Drug Rehab
- Dual Diagnosis Drug Rehab
Many people are confused by the term “dual diagnosis” and what that means in terms of drug rehab. Dual diagnosis, as the term implies, means having a diagnosable addiction and the presence of psychological or behavioral conditions at the same time. It is also referred to as co-occurring disorders. In fact, dual diagnosis is quite common. Some estimates are that more than half of drug or alcohol addicts also have some form of mental illness.
Many Different Forms
Dual diagnosis comes in many different forms. Any combination of addiction (such as alcohol and/or drugs) and psychological or behavioral disorder (including anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorder, attention-deficit disorder and/or personality disorders, mood swings, trauma, insomnia, sexual compulsivity, and so on) can qualify an individual as having dual diagnosis.
High-Risk Patients
As you might assume, dual diagnosis patients are high-risk. In addition to coping with mental illness, the complications resulting from addiction may tip the scales, leading the patient to have suicidal tendencies, or to be prone to violent and self-destructive behavior.
Difficult to Treat
When a patient is admitted to a treatment facility – most often for substance abuse – and diagnosed with dual diagnosis, it’s often difficult to determine if the mental illness – depression, for example – is the result of the addiction or the cause of it. Depression is a symptom common to many conditions, so it requires a skilled practitioner to be able to ascertain the root cause of the mental illness and then to treat it.
Integrated Treatment Required
Recent studies have shown that the most effective treatment for dual diagnosis is treatment that is integrated and comprehensive. That is, both the addiction and the mental illness are treated simultaneously, not separately.
When treated in the same facility, or coordinated by a single facility, dual diagnosis drug rehab has a greater chance of success. By providing a comprehensive array of services in a central or single location, the patient’s progress can be more closely monitored and treatment adjusted as needs require.Various treatment modalities and services are utilized in dual diagnosis drug rehab. These include – but are not limited to
- detoxification from the addictive substances, a combination of individual psychotherapy and group treatment, medication as required, education, an emphasis on healing the mind-body-spirit, helping patients understand and develop a commitment to the recovery process, 12-step work and group meetings, family therapy, and aftercare.Unfortunately, not all drug rehab facilities are equipped to handle dual diagnosis patients. Not only must the facility have a psychiatric staff, but they also have to have an emphasis or specialize in treating dual diagnosis patients.
Treatment Takes TimeAnother important point to understand is that there’s no quick fix for the dual diagnosis patient – either in the addiction or the mental illness. Improvement will not occur overnight, although it may begin to appear sooner in some patients than others. Improvement in mental illness may require months or years of ongoing treatment.
It’s also vital that treatment be tailored to the unique needs of the individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment for dual diagnosis patients, just as there is no single approach that works for any addiction.
Recovery from substance abuse and co-occurring disorder is possible. With appropriate treatment, measurable improvements do take place. Treating the whole person – and not just the addiction or psychological or behavioral disorder – is the only proven way to provide patients the opportunity to achieve lasting recovery.
- Drug Treatment Programs Combine Several Elements for Recovery
With a cost each year to the U.S. of more than $500 billion, substance abuse is an expensive problem – both physically, emotionally and socially. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), treatment programs for substance abuse can be an effective solution, reducing abuse rates by as much as 60 percent. Drug treatment programs exist across the country in several formats, but there are some general considerations to evaluate when referring a patient, friend or family member.
In essence, drug treatment facilities and programs allow the patient to be removed from traditional roles while they take time to recover, both physically and emotionally. Many can go full spectrum: helping with the physical symptoms of withdrawal, launching the patient on a path of lifelong recovery and preparing the family with ways to help and cope.
- Court-Ordered Drug Rehab May be the Best Way to Kick the Habit
We’ve all seen the headlines and heard the news coverage of this Hollywood celebrity or that Washington politician ordered by the court to complete a drug rehab program. Sometimes these same individuals wind up in court again, and receive a second- or third- court-ordered drug rehab stint. But there are thousands of other individuals, average citizens that find themselves in a similar situation. When it comes to the power of the law, if this is the “sentence” that’s handed down, it may just be the best way for someone to kick the habit. Read More…
- Drug Rehab Is Just the Beginning of Recovery
One of the toughest obstacles to getting a person treatment for drug addiction is denial. You can think of denial as a psychological wall of protection the addict has created. The fundamental motivation behind denial is the fear that they will have to face their addiction, and that might mean stopping the drug use.
- What Kind of People Will I Encounter in Drug Rehab?
You recognize you have a drug addiction problem and need treatment, but something is holding you back. Is it a feeling, conscious or just dangling in the back of your mind, that you don’t belong with "those people?" Stereotypes and myths about addiction feed the negative images people have of drug rehab. However, everyone from CEOs to doctors to blue-collar workers can become addicted to drugs or alcohol. If you are wondering who you will encounter is drug rehab, the truth is most likely, people just like you.
- Sneak Peek at Season Two of VH1’s “Sober House”
VH1 released a sneak peek of the season two premiere of its reality show "Sober House," hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky. Over the course of the season, the house manager, Jennifer Giminez, keeps a watchful eye over the prone-to-party cast as they learn how to live in a sober environment.
- What Is Luxury Drug Treatment?
When people think of treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, the image that most often comes to mind is one of deprivation, pain, dreariness and struggle. We can’t help but carry with us impressions we may have received through portrayals of drug addicts in or out of treatment in the movies, what we’ve read about or seen first-hand. This does a tremendous injustice to the actual alcohol and substance abuse treatment available today to clients of all means. Whether you are a person with limited income, a businessman or housewife solidly in the middle class, or a top executive, or high-profile celebrity, by choosing the right drug treatment facility for your particular needs, you can be assured of the best possible care. There is, however, a specific difference with luxury drug treatment that you will not find with the others: everything is first-class.
- Which Drug Rehab Is Right for You?
When considering drug rehab treatment you will be analyzing a number of factors that might influence your decision.