Most people think that by simply stopping drinking is no big deal. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a lot more to alcohol detox than most people realize. The truth is it can, in some cases, kill you. That’s right. If a person goes into a state known as Delirium Tremens, better known as the DT’s, there is a 33% likelihood it will be fatal. No one wants to go into an alcohol detox rehab. And certainly not for something as seemingly trivial as quitting drinking. Think it if this way, it’s not worth dying for either.
Alcohol Detox is a Medical Issue
February 5th, 2010Finding Drug Alcohol Treatment Centers
January 29th, 2010Finding the right drug alcohol treatment center is not easy. As a matter of fact it can be a real nightmare. For many, they just do not have the right insurance or enough money to be admitted into a nice, private 30 day drug rehab program. For them, they need to call their state public program office. The federal government set up a nifty 800 number which gets them where they need to go. There is also this website, which will help people get the information they need. Alcohol detox and drug detox are the medical component, which is the most expensive part.
Dual Diagnosis is Real Drug Treatment
January 28th, 2010It seems so obvious. Drug treatment should be about treating the whole person and all their problems. Most alcoholics and drug addicts are self medicating themselves and their problems with drugs and alcohol. And so when an addict or alcoholic goes to drug rehab and treatment they should be treated not only for their addiction and alcoholism but also any co-occurring problems such as depression, anxiety or ADHD. Dual diagnosis is still the preferred terminology for this problem. Dual diagnosis rehabs treat not only the drug and alcohol problem but the co-occurring psychological issue as well. This is real treatment at its best.
Non 12 Step Programs are Therapy Based
January 22nd, 2010When people talk about non 12 step they are talking about alternatives to the famous 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There is nothing wrong with the 12 steps. As a matter of fact, it is one of the greatest things to happen to troubled people. The issue here is that the 12 step approach does not work for everyone. The other problem about them are the spiritual religious aspect to the 12 steps. For some, it is a deal breaker. And the 12 steps are not treatment. So modern treatment centers are not basing their whole program around them anymore. They are therapy based.
Non 12 Step Rehab Programs Offer Alternatives
January 18th, 2010I think the drug alcohol rehab business has become obsolete and out of touch with the times. Treatment and rehab should not be very much about going to 12 step meetings. And, unfortunately, all to often, that is what it is, primarily. And just so you know I am not anti AA, let me say, personally, I go to a 12 step meeting every day. I think 12 step meetings are one of the best things in the world. What they are not is treatment. The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, among others, are support groups which helps a recovering alcoholic or drug addict stay clean and or sober. Or, as someone once said, AA is there to keep someone sober, not to get them sober. So before picking the best drug alcohol rehab, consider a program which considers itself, a non 12 step program.
Non 12 Step Programs Are Way Ahead of the Curve
January 4th, 2010Non 12 step rehab programs are way ahead of their time. How can we say that? Well, let’s look at the facts. For one thing the 12 steps just do not work for everybody. So why in the world do virtually all drug rehabs have the 12 step format as their only format? In addiction, the 12 steps are an aftercare program designed to help a person stay clean and sober. It is not treatment. Treatment is a therapeutic, educational process. The bottom line is non 12 step oriented treatment centers are ahead of their time. Their focus os on treatment, not aftercare.
Dual Diagnosis Residential Rehab Treatment Centers are Best
January 2nd, 2010Just to be sure, dual diagnosis (aka co-occurring disorder) is present when a person has both an alcohol and or drug problem with a psychiatric condition, such as depression. And, for the record, that usually means the person is using alcohol and or drugs to self medicate the psychiatric disorder. What that also means is that if someone suffers from bi polar, depression, ADHD, anxiety or any other psychiatric condition, and also is abusing alcohol or drugs, they need to go to a rehab that is staffed and capable of treating both problems. Otherwise, there is a very good chance the person will not receive the rehab treatment help they need and probably not achieve the recovery they seek.
Finally a Better Way to Detox off Opiates
December 29th, 2009There was a time when the only you could safely and medically detox off opiates was inside a medical facility. Thankfully, things have changed. Thanks to a new wonder drug called Suboxone, a person who needs to get off of their pain medication can do so, without all the hassles of checking themselves into a hospital. Now there are licensed doctors who will help you get off of Oxycontin, hydrocodone, percocet, vicodin, methadone, heroin and and all the rest, on an outpatient basis. A few trips to the doctor’s office and it’s done.
Marijuana Addiction is Much More Than it Appears
December 23rd, 2009People say smoking marijuana is no big deal. That it should be legalized. And maybe they are right. But before we go out and start planting pot seeds in the garden this spring it might not be a bad idea to consider a few things. For one thing, using marijuana can lead to becoming very dependent on it. For another, it is a proven fact that marijuana use can lead to using other drugs, like heroin, meth or cocaine. From my point of view, I think the countries position on marijuana needs to be revamped. It is very antiquated and out of date. Moving carefully and cautiously into a new era of liberalized marijuana laws would be a god idea. Marijuana rehab
Alcohol Detox Requires Medical Attention
December 20th, 2009For some people stopping drinking is not a big deal. However, NO ONE who has been drinking alcohol on a regular basis, should EVER just up and quit, without being under the direct care of a trained medical professional. The reason is it could kill them. That’s right, if the person has a severe reaction to the withdrawing of alcohol from their body, they go into a kind of “shock” reaction known as the “D.T’s” ( delirium tremens). Once that happens, and it does happen, the chances the person will die is 33%. So, don’t take any chances, find the right alcohol detox and rehab program, and do it safely.