Drug Rehab…What Is It?
January 8, 2008
Drug rehabilitation (often shortened to drug rehab) is an umbrella term for the processes of medical and/or psychotherapeutic addiction treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The obvious intent is to enable the patient to cease their previous level of drug abuse, for the sake of avoiding its psychological, legal, social, and physical consequences, especially in extreme drug abuse.
Many drug rehab programs attempt to teach the patient new methods of interacting in a drug free method. In particular, patients are generally encouraged or required not to associate with friends who still use the addictive substance. 12 step programs encourage addicts not only to stop using alcohol or other drugs, but to examine and change habits related to their addictions. Many drug rehab programs emphasize that recovery is a permanent process without a culmination. For legal drugs such as alcohol complete abstention rather than attempts at moderation, which may lead to relapse are also emphasized (”One drink is too many; one hundred drinks is not enough.”) Whether moderation is achievable by persons with a history of drug abuse remains a controversial point but is generally considered unsustainable.
Drug Rehab Programs and Insurance
December 30, 2007
Finding the right drug rehab program and the right drug rehab facility is vital in treating drug addiction, alcohol addiction or dual diagnosis. Insurance may cover some or all of your drug rehab expenses. Not all drug rehabilitation programs will accept insurance. It is very important to check with your insurance provider to see if you are covered and if so, how much coverage you qualify for.A drug rehab program that accepts insurance coverage may be able to guide you past any problems that you might have in dealing with your insurance company. JCAHO the internationally recognized accrediting agency for drug and alcohol rehab programs has guidelines for the quality of service that a drug rehab center offers.
Dual Diagnosis and Drug Rehab
December 25, 2007
Dual Diagnosis and Drug Rehabilitation: The New Hybrid Disorder and Addiction Treatment
Written by Rachel Hayon, MPH
Dual diagnosis is defined by the presence of both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders (alcohol and/or drug dependence or abuse) [1]. There are a variety of different mental health disorders that can be associated with substance use and labeled dual diagnosis. Some of these disorders include: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anti-social personality disorder, narcissistic personality, and depression. A big question among the experts is which comes first- the mental health problem or substance use? It’s a difficult question to answer because so many of the symptoms associated with mental health disorders resemble the by product of substance use and vice versa. This is also an important topic right now because of the overwhelming amount of substance use cases and mental health disorders that overlap.
In a recent study conducted by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), it was estimated that 17.6 million American adults meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder and approximately 4.2 million meet the criteria for a drug use disorder [2]. In addition to this, 19.2 million adults can be diagnosed for independent mood disorders (major depression, dysthmia, manic disorder, and hypomania) and 23 million meet the criteria for independent anxiety disorders (including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and specific social phobias) [2]. The NESARC also reported that approximately 20% of those individuals reporting a mental health disorder also reported a substance abuse disorder. Conversely, 20% of those individuals with a substance abuse disorder also displayed mental health problems [2].
When alcohol use is observed along with mental health disorders, alcoholics usually report that they “self-medicate” in order to alleviate symptoms of their psychiatric condition, such as depression [3]. One of the problems with using drinking as an emotional balm are the negative effects of heavy drinking as well as withdrawal from drinking- both can worsen an already negative mood state [4]. Having said this, it is interesting to see how different mental health disorders manifest themselves when substance use enters into the equation. Depending on what the disorder is, substances use is reported to be used for different reasons and also to either alleviate or bring on certain symptoms. For instance, in the case of bipolar disorder, though drinking may occur in both the manic and depressive phases, drinking is more prevalent during the manic phase [4]. Similarly, drinking may also produce symptoms that are similar to the manic phase of bipolar disorder such as grandiosity, irritability or physical agitation. In regards to anxiety disorder for instance, alcoholics usually report intense symptoms such as palpitations, sweatiness, and fear of objects or social situations which usually disappear with the discontinuation of alcohol use. However, individuals with agoraphobia or social phobia might drink in order to reduce the amount of anxiety they feel [5].
Most Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Program Services are Ineffective for the GLBT Population
December 19, 2007
Why Most Drug Rehab and /Alcohol Treatment Program Services are Ineffective for the GLBT Population
Most drug rehab services, including alcohol treatment programs, are geared towards serving a white, heterosexual, male, clientel. Unless great effort has been put into awareness training, developing knowledge about the experiences and circumstances of minority groups, and the establishment of programmes to deal with the special needs of different groups of oppressed people, services will simply perpetuate institutional discrimination. U.S. researchers Lohrenz et al (1978) found that 37% of homosexuals experienced discrimination from alcohol treatment program staff while Fifield, De Crescenzo & Latham (1975) discovered that 75% of homosexuals who are recovering from alcoholism believe that mainstream drug rehab and alcohol rehab program are not geared to treating homosexuals and do not provide an accepting and supportive environment.
Because of discrimination homosexuals are less likely to attend alcohol treatment program and drug addiction treatment programs unless, that is, they are ‘passing.’ In this case, if the worker does not bring up the subject, one of the major causes of their problems will be ignored. Rofes (1989) says:
By ignoring the special problems that a lesbian alcoholic, for example, presents, an alcohol treatment program will be doing a service to no one. Their alcoholism treatment of the individual will be less than adequate and may tend to intensify the woman’s feelings of isolation and ‘difference.’ Only by bringing the issue into the open and addressing the woman’s lesbianism as an aspect of her life which she needs to feel positively about, will the program be truly effective.
Drug Rehab; A Catch all Phrase
December 1, 2007
Drug rehab, or rehab is “industry slang” for drug rehabilitation. It is the “catch-all” term used for any treatment of chemical dependency, including alcoholism, cocaine, heroin, “manufactured” drugs, such as methamphetamine (also referred to crystal meth or meth), MDMA (Ecstasy), and prescription pills.
Rehab may also be used for treatment of nicotine addiction (smoking). A drug rehab center is the facility where groups of people are treated for chemical dependency or substance abuse.
Most drug rehabs attempt to treat not only physical substance dependency, but also include addiction treatment, or drug rehab, for psychological substance dependency.
What is a Drug Rehab?
November 30, 2007
What is Drug Rehab?
Drug rehabilitation (drug rehab for short) is a very complex and multifaceted procedure to help people overcome their drug addiction. It is a long term process and has many stages. A drug rehab program is only the first step, but the addiction has to be controlled throughout the addict’s life.
Almost all drug addicts feel that they can conquer their addiction on their own. What they fail to realize is that a strong will power alone is not going to help them. The brain of an addict goes through certain changes and to make it function normally again, it is very important that an addict avails of drug rehab treatments.
Drug Rehab in America
November 30, 2007
America records the most cases of drug addiction throughout the world, despite having a small population relative to several large countries. Drug addiction exists at all levels of American society and considering that this problem is curable, one should always be hopeful. Because of that reason, the number of programs for drug rehabilitation keeps on rising year on year. Whether that is good news or bad, one thing is sure: your goal to find the right drug rehab program remains attainable if you know what you are looking for.
The popular belief that has evolved to make drug rehab treatment really successful is to make the addiction treatment program into a personalized plan that treats both your physical and psychological needs. The concept of one size fits all addiction treatment is no longer followed. Addiction treatment programs are being customized where individual parameters are under consideration.
Drug Rehabilitation
October 17, 2007
Drug rehabilitation (often shortened to drug rehab or just rehab) is an umbrella term for the processes of medical and/or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs , and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The obvious intent is to enable the patient to cease their previous level of abuse, for the sake of avoiding its psychological, legal, social, and physical consequences, especially in extreme abuse.
Drug rehabilitation tends to address the two fold nature of drug dependency; physical and psychological dependency. Physical dependency involves a detoxification process to cope with withdrawal symptoms from regular use of a drug. With regular use of many drugs, legal or otherwise, the brain gradually adapts to the presence of the drug so that normal functioning can occur. This is how physical tolerance develops to drugs such as heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine or alcohol. It is also why more of the drug is needed to get the same effect with regular use. The abrupt cessation of taking a drug can lead to withdrawal symptoms where the body may take weeks, to possibly months (depending on the drug involved) before things get back to normal.
Drug Rehab or Addiction Treatment- Is there a Difference?
October 12, 2007
Recently a topic of conversation centered on whether there is a difference between a drug rehab and an addiction treatment center. As surprised as people were at the question, it made all of us realize those individuals without knowledge of the addiction treatment business or who have not been in addiction treatment themselves, might be easily confused.
There really is no difference between the two as far as the terminology. When a person mentions drug rehab, they are really referring to a drug rehabilitation program, which is the same as an addiction treatment program, alcohol treatment program or chemical dependency program. All the above, are designed to treat drug addiction and alcoholism, with the only difference resting in the actual services provided, population treated and the philosophy of the program.
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