Drug Abuse Treatment

Substance Abuse Treatment Process – What Does Look Like?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:14:17 +0000

There comes a time in an addiction where that one last hit or that one last stiff drink is not going to take the edge off anymore. The inevitable crash is felt even while the elation builds. The good thing about hitting rock bottom is that it is a firm foundation to start rebuilding your life. A Florida substance abuse treatment center can help. For those willing to recognize their addiction and take the steps to escape it, the rock bottom once hit can be the ground floor to reconstructing a clean and sober existence.

The first step towards healing from an addiction is to cleanse the poisons from your body. However, the fear of the symptoms associated with substance withdrawal can be painful and embarrassing to overcome. The fear of withdrawal is often the key reason for not seeking addiction treatment. Florida substance abuse treatment centers have dedicated and understanding medical staff on hand to ensure that the agonies of withdrawal are treated in a gentle yet progressive way.

After a thorough medical evaluation, the body need for controlled substances are slowly diminished with pharmaceutical support and an environment of understanding. In addition to chemical treatment comes the steady nurturing back to health from other medical conditions that so often accompany prolonged substance abuse such as malnutrition, blood chemical instabilities, and other maladies that may have been neglected or ignored. Once the preliminary physical matters have been attended to, the next phase in healing can begin.

Controlled substance addiction is largely a psychological condition as well as physical. On hand at all times are psychological specialists that specialize in the field of addiction. Just as the physical evaluation determined a course of therapy for your body, the help received from these specialists and counselors can begin to help each individual identify a positive course of thinking to break away from addiction. Individual sessions are regularly scheduled and peer groups of others that have suffered from addiction can meet and share their perspectives and experience escaping from the grip of substance abuse. Twelve Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are available and encouraged.

The final facet to recovering from substance addiction can sometimes be the most challenging over time. Sometimes it is even feared as much as facing the initial physical withdrawal. The nightmare of chemical dependency so often has continual and horrific affects on faith. At a Florida substance abuse treatment centers spiritual leaders from many denominations visit often with our guests to assist with the journey of coming back to a path of faith. Prayer meetings are held regularly and church members are welcomed at all times. Phone areas and limited Internet access is available to rebuild connections with family and loved ones that may have become severed in the confusion left by addiction.

With the combination of physical, psychological, and spiritual healing, each individual can graduate from the care of a Florida substance abuse treatment center and return to a meaningful, sober life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Brindisi

Drug Abuse Treatment That Works And Ones are Not

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:50:11 +0000

Drug abuse, intervention, drug rehab – if you’re familiar, really familiar with addiction you’ve been lead down a path of failure again and again. That’s not your fault. You were set up to fail.

My BIG question to you is: Are you willing to re-look at the problem of addiction with a fresh set of eyes?

The good news is by sorting out the truth and the lies, you can find out what you’ve failed to solve and then solve addiction for real. This is not an empty promise. I help 3/4 families end addiction for life.

Let’s First Find Out the Lies about Drug And Alcohol Addiction

The popular and incorrect definition of addiction is a chronic relapsing disease or disorder overtaking a person’s power of judgment and personal control resulting them to drink or take drugs to excess.

Alcoholics and drug abusers DO take these drugs to excess. But can they exert self will over their bad habit and end addiction? Let’s find out the truth by exposing what has failed.

Disease Model

A disease pre-supposes one requires medications, medical care or other serious interventions to treat or cure the problem. But, a chronic re-occurring disease also pre-supposes you’ve got it for life i.e. HIV, Diabetes, etc.

The drug treatment Disease Model is not performing well. It’s about 10% (+/- 5%) success rate after 1 year of program completion.

This means if the program follows the Disease Model or center offers 12 Step, counseling, medications, mood altering drugs to treat various disorders (ADD / ADHD, Anxiety, etc) that drug rehab program will average a majority failure in Canada and the USA. (Baldwin Research Corporation)

Therefore, while a treatment program may not openly say so, they don’t expect your loved one to be cured of addiction, if they follow this model. They only expect the addict get ‘proper treatment’, not end addiction.

The Truth About Drug And Alcohol Addiction

Fact: the average case of alcoholism and drug addiction is regularly cured by properly defining and handling the actual or true problems underlying drug abuse.

The original definition of drug / alcohol addiction is:

The use of a tolerance-inducing drug in sufficient quantity as to cause tolerance (the requirement that greater dosages of a given drug be used to produce an identical effect as time passes). (People) can become addicted to various drugs quickly. Almost at the same time, a common definition of addiction developed: to continue to use a given drug despite their own best interest. (Wikipedia)

Addiction is a dangerous problem with severe consequences if it is not handled fast. The first thing to find out is, What is the actual problem?

Social Education Model

This model considers that a number of people requiring drug and alcohol rehab are relapsing due to life skills never applied or learned or abilities never developed or used. Some people clearly lose touch with their abilities while living the life of addiction.

If a drug abuse program uses a Social Educational Model of recovery, they will average 40% to 75% success rate in Canada and the USA. (Baldwin Research Corporation)

Here is the catch. Many Social Educational Models are only privately financed, meaning you or the family pays for the program.

Let’s do the math. If a drug or alcohol addiction is costing you or the family $100,000 in expenses, lost income, lawyers, a divorce due to asset splitting, etc. a $30,000 program is a bargain. This is especially true if that program is 2 to 6 months or longer in duration and works.

If the quality of your family’s life has been damaged dramatically by substance abuse and life is all about the drama that is created by the addict, ask yourself one thing:

Are you trying to just survive it or are you trying to fix the problem for good?

Many families get so en-wrapped into the addicts life, they get ‘addicted’ to rescuing the addict, saving them from disasters and anticipating the next disaster. They are now just as trapped in the addict’s world, sometimes more trapped, as the addict.

Tips For Families And Addicts To Recover From Addiction

Do a self inventory. What are you trying to handle?
Identify the problem to be fixed
Find a program method that fixes that problem
Go with the odds
Ignore the detractors, everyone has a story to tell and they are limited to their own perspective

Curing addiction is a great joy and cause for celebration. I look forward to seeing your success.

Do you still have more questions about choosing the best program for your loved one?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tibor_A._Palatinus

Drug Abuse Treatment

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:47:06 +0000

Drug addiction treatment typically involves several steps to help an addict to successfully withdraw from using the drug. The treatment must be followed by counseling and attending self-help groups to help the recovering addict to resist any crave for using the addictive drug again.

The first step of drug addiction treatment is the withdrawal therapy. Withdrawal therapy is a step by

Step detoxification plan which helps the recovering addict to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible. The detoxification is a gradual process that involves reduction of the dose of the drug or temporarily substituting the drug with other substances that have less severe side effects.

The second step begins after a successful detoxification. The goal of the second step is to help the ex-addict stay sober and keep resisting drugs. The second step involves therapies such as counseling, addiction treatment programs and self-help group meetings.

Counseling – Individual or family counseling with a psychiatrist, psychologist or addiction counselor may help an ex-addict resist the temptation to return to using the addicting drugs. Behavior therapies can help the ex-addict to develop ways to cope with his drug cravings, suggest strategies to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and offer suggestions on how to deal with a relapse if it occurs.

Counseling also can involve talking about the ex-addict job, legal problems and relationships with family and friends. Counseling with family members can help them to develop better communication skills and to be more supportive.

Treatment programs – Treatment programs generally include educational and therapy sessions focused on establishing sobriety and preventing relapse. This may be accomplished in individual, group or family sessions.

Self-help groups – Self-help groups call upon the individual addict to take responsibility for his or her life and lifestyle, at the same time fostering self-acceptance and self-esteem. While most experts in the field of drug addiction view addiction as a medical problem, because of its effects on both brain and body, some see it as a behavioral problem to be solved through the development of self-knowledge, behavioral changes, and coping techniques. There are self-help groups that embrace both views and others that lean toward the behavioral model. Each type of program encourages the individual to understand not only the reasons to refrain from using drugs but the underlying emotional causes of his or her addiction

The road to recovery is far from being easy and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. From a medical standpoint drug use affects your brain chemistry. Once the drugs have been cleansed from the system, it takes time for the body to readjust. Feelings that were masked by the drugs will resurface, and when they do, they will have to be faced because the drug which helped in ignoring them, is gone. Relapse prevention includes identifying triggers to using drugs, learning more adaptive coping skills, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges.

The chances of staying clean improve if the ex-addict participates in a social support group like Narcotics Anonymous, have a sponsor, and is involved in an Intensive Outpatient Program or individual therapy. If he chooses not to seek help from a treatment support group, chances are he will revert back to his old habits and relapse becomes more likely. An important thing to think about during the treatment process is how the ex-addict perceives a relapse. If relapse occurs, it is more helpful to look at it as a normal part of the process, rather than a personal failure.

Additional changes in social routine will probably become necessary as well. There are people, places and things that represent a slippery slope for the ex-addict and it’s in his best interest to stay away from them. Surrounding him with people who can support his recovery makes things easier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saprala_Jones

Alcoholism Rehab: Drug Abuse and Treatment

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:45:45 +0000

Alcohol addiction has become a global problem in today’s world. Take any part of world in consideration; alcoholism is one of the burning issues there. It has its roots deeply stuck in the society and needs to be uprooted totally to make a real difference and combat the issue.

Oklahoma is no exception when it comes to alcoholism. Strategically placed in the map, the state is easily accessible through a number of interstate highways and road connections and forms the hub of drug and alcohol abuse.
The federal laws also apply in Oklahoma and consumption of alcohol is restricted to people above 21 years of age. But there are various loose ends in law giving an opportunity to the convict to deceive the law and walk freely. Punishments are more or less limited to monetary fines giving alcoholism a way to flourish.

Though the law prevents minors from consumption, it does not restrict alcohol consumption by them in “Private Settings”. Liquor cannot be sold in gas stations and grocery shops in Oklahoma. Only licensed shops are permitted to sell it.

As per a survey done in 2005, only about 6% of the addicted individuals came to the rehab centers for treatment. This is a horrifying fact considering the increasing problem of addiction in Oklahoma. In order to control this problem, the government has established many rehab centers in the state. Alcoholism rehab in Oklahoma provides help to the addicted person along with the help of his family and friends. They educate them about the catastrophic effects of alcohol and motivate them to lead a healthy life. Alcoholism rehab in Oklahoma does not end their treatment once the individual has recovered. They also play a very vital part in the lives of the recovered persons. They help them lead a normal and peaceful life and make sure that the patients don’t give in to the temptations of outside world.

Every alcoholism rehab in Oklahoma starts the treatment with detoxification; a process that helps clear the body of the patient from toxic substances accumulated as a result of prolonged use of alcohol their other treatment programs includes long and short term rehab programs, 12 step programs, inpatient programs, Christian approach, holistic programs and residential programs. They also cater to the individual needs of teens, women, men, children and adolescents.

Alcoholism rehabs in Oklahoma are considered to be one of the finest treatment centers. They offer overall development and ensure physical as well mental well being of the patient. They also combine the various holistic methods with their regular treatment. Some of these methods are sauna detoxification, Reiki, yoga and meditation, guided imagery, fasting and vitamin therapy, journaling and bio feedback, life skills training etc.

If you are looking for a drug treatment center, Oklahoma is the place for you. You can locate the center of your choice with the help of internet and various local directories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Brindisi

Drug Abuse Treatment Center – Making The Right Choice

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:14:28 +0000

Choosing a drug abuse treatment center is an important decision. Not just another hospital treating a disease, the drug abuse treatment center is an important element in helping an addict overcome addiction and develop an ongoing strategy toward preventing a relapse. Forcing an addict to admit to a treatment center is rarely successful, and neither are purely mechanical or chemical treatments likely to prevent further abuse. Instead, the ideal drug abuse treatment center will recognize that focusing on patients regaining their sense of self-esteem, and respecting their pride and dignity will result in a much more successful treatment. The most effective treatment centers will target their program around the core issues of mutual respect and understanding, and allow the addict to regain their sense of self.

The Hidden Impact

Drug Abuse comes in many forms. It can be used to describe athletes using performance enhancing substances, overuse of a prescription medicine, as well as alcohol abuse and use of illegal narcotics. Dependency operates on both a physical and an emotional level, and leaves addicts incapable of relating to anything other than their intense desire for further use. Addictions often destroy families, friendships, and careers. In addition to altering their personality and affecting their lifestyle, habitual use often leads to kidney and liver failure, increased risk of infectious disease, and a general breakdown of health and vitality. It is estimated that over 28 million Americans are abusing drugs.

Treatment Center Options

Each drug abuse treatment center will have its own approach to overcoming addiction. Also, each treatment will need to be tailored not only to the specific form, but also to the addict himself. For example, the treatment for a heroin addiction will differ from that for alcohol dependency, just as the treatment of a happy-go-lucky alcoholic will differ from the treatment of a suicidal alcohol abuser.

Choosing the right drug abuse treatment center can be an overwhelming experience, particularly if the addict is without support of friends and family. Preparing a list of questions to ask, and calling several different centers will give an overview of the type of treatment available. There should be a professional, trained staff with a good track record of successful recoveries. The facilities themselves should be clean and safe, preferably with an atmosphere that will help facilitate the addict’s recovery.

Detoxification

Detoxification will be the main objective in the first part of the treatment. By eliminating the toxins from the addict’s body, withdrawal symptoms will be decreased, and the patient will start to feel in control of them in the process. It is crucial that the drug abuse treatment center have a professional, trained staff to deal with this traumatic element of the process. Depending on the drug, the first stages of withdrawal can be a tremendous physical and psychological ordeal. The facility should be well equipped to handle all aspects of the detoxification, and should provide a safe and controlled environment in which the patient can recover and move on to the next stage.

Recovery

The recovery process is an ongoing aspect in the treatment of drug abuse. The drug abuse treatment center will help the recovering addict to regain a sense of control over their life, and provide them with mental tools to support themselves once they are ready to leave the facility and get back into the world. Again, a personal touch is important as each addict will experience recovery in his or her own way. Friends and family are important at this time, and reconnecting with them can be a critical step in recovery. Sometimes, the loss of trust is so acute that it can be difficult to find friends and family willing to help in the recovery. A good drug abuse treatment center will help bridge the gap, and get the much needed support the recovering addict needs.

The effective drug abuse treatment center is one which recognizes the addict as a real person, with a real problem. At their core, they should understand that increasing a patient’s sense of self-esteem, and providing an atmosphere of dignity and respect are critical to a successful recovery. At the same time, they must be prepared to deal with all aspects of the difficult drug withdrawal and detoxification phase, and be able to provide the patient with the psychological tools they will need to deal with life ‘on the outside’. Also, they should be able to facilitate healing damage between family and friends, and enlisting their help in the ongoing recovery process.

Drug Abuse Treatment – Top 5 lies That Stopped Recovery

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:58:12 +0000

Drug detox and rehab treatments have been criticized for poor results or failing to disabuse someone of their drug abuse. But what if 95% of the programs use methods prone to failure? The entire rehab industry might be getting a bad reputation because the methods most centers are using are failing, not because recovery isn’t occurring often enough.

Addiction may not be the biggest barrier to recovery.

The addiction is a disease belief makes no sense as it doesn’t even claim to end addiction.

Belief That Drug Abuse Is A Disease Creates Failure

“The disease concept has proven to be far more damaging to the substance abuser then anyone could have predicted. Therapists claim the disease concept helps the patient to understand the seriousness of [his/her] problems. But in reality, this idea has backfired. The disease concept strips the substance abuser of responsibility. A disease cannot be cured by force of will.” (Alcoholism: A Disease of Speculation, 2003)

Fact: The Addiction = Disease belief is failing as a rehab philosophy. More people end addiction on their own (80%) than are cured using the Disease Model (22%). The people who stopped on their own were abusing drugs, and got better results than those trying the Disease Model of Treatment.

Drug Abuse Treatment’s Top 5 Lies

Addiction is a disease that addicts are powerless over
Only 10% of addicts actually end their addiction
Once an addict, always an addict
Drug Abuse requires medical/counseling treatment = the addict needs drugs
Addict is not responsible for their actions

You should be easily able to see how these top 5 lies about addiction recovery stop successful treatment. Have you felt like, “Why even try to end an addiction if one has it for life? If only 10% get cured, whatever treatment program we try, we will probably fail anyway.”

Drug Abuse’s top 5 lies create apathy and breed inaction amongst those good people attempting recovery.

Why do the lies continue?

95% of the Addiction Treatment industry is run by facilities that use the Disease / Moral Models of Drug Rehab. Centers using these methods are paid for by Insurance companies and many are funded with public money.

Need I say more?

If You Want To End Addiction, What Now?

There are a number of drug rehab programs which are ending addiction. Guess what? They don’t use the disease / moral model of recovery.

As 95% of the drug rehab industry uses the disease model or moral model (12 Step) in treatment, it is no surprise that you may not have heard about successful methods of recovery. The better non-medical and non-12 Step centers average 75% long-term (1 – 2+ years) success.

There are drug abuse programs which actually end addiction.

Success from a recent social educational rehab program graduate

I started here with hate, anger and misunderstanding. I had withdrawn from society and had lost my faith and trust in humanity. After completion of this program, I am free from guilt, happy and I am able to start my new life, clean. I have a fuller understanding of the whys in life and the knowledge to be able to correctly and adeptly choose the right path for myself to discover true innocence in happiness.

Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Treatment

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:56:29 +0000

Every 15 seconds a woman is subjected to domestic violence in the United States. Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used to gain or maintain power and control in an intimate relationship, such as marriage, dating, family, friendship or living together. Anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence.

Keeping this in mind, we will be focusing on male batterers and female survivors of domestic violence since this is the “typical” scenario and will be seen most often in treatment facilities. We will discuss substance abuse in both the batterer and the survivor.

When most people think of the relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence they picture an alcoholic husband beating his wife, and while this is one case, it is most certainly not the only. This case suggests a direct correlation between substance abuse and the occurrence of domestic violence. However, most studies show that while they are linked the relationship is not that straightforward.

The problem with directly linking the two issues together is similar to problems in dealing with co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis) in that the question that is most often debated is which one came first, the drinking or the violence. Even though according to the U.S. Department of Justice study reports that 61% of domestic violence offenders also have substance abuse problems, we must remember that the violence may not necessarily be a consequence of the substance abuse and that the substance abuse could be a result of the violence. However, as with co-occurring disorders, it is imperative that we address both issues and not focus too much which came first.

Substance abuse in the batterer is what most people will think about when substance abuse and domestic violence are mentioned together so we will discuss this first. The characteristics of a batterer are very similar to the characteristics and risk factors you would find in substance abusers. These characteristics include: witnessing parental violence, parental substance abuse, corporal punishment, depression, socioeconomic hardships and an intense need for power and control.

Despite the difficulty of finding an exact cause and effect relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence, experts have organized batterers into three categories in order to improve their treatment. The first category is “Typical Batterers”. Typical batterers are characterized by keeping the violence they inflict in the home, which will be less severe when compared to other batterers, and are usually not substance abusers. They will also most likely have no history of legal troubles, mental illness and will usually be remorseful for the violence. The second category is “Antisocial Batterers”.

The characteristics of the antisocial batterer include being extremely abusive, having some mental health issues, may be a substance abuser and will most likely have difficulty completing domestic violence program without being provided additional services. The third category is “Sociopathic Batterers”. The characteristics of a sociopathic batterer include being the most extremely violent, heavy substance abuse, tremendous difficulties in treatment programs, little or no empathy for others, no remorse for the violence inflicted and the most likely of the three categories to have had legal issues.

Treatment for a batterer with a substance abuse problem can be much more difficult than the already difficult treatment for a person with just a drug or alcohol addiction problem. The most common model for batterer intervention is the Duluth Model. The Duluth Model is a behavioral change model that seeks to alter the batterer’s behavior by confronting his denial, his need for power and control and helping him realize his alternatives to the violent behavior. This model is a community-wide model that involves many people including law enforcement which ensures that the batterer will be arrested while the survivor is protected.

Like I said above, when most people think of substance abuse and domestic violence they only think of the addiction in the batterer. However, survivors of domestic violence are also likely to present in treatment programs with drug or alcohol problems. In fact, in 2002, the Department of Justice reported that 36% of survivors in domestic violence programs also had substance abuse problems.

Again, there is no direct cause and effect relationship between a survivor’s addiction and the domestic violence although it is commonly thought that the violence increases the likelihood that a survivor will abuse alcohol or drugs. While this may not be the case for all survivors with drug or alcohol problems, both the domestic violence and the addiction have an extreme impact on the survivor’s recovery from both and the treatment provider needs to be aware of this.

When a client presents for substance abuse treatment and reports a history of domestic violence, especially a recent history, there are several steps that a treatment provider should follow. First, the provider should make sure that the client is in a safe environment and that they understand that while they are at the facility they are safe. Second, the provider should never doubt the survivor’s story, even if there are discrepancies. If a client feels they cannot trust the counselor or provider they will leave treatment and put themselves back in dangerous situations. Finally, during the assessment the provider should identify the client’s options and the perceived benefits and consequences with each option and then have the client work on a safety plan. This will involve the client and make them feel involved in their treatment and encourage them to stay and feel as though they can accomplish their goals. One of the most important things to remember when working with survivors is that their safety, both physical and emotional, is the most important obstacle in the initial stages of treatment to be addressed. If it is not addressed immediately the likelihood of the client staying in treatment is very low.

Domestic violence and substance abuse are separately two of the most devastating issues in American society today, but combined they are significantly worse and more attention needs to be paid to the relationship and treatment of the two. It is vital to properly screen and assess clients as soon as they present for substance abuse treatment so the next steps of the treatment provider will be the correct ones. There are many resources available on domestic violence and addiction including SAMHSA TIP 25, the National Coalition against Domestic Violence, the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services, and Women’s Rural Advocacy Programs.

Drug Abuse and Its Treatment Program

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:55:56 +0000

Drug abuse and addiction to substances has become a very common phenomenon today, especially in the richer countries of the Planet. As the rhythm of our lives become more and more frantic and exhausting, people tend to suffer from emotional problems and personal, or professional setback. Especially in such a period, the current tight budget and uncertainty can cause people to drug consumption. What is there, though, Drug Abuse Treatment is most appropriate?

In order to find the appropriate response to this question we need to consider that drug abuse is much more than a bad habit; people go through complicated and harsh periods in their life, therefore they need an effective and efficient treatment to overcome their addiction. Drug abuse help is needed to anyone who suffers from addiction or abuse of substances.

There are numerous treatment programs available in the world today. The most successful programs work on several levels as they need to provide the necessary counseling, intervention and administration of medicines. The goal is to help the patient go through the first difficult period of detoxification, which is considered to be the hardest one in the whole process because the symptoms of withdrawal kick in. It is important to mention though that the determination and focus of the patient on the goal is of significant importance for the positive outcome of any kind of program.

Choosing the proper and most suitable treatment program could be a daunting task, not only due to the complexity of the problem, but also due to the vast array of available options. Sometimes, patients are going through such an emotional and physical disarray and agitation that cannot make the right decision for themselves. Should they opt for an outpatient program or a residential program? Is intensive care prudent and right? There are numerous drug abuse help programs available today.

Drug Abuse Treatment, Best Way to Recovery From Addiction

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:59:39 +0000

When people consume excessive drugs then it leads to drug abuse and this kind of addiction is a type of psycho-physiological disease. The impact of drug abuse and its side effects has to be understood well and it needs immediate attention and initiation of a recovery process. Drug addiction is against nature and this cannot be justified in any way. A recovery program will help the drug addicts to treat the drug abuse efficiently.

The treatment always starts with a detox procedure that will remove the drug present in the body at that point of time. Drug Detox is a precursor to an effective drug abuse treatment and should not be ignored. If a drug abuse center does not have a good detox service then it will not help the individuals get out of their problems.

It is important to note that no addict would be able to beat the addiction on his own. Drug addicts must get a proper drug abuse treatment from an expert in a drug rehab center to ensure a speedy recovery.

It is essential that the drug addicts get committed to the rehabilitation program and also to the treatment process and continue to the final stage. It is the treatment center’s responsibility to ensure that the addicts do understand the treatment program in a proper manner and also know about the consequences of drug abuse.

They should also explain about the various procedures that will be administered during their stay at the rehab center. If the patient or drug addict is well informed about what they should expect and how they must respond to it, then there are greater chances that they will participate in the program actively.

During the process of drug abuse treatment, the patient must understand the healing process which varies based on the severity of the condition. Drug abuse is a result of underlying clinical condition that makes the person weak physically and morally. It has to be treated by a clinical treatment process and not by just trying to make them aware of drug abuse problems.

The treatment program should cure the mental disorder and physiological disorders that will make the patient achieve lasting sobriety. A good drug abuse treatment plan is one that will work well on the patient when it is administered and monitored properly by experts.

The life of drug addicts change when they attend a drug abuse treatment program in a center. The treatment center will make a lot of difference in the life of patients. The drug addicts must take the first step and make up their mind and opt for change. How to cope with the change and handle a changed life? This question is also addressed through life skills, vocational training, social skills training and self management techniques.

Treatment centers help all patients who approach them for drug rehab treatment. The center needs to have commitment from the patient who gets admitted for treatment. The patient must be mentally and physically strong to ensure speedy recovery. For this a nutritious diet plan is always implemented in these centers. The treatment center has the all the facilities to cure drug addicts and help them lead a normal life.

Drug Treatment Programs and Solutions

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:53:43 +0000

Drug abuse is one of the leading problems affecting society today and despite the campaign against it, there is still a great deal of individuals affected by it. Taking a look at drug treatment programs available, and providing support for recovery are therefore some of the big steps you can take to reverse its effect on your life, or that of an affected loved one.

Principles behind Drug Abuse Treatment

When health experts treat drug addicts, they understand that this condition does not just affect them physically. It targets their brain such that the patient’s behavioral patterns and function are altered. Thus, the sooner one is able to find treatment; the earlier you can stop any brain structure damage that might take place with persistent use of abusive drugs. Upon embarking on a drug treatment, patients and family members must realize that a single treatment approach is often not enough. You need to match treatments and enroll them into drug intervention programs that will regain one’s productive function in the society, workplace, or home. In some cases, the drug abuse problem is not the only thing being treated with patients. They have multiple needs that has to be addressed as well, thus a holistic approach treatment might be necessary. Another crucial factor aside from choosing the right type of treatment is time. Learning about how all of these factors affect the patient is important in the success of the drug abuse treatment procedure.

Drug Rehab

Drug addiction is no joke. Thus, patients are often required to enter into drug rehab for full monitoring and assessment of the patient’s response to the treatment being given. This is an important first step to also avoid the possibility of going back to using these addictive substances. During rehab, the patient undergoes extensive therapy wherein the patient can make good use of the therapist’s expertise in finding resourceful information to help in their treatment. In addition, peer support is provided as part of the drug rehabilitation such that you can share experiences with others who have gone through the struggles of drug addiction as you have. Throughout your entire stay at the rehabilitation center, medical professionals will be closely monitoring your progress and to safely assess how you are coping with the treatment given.

Drug Detox

Drug detox refers to that initial stage of drug addiction treatment wherein your body is internally cleansed any drug residues. This would normally cover between 3 to 14 days but it greatly varies with the type of drug used and how one’s body reacts to the presence of these substances. Thus, it varies whether the drug detox is done in a hospital setting wherein one can have medical supervision or right at your own home.

Behavioral Treatments

Behavioral treatment approach for drug abuse patients is far more structured. The aim with this type of treatment is to alter or modify behavior patterns in patients and restore normal function, which is done on either outpatient or inpatient basis. The most basic of this type of treatment is the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. The objective of this therapy is to help the patient recognize situations that will invoke them to return to their abusive behavioral patterns. Next is the Multidimensional Family Therapy, which enters not only the patient, but also their families into the therapy treatment for a more efficient treatment approach. Motivational Interviewing is also done to encourage patients who are willing to fully let go of their drug addiction problems.

Drug Treatment Medications

The use of medications as part of your drug abuse treatment is often used as complementary medicine. The aim behind intake medication is to help the patient cope with withdrawal symptoms and other entailing conditions expected to arise during treatment process. Some of the medications prescribed by medical professionals are intended for specific types of substance abuse. You can currently find medications that will treat drug abuse for the following substances: alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, nicotine, and morphine. When the properties from these medications enter your body, it restores normal brain function while preventing relapse and eliminating cravings for these addictive substances.

Drug Abuse Treatment Program

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:34:16 +0000

There are about 10,000 drug rehabilitation and treatment centers in the country today. And each one may use varying programs to deal with addiction. But generally, drug addiction treatments are grouped into three categories.

Kinds of Treatments

Addicts of certain substances can be treated in outpatient settings. Patients are subjected to methadone, a medication taken orally. Methadone suppresses cravings and prevents withdrawal symptoms from surfacing. With sustained dosage, a person can be stabilized and can function normally.

This is the first step taken to prepare a patient for counseling and further treatments. With the medication, a patient can be more receptive to interventions such as physiotherapies and group counseling.

The second kind of treatment involves a medication called naltrexone. The medication is administered after detoxification of the patient in a residential setting. This is to prevent withdrawal syndrome in the patient. A patient takes this drug orally daily or thrice a week, depending on the prescription of his physician. The drug inhibits cravings for addictive drugs. But in order for this medication to work, sustained counseling is needed.

For people with graver conditions or who have been abusing drugs for a long time, residential treatment is needed. This involves admitting a patient in a facility for 6 to 12 months to address the problem. These facilities provide an atmosphere of a home rather than that of a hospital.

Modern-day residential treatment employs many models of rehabilitation: from the therapeutic community to cognitive-behavioral therapies. These treatments involve medication as well as counseling available 24 hours a day. This arrangement works better for most patients who may need a fresh environment- away from his natural surroundings to work on his rehabilitation. Other patients also form a support group- enhancing counseling sessions.

But whatever forms of treatment a patient chooses to go through, continued counseling and assistance from professionals and family are needed to ensure sustained recovery form drug abuse.

Modality Nursing Substance Abuse

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:53:14 +0000

When you’re addicted to a substance and have to go through one of the many substance abuse treatment modalities, it really sucks. I mean, even coffee drinkers or cigarette smokers all say almost uniformly that they’d like to quit, and I don’t blame them, so…

Just think about this for a second, OK?

No matter what the actual substance you’re addicted to is, your life is probably no fun. You feel you can’t get out of that grasp that that substance has on you and no matter what you do you keep going through relapse after relapse, and each time you go through one, it’s harder and harder…

If you’ve not experienced relapses yet, you probably will, and you may even suffer from occasional negative thoughts or even depression because you are feeling you don’t really have a hold on your own life. I mean, depending on the abuse you’re addicted to, that hold might be really hard, so…

If you told some of your family members that you’re having problems with substance abuse, they most likely did one of two things:

One, they either said you should go through one of the many substance abuse treatment modalities, in other words they simply said that you have to take care of this by going to a clinic, or…

They simply turned away from you. Now… what does that mean?

It means that the substance abuse probably caused you to lose friends or even family members.

You might be feeling even more empty inside. Now you not only have a terrible addiction, but you have also lost some of your friends which means you don’t have many people to count on.

Even though this situation seems a bit desperate, there’s a solution to it, but before I talk to you about it, tell me if this sounds a little familiar, OK?

You wake up and you feel like crap because you don’t feel your life is worth squat and even though you tried different things to overcome the addiction, nothing tried. Now, it’s interesting but it seems that some of those tips are incomplete almost on purpose. They tell you to do something and then as long as soon as you do it, they have a tendency to ask you to pay for something or go through substance abuse treatment modalities.

Substance Abuse Treatment Is Way To Start Again

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:31:39 +0000

The prevalence of substance abuse treatment facilities in our nation is indicative of the broadening swath of addictive disease that has become widespread over the last few decades. There are so many people with serious illnesses that aren’t receiving treatment for their addictions; it’s nearly verging on epidemic status. It takes a courageous person to find a substance abuse treatment facility or hospital that can accommodate his or her specific needs. Many religious organizations and charity facilities offer a stepping stone of sorts to allow people to step into a potential healing environment. These are often subsidized by municipal programs or federal programs that are still fighting the difficult war on drugs that began many decades ago. Drug and alcohol usage is a part of our social fabric, and it’s not going anywhere. The important thing is to recognize the symptoms and evaluate what it means to be an addict or alcoholic.

With the onslaught of synthetic narcotics flooding the streets, many people don’t realize that the drugs of the past are not the same as they used to be. Many illegal drugs are all available in a prescription pill form. The dangers that exist with this kind of pill-popping phenomenon are such that these drugs can be offered to a demanding public in a manner that amplifies addiction. If people can just pop a pill in their mouths to get their fix, and these pills are easily transportable, the black market drug trade has become as efficient as your local drug store. A forward-thinking, imaginative substance abuse treatment center will address this kind of powerful magnetism and diabolical trend with state-of-the-art methods of diagnosis and therapy.

There’s no easy way out of it, that’s for sure. The same is true with alcohol addiction, as the social norms for binge drinking and party lifestyles have changed substantially since days gone by. With any substance abuse treatment group, they attempt to quantify the symptoms and actively engage with the underlying issues that are causing the illness. What it takes is a focused therapy professional and a courageous support group that can genuinely embrace the individual and advance his or her healing process. Easier said: than done, to be sure.

If you know someone with an addictive problem, unless the problem has become detrimental to their health or others, it’s often best to allow the addiction to find its course. Therapists will tell you that addicts and alcoholics cannot be helped unless they’re ready to be helped. Contact a local religious organization and let the professionals guide you through the process for intervention. Once the path has been lit, the journey can begin toward healing and salvation. One step at a time is the way to your goal and a healthy life, regardless of the problem. With a little help, any obstacle can be overcome.

The Importance Of Family Care

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:28 +0000

The feelings I have when I think of family are “warm fuzziest.” I had so many different thoughts about families regarding its importance when writing this. My family matters to me. I think it is an important factor in everyone’s life. I could not imagine not having my family, children, mother, siblings, aunts, uncles, and friends.

All of us have ancestors. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no getting away from them. They are there, good or bad. As mental health professionals and substance abuse treatment counselors, we work in a field where we see the very essence of family. Families can give us hope or take that same hope away. We want our families to be involved in our own treatment and of course we want our patients to have the support of their families. But that doesn’t always happen. Addiction takes away trust, boundaries and self esteem. We learn to cope with shame and guilt. I am sure some family members pray and feel that no one hears these prayers. Counselors are dedicated to doing their best to give hope to the family and the addict. We have found families which are engaged in the substance abuse treatment process have a much better success rate. When everything else fails, families can stand like soldiers. The very thing needed to survive (love and acceptance) has been there all the time wrapped up in our family.

Families do matter! Most of us have been given love; maybe not the way we thought it should be, but love none-the-less. What we needed was encouragement… understanding… hope… comfort… advice… values… and morals. Most of us were taught something about faith. Faith gives us something to hold onto through the good times and bad. We can now be taught to laugh at our mistakes. We could be just a little proud of learning from our families, whether what we learned was “how to” or “how not to.”

In recovery, we are taught to enjoy life and to appreciate the beauty of everything. We learn by watching the examples before us. We’re told to try out new things, to laugh and enjoy being alive, to try harder or try again, to appreciate what we have, to help those who are less fortunate, to make friends, to be a friend, and to honor God. Through substance abuse treatment and the recovery process, the thing that matters most is family and with that our hope and faith are restored. We learn family does matter even if it is our own AA or NA family. The realization and acceptance of that can be our greatest asset, the wisdom to know family does matter.

Drugs Abuse Residential Treatment

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:01:56 +0000

Hospitals and other drug abuse rehabilitation centers offer treatment for patients in an outpatient setting. This usually involves medication that inhibits cravings for the addictive drug and counseling to address the problem at the root cause.

There are however worse cases of drug abuse that call for 24 hour observations and treatments. This is usually true for abuse of powerful drugs for extended periods and whose victims have alienated themselves from society and their families. To effectively address these situations, a residential drug abuse treatment is called for.

Two Kinds of Residential Treatment

Depending on the situation, a patient may be recommended to stay for short term or for long-term residential treatment.

A short-term program involves intensive treatment based on the 12-step approach- the same principles used to treat alcohol abuse. For three to six weeks, patients are subjected to treatments that involve medication and counseling. It is followed by self-help group meetings and follow-up therapy counseling.

A residential program can extend into a long-term treatment of six to twelve months. In this setup, addiction as a disease is treated with combined methods of medication, counseling and life coaching. A patient is exposed to other patients in therapy communities, his support group. Most patients that need long-term residential treatments are special cases- individuals who have co-occurring mental illness and with symptoms that result to violence and criminal involvement. They are so far gone into the addiction that a more comprehensive and totally invasive intervention is needed.

Programs include resocialization activities prepare the patients to a life back with his family, friends and officemates. These activities address addiction in its social and psychological contexts and can at times be confrontational as they aim to let patients examine damaging beliefs and concepts. In the context of resocialization, patients are also rehabilitated to make them suitable for work, equipping them with the necessary attitude and outlook to deal with co-workers.

The Importance of Family Involvement in the Treatment of Substance Abuse and Addiction Therapy

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:06:03 +0000

For family and friends of drug and/or alcohol addicted individuals, addressing addiction is one of the most difficult aspects of seeking substance abuse treatment. Often, drug and alcohol addiction has built a destructive cycle over a time to the point where daily family involvement actually enables the addicted individual. Family members frequently do not know how to bring up the issue of addiction therapy, and opt to ignore the problem for fear of pushing their loved one away during a confrontation or intervention. These are legitimate concerns, and while families should understand that approaching their loved one should be a gentle and supportive process, they also need to understand that most patients seek substance abuse treatment because of positive family involvement and intervention.

Prior to Substance Abuse Treatment/Intervention

Each family is different, and the way you should approach family involvement with addiction therapy will differ with every person. There are counselors in your area who are trained to work with drug and alcohol addicted patients and their families, and while they can be useful to mediate the intervention process, your family may decide to have a private, non-confrontational and honest talk with a family member or friend to implore them to seek substance abuse treatment. Whichever approach you take, it is important to understand that the family dynamic in drug and alcohol addiction is incredibly powerful, and that addressing an unhealthy imbalance in communication is your first step in moving your loved one toward inpatient / outpatient addiction therapy. This type of positive family involvement can also help lead the rest of your family toward a journey of recovery and self-discovery.

During a Patient’s Substance Abuse Treatment Program

After an intervention, the best case scenario is that the individual suffering from drug or alcohol addiction will be compelled to enter either an inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment program. Each patient’s needs and means are different, and outpatient and inpatient programs have varying benefits for patients and family. Involvement in an outpatient addiction therapy program means that patients are not separated from their families, they are able to attend classes in a facility close to their home, and patients can continue substance abuse treatment for an extended amount of time. In a residential (inpatient) program, patients travel to a facility where they undergo an intensive 28-30 day detoxification and recovery program. They are immersed in the recovery process and do not have the ability to leave the substance abuse treatment campus. However, family involvement is important, and inpatient addiction therapy programs often encourage frequent interaction with visiting family and friends.

As previously mentioned, patients’ needs vary, but inpatient substance abuse treatment has an obvious benefit of removing the drug and/or alcohol addicted individual from the toxic atmosphere that was enabling their addiction, and helping them through addiction therapy without distraction. This same benefit is transferred to the patient’s friends and family, who are often able to gain a new perspective about their loved one’s addiction and their own behaviors. Family involvement, once the patient is in an off-site substance abuse treatment facility, is periodic and helps families step back and recognize patterns of negative behavior. For example, well-meaning family and friends often become trapped into a cycle of enabling and codependency with the patient prior to addiction therapy. Often, family members pretend like nothing is wrong, and unintentionally assist the patient’s addiction by ignoring the problem. Conversely, family members might become distant, angry, and resentful by feeling that they cannot address the issue for fear of angering the patient or exacerbating their loved one’s addiction. When the family members are able to take a break and assess their behaviors and environment while their loved one is undergoing addiction therapy, they often identify behaviors and traits that they adjust to break the cycle.

This is not to say that residential substance abuse treatment programs isolate the patient from their friends and family – quite the opposite. In a quality residential substance abuse treatment program, the focus is equally upon the patient’s physical recovery from drug and alcohol addiction as much as it is on a mental recovery from the addictive disease. Addiction therapy is supported heavily by positive and frequent family involvement. The support that a family provides to a patient recovering from addiction is essential to that patient’s success, and residential centers will often have not only visitation throughout the week or on weekends, but will also engage family into an educational substance abuse treatment program of their own, such as supportive and dynamic recovery workshops and sessions for family involvement.

Outside of the residential substance abuse treatment facility, family and friends of patients are highly encouraged to attend Al Anon or Nar Anon meetings. These free programs are held around the nation and are dedicated to providing group support to family and friends of drug and alcohol addicted individuals. The meetings address things such as: helping an addict seek assistance for his or her own problem, addressing a loved one’s drug or alcohol addiction, building family through the addiction therapy process, supporting yourself and your loved one through the recovery process, etc. These programs are essential for family involvement, as they support friends and family during and after the substance abuse treatment program.

After a Substance Abuse Treatment Program

With drug and alcohol addiction, there is truly no clear-cut “end” to the addiction therapy process. Families struggling with the effects of their loved one’s drug and alcohol addiction should continually attend Al Anon or Nar Anon meetings (perhaps both) on a regular basis to continue a constructive program of support and ongoing education. Alcohol and drug addiction are both considered “family diseases”, and family involvement with people combating drug and alcohol addiction requires continual attendance of these meetings during and after the formal inpatient or outpatient addiction therapy session. Additionally, while these meetings help individuals to understand the disease of drug and alcohol addiction to help and support someone they care about, they also assist friends and family with their own emotional support during what is most often an incredibly trying and stressful time. By continuing to attend Al Anon and Nar Anon meetings, friends and family of an addicted individual can continue to stay out of the destructive cycle of enabling and codependency and fully realize the benefits of addiction therapy.

Important Facts About Drug Abuse Treatment

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:36:55 +0000

There are various treatment programs currently available to drug abuse patients and the number of treatments only continues to grow. Also, the numbers of approaches they can use also vary and also depend on individual patients. Treatments vary from detoxification, the use of methadone, counseling, career development and other kinds of workshop and trainings to help the patients reintegrate with society which is the main purpose for drug rehabilitation programs.

Drug abuse and dependency affects so many aspects of an individual’s life and the effects are usually negative. Being cured of the addiction is also not that simple nor is it all that easy for both the professionals involved and the patient. They need to consider a variety of things in order to determine the most effective treatments for given patients and situations. The whole rehabilitation program or the addiction treatment must ultimately cure the individual of their dependency on the substance and help them maintain and live a productive drug free life. Addiction is categorized as a chronic disease and it is difficult for individuals afflicted with this disease to simply walk away from it. It takes time and a great deal of effort to overcome. Many patients even need to undergo a long-term program in order to help them get rid of their addiction.

In order to better understand the nature of treatment and the different approaches, we will have to take into consideration the principles of an effective treatment

Addiction is an essentially complex disease however it is treatable. It affects brain functions as well as the behavior of a given patient. There is no universal treatment that can be applied to all patients and thus must be considered individually with regard to the patient’s situation. The treatments must be appropriate with the patient (or the patient’s sponsor’s) ability to pay for the treatment as well as its availability for the given institution. They must also consider the various needs of the individual, such as the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and other aspects of their being since they are all affected. The duration of the treatment as well as the availability of counseling must be considered important to the success of the rehabilitation process. Therapies must also be used by those involved in the treatment aside from the usual medication given to patients. The progress of each patient must also be closely monitored and assessed in order to make necessary changes depending on their responsiveness to their treatments.

Drug abuse treatments also have the effect of reestablishing normal brain functions of the individual. It will also help the patient to prevent the relapse of their addiction by removing their cravings. The behavioral aspect of the treatment will help the patient process and modify the way that they view the world that will essentially prevent them from going back to being dependent on drugs. They will also help develop the patient’s skill and make them productive again so that they could live a full, healthy and productive life. Psychological treatments also have the effect of becoming more resistant to the temptations brought about by the cravings and stay drug free. There are different approaches to the delivery of the treatment. The usual treatments include an outpatient programs or those that are still relatively productive and the state of their addiction is not sever enough to merit them residency in specialized drug rehabilitation facilities. They also have the option of being treated individually or as a group or in usual situations, a combination of both. In the criminal justice system, the treatments can prevent the patient to return to previous criminal behavior and allows them reintegration into the society. This happens usually happens if the patient is dedicated to the treatment and decides to change his life.

Therapists start the analysis of the patient by assessing them. There they let the patient undergo a battery of tests to determine their physical and mental states and then they determine the most effective course of action to make the treatment a success based on the results of the tests and further analysis.

Different Stages of Drug Abuse Treatment

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Not every treatment program will work the same nor will each addict go through the same treatment process. The method of treatment will depend upon the person’s history including how long they have been using and what type of social environment they have been living in. Regardless, there are few stages that most drug abusers will have to go through. They are as follows…

The first stage of treatment is the assessment or screening portion. This stage is to evaluate everything about the patient in order to give them the best chance to succeed in recovery by finding the treatment program that is best suited for them.

Some patients may not need a full assessment and will only require screening instead. The screening is not only for the trained medical professionals that work at the treatment facilities but it also helps the addict become aware of their own problem and how they need to address it. If the severity of the problem is elevated then the addict would move on to the assessment portion of the treatment process.

After the screening and assessment stages the next stage is the actual medical care the addict may need to go through. Since many drugs affect the body physically there may be complications with cutting off the drug cold turkey. In this case the patient may need ongoing supervised medical care to make sure they come off the drug in a safe manner.

Once the addict has gone through the medical care, if it was required, then the real recovery begins. This process is one that will differ with each patient depending upon what type of assessment they received.

Some drug abusers will need counseling so they can help get over whatever psychological or emotional issues they have. These issues can be the root problem of the drug abuse and if not dealt with, the addict may go right back to using drugs again. Besides meeting one-on-one with a trained counselor, there are also peer counseling sessions where the individual would meet with a group of likewise peers who are dealing with similar issues.

Most addicts will either have to go through inpatient or outpatient therapy care. Generally speaking, the people with the most severe addiction issues and emotional problems will likely need inpatient supervised medical care. This will make sure that they are out of the environment in which they were once in that influenced their drug use. Most inpatient stays require a minimum of 90 days.

Drug Abuse Treatment and Recovery

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:39:31 +0000

Drug addiction is a one way path that leads towards withdrawal symptom, coma and death gradually. To get rid of drug addiction one needs professional help. This is not really something that you can do yourself. There are certain steps you need to follow in drug abuse treatment to get recovered.

Sometimes, it may take longer and sometimes just a couple weeks of treatment is enough. The awareness is the fist thing that we need to develop. Drug and alcohol addiction can ruin your life and the lives of those who are associated with you. People lost their concentration; the start feeling depressed and lost their grip from jobs and studies. Families get affected and the addiction gradually start taking over on the addict’s life. It starts directing towards death and they fear to look back.

That is where you need to bring the addict to some reputed and authorized drug rehab centre where you can get assured that the addict will get recovered soon. There are some authorized. There are rehab centers where you can find some extremely professional and helpful experts working for the betterment of many addicts.

The success rate is very high and most of the people can finally make a come back to their normal and healthy lifestyle. In these drug abuse rehab centers they have different sets of treatment and therapies for different types of addicts. You need to have the patience as most of the time there are physical and mental both types of treatments are included to make the recovery smooth. Once the treatment is over you can see the changes yourself.