How Addiction Affects Family Legal Matters in Texas

For someone who is struggling with an addiction, even the threat of loosing their kids doesn’t make it any easier for them to quit using drugs or alcohol. For some people the threat of losing their kids is what will finally make them decide to get treatment for their addiction. Many Texans have already lost custody and visitation rights for their children and are desperately trying to make things right.

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Exhibiting a willingness to change and complying with the courts orders are your best chances to reunite your family. Texas family laws operate on a belief that parents should share custody. If the state has suspended your custody rights, the important thing will be to comply with any and all court orders. If you have been ordered to go into rehabilitation, comply with that order. Once you finish treatment, you can file a motion to get custody of your kids back. If you fail to comply with court orders however, you may have your parental rights permanently terminated.

Texas courts and family law concerning addiction.

When a court makes the decision based on the child’s welfare, it may take several considerations into account. If they are at least 10 years of age, the child’s preference on custody can help determine the ruling of the court. The family’s history of abuse or neglect, substance abuse history, the ability of each parent to care for the child and the physical and emotional needs of the child can all be taken into account when it comes to legal determinations of parenting responsibilities.

In all of this, the goal of the state of Texas is always to provide the safest environment for the child to be raised in. According to the same statute, Texas courts must always make opportunities for both parents to play a role in the child’s life, whenever possible. If one parent is unfit to care for the child due to endangerment from drug or alcohol abuse, the court may require that parent to undergo treatment at a drug rehabilitation facility before further considerations regarding child custody are made.

What happens when one parent lives in another state?

The Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act regulates interstate custody arrangements. It was designed to provide a uniform jurisdiction and enforcement mechanisms in custody and visitation matters that transcend interstate boundaries. The law was also created in an effort to deter interstate parental kidnapping. This has been an issue as America is a highly mobile society. People move across the United States for their job or family obligations all the time. This law requires state courts to enforce valid child custody and visitation rights made in other states. The UCCJEA guidelines help shape various aspects of Texas state law regarding families.

Conservatorship and the roles of parents defined in Texas state family laws.

The laws of the State of Texas consider child custody “conservatorship”. This definition outlines the rights and responsibilities of parents concerning their child’s welfare and best interests. The responsibilities include decision-making for medical care, education and other matters impacting the child’s life. There are two types of conservatorship in Texas:

Joint Managing Conservatorship: Where both parents make decisions on matters concerning the child’s safety and welfare.
Sole Managing Conservatorship: Only one parent has the right to make decisions affecting the child.

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How parental drug or alcohol abuse affects determinations of child custody cases in Texas:

When one, or both parents are using a substance that negatively impacts their ability to adequately care for children, the State of Texas considers this to be a form of “child abuse” or “neglect”. In custody cases, parents have the right to file a motion to have the other parent tested for drug use. However, this accusation cannot come without supporting evidence regarding the claims. The supporting evidence can come from a variety of sources, third party witnesses, the parent’s own criminal records, social welfare agencies or medical records. Courts will typically grant these requests as it is in the best interests of the child to determine the parent’s ability to provide for them.

If you have been actively using drugs and you tested positive on the court-ordered drug test, it is taken very seriously by the courts in Texas. This will likely be a major factor in the court’s decision regarding child custody and visitation rights. Typically, a failed UA will result in the complete loss of custody and visitation rights. Sometimes you may only be allowed supervised visitation rights.

If a parent has repeated failed drug tests, a court-ordered addiction treatment program may be required to regain your visitation rights. This program may be in conjunction with other forms of counseling and even parenting classes. Keep in mind that a positive drug test doesn’t necessarily mean a complete loss of your parental rights. Exhibiting a willingness to change, with the successful completion of court-ordered classes and treatment programs can go a long way to restoring involvement in your child’s life.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, odds are it is affecting their entire family. Consider the help available from More Than Rehab. We offer an extensive addiction treatment program for all types of drug and alcohol abuse. We are located just outside of Houston, Texas with locations in Austin and Dallas coming soon. Our phone lines are open 24/7 and we are ready to help.

Call us today:

888-249-2191

What are some of the inspiring de-addiction stories?

When people first enter the substance abuse treatment program at More Than Rehab, the lifestyle of addiction is the only thing that seems normal to them. A lot of young adults in America are accustomed to the lifestyle of drinking and drug use. In fact, it’s almost an expected rite of passage in modern American culture. Popular music, movies and television shows all glamorize the use of alcohol and drugs, while social media outlets offer a place for people to share their experiences, without any punitive consequences. This culture normalizes substance use to the point that many young Americans don’t realize any of the negative consequences that come along with alcohol or drug use.

The drug abuse problem in the United States has exploded to an epidemic level. The Centers for Disease Control shows that over 72,000 people have died in the US from a drug overdose in 2017. This is the largest number of recorded overdose deaths ever. When you factor in the 630,000 people who have died from a drug overdose since the late 1990’s, you’ll see a worsening problem that shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. For someone who is struggling with an addiction, the best time to get help is right now. The longer you wait, the more powerful the disease of addiction becomes. Leaving your addiction untreated, will only make it more difficult to cure this potentially deadly disease in the long term.

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Many people experience a turning point in their life that begins the process of recovery.

Most people who begin abusing drugs or alcohol do not plan on becoming addicted. A lot of people don’t even realize they have developed an addiction until they try to quit. The compulsive use of substances can easily develop into a life threatening illness. A chemical dependency can lead to self-destructive behaviors that will ultimately lead to serious health issues and the deterioration of personal and professional relationships. For some, these moments of devastation can be the “wake-up call” they needed in order to seek help from a drug rehabilitation center.

Know when it is time to get help for your addiction.

Once you make the decision to realize that your addiction has gotten out of control, you have to reach out for help. This may require you to navigate beyond your comfort zone, confiding in someone close to you about the problem you tried so long to hide. We know that there are a lot of people who are afraid to reach out for help. Some are afraid of the negative stigma that is associated with addiction and substance abuse. They become worried about the judgment of family and friends, fearful that they will be seen as a failure or a bad person. We can assure you that this is not the case, nor should it be.

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There is no shame in developing an addiction to drugs or alcohol. For many Americans it is almost unavoidable. Many are drawn to alcohol and drugs to cope with inner feelings of depression, anxiety or a variety of other mental health issues. Regardless of the underlying causes of your substance use, those who are closest to you will be happy that you decided to get the help you need.

Sobriety is absolutely possible! A fulfilling, healthy lifestyle is within your reach.

At More Than Rehab, we have seen a wide variety of people come to our rehabilitation center for help. We’ve had doctors, college students, musicians, stay at home mothers literally just about everyone come to us with a debilitating substance use disorder. Addiction knows no bounds. It is true that literally anyone can develop a psychological and physical dependency on substances ranging from alcohol to prescription and illicit drugs. Some of our clients were convinced that they had already ruined their lives before they walked into our addiction treatment facility. We were quick to point out that their lives were not over, but they were actually just beginning.

Seeking treatment for an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be the most important decision you will make in your lifetime. We’ve seen people who sacrificed everything in their lives just to get high. Some had lost their jobs, their families, friends and all of their worldly possessions. When they made the decision to get help and come clean, it was like we had opened up a window to a new world, a window they thought they had boarded shut. It is never too late to open your window and see the world in a whole new light.

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To learn more about the quality, evidence-based substance abuse rehabilitation and addiction treatment programs available to you at More Than Rehab, please call us today. We are available 24/7 and a licensed addiction counselor will answer your call. Don’t wait another day, make the call right away:

888-249-2191

What is the Best Drug Rehabilitation?

Finding the best addiction treatment program for yourself or a loved one can be a confusing process for many. With so many treatment options available, it is difficult for some to find the best drug rehabilitation program that will suit their individual needs. Finding the best drug rehabilitation for your addiction can be one of the most important health care decisions you make in your entire life. Addiction to drugs or alcohol can quickly become a deadly disease. You have a lot of options available to help you, but we want you to make an informed decision on which program will offer the best care for yourself or a loved one.

What are the different drug rehabilitation treatment types available to cure addiction?

Drug and alcohol medical detox

For most people, a full medical detox will be the first step of their alcohol or drug rehabilitation program. Before your treatment begins, you want to make sure your body and mind are prepared for the often intense withdrawal symptoms you may experience when you first stop using drugs or alcohol. This is why rehab programs will require you to complete a full detox before you begin your stay at a residential drug rehab facility.

Going through a full detox will rid your body of harmful toxins that were built up from past drug and alcohol abuse. The detox will help you get beyond the physical challenges of addiction, such as acute withdrawal symptoms, before you begin to address the mental and behavioral components of your addiction.

Physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms happen for most people when they first stop using drugs or alcohol. Many of these withdrawal symptoms can be eased with the help of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), beginning in the detox phase. These medications are designed to immediately make you feel more comfortable, while reducing your cravings for alcohol and drugs. MATs are considered to be science-driven, evidence based treatments, as they can also help prevent a relapse later on in your recovery from addiction.

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Inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation

Ongoing treatment is essential beyond an initial detox when a lifetime of sobriety is your ultimate goal. Entering an inpatient drug rehab facility will help you work through the psychological and emotional problems that contributed to your substance use disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual and group counseling, 12 step programs, physical activities, family counseling and a variety of other techniques are employed to varying degrees in nearly every inpatient addiction treatment program. Some inpatient drug rehab programs last an average of 30 days, while others go up to 90 days or more, depending on the severity of the addiction. Some research has shown that the longer a person stays in a treatment program, the more positive the results will be:

"However, research has shown unequivocally that good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length. Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness, and treatment lasting significantly longer is recommended for maintaining positive outcomes.”
–NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

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Inpatient drug rehab programs offer a comfortable group housing arrangement for others who are in similar stages of recovery. These settings are a good start for many people who just recently quit using drugs or alcohol. Inpatient rehab offers the patient a chance to get out of their daily routine, and really focus on the most important thing for their personal health: learning how to stay sober.

Inpatient rehab is absolutely essential when someone has an addiction to multiple substances or an underlying mental health issue that may have contributed to their substance use disorder. When someone has past trauma, it is likely this had heavily contributed to the reasons the addiction developed in the first place. Many have suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness that caused them to self-medicate in an attempt to feel “normal”. This is referred to as a dual diagnosis, and will require more intricate treatment techniques.

Outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation

Outpatient rehab offers most of the same forms of treatment as an inpatient facility does, but it allows the flexibility for someone to get treatment for their addiction, while continuing to live at home, go to work or attend school while in rehab. This being the case, it is important to find an outpatient clinic near you.

Most outpatient clinics offer daily individual, group and family therapy sessions, coupled with various other forms of treatment. In many ways, outpatient care is no different from inpatient treatment, you just don’t live at the rehab facility. Typically, most would recommend an outpatient treatment facility to someone who has already completed 30 to 90 days of inpatient rehab.

Outpatient facilities offer patients the opportunity to extend the length of their treatment, while providing a continued foundation for their success in sobriety. Outpatient rehabilitation is also a great way to learn techniques to reduce cravings and prevent a relapse while having the chance to test them out in real world situations. Remember that sticking with a long-term strategy while in recovery is the key to achieving positive outcomes in your addiction treatment.

While the differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment are fairly straightforward, the differences in results will be determined by the individual needs of the patient. The goal of all of these programs is ultimately to help you build a new lifestyle that doesn’t include the use of alcohol or drugs.

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Finding the best drug rehabilitation in the Houston, Texas area

A long term substance abuse problem can have devastating consequences not only for yourself, but for your friends and family members as well. It is never too late to start an addiction recovery program but the sooner you act, the easier it will be. When an addiction goes untreated, the addict is prone to worsening health conditions and at a great risk for an accidental overdose death.

Every 11 minutes, someone dies from an opioid overdose in the United States. As the opioid epidemic rages on, the lives of many Americans are at stake. If you’re reading this, odds are this epidemic has hit close to home for you as well. Know that immediate help is available. At More Than Rehab, we are available to help you 24/7. All you have to do is pick up the phone and make that first call: