Why Do Teens Use Drugs and Alcohol?

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I choose to do my research on teen drug abuse because i felt like people really need to realize how important this issue is.Teen drug abuse is a big issue in teenage society today and i think this issue needs to be talked about more than it has. Teens need to be heard and also need to feel like their important.There are so many reasons why teens turn to drugs or alcohol and their parents need to learn about those reasons.Some of the reasons are peer pressure, lack of image attention, parents aren’t in their lives, they think that it’s cool, or because they see someone else is doing it.I"m a teen and i know about all the things teens go through in the world and all the problems they have.I’ve been through a lot of tough times and the reason why I chose not to turn to drugs is because i had my parents behind me and they let me know that drugs aren’t the way to go.I learned that teens need to realize that drugs can’t help you with your problems and that they sure can’t take place of your parents.I learned that parents only see what they want to see.They need to focus on their teens behavior and their academic performance because it can change from the drugs.Teens can go from straight A students to a failing student and the parents would sit back and not realize that their teen is failing in school because of lack of attention.The parents would go blaming their selves instead of seeing the truth that their teens chose that road.Teens should never feel like they can’t talk to their parents.The only reason why teens avoid talking to their parents because they feel like their going to start yelling and they don’t really know the whole story.I feel like this was a great research project for me because I learned a lot about Teen drug abuse and the causes and the affects.I hope I get through to a lot of people because of this and that people start to understand the risk and problems that teens go through.

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The reason I choose to do abuse of drugs is because I feel like this is a serious fact in the teenage population. I also choose this because the drug use is rising as teenagers get older. The parents of these teens really need to pay more attention and ask more questions to see how their teens are doing in their school work. I feel like they need to help them concentrate more in school and not let them go outside whenever they want to. Some teens use their friends as a way to get the drugs and they need to realize that they are hurting themselves and nobody else. I also chose this because i think i would be able to reach out to at least a couple of teens through this because some want to stop, but don’t know how. I am really interested in knowing why do teenagers use drugs instead of just talking about their problems with their parents or someone who is willing to listen. Many teens think about themselves and not what their doing to the people around them especially their parents. They actually feel like their helping themselves by using these type of drugs. I like the fact that if you tell a teen or try to help a teen you can’t go wrong if you tried to help. Teens feel like their problems will decrease or would go away if they do drugs but little do they know their making more problems for themselves. I also want teens to know that their not only hurting themselves but their also hurting their families and their friends. Teens can have a better life if their parents paid more image attention to their teens and not let them do whatever. Some teens just want their parents to at least punish them they don’t like to just be able to do whatever they want.

Today’s teens face more challenges than any other generation has. More is expected from them in their school. There are new drugs and forms of drugs that teen are able to get easily. Alcohol is popular as ever also and some teens prefer alcohol instead. Peer pressure is also takes a big tool on the teenage community and influence on their choices. Relationships with their parents and their siblings are important and have a strong pull in decision making.

Drugs play more of a role in a teenager’s attitude, schooling and health than most parents realize. Drugs are constantly increasing and teens are able to get them at anytime with no problem. Teens use alcohol and other drugs for many reasons. They may do it because they want to fit in with friends or certain groups. They may also take a drug or drink alcohol because they like the way it makes them feel. Or they may believe that it makes them more grown up. Teens tend to try new things and take risks, and they may take drugs or drink alcohol because it seems exciting. Teens with family members who have problems image with alcohol or other drugs are more likely to be affected and have the same type of problem. Also, teens who feel that they are not important to their parents or that their not being paid enough attention are at greater risk at doing drugs. Teens with poor self-esteem or emotional or mental problems, such as depression,  also are at increased risk. Some teens prefer their parents to just talk to them and not just let them do whatever they want. Teen drug abuse is not so much a crime but the things that the drug do to the teen body and their mind it should be. Parents should sometimes check up on their teens in school and also in the outside world because you never know just by checking up and not pressuring them just might help out.

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Substance abuse by teenagers effects the family unit as teens become more hostile, and their decision making becomes greatly impaired. Teens finding themselves using drugs or alcohol find that their familial relationships greatly suffer. They set bad examples for any younger siblings and create much more hostility to the family as a whole. Drug abuse by teenagers shouldn’t be tolerated by image parents of troubled or violent teens and appropriate help for their teens depending on depth of the problems should be made. Drugs have no rightful place anywhere in society, however, they have even less of a place in academic environments where teens are living in their most formative years. That the teen drug/alcohol user’s academic performance is severely impaired, along with his or her level of responsibility such as skipping class, failing to complete assignments speaks to the notion that drug and alcohol use is rampant throughout American middle and high schools. This abuse has produced teenage student body’s with many abusers whose relationships, reputations, futures, wallets, self-images and especially grades suffer as a direct result of the teen drug abuse.Drugs have no place anywhere in society; however, they have even less of a place in schools where teens are living in their most fragile years. That the teen drug/alcohol user’s academic performance is severely impaired, along with his or her level of responsibility; such as skipping class, failing to complete assignments , speaks to the notion that drug and alcohol use is rampant throughout American middle and high schools. This abuse has produced teenage student body’s with many abusers whose relationships, reputations, futures, , self-images and especially grades suffer as a of the teen drug abuse.Teens use drugs now to fit in with their friends.They also have to feel like their cool because some of their friends are in the cool student category.Some teens don’t even use drugs because that’s what they want to do but because their friends want them too.This is called peer pressure and this is common in highs and even in college.

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Teens use drugs to try to satisfy themselves and try to ease their pain. Teens also use drugs that they feel would help them like nobody else can because they imagefeel like other try to criticize them in all types of ways and drugs won’t. The U.S. is the leading state of teen drug abuse. Parents don’t try to pay andy attention to their teen as long as their going to school. Teens would continue to do what their doing as long as their parents aren’t paying any attention. I would like to know why do teens choose drugs to relax them when their going through hard times. I also would like to know if they know if they know that their destroying their lives nd their families. The drug problem in America has drawn the attention many pare nts in recent years. According to the 1998 National Household Survey on Teen Drug Abuse, nearly 10% of teens between the ages of twelve and seventeen used illegal drugs-a number less than 11.4 percent from just the year prior- including marijuana (8.3%), cocaine (0.8%) and inhalants (1.1%) (SAMHSA ,1998). Statistics for 2002 reflects a slight drop in teenage drug usage to 8.3 percent for overall consumption of all illicit drugs. Still imageheading the list as most commonly used drug for troubled teens was marijuana combined with one or more other drugs (20%). Cigarettes were found to be a strong precursor for troubled teens to who used illicit drugs, representing about eight times the number to those teens who smoked (48.1%) and those teens who did not (6.2%). Gender differences play a role as well amongst teenagers, with a greater majority of male teen using illegal drugs (12.3%) than their female teenage counterparts (10.9%) (SAMHSA, 2002).
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I Know – Let’s Really Scare Kids About Drugs! (NEW ANTI DRUG ADD CAMPAIGN)

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Stanton Peele

 

image In an episode of South Park (“My Future Self n’ Me”), (CLICK TO WATCH) Stan’s parents hire Motivation Corp. to discourage Stan from using drugs. The Corp. employs an actor to come to live with Stan’s family. The actor pretends to be Stan in the future after he has ruined his life by taking drugs and drinking. Now that’s an anti-drug program!

Watch out – Motivation Corp. may be coming near you soon. In March of this year, a group of television ads to counter Montana’s growing methamphetamine problem were launched. Aimed at children 12-17 years old, the ads present horrifying pictures of what happens to kids who use drugs. According to one publication, “Finally, someone in the ads production business has come through with a campaign that not only fulfills the goal of reaching their target audience, but also leaves an indelible impression on anyone who views what they have produced.” (See these ads at www.montanameth.org.)

But there have been harrowing anti-drug ad campaigns previously. In fact, they have rarely been absent from U.S. television.

You may recall the famous egg and frying pan ad, “This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?” This was created as part of a series begun in 1987 by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America — a non-profit coalition of advertising, media, and public relations professionals. The Partnership was given $200 million annually by the federal government. Media outlets contributed over $3 billion in free television time, making it the largest and most expensive anti-drug campaign ever.

However, the Institute for Social Research’s tracking study of teen drug use discovered that, despite their enormous exposure to such anti-drug ads, beginning in 1991, adolescents’ perceived risk of using drugs declined and drug use rose sharply. Support for the Partnership predictably waned.

To counteract the growth in drug use, in 1998 Bill Clinton image and his drug czar, General Barry McCaffrey,image announced a five year, $2 billion ad campaign. According to the Christian Science Monitor, “ It’s the largest media blitz ever undertaken by the federal government.  And antidrug ads like these will be hard to forget.” They included bugs crawling all over a teenage boy (a hallucination brought on by methamphetamines) and an ad you may recall depicting a girl demolishing her kitchen with a frying pan.

The government agency charged with research and science concerning drugs – the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – commissioned a study of the effectiveness of this campaign over the period from September 1999 through June 2003. The study found the campaign had no effect on children, although parents were highly favorable towards it.

image The study found something even more surprising: “there were no significant reductions in marijuana use either leading up to or after the marijuana campaign for youth 12 to 18 years old between 2002 and 2003. Indeed there was evidence for an increase in past month and past year use among the target audience of 14- to 16-year-olds.”

Actually, years of systematic research have repeatedly found that intensely negative anti-drug messages are ineffective, and any changes measured in response to them are more likely to be in the direction of greater drug use. The mechanism to account for this “rebound” effect is that the exaggerations and drama of such messages turn children off, so that they reject anti-drug warnings entirely.

I witnessed several network and cable news shows on which the developers of the current campaign in Montana were interviewed. The programs were all highly favorable to the media backgrounds of these men. On no program that I saw was a drug prevention researcher interviewed.

If only they would have asked me to participate! I would have asked, “Did you and your colleagues examine the research on the effectiveness of drug prevention programs and media campaigns?”

Imagine if they answered “no” – the only answer I could anticipate. What arrogance and disrespect for research and the children the ads are supposed to reach!

Now that’s a news story – a highly funded, popular, and critically acclaimed program initiated with much media ballyhoo causes drug use.

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image Stanton Peele has been investigating, thinking, and writing about addiction since 1969. His first bombshell book, “Love and Addiction”, appeared in 1975. Its experiential and environmental approach to addiction revolutionized thinking on the subject by indicating that addiction is not limited to narcotics, or to drugs at all, and that addiction is a pattern of behavior and experience which is best understood by examining an individual’s relationship with his/her world. This is a distinctly nonmedical approach. It views addiction as a general pattern of behavior that nearly everyone experiences in varying degrees at one time or another.

 

 

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Posted on July 27th 2009 in ADDICTION NEWS, DRUG REHABILITATION, FYI DRUGS

Everything You Wanted To Know About Ritalin white sheet

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Methylphenidate (MPH) is an amphetamine-like prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. It is also one of the primary drugs used to treat symptoms of traumatic brain injury and the daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome. Brand names of drugs that contain methylphenidate include Ritalin® (Ritalina®, Rilatine®), Concerta® (a timed-release capsule), Metadate®, Methylin® and Rubifen®. Focalin® is a preparation containing only dextro-methylphenidate, rather than the usual racemic dextro- and laevo-methylphenidate mixture of other formulations.

Formulations

Most products containing methylphenidate contain a racemic mixture of dextro-methylphenidate and levo-methylphenidate, although it is only dextro-methylphenidate, the active enantiomer, which is considered to provide the pharmacologically useful effects of mental focus. However, with the introduction of Focalin, pure dextro-methylphenidate is available. Described as a fast-acting form of the drug, it is absorbed more quickly by the body, with a shorter time to peak concentration (and excretion) than with the racemic compound.

The pharmacological profiles and relative usefulness of dextro- and levo-methylphenidate is analogous to what is found in amphetamine, where dextro-amphetamine is considered to have a more beneficial effect than levo-amphetamine.

Effects

image Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It is claimed to have a "calming" effect on many children who have ADHD [citations needed], reducing impulsive behavior and the tendency to "act out", and helps them concentrate on schoolwork and other tasks. Adults who have ADHD often find that MPH increases their ability to focus on tasks and organize their lives.

Methylphenidate has been found to have a lower incidence of side-effects compared to dextroamphetamine, a less commonly prescribed medication. When prescribed at the correct dosage, methylphenidate is usually well-tolerated by patients.

The means by which methylphenidate helps people with ADHD are not well understood. Some researchers have theorized that ADHD is caused by a dopamine imbalance in the brains of those affected. MPH is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that it increases the level of the dopamine neurotransmitter in the brain by partially blocking the transporters that remove it from the synapses.

In the United States, methylphenidate is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, the designation used for substances that have a recognized medical value but which have a high potential for abuse because of their addictive potential. Internationally, methylphenidate is a Schedule II drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Some people abuse MPH by crushing the tablets and snorting them, the "high" resulting from the increased rate of dopamine transporter blockade due to quicker absorption into the bloodstream. In this manner, the effect of Ritalin is similar to that of cocaine or amphetamine and such abuse can lead to addiction. When taken orally in prescribed doses, MPH has a low addiction liability and rarely produces a "high".

Side effects

Common reported side effects are: difficulty sleeping (which can lead in turn to other problems); loss of appetite (thus its use as an appetite suppressant); image irritability; nervousness; stomach aches; headaches; dry mouth; blurry vision; nausea; dizziness; drowsiness; motor tics or tremors. Up to 5% of children experience disturbing hallucinations often involving worms, snakes, or insects (New Scientist, 31 March 2006).

Less common side effects are: hypersensitivity; anorexia; palpitations; blood pressure and pulse changes; cardiac arrhythmia; anaemia; scalp hair loss; toxic psychosis.

There have also been reports of: abnormal liver function; cerebral arteritis; leukopaenia; death. There have been at least 19 cases of sudden death in children taking methylphenidate, leading to calls by the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee to the FDA to require the most serious type of health warning on the label, but this advice was rejected (New Scientist 18 Feb. 2006).

Medline lists a number of side-effects of un quantified frequency.

 

Delivery

Ritalin: 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;

Ritalin SR: 20 mg tablets;

Ritalin LA: 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg capsules;

Methylin: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets;

Methylin ER: 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;

Metadate ER: 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;

Metadate CD: 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg capsules;

Concerta: 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg and 54 mg tablets;

Equasym: 5 mg, 10 mg tablets;

Rubifen: 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;

Daytrana: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg patches

 

Criticism

image Similarity to Cocaine. Like cocaine, methylphenidate is a powerful stimulant that increases alertness and productivity. Methylphenidate and cocaine have similar chemical structures. Their effects, too, are similar; both increase the brain-levels of dopamine — a joy-inducing neurotransmitter — by blocking the ability of neurons to reabsorb dopamine. When taken as prescribed, however, Methylphenidate is absorbed into the body at a much slower rate than cocaine. In this way, methylphenidate is like low-dosage, slow-acting cocaine. The similarities between methylphenidate and cocaine have prompted concern that the unknown dangers of methylphenidate could be similar to the known dangers of cocaine.

Overprescription

The incidence of ADHD is believed to be between three and five percent of the population, while the number of children in America taking Ritalin is estimated at one to two percent. In a small study of four American communities, the incidence of ADHD varied from 1.6% to 9.4%. The study also found that 12.5% of the children meeting the DSM-III-RADHD criteria for ADHD had been treated with stimulants during the past year.

Addiction

Some have argued that prescription of stimulant medications sets children up for future addictions. However, recent research suggests that boys with ADHD who are treated with stimulants like MPH are actually less likely to abuse drugs including alcohol later in life.

Long-term effects

image Ritalin has been used on a long-term basis since the mid-20th century, yet clinical studies of the long-term use effects have not been undertaken. A great deal of controversy has been generated by non-expert groups, many of them basing ‘research’ on the negative effects of ritalin on children. Many of these reports have been forwarded by Scientology-related groups.

In a 2005 study, no "clinically significant" effects on growth, vital signs, tics, or laboratory tests (including urinalysis, hematology/complete blood counts, electrolytes, and liver function tests) were observed after 2 years of treatment.

Still, some theoretical studies raise theoretical questions. For example, Adriani et al (2005) found plastic changes in reward related behaviour in rats after they were in a drug-free state. Whether or not this would have any effect on human cognition is unknown.

 

Potential Carcinogen

image In February 2005, a team of researchers from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center led by R.A. El-Zein announced that a small scale study of 12 children indicated that methylphenidate may be carcinogenic. In the study, 12 children were given standard therapeutic doses of methylphenidate. At the conclusion of the 3 month study, all 12 children displayed significant, treatment induced chromosomal aberrations. The researchers indicated that while their study was relatively small, they indicated the results should be reproduced one more time in a bigger population for a definitive conclusion about the genotoxicity of methylphenidate to be drawn. The link between chromosomal aberrations and cancer risk has been established.

The results are controversial, however, since there have been conflicting results regarding the mutagenicity of methylphenidate.

A 2003 study tested the effects of d-methylphenidate (Focalin), l-methylphenidate, and d,l-methylphenidate (Ritalin) on mice to search for any carcinogenic effects. The researchers found that all three compounds were non-genotoxic and non-clastogenic; d-MPH, d,l-MPH, and l-MPH did not cause mutations or chromosome aberrations. They concluded that none of the compounds present a carcinogenic risk to humans.

In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a series of public health advisories warning that Ritalin and its sister drugs may cause visual hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, psychotic behavior, as well as aggression or violent behavior.

Illicit use

Both the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board have expressed concern about the ease with which legally prescribed MPH is diverted to the illicit market.

According to the DEA, "The increased use of this substance [MPH] for the treatment of ADHD has paralleled an increase in its abuse among adolescents and young adults who crush these tablets and snort the powder to get high. Youngsters have little difficulty obtaining methylphenidate from classmates or friends who have been prescribed it."

American psychiatry’s infatuation with the brain coincides with a drug industry more than happy to contribute funds for research that only counts symptoms and pills. If only family counseling or special education rewarded stockholders the same way Ritalin or Prozac [fluoxetine hydrochloride] does. (Diller, West J Med, Dec. 2000)

Effects on stature

Researchers have also looked into the role of methylphenidate in affecting stature, with some studies finding slight decreases in height acceleration. Other studies indicate height may normalize by adolescence.

Risk of death

As mentioned above, methylphenidate has been implicated in cases of sudden death by heart failure. The FDA decided against requiring warning labels, even though its advisory committee voted in favor of this.

image Street Names

Street names for Ritalin include: diet coke, kiddie cocaine, kiddie coke, vitamin R, R-ball, poor man’s cocaine, PMC, rids, skittles, riddles, riddler ride and smarties.

History

Methylphenidate was patented in 1954 by the Ciba pharmaceutical company (one of the predecessors of Novartis) and was initially prescribed as a treatment for depression, chronic fatigue, and narcolepsy, among other ailments. Beginning in the 1960s, it was used to treat children with ADHD, known at the time as hyperactivity or minimal brain dysfunction (MBD).  Today methylphenidate is the medication most commonly prescribed to treat ADHD around the world. According to most estimates, more than 75 percent of methylphenidate prescriptions are written for children, with boys being about four times as likely to take methylphenidate as girls. Production and prescription of methylphenidate rose significantly in the 1990s, especially in the United States, as the ADHD diagnosis came to be better understood and more generally accepted within the medical and mental health communities. imageMethylphenidate has been used illegally by students for whom the drug has not been prescribed, to assist with coursework and examinations.

While ADHD medication is directed for children, it has not been studied for children under the age of 6. It is also important to not that while ADHD is a condition that includes hyperactivity, problems holding still, and following directions, this is also typical of a child under the age of 6. This causes difficulty in diagnosing children under this age and should probably not be studied.

Most brand-name Ritalin is produced in the United States, although methylphenidate is also produced in Mexico and Argentina by respective contract pharmaceutical manufacturers and is most commonly marketed under the brand name "Ritalin" for Novartis. In the United States, various generic forms of methylphenidate are also produced by several pharmaceutical companies (such as Methylin, etc.), and Ritalin is also sold in the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries (although in much lower volumes than the United States). These generic versions of methylphenidate tend to outsell brand-name "Ritalin" four-to-one. In Belgium the product is sold under the name "Rilatine" for Novartis.

Another medicine is Concerta, a once-daily extended release form of methylphenidate, which was approved in April 2000. Studies have demonstrated that long-acting methylphenidate preparations such as Concerta are just as effective, if not more effective, than IR (instant release) formulas. Time-release medications are also harder to misuse.

In April 2006, the FDA approved a transdermal patch for the treatment of ADHD, called Daytrana. The once-daily patch administers methylphenidate in doses of 10, 15, 20, or 30mg. However, the patch must be applied several hours before the effect is desired, and the drug’s effect remains for several hours after removal, making it necessary to remove the patch in the mid-to-late afternoon or else insomnia may result.

ALTERNATIVE TO RITALIN

If you or a loved on is addicted to Ritalin, please watch this short video, it will take just a moment of your time and might save a life. Ritalin Addiction is a terrible addiction, life threatening. Don’t wait CLICK FOR VIDEO

Posted on July 26th 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Why Adolescent Treatment is Different from Adult Treatment

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Why Adolescent Treatment is Different from Adult Treatment
by Thomas J. Crowley, M.D and Elizabeth Whitmore, Ph.D.

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Summary

  • The physical differences between adolescents and adults are one reason why adolescents need treatment tailored to their age group. Their physical attributes, including their brains, have not finished developing.
  • Teens need treatment programs that address their academic issues and make their families an integral part of the plan.
  • Most adolescents have entered drug or alcohol treatment involuntarily, and their counselors and doctors must take this into account when establishing a treatment plan.

Adolescent drug users differ from adults in many ways. Their drug and alcohol use often has different causes, and they have even more trouble seeing the consequences of their use for the future.

In treatment, adolescents must be approached differently from adults because of their unique developmental and psychiatric issues, differences in their values and belief systems, and environmental considerations (e.g., strong peer influences).

Adolescents generally have smaller body sizes, a lower tolerance for substances, and they do not have a fully-developed brain, putting them at greater risk for using drugs and at greater risk for physical and other consequences related to their use. The use of substances may also negatively effect their mental and emotional development because substance use interferes with how people learn to handle situations and experiences. Adolescents are also always part of a larger family unit, so family involvement plays a critical role in an adolescent’s treatment and recovery.

Finally, as compared to adults, very few adolescents attend treatment because they recognize they have a problem and are voluntarily seeking help. They are much more likely to be coerced by their parents, their schools and/or the court or social services system to enter treatment. While treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective, special consideration needs to be given to these issues as part of the adolescent’s treatment. Although relatively few treatment programs are designed specifically for adolescents, these important differences demonstrate that adolescent treatment needs to be specifically tailored to the unique needs of adolescents and not just based on adult models of treatment.

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Ten Questions to Ask a Treatment Provider/Program:

1. What types of treatment do you have? Have their been any research studies of this type of treatment?

2. What evidence do you have that your program is effective?

3. How do you specifically address the needs of adolescents?

4. Can you assess and treat my child’s mental health problems at the same time as his/her substance problem?

5. How is the family involved in the treatment process?

6. How long will this treatment last?

7. What things do you do to help adolescents engage and stay in treatment?

8. Do you have aftercare or a continuing care program for when this treatment ends?

9. What happens if my child is not successful here? What other options do we have?

10. How much does this cost and how much will I have to pay? Are there any state, county, or grant funds to help pay for this treatment?

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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Things to Avoid in Drug Rehabilitation Treatment

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Things to Avoid in Treatment

Summary

  • Treatment for addiction to alcohol and other drugs must be tailored to fit the person.
  • Treatment programs should be able to give you information, including data, that explains what they do and what their success rates are.
  • Be cautious about treatment programs that make fantastic promises.

Although beginning a treatment program is a stressful time for an addicted person and his or her family, it is an important moment to ask many questions. Try to learn as much as you can about the treatment philosophy and approach before entering a program.

Be cautious about a program that:

  • promises 24-hour detox – this rapid detoxification can be dangerous, even fatal
  • promises rapid recovery – experts believe that meaningful treatment usually takes at least 90 days, sometimes much longer
  • uses a treatment approach that’s based on shaming and berating the patient – while this approach was once widely accepted, experts now see that it is not the most effective approach, and that this shaming can actually increase the chances for relapse
  • simply ousts a patient who relapses, rather than works to identify the triggers and underlying issues that put the patient at risk.
  • cannot give you information on its track record: What proportion of the patients successfully complete the program? What proportion of the patients sustain long-term recovery?
  • does not have accredited caregivers
  • employs clinicians or counselors who believe that the same plan works for people addicted to alcohol, marijuana, opiates, and stimulants

Remember that drug and alcohol treatment is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Treatments vary widely according to the addictive substance, the existence of co-occurring illnesses, the age, gender and cultural background of the patient and many other variables.

Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Drug Pushers, are they in your home?

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by Robert F. Forman, Ph.D.

The Internet is a powerful resource for education, entertainment and business. Unfortunately, the Internet is also a haven for selling and buying all sorts of drugs without prescription. Websites offering to sell pain relievers, uppers, downers and steroids without a prescription can be readily found using search engines. imageStudies conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found that the Yahoo and Google search engines list websites that offer to sell highly addictive prescription drugs without prescription.

But buyer beware! These medications are illegal to possess without a valid prescription regardless of what the website might claim. Many "No Prescription Websites" mislead potential customers into thinking that they are legitimate by making false claims of legality. In fact, it is illegal to possess medications in the United States without a valid prescription.

Many no prescription websites ship counterfeit, expired or simply bad drugs from countries that provide little or no oversight or control. You don’t know what you are getting when you deal with an online pill mill. In some cases, the website will simply take your money and send nothing at all.

Of even greater concern are the websites that actually ship the drugs without prescription. Medications such as opioids (such as Vicodin, codeine or oxycodone), sedatives like Xanax and Valium, and stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall) are potentially addictive and can easily be misused with disastrous results. Just because a drug comes in the form of a pill doesn’t mean it is safe. There are more people abusing prescription drugs than heroin and cocaine combined.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to Internet-based drug dealing because they have grown up using the Internet and don’t realize its potential risks. Somehow, professionally created websites provide an illusion of safety and professionalism. However, just because a website has the image of a doctor on it does not mean a doctor has had anything to do with the drug sales. Sadly, there are several reports of young people who have died from drugs they bought over the Internet without prescription.

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image FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING DRUGS OVER THE INTERNET WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION

  • 1. Look for unexpected credit card use.
  • If unexpected charges appear on your credit card, call your credit card company and find out what is happening. It is possible that your card is being used to buy drugs online without prescription.
  • 2. Know your child’s online friends.
  • Just as you should know the friends your child spends time with, pay attention to where they go online, too. Question your child if he or she is visiting online pharmacies or drug-promoting websites. If your child has already been treated for a substance use problem, the risk of relapsing and finding trouble on the Internet may be even greater.
  • 3. Look out for unexpected packages with unrecognized names.
  • If unexpected packages arrive at your home addressed to your child or a name that you do not recognize insist that your child open the package in your presence.
  • 4. Get computer help.
  • If you have reason to suspect that your child is using the computer to obtain drugs illegally, seek two kinds of professional help: a) an addictions specialist to address the substance use problem and b) someone to secure your computer so that you can ensure that it is used safely. In most communities there are computer service companies that can help you set up controls over your computer (often called filtering or blocking software, or software programs that monitor what websites are being visited).
  • 5. For medications prescribed by a doctor only, use online pharmacies with the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS) certification.

This is a voluntary certification program initiated by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Some online pharmacies will simply take your money and run, others sell counterfeit and expired drugs, while others deliver the actual drugs – illegally. Buying medications without a valid prescription is illegal and unsafe. Websites which have the VIPPS Seal subscribe to safe online pharmacy practices and operate legitimately.

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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Drug Rehab, Addiction Rehabilitation information and resources

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Drug Rehab, Addiction Rehabilitation
Information, Articles, Resources

Does somebody you love struggle with abuse to alcohol or a drug? To them, rehab may be the furthest thing from their mind. Addiction has the way of doing that. It makes an abuse problem seem less than it actually is. This is a drug rehab site providing addiction information on alcohol and drug addiction, and the proper course of treatment that is needed to overcome them. Our purpose is to help raise awareness on the effectiveness of a addiction treatment program. Addiction is a life altering aspect, but it is treatable.

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It can be difficult to get that loved on into rehab. They can seem resilient; meanwhile their life continues to spin out of control. This is caused by the behavior of the addiction or drink of choice. The best way to address this is with a drug rehab program. These programs can be very effective at addressing the addiction. Many of these programs are designed with very advanced forms of rehab treatment. They can help end alcohol and drug abuse. This site can help you determine the right drug rehab program, and treatment modalities. This can make all the difference in overcoming even the worst of addiction problems.

 

Asking Drug Rehab Questions

In deciding on an addiction treatment program, one should ask a number of questions. These questions impart just a portion of the many questions that should be asked prior to and upon admittance of someone into rehab. The better the drug rehab program can answer these questions, the better the overall treatment they probably offer. The first question is determining the severity of the addiction and the course of action. The best course of acction is seeking some form of treatment before the issues involved in the addiction begin to spiral out of control.

Is This Problem in Need of Drug Rehab?

You will notice with this person a radical change in their behavior. Addiction has a way of doing this. Most cases of addiction do need some form of treatment. Whether it is closely monitored and intense addiction treatment, or just an outpatient support program, depends on the severity of the addiction. Many times an interventionist or intervention services are used to help determine the nature of the alcohol or drug addiction.

How you can personally determine the severity of the addiction is in the behavior of the person. How does the drug control that individual? Are they constantly using substances all the time? Is the individual using or drinking first thing in the morning? These are indicators on the severity of drug addiction. Does that person get aggravated when discussing the drug addiction? When addiction treatment is brought up, do they get defensive? These are indicators that a drug rehab program is needed and may be vital. Many times the help of a rehab facility makes all the difference in the life or the death of that individual.

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 What Are the Types of Drug Rehab?

There are many types of addiction treatment programs. This will help you discover the advantages and disadvantages of each type of treatment program.

Detox- Detox is an aspect of rehab you will find in most drug rehab programs. Detox is oftentimes the first step of recovery. The process of detox is to rid the body of the addictive toxins and to stabilize the body. Detox also treats for the negative withdrawal effects caused by the stranglehold the drug or alcohol has on the brain and body. Detox length depends on the severity of withdrawal. This depends on the type of drug that was abused and the severity of the abuse.

 Outpatient Programs- This is exactly what it states a rehab program designed for those who can not be committed to a patient program. These programs are good for those that can not get away from work or social obligations. Many outpatient programs involve day long treatment or nightly drug rehab counseling programs. The negative to outpatient programs is that the individual has the exposure to the same influences of alcohol or drug that they would on a regular basis.

Inpatient Programs- Inpatient programs is a residential style of drug treatment facility. They are a controlled environment free from drug and alcohol. Inpatient programs also greatly vary depending on the program. We will discuss areas of determining a good drug rehab in following questions. Inpatient addiction treatment programs consist of a 30 day or lengthier program. Treatment is different from treatment center to addiction center, but it is a good bet that the treatment will be personalized and consists of therapy from licensed professionals.

Support Meetings- The most common form of treatment programs is local support meetings. For some, this is all that is needed to help them with their addiction to drug or alcohol. Support meetings lack the element of treatment, therapy and addressing the problems involved in addiction. Many times support meetings are used after rehab to continue in building strength in recovery and support.

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How Do I Determine a Good Drug Rehab?

With the amount of Addiction Treatment Facilities out there, it can be difficult to determine which one would be best. Inpatient rehab head over heels are the most effective forms of drug treatment. However it can be equally difficult to determine which one of those should be sought. Drug rehab programs are like medical facilities and many of them are sanctioned or accredited as one. Accredited drug rehab facilities have the access of medical services within their program. Accredited facilities also offer the most in addiction treatment and rehab programs. There are a number of accreditation firms it is best to look for the ones with national forms of accreditation.

Another area to address in looking for the right inpatient drug rehab programs is in their success. Many rehabs out there hang their hat on their rates of success. They actual will boast of a high percentage or success rate, and give their program a number. The truth is there no real way to actually track such numbers. Be wary of such drug rehab programs when seeking drug treatment. Most effective programs and drug rehab facilities do not boast percentages. Rather they let the strength of their program and the recovery of their patients to do the talking for them. Watch out for the quick fix cure all drug rehab facilities.
 
A good example of an ideal drug rehab program is like Cirque Lodge in Sundance Utah. This is an accredited rehab with storied success from the alumni of their rehab program.

What can I expect out of Drug Rehab?

What you should expect out of drug rehab is the right programs to treat an alcohol and drug addiction. This consists of drug programs designed to stop drug abuse and the control of addiction. A lot of the exclusive drug rehab programs out there offer individualized drug rehab with licensed therapists and psychologists. What should be expected is the finest in drug rehab and recovery programs to end the peril of addiction.


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How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?

Treatment for drugs and alcohol varies in cost. The more advanced addiction treatment programs are medical facilities that hire licensed professionals. This can be a little costly. However, it is oftentimes the most effective form of an addiction treatment program and rehab. Most outpatient and Support programs are less costly and differ in rehab philosophies.

How Does Drug Rehab Help in Recovery?

Addiction treatment effectiveness depends on the nature of the program. The ultimate goal is a complete recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol. Treatment is designed to offer rehabilitation and therapy. Addiction is made up of a number of things. Part of it is the abuse of alcohol or a drug. It is also in part a social and emotional issue. Drug rehab uses a number of treatment models and processes to address the addiction issues. These issues are intricate and difficult many times. Therapy in addiction treatment can help to end the addiction.

Is Addiction Cured with Drug Rehab?

Addiction is classified as a disease. Science has shown that addiction as a sickness or disease of the brain. For some, this is a difficult aspect to swallow. Mainly because most diseases are an affliction that can not be controlled and addiction is self induced. Because of the nature of addiction, it can not be miraculously cured. Be wary of addiction programs that tell you that they can. Most drug treatment professionals view addiction in this light. It is a disease that can only be maintained through abstinence and controlled programs.

Drug rehab is designed to treat the disease of addiction. It can not readily be cured. The influence of the addiction of choice will still be a part of the central nervous system. The only way to reduce this is with abstinence and a period of time. Most treatment officials suggest this period of time being about a year before addiction begins to fade. Drug rehab provides the strategies for overcoming these addictive problems.

 
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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Inpatient or Outpatient? Find & Evaluate adolescent addiction Treatment

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by Michael Dennis, Ph.D.

Summary

  • In a given year, approximately one in 10 teens with a substance use disorder receives needed treatment.
  • Early intervention programs work to make treatment accessible to adolescents by being in or convenient to schools.
  • Residential treatment usually serves adolescents with health complications or high-risk recovery environments.
  • Look for program elements that address teens’ co-occurring mental health problems while treating the substance use disorder.
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Adolescence is the time when most people become addicted. Some 80-90% of the people with substance abuse or dependence disorders started using under the age of 18 (half under the age of 15) and end up using for several decades.

image While most of the adolescents who try using alcohol, marijuana or other drugs do not become addicted; one in four who start under the age of 15 end up developing abuse or dependence problems and do not stop until they have gone to treatment 3-4 times over several years. Substance abuse and dependence mean that use has led to subjectively unpleasant problems to the teens and/or their families (withdrawal, giving up other things they care about, getting into fights, not meeting their responsibilities).

Unfortunately, only one in 10 adolescents who’ve had a substance use disorder in the last year are receiving treatment. It is important to not give up hope, however, because most teens eventually quit and recover. Moreover, getting kids into treatment sooner, making sure they complete it and re-intervening as soon as possible after relapse significantly reduces how long it takes to get them to stable recovery. If treatment commences within the first decade of use this typically cuts in half the time it takes one to achieve recovery.

Early intervention or student assistance programs try to work with teens before they develop substance use disorders or in the first 1-2 years of use. By being in or convenient to schools, these programs make participation easier and less threatening for teens. Eighty percent of the programs offer outpatient or intensive outpatient treatment and may involve a combination of individual, family and group therapy. The programs may involve an hour of therapy weekly. Or they may be far more intensive, ranging up to 10 or more hours each week. Some extend the treatment of teens into their homes.

Residential treatment is typically reserved for teens who have intoxication, medical or psychiatric complications or have high-risk recovery environments such as those in which the teen is homeless or abused or in which family members or close peers are using drugs. Other candidates for residential treatment are those who have kept using in spite of outpatient treatment. Residency can last from a few days (for detox only) to 30-45 days and, for long-term treatment, up to a year. The latter are typically limited to kids who have not responded to shorter treatment, are involved in the juvenile justice system (and are likely to commit crimes if released) and/or who have very unstable home lives (such as multiple foster care placements).

Keeping adolescent addicts abstinent during the initial period of re-entry after residential treatment is probably the best single predictor of long-term recovery. There should be a continuing care outpatient program after residency, as relapse is particularly common in the first 90 days after discharge. Unfortunately only about 10% of adolescents coming out of residential treatment successfully start continuing care outpatient treatment, even when it is readily accessible. Research shows that involvement in adolescent-oriented self-help groups, substance-free structured activities and recovery- oriented schools or school programs also helps. In many communities only some of these levels of care may be available.

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The majority of adolescents with substance use disorders also have one or more co-occurring psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, traumatic memories, self-mutilation or suicidal thoughts; behavioral problems including inattention, hyperactivity and conduct disorder; crime or violence problems; and/or have multiple sexual partners or other HIV risks. Only a small percent have only one problem and over half have five or more. The more of problems an adolescent has the more likely they are to relapse. Addressing these other problems simultaneously is often a key part of successful treatment. Some of the key program features that help with co-occurring disorders include: standardized assessment for other problems, providing on-site services, case management to help teens and their families get access to services, having agreements or electronic record systems to help coordinate the various people working with the teen.

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FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT TREATMENT FOR TEENS

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FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT TREATMENT FOR TEENS

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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

A Therapeutic Approach to Teen Treatment

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A Therapeutic Approach to Teen Treatment
by Thomas J. Crowley, M.D. and Elizabeth Whitmore, Ph.D.

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Summary

  • Multi-Systemic Therapy, or MST, an intensive approach to treatment, shows high rates of success.
  • MST therapy teams have small caseloads and work closely with the whole family, contacting them almost daily.
  • Payment for MST frequently comes from social service or juvenile justice agencies or through public funding.

The Multisystemic Therapy Model for Outpatient Treatment

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is widely considered one of the most effective forms of treatment for adolescent problem behaviors. This therapeutic approach uses an intensive, home-based model to reduce barriers that keep families from getting services. A practical and goal-oriented treatment, MST specifically targets the factors in each youth’s social group and environment that contribute to his or her antisocial and/or drug-using behavior. It tries to address many different parts of the adolescent’s life and relationships that may be related to their drug use and other problem behaviors. MST therapists:

  • have small caseloads of four to six families at a time
  • work as a team; are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • provide services at times convenient to the family
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The average treatment involves about 60 hours of contact during a 4-month period. A family with an MST therapist should expect that the therapist will:

  • help the parents improve their parenting skills by identifying and building on things the family already does well and helping them learn new ways to parent their adolescent.
  • help the family find people in their community who can be helpful to them (e.g., extended family, neighbors, friends, church members)
  • help the family figure out ways to address other problems in their lives (e.g., parental substance use, high stress, poor relationships between partners).
  • have almost daily contact with the family (several weekly therapy sessions and several phone contacts) travel to the family home or meet the family in the community so that therapy is convenient for the family.
  • be available (or have one of their therapy teammates available) by pager and/or cell phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so that the family and adolescent will have the opportunity to get advice from the therapist when situations arise
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The therapist will help the family figure out the things that need to change and make a plan for making changes, but the family will be expected to try to do assignments at home and make changes on a daily basis so that changes can happen as quickly as possible. Funding for MST frequently comes from social services agencies, juvenile justice agencies, Medicaid or mental health funds; there is not typically a cost to the family to participate.

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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION

Recovery: An Addicted Person's Responsibilities

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Successful recovery from a chronic disease requires a lot of effort on the part of the patient. A person with a chronic illness should learn as much as possible about the condition and what they can do to help in their own recovery. Work with your providers to develop a recovery plan, and then stick to it. If medication is part of the treatment, take it as directed and don’t stop it before talking with your doctor. Be diligent about attending therapy or support group sessions. If you have friends or family members who are willing and able to help, let them know what they can do to help. Ultimately, your recovery is going to depend on the work you do with treatment professionals and your personal relationships.


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12-step programs/spirituality – their role and value as a complement to treatment:

There is no question that people who regularly attend support group meetings and "work the program" are more likely to recover and less likely to relapse. Many people are able to recover through participation in 12-step and other mutual help groups alone. Others will require professional treatment, including medications, in addition to community support groups. Participating in support groups is not necessary for recovery to occur, but it helps. One advantage of support groups is that they are free, widely available and focused on recovery. When starting out, it helps to attend a variety of meetings before choosing the group or groups with which you are most comfortable, since each one is somewhat unique. If you do participate in a 12-step program, it works best if you have a sponsor, someone in successful recovery who is now helping others.

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Posted on July 2nd 2009 in DRUG REHABILITATION