Archive for the ‘Drug Treatment’ Category

The United States is filled with thousands of drug treatment centers known under a variety of names: drug rehab center, alcohol rehabilitation center, substance abuse treatment center, addiction treatment program, and more. All of these terms are used to describe the same basic service: an environment that’s safe and supportive for a person addicted to drugs or alcohol to recover. These services may be set up for outpatient rehab, day/night treatment programs, or as a residential drug treatment center.

Centers dealing with drugs and alcohol have existed since the late 1800s, but then they were known as “asylums” and alcoholism and drug addiction were not seen as a disease or illness, but a type of mental disorder. The concept of addiction as a disease developed in the 1950s with Alcoholics Anonymous (and, later, Narcotics Anonymous), with the growth of twelve-step recovery programs.

Whatever the origins of these centers, a person suffering from a drug addiction may well want to know the answer to a very basic question: Does a drug treatment center really help?

It’s clear that with the abuse of alcohol and of most illicit drugs that a treatment center’s ability to provide a safe place for a person to stop and undergo the withdrawal process is invaluable. Without it, a person might have to resort to illegally purchasing the drugs and attempt the detox without proper medical supervision. In some cases, this can lead to death. Without proper monitoring, without trained personnel, and without access to the right drugs properly administered, people who have addictions to drugs — whether its alcohol, heroin, cocaine, meth, oxycotin or morphine — are in serious danger and need professional supervision to see them through the detox stage.

The rehabilitation portion of the treatment centers, which often is about providing support and training to people who are newly clean, is necessary, too, in order to give the patient a real chance at returning to the community without a relapse. Without different avenues for support — either 12 step programs, psychological addiction counseling, psychiatric care, to name a few — the patient could return to his former life. With the proper information and support, it’s possible for the patient to live a drug free life.

Not all drug treatment centers are for everyone, but there should be at least one out there that works for you. Even the twelve steps don’t work for every individual; however, different programs are available for those who feel the steps are not a successful course of action for them. No matter what, it’s rare for an individual to succeed against drug addiction alone. Chosen carefully, people addicted should find that drug treatment centers are a vital and necessary step to recovery.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) began in the late 1940s, inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which, in turn, began in the 1930s. The first meetings were held in the Los Angeles region in the early 1950s. Officially, though, the NA program started in 1953.

Jimmy Kinnon, also known as Jimmy K., born in Scotland on April 5th, 1911, moved with his family to New York in 1923. He worked as a roofer there, struggling with drug addiction until he achieved abstinence from all drugs through the Alcoholics Anonymous program early in 1950. He and others began to hold meetings specifically for drug addicts three years later, with the first meeting on August 17, 1953. Kinnon wrote portions of the Little White booklet, on which the text titled Narcotics Anonymous is based. He also created the NA logo and served as the volunteer office manager of the organization’s World Service Office since it began in 1983. He died in July of 1985, after spending 35 years in recovery as a clean member of NA.

In the 1950s, NA was not yet well understood by society, so it had difficulty finding places to meet, initially going to people’s homes. In some cases, such as New York State, it was against the law for drug addicts to meet for any reason, which, in essence, made NA an illegal organization. The organization nearly went out of existence, holding no meetings for four months in 1959, until Jimmy Kinnon and others restarted NA, with the idea of dedicating themselves to the original principles of the group.

In the 1960s, meetings began again and started to grow. The White Booklet was written in 1962 and formed the basis for NA literature that would come next. Narcotics Anonymous really began to grow, however, in the 1970s, moving from 20 regular weekly meetings in 1970 to 200 meetings in 1976, some which took place in Germany, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Inida, Japan, and the UK, among other nations. By the 1980s, there were 1,100 different meetings across the world. By 2007, there were over 25,065 groups holding over 43,900 weekly meetings in a 126 countries, and, today, there are about 50,000 weekly meetings internationally in around 130 countries.

In the 21st Century, Narcotics Anonymous is known as a fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs are a major problem, and is based on the twelve steps as adapted from AA, and is now the second largest 12 step organization. The requirement for membership is a desire to stop using, and members meet on a regular basis with the intention of helping each other remain abstinent of all mood or mind altering substances, which includes alcohol and marijuana. Membership is free, without any dues or fees.

Methamphetamine, or more simply, meth, is known to be one of the most addictive drugs available to people. The abuse of this drug can cause its users to isolate themselves socially, become depressed, psychotic, experience convulsions, and die. Finding a way to overcome meth addiction is certainly not an easy thing to do, and it shouldn’t be attempted alone, but rather with medical attention and an ongoing treatment plan.

Step One: The user must recognize a problem exists. It’s often difficult, especially when inside an addiction, to have any perspective on the illness; the user must realize the problem before recovery can begin. To gain some perspective, the user should talk to people about how his or her meth habit has affected their lives in an attempt to appreciate how the drug has affected his or her personality and relationships.

Step Two: The user must seek out professional help, to find a doctor or threapist to discuss the problem and to formulate a treatment plan. The plan usually means participating in a drug rehabilitation program.

Step Three, then, is to enter a treatment program for meth addiction. One of the more effective treatment models is something called cognitive-behavior therapy. This method allows addicts to recognize the triggers that cause them to use drugs in the first place, and to learn how to develop coping mechanisms that are non-destructive and positive. This type of therapy emphasizes goal-setting and confidence-building.

Step Four: The user in recovery must sever ties with other drug addicts. To be successful, it’s necessary to be surrounded with people who are drug-free and who support a commitment to quit using meth. It may also be a good idea to meet with recovering addicts, people who understand the journey that’s being undertaken, in settings such as Narcotics Anonymous.

Step Five: The user should prepare for withdrawals. The main effects of stopping meth are psychological and can last for as long as six months. The most common symptoms include depression, anxiety, rage, and intense cravings for food. These feelings will fade eventually, and that should be kept at the fore-front of the user’s mind, with the knowledge that freedom from meth addiction for the rest of one’s life is worth a very difficult half year.

Step six: The user should strive to stay in recovery, but make a commitment to keep trying, even if there is a relapse. Meth is so addictive psychologically that relapses are common. Users, then, should attempt to recognize the reason for the relapse and treat that as a learning experience.

While addiction doesn’t have a cure, it is possible to stop the abuse; users in recovery should be constantly aware that there is a risk of falling into old patterns of behavior that will trigger the addiction again. With determination, though, the user should know it’s possible to overcome meth addiction.

Sometimes the ones you love have hard times and it is time to step in as a caring person and help out. There are many things that can be done to help out a person in your life who is struggling with drugs and or alcohol.

The first step would be to educate yourself on the topic. There are plenty of books to read about the topic, however, it may be best to find some support groups filled with real people in real life. Try going to an alcohol anonymous meeting. There are many kinds of anonymous meetings designed for all kinds of groups like alcoholics, drug addicts, teen troubles and support groups for the ones who are supporting others through the rehabilitation process, like Al-Anon.

Next, take the learning to another level. Get the facts on the disease because an addicts way of thinking is not like normal reasoning. It will be important at times to understand where the addict is coming from so you don’t go insane yourself.

Keep an open and loving space filled with patience available for your troubled loved one. There are ways to love them but not enable them. Getting angry won’t work in this situation. These people do not respond to threats or intimidation and in some cases it can create more problems.

At some point, you will need to figure out where they are in on the scale of getting help. It is always easy if they are willing, but if they are in denial than you may have to find the best way to approach them. If they are in denial then you will have to make sure not to bail them out of what ever trouble they are in. At the same time, you can’t continue to support their illusions of having a fine life.

Then there will be a time when you will need to be clear on what your own boundaries are. You will have to decide how far you are willing to go with this process and when will it be to much for you to handle. Don’t take abuse just because you care. It is OK for you to set your boundaries. Which leads to another point. When you do finally communicate what your boundaries are you have to realize that they will be tested. So you need to say what you mean and stick to it if tested. This is a very important step in the process.

They will have to suffer consequences of their actions and you will have to let it happen. It may be hard to see your loved one in pain but sometimes it is necessary. When they hit the breaking point, be ready with all the information and intervention that is available.

Ryan Leaf has put himself through a very hard time, and it is only now that he has grown and learned that he has come to realize that it was his immaturity that lead him to not be able to play football professionally anymore, and nothing else. A lot of this he learned after hitting rock bottom on pain killer addiction and finally checked himself into rehab. The rehab did a lot of good for him, and he came to understand why he felt that he needed the drugs as well as why he had behaved the way he used to. There is a lot more to this story though, so check out the article in the SeattleTimes.

Addiction is a terrible thing to live with. On the one hand, those who don’t believe they are addicts and continue to use cocaine over and over in an obviously addictive way are in denial. Denial is extremely insidious, because it is a behavior that lies about itself, making it impossible to spot in yourself. That, in turn, can lead to a whole complex of thoughts and emotions that eventually stunt your growth in every conceivable direction. On the other hand, knowing you’re addicted, and being unable to stop using, can also be extremely humiliating. Either one can make a life that feels like it is spiraling out of control, and in fact, it is. But there is certainly good news, and there’s lots of it. Dealing with cocaine addiction is something that thousands of people have done successfully, and most people beginning the road to recovery wonder if they can do it on their own.

It is certainly possible to stop using cocaine without any outside help. There are people who have done it, and some of these have been rather successful, being drug-free for years. However, it is extremely difficult to do, and much more difficult to do than with help from others, and the obvious question here would be: why would you want to do it alone? Programs and treatments have had a great deal of success for many addicts, and they offer a new way of life that doesn’t mean compromising who you are essentially. In any kind of recovery, you become who you are, who you were meant to be, and any good program will help lead you in this direction.

One of the biggest problems with trying to do it alone stems from the nature of the disease. Addicts have a personality type that makes it very difficult for them to ask for help from anyone. There’s a sense of pride about being in control of your life, and that’s perfectly normal. At the same time, when your life is out of control, asking for help is a significant step, if not the most significant, toward dealing with an addiction. Being able to ask for help is also the first sure sign that you’re ready to take yourself seriously, and begin honestly entering into that realm where freedom from cocaine is possible.

Addiction therapy is a complex practice, and one that’s still always in process. There are new findings about addiction everyday, and because it’s always dealing with volatile individuals, there are wide ranges of practices and therapies available, and new ones all the time. Generally, a combination of individual and group therapy seems to be the most effective treatment for addicts, with the lowest occurrence of relapse. Because it is a turning point in someone’s life when they have made the decision to get on the road to recovery, it’s good to know ahead of time what to expect. What, then, is individual addiction therapy about?

Most treatment centers will offer a combination of both individual and group therapy. Group therapy is extremely effective, because it gives recovering addicts the chance to talk with others who are in, or have been in, the same situation. The depths of addiction can be a living nightmare, and anyone who’s been there understands that it feels like no one else has ever felt such pain. Group therapy, then, is a way of coming to terms with the fact that no addict is really unique.

Individual therapy in these situations can help the professionals to make determinations about the addict specifically. While the stigma of uniqueness is one that eventually has to go away for any chance of recovery, people need to be acknowledged for their own personal experiences and life journey. Individual therapy will take all of these things into consideration, looking deeply into the addict’s life history, looking at family, environment, relationships, and into their own patterns of drug use. This is helpful for identifying the specific problems, triggers, and behaviors.

It’s also the perfect opportunity for the recovering addict to talk about the things that are really troubling them. It’s often the case that family history and personal triggers won’t matter eventually, that addiction is addiction, and can be controlled, but it’s also necessary to have a space to air out the personal demons. In any kind of effective therapy, the personal demons can become the most helpful guides toward a successful recovery, and individual therapy can help identify the places where real healing can begin.

The city of Sacramento has numerous drug treatment facilities and programs to assist those with a self-acknowledged as well as court determined problem with drug or alcohol. Some of the treatment programs in the city are gender based and structured for either men or women. The Gateway Recovery Program is one example. It is a residential recovery program and half way house that serves women on both a short term and long term basis. Bridges Inc is an outpatient facility that treats various addictions. Many court convicted DUI and DWI offenders are ordered to this facility to compete a specific number of treatment hours. The Bi Valley Medical Clinic is a great resource for addicts in need of a medically supervised detoxification facility. In addition, the clinic treats people with co-occurring disorders, which are common with drug abuse and addiction.

Drug abuse, both in the medical prescription oriented base and illegal street drugs continues to be a major problem in cities across the country. Sacramento is the state’s capital and also the leader of many drug reform initiatives and perspectives. The state of California itself has remained a topic of national debate and sometimes controversy in its use of marijuana as a medically prescribed pain reliever and also the state’s considerations on legalizing the social use of the substance. Meanwhile, drug treatment centers in Sacramento continue to battle against what seems to be an unending struggle.

There are different theories that relate to the best way to treat addiction and the majority of treatment programs focus on the substance itself and the most effective ways of treating addiction to it. Of course the individual addict is addressed and a specific treatment plan will be constructed for them, though the drug of choice will definitely affect the development of the plan. The important thing is that you understand it is not a weakness to seek treatment and that it takes a stronger personality to address the issue than it does to remain a chronic abuser.

Staff splitting is a complicated thing, but it does happen all the time in behavioral therapy. The environment here does not create the phenomenon, nor does it make it possible, it just happens to match the circumstances necessary for it to occur. Staff splitting, then, is something that happens in treatment programs, and this discussion will focus a bit on what this actually means, and what the implications are.

Staff splitting is a term that comes from psychoanalysis, where the patient makes conscious and unconscious distinctions, just as in any normal thinking process where discrimination is necessary. Except in these cases, it becomes abnormal because there is no rational basis in thought. There are things that are place in the good category, and others placed in the bad, and those are ignored entirely, usually. This suggests that it’s origins come simply from a coping mechanism to avoid that which is unpleasant, and is the psyche’s attempts to keep out the things that threaten it.

In therapy, it’s much more concrete, but still somewhat ethereal. A patient will begin their recovery and meet some professionals whom they like, and some that they don’t. They’ll put them into two categories again, good and bad, and treat them in manners consistent with their feelings. For the staff, they will unconsciously internalize these judgments, and some will feel the patient is perfectly wonderful, and others will see the patient as impossible. The staff is split.

In cases of addictive personalities, there are similarities to any kind of disorder that is characterized by complexes of manipulation. The addict is also prone to enormous changes in mood, without even realizing it, and these factors can all contribute to the staff splitting. Again, some will perceive the patient as kind and doing their best to get better and participate, and others will see their behavior as entirely problematic, and in need of more severe treatment. In these cases, then, the best course of action to take is to create more dialogue and communication among the staff, so that they can get a whole picture of the patient, and then start developing the course of action that can facilitate the recovery.

Flomax is a drug that was created to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. In plain English, this translates to enlarged prostate in men. This medication was designed specifically for men. The FDA has not tested this drug for women. It is designed to help the urinary flow for men who have trouble urinating due to BPH. In rare cases, some doctors will prescribe this medication to women who suffer from cystitis or kidney stones. It helps to open up the flow of the urine and eases the pain felt when urinating. The use of Flomax for women still remains controversial. The FDA has not deemed it inappropriate for women, but it also has not extensively tested it on women.

Even in men there are many reported side effects. Some of the side effects include interruption in ejaculation, diminished semen, ringing in the ears, headaches, lower libido and insomnia. Since there have not been any studies done on women and not many women have been prescribed Flomax, the side effects are not yet known. It is important to consult your doctor and pharmacist before taking any medication. Some women do not know that Flomax has only been approved for men. It is important to make sure you are aware of your body and any changes that take place once you begin to take a newly prescribed medication. Both negative and positive changes should be noted. Not all medications affect all people the same way. Some people are more sensitive to certain medications than others. There are some cases where the benefits outweigh the costs. This is a personal choice that everyone must make for themselves with their doctor. It is especially important when trying unconventional methods to report any side effects that may be linked to the medication. It is not known whether Flomax is safe for women or not, but the bigger question is: is it safe for you? Even if a medication is safe for most people, you should not take it blindly or treat the side effects lightly.

Coming to terms with a chemical addiction problem can be one of the toughest, and one of the most rewarding challenges a life can offer. When you’ve already decided that you need help, things begin to change. Life might not suddenly turn for the better, and all the usual daily problems go away, but there is a profound shift that opens up the doors for recovery, and a full life lived comfortably in your own skin. As you start to look into the different types of therapies and treatments available for you or for the one you love, you’ll notice a wide variety of approaches, and here we’ll look at why individual therapy is important for recovery from chemical addiction.

For most treatment programs, in-patient and out-patient, there is usually a very strong component that stresses peer support. Studies have been suggesting for a long time that one of the best ways to treat addicts and alcoholics is to have them work with each other. People in different stages of recovery can help to shed light on the journey for others, they can share advice, and addicts tend to trust others who have been through the same thing rather than trained professionals who may not know what it’s like from the inside out.

At the same time, individual therapy is also extremely important. This gives the recovering addict the chance to really focus on their own issues, and their own process, and it gives importance to their own individual concerns. One of the most common distinguishing features of an addict is a rather pronounced self-centeredness. This is a personality trait that is formed after years of use and abuse, that leads to the spiral of addiction. By giving this self-centeredness a place in therapy, it has a place to find expression, ultimately leading to a breakthrough where they can discover that they are not unique, and not at all alone. In therapy, they can develop the necessary skills to talk about their own feelings, and this is one of the most important steps toward becoming a whole human being, free of addiction.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a nasty thing, and because of the very nature of the problem it can be hard for people to admit that they are an addict. However, family members can usually tell, and when an addict is finally willing to accept help, the first place they need help is from the family around them. This is why it can be very important to include a spouse in a drug treatment plan. There are a number of places in California that have started insisting on things like Marriage and Family Therapists as part of the treatment plan. These can be in house sessions, in which case the husband or wife must drive in and visit, or they can be part of an treatment plan in which the addict still lives in their own house, in which case it may be harder to make them go, but can be just as effective if they are willing to get the help. Partially this is important because it allows the addict to understand the pain their actions have caused others. It can also help the spouse understand what made the other person become an addict, what things they are going to need to stay away from in the future, and how to best help their spouse. It gives husband, wife, and kids a better understanding of the techniques necessary to keep the addict from falling back into old habits. It can also demonstrate to the partner not being treated that they also need treatment, or that they simply need to also give up alcohol in order to help their spouse.

It is harder to find a place that will treat both a husband and a wife together for drug addiction. This is because it can be rather dangerous to treat both people and can be a conflict of interest for any therapist that tries to help both people. An addict’s spouse can be a part of the problem, and it can be hard to treat someone when they are so deeply connected to that problem every day. As a rule it is good to include a spouse as help to clean someone up, but it is not good to try to get treated together.

Coming to terms with a chemical addiction problem can be one of the toughest, and one of the most rewarding challenges a life can offer. When you’ve already decided that you need help, things begin to change. Life might not suddenly turn for the better, and all the usual daily problems go away, but there is a profound shift that opens up the doors for recovery, and a full life lived comfortably in your own skin. As you start to look into the different types of therapies and treatments available for you or for the one you love, you’ll notice a wide variety of approaches, and here we’ll look at why individual therapy is important for recovery from chemical addiction.

For most treatment programs, in-patient and out-patient, there is usually a very strong component that stresses peer support. Studies have been suggesting for a long time that one of the best ways to treat addicts and alcoholics is to have them work with each other. People in different stages of recovery can help to shed light on the journey for others, they can share advice, and addicts tend to trust others who have been through the same thing rather than trained professionals who may not know what it’s like from the inside out.

At the same time, individual therapy is also extremely important. This gives the recovering addict the chance to really focus on their own issues, and their own process, and it gives importance to their own individual concerns. One of the most common distinguishing features of an addict is a rather pronounced self-centeredness. This is a personality trait that is formed after years of use and abuse, that leads to the spiral of addiction. By giving this self-centeredness a place in therapy, it has a place to find expression, ultimately leading to a breakthrough where they can discover that they are not unique, and not at all alone. In therapy, they can develop the necessary skills to talk about their own feelings, and this is one of the most important steps toward becoming a whole human being, free of addiction.

Deciding to go to rehab and choosing a drug treatment center are big decisions that should not be taken lightly. Deciding which program and facility would work best for you or your loved one is a decision that requires a lot of thought. Fortunately for those living in San Bernardino County, California there are many to different residential facilities to choose from.
When choosing a treatment center, one of the first things that you want to consider is whether or not it is residential. There are many benefits to a residential program. Often the number of residents is lower, which helps the counselors provide more one on one attention. There is often more structure with a residential facility as opposed to a non-residential facility; which can be of significant importance to those who are suffering extreme addiction. It also provides a safe environment so that the residents can focus entirely on getting well. The next thing that you want to consider when choosing a treatment center is the program. Many facilities use some form of the 12 Step Program. It is a program that is based on the recognition of the problem, the need for outside help, and making amends. Since it’s foundation in the 1930′s, it has helped thousands of people through the recovery process. Lastly, consider the location. Look for a facility where you or your loved one will feel comfortable; a place where they will be able to relax and focus on recovery.
Whether you live in California, Virginia, or someplace else it is important to consider all of your options when deciding on a residential drug treatment center. Though much of the responsibility for recovery lies with the individual, it is the treatment center that can make or break the process and the road to recovery.

The assessment tools used to treat adult drug and alcohol users primarily focus on determining whether or not the use of these substances impair the user’s ability to function and participate in daily life.  The first step is for the treatment center to diagnose the problem.  The following is criteria used to determine if a person is in alcohol withdrawal; these symptoms may vary from mild to severe:

After ceasing or reducing a heavy and sustained use of alcohol, two or more of the following criteria may develop anywhere from a few hours to a few days: sweating or a raised pulse rate more than 100 beats a minute; tremors in the hand; insomnia; vomiting or nausea, brief visual and auditory hallucinations, anxiety, psychomotor agitation, grand mal seizures.

A treatment center will also consider whether or not these symptoms impair other areas in a person’s life, such as work and social interactions.  They also will consider whether or not the symptoms are due to another medical condition.  Often alcohol-related problems don’t occur in a vacuum, and there’s more than one health or mental problem to diagnose.  In a detox center, a combination of drugs will be used to ease these symptoms, so that the person may safely pass through this dangerous period of withdrawal; remember that this is something that should always be conducted in an official setting, such as a detox or rehab facility.  To assess the level of alcohol withdrawal, treatment centers will often use a checklist based on the criteria above to determine the severity, observing the following areas: nausea and vomiting, tremors, paroxysmal sweats, anxiety and sweats, tactile disturbances, auditory  and visual disturbances.

Mainly, though, the assessment is done through observation, medication, and examination.  As the patient improves, he or she may participate in group or one-on-one therapy sessions to better understand the drinking problem and seek possible solutions.

Thirty-eight years ago, the National Association of Alcoholism Counselors and Trainers was founded.  Ten years later, the association changed its name to the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor, adjusting to the changing times, bringing together professionals working in the addiction field.  To reflect this, the organization became known as NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.  The name change reflects a wider range of services offered, embracing various professionals, such as counselors, social workers, and administrators.  The NAADAC offers national certification for those professionals who meet their criteria, beginning with Level I, and moving on to Level II and MAC (Master Addiction Counselor), and they’ve credentialed over fifteen thousand counselors.

Each of these three certifications are designed for those professionals who have worked for years within the various addiction fields and want to show others that they’ve acquired abilities honed from these years of supervised experience.  In order to be certified at the MAC level, you’ll need a Master’s degree in any of a number of health-related disciplines, such as social work, nursing, counseling, psychology or family therapy, as well as five hundred hours of training and education.  You’ll need also to be certified as either a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).  You’ll need a year of supervised experience before a master’s degree, and an additional two years after you’ve received the degree.  If you’re a new applicant you also must prove that you’ve taken HIV/AIDS and Ethics training and education within the last half decade.

The standards for the Level II certification requires a bachelor’s degree from a university or college that’s accredited, and you’ll also need a state license in your profession that’s current.  In the area of training and education, the Level II certificate requires that you have four hundred and fifty contact hours in substance abuse, and twelve of those hours must be in HIV/AIDS training and ethics training, divided equally.  There must also be five years of experience (full-time) or ten thousand hours of supervised experience in substance abuse counseling.  As with the MAC, new applicants must have proof of training and education in ethics and HIV/AIDS received recently, in the last five years.

Level I certification, though, is the starting point, and requires less strenuous criteria.  However, it’s still fairly vigorous.  In order to qualify, you’ll need to have a current certificate or license from the state as a counselor specializing in substance abuse.  You’ll need to take training in substance abuse counseling for two hundred and seventy hours, also with twelve hours of training — six hours in ethics and six hours in HIV/AIDS.  While new applicants still need to provide proof that they’ve had ethics and HIV/AIDS training within the last five years, there’s a lesser requirement for the work experience.  You’ll need two years and four thousand hours less: Three years of work experience (full time) or six thousand hours of supervised experience with counseling for substance abuse.

Arizona is a great place to go for drug treatment if you have no means to pay. There are approximately 86 drug treatment facilities throughout the state that offers a substance abuse program of free. There are 25 places in the city of Tucson, 25 in the city of Phoenix, 5 in city of Yuma, 11 in Mesa, 2 in Bisbee, 7 in Prescott, 8 in Scottsdale, and 3 in Wickenburg. Some facilities are brand new, others may have closed due to mismanagement, while others are well established and successful. A majority of these drug treatment facilities are what is called in the industry as ‘Halfway’ homes, or ‘Out Patient’ facilities. There are a few of these drug treatment facilities are located in hospitals or in a facility that specializes in ‘In-Patient’ recovery programs for substance abusers and will stay for 30-days. For these facilities, the fees can be on a sliding scale or for free.

Halfway homes, otherwise known as outpatient programs in Arizona are great for low-income or homeless families with no income. They offer programs for adolescents, women and men, for residential long-term treatment that offer beds for the client and their children. Half-way homes also offer short-term treatment, which is basically good for court ordered substance abusers who are dealing with DUI/DWI offences and helps them remain clean and sober and out of the jail system.

Full fledged drug treatment facilities that offer ‘In-Patient’ programs, which usually average 28 to 30 days, or sometimes 6 months to a year for free if the substance abuser qualifies, which will vary on each individual basis and if the drug treatment facility is privately, state or federally run.

All drug treatment facilities, whether it’s an ‘Out-Patient’, halfway home or an ‘In-Patient’ facility, offer their services for free, but they don’t advertise this to the general public. These facilities can offer drug treatment for free, because they apply for federal and state grants. These grants allow for these facilities to offer a certain amount of substance abusers to get drug treatment for free.

It is hard to find actual data on the cases of drug users who went to prison that have been clean due to treatment in 2009, in the research one finds that maybe anything is possible. There has been many people who have been able to stop the addiction to whatever, and enjoy a much better life. It always takes support and a plan. Some of the best ways to change your life is to make a plan and stick to it. It seems the more you focus on the plan of what you can do and have the more you forget it about what you aren’t doing or getting.

Substance abuse and drug addiction is an ongoing problem in the United States as well as other countries. And despite efforts to eliminate addiction with the famous war on drugs, abuse of alcohol and illegal street drugs remains strong and in fact there has been a new type of drug abuse to enter the scene. This, unsurprisingly, is pharmaceutical medications. And while pain killers have been abused for decades, recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of abuse that occurs and also in the variety of pharmaceutical drugs that are abused. Today’s abuse market includes various psychotropic medications, whose actual purpose is to counter emotional and mental health care issues.

With all of the potential for drug abuse it is no wonder that adolescents continually to experiment with these substances, frequently creating a dependency. And adolescents are not the only ones at risks for addiction. Adults are the primary market for many of these prescription drugs, which is why we have seen such an increase in new addiction among older adults. Now more than ever it can be confusing as to what drugs produce what biological effect and what drugs are most likely to be abused as well as create a dependency.

For this reason, drug reference charts have continued to change and adapt to the continually changing face of addiction. These charts generally categorize the drugs into particular classifications according to their make up substance, such as narcotics and stimulants, and also according to their effects and potential for abuse and addiction. It is possible to get one of these charts through your local mental health care facility, and if they don’t happen to have any they can refer to a different source. Sometimes educational and outreach organizations also have them.

Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous drugs on the streets today.  Addiction is almost inevitable after only a few usages and the physical and psychological consequences are extreme. The initial pleasure that some people feel after the first or second time of use is quickly diminished and eventually ceases to occur at all. However, by this point the addiction has already kicked in and the addict now needs the drug simply to function. The physical damages done by this drug and addiction to it are easy to identify and one of the common symptoms is horrible skin as well as rotted and sometimes missing teeth. The addict’s appearance is unnaturally aged and scabbed over scratch marks are frequent. This doesn’t paint a pretty picture and the imagery is disturbing. It’s supposed to be because this is a drug that should never be experimented with and information on it cannot be overly presented.

Once an addiction is recognized, deciding how to treat it becomes the next important step. Addicts to this drug are extremely unlikely to seek treatment and are some of the most likely to relapse once treatment has been received. In addition, the drug is so damaging that many people find themselves to be a shell of their former self and this contributes to a sense of hopelessness that leads back to use. Treatment for this addiction has two basic approach perspectives. One of the programs incorporates a multi-level matrix approach and uses positive reinforcement. It generally combines individual and group therapy sessions at a rate of approximately three times a week for thirty six weeks. Continued support by twelve step programs is also recommended. The use of medication in dealing with meth treatment and withdrawal is complicated because an effective drug to reduce the life threatening symptoms of overdose doesn’t exist. Nor does a drug to deal with all of the psychological damages and paranoia as well as violent behaviors that are associated with early cessation. Treatment for methamphetamine is a complicated process and research into improving methodology is ongoing.

The major modalities for substance abuse, like methadone maintenance, outpatient programs, therapeutic communities and civil commitment treatments ordered by the criminal justice systems, have all been reported to be successful by most criteria. All the respective treatment programs are considered drug intervention treatments and have proven to be cost effective.

Goal oriented, flexible policies and philosophy programs produce better results than inflexible programs, especially when the adopted combinations of treatment components, which are suited to individual substance abusers, deal with their specific needs and problems. The drug clients lengths of time in a rehab facility is highly correlated with positive outcomes, but the dropout rate is high for most modalities. Clients entering treatment under either a family intervention or the intervention of legal coercion do as well by most outcome criteria as clients who voluntarily check themselves into a treatment facility.

The evidence on treatment effectiveness suggests that local and state social policy to expand treatment capacities and increased attention to above adequate implementation of treatment programs. The adverse social consequences of substance abuse have led to allocation of substantial public resources for drug treatments. Governmental policies are seeking to contain the spread of drug use to adolescent and to break the link between criminal behavior and illicit drug use in order to reduce the overall crime rate.

The traditional approach by the criminal justice system have not achieved much success with curbing or stopping drug use. But, it’s been proven that by drug intervention with treatments as mentioned above, has been effective and will reduce the amount of crime cause by individuals who are addicts, which in turn reduces the cost incurred by these crimes such as tax-payers money to pay for the defendants lawyers, cost incurred while in jail, cost incurred while in prison after a conviction.

As the substance abuse treatment field continues to evolve and the methodologies of treatment improve, it is important to continue examining the cost-effectiveness of these treatments.

Substance abuse and addiction habits are actually a lot more common than what many people realize. And while almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by substance abuse there is still an element of silence on the subject. This is actually more harmful to both those that have an addiction and those that it affects than it is to be out in the open with these issues and talk about them. In addition, the more open we are as a society about the nature of addiction and substance abuse, the more likely those that suffer from it will seek treatment. Meanwhile, it is frequently those who are most closely associated to abusers that are the first to try and find treatment opportunities for them.

This is why husbands and wives are frequently the ones to do the calling, the research and the initial contact with various treatment facilities. And while this is extremely well intended, it should be remembered and understood that the addict is the only one who can actually make the change and they have to want to get treatment and deal with the problem before that change can take place. However, with that being said, it is also the threat, or actuality, of loosing one’s spouse and or family that can finally provoke an addict to admit they have landed at rock bottom and become willing to seek treatment.

Once a substance abuser is willing to enter a treatment facility or participate in a program it becomes necessary for the spouse to seek his or her own therapy. Depending on the nature of the addiction and the amount of damages to the relationship and lifestyle that have occurred, different treatment options are available for the partner. Sometimes, in the case of alcohol addictions, there are programs such as Al Anon that are particularly focused on helping the family members of alcoholics learn to deal with their own issues as well as cope with the effects of living with and loving an alcoholic. It is important to remember that whatever the addiction, it does not only affect the life of the addict, but also those that love him or her. And it is equally important to receive support services and not to ignore your own needs when you have a partner who is addicted to drugs and or alcohol.

Studies over the years have shown that three out of four people incarnated today, would benefit from drug rehab and substance abuse programs that are offered in prison.  Unfortunately, some states are looking to cut these programs in order to save money.  And what is unfortunate too, is that many of the programs offered, are filled to capacity, and those wishing to enter them while they are in prison are forced to wait months and even years in order to get involved in them.

The penalties for offenses which involve drugs are harsh, and these programs are sometimes denied from the people who need them the most.  Prisoners who are suffering with an addiction, and who do not receive the benefits of the programs are not only left to suffer, but they usually end up spending more time in jail, costing the state more money in the covering of the costs of that incarceration.  These programs benefit everyone involved.  For women, a rehab that is designed just for them, speaks directly to the issues that they, as women, are dealing with and trying to get a grasp on.

In his book, “The Gift of Fear”, Gavin de Becker states the result of his own study.  He went to every prison that had a death row.  One hundred percent of the men on death row in the United States, were victims of severe child abuse.  For women, many of those in the prison systems today, have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.  They need a safe place when they are recovering from addiction.

So in this case, they need a place without male presence.  The women can build up their trust in an environment that can focus directly on their issues at hand.  Studies have shown that when people have been charge with and imprisoned due to drug offenses, and they do receive treatment in jail, the number of those committing those same crimes again significantly drops.  And again, this is good for everyone involved, the individual themselves and society as a whole.

There are medications that can be applied in re-establishing a normalcy in brain functions and will help to diminish cravings and prevent the chances of relapse. Right now, the medications for heroin and morphine addictions, nicotine and alcohol addictions have aided in the further development of other medications for treating stimulant such as methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana addiction. Many people with severe addiction issues are usually polydrug users (they use more than one drug) and require multiple treatments for the substances they abuse.

The treatment for Opioids, which is the main medication is Methadone, but for some addicts, they are prescribed burprenorphine and naltrexone are more effective. All of these medications act on the same areas of the brain just as heroin and morphine do. Methadone and burprenorphine act to suppress the withdrawal symptoms, which in turn relieve cravings. Naltrexone has not been as widely used as the Methadone and burprenorphine, but is used when methadone and burprenorphine are not helping with the withdrawl symptoms.

Nicotine replacement has a variety of formulations that act as replacements. The replacements come in many forms, such as gum, sprays, patches and lozenges, which are all available over-the-counter medications. Plus, there are two prescription medications, which have been approved by the FDA for nicotine addiction: varenicline and buproion. These each have different effects in the brain and both help with withdraw and with relapsing. Besides the use of these medication, most doctors recommend besides the use of medications to behavioral treatments, which includes group and individual therapies.

For alcohol withdrawals, the FDA has approved 3 medications for treating dependency on alcohol: disulfiram, acamprosate and naltrexone. There is a fourth called topiramate, which has shown encouraging results. Disulfiram runs interference with the degradation of alcohol, it basically produces a very unpleasant reaction, like nausea, palpitations and flushing if the patient begins to consume alcohol again. Acamprosate reduces symptoms that appear when one begins to withdrawal for alcohol, such as anxieties, insomnia, dysphoria and restlessness; actually, it may be more effective in patients with severe alcoholism. Naltrexone works on the opioid receptors involved in the rewarding effects of alcohol by blocking the receptors and reduces the chances for relapse. Naltrexone is effective in some patients, but not all.

Drug addiction, clearly, is a very large problem in the world, and one without simple solutions. It has likely been a problem for as long as people have been experimenting with intoxicants, which is to say, since the very beginning. What’s changed lately, however, is a set of attitudes and treatments for the addiction, and these are also related to definitions. It’s useful, then, to speak of definitions, in order to get some perspective on the options, so we’ll look closely here at what drug addiction actually is.

According to the standards set by the boards in psychiatry and other medical practices, addiction is a very complex phenomenon. It is something that happens to someone who uses drugs, generally for a long period of time. There is a lot of controversy about the notion of a genetic predisposition to addiction, and nothing conclusive has been found, although it seems as though there may be some ways of knowing ahead of time if someone is likely to become an addict. That may not be something we see in our lifetime, however, so it’s safer to assume that anyone can be predisposed to it. Addiction is repeatedly using the substance after there are demonstrable detrimental effects, a physical and/or psychological dependency on the effects, increased usage to obtain the same effect, and compulsion or craving.

Any one of these signs can indicate that there is the possibility for addiction, and this possibility should be enough to warrant an attempt to get help. One method for determining addiction or dependence is to cease using the drug altogether, and if there are withdrawal symptoms, then there is a very high chance of addiction. It has become common, since the 1960s, to place addiction and dependence together, although technically they are not the same thing. However, one usually leads to the other, and the treatment for both are effectively the same. Generally speaking, however, addiction is usually accompanied by an inability to see it as an addiction, and this sets off a chain of behaviors that make it so difficult on friends, family, as well as the addict. Like any chronic illness, it can be treated, and it can be controlled, and asking for help is a step in the right direction.

Of course exercise is good for your heart, your waistline and your bones, but can exercise also help prevent addiction to alcohol or drugs? There are some interesting points of views that say physical activity might spur changes in the brain chemistry that might aid in stopping addictions. The U.S. government is just now beginning to do hard research to prove these theories.

The studies will go beyond the phenomenon of what is called the ‘runners high’, but instead, will look into how regular physical activities, like bicycling, dancing, swimming, and martial art, could affect mood, performance in school and at work, and even the brains ‘reward’ system, when substance abuse hijacks the normal functions of the brain.

Dr. Nora Volkow, who is the chief of The National Institute on Drug Abuse institution, attention was caught when a study found teens and youngsters, who reported daily exercise, were half as likely to smoke as their sedentary counterparts, and almost 40% less likely to use marijuana. Volkow, who has her own 6 mile a day run and from her own scientific experiments, knows that the brain prefers physical activities. Neurochemicals are stimulated by exercise and a sense of pleasure is felt throughout the body.

She noted that children already have an innate sense to move, but that children are becoming a more sedentary group, as obesity in children is on the rise. So, as youngsters approach their adolescence, running and jumping around in the yard or at the park has turned into a chore, which as we know, most adolescence and teens hate to do. The sedentary teens then turn into sedentary adults who seek getting pleasure from other substances rather than from regular physical activities.

Overcoming an addiction by the act of physical activities is still a relatively new concept, but the NIDA has increased their attention to continuing their research and are beginning to advocate regular physical activity can preclude the onset of not only physical diseases and conditions, but mental ones as well. As Dr. Daniel M. Landers, head of the Department of Kinesiology at Arizona State University, found evidence to support the claim that exercise is related to a positive mental health, such as the relief in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In times where you might need a helping hand, it’s important to know that if you do reach out, someone will be there. There’s never an easy time to come to terms with your own inability to stop, and there are behavioral patterns involved that develop over years. There are some who will say this is based on a reflex, and that the negative moves that we make in the world are simply results of various kinds of conditioning. It’s difficult to deny that there are always enormous pressures everywhere that can lead us to believe that checking out for periods of time is not a bad solution.

In Long Beach, like most places, there’s help. There are many organizations here that can help. The Substance Abuse Foundation is one that offers counseling, treatment, and housing. Flossie Lewis is a leading center for beginning the process for recovery from alcoholism. Tarzana is another treatment center in the Long Beach area. One of the best resources in any town is Alcoholics Anonymous, where people who want help can speak to others in recovery, and get recommendations based on first-hand experience.

Film and television are the measure of who we are, in many respects, and it’s possible now to see both positive and negative models of behavior. Often these traits are found in the same character. This is something that many would consider to be a positive step forward, because it does suggest to the culture that the addict and alcohoic’s mind are never all bad, nor is anyone all good. The common wisdom in this, of course, is that we are simply sick people getting better. Through the various treatment programs available, people can find their way toward making themselves more useful to society. It’s a simple reward, but it’s certainly not always easy.

When the surrounding culture is able to support healthy choices and positive behaviors, it’s a step forward for the entire recovery community. Not only are we able to move forward together, but there is a knowledge and an understanding of ourselves, and each other. Addiction is something that affects everyone, and when it’s time to become part of the solution, the problem is perhaps a bit smaller. If we can combine this with an understanding that positive role models, as well as more positive imaged in the media, can open up new possibilities of being, then these effects also will be felt through the entire community, and not only those who are in recovery. There is always a bright future right up ahead.

Though once seem as just another activity associated with the college experience, alcohol abuse on college campuses are linked with more frequently now with violence and other sadistic and illegal acts, including rape.  As a result, many colleges have taken another stance on alcohol.  They have made it completely illegal to possess on school territory.  While a step in the right direction towards making campuses safer, some students claim violation to their rights.  Such a claim has in its own way increased violence in the form of riots.   Residential drug treatment centers and other facilities specializing in treating substance abuse addictions are among those recognizing the growing problem

A drink now and again is not what campuses want to outlaw.  Rather they want to decrease  binge drinking.  Addiction treatment facilities have seen a rise in binge drinking among college age student and even younger.  Often those who binge drink become extremely violent and unstable to the point that school police officers have extreme difficulty in calming down those under the influence of a binge.   Campuses contend that binge drinking is not a right that can be defended, which is what they want to make illegal through making all alcohol illegal.

Campuses are aware  of how big a problem the abuse is becoming.  In a single semester, five campuses endured alcohol related violence.  Though alcohol related events tend to start out small, these intensified to full-blown riots for each of the separate campuses.
Alcohol abuse intervention is a good way for those who are friends and family of college students abusing alcohol to help them.  It can often aid in getting them to recognize some of the factors involved in their decision to drink excessively, including the fearlessness most in their formative years feel.

While a riot on a college campus is not a new thing, those brought on by alcohol are and becoming increasingly worse.  Many specializing in the area of psychology and social behavior studies feel these riots often have roots in the sense of rebellion against authority that occurred and originated in the early nineties.   Most of these riots happen because students want to rebel against authority, not because of say, a political cause.  The physicality of these riots is also alarming, since violence is used as an almost exclusive means of expression that students use.   Intervention and treatments are becoming increasingly necessary to help students and the campuses.

More and more the medical community is discovering that the reason some drug treatment facilities do not work for minorities originates in the lacking understanding of the specific culture minorities bring with them to the facility.  Some of the modules used in rehabilitation centers are foreign and more than improper suggestions of how to deal with addiction.  The various twelve-step programs that all at their core urge addicts to say they are powerless to their addiction and must submit to a greater being are actually more harmful than helpful, especially to those in the African American Community.  Counseling with people who are strangers to them is also unhelpful.  Because these steps do not fit their culture, many African Americans often feel tentative and uncertain about approaching addiction treatment.

Solutions to this timidity come in the form of pretreatment interventions and other methods that aim to help in easing addicts into a treatment for drug addiction. Not only does it help addicts to enter the facility, but they also stay longer.  Of course, there still needs to be more research done on what methods work well and which don’t, and which work together the best as this research is still in its infancy stages.

In a study done in North Carolina using the idea of a pretreatment as the foundation for drug rehabilitation entry and maintenance.  Finding substance abusers took more of street approach, using peers to do a chain campaign and also allowing regular self-referrals.  People eligible for the program had be at least eighteen years old and the applicants had to say they considered the African American identity their identity.  They could not have participated in another rehab program for ninety days prior, and had to have abuse crack cocaine for at least thirteen days in the past three months.  With such criteria, the researchers were able to provide themselves with a good background for their study, which proved hopeful and showed that the way minorities are given drug and alcohol abuse intervention must change.

According to data from TNS Media Intelligence for the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the beer category, which includes the Anheuser-Busch and Miller brands, bought a combined $42.8 million – or about 7 percent – of $643 million in total revenue collected by CBS for the tournament.

With an increase of 24 percent in total revenue since 2007, the tournament generates advertising rates second only to the Super Bowl. The profitable tournament has attracted some 300 advertisers in the past ten years promoting a wide-range of products, and aired an astonishing 140 ads during the final game of the 2008 tournament (ten were for beer). Ads for cars, movies, cell phones, electronics, financial services, food, razors, network television programs, and the U.S. military have all been major advertisers on NCAA games.

The NCAA claims its alcohol advertising policy is the most “conservative and restrictive of any televised sport.” In reality, the league allows 60 seconds of beer ads per hour (which could be as many as four distinct ads), or 120 seconds total per game. That makes the concentration of beer-ad spending on NCAA games more than two-and-a-half times what it is during other television programming, according to Center For Science in the Public Interest . Current NCAA policy prohibits advertising for tobacco products, gambling and other alcoholic beverages, but makes an exception for beer.

In 2005, the SAMHSA National Survey on Drug and Health reported that young adults ages 18-22 enrolled full-time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time to use alcohol, to binge drink, and to drink heavily. This is a sobering statistic when thinking about the young adults enrolling later in long term alcohol rehab or seeking some form of drug rehab programs or drug rehab.