Bill’s Struggle With Life #3
Substance addiction treatment helps people to rid themselves of their substance abuse habit and get integrated back into society and leading independent lives. The substance addiction treatment is a long-term process that requires frequent and multiple episodes of physical and psychological detoxification and rehabilitation and no single treatment is appropriate. From the substance addicts’ perspective, the treatment needs to be readily available and the treatment and services plan has to assess often to be accordingly modified to meet the person’s changing needs.
For effective treatment the substance addict must remain fully committed to the entire treatment plan. As there is a tendency for addicts to leave treatment prematurely, de-addiction and rehabilitation programs must include means to keep the patient engaged, involved and in treatment. Counseling as well as behavioral therapies is crucial components of all effective and successful treatments. The first stage of substance addiction treatment is the medical management of the withdrawal symptoms.
Residential substance treatment programs can be very effective in cases of very severe substance abuse problems. These programs may involve living as apart of therapeutic communities for periods up-to 6 to 12 months. Nevertheless a strong motivation to quit the habit is a great facilitator but sanctions or coaxing by close and family members or even justice system can increase substantially both the entry to treatment and the retention of the individual.
According to an estimate the cost of illicit substance usage to society is close to $181 billion (2002). When substance abuse is combined with alcohol and tobacco, they exceed $500 billion, which includes cost of healthcare, criminal justice and lost productivity.
There is an increasing use prescription drugs among teens, the most common prescription drugs are Oxycontin and Vicodin. Prescription drug addiction is the intentional abuse of prescription drugs and these are most commonly made available through family and friends. There is a high prevalence of prescription drug abuse among teens. This increasing usage of prescription drugs is with a misplaced belief that these drugs provide a medically safe high as compared to street drugs.
The intentional abuse of prescription drugs to get a high, include the use of pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives.
There are 3 major classes of prescription drugs:
1. Opioids such as codeine, oxy-codone, and morphine;
2. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines;
3. Stimulants such as dextro-amphetamine and methylphenidate.
It is further observed that girls are more likely to intentionally using prescription drugs (abuse) rather than boys to get high. Adolescents are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than young adults. Close to 16% of teenagers (age 12 to 17 year olds) are abusing prescription drugs as compared to about 12.7% of young adults (age 18 to 25 years).
Research shows that around 57% of teens that abused prescription drugs say that they got these drugs from relatives or friends for free. Most alarmingly (62% or 14.6 million) adolescents say that they were able to get these drugs easily from their parents’ medicine cabinets.
Prescription drugs are second most abused drugs among teenagers (prescription drugs are the most abused drugs among 12-13 year olds) after marijuana and are a growing phenomenon. In 2004 there were close to 29% of teens that were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, amphetamines and other stimulants. Research shows that earlier the incidents of prescription drug abuse the more probability of it becoming a chronic drug abuse problem at a later age.
Substance abuse if left untreated adds up to significant costs to families and society. This includes costs related to violence and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, healthcare utilization, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, and unemployment.
The key principles for substance abuse treatment are as follows:
1. A treatment regime must be customized for every individual.
2. The treatment must be available readily and as per an individuals’ condition.
3. An effective treatment regime covers the physical, psychological and emotional needs of the substance addict.
4. There must be a constant assessment of an individual’ treatment needs depending upon his response to the treatment.
5. It is most critical that the individual undergoes the complete treatment without periods of absence.
6. Counseling and behavioral therapies is key to successful treatment regimes.
7. It is not necessary that the treatment is voluntary in nature to be successful.
8. Treatment regimes must have assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases so as to provide adequate counseling such that patients change or modify their behaviors which place them at a high risk of infection.
I had written a battle plan for after my rehabilitation from alcohol and substance abuse years ago.
· I begin my return to life with a clear mind and body.
· I intend to maintain myself only in present time. I will not be using illegal substances and daydreaming about my past.
· I will no longer associate myself with breaking laws and will adhere to good conduct, raising my ethics and maintaining my honor.
· I will not suppress people by controlling their advancement. Whenever I feel suppressed and ill, I will address the problem by confronting it and change it trying something different or disconnect from it entirely.
· I will examine all situations in my life and determine the condition and apply corrective formula charting the change in direction. I will apply this to all my dynamics and keep a daily list of what to do next.
· I will continue my progress on keeping and improving my health and physical appearance.
· I will treat people with friendliness, respect, kindness and empathy.
· I will conduct my business and relationships with fairness and will seek a fair exchange as my minimum standard. I will give exchange in abundance whenever it is pleasing and productive.
· I will set attainable goals, find the good in everything and produce a product that is exchangeable.
· I will concentrate all efforts around economizing and eliminating waste of my time and money.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
"These people were druggies and drunks and I wasn’t. My alcoholism was due to my commitment at work; many of these people were dysfunctional and couldn’t hold down a job if their life depended on it."
Just because you see a drunk walking around a tran station or the street doesn't mean that he is a loser. You don't know what life the man led before he became a drunk. There are a lot of people who feel the way that you do and it ain't right, man. You don't know what that person went through! He could of lost his job because of layoffs. I'm offended by these comments because I was one day drunk and broke in New York City. I had a family, I was a good father. My job went down with the twin towers. I had a good job and I couldn't find a job after 9/11. I suffered from emotional troubles because I was suppose to be at work that Tuesday but instead, I had to take my son to the doctor. I wish people would stop sterotyping drunks, man!
Post a Comment