Drug Treatment
NFL Drops Drug Treatment Program during Lockout
While the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association try and hash out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before the 2011 season begins, many players are left waiting in limbo. That’s because when the work stops, so does the insurance coverage. Many players who were involved in drug treatment programs before the lockout are now [...] ...
Medications for Treating Addiction
The factors involved with the development of alcoholism or another type of substance abuse are a mix of biological and environmental causes. Researchers are beginning to explore the areas of the brain that may be especially vulnerable to addiction in certain individuals. With a clear understanding of which receptors in the brain are reacting to [...] ...
Sales of Marijuana Paraphernalia in Gas Stations Threaten Those in Recovery
Going to the gas station – or convenience store, or even tobacco store – shouldn’t be an exercise that jeopardizes someone who’s in recovery from one or another type of addiction. But more and more, it seems that it is. That’s because these retail outlets are legally able to display bongs and glass pipes – [...] ...
Families Anonymous Offers Support to Families of Drug Addicts
Drug addictions don’t just take their toll on the addict. These addictions can have a huge impact on the addict’s inner circle of family and friends as well. Many of these individuals struggle to live healthy lives themselves because they are so consumed with the health of the addict. Groups like Families Anonymous are helping ...
Nicotine Vaccine Shows Promise in Testing
Treatment for nicotine addiction takes many forms. While patches, gum and even hypnosis have been on the market for years as methods to quell cravings for cigarettes, smokers often find that the cravings keep winning. Those who want to quit smoking are looking for more help in battling the temptation to smoke. Testing of a [...] ...
Residential Treatment for Heavy Smokers Found Effective
A new study has found that heavy smokers who enter residential treatment for nicotine addiction are more likely to remain abstinent from smoking for six months, compared to those who go through outpatient treatment. The study found that 52 percent of the patients remained abstinent from smoking six months after residential treatment, compared to 26 [...] ...
Why Intervention May Not Always Be Successful the First Time
Intervention, whereby family and friends confront an alcoholic or drug addict in order to get them to treatment, is an emotionally draining and confrontational undertaking that is not always successful. Even if a competent interventionist has been hired and an appropriate treatment center has been identified, not all interventions will result in admission to a [...] ...
Street Heroin Making a Comeback
After some time being in the background of drugs of choice, you’d think that we’d have heroin abuse and addiction pretty much licked. You’d be wrong. One thing that has proven true time and time again is that drug abuse trends are somewhat cyclical. What is in vogue today is likely to be some variant [...] ...
Drug Rehab in California Prisons Reduced by Budget Cuts
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in California is tasked with administering drug rehab programs for its inmates. However in 2009, the State of California cut approximately $250 million from the Department’s Adult programs budget. As a result, the Department was forced to cut education, vocation and drug rehab programs. As a result of the ...
Alternatives to Dismissal for Nurses with Substance Abuse Problems
Nurses work in an environment that is characterized by high levels of stress and easy access to medications. As a result, nurses have a significantly higher rate of substance abuse than the general public, with experts estimating that approximately 20 percent of all nurses struggle with an addiction. When a nurse is discovered to have [...] ...
When Drug Rehab Makes Sense
Let’s face it, looking at the other guy and thinking he really has a drug problem is a whole lot easier than squaring up to the realization that it’s actually you that may be in trouble because of drug abuse, dependence, or addiction. Not only that, but when someone’s in the grip of drugs, it [...]
When Drug ...
Is sobriety a prescription away?
Could the path to sobriety be just a prescription away?
Whether it's illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, even overeating, you probably know someone struggling with an addiction.
Studies have shown 90 percent of addicts relapse after treatment, but there's a new way to treat addicts that one doctor says it has a 90 percent success rate.
Recovering Addict Nicole said, ...
Major Trends in Drug Rehab Treatment
Drug rehabilitation programs have changed a lot just in the past few years, and only for the better. For one thing, those who pay for the programs — insurance companies, parents, state governments, etc– are increasingly demanding evidence that a treatment really works before they agree to fund it. Therefore, there have been many more ...
Vaccine for Cocaine Addiction May Cause Body to Attack the Drug as an Invader
A new vaccine may bring new possibilities for people who hope to break free from cocaine addiction. Researchers say the vaccine, recently studied in mice but planned for human clinical trials, could essentially cause the user to create immunity to the drug – cancelling out cocaine’s pleasurable and addictive effects. Published in Molecular Therapy, ...
Varenicline Takes Pleasure Out of Smoking, and Curbs Cravings
One of the more recent FDA-approved drugs for smoking cessation is Varenicline, sold by the brand name Chantix, and is showing promising results. Not only does it help curb withdrawal symptoms, but it makes smoking less enjoyable if the user begins the habit again – all without giving the user any nicotine. Varenicline is different [...] ...
Cold Laser Therapy May Help Lessen Withdrawal Symptoms for Those Who Quit Smoking
Nicotine replacements are entering the market rapidly, ranging from patches to gum to inhalers and lozenges, all designed to help smokers kick their addiction to nicotine. Alternative therapies have also entered smoking cessation treatment plans, including hypnosis therapy, acupuncture, and an emerging type of treatment currently in its research phase – laser therapy. Laser therapy, [...] ...
GBL Withdrawal Should Be Medically Monitored
The withdrawal from any addictive drug can be life threatening, especially if the withdrawal occurs outside of a certified doctor’s care. According to a recent Medical News Today report, this is especially true if the individual is trying to overcome an addiction to GBL. GBL is a popular party drug that is often a preferred ...
New Vaccine Could Help People Addicted to Cocaine
New research has found that a vaccine can block the effects of cocaine by combining elements of the common cold virus with a particle that mimics cocaine. This could be the first medication to treat cocaine addiction, and could help treat other addictions, such as nicotine and opiates. Dr. Ronald G. Crystal, lead investigator of ...
Drug Court Shows Positive Results, But Further Research Needed
For drug offenders and substance abusers with a non-violent record, drug court can mean a choice: admit guilt, and go into closely monitored substance abuse treatment; or deny guilt and head straight to incarceration. Drug courts are designed to help end the cycle of repeated offenses by offering substance abuse treatment for offenders with non-violent ...
Meditation Helps Addicts Relieve Stress, Overcome Addiction
The holidays are often filled with fun and laughter, but for some they are also filled with stress. According to a recent ABC News report, addicts often turn to meditation to overcome this stress as it has proven to enable them to see the world as a less threatening place. For one man referred to [...] ...
Drug Abuse Treatment Rates on the Rise: U.S. Report
Admissions for alcohol abuse treatment have remained the same in parts of the Midwest and South while dropping elsewhere in the United States, while treatment rates for illegal drugs are increasing across the country, especially for marijuana abuse, according to a new report.
The report, issued by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), includes these ...
Drugfree.org joins with NAHN to provide bilingual resources
New York -- The Partnership at Drugfree.org has announced a new strategic partner to help support the organization's outreach to address teen drug and alcohol use within the Latino and Spanish-speaking community and equip Hispanic parents with tools from prevention to treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) has joined with the national nonprofit to ...
Study shows substance, region affecting treatment admission rates
Although the overall rate of admissions to substance abuse treatment in the United States remained stable between 1998 and 2008, at about 770 admissions for every 100,000 persons in the population, a new study shows striking changes and variations in admission rates by region. For example, the rate of admissions for alcohol as the primary drug has declined by 15 percent nationally. However ...
Thinking About Drug Rehab?
Maybe you’ve come to a dead-end in your life, strung out on a daily basis, never being able to see things clearly, running into one stumbling block after another – all on account of your addiction to drugs. There comes a point in every addict’s life when it’s time to face up to reality. For ...
Passages Malibu to launch "Brain Paint" neurofeedback therapy
Malibu — The world-renowned Passages Malibu, the state-of-the-art one-on-one holistic drug and alcohol treatment center, today announced the launch of the "Brain Paint" Neurofeedback, scientifically proven to reduce relapse, as the latest cutting-edge therapy offered to its clients, who benefit from the fact that Passages now offers a more extensive array of therapies than any other ...
Involving Addicts in Shaping Treatment Could Lead to Improved Results
Individuals who develop an addiction to any type of substance may be the best proponent of effective treatments. According to a new study featured in a Guardian report, those recovering addicts who play a role in shaping services and are involved in support networks have more engaging experiences in their treatment services. These findings are [...] ...
Why Work Is an Important Part of Long-Term Recovery
For some who complete treatment and begin recovery, it’s a no-brainer. They’re eager to get back to work, to something familiar, an activity they know and can count on. But others aren’t so fortunate. They either don’t have a job to go back to or perhaps haven’t had a job in quite some time. Some [...] ...
Exercise May be Beneficial for Overcoming Cocaine Addiction
Exercise is beneficial to many systems in the body and also affects mood positively. It elevates the heart rate, improves muscle strength and builds immunity. Mentally, people who exercise generally experience less depression and anxiety. Exercise is one of the basic components for a healthy lifestyle. A new study examined whether exercise might be beneficial ...
Doctors and Substance Abuse
While it may be chilling to think of the family physician or specialist you see having a problem with drugs or alcohol, the reality is that doctors are no more immune to substance abuse than the general public. In general, according to various studies, the rates of illicit drug use among doctors is less than [...] ...
Promises: Addiction Treatment in Malibu
At Promises Treatment Centers Malibu, clients are provided with the highest-quality treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in a beautiful, relaxing, and secluded environment. Surrounded by breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, clients can begin their journey to recovery in comfort, luxury, and complete privacy. With more than 20 years ...
How Promises Uses EEG Biofeedback to Improve Outcomes in Addiction Treatment
“EEG Biofeedback therapy should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used.” Frank Duffy, M.D., Neurologist, Boston Children’s Hospital, Professor, Harvard Medical School. A challenge for every residential addiction treatment center is [...] ...
Can a Horse Help You with Drug Addiction?
Equine-assisted psychotherapy, often called simply equine therapy, has turned out to be a highly effective way to help people with drug addiction, particularly if there is any underlying issue that makes talk therapy challenging. The Ranch at Piney River, an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee, offers a remarkable equine therapy program for those who want ...
Dopamine model may play role in treating schizophrenia, addiction
Copenhagen, Denmark — Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have succeeded in creating a model of the way the brain releases dopamine, an important chemical involved in transmitting signals between nerve cells. The model, the product of an interdisciplinary collaboration, will be an important tool in helping scientists understand how we learn and how the brain perceives reward and ...
Experimental Sleep Pills May Help Curb Substance Addiction Cravings
People battling serious addiction problems may be able to pop one of the new sleep pills currently under clinical trials, and get an edge on beating their addiction while they rest. The new pills for helping people sleep reduce the action of orexins, chains of amino acids in the brain that bring on wakefulness [...] ...
Treatment Shows Promise for Opioid Addicted Infants
Newborns who have a drug addiction did not ask for their addiction. These innocent victims did not engage in the activities that led to their addictions, yet they must deal with the dangerous and painful withdrawal when they exit the environment in which the drugs were provided. A recent Science Daily release finds that such [...] ...
Longer-Lasting Options To Treat Drug Addiction
New treatments for addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers promise longer-lasting relief that may remove some day-to-day uncertainty of care: A once-a-month shot is now approved and a six-month implant is in the final testing phase.
The main treatment options have long been once-a-day medications — controversial methadone or a tablet named buprenorphine — that act as substitutes for ...
Killer Meth: America’s Greatest Drug Threat
Five years is a long time in the evolution of drug use. In August 2005, Newsweek magazine published a story claiming that meth was “America’s Most Dangerous Drug.” A lot has changed in the drug landscape in America since then, and it’s gotten to the point where many experts believe that killer meth is America’s ...
How to Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy in Treatment
Going for treatment to overcome problems with substance abuse or other dependencies involves a number of different phases, one of which usually includes psychotherapy. For many individuals beginning the active treatment stage, this is a big unknown and a process that may fill the person with trepidation. It shouldn’t. In fact, this is the time ...
Buprenorphine Implants found Effective in Opioid Addiction Treatment
A new study found that implanting the medication buprenorphine helped opioid addicts decrease their opioid use over 16 weeks. Buprenorphine is normally taken sublingually (under the tongue), but poor adherence to the treatment can result in drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which can lead to relapse. To address these issues, an implantable form of the [...] ...
More Bans on Spice Drug
Legislators in Baltimore County, Maryland recently banned a synthetic form of marijuana called “Spice” or “K2”. Those who are found to have sold, possessed or distributed the drug could face up to 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and will be guilty of a misdemeanor. Various cities and states across the US have already ...
Book Review: Methland, The Death and Life of an American Small Town by Nick Reding
Meth is a tough subject to talk about. Many Americans don’t know very much about meth, much less anything accurate. Some people think meth was once a big problem but has since dissipated. Others only have a vague idea or gnawing worry that maybe meth isn’t gone from the landscape of America – it’s just [...] ...
Is Recovery Possible for Those Whom Society Writes Off as Hopeless?
When we see the vacant stares and haggard looks of emaciated men, women, and children, the mind is tempted to relegate whatever circumstances exist for such individuals to some foreign land. Surely, it’s a plea for aid for victims of some natural disaster, war, or at the very least, inhabitants of some third-world country. What’s [...] ...
New Medicare Program Offers Counseling for Smokers Who Want to Stop
For smokers with a true motivation to quit, Medicare may be able to help. In August 2010, news reports stated that Medicare can underwrite sessions with a professional counselor for smokers, allowing a maximum of eight visits per year. The benefit applies regardless of whether or not the person has already acquired sickness or disease [...] ...
Does The Brain Agree With The Research on Drug Treatment Efficacy?
James Hillman once said in his provocative book of the same title, “We’ve had a hundred years of psychotherapy and the world’s getting worse.” Though many would take issue with this satirical, yet telling title, one does begin to wonder how well we are doing in the grand scheme of things related to reducing pain [...] ...
Chinese Compound May Help Develop Cocaine Addiction Treatment Drug
At first blush, the terms “cocaine addiction” and “Chinese medicine” do not really seem to go together. However, one set of researchers at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy hope to prove that the terms get along quite nicely indeed. The group has just received over $3.5 million in grant money from the National [...] ...
Abstinence versus Harm Reduction Treatments for Substance Abuse
Going “cold turkey,” or going completely without an addictive substance can seem like a terrifying idea for many people with substance dependence. Still, the practice of abstinence is often a key component of a drug or alcohol treatment program and is a cornerstone of traditional 12 Step programs for recovery. Experts continue to debate whether ...
Cocaine Anonymous Unites Recovering Addicts’ Stories
With a name that can raise eyebrows, the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous continues to promote abstinence and recovery for thousands of members across the globe. Like other 12 Step-based programs, the members of Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.) gain strength from a shared struggle and commit to assisting other people as they recover from the addiction. Freedom ...
Millions with alcohol and drug addiction to benefit from healthcare reform
Washington, DC — New government data released today demonstrate the continued, urgent need for more Americans to have access to drug and alcohol addiction treatment, according to an analysis by the Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap (CATG) initiative. If implemented properly, federal healthcare reform legislation could help remove financial barriers to treatment for millions of ...
FDA Committee Recommends Naltrexone for Opioid Addiction Treatment
Currently, the prescription medication naltrexone is commercially available for the treatment of alcohol dependence under the brand name Vivitrol by Alkermes since it gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006. After considering Alkermes’ supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA), submitted earlier this year, that showed extensive evidence of the ...
Hypnosis Emerging as Addiction Therapy Tool
Hypnosis, as a practice, is moving from stage entertainment performances to therapy programs for drug and alcohol addiction. Referred to as hypnotherapy, sessions are said to help reduce stress, manage pain, improve health and even lead to new success – and are becoming more heavily explored as a treatment option for people trying to break [...] ...
Need for Social Services by Aging Addicts on the Rise
It's no secret that illicit drug use and abuse is costly—both to the health of addicts and to the communities around them. Statistics suggest that the cost to society in the U.S. alone reaches more than $110 billion.
Now, key findings of a study conducted by U.K. researchers suggest that aging users of illicit drugs are increasingly finding that they need the help of health and social ...
How to Tell if My Loved One Really Needs Residential Drug Addiction Treatment?
If you’re at the point where you know beyond a doubt that your loved one requires treatment for addiction, you may be at a loss to figure out which type of treatment is best. There are several different options, including inpatient hospital treatment, outpatient hospital-based treatment, specialized outpatient treatment centers, and residential treatment facilities. There’s ...
Number of older adults treated for substance abuse doubles
The number of older adults admitted to substance-abuse treatment facilities has more than doubled since 1992, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The organization's latest Treatment Episode Data Set report, released Thursday, shows that the number of patients ages 50 and older has increased from about 102,700 in 1992 to 231,170 in 2008.
The ...
Vigabatrin Tested in Potential Treatment of Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine addiction is not an easy habit to overcome and doctors and treatment specialists continue to study different methods that could prove effective. One breakthrough may offer hope to those truly desperate to overcome their addiction, yet find it increasingly difficult to do on their own. Vigabatrin – also known as GVG – is frequently ...
Addicts Often Fear Withdrawal More than Drug Use Consequences
For the individual who does not abuse or has not developed an addiction to drugs, it can be difficult to understand why a person continues to use a potentially dangerous substance. There are some addicts who watch as their life is completely torn apart, and yet they still continue to abuse a substance that brings ...
Can Drug Rehab Cure My Loved One’s Addiction?
It’s a heartbreaking situation for many families with a loved one that needs to go into treatment for addiction. As a matter of fact, by the time treatment does begin, there’s usually severe dysfunction within the family or, at the very least, major consequences to the addict as a result of his or her addiction. ...
If My Loved One Relapsed, What’s the Point of Trying Again?
It can be very frustrating for family members whose loved one has gone through treatment only to relapse. Many wonder whether it’s even worth it to enroll the patient in treatment again. The truth about addiction recovery is that there is no single path for every patient, no absolute guarantee that this time the treatment ...
Why Do Some People Relapse After Treatment?
Many family members wonder why treatment isn’t enough to keep their loved one on the path to recovery. After all, hasn’t he or she figured out why they felt the compulsion to drink or do drugs or engage in other addictive behaviors? Didn’t they learn how to avoid the situations, people, and things that trigger [...] ...
Fish Oil in Addiction Recovery
Fish oil has been identified as an important tool for improving heart health. The Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil has recently become a popular addition to the diet of many people, making its way from the very health-conscious to the average consumer. Researchers are now linking fish oil as a possible remedy for [...] ...
Treatment Consultants Adds New Cost Saving Service: Food Service Management and Consultation
For years, food service has been an overlooked issue for many residential treatment centers. The cost of food, preparation, staffing and menu planning based on census fluctuations is often an expense that is difficult to budget for, control and can lead to unnecessary waste and lost revenue.
Peter CorbittTreatment Consultants is happy to welcome our newest [...] ...
Should You Go Back in for Addiction Treatment?
If you’re asking this question of yourself, chances are that you already know the answer. But again, maybe you’re not quite sure. Let’s review some of the things that could get in the way of a successful recovery and may prompt the need for a return to treatment for addiction. Impossible Yearnings and Cravings It’s ...
Alcoholism Drug Considered for Treatment of Cocaine Addiction
Patients seeking a way to overcome addiction may turn to physicians and treatments for help. For a number of years, the drug disulfiram has been used to help patients avoid alcohol. The drug is an effective deterrent as it creates a fierce hangover for the individual who uses it and consumes even a small drink [...] ...
Experimental treatments for cocaine addiction may prevent relapse
Atlanta, GA — Doctors have used the drug disulfiram to help patients stay sober for several decades. It interferes with the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, giving a fierce hangover to someone who consumes even a small amount of alcohol. More recently, disulfiram was shown to be effective in treating cocaine addiction as well, even though alcohol and cocaine affect the nervous ...
News from Cornerstone of Southern California
August 26, 2010
Welcome to Cornerstone of Southern California!!
Good afternoon!
Here are a few testimonials from past clients and client family members about our diverse and individualized programs here at Cornerstone!
Cornerstone has increased our affiliate medical staff by welcoming aboard two new physicians to our outstanding team as well as three [...] ...
Recovery Month Will Highlight Success of Drug Treatment
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today unveiled a new kit and other materials to be used as part of the 15th annual Recovery Month celebrations in September, as well as a new state report showing that overall 2.7 percent of persons 12 and older nationwide needed, but did not receive treatment for an illicit drug problem; and 7.3 percent needed but did not ...
How Drug Addiction Begins
The common perception of a drug addict is often cast by stereotypes. Generally, we imagine a drug problem beginning with a creepy guy prowling around in a dark alley offering drugs to nicely dressed teenagers who fall prey to his tricky ways. The reality is a bit more complicated. Drug problems originate across many different ...
Treatment for Addiction and Housing Woes
Addiction to a substance, such as drugs or alcohol, can affect many other areas of life. Dependence on a substance can break down relationships, family ties and academic or employment achievement. As a result, those struggling with an addiction are often also struggling to maintain a stable home. The focus of drug addiction treatment is [...] ...
The Stigma of Drug Addiction Hampers Policy Changes in the UK
A recent report in the UK showed that drug abusers and even former users who are now in recovery from drug addiction are considered “dangerous, unpredictable and only having themselves to blame.” The UK Drug Policy Commission believes that these stigmas attached to addiction make people less likely to seek treatment. They also would like ...
Chiropractic Care May Contribute to Recovery Program Completion
A properly aligned spine may be another tool for battling substance abuse. Research indicates that when misalignments – or subluxations – occur in the spine, the proper function of neurotransmitters is interrupted. When these misalignments are corrected, and the nerves are in correct order, neurotransmitters can be released in the right pattern – contributing to [...] ...
Denver gets new pilot program to help chronically homeless veterans
Denver is one of five cities where the Department of Veterans Affairs will pilot a new program to help homeless veterans.
The program, funded with a $33 million grant over five years, will create a 40-bed program for chronically homeless vets.
Geographic need is one reason Denver was chosen. Currently, the closest program for Denver-area homeless veterans who require residential treatment ...
The 411 on What It Takes to Beat Addiction
Mention the word addiction and everyone has their own take on what it is, whether anyone can get it or some are just destined to be addicts, what can be done about it, and is it possible to overcome. There’s also still a great deal of stigma attached to addiction – and there shouldn’t be. [...] ...
The Promise of Addiction Recovery with Biofeedback
In the world of drug use and addiction, there are a number of different methods individuals have sought to eliminate such demons from their lives. While some treatments have proven to be effective, even the most promising of solutions can fail if the person is not committed to making a total life change. One method [...] ...
Why Doing Something about Drug Addiction is Better than Giving Up
Maybe you’ve settled into a comfortable – okay, maybe it’s not so comfortable, but it is what you’ve set for yourself – routine: getting high, coming down, thinking about getting high again, searching out the drugs, and getting high again. This endless pattern of addictive behavior, taken to its ultimate conclusion, will result in three ...
Drum Therapy May be an Effective, Unconventional Recovery Tool
Alcohol recovery has been accomplished by a variety of methods, ranging from counseling, meditation, medication and the traditional 12-Step plans. However, many other forms of therapy exist, including therapeutic drumming, which may provide the motivation some alcoholics need to get on the path to recovery. Drumming is an ancient practice, but research shows it may [...] ...
Study Examines Potential Treatment Methods for Cocaine Addicts
Cocaine addiction may not be something anyone would set out to develop, but the reality is that too many people have developed this addiction and lives are lost as a result. Doctors and scientists continue to focus on research to better understand the addiction and potential treatments, but there is still much work to do. [...] ...
Memory-Boosting Drugs Could be Effective in Treatment for Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine addiction can ruin a life or end it completely. With such dire consequences, those suffering with the addiction must seek effective treatment. Now, a new regimen of memory-boosting medication and behavioral therapy is being studied to measure its effectiveness in helping cocaine addicts to stay clean. A recent Science Daily release examined a study [...] ...
The Right Step’s social network helps alumni succeed after rehab
Houston, TX — The Right Step, a provider of affordable alcohol and drug rehab services with 20 locations throughout Texas and New Mexico, recently launched a new, free online social networking Web site to support its TRS alumni. The Web site is an exclusive part of the OneRecovery social networking site for recovering addicts and alcoholics. It gives clients who have completed an addiction ...
What Is Drug Rehab Like?
The decision to go into treatment for drug abuse or addiction is a big step – both for the individual who wants and needs the treatment as well as his or her family. Many people who suffer from a dependence on drugs or alcohol say they want to get better, but they never go forward ...
Anonymous Army rehab program gains support
The Army is expanding a pilot program that allows soldiers to seek help for alcohol and drug abuse without notifying their commands, Army officials said.
A six-month review of the Confidential Alcohol Treatment and Education pilot program at three Army bases received favorable reviews from counselors and most of the 157 soldiers who volunteered under an agreement that treatment would not ...
What Is an Addiction Intervention?
Many people are confused and frightened by the idea of an addiction intervention. They don’t know what it is or what it can and cannot do. All they know is that someone they love or care about is destroying their life because of addiction – to alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription drugs used nonmedically, or due ...
More patients or more competition?
It wasn't too long ago that addiction treatment specialists were the only source of professional help to those suffering from problems with alcohol and drugs. But in recent years, screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) of patients with potential alcohol- and drug-related problems has increasingly become a part of mainstream medicine. First introduced in the late 1990s, ...
Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Addiction Treatment Gives Power to the Patient
The premise of cognitive behavior therapy toward drug and alcohol addiction lies inside the mind. Unlike other forms of therapy, this type builds around the concept that a person’s behaviors are directly linked to their thoughts and not other forces, like life situations or relationships. Cognitive behavior therapy can be empowering to people with drug ...
Bay Area Mental Health Agencies to Merge; Pyramid Alternatives of Pacifica and Sitike Counseling Center of South San Francisco
Two leading non-profit providers of mental health and addiction recovery counseling services are merging their organizations to provide better care and more comprehensive, holistic counseling to those in need, it was announced today.
Pyramid Alternatives of Pacifica, which provides counseling on mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and trauma services, will merge with Sitike ...
Updated SAMHSA directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs available
Rockville, MD — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available. The guide, National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2010, provides information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto ...
Lidocaine: Potential Agent in Treating Drug Abuse?
Lidocaine is a generic drug also known as lidocaine hydrochloride and available under the brand name, Xycloaine. As lidocaine has cardiac antiarrhythmic properties, it is generally used as a local anesthetic. Lidocaine is often used for numbing the gums when a dentist needs to work on a patient’s teeth. More recently, another discovery indicates lidocaine [...] ...
Using drugs to defeat drug addiction: Is Ibogaine the magic bullet?
According to new research analysis , published on July 21, 2010 in Popular Science, a drug called Ibogaine may be capable of treating the scourge of drug and alcohol addiction, which affects an estimated seven million people in the US alone, and accounts for over $180 billion in costs, related to health care, crime, and lost productivity. Ibogaine, which is derived from the African Tabernathe ...
Los Angeles Drug Rehab Combines a High End, Modern Strategy to Healing
Los Angeles Drug Rehab presents recovering addicts the right location to obtain inner peace, and get them on the road to 100 % rehabilitation. If you are searching to recover this stands out as the addiction and rehab facility you are struggling to find.
Our holistic method highlites on the three dimensions within the self: mind, body and spirit. Dedicated to the most crucial goal of working ...
Years in the making, now the real work begins
Defendants in McLean County's new Recovery Court program are looking for more than a chance to succeed on probation.
They hope to get better, avoid future run-ins with the law and stabilize a shaky existence where they are in and out of homes, jobs and relationships.
Designed to help people with mental health and substance abuse issues whose lives intersect with police, Recovery Court ...
Mental health reform evaluated
State officials contend a new report shows that Nebraska succeeded in closing psychiatric beds at two state hospitals without dumping patients on the street.
But some advocates for overhauling the state's mental health services aren't convinced.
They say the report raises as many questions as it answers about the fate of people released during the push to replace hospital care ...
New Book Calls for Addiction Treatment Reform
Drug rehab expert and addiction book author Lucas A Catton has set forth on an unenviable task - to get people and governments to actually expect results in the addiction treatment field. The most difficult part of this is that most people were falsely led to believe that addiction is an incurable disease treatable with pharmaceuticals and that relapse is a part of recovery, so rehabs aren't ...
New Resource for Addiction Recovery Community in Bangor
There's a new place to go in Bangor for people working to recover from alcohol and drug addiction.
Thursday morning, members of the community cut the ribbon on a resource that's been more than a year in the making.
It's called the Bangor Area Recovery Network.
It's a place where people can gather, to socialize or turn to in a time of need, when they're working ...
Unlike Other Addiction Treatment Centers, A Forever Recovery Lets Patients Lead The Way
Most addiction treatment centers provide the same type of treatment to each patient, but A Forever Recovery is a little different. A unique addiction treatment facility based in Michigan, the center allows residents to take part in putting together a treatment plan and select therapies based on faith, personal preferences, and other factors. A Forever Recovery has found that letting individuals ...
Recovery: Drug Use in Southern Maryland, Part III
Once prescription and street drug abuse become the norm, healthy and viable members of society are in danger of becoming permanently addicted to illegal substances. Teens and young adults may find it nearly impossible to claw their way back up to a healthy and productive life, and may soon spiral into a life of crime to support their habits.
“What gets them into trouble, what they are ...
Drug abuse on the rise for those 50 and up
As baby boomers grow into their golden years, one hallmark of their youth has stayed with them: drug use.
From 1992 to 2008, treatment of people 50 and older for heroin abuse more than doubled in the U.S. Cocaine abuse among those 50 and older quadrupled, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The story is much the same in Indiana. Crack and cocaine use ...
New meth treatments in works, scientists say
The United States is in the middle of a new wave of methamphetamine abuse, but programs to treat speed addicts are behind the times, say researchers who are studying new therapies and drugs that they hope will help people kick the habit.
“If someone needs treatment now, they might as well go to any place for any kind of addiction, because there's no specific treatment for ...
Counseling Rabbi Uses Friday Night Meals to Aid Recovery
It all started with a phone call from a person in need, but 10 years later, a Jewish family's embrace of recovering drug and alcohol addicts has an Eastern Pennsylvania treatment center extolling the virtues of Friday night dinner.
Before he knew anything about addiction or recovery, Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yossi Lipsker – who recently became a Certified Addictions and Substance Abuse ...
Rat Study Sheds Light on Cocaine Addiction
Researchers report that they've discovered tiny molecules that appear to forestall cocaine addiction in rats and may have the same effect in humans.
The findings, reported in the July 8 issue of the journal Nature, are preliminary, but they "offer promise for the development of a totally new class of anti-addiction medications," said study senior author Paul J. Kenny, an associate ...
Tailored Meth Treatment Lacking, Experts Say
Methamphetamine users have unique treatment needs but typically receive the same type of therapy as those addicted to other drugs, the San Francisco Chronicle reported July 6.
"If someone needs treatment now, they might as well go to any place for any kind of addiction, because there's no specific treatment for methamphetamine. And the programs we have don't work that well," said ...
New therapies, drug offers hope to meth addicts
The United States is in the middle of a new wave of methamphetamine abuse, but programs to treat speed addicts are behind the times, say Bay Area researchers who are studying new therapies - and new drugs - that they hope will help people kick the habit.
"If someone needs treatment now, they might as well go to any place for any kind of addiction, because there's no specific treatment ...
Weighing Your Treatment Options for Addiction
If you’ve come to the realization that you need professional treatment to overcome your addiction, that’s a good first step. In fact, you won’t get anywhere without such a realization, backed by a solid commitment to see treatment through to completion. The next step is to get into treatment. First, however, you need to take [...] ...
Omahan: Drug breaks meth's grip
Lauren Wertheim was a textbook meth head.
She became hooked in 1999, shortly after snorting methamphetamine under the mistaken impression that it was cocaine.
Meth provided an unbelievable rush of energy. She believed she could accomplish anything.
Soon, Wertheim, a graduate of Omaha's Brownell-Talbot School and daughter of the founder of the Little King restaurant chain, was ...
New National Study Shows that Only Six Percent of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Offer Specialized Services for Gays and Lesbians
A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that only 777 of 13,688 (6 percent) substance abuse treatment facilities surveyed across the nation offer special programs for gay and lesbian clients.
Released in conjunction with Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, the study also shows that the availability of these specialized programs tends to vary ...
Drinking and Doing Drugs Considered Occupational Hazards in the Music World
The recent release of Eminem's new album "Recovery" and his open discussions about his own personal struggles with addiction bring to light the significant challenges those in the music industry face while trying to rehab and recover from alcohol and drug addictions. To address these challenges, treatment facilities, such as Willingway Hospital, and music industry organizations, such as ...
Recovering through faith
Friday night, more than a dozen area residents sat on folding chairs in the sparsely decorated basement of the Bible Baptist Church of Owosso, sharing triumphant stories of driving for the first time in seven years or losing two-and-a-half pounds.
For many people, Fridays may be highlighted by payday, an occasion to splurge on a restaurant dinner or a ruckus trip to the bar with drinking ...
Docket seeks root problem in mental, drug cases
Drugs and mental health conditions influence the vast majority of crime in Licking County. For almost two years, a municipal court program has worked to reduce those factors in an innovative way.
Licking County Intervention for Treatment is a three-phase program that strives to help offenders with mental health conditions and drug addictions lead medically stable, law-abiding lives.
After ...
Number of drug addicts seeking help is on the rise
AROUND ten people a year are dying as a direct result of a drug overdose, while the number of people seeking treatment for substance abuse is rising.
“We place a great deal of importance on this issue. It is a priority for everyone, not just the Health Ministry, to combat the drug phenomenon in Cyprus,” said Health Minister Christos Patsalides speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead ...
Exercise May Combat Alcohol Cravings, Animal Study Suggests
Exercise may turn out to be an effective treatment option for alcoholism, a new animal study suggests.
Alcoholism disrupts normal daily circadian rhythms (such as when to sleep and eat), which leads to disrupted sleep patterns. As a result, alcoholics may begin to drink even more in an attempt to fall asleep easier. But this often leads to more sleep problems and an even greater craving for ...
New National Study Indicates Significant Changes in Substance Use Treatment Admissions Patterns over the Past Decade
Between 1998 and 2008, five substances accounted for 96 percent of treatment admissions aged 12 and older: alcohol, opiates, marijuana, cocaine and stimulants (mainly methamphetamine).
From 1998 to 2008 there were marked changes in some patterns of substance use treatment admissions according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Although the ...
FAQs about holistic alcohol/drug treatment centers
There are thousands of alcohol/drug treatment centers in the United States, and an increasing number of them are focusing on providing holistic addiction treatment for their clients. Allopathic or conventional medicine has been the dominant model for medical treatment in the Western world for decades and has resulted in many major scientific breakthroughs that have made a tremendous difference in ...
Substance Abuse among Hispanic Americans
As the population of the United States becomes more diverse, healthcare facilities must grow and adapt to the needs of the different subgroups of Americans. One important area that policymakers must address according to the needs of the community is substance abuse treatment.
There are significant differences in substance abuse treatment needs between different minority groups ...
Top 10 Myths About Alcohol and Drug Treatment
MYTH: An addict must want alcohol and drug treatment for it to work.
Alcohol and drug treatment is hard work, and even most people who enter treatment voluntarily don't really want to be there. Some addicts seek treatment for themselves, but many others enter programs in response to concerned family members and friends, under pressure from an employer, or because of a court order. ...
Is 90-Day Drug Rehab Treatment the Right Choice?
90-day drug rehab treatment is considered a long-term drug rehabilitation program and is at least three times longer than the much more common short-term drug rehab treatment. Many residential rehab centers offer 28- or 30-day programs, and the average length of stay in a non-profit residential rehab center is less than half of that — just 10 to 14 days. These short programs are an opportunity ...
'Graying' of Drug Users at U.S. Treatment Centers
Among Americans aged 50 and older, admissions for drug abuse treatment have nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008, a new study reveals.
Admissions for cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, and/or marijuana abuse among men and women aged 50 and older rose from 6.6 percent in 1992 to just over 12 percent by 2008, according to researchers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's ...
Testing's role in buprenorphine treatment programs
Since its introduction in 2002, buprenorphine has proven to be a powerful tool in the treatment of opiate addictions. Buprenorphine curbs the craving for opiates, and can send addictive behaviors into remission. Because of the medication's success, outpatient treatment programs that utilize buprenorphine have been opening at a rapid rate. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health ...
Methadone provider with operations in 18 states sued over lack of services
An Alabama methadone clinic owned by a company that does business in 18 states does not offer the therapy and other support it promises in its marketing, leaving its patients hopelessly dependent on the replacement medication, alleges a Circuit Court lawsuit filed last month. Attorneys for patient Lisa Cheek Temple are seeking class status for patients who they say have been harmed by the actions ...
Hone your skills in intervention
A new year is always a time of re-evaluation and planning. It offers an opportunity to address what works and what doesn't in our lives, and inspires us to chart improved courses for the coming year. In the spirit of Oliver Wendell Holmes, who said, “Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions,” I offer a call to arms for all those in the ...
Caution: Entering the Drug Addict's Spin Zone
Drug addicts will lie and tell you anything they think you want to hear, or that they feel they have to say at the moment. This isn’t a fantasy. It’s a fact. Even the most docile, mild-mannered, unassuming person can’t control what comes out of their mouth once they’re in the grip of addiction. Just ...
EMDR to Treat Underlying PTSD in Drug Addiction
When a person experiences a traumatic event they often internalize the event and re-experience it. In effect, they are not only traumatized during the “activating” event, but every time something triggers a memory of the event. A traumatic event is an experience that causes physical, emotional, psychological distress, or harm. It is an event ...
Club Drugs: Harmless 'Fun' or Dangerous Game?
There is a common perception that “club drugs” are harmless and meant for just having fun at parties. More and more young, and not so young, people today are leading increasingly frenetic social lives and looking to maximize the “fun” experience while they can. In the process they encounter more than just food, music, and ...
The Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol
By Colin Gilbert
From an early age, Michael struggled with anxiety and depression. As a child, he always felt awkward in social gatherings, and, as a result, he did his best to avoid social interaction during adolescence and into his early teenage years. Solitude made him feel more comfortable, yet he couldn’t help feeling left out ...
Study Shows Promise for Developing Treatment Medication for Cocaine Addiction
A new study enabled scientists to see exactly how cocaine modifies brain activity, which offers insight into the development of medications to treat cocaine addiction. Scientists used a new molecular analysis technique to observe changes in the gene activity of mice that were injected with cocaine.
Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the US National Institute ...
Treating Teen Marijuana Use
With all the recent news stories about medical marijuana clinics, the number of states allowing access to medical marijuana, the push for legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, it might be tempting to think that marijuana is not really that bad, in the scheme of things, not really addictive or harmful at all. That would be ...
New therapy for cocaine toxicity: Enzyme break downs cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than human body does
Researchers have developed and tested a modified enzyme that can break down cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than the human body does regularly. The engineered enzyme, called CocE, may be an excellent candidate for clinical use. ...
Drug shared by addicts seems to protect against HIV brain dementia
To their surprise, researchers have discovered that morphine (a derivate of the opium poppy that is similar to heroin) protects rat neurons against HIV toxicity -- a finding they say might help in the design of new neuroprotective therapies for patients with the infection. ...
Childhood sleep problems and alcohol/drug problems in young adulthood
Childhood sleep problems are relatively common in the US. A new study has found that individuals with troubles sleeping during childhood and adolescence, as well as poor response inhibition during adolescence, have subsequent substance use and substance-related problems during young adulthood. ...
Crack and cocaine use a significant HIV risk factor for teens
Teens with a history of crack or cocaine use are significantly more likely to engage in unprotected sex than youth who have never used these drugs, putting themselves at increased risk for HIV, according to a new study. ...
Sleep deprivation influences drug use in teens' social networks, study finds
Recent studies have shown that behaviors such as happiness, obesity, smoking and altruism are "contagious" within adult social networks. In other words, your behavior not only influences your friends, but also their friends and so on. Researchers have taken this a step farther and found that the spread of one behavior in social networks influences the spread of another behavior -- adolescent drug ...
Brain abnormalities identified that result from prenatal methamphetamine exposure
Children whose mothers abused methamphetamine (meth) during pregnancy show brain abnormalities that may be more severe than that of children exposed to alcohol prenatally, according to a new study. While researchers have long known that drug abuse during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development, this finding shows the potential impact of meth. Identifying vulnerable brain structures may help ...
Drugs Tests Via Exhaled Breath Enabled By New Technique
A new study from Karolinska Institutet presents a new technique that makes drug testing possible through exhaled air for the first time. By examining people who had received emergency care for an amphetamine overdose, the researchers found that in all cases there were traces of amphetamine and metamphetamine in the exhaled breath... ...
Also In Global Health News: HIV/AIDS Prevention For Drug Users; Obstetric Fistulas; Ugandan Health Spending
U.S., Tanzanian Leaders Launch Program Aimed At Reducing Spread Of HIV/AIDS Among Drug Users The U.S... ...
Alcoholics Anonymous Marks 75th Anniversary With International Convention In San Antonio
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) celebrates 75 years of \"one alcoholic talking to another\" as over 40,000 AA members from around the world gather in San Antonio for the 2010 International Convention, July 1-4. It started with two men meeting in 1935 to over 2 million members estimated worldwide... ...
Minister For Health And Children Announces Immediate Criminal Ban On List Of Head Shop Products, Ireland
The Minister for Health & Children, Mary Harney, T.D., announced that the Government has made an Order declaring a number of substances, commonly referred to as so-called 'legal highs', to be controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, with immediate effect. This follows approval by the relevant EU authorities... ...
Rising Use Of Hookah Or Shisha By The Young Exposes Them To Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide And Carcinogens
As fewer people puff on cigarettes, a new smoking trend may be gaining popularity among North American youth. A study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that almost one-quarter of young adults in Montreal had used waterpipes (also known as shishas or hookahs) in the past year. "The popularity of waterpipes may be due in part to perceptions that they are safer than cigarettes... ...
