Drug Abuse Treatment Options

The drug abuse epidemic has gotten so serious that there are now approximately 10,000 rehabilitation and treatment centers in the US. The cause of drug abuse is said to be an inability to cope with life’s difficulties in a healthy manner, resulting in an attempt to self-medicate through the use of drugs. If the drug is addictive, then the addiction becomes an additional, independent cause of drug abuse. Many factors must be considered when determining drug abuse treatment options - insurance coverage, cost, additional like family support services, group therapy, 24-hour medical care, post-discharge monitoring and support, etc.) Drug abuse treatment can be divided into 3 categories: outpatient, inpatient (short-term) treatment, and long-term residential treatment. With inpatient and residential treatment, follow-up outpatient treatment is usually offered to ensure that the patient does not lapse. Outpatient Treatment: This usually involves medication that reduces the desire for drugs and inhibits withdrawal symptoms (Methadone, for example), and counseling. Inpatient Treatment: This is usually short-term and conducted in a hospital or similar environment. It uses a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. A drug known as Naltrexone is used for detoxification and withdrawal symptoms. Counseling is a necessary supplement to Naltrexone. Residential Treatment: This is reserved for abusers with serious problems. It is offered in an atmosphere that resembles a home rather than a hospital. Treatment is usually for six to twelve months. Treatment includes medication, group therapy, and individual counseling. These patients usually have serious habits aggravated by mental health problems that are treated alongside the drug abuse treatment. Counseling is often confrontational and aims to re-socialize the patient (some call it brainwashing). Some treatment centers also offer occupational therapy. Available Counseling methods generally include therapeutic community group therapy and cognitive therapy. Occasionally other forms of therapy such as reality therapy may be offered. The purpose of residential treatment is to remove the patient from his usual surroundings, provide round the clock counseling support, and encourage the formation of supportive bonds with other patients.

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Bill aimed at helping those suffering with drug abuse moves to Senate floor

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KIMT News 3- A bill aimed at helping those suffering from prescription drug abuse or addiction to opioids has passed the Senate Judiciary and is now waiting to be voted by the whole Senate. Minnesota US Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of the senators sponsoring the bill. The idea is to help states move towards proven drug prevention strategies and provide better education of the harm. The bill also is aims to help enhance prescription drug monitoring; a need Senator Klobuchar sees in our area. “We need to educate people more on the harm of these drugs,” says Senator Klobuchar. “People are doctor hoping as a way to fill their addictions, so we need a better way to educate doctors in order to put a stop to that.” This bill does still need to be passed by the Senate.
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Study Debunks Claim That Drug Treatment Centers Are Unsafe

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Violent crimes are less likely to occur near outpatient drug treatment centers than near liquor and corner stores, a new study finds. The findings challenge claims that drug treatment centers attract criminals, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers. The researchers examined 2011 data about violent crime in areas near 53 publicly funded drug treatment centers in Baltimore. They found that areas around 53 liquor and corner stores had 25 percent more murders, rapes, assaults and robberies per business. The study didn't include crimes that actually occurred in the liquor and corner stores, because they are known to be robbed more often than drug treatment centers. The study was published recently in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. "Our findings show that drug treatment centers pose no additional risk of violence above and beyond any traditional business in the community," study author C. Debra Furr-Holden said in a Bloo
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