coping skills and behaviors needed for long-term recovery, as well as helping them retain all of that information.
six in 10 addicts relapse within their first year of recovery.
Recovery doesn’t happen overnight. But with Recovery Unplugged, it can finally happen for you and your loved ones.
Those that actually want to be in recovery will put forth an effort that will expedite their process tenfold.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECOVERY WORK FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE
HOW DOES A PERSON RECOVER FROM ADDICTION? LET US COUNT THE WAYS.
It May take more than one stay
SIX IN 10 ADDICTS RELAPSE WITHIN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF RECOVERY
It TAKES A VILLAGE
HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU IN YOUR LOVED ONE’S RECOVERY?
SO WHERE DOES RECOVERY UNPLUGGED COME IN?
THE TEAM AT RECOVERY UNPLUGGED KNOWS THAT, WHILE RECOVERY TAKES TIME, MUSIC CAN HELP TO MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD.
THOSE THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO BE IN RECOVERY WILL PUT FORTH AN EFFORT THAT WILL EXPEDITE THEIR PROCESS TENFOLD.
What You Need to Know About Helping a Loved One with Addiction
Recovery Unplugged uses the power of music to provide healing to people affected by addiction. But we don’t heal people by ourselves. Someone suffering from addiction is far more likely to recover if they have a strong support network of friends and family members. Your help will be needed at each point in the process. And it is instrumental in your loved one’s recovery. How can you help? Admitting that your loved one is struggling with addiction is not an easy process. It’s common for family members and friends to turn a blind eye to another’s addiction. So, the first step is recognizing and admitting that someone you care about has a serious problem. Once you are able to do that, it’s time to think about how to take action. Loving a person with an addiction has different challenges and goals than loving someone without an addiction. Boundaries, patience and facing hard truths are all part of the process. It’s something you have to learn about. That means you should educate yourself before you take action. We’ll explain what addiction is and what it looks like, how to stop enabling your loved one’s addiction, and what you can do to alleviate your loved one’s fears and give them the strength they need to enter treatment.
The stigma surrounding addiction has prevented many people from understanding what it is. It’s easy to think of addicts as people who are just weak or lazy, or that addiction can be overcome with willpower alone. None of this is true. And if you’re trying to help your loved one, you need to know the definition of addiction and what it looks like. Addiction is a brain disease that leads people to compulsively engage or use substances, despite seriously harmful consequences. This is why a person living in addiction may continue to use their substance of choice, even when it puts their career, family or life at risk. Addiction can control someone so strongly that they lose the ability to restrain themselves. This is why, even when the substance is out of their system and they’re on the road to recovery, they may relapse and use again. It is not merely the substance that must be countered, but the disease itself. That’s far more difficult. However, they can recover from addiction and begin to live a productive, healthy life when they find a recovery program that works for them and are supported by a community of people who care.
What Constitutes Addiction?
People with addiction have to put in a lot of work. In many cases, recovering from addiction will be the hardest thing they ever do. As you watch their struggles, you will probably want to do anything you can to help them. You’ll want to give them everything they ask for and fulfill every need. After all, you want to show them as much love and support as you can. Unfortunately, it’s dangerous to show love without any boundaries. Doing so could send them right back to using. Without boundaries, you might be loving your addict to death. What’s the solution?
How to Stop Loving Your Addict to Death
The beginning stages of recovery are often confusing and scary. Addiction may have taken such a strong hold on your loved one that you don’t recognize them anymore. They aren’t going to immediately transform into a new person on their first day of sobriety. Sehar Ryan, director of outreach and court liaison for Recovery Unplugged, cautions loved ones about the changes that they may witness. “Families should expect a lot of highs and a lot of lows. Families must understand that their loved ones have not felt true emotions in a long time,” she said. “The use of drugs and alcohol make it almost impossible for individuals to feel any emotions. Further, it’s very critical for families to approach loved ones carefully. Allow the clinical process to be done by a professional. These ‘highs and lows’ are essentially a blessing in disguise.” In other words, trust the doctors and support groups that are working with your loved one.
During this confusing time, it can be tempting to give your loved one everything they want. Maybe they’ve made great strides in their recovery and ask for a reward or favor. Or you’re feeling guilty for how your relationship or role in their life has contributed to their addiction. You might even just be happy to see your loved one at home and want to celebrate. Unfortunately, saying yes to everything may lead to unintentionally enabling your loved one’s addiction. Addiction lies. Addiction steals. Addiction leads people to do distrustful and manipulative things to feed the addiction. Setting boundaries is crucial to reducing your risk of enabling a loved one and creating a healthy path toward recovery. “Understanding that the [person] who we love may have within themselves the capabilities to overcome their respective challenges can be difficult in the moment,” said Klifton Fehr, LMHC, the primary therapist at our Fort Lauderdale location. You have to move past your own fears about their abilities, and you must trust that they have the strength they need to persevere. Of course, your loved one may not believe they have these capabilities or may need to focus on their recovery before taking on larger milestones. Fehr said that pushing challenges on loved ones when they feel they are not ready may hurt their progress toward recovery.
Setting boundaries can be an emotional process, especially for parents of addicts. But saying no is necessary to setting boundaries. Rachael Gray, Recovery Unplugged’s director of admissions in Fort Lauderdale, explained why.
As hard as it is to say no, boundaries will ultimately help your loved one throughout the recovery process. There are support groups for parents, partners and family members of those living with addiction or in recovery. Reach out to these groups and give them a chance. Leaders and other members can share their experiences — both with enabling loved ones and helping them recover from addiction. This can help you learn and work through your feelings. You are not alone.
The least favorite word an addict can hear is ‘no.’ It may seem like you are being harsh and it may be tough to do this, but it is extremely important to set healthy boundaries. The addict must have consequences for their actions, because without consequences, they have no reason to stop using or change. People will only change when the pain gets great enough. If you make it easy for them to keep using, they will continue to use.
— Rachael Gray, Recovery Unplugged director of admissions
To an addict, walking through the doors to enter treatment involves far more than merely taking a few steps. It is a scary process for many. They are so consumed in their addiction that it becomes their whole world. From their perspective, they’re being asked to step out of that world and enter a new one. And it’s common for people in addiction to resist. Maybe they want to use one last time. Or they focus on seemingly innocuous details of their life that “need” to be taken care of before entering rehab. Make no mistake, this is fear talking. To help combat the fears of our clients and encourage them to get started on their treatment, we keep things simple and tell it to them straight. In fact, we only ask one thing of our clients.
Letting go doesn’t mean that there is no one to catch you when you fall. “We ask people with addiction to make the commitment to end their current suffering by allowing Recovery Unplugged to carry them for a little while in an effort to assist them in getting their lives on track while they heal in treatment,” Fehr said. Many people living in addiction return to using because they don’t want to face the ins and outs of everyday life. We understand. That’s why the team at Recovery Unplugged puts a strong focus on helping with those tasks and assisting in their transition back into a world free from addiction. How do we do it? Through the power of music. Because music does more than just put a smile on your face or take your mind away from using. “Music is a powerful tool,” Ryan said. It helps break down barriers and foster community. So, when addressing behavioral change, music gives a person a sense of reason. I’ve witnessed that music helps reduce anxiety and allows someone to process their emotions, such as anger, resentment and sadness. Music translates into positive character transformation.” Recovering from addiction will likely be the toughest, most confusing transformation your loved one ever goes through. But with the help of music, support and community, it can be a positive and beautiful transformation that sets them on the path toward a healthy and happy life.
First, Understand That Your Loved One Is Experiencing Change
Second, Set Boundaries
Learn to Say ‘No’ – Even When It’s Hard
‘There’s One More Thing I Have to Do Before Entering Treatment’
‘Let Your Guard Down and Face the Music’
