I get so angry when sometimes well-intentioned people will make statements to the effect of only 5%, 10% of the people make it in addiction recovery. How disheartening for somebody who’s trying to turn their life around to statements like that. Why not focus on the fact that addiction treatment works.

Just today I attended a conference and Dr. Lewis Baxter Sr was the keynote speaker. He is the president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine known in the field as ASAM. He provided some rather heartening statistics. But these have to be qualified. He was speaking of people who have gone through a “full treatment experience”. A full treatment experience includes:

1. Detoxification

2. Rehabilitation

3. Maintenance

These are patients who received a full assessment, and an accurate diagnosis of their condition. They’d gone through proper detoxification and/or medical maintenance. Rehabilitation – means therapy and addiction counseling. Aftercare and continuing care refers to ongoing treatment with social support such as a 12 step program and/or continued therapy throughout the year.

Two separate peer-reviewed, empirical studies* showed these statistics:

For people who I gone through a full treatment experience:

The general population at a recovery rate of 77% at one year.

For those who had gone through detoxification in rehab only the recovery rate was 33% at one year.

For those who underwent detox only, the recovery rate was less than 10%.

Now before I get a ton of e-mails saying those statistics don’t sound right I ask you to look at the qualifications very carefully. For instance, in my experience as an addiction therapist when I see a patient who has relapsed, and I inquire about their follow-through on aftercare about 90% of them say that they did not follow through. That explains the big drop in the recovery rate to only 33% when continuing care recommendations are not followed after they leave their initial phase of treatment.

I can also anecdotally tell you that I have had patients tell me ‘I’ve been to 10 treatments’ and when asked how long each treatment was, they say ‘about two days’. There is an erroneous belief for some that detox is the same as treatment. Detox is certainly not treatment it as simply medical stabilization.

Now the one thing I firmly believe about statistics is that when it comes to addiction recovery they are inherently accurate. I believe that it is the individual’s action determine their success in addiction recovery not the random allocation percentages are statistics.

*(Gaber,Davidson,1992; Mclellan 2002)

A question that I am very frequently asked is how go about locating local  addiction treatment help.

In all honesty, I would not trust an Internet search because there is a lot of bad information and huge advertising budgets out there. The one solid recommendation I make is to use the addiction treatment locator provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration which is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

If the treatment center is licensed, or certified it will be listed here. You simply click on the map; enter a radius from your zip code and you will see an amazing amount of drug rehab services located in your area with a brief synopsis of the services offered.

Here is that link: Click Here Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

There are vast quantities of information on the subject of alcohol and drug rehabs and addiction in general. Data from one source may be diametrically opposed to that from another.

It can be difficult to know which sources you can trust. Keep reading to learn more of the facts about addiction treatment.

Just about everyone has a distinct opinion about how to end the use of addictive substances and to treat addiction; there are just too many lines of thought out there. Is there a ‘best’ track of therapy for people who have been diagnosed as being addicted to drugs or alcohol?

There is no agreement on the best resolution. People debate the merits of controlling negative consequences, controlling the substances and staying away from the substances all together.

Not long ago, I saw 2 review studies; its research reported data drawn from hundreds of controlled research surveys and present the facts which are seen to be consistent across the board. There were some interesting points which were uniform across both of these review studies. These were:

1. Growing a huge support system is a must in recovery.

The rate of success for patients in substance abuse treatment is
significantly better where these patients have a support network, including loved ones and friends. Self-help groups and other support networks can also play a worthwhile role in helping patients to stay in recovery.

2. Staying in treatment longer is better.

Being in treatment for the long haul is more effective than is short term intensive treatments, bringing credence to the old saying in recovery circles that sobriety is not an event, but rather an ongoing process.

3.There is no ‘best’ treatment.

There is no single correct answer that works for every patient. Cognitive behavioral treatment, the 12 step system and others have all been just about equally effective in different cases. Project Match is a government study that tried to match up patients to different treatments by type  and their findings were that all of these recovery methods worked equally well.

4. The old ‘in your face’ style is not effective.

The confrontational school of addiction treatment widely used in the 1980s did not yield results as readily as does rendering support and positive reinforcement to patients.

5. The relationship with your counselor is critical.

All of the available data indicates that patients are much more likely to be successful in recovery if they have a deep, positive relationship with their therapist or group members. These relationships keep addicts in recovery involved in the recovery process.

The common elements of any solid addiction treatment method are training, working to build coping skills, building and restoring interpersonal family relationships and keeping the patient included over the long term.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction-Treatment

I was searching the Internet for some ideas on getting people into addiction treatment And found the following article.

How to Get a Resistant Alcoholic Or Drug Abuser In Treatment

By Mike Shery

There are compelling reasons why people become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Psychological factors are extremely powerful. The addicts conscious and unconscious cravings become the dominant software programs that run his self-destructive life.

Our brain as reflected in the day -to-day experiences of our mind is everything. Because of disorders in our brain or the way we think, the psychiatric implications of drug abuse are omnipresent, and can cause major dysfunctions in the life of the one who is addicted-and his family.

The psychological scripting or indirect hypnosis which determines the quality of the addicts lives is well known. To illustrate, if one is the child of a substance abuser it is likely that, as he grows, he will rapidly justify the use of these substances to himself and REALLY think that it is OK!

In some unintentional way, the addict has been programmed by his parents to think that since it is OK for them, it must be OK for him. He is, in effect complying with the suggestions of this powerful indirect hypnosis.

Mind-altering drugs and alcohol have a compelling, gradual, silent and insidious effect on ones brain and, consequently, the way the addict perceives his life. It is life-changing and becomes a serious brain, mind, perception and behavior problem.

Ones brain can get so accustomed to depending on these chemicals that over time it actually “talks” itself into needing them, producing various extremely compelling withdrawal symptoms in order to get the addict to feed its self-defeating and toxic cravings. The feelings and perceptions of reality created by his chemically-fed brain literally changes his reality.

Contrary to reality, his cravings and use are viewed by him as legitimate, in his control and actually life-enhancing. This addict fights treatment and feels misunderstood and unappreciated.

So what is required to overcome the psychological causes of drug and alcohol dependence on one who is in denial or refuses treatment? The answer: Getting help from a psychological counselor or interventionist; it is a tried and tested method.

Since, the addict in denial will resist any attempt to engage him in treatment, the professional help of an expert interventionist is a MUST! The professional interventionist can make it possible for the treatment-resistant addict to successfully overcome his denial of harm that has occurred to himself and his family.

Talking to a counselor or psychologist who specializes in the use of clinical interventions is a good start to finding ways to get the resistant addict to overcome his addiction. There are many excellent intervention specialists available to the families and significant others of treatment-resistant substance abusers.

The best of these will be licensed in the practice of psychology or substance abuse counseling. Even though the resistant addict will not go into a rehabilitation facility on his own, rehab facilities can be quite effective.

There, they learn how to live life without the use of mind-altering substances. The purpose of interventions is to get substance abusers out of their denial and show them the ways in which their disease is affecting the people they love the most and then, most importantly, to get them into a rehab center right away!

The goal of a professionally-led family confrontation or intervention in the home would be to break down his resistance so he will enter inpatient treatment, not tomorrow or the next day, but, immediately!

Doesn’t the drug or alcohol abuser have to want help? No, the abuser does not have to want help, however the most successful interventions occur when there have been significant destructive consequences resulting from the persons drinking or using.

These consequences are then used to show the abuser the ways in which his life has become out of control and unmanageable. Cost? It is true that inpatient treatment and the intervention itself can be expensive.

However, while the intervention itself must be paid for out-of-pocket, most alcohol and drug abuse patients will find that their health insurance will cover a substantial portion of their inpatient and treatment expenses. Do these interventions work?

It is believed an intervention has a 90-95% success rate when done under the guidance and supervision of a licensed specialist with the help of the family and friends who are close to the individual needing the intervention. They can be very successful because, although drugs and alcohol have taken over a persons life, it is still very painful for the abuser to be confronted with his/her abusive behavior and the pain it has caused to his loved ones.

A substance-abuse intervention is a last-ditch attempt by family members and friends, often in the home setting and under the guidance of a professional counselor or psychologist, to help a treatment-resistant chemically dependent person get help for his/her problem. The good news is that these interventions are often successful and can get the initially resistant patient into a drug and alcohol treatment program immediately.

With the help of a specialist and loved ones, the intervention process can be the beginning of a new life for the addict and those close to him.

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Lake-in-the-Hills. He’s an expert psychologist and interventionist. Call 1 847 275 8236 and make an appt or  learn more about counseling at: http://www.carypsychology.com

Question Is Asked:

im on 18 months formal probation and im required to go to 6-month outpatient program drug rehab. i cant afford a lot of money. does anyone have any resources for me?

Reader Answer Provided:

lyyman // Apr 5, 2009

You go should discuss this with your probation officer. Most of these programs are income sensitive. You need to take it seriously and not just “skirt the rules”. Yes it’s a pain in the a** and as you know if you don’t like it you can serve the time. Stay the hell away from the people you used to use with. I’m glad I’m straight now. I don’t need constant reminders and lectures. Enough of the people I hung with are dead or in jail. I just want to get on with something else besides the damn meetings and reporting in.
Call your health dept. if your PO doesn’t have any good suggestions. Mine was at no cost. Good luck.

My Answer:

You can search at: Treatment Locator

Your Answer: Use the comment form below.

Technorati Tags: drug-rehab, formal probation, money, outpatient program

I wrote a post a couple of days ago, Drug Abuse Treatment Programs: 10 Things To Look For In Selecting The Right One and a reader wrote a great comment I wanted to share. He makes some great points and I will address a couple at the end. Here goes:

J. Heller
http://addictionnewsnetwork.com/

Brian, (sic, Bill)

Your list is a great start, but after 15 years on both sides of treatment I think even more is needed. As corporations continue to buy up (or simply put out of business) the single owner/operator facilities that were based on helping a fellow addict first and then making a few bucks, what is needed badly is transparency.

I’ve been inpatient several times, and I’ve also done everything from intake to creating (at the time) the biggest recovery site on the net. Trust me when I say that the directors of these corporations currently on a buying spree are not in recovery themselves, and they view rehabs as a very lucrative, consistent cash flow business.

As it is usually a spouse or parents who make the initial contact with a TX center, they have no idea that an “intake specialist” is in actuality a “closer”- a salesperson whose job it is to close the deal. And as far as methodology, years ago when a Judge first sentenced someone to AA, it began a cycle in which AA became the governments defacto (and free) treatment provider. As a person who originally got sober in AA, it pains me to see parents putting out 10, 20, 30,000 for what is often a 12 step program with a few counselors. No aftercare, here’s your Big Book, go to meetings…that’s the discharge plan.

There are still a few great programs out there, but it has come down to buyer beware-if a client leaves a facility early, many programs (it’s in the fine print) have a no refund policy. Should a client not agree with the treatment provided and leave, even after just a few days, the financial effects and the relationship issues could be devastating.

Like an earlier post, I believe there should be some form of guarantee-not that a person would stay sober, as that’s just not possible to guarantee. But programs advertising 80%+ success rates is also impossible. When we’re talking the price of a new car, there should at least be some care after discharge.

More transparency, more options, and an acceptance that science has in fact finally caught up with addiction treatment. There are many. many more options today for someone seeking help-from medications to therapy to brain scans and behavior modification, as well as non-12 step support groups.

In closing, the number one way that the majority of people stop using or drinking? Most never enter the rooms of AA or a Treatment Center. They experience some type of event that causes a serious change in lifestyle-and they simply stop. A former junkie like me used to have a hard time with that one-but the vast majority of studies done on the subject backs it up.

My apologizes for the ramble Brian-and keep up the good work.

Respectfully,

JJH

JJH is addressing a trend in the industry that few on the outside know about, that is treatment centers are being acquired by large corporations. When profit is the motive, some things can happen, helping becomes a product, an appropriate referral becomes salesmanship. I work at a nationally recognized top tier facility and never heard of having to pay for a whole program if you leave early. Does it exsist? I have no doubts.

One of the fascinating things about addiction recovery is that there is no ‘right or better’ way. This opens the doors for some questionable programs and downright fraud: like the fellow on TV aassociated with a treatment center offering a cure when you buy his book. Unethical at best.

I am sorry… there never will be a guarentee in recovery because so much more depends on the individual than the program. That is why I find all statistics a load of hooey. One’s success or failure depends on their own action ( or lack thereof), this is a dependent variable, not a random event. Do the work, focus and follow mainstream addiction recovery principles, and you can succeed.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction Recovery, Addiction-Treatment

Finding A good drug abuse treatment program.

1) Accreditation and Licensing – while there are personal and private peer support groups out there composed of former addicts who simply wish to help others get rid of their addictions, it’s still a good idea to look for a licensed and accredited drug rehab program because the people in it will have more training and better equipment.

2) Success Rate and History – experience counts for much. Look for a rehab group that has a reputation for success, one that has helped a lot of people. Look for ones that helped their members kick the habit permanently, as some groups help drug addicts to kick the habit for the program’s duration, but afterwards they find themselves backsliding.

3) Anonymity Policies -  There is nothing wrong with asking for help from a rehab group, but it’s up to you to decide how much privacy you want and how much you feel comfortable letting other people know.

4) Treatment Methodology – there are a lot of different approaches to drug rehab, ranging from purely mental conditioning to ones involving detox medication. Ask what methods the rehab group uses, then do your own research to find out it’s success rate. If the program seems right for you, go for it.

5) Staff Training – accredited rehab groups will often have trained personnel, but the question is, what kind of training have they received? Ask the rehab program for more specific details as to what qualifications they have for their personnel. Backgrounds in psychology and medical training specializing in drug rehab are things to look out for. Volunteer personnel, on the other hand, are well meaning but may not always be as competent unless the rehab program only accepts highly qualified volunteers.

6) Medical Support – anything can happen in a drug rehab program, so of course medical facilities in or near the place is a must. But aside from emergency contingencies and first aid measures, medical support also means that some rehab centers actually use detox medicines to help their members in dealing with withdrawal and to wean them away from addiction. Check if the rehab program you’re entering uses these, and ask yourself if you’d prefer a purely mental approach to detox or if these medications will help.

7) Aftercare Programs - some rehab centers focus purely on getting rid of the addiction of their members. The best ones, on the other hand, include programs that help their members deal with life after kicking the addiction – literally helping them pu their lives back together and avoid the triggers that caused them to turn to addiction in the first place.

Relapse Treatment – in the event that people who went through their program suffer a relapse of addiction, some good rehab programs offer second and third chances for their members to get their acts together. If you feel that you WILL kick your habit, then there is no need to look at this option. Still, it’s a useful thing to know that the group you ask for help won’t reject you if you fail to kick the habit the first time.

9) Family and Associate Assistance – some good rehab programs don’t simply involve their members, but also include training for their families and friends who want to help. If you’d prefer to do things on your own and battle your demon your own way, then there’s no need to look for this option. However, remember that no one stands alone, and it’s a good idea to get the people who love you to help you through your troubles.

10) Patient Follow Up and Alumni Support - finally, good rehab programs continuing care options that don’t immediately assume that once you go through the program it’s over. The best rehabs will do follow ups on their members after the program to check on their welfare and to make sure that they don’t backslide. This monitoring is not only useful, but also shows that the rehab truly cares about it’s members.

Technorati Tags: drug treatment program, drug-abuse, drug-abuse-treatment

If you are wondering if you need drug addiction treatment, maybe you’ve answered your own question, if your drug use is starting to cause progressively more problems in your life.

Individuals who are chemically dependent want to continue the drug use as long as they can in increasing quantities They will rationalize it in any way, including by making up fantasies and stories. They did all this to convince themselves that it was ok to continue with their drug abuse. This is because of the damage imposed on themselves and others around them.

Over time, the tales and lies that drug abusers concoct will fail to interest others. You finally realize what is happening. They realize that they require an increasing quantity of drugs to get high, or even worse, the drugs no longer work. Users are noticing that they are sicker and sicker when they are not using drugs and that they are having to use more often. These can be indicators of normal drug addiction symptoms such as tolerance and withdrawal.

They can no longer convince themselves that they’re not hurting people around them but the urge to continue the drug use is still there as strong as ever. It is very frightening. The gut wrenching stomach level twisting, is to go use the drug, at any cost,they know they’re destroying themselves and everyone around them yet the pull from inside.

The characteristics of addiction called compulsion and obsession,there are. If it were as easy as making the decision to stop using drugs then we would not have drug addicts today, in fact that is only the first step in a long process. The only solution is not a cure, but rather to put addiction in a state of remission through abstinence. In order to accomplish that everyone will have to help.

The best suggestion I can offer in getting started to seek drug addiction treatment is to get an assessment by a competent professional. Not all are appropriate or effective for all people,are there are different levels and types of drug treatment available. Your chances on being matched to an appropriate drug addiction treatment program,a competent assessment by an addiction professional will increase.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction-Treatment, drug-addiction

In 2 words here is my rebuttal to the recent NY Times article. Are you ready? Here we go…Treatment Works. End of story.

Here is the link to the nefarious story: Drug Rehabilitation or Revolving Door

I am so angry I don’t really want to respond right now. But hey, it gives me a chance to practice anger management skills…deep breathe, in with the good…out with the bad.

I will post more later, half the fun in owning a blog is being able to vent at will.

Technorati Tags: drug-addiction-treatment

With all the conflicting information on addiction and drug and alcohol treatment, how can you possibly separate fact from fiction? Read on to learn some verified facts.

Concerning addiction treatment, everybody seems to have an opinion on how to stop using drugs and alcohol. The problem is there are too many opinions.

If you fall, land on your arm, experience pain and see bone sticking out, it would be an obvious fact your arm is broken. Go to a hospital and there is about a 100% certainty your bone would be set and a cast put on. Obvious, right?

With chemical dependence, the diagnosis, let alone the treatment is not so obvious. If a person is diagnosed as being addicted to drugs or alcohol, what treatment is recommended? Here is where it gets interesting, as nobody can agree. Even abstinence is a debated subject, some people believe in harm reduction, or controlled use.

I recently became aware of 2 review studies.* Review studies take a look at 100’s of controlled, published research studies and then look for facts supported across many studies. Each of these 2 review studies found certain facts consistent across the boards. Here they are:

1. Social support is critical.

Success rates are drastically improved with a large social support network. This network can (and should) include family, friends and professionals. Engaging in new social networks such as self-help groups plays a significant role in maintaining recovery.

2.  Long term treatment is better.

The evidence states that long term uninterrupted treatment produces better results than intense short term treatment. This tends to lend support to the recovery adage that getting sober is a process, not an event.

3. No one type of treatment is best.

There is no one clear leader or ‘gold standard’ type of treatment. 12 step treatment has been shown to be as effective as cognitive behavioral treatment and others. Project Match attempted to match types of patients to types of treatments and found out they all worked equally well, with a slight edge to 12 step facilitation because of the encouragement of long participation.

4. Confrontation does not work well.

The ‘in your face’ methods of treatment popular in the 1980’s do not work as well as forming an alliance for change with the patient. Patient support and positive reinforcement works better than ultimatums.

5. Therapeutic relationship is key.

Without a doubt the evidence states that having a positive relationship with either the therapist or a group (self-help) is a strong factor in recovery. If the is relationship is positive, patients are more likely to stay engaged.

Almost all successful addiction treatment models have commonalities of education on the disease, building life skills, repairing relationships and staying engaged over time.

This is just the tip of the iceberg on the realities of addiction treatment.

* Lebow, Jay, Addictions Treatment: Myth vs.Reality, Psychotherapy Networker, March/April 2004

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction-Treatment, drug-and-alcohol-treatment

This is the first state to force insurance companies to grant parity for addiction treatment.

August 10, 2008 by Eric Helmuth

Capping years of effort by addiction policy advocates and their allies at the statehouse, Massachusetts enacted legislation last week requiring the state’s private health insurers to provide unlimited coverage for medically necessary treatment of substance use disorders and other mental health conditions.

"This historic legislation is both health care expansion and civil rights legislation," said Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton, the author and lead sponsor of the legislation. "It will go a long way towards ending stigma by recognizing that addiction is an illness like all other illnesses, and those who suffer from them will receive the treatment they need and deserve," said Balser, who is also a clinical psychologist.

Addiction treatment and recovery advocates, who had been working on parity with Balser and other supportive lawmakers for years, expressed delight at the legislation’s passage. Calling it a "monumental accomplishment," Connie Peters, vice president for substance abuse at Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations of Massachusetts (MHSAC), said the new law will "help us further remove the stigma of addiction by requiring it to be treated as the chronic disease that it is." Peters coordinates the Massachusetts Coalition for Addiction Services, an alliance of several professional and grassroots groups that supported the parity legislation.

For complete article click  http://www.jointogether.org

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction-Treatment

By Bill Urell

High self-efficacy in addiction recovery can greatly increase the likelihood of long lasting sobriety, But what is it?

Self-efficacy is a fancy way of saying that one has belief in their capabilities of attaining a certain goal, behaving or performing a certain way. It is the idea that we have the power to accomplish what we are setting out to do or manage the situation. Whether or not we can really do it is not the point, we believe we can. Self- esteem relates to self-worth, self efficacy relates to our perception of our ability to accomplish a goal.

Why the lesson? I was looking through some professional addiction journals where empirically valid and controlled studies are published. I discovered high self-efficacy is related to good outcomes in sobriety. It makes sense, if we truly believe that we are capable and have the ability to get and stay sober, our chances are greatly increased.

If, on the other hand, we were operating from a position of hopelessness and fear, it would make sense that the likelihood of a good outcome is much less likely to occur. Where am we going with this?

A study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment Nov, 23 2007, ’ “Predictors of changes in alcohol-related self-efficacy over 16 years.” by McKellar J, Ilgen M, Moos BS, Moos R., looked at over 400 people over a 16 year period. A long term study such as this is called a longitudinal study. These are seldom found in addiction treatment due to the difficulty in retaining participants.

It was indicated that these factors, if applied in the first year sober affected outcomes and actually predicted increased self-efficacy over 16 years.

The study urged clinicians to treatment should be focus on:

1. Identifying and addressing depressive symptoms.

2. Try to engage and keep patients engaged in 12 step AA

3. Improve patient’s coping skills

4. Enhancing and growing a social support network.

There is also a caution to “reduce the risk of relapse by monitoring individuals whose alcohol problems and impulsivity improve unusually quickly.” That statement seems to indicate to watch out for people who have the ‘pink cloud syndrome’ Where everything is a bit to easy and wonderful.

It is interesting to note theat regular attendance at 12 step meetings directly handles 3 out of 4 issues mentioned by that research study, the exception being depression. You can draw your own conclusion but mine is that 12 step programs have proven effectiveness in addiction recovery. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Here are some other nice articles on addiction treatment from around the web:

What Makes Addiction Treatment Work? – No single treatment is perfect for a drug addict and hence these rehabs have various methodologies to choose the treatment. As different causes are responsible for the addiction, focus is also given differently here. …

How Casual Drug Use Leads to Addiction – The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published Principles of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment, which features many of the most promising drug treatment programs to date. As this booklet explains, the programs with the most …

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Addiction-Treatment, sobriety

I was searching the internet for a good article on drug addiction treatment and became upset. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation on addiction out there. Please, please, please, be aware of your sources and use some caution. What follows is a well written article on drug addiction treatment, the points are right on target.

10 Tenets of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment

By David Westbrook

On any given day in the United States, one million people are in treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction. It is not getting into treatment, however, that makes the difference. Instead, it is what a person gets out of treatment. The fact that many people do not find success in treatment on their first attempt is due in part to a lack of understanding about what makes effective drug treatment.

1.There is no treatment formula that will work for everyone. Occasionally, people looking for treatment will come across other individuals who are already in recovery and who insist that the only path to recovery is whatever path the recovering individual has taken. This simply is not true. The ultimate success of each individual entering treatment depends on finding the right treatment setting and methods for the individual, and everyones needs are different.

2. Medically supervised withdrawal is only one step in addiction treatment; alone it will do little. Frequently, it is necessary for addicts and alcoholics to go through a medically supervised withdrawal period before they can safely enter treatment. However, some people confuse this short 3 to 7 day period with treatment, which it is not. Some people cycle in and out of these withdrawal episodes convinced that they should be able to maintain abstinence afterwards, but never finding success. Seemingly tragic, this allows some addicts to continue in their addiction while giving the appearance that they are attempting to get healthy.

3. Length of treatment counts. The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, significant improvement is reached at about 3 months. The research suggests that this may be residential, outpatient or a combination of both depending on the individuals needs. After this initial period, additional treatment can produce further progress toward recovery.

4. Drug addiction is a multidimensional problem, and treatment needs to address all of an individuals needs. Effective treatment must address the individual’s drug use, but also any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, or legal problems.

5. Counseling (individual and/or group) is a critical part of effective addiction treatment. Many alcoholics and addicts mistakenly believe that if they could just stop using for a week or two they could stop using forever. In reality, they need therapy. In therapy, addicts examine their motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Additionally, therapy helps individuals to rebuild and re-learn family and social living patterns.

6. Medications are an important part of treatment for many people. Medications such as suboxone, methadone and LAAM can all be effective in helping certain individuals stay away from illicit drugs. Some times frowned upon by some individuals in recovery the truth is that these medications allow millions of individuals to live normal, productive lives.

7. Drug testing during treatment is important. Drugs are found everywhere, even in drug treatment. Whether treatment is offered on an outpatient, inpatient or in a jail drugs are available to individuals in treatment. This puts individuals in treatment at risk for reusing even while in treatment. It also means that every individual in treatment should be monitored for drug treatment on an ongoing basis. In this manner treatment, plans may be modified to increase the chance of ultimate success.

8. Alcoholics and addicts with mental health disorders should be treated for both at the same time. An alcoholic or addict who also has a mental health disorder is said to have co-occurring disorders. In the past, the question has sometimes been should the person be treated for the mental health problem or the addiction first. People may be using drugs to deal with the mental health problem or they may have the mental health issue because of their drug use. The most effective way to deal with these two co-occurring disorders and deal with the addiction is to treat them at the same time.

9.Addiction Treatment works even for people who dont choose it of their own free will. It used to be believed that someone had to want to go into treatment before it could be effective. New research has shown that this is not the case. In fact, treatment is just as effective for individuals who are court ordered to do treatment as it is for people who figure out the need for it on their own. Families and employers can be just as effective at getting unwilling addicts into treatment. Stephen King, in his autobiography On Writing, tells about the intervention his wife and family performed on him. King did not want to go into treatment. He was seemingly happy doing coke and drinking mouthwash, but his wife Tabitha and his children were not happy with the situation and performed an intervention. Forced to choose between family and drugs, King made the right choice. Interventions are most successful when done correctly and with the help of a professional. For more information on interventions visit www.interventionresources.net

10. Dont give up. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses can occur during or after successful treatment episodes. Addicted individuals may need lengthy treatment and more than one time in treatment before they can enjoy long-term abstinence and full restoration to a drug free life. The period after treatment is just as important as being in treatment. Finding support and continuous work to stay drug free will be necessary. A slip or relapse is just an indicator that more work, and possibly more treatment, is necessary. Don’t give up.

David Westbrook © 2005 David Westbrook is a freelance writer. He has spent several years talking to thousands of addicts and their families who are in search of drug addiction treatment centers. He invites you to visit his websites http://www.addictionsresources.com and http://www.alcoholismresources.com

Here are some good articles on choosing drugaddiction treatment centers:

How to Choose Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment By Brian Walker

How To Find The Right Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center

Technorati Tags: Addiction, drug-addiction, drug-addiction-treatment

By Jonathan Huttner

Maintaining a belief that addiction is a disease of the brain and understanding the other aspects associated with addiction and alcoholism speaks to what needs to be provided in drug rehab programs. Above all else, we must maintain remember we are here to treat the whole person, not just a behavior or a way of thinking.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published Principles of Effective Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment which provides a detailed discussion on how we must treat all aspects of the individual, not just the biological component or the behavioral component. As with other brain diseases such as schizophrenia and depression, the data show that the best drug addiction or drug rehab treatment approaches attend to the entire individual, combining the use of medications, behavioral therapies, social services, rehab and involvement in significant support groups. This does not mean that all individuals need all components of addiction treatment and rehab services.

Another principle of effective addiction treatment in rehab is that the array of services included in an individual’s treatment plan must be matched to his or her particular set of needs. Since those needs will surely change over the course of recovery, the services provided will need to be continually reassessed and adjusted. To make a well-informed decision when selecting an alcohol or drug rehab program, learn about all addiction treatment options available, and, of course, seek professional help for the addict as early as possible.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility. Addiction treatment information and free live help 24/7 is being provided online at RecoveryConnection.org .

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I was watching the TV show Intervention, and got to thinking about the steps involved in setting up a drug and alcohol intervention. I was lucky to find this well written article outlining some of the steps. The use of interventions is not fully endorsed by all drug and alcohol treatment professionals, it is, in fact controversial. In the strongest possible terms I would urge the use of a professional interventionist if you are considering getting help for a loved one.

Alcoholism Intervention – 7 Typical Alcohol Abuse Intervention Steps

by Olinda Rola

Alcoholism intervention or alcohol abuse intervention is the process whereby persons who care about the health and well-being of an addicted person come together to share their concerns about the addicted person’s behavior. A small percentage of people are able to recover from addiction on their own without the help of an alcoholism intervention. However, most addicted people need assistance.

Addiction can be defined as a compulsive need for and use of a substance that is psychologically or physically habit-forming and negatively affects the addict’s health and life. If the addicted person has become dependent on the substance, physiological symptoms will likely be experienced upon withdrawal. When dealing with addicts, one must remember that the addicted person’s brain has been altered by the substance’s use, regardless of the substance or behavior involved. Many people have spoken to their loved one about his or her addiction but without success.

An alcoholism intervention involving a knowledgeable outside professional can be helpful when attempting to have your loved one recognize their addiction and obtain help in stopping it. Here are typical alcoholism intervention steps that may be used to help move your family out of crisis mode and address the addiction of the person you care about:

1. Contact the Alcoholism Intervention Facility - during this phase, you will have researched the possible alcohol abuse intervention facilities. Once you’ve selected the treatment center, you’ll contact them to discuss your situation. The treatment facility staff will assess your specific needs and will determine if intervention is appropriate.

2. Investigate Treatment Options - based on the specifics of your alcoholism intervention needs, the alcohol abuse intervention treatment options will be outlined for you. This can consist of inpatient or outpatient options, medical issues, insurance coverage, admission details and who from the treatment facility staff will be overseeing the alcoholism intervention process.

3. Outline Action Plan - your interventionist specialist will guide you through the steps of setting up the structured, professionally supervised alcoholism intervention.

4. Pre-Intervention Meeting - this meeting may take place at your home or workplace, depending on the situation, and will likely involve the other caring persons who will be part of the alcoholism intervention. During this pre-intervention meeting, the interventionist may discuss the disease of addiction and how it impacts the lives of family, friends, co-workers and others. How the alcohol abuse intervention will be conducted will be covered and the roles of loved ones during the intervention will be discussed. What the treatment will consist of as well as what the post-intervention process will involve will likely be outlined and questions will be answered.

5. Intervention Meeting – the alcoholism intervention may take one or two hours and will be a structured process consisting of family members, close friends, co-workers and so on who are coming together for the purpose of sharing their concerns about the addicted person’s behavior and getting them to accept help for their addiction.

6. Treatment - if the addicted person accepts help for their addiction, he or she may go immediately for admission to the treatment facility if inpatient services are the plan. If outpatient services will be used, the addicted person will be taken immediately to the treatment facility so that the individual can be assessed and treatment begun.

7. Post Intervention Consulting and Services - following treatment, the post intervention becomes the focus. Continued support for the addicted person greatly increases the chances that the person will remain clean and sober. There may be weekly sessions to learn how to identify and manage stress in ones life and to incorporate relapse prevention techniques. This post intervention time is vital as the addicted person will be making the transition from treatment to becoming a person that’s more independent, healthier and productive with a life of sobriety. Alcoholism intervention may be the best way to make help available to those who are struggling with addiction.

With alcohol abuse intervention, treatment and support, many persons are able to remain sober and rebuild their lives. If you are concerned about the addiction of a loved one, doing nothing may be the worst thing to do. Alcoholism disease has profound consequences on the health of the addicted person and adversely affects their lives as well of the lives of those around them. A question you may want to ask yourself is – how much worse does the addiction have to become before you are willing to take action? Consider using a structured alcoholism intervention with the experience and assistance of qualified professionals to help the loved one face and conquer their addiction. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Help is available, and the sooner one begins the recovery process, the better.

About the author: Search a database of facilities for a licensed alcohol abuse treatment center near you at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/alcohol-abuse-treatment-cen ter.html – Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com – a website of natural health articles and information for healthier living.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Click here for further ideas on how to do an intervention

Here are some further great resources:

Lost in Translation: Drug and Alcohol Interventions – The Right Backup is Everything at A Drug or Alcohol Intervention. The best way to get the attention of someone who is in the grip of alcoholism or drug addiction is to approach them openly and honestly, gently and with an overflow of …

Drug Rehab before It’s too late – It is never too early for drug rehab. Some people think they should wait until the addict hits rock bottom. The risk is that rock bottom could be death. When drug and alcohol problems arise one should seek treatment for their loved ones …

FAQ – Alcoholism – You can call the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for information about treatment programs in your local community and to speak to someone about …

The high cost of an intervention – Read more • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Cuyahoga County • Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board • Intervention Facts & MythsThe A & E reality series Intervention has brought the dramatic process of confronting …

Addiction to Drugs and Intervention Programs – by Chris Channing When a person suffers from a mental illness and has a chemical drug addiction at … Guidelines To A Successful Alcohol Intervention; Ways of stopping May Be Different For Different Smokers.

About Planning An Intervention For Alcohol Treatment In Vermont … – There are close to 6000 admissions for drug and alcohol treatment in Vermont in each year. Out of these, about 33% of the people are seeking admissions for solely alcohol treatment. Read on for more details.

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