Lora French
I do not understand western medicine’s fascination with medication. It seems these days that everyone is searching for a pill that will be the answer to all of their ailments. Take this pill for that. Take that pill for this. Research which drug will cure this or aid with that. It simply goes on and on. We have become a medicated nation.
I am baffled by this when we see the consequences of drug addiction in our communities. We think our problems with addiction will be solved if only we can get a handle on the meth problem or the heroin problem or the marijuana problem. We can’t see that many of the medications that are being handed by our doctors and pharmacies can be just has destructive as so-called street drugs. What’s frightening to me is that we are trying to solve the drug addiction problem in our country by creating new drugs that these drug addicts can take to cure their drug addiction.
Does this faulty thinking make any sense? Are more drugs truly the only way to handle a drug addict’s drug problem? Why can’t we provide those suffering from addiction with a comprehensive drug free rehab program? Yes, I said it. Drug-free. This means skip the methadone clinic. Skip the Subaxone. Skip the anti-depressants. Skip the quick fix.
The cover story for the July 16, 2007 issue of Time Magazine delves into the nature of addiction and how “new brain research is helping us understand why we get hooked.” The researchers involved use addicts’ brains to “design new drugs that are showing promise in cutting off the craving that drives an addict irresistibly toward relapse.” Great! Right? If an addict just didn’t crave the drug, he would be fine.Partially, yes. But there is so much more to what causes an individual to get hooked on drugs. There are always underlying issues that the once sober individual is trying to escape. Giving an addict a drug to stop the craving only addresses a part of the problem. There must be drug free ways to reduce the cravings an addict experiences and provide a complete drug free rehab for the drug addict.
Holistic approaches to drug addiction have been developed and have been proven to work. One such program, the New Life Detoxification program offered at Narconon Vista Bay, truly addresses the cravings an addict experiences by cleansing the body of drug residues in a drug free setting, using vitamins and a sauna program at its base. The end result is that the cravings for drugs have disappeared. However, the program also addresses the underlying causes for the addiction in the first place. None of these wonder drugs for addiction deal with the root causes, which in all honesty, makes me question the motivation behind developing these types of drugs.
Who profits from these wonder drugs? Is it the drug addict who now has to support his new habit? What happens to this addict when he can’t afford to get his medication? Will he return to using the bad street drugs and find himself caught in the trap of addiction all over again? These drugs to cure addiction are new. That means long term side effects are unknown. What will they be? What side effects will the addict have to deal with?
We have already seen what happens to those on methadone. We know that Subaxone is classified as a narcotic. We have seen that Ritalin, a methamphetamine, causes serious problems for our children. And yet, we keep pushing this idea that medication is the answer to addiction. When will see that drug free rehab is truly the only solution to our drug addiction problems?
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Opening A Drug Rehab Center
It is not easy to open a residential drug treatment center. You would have to get approval from the state health department and the proper finances for the same. The proper facilities will have to be established. You will have to hire good support staff as well.
You will have to make a treatment plan based on a particular framework. This framework of the tailored treatment plan will have to be remodelled to suit everyone’s individual needs. Loans and grants will be needed to get the funds together. Keep the treatment model ready to show to people who might then approve of the loan for your residential drug treatment center.
Once the funding is done, you will have to get a building for the center. A single building or even a series of smaller buildings will be fine. Smaller buildings would be preferred by the patients as they would be able to have some privacy and independence. The state will have to give written permission for you to set up this rehab center. Also obtain contacts with health insurance companies because many people cannot afford to pay for their rehab treatment and rely on insurance companies to do it for them. Administrators, doctors, nurses, therapists and health technicians will also be needed in the rehab center. Once all this is taken care of, you can advertise over the internet, in the newspapers, in churches and offices of doctors. When you make the advertisement out, mention the kind of treatment the rehab center offers, cost of the treatment, kinds of addictions treated, insurance carriers accepted and contact information. Licensing and certification are important steps in the set up of the rehab center.
You will have to make a treatment plan based on a particular framework. This framework of the tailored treatment plan will have to be remodelled to suit everyone’s individual needs. Loans and grants will be needed to get the funds together. Keep the treatment model ready to show to people who might then approve of the loan for your residential drug treatment center.
Once you open a drug rehab for men center, you find the work extremely rewarding. It is a noble cause. Though this is a business that pays well, money should not be the primary concern. If you can make your patients comfortable and even add some luxury items and packages to your rehab center, more patients will enrol. What facilities and staff you can provide, will determine the kind of drug rehab for men center you have set up. You will have to offer post rehab care to patients as well. Check what your competitors are like. This will give you a very good idea of what your needs will be.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Which Is Better, Private Drug Rehab Or Public Drug Rehab?
Christian Shire
After admitting to a problem with substance abuse, and deciding to get help, and after deciding that a residential drug or alcohol rehab offers you the best chance at sobriety, you still have to decide between the thousands of available rehabs within the country.
Even when you narrow down the search by rehabs close to home, depending on where you live, you may still be left with many options, and of those options, there will likely be both for profit, and non profit rehabs available.
So which is better, a non profit, or a for profit rehab?
At first glance, the non profit rehab seems to the better choice, and in some cases it may be. The non profit rehab ideally uses all of the admission fees directly into your care, and does not exist to make a profit off of the suffering of others. A non profit is likely staffed by dedicated and impassioned professionals and recovering addicts, and may offer good value for the money, and it will almost certainly be cheaper!
A private facility, by definition is looking to make a profit, and as such a percentage of the admission payment is not going to your care bills, but to the ownership of the facility. Additionally there are some private operators that do run substandard programs, and although they may promise great things, do not offer nearly as much once they get your check cashed and you're in the door.
Why a private facility is often the better choice
But, if you have good insurance coverage (which should pay for a majority of your care) or have the means to fund your own treatment, a quality private facility is probably the better choice, and offers you the best chance at sobriety.
A quality private facility will charge far more, but will offer greater comfort and more private accommodation, will offer better staff to patient ratios, will offer more individual therapy with a trained and licensed therapist or psychologist, and are often set in beautiful and tranquil environments, ideally suited to the self reflection and medications of rehab.
A private facility is also more likely well equipped with peripheral programming and equipment very beneficial to recovery. More likely to have a good gym, yoga and meditation classes and other programming which does not sound all that necessary, but can actually contribute quite a lot to the experience.
The first step is making sure that any private facility under consideration is worthy of your dollars, does enjoy a good reputation, and offers quality and comprehensive programming. But if it does, it is probably the best available option.
If you have insurance coverage that minimizes your total contribution into the treatment costs, you should almost certainly seek out a quality private facility.
Any rehab is better than no rehab!
Of course any treatment is better than no treatment, and if your financial reality does not allow for participation in a better private facility, you need to evaluate the available options and select the best, which may well be a non profit or public institution.
The best private facilities are far better than anything else on offer, and if you have the money or coverage, they are well worthy of an investment in your future sobriety and happiness. Do your research, ask around (ask your doctor, ask the local health board) and get the best treatment you can reasonably afford.
The best non profit is FAR better than the worst for profit, but in general and on average; you get what you pay for.
After admitting to a problem with substance abuse, and deciding to get help, and after deciding that a residential drug or alcohol rehab offers you the best chance at sobriety, you still have to decide between the thousands of available rehabs within the country.
Even when you narrow down the search by rehabs close to home, depending on where you live, you may still be left with many options, and of those options, there will likely be both for profit, and non profit rehabs available.
So which is better, a non profit, or a for profit rehab?
At first glance, the non profit rehab seems to the better choice, and in some cases it may be. The non profit rehab ideally uses all of the admission fees directly into your care, and does not exist to make a profit off of the suffering of others. A non profit is likely staffed by dedicated and impassioned professionals and recovering addicts, and may offer good value for the money, and it will almost certainly be cheaper!
A private facility, by definition is looking to make a profit, and as such a percentage of the admission payment is not going to your care bills, but to the ownership of the facility. Additionally there are some private operators that do run substandard programs, and although they may promise great things, do not offer nearly as much once they get your check cashed and you're in the door.
Why a private facility is often the better choice
But, if you have good insurance coverage (which should pay for a majority of your care) or have the means to fund your own treatment, a quality private facility is probably the better choice, and offers you the best chance at sobriety.
A quality private facility will charge far more, but will offer greater comfort and more private accommodation, will offer better staff to patient ratios, will offer more individual therapy with a trained and licensed therapist or psychologist, and are often set in beautiful and tranquil environments, ideally suited to the self reflection and medications of rehab.
A private facility is also more likely well equipped with peripheral programming and equipment very beneficial to recovery. More likely to have a good gym, yoga and meditation classes and other programming which does not sound all that necessary, but can actually contribute quite a lot to the experience.
The first step is making sure that any private facility under consideration is worthy of your dollars, does enjoy a good reputation, and offers quality and comprehensive programming. But if it does, it is probably the best available option.
If you have insurance coverage that minimizes your total contribution into the treatment costs, you should almost certainly seek out a quality private facility.
Any rehab is better than no rehab!
Of course any treatment is better than no treatment, and if your financial reality does not allow for participation in a better private facility, you need to evaluate the available options and select the best, which may well be a non profit or public institution.
The best private facilities are far better than anything else on offer, and if you have the money or coverage, they are well worthy of an investment in your future sobriety and happiness. Do your research, ask around (ask your doctor, ask the local health board) and get the best treatment you can reasonably afford.
The best non profit is FAR better than the worst for profit, but in general and on average; you get what you pay for.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Drug Rehab Center Pours Incredible Treatment Programs
Drug and Alcohol treatment Centers present rehabilitation services for drug addiction, alcoholism, and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders (dual diagnosis). The center deals of much information about drug addiction now exist on internet. The center is heaven where drug addicts, alcoholics, eating disorder and dual diagnosis sufferers, and their family members, could meet online and share their experience, strength, and hope, and let other families know about their experiences with addiction treatment centers specifically.
Drug and Alcohol treatment Centers provide professional consulting services. The exclusive purpose is to help addicts recover from substance abuse and mental health disorders, educate families and the general public about dual diagnosis, alcoholism and drug rehab center addiction. The center is ready help to helps if you are suffering from substance abuse, eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders find the best addiction treatment centers and recovery resources for their needs. If you are looking for drug treatment, or someone you know suffers from drug addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, eating disorders or dual diagnosis, and is in need of drug rehab and/or alcohol rehab services, you have come to the right place.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Drug Rehab Treatment Centers As An Experience, Not A Punishment
Choosing a drug rehab treatment center is a decision that calls for both negative and positive emotions. Nobody wants addiction to overtake their life to the point that rehab is the necessary step. However, the decision to go to one is something to look forward to, as it is the decision to rebuild a healthy life. It is the conscious realization of a problem, and it is the first conscious step towards healing. Understanding what drug addiction entails and how it affects the user is important for healing substance abuse. As well as understanding addiction, knowing what rehabilitation is will help the patient understand what he is going through and the purpose of the treatment. Lastly, the type of rehabilitation program is of vital importance for the patient. Understanding that a rehabilitation program is as personal as the patient’s problem will certainly help to ascertain the treatment needed for the specific patient. Rehabilitation must be a positive program motivating the patient by his successes and discouraging him from relapses. To reach the stage of being in a rehab center that positively works to heal addiction, the patient and all concerned must understand three things: what addiction is, what rehabilitation is, and what treatment can and should be like.
Drug addiction is much more complex than merely ‘too much drug use’. Drug and substance dependence is beyond the control of the user – he is no longer in control and does not have much choice in the matter of continuing use. In the short term, drug use affects the brain’s reward system, flooding the brain with dopamine, otherwise termed ‘a high’. While the high is a short term effect, long term effects are to follow, which cause the addiction. When our brain’s reward system is working, proteins activate which teach us to pursue the behavior which causes us to feel so good. Naturally, this reaction is in response to food, exercise, and sex. Due to the larger amount of dopamine released due to drugs, the protein reaction is stronger than normal. As a result, drug use is quite addictive, and once the moment is reached that a person cannot control his use of drugs, this is termed addiction, or substance dependence. While willpower is important to controlling anything in one’s life, in drug addiction a lack of willpower is not to blame. Willpower is at play at the first stages of drug experimentation, but at a certain point in addiction, it loses its function. Drug addiction is an illness, and rehabilitative treatment is the only means of curing this behavior.
Rehabilitation, then, is the path that leads to an effective treatment of drug use. Research has shown that addiction is treatable. Research has not shown, and will not show, that treatment is easy. Rehabilitation is the recovery of diminished capacities due to injury or illness. The word itself comes from the latin prefix re meaning ‘again’, and root habilitar meaning ‘to inhabit’. Thus ‘rehabilitate’ literally means to inhabit yourself again – and that is the aim of rehabilitation: to return former capacities to the inflicted person. This is especially true in drug addiction. Freeing oneself from addiction is a type of homecoming to a life of control.
Rehabilitation aims at more than ending drug use. As previously mentioned, rehabilitation cannot be a punishment for drug use. It must be the gradual process of ending dependence while also rehabilitating the patient into society. This is often the most difficult aspect of rehabilitation. It is important that the patient realistically understand that the future will consist of effort to reintegrate and rejoin society. The patient is assisted by counselors throughout the treatment, but the patient himself is the main catalyst in rehabilitation. The family and friends of the patient must also go through aspects of rehabilitation, for life after rehab will not be a continual sunny day. The forecast predicts many rain clouds at first, with occasional storms down the road. The family must know how to be supportive and helpful throughout the stormy weather.
The rehab treatment center can be considered the umbrella in the stormy weathers. It cannot control the weather, but does shield and help the patient and family on their way through the tempest. While there is no one correct rehabilitation treatment, as each treatment must be tailored to the particular needs of the patient, there are means of ensuring that the rehab center chosen is one that will provide a positive environment to optimize the long term results of rehabilitation. The personal treatment for the patient must be continually checked and improved, as different steps throughout the treatment call for different measures, and each patient needs a different length of time for treatment. The personal treatment must also take into account the various problems beyond drugs which the patient faces. Drug addiction is often the result, and not the core of the problem – this core must be dug up through various therapies, counselors, and activities, which all should be readily available through the treatment center. A forced treatment is not necessarily a bad thing – again, depending on the treatment center. With a good treatment center, a person who initially will not admit to his problem or the need for a solution can be fully rehabilitated. Extremely beneficial are experiential therapies, which, through their communion with nature help the patient gradually reintegrate into life, which will eventually ease reintegration into society. A rehab treatment center must be rigid in its aims to help the patient, but cannot be rigid in its process.
Understanding what addiction is and why it happens is vital for the patient and the chosen treatment center. Once this is established, there can be a mutual respect, in lieu of distrust and judgment. The next step is to understand what rehabilitation is. It is a dedication, again, on the part of both the patient and treatment center, to heal a drug problem and, more importantly, rebuild a life – to bring the patient home in the spiritual sense. With these two concepts well understood and looked after, the patient has great chances of succeeding to overcome the addiction. The treatment center that fully understands addiction and rehabilitation will be the center that offers a full and varied program that will be created and recreated for the particular needs of its patient, and that will guide the patient not only through his addiction, but through his reintegration into life and society.
Drug addiction is much more complex than merely ‘too much drug use’. Drug and substance dependence is beyond the control of the user – he is no longer in control and does not have much choice in the matter of continuing use. In the short term, drug use affects the brain’s reward system, flooding the brain with dopamine, otherwise termed ‘a high’. While the high is a short term effect, long term effects are to follow, which cause the addiction. When our brain’s reward system is working, proteins activate which teach us to pursue the behavior which causes us to feel so good. Naturally, this reaction is in response to food, exercise, and sex. Due to the larger amount of dopamine released due to drugs, the protein reaction is stronger than normal. As a result, drug use is quite addictive, and once the moment is reached that a person cannot control his use of drugs, this is termed addiction, or substance dependence. While willpower is important to controlling anything in one’s life, in drug addiction a lack of willpower is not to blame. Willpower is at play at the first stages of drug experimentation, but at a certain point in addiction, it loses its function. Drug addiction is an illness, and rehabilitative treatment is the only means of curing this behavior.
Rehabilitation, then, is the path that leads to an effective treatment of drug use. Research has shown that addiction is treatable. Research has not shown, and will not show, that treatment is easy. Rehabilitation is the recovery of diminished capacities due to injury or illness. The word itself comes from the latin prefix re meaning ‘again’, and root habilitar meaning ‘to inhabit’. Thus ‘rehabilitate’ literally means to inhabit yourself again – and that is the aim of rehabilitation: to return former capacities to the inflicted person. This is especially true in drug addiction. Freeing oneself from addiction is a type of homecoming to a life of control.
Rehabilitation aims at more than ending drug use. As previously mentioned, rehabilitation cannot be a punishment for drug use. It must be the gradual process of ending dependence while also rehabilitating the patient into society. This is often the most difficult aspect of rehabilitation. It is important that the patient realistically understand that the future will consist of effort to reintegrate and rejoin society. The patient is assisted by counselors throughout the treatment, but the patient himself is the main catalyst in rehabilitation. The family and friends of the patient must also go through aspects of rehabilitation, for life after rehab will not be a continual sunny day. The forecast predicts many rain clouds at first, with occasional storms down the road. The family must know how to be supportive and helpful throughout the stormy weather.
The rehab treatment center can be considered the umbrella in the stormy weathers. It cannot control the weather, but does shield and help the patient and family on their way through the tempest. While there is no one correct rehabilitation treatment, as each treatment must be tailored to the particular needs of the patient, there are means of ensuring that the rehab center chosen is one that will provide a positive environment to optimize the long term results of rehabilitation. The personal treatment for the patient must be continually checked and improved, as different steps throughout the treatment call for different measures, and each patient needs a different length of time for treatment. The personal treatment must also take into account the various problems beyond drugs which the patient faces. Drug addiction is often the result, and not the core of the problem – this core must be dug up through various therapies, counselors, and activities, which all should be readily available through the treatment center. A forced treatment is not necessarily a bad thing – again, depending on the treatment center. With a good treatment center, a person who initially will not admit to his problem or the need for a solution can be fully rehabilitated. Extremely beneficial are experiential therapies, which, through their communion with nature help the patient gradually reintegrate into life, which will eventually ease reintegration into society. A rehab treatment center must be rigid in its aims to help the patient, but cannot be rigid in its process.
Understanding what addiction is and why it happens is vital for the patient and the chosen treatment center. Once this is established, there can be a mutual respect, in lieu of distrust and judgment. The next step is to understand what rehabilitation is. It is a dedication, again, on the part of both the patient and treatment center, to heal a drug problem and, more importantly, rebuild a life – to bring the patient home in the spiritual sense. With these two concepts well understood and looked after, the patient has great chances of succeeding to overcome the addiction. The treatment center that fully understands addiction and rehabilitation will be the center that offers a full and varied program that will be created and recreated for the particular needs of its patient, and that will guide the patient not only through his addiction, but through his reintegration into life and society.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Rehab Center Overcoming Addiction with Drug Rehab Program
If you are suffering from problems related to drug dependency make up the first step towards conquering addiction. You can find out a better life with Rehabilitation Center Massachusetts. You can very easily beating addiction. This is not a big problem. You have taken decision about recovery just does that? Rehab Center Massachusetts can help you to deal with growing levels of depression and stress which are related with taking out symptom.
Rehab Centers Massachusetts made special facilities to the addicts. These facilities are matchless to their situation and problems. The center provides counseling sessions and treatment facilities. Theses have added extra advantage on your physical and psychological health. The blissful treatment goal is reduce your dependency on drugs and improve the psychological interest, relationships, health and career. The entire success of the program will depend on your two-way nature.
Drug Rehab in Massachusetts tries to help the addicts overcome addiction provide traditional and modern treatment methods. Screening is the primary care treatment method. These are the screening session for instance routine care and treatment, individual therapy where a recovery health professional guides each and every resident. Drug Rehab in Massachusetts presents different types of activities for example 12 step programs, off site events, planned activities as well as family visits.
The exclusive aim of Massachusetts Rehab Centers focuses on target orientation, prevention of relapses, and motivation for moving ahead to attain sobriety. There are a number of health professionals, experts, counselors and nurses. They monitor condition and health of the patients admitted 24/7.
Day Treatment Program for Moderate Addiction
After looking at the success rate of different types of treatment programs drug rehab centers are always trying to invent new treatment programs that can be helpful to the addict. The day treatment program has been introduced to benefit those people who are working ones. It is an outpatient form of treatment program in which the patient is scheduled to visit the Drug Rehab Center about five to seven days a week. Each session lasts for three to four hours a day. This program was introduced to target those people who have mild and moderate kind of addiction.
Elements of a day treatment program are:
Counseling: - Counseling is very essential in knowing the reason of addiction. It gives an idea of whether the patient is physically or mentally attached to drug addiction. Further, then therapists or psychiatrists are introduced to help out the patient. Individual counseling is good for addict as he feels free to tell about his addiction.
Education and Group Therapy: - The patient must be given knowledge of what type of addiction he’s having and what consequences he will face after prolonged usage. It’s beneficial to the addicts as they motivate and encourage each other.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)