Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment

Unfortunately the stories we read in the news every few weeks about overdoses, people checking into rehabs and deaths as a result of prescription drugs–these are topics which are all too well understood to millions of Americans in present day.

The story is typical. The average American maybe gets migraine headaches, has back pain or doesn’t sleep well at night. His or her family doctor then prescribes a highly addictive and potentially lethal drug to target the said problem. What was a simple request for relief from back pain quickly spirals into a full-blown oxycontin, vicodin, lortab (etc.) addiction.

When we read about others in the news suffering from ignorance on this subject, we are reading about our own ignorance. Opiate addiction can be prevented. The cure for ignorance is knowledge and effective drug rehab.

Where do our tax dollars go? Each year we throw billions at programs and plans for education, military/defense and health care–including drug and alcohol rehab. But it seems no matter how much we pour into the “War on Drugs,” things get worse and worse each year.

Our basic human rights grant us the right to affordable medicine and care, yet the programs which are provided have anywhere from a 3-11% success rate. This means that of the millions of Americans currently abusing drugs, only a handful will get better. And the rest will end up in other rehabs, in jail or dead.

Or maybe they will end up like a kid I read about in the news today: a young kid who is considered a “success story,” but who truthfully is just on a replacement drug and is just as dependent on his methadone as he was on his heroin.

On goes this continuous cycle of jumping from one ineffective rehab to another, trying to find a workable way to live free of alcohol and drugs in all their many shapes and sizes.

Find a long term drug rehab center which supports this methodology and which does not have a vested interest in your continued use of prescription drugs.

10. What is the facility’s location? Is it in a rural or urban setting? Will the addict be constantly struggling with the idea of using drugs or alcohol because they are easily obtained right outside the facility doors?

9. What is the ambiance of the facility? Will the individual in an alcohol drug treatment facility feel comfortable there, or is it a lock-down facility with a “hospital” feel to it?

8. What are the qualifications of the faculty and counselors? What are their certifications and how many years of experience do they have?

7. Are their appropriate and reasonable security precautions in the facility to keep contraband out?

6. Are program residents provided with fun and productive extracurricular activities outside of program hours?

5. Are there exercise facilities? Can the addict work to restore his physical health by working out and taking natural supplements?

4. Is after-care and follow-up a part of the program?

3. Is it a drug free program? Does the facility support a holistic and natural approach to living life drug and alcohol free?

2. What is the Drug Rehab Program Methodology? Does it make sense to you? Does it address physical cravings for drugs and alcohol and life skills?

1. More importantly than how soft the beds are or how good the food tastes, do they get RESULTS? What is the success rate?

This is a question which millions of Americans are asking themselves. “Is it worth the extra money to send my loved one to a private drug rehab?”

If you find yourself asking this same question, ask yourself also: Can you afford to make the mistake of dabbling around with programs which are free but ineffective? How important is your loved one to you? Can you afford to waste time with low success rates?

You cannot afford to waste time where drug and alcohol abuse is concerned. Find a good drug rehab with a high success rate, and get your loved one the help he/she needs right away.

Remember, addiction CAN be cured. Don’t be discouraged by government-funded programs. Drug rehab facilities are always best when they are private pay.

Commercials on TV warn parents to hide their prescription drugs, and black box warning labels attempt to expose the extreme adverse side effects and highly addictive qualities of these prescriptions, yet today the abuse of these licit drugs is becoming more common and is taking more lives each year. All these precautions to prevent prescription drug abuse from worsening.

Well it’s too late.

The American Drug Enforcement Agency recently estimated that over 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs. If you can believe it, this number is higher than the number of people using illegal drugs.

Illegal internet sales and crooked medical practitioners are just some of the ways these highly dangerous drugs to end up on the streets. Unfortunately, children are often misdiagnosed and given the wrong drugs, beginning a vicious cycle of addiction and withdrawal. Or the prescriptions of irresponsible parents end up in their children’s hands.

Fortunately patients are growing weary of the doctor who, after a five minute examination, is ready to prescribe something. Prescription drug addiction is now so common that even the layman understands to be cautious. What makes it even scarier is that private drug rehabs are really the only types of programs that can help.

We live in a “now” generation. If you’re depressed, cure it now. Take this pill. If you are in pain or have a headache, get rid of it now. Take this pill. You can’t sleep, so you take this pill. Now. Instead of getting to the root of the problem, we take the convenient route and put our problems in someone else’s hands. Hopefully our future generations will learn from us and find an effective drug rehab to treat prescription drug addiction.

Many families call in and wonder what is next after rehab. Well one of the most effective types of treatment is long term drug rehab. When a person enters into a long term treatment center, usually the stay is around four to six months. This is ample time for a person to be rehabilitated but does not guarantee success. Some programs offer extensive job training or even better have a training program for all graduates. Many times when a person enters into a drug rehab they start feeling good and they become more responsible.

Instead of their previous behavior where all they were worried about was themselves and how to satisfy their addiction to drugs and alcohol, now they want to help others. Honestly, the best drug and alcohol counselor is one who has had an addiction problem themselves and understands what it takes to be successful in recovery. They funny thing about addicted individuals is they don’t want to listen to a person who can not relate or is not real. A doctor, nurse, counselor who has never taken drugs telling a patient in a inpatient drug rehab that they “understand” can really frustrate a patient and cause for distrust issues.

Many drug rehabs that do offer professional medical care but also counselors who not only have great formal education but also have had experiences with abuse with drugs and alcohol makes for one of the most effective counselors in the rehabilitation field. They can be looked at as a role model and person that offers hope in such a bleak outlook for many.

How much does a drug rehab cost? This is a common question for many people searching to find a drug treatment center either for themselves or for a loved one. Most residential drug treatment facilities are either private pay or offer some type of insurance reimbursement. Don’t get frustrated when you insurance company will only pay for a 21, 28 or 30 day drug rehab. Sometimes what families do is get insurance to pay for part of the program that work out the rest of the payment. Just remember that any effective drug rehab program is going to cost money. It’s worth it and anything that can save a person from drug or alcohol addiction is like giving a person their life back.

Even most effective medical detoxs will cost money. Though that is one type of treatment that insurance is very good about paying is for medical detox. Keep in mind that medical detox is not treatment though. All its doing is to allow an addicted individual come off of certain prescription drugs, opiates and alcohol safely. It is not a long term solution and does not provide any sort of solution to addiction except for medical treatment in the first week of rehabilitation. If a person can only afford a detox and does not have insurance to then pay for treatment than trying an outpatient program would then be the best step. Talking to a counselor or attending meetings or getting a sponsor can help a person through rough spots when trying to overcome drug or alcohol addiction.

Intensive long term care is essential for recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Outpatient treatment is not always effective because a person is still in his or her environment. Trying to find one of these long term drug rehabs is sometimes hard but not impossible. Whether a person is willing to get help or not should not persuade your decisions in what you think will ultimately help this addicted individual free themselves. Drug and alcohol addiction is like being a slave because all your decisions are usually revolved around getting your next fix or drink.

A long term drug rehab should always provide detox, counseling and life skills therapy to prepare a person for their road to recovery. Without specific life skills a person a person is vulnerable to certain environment triggers that can cause relapse. It is also important for person to be away from home and these environmental triggers which will reduce a persons restimulators. This is vital for recovery for treatment to be effective.

Alcohol and drug treatment is not something that is impossible to find. Inpatient and long term treatment is also something that is not impossible to find. Many drug rehabs provide alternative care which would include programs like longer termed programs and holistic based programs. Holistic drug rehabs are also effective when treating hard core addictions like alcoholism, opiates, cocaine, crack and methamphetamine.

The ten most important things to remember before going to rehab are these:
1) Make sure you keep an open mind regarding the treatment and philosophy of the drug rehab program that you have selected and are enrolling into.
2) Traveling out of state into a residential facility far away from home is a good thing. You will make new friends and it will be a fresh start for your new drug free life.
3) Listen to your counselors and if something doesn’t make sense or maybe you don’t agree with something than voice your opinion. If you are going to a private drug rehab remember that you are paying for treatment and you want to get the most out of it.
4) Not all residential drug rehabs are the same. Every program will offer a different living condition and environment.
5) Don’t just pick a program because the rooms look nice or the food is good. Remember that you are there to get your life back; you are not there for a vacation. Find the right type of treatment that is going to help you with your problems and addiction.
6) If the drug rehab facility is requiring a medical detox than do the medical detox and don’t cause any problems.
7) Not all programs take insurance and don’t settle on a program that will work with your insurance. You need to find a workable program with a high success rate.
Keeping family involved is important. The more your family and loved ones are all communicating the better it will be when you return home.
9) Take advantage of every opportunity and look at your past as a learning experience that will make you stronger.
10) Be grateful for this opportunity of help and getting your life back.

These are the top ten things a person should do and be aware of before going into a drug and alcohol treatment center

Long term drug and alcohol rehabs have become very popular because of the increase in success rate regarding treatment. Though many people don’t usually enter into a longer termed program first, it is still the one type of treatment that produces success in recovery. Unfortunately when an addicted individual who finally asks for help will only agree to go into a 28 or 30 day drug rehab, they usually will end up relapsing and falling victim to this addiction of drugs and alcohol.

A family who is researching a drug rehab program for a loved one who is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, remember, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don’t settle for just a detox which consists of medical treatment for 1-2 weeks. Even a 28 or 30 day program is not enough only offering a 2-12 percent success rate. If the addicted individual is being stubborn about going into a long term drug rehab than don’t just give in, remain firm. Keep with your original plan in getting them to enter into a long term drug rehab.

You must capitalize during this crucial time and remember you know best. If the addicted individual after much talking to still does not want help than consider doing an intervention. A drug or alcohol intervention can be used to convince a person into entering some type of long term drug treatment. A drug intervention can help bring the family together and escort the person into the long term residential rehab program.