Top drug and alcohol treatment centers

Kids And Prescriptions

The New Fix-Its

U.S. teens are abusing illegal drugs such as marijuana less, but abuse of legal prescription drugs is rising, according to a new study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  However, an increase in abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications has left anti-drug campaigners confused as to how to combat the problem of legal drugs. Nearly one in 10 high school seniors reported using the prescription painkiller Vicodin without a prescription, while roughly one in 20 said they had used Oxycontin without a prescription.  Overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs accounted for about one-quarter of the 1.3 million drug-related emergency room admissions in 2004.  Some kids are self-medicating undiagnosed depression or anxiety, while others are using stimulants to try to get an edge on tests and studying.  Sadly, prescription drugs are familiar mood-altering substances for a generation that grew up as prescriptions soared for Ritalin and other stimulants to treat maladies such as attention-deficit disorder.  A staggering five million kids take prescription drugs every day for behavior disorders.  Pharmaceutical companies’ production of two often-abused prescription drugs — hydrocodone and oxycodone, the active ingredients in drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin — has risen dramatically as the drugs’ popularity for legitimate uses has increased.  To try to reduce the supply of prescription drugs on the black market, authorities have shut down several “pill mills” — where doctors prescribe inordinate amounts of narcotics — as well as Internet pharmacies that ship drugs with little medical consultation, says Catherine Harnett, chief of demand reduction for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Essentially what is most important is not locking up the narcotics it is better parenting and more involvement.

A Program For Recovery

Treatment for Addiction

Substance abuse programs, can be the introduction to the program that can provide lasting sobriety.  Interestingly, medical professionals do not have any pharmaceutical remedies for drug/alcohol addiction, which is often resistant to talk therapy only. Furthermore, relapse rates run as high as 40 to 60 percent for many types of substance abuse. Although, Heroin addicts often benefit from methadone, a synthetic opioid that thwarts cravings by substituting for some of heroin’s effects; naltrexone, an opioid receptor blocker, helps alcoholics kick their habit by reducing the desire for alcohol. But most victims of drug dependence are left with no antidote to the neurological havoc their habit has wrought in their brain.

“We have very few medications for the treatment of addiction,” says Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “and it’s urgent” that more such drugs are developed.

The urgency for drugs that aid the detox process are crucial.  More importantly they allow the user to be open to new ideas and calm the mind enough to seek change.  While in the grip of detox, the addict wants nothing more than to stop the pain.  Therefore, advancements in medications for addiction give the addicted a better chance of gaining a foothold in changing and laying the foundation for a way of life that requires responsibility to ones own journey.  Currently, the only miracle cure “medicine” for lasting sobriety has been adhering to a 12 step program post-treatment, developing a fellowship, and being of service.

Substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities

Finding a dual diagnosis facility that treats both substance abuse and mental health issues at the same time can be a difficult process.  At Recovery Hub we have a network of facilities that are licensed and accredited, their treatment methods are backed by research, and have an aftercare program to prevent relapse.
There are a variety of approaches that treatment programs may take, but some of the basics of effective treatment are:

•    Treatment addresses both the substance abuse problem and mental health issues.
•    The patient and family share in the decision-making process and are actively involved in setting goals and developing strategies for change.
•    Treatment includes basic education about mental health disorder and related substance abuse problems.
•    Patients are taught healthy coping skills and strategies to stop substance abuse, cope with upset, and strengthen their relationships.

Treatment for co-occurring disorders does take time and patience, however there is hope.  With the right support and the willingness to live a more fulfilling life many people recover.  To find out the options for treatment for mental disorders and substance abuse issues please call Recovery Hub today, we are here when you are ready.

Do I need to go to rehab?

This is a question many facing drug addiction and alcoholism try to figure out on their own.  But every individual is different and may need to be assessed with a treatment counselor to assess their current situation and whether they need to be in a residential rehab setting.
Scientific research since the mid–1970s shows that treatment can help patients addicted to drugs and alcohol to stop using and drinking to avoid relapse, and successfully recover their lives. Based research, key principles have emerged that form the basis of effective treatment programs:

•    Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.

•    No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.

•    Treatment needs to be readily available.

•    Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.

•    Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.

•    Counseling—individual and/or group—and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.

•    Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.

•    An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.

•    Many drug–addicted individuals also have other mental disorders.

•    Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long–term drug abuse.

•    Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.

•    Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.

Residential treatment programs can also be very effective, especially for those with more severe problems. For example, residential facilities are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 30 days to 12 months. Treatment centers differ from other treatment approaches principally in their use of the community—treatment staff and those in recovery—as a key agent of change to influence patient attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors associated with drug use. The focus of rehab is on the re-socialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime–free lifestyle.  Please call today to discuss your needs for treatment.

How to pay for Rehab

It’s unfortunate that all of us are not able to access the best of medical care, and when we or a family member struggles with addiction and substance abuse, it can be hard knowing that there are great drug rehabs available locally, but at a price that is simply out of reach to any of us without private insurance coverage.

If you are unable to pay upfront for your drug rehab care, there are options that we can find for you to get the support and treatment you need.

No one wants to pay for care, but addiction is a disease much like any disease, and it can kill you in the end if left untreated. You wouldn’t hesitate to pay for cancer treatment, and you shouldn’t defer addiction treatment either. You don’t have so many years in this earth that you can afford to waste many of them with a life of addiction.  All it takes is picking up the phone and asking for help.  We are here when you are ready.