Drug Abuse Treatment

Drug Court Offers Alternative Program for Offenders

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment on December 2nd, 2011

Henry County’s Court is offering an 18-month intensive program for adult felony drug offenders. Under the supervision of Superior Court Judge Brian Amero, the drug court helps drug users to recover from their addictions through a program which is funded, ironically, by money seized from drug raids and court fees paid by offenders.

drug abuse treatmentJudge Amero says he makes those under the treatment become taxpayers instead of becoming tax burdens and liabilities of the community. He was inspired to undertake such mission when he was faced again and again with drug users who say no one was addressing their problems so they continue with their habits.

It is the third accountability court of the country from among the 3,000 which have been set up in various areas nationwide. They help offenders not by sending them to jail, but through intensive rehabilitation programs that focus on the underlying problems that fuels their addictions. It is also equipped with a DUI court and a mental health court.

John Foller, the Atlanta-based coordinator of the state’s accountability court system says the drug court is considered an investment where more people are treated at the least expense.

An amount of $10,220 is allotted for the duration of a two-month program which includes counseling, screenings, and courtroom costs. Compared to the $85,440 that the state spends to incarcerate a person for five years, the drug court’s budget is significantly lower.

But before other offenders get the wrong idea and think that it’s an easy way out, the program is organized to effectively ensure an individual’s total recovery. Jail time can be suspended but offenders are required to attend counseling sessions of at least nine hours a week, 20 hours of community service weekly, and other activities such as random drug testing and police searches.

Most of the participants say they are learning a lot from the program and that they are kept busy which is a good way of taking their minds off from their addictions. If a person under the program fails to complete and follow all the guidelines set, he will have to serve his initial jail sentence.

“It’s a remarkable savings,” Amero said. “It’s not just a tax saving. You’re also allowing people to reconnect to the community in a positive way.”

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Types of Drug Abuse Intervention

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on November 27th, 2011

When a drug crisis happens in the family, immediate interventions are important. Interventions are done to be able to help and save a family member whose life is being destroyed by his or her addictions. The process will allow drug or alcohol addicts to admit that they are in trouble and that they will have the courage to voluntarily get into treatment facilities.

drug abuse interventionThere are three basic types of intervention: simple, classical, and family system.

Simple intervention happens when a person asks the drug or alcohol addict to simply stop his or her addictions. This type of intervention needs to be done repeatedly, though, to be effective in most cases. You’ll be surprised on what a simple request can do. This type of intervention should be the first to be considered before going into more advanced methods.

Classical intervention has been used for the longest time to help addicts. It happens when the element of a drug and alcohol treatment facility is involved. The goal for this type of intervention is to persuade a troubled individual to seek the help of professionals to control his addictions.

The family system of intervention is usually focused on the family and not only on the addict. The whole family gets involved in helping their troubled family member fight off his addictions. This will require changes in the whole family’s behavior to have a positive influence on the addicted member. These changes will help an addict consider getting help from drug rehabilitation centers to be sober again.

Yet the family’s involvement in the healing process is vital, whether their addicted family member goes into a rehab center or not. This is why proper education and the correct information or knowledge should be shared to the whole family so that each member will know how to deal with the troubled individual.

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Teens Resist Substance Abuse by Helping Others

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction on November 14th, 2011

It has been noted that teens are able to resist their alcohol and drug cravings while on treatment programs by helping others.

teen drug abuseCase Western Reserve University has identified these cravings as the major causes of relapse after teens undergo treatment for substance abuse. A new study suggests that teens that help other teens who were in the same path as they were before increase their resistance to go into substance abuse again.

This new finding on teen substance abuse was gathered through a study that was participated by 93 males and 102 females aged 14 to 18 years old who were all graduates from drug courts or from substance abuse treatment facilities. About 92 % of the study population was addicted to marijuana and almost 60% of them were previously hooked on alcohol.

Maria Pagano, an associate professor of psychiatry, described the results of their study. “Our findings indicate that service participation in 12-step programs can reduce the craving symptoms experienced by adolescents in treatment for alcohol and or drug addiction.”

Among the participants in the research, who were all interviewed within the first 10 days of their 12-step program and were released after two months, helping others go through the same treatment process made four out of seven substance abuse cases successful, and two types of cravings symptoms were reduced as psychological dispositions improved.

It was also noted that teens who had stronger spiritual pursuits (those who prayed, meditated, and did worship more) were more readily available to help others too.

Pagano confirmed the role of religion in the success of an individual going through the 12-step program. She said that teens who identify with their religion found it easier to adapt to the program which paved the way for them to get better.

Those who entered the program without any religious affiliation had more difficulty surviving the program.
“In turn, youth entering treatment with low or no religious background may require greater 12-step facilitation or a different approach to derive equal benefit from treatment.”

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Kings County Judge Helps Drug-Addicted Parents

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Raising Healthy Kids on November 9th, 2011

Presiding Juvenile Court Judge George Orndoff and his staff were recently given recognition for playing an active role in solving substance abuse issues. The state Assembly honored Judge Orndoff and his team for helping drug-addicted parents who are faced with the possibility of losing their kids due to their addiction through the Family Drug Dependency Court.

Judge George OrndoffJudge Orndoff believes that every child should be put under a parent’s care. “Our goal here is to reunify the family and keep the kids with their biological parents. The question is: How do you put a kid back into a home where the parents use methamphetamine?”

This he does by encouraging parents to get into rehab to address any problems that may have led them to become drug dependents. Judge Orndoff visits the Kings County Probation Department every week to check on the recovery status of those under the program. He and the members of his team identify cases which are making great progress and closely monitors those which need a little more of the push.

The Juvenile Court Judge says that honesty is a key to one’s recovery. Although most addicts may deny that they have problems, getting them to admit their troubles in a large group would somehow make it real to them.

The Family Drug Dependency Court started its operation last April 1 and while it hasn’t been in existence long enough to determine its efficacy on drug abuse and addiction problems, it only reported two failed cases, so far, from the original 14 members under the program.

The award received by the group gave them more reasons to continue their advocacy. Judge Orndoff says he only wants a few things for their endeavor. “… I just want the program to be successful, to give these people a chance to have a job and a family. … Helping these people is what’s important to me.”

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Best Self-Help Books for Substance Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on November 2nd, 2011

People who are recovering from substance addiction certainly need all the help and support that they can get. Those who had successful journeys had effective recovery programs, the full support of their families, and formed meaningful relationships with other recovering addicts.

They may also had printed works or books that helped them better understand their situation. Here are some examples of books worth one’s attention in their mission to get better.

A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps1. A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps: The Classic Guide for All People in the Process of Recovery by Patrick Carnes – This is one of the best self-help books that illustrate the different processes in treatment. It has a workbook form that will make a patient integrate the twelve steps into their daily lives towards full recovery.

2. Alcoholic Anonymous by Alcoholic Anonymous – Known as the ‘Big Book’ which contains the basics from Alcoholics Anonymous, this includes a number of testimonies from AA members who have triumphed in their battles.

3. The Harder They Fall: Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Addiction and Recovery by Gary Stromberg and Jane Merrill – When it comes to things that could perk up one’s interests, celebrities make for useful tools, even for addicts. This compilation features Richard Pryor, Mariette Hartley, Alice Cooper, Steve Earle, and Grace Slick, all sharing their honest and affecting essays.

4. Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol – Instead of forced abstinence, this book will help a person develop the skills and understanding for harm reduction which they can turn into positives that will help them mend their ways. It also offers support and comfort, and the solace that every troubled individual needs.

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1-855-DRUGFREE Helpline for Parents Launched

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Rehabilitation on September 22nd, 2011

Parents and families who would like to reach out to qualified social workers to consult and seek advice regarding their child’s drug and alcohol issues may now be able to conveniently do so, through 1-855-DRUGFREE.

1-855-DRUGFREE was launched by the Partnership at Drugfree.org, to cater specifically to concerned parents and families of children struggling with substance abuse. The toll-free helpline is bilingual, and will be able to accommodate both English and Spanish-speaking families.

parent on the phoneManning this helpline is a team of social workers with practical experience in substance abuse intervention and treatment. These social workers offer advice to help parents come up with measures to help their teens who are struggling with substance abuse and provide a list of resources and treatment facilities in their area, when needed.

Johanna Bos, the Lead Parent Support Specialist for 1-855-DRUGFREE, shared: “By listening to the stories that callers have to tell – the challenges, setbacks and emotional turmoil that go with a child’s substance abuse or addiction, we help parents outline a course of effective action – whether it’s prevention, intervention, seeking treatment or supporting recovery – grounded in the science-based resources we have built at drugfree.org.”

In addition to helping families regarding the appropriate approach towards helping a child with substance abuse issues, the helpline also aims to help parents take corrective action before there is a need for the child to undergo treatment, or before the child even begins to turn to drugs or alcohol.

The helpline, however, is not a 24-hour crisis hotline; it is staffed on weekdays, Monday-Friday, from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. EDT.

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