Drug Rehab Costs Are Chump Change Compared To the $Billions Big Pharma Spends On Marketing
by Rod MacTaggart
Big Pharma is spending almost twice as much money on promotion as it does on research and development of new drugs - contrary to what they say. And the effects of all this promotion can be seen across the country where tens of thousands of prescription drug problems are treated at drug detox and drug rehab centers.
In 2004, according to researchers at Canada's York University, Big Pharma spent nearly 25% of their $235.4 billion in sales, or about $60 billion, promoting its drugs - and that's probably an underestimate, the researchers said. But in spite of the industry's claims that research and development far exceeds all other costs, R&D expenditures were only 13.4%. The relentless marketing of drugs to the public as well as to doctors can't help but be a factor in the soaring rates of prescription drug addictions and numbers of people requiring prescription drug detox and drug rehab.
Because of the endless television, print, radio and internet advertising, prescription drugs have become a way of life for most Americans. But Big Pharma's promo costs are not just for advertising, they also include many other promotion activities. For example, Big Pharma promotes its brands directly to individual doctors in the hope their drug will be prescribed over another company's drug. The industry averaged $61,000 per doctor promoting its drug brands to physicians across the country in 2004, the study said. Yet doctors and medical staffs can have trouble keeping up with all the drugs, according to articles in medical journals, causing mistakes such as wrong drug combinations, overdoses, and even addictions that result in patients becoming dependent or addicted and needing drug detox or drug rehab.
The authors limited their study to the United States because it is the only country for which sufficient information is available. The US is the world's largest market for pharmaceuticals, representing 43% of global sales and promotion expenditures. With over 22 million prescription drug abusers, according to the Centers for Disease Control, America also probably has the most prescription drug deaths, addictions and prescription drug rehab treatments in the world. As for why our health care costs are also the highest in the world, one need look no further for at least one of those reasons: Big Pharma passes along its promotional costs to us in the price of its drugs.
The study claims that Big Pharma is market-driven, far from the research-driven, life-saving health-care industry it claims to be. But of course, we already know that by the increasing numbers of injuries and deaths caused by prescription drugs, and the sky-rocketing number of people needing a prescription drug rehab program.
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 13 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2551
Drug Free Rehab vs. Medication As A Drug Rehab : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment
Drug Free Rehab vs. Medication As A Drug Rehab
by Lora French
I do not understand western medicine's fascination with medication. It seems these days that everyone is searching for a pill that will be the answer to all of their ailments. Take this pill for that. Take that pill for this. Research which drug will cure this or aid with that. It simply goes on and on. We have become a medicated nation.
I am baffled by this when we see the consequences of drug addiction in our communities. We think our problems with addiction will be solved if only we can get a handle on the meth problem or the heroin problem or the marijuana problem. We can't see that many of the medications that are being handed by our doctors and pharmacies can be just has destructive as so-called street drugs. What's frightening to me is that we are trying to solve the drug addiction problem in our country by creating new drugs that these drug addicts can take to cure their drug addiction.
Does this faulty thinking make any sense? Are more drugs truly the only way to handle a drug addict's drug problem? Why can't we provide those suffering from addiction with a comprehensive drug free rehab program? Yes, I said it. Drug-free. This means skip the methadone clinic. Skip the Subaxone. Skip the anti-depressants. Skip the quick fix.
The cover story for the July 16, 2007 issue of Time Magazine delves into the nature of addiction and how "new brain research is helping us understand why we get hooked." The researchers involved use addicts' brains to "design new drugs that are showing promise in cutting off the craving that drives an addict irresistibly toward relapse." Great! Right? If an addict just didn't crave the drug, he would be fine.Partially, yes. But there is so much more to what causes an individual to get hooked on drugs. There are always underlying issues that the once sober individual is trying to escape. Giving an addict a drug to stop the craving only addresses a part of the problem. There must be drug free ways to reduce the cravings an addict experiences and provide a complete drug free rehab for the drug addict.
Holistic approaches to drug addiction have been developed and have been proven to work. One such program, the New Life Detoxification program offered at Narconon Vista Bay, truly addresses the cravings an addict experiences by cleansing the body of drug residues in a drug free setting, using vitamins and a sauna program at its base. The end result is that the cravings for drugs have disappeared. However, the program also addresses the underlying causes for the addiction in the first place. None of these wonder drugs for addiction deal with the root causes, which in all honesty, makes me question the motivation behind developing these types of drugs.
Who profits from these wonder drugs? Is it the drug addict who now has to support his new habit? What happens to this addict when he can't afford to get his medication? Will he return to using the bad street drugs and find himself caught in the trap of addiction all over again? These drugs to cure addiction are new. That means long term side effects are unknown. What will they be? What side effects will the addict have to deal with?
We have already seen what happens to those on methadone. We know that Subaxone is classified as a narcotic. We have seen that Ritalin, a methamphetamine, causes serious problems for our children. And yet, we keep pushing this idea that medication is the answer to addiction. When will see that drug free rehab is truly the only solution to our drug addiction problems?
by Lora French
I do not understand western medicine's fascination with medication. It seems these days that everyone is searching for a pill that will be the answer to all of their ailments. Take this pill for that. Take that pill for this. Research which drug will cure this or aid with that. It simply goes on and on. We have become a medicated nation.
I am baffled by this when we see the consequences of drug addiction in our communities. We think our problems with addiction will be solved if only we can get a handle on the meth problem or the heroin problem or the marijuana problem. We can't see that many of the medications that are being handed by our doctors and pharmacies can be just has destructive as so-called street drugs. What's frightening to me is that we are trying to solve the drug addiction problem in our country by creating new drugs that these drug addicts can take to cure their drug addiction.
Does this faulty thinking make any sense? Are more drugs truly the only way to handle a drug addict's drug problem? Why can't we provide those suffering from addiction with a comprehensive drug free rehab program? Yes, I said it. Drug-free. This means skip the methadone clinic. Skip the Subaxone. Skip the anti-depressants. Skip the quick fix.
The cover story for the July 16, 2007 issue of Time Magazine delves into the nature of addiction and how "new brain research is helping us understand why we get hooked." The researchers involved use addicts' brains to "design new drugs that are showing promise in cutting off the craving that drives an addict irresistibly toward relapse." Great! Right? If an addict just didn't crave the drug, he would be fine.Partially, yes. But there is so much more to what causes an individual to get hooked on drugs. There are always underlying issues that the once sober individual is trying to escape. Giving an addict a drug to stop the craving only addresses a part of the problem. There must be drug free ways to reduce the cravings an addict experiences and provide a complete drug free rehab for the drug addict.
Holistic approaches to drug addiction have been developed and have been proven to work. One such program, the New Life Detoxification program offered at Narconon Vista Bay, truly addresses the cravings an addict experiences by cleansing the body of drug residues in a drug free setting, using vitamins and a sauna program at its base. The end result is that the cravings for drugs have disappeared. However, the program also addresses the underlying causes for the addiction in the first place. None of these wonder drugs for addiction deal with the root causes, which in all honesty, makes me question the motivation behind developing these types of drugs.
Who profits from these wonder drugs? Is it the drug addict who now has to support his new habit? What happens to this addict when he can't afford to get his medication? Will he return to using the bad street drugs and find himself caught in the trap of addiction all over again? These drugs to cure addiction are new. That means long term side effects are unknown. What will they be? What side effects will the addict have to deal with?
We have already seen what happens to those on methadone. We know that Subaxone is classified as a narcotic. We have seen that Ritalin, a methamphetamine, causes serious problems for our children. And yet, we keep pushing this idea that medication is the answer to addiction. When will see that drug free rehab is truly the only solution to our drug addiction problems?
8 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Residential Drug Treatment Center : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
8 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Residential Drug Treatment Center
by John Frank
Facing the fact that someone you love is not only suffering from drug addiction, but now must receive help to overcome the addiction, is difficult for anyone. Where should you start? Who do you turn to? What questions do you need to ask about drug treatment programs? Perhaps, you may have been at this point before, and you now feel a sense of hopelessness in finding a residential treatment center that will work this time around. Maybe, though, this is the first time you've had to take these steps to help someone you love. The process can feel overwhelming.
Ultimately, you want your loved one back. You want that person you love free from drugs. You want that person to live a healthy and productive life. By asking the right question on each of the following areas when choosing a residential drug treatment center, your chances of making this happen for your loved one will increase.
1. Success Rate -
What is the success rate of the residential drug treatment center? Obviously, the higher the success rate, the more likely your loved one will succeed. Ask to speak with graduates of the drug rehab facility or their families. Get real opinions from real people.
2. Methods -
What method does the drug treatment center use? Ask yourself if they are addressing all aspects of your loved one's addiction, including what led them to drugs in the first place. Methods that only deal with one aspect of addiction are more likely to fail. Remember addiction results from a combination of many factors, including a lessening of morality and integrity and an increasing burden of guilt and shame. The life of an addict includes bad habits, poor health and difficulty facing problems. After speaking with the facility, ask yourself if they are handling not just the psychological aspects, but also the physical and mental aspects of addiction as well. Are they providing practical skills that will help your loved one succeed once the drug rehabilitation program is completed?
3. Services -
What services does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is not only for your loved one, but for you as well. Will they help with legal issues? Will they assist in an intervention? In other words, to what length will they go to make certain your loved one gets the drug treatment they need?
4. Staff -
Who are the staff members at the residential drug treatment center? The best trained staff will have had experience with drug addiction. They will not have learned about it in a book. Are they qualified for their positions? What real-life knowledge do they have with drug addiction? What is their reason for working in this field?
5. Follow-up Program -
What type of follow-up program does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is important. Sending a newly rehabilitated drug addict back into the world without any follow-up can be disastrous. Make sure that there is a program of this type in place. Good programs keep in touch over the phone regularly after one leaves the program.
6. Location -
Where is the residential drug treatment center located? A residential drug treatment center should be protected. Ask how easy it would be for your loved one to leave. Many addicts when first coming off drugs want to leave. Ensuring that this is difficult, while not seeming like a prison, increases the chances that the person will stay to finish.
7. Length -
How long does the residential drug treatment center take? Although the standard program is 28 days, if the residential drug treatment center offers a longer program, it is more likely your loved one will succeed. However, if the residential drug treatment center allows your loved one to work at his or her own pace, without imposing time constraints, your loved one has an even greater chance of overcoming drug addiction. An example of a program that is not based on time but on completion can be seen at http://www.drugrehab.net
8. Price -
How much does the residential drug treatment center cost? Before eliminating any program because of its price, ask yourself this: What are they offering? Look back at the points above and determine what the drug rehab is truly giving to the one you love. Yes, the more it offers, the more likely the price will be higher. However, your loved one will have a greater chance at becoming a healthy productive member of society. How much is that person worth to you?
Choosing a residential drug treatment center can be difficult. Dealing with a loved one suffering from drug addiction is devastating. By breaking the process down into what is important and finding out the answers to the questions above, you will be able to make an informed choice as to which residential drug treatment program can best help you and your loved one. Drug addiction can be dealt with and overcome.
by John Frank
Facing the fact that someone you love is not only suffering from drug addiction, but now must receive help to overcome the addiction, is difficult for anyone. Where should you start? Who do you turn to? What questions do you need to ask about drug treatment programs? Perhaps, you may have been at this point before, and you now feel a sense of hopelessness in finding a residential treatment center that will work this time around. Maybe, though, this is the first time you've had to take these steps to help someone you love. The process can feel overwhelming.
Ultimately, you want your loved one back. You want that person you love free from drugs. You want that person to live a healthy and productive life. By asking the right question on each of the following areas when choosing a residential drug treatment center, your chances of making this happen for your loved one will increase.
1. Success Rate -
What is the success rate of the residential drug treatment center? Obviously, the higher the success rate, the more likely your loved one will succeed. Ask to speak with graduates of the drug rehab facility or their families. Get real opinions from real people.
2. Methods -
What method does the drug treatment center use? Ask yourself if they are addressing all aspects of your loved one's addiction, including what led them to drugs in the first place. Methods that only deal with one aspect of addiction are more likely to fail. Remember addiction results from a combination of many factors, including a lessening of morality and integrity and an increasing burden of guilt and shame. The life of an addict includes bad habits, poor health and difficulty facing problems. After speaking with the facility, ask yourself if they are handling not just the psychological aspects, but also the physical and mental aspects of addiction as well. Are they providing practical skills that will help your loved one succeed once the drug rehabilitation program is completed?
3. Services -
What services does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is not only for your loved one, but for you as well. Will they help with legal issues? Will they assist in an intervention? In other words, to what length will they go to make certain your loved one gets the drug treatment they need?
4. Staff -
Who are the staff members at the residential drug treatment center? The best trained staff will have had experience with drug addiction. They will not have learned about it in a book. Are they qualified for their positions? What real-life knowledge do they have with drug addiction? What is their reason for working in this field?
5. Follow-up Program -
What type of follow-up program does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is important. Sending a newly rehabilitated drug addict back into the world without any follow-up can be disastrous. Make sure that there is a program of this type in place. Good programs keep in touch over the phone regularly after one leaves the program.
6. Location -
Where is the residential drug treatment center located? A residential drug treatment center should be protected. Ask how easy it would be for your loved one to leave. Many addicts when first coming off drugs want to leave. Ensuring that this is difficult, while not seeming like a prison, increases the chances that the person will stay to finish.
7. Length -
How long does the residential drug treatment center take? Although the standard program is 28 days, if the residential drug treatment center offers a longer program, it is more likely your loved one will succeed. However, if the residential drug treatment center allows your loved one to work at his or her own pace, without imposing time constraints, your loved one has an even greater chance of overcoming drug addiction. An example of a program that is not based on time but on completion can be seen at http://www.drugrehab.net
8. Price -
How much does the residential drug treatment center cost? Before eliminating any program because of its price, ask yourself this: What are they offering? Look back at the points above and determine what the drug rehab is truly giving to the one you love. Yes, the more it offers, the more likely the price will be higher. However, your loved one will have a greater chance at becoming a healthy productive member of society. How much is that person worth to you?
Choosing a residential drug treatment center can be difficult. Dealing with a loved one suffering from drug addiction is devastating. By breaking the process down into what is important and finding out the answers to the questions above, you will be able to make an informed choice as to which residential drug treatment program can best help you and your loved one. Drug addiction can be dealt with and overcome.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 20 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Alcohol Detox May Be More Successful If You Get Rid of Sugar : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab
Alcohol Detox May Be More Successful If You Get Rid of Sugar : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab
by Gloria Mac
TaggartIt’s no secret that most abusers of alcohol trying to stop drinking don’t succeed. They sometimes go through one treatment program after another, including alcohol detox, and still can’t control the craving for alcohol. Why is that?Although addiction is a complex subject and there is really no single, magical answer to that question, one of the primary factors may be dietary - especially sugar. In fact, the success of a drug or alcohol detox program depends in part on the body restoring nutritional balance.Let’s have a look at that phenomenon, the science behind it, and how it can be useful during the drug detox, rehab and recovery process.The brain's energy is primarily derived from blood sugar (glucose). If the blood sugar is in a normal range, which is fairly narrow, we are alert, awake, can think clearly, and the brain is able to regulate bodily functions.Blood sugar is produced primarily through the process of metabolizing carbohydrates - of which there are two kinds: simple and complex. Complex carbohydrates generally include foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes. Simple carbohydrates include sugar of all kinds, many products that contain sugar, candy, chocolate, gum, soft drinks and so on. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, you get the idea.When we eat food containing carbohydrates, the body converts them to blood sugar. How long the conversion process depends on each person’s DNA and metabolism, but, with complex carbohydrates, the process normally takes about four hours. During that time, our brain and body are continually supplied with energy. Once the process is complete, we need more food and we start getting hungry - which is why breakfast, lunch and dinner are generally spaced four or five hours apart.However, if the carbohydrates are simple, they’re normally processed within an hour or two - we get a huge spike in energy shortly after we eat, but in an hour or two we’re looking for a pick-me-up.How does this relate to alcohol?Some alcohol contains sugar and creates the same effect as any other sugar or simple carbohydrate food. However, all alcohol, whether it contains sugar or not, converts to glycogen, a form of blood sugar. Consequently, the alcohol produces the same spike in energy as eating sugar, and the same crash follows a short time later.The remedy to that crash is good food - complex carbohydrates - but the body is sending a strong message that it needs energy now and if the body has been relying on alcohol for that energy, it often craves alcohol.If an alcohol detox program does not educate their clients on this process and the client experiences cravings after they leave the detox program, they are likely interpret the cravings as “needing a drink.â€A person trying to overcome alcohol dependency or addiction needs all the help and support they can get. If you or someone you care about needs help, get them into an alcohol detox program that includes education about why the body craves alcohol and what they can do about it. This knowledge could help prevent relapse, and may allow them to focus on other aspects of their full recovery.
: Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
by Gloria Mac
TaggartIt’s no secret that most abusers of alcohol trying to stop drinking don’t succeed. They sometimes go through one treatment program after another, including alcohol detox, and still can’t control the craving for alcohol. Why is that?Although addiction is a complex subject and there is really no single, magical answer to that question, one of the primary factors may be dietary - especially sugar. In fact, the success of a drug or alcohol detox program depends in part on the body restoring nutritional balance.Let’s have a look at that phenomenon, the science behind it, and how it can be useful during the drug detox, rehab and recovery process.The brain's energy is primarily derived from blood sugar (glucose). If the blood sugar is in a normal range, which is fairly narrow, we are alert, awake, can think clearly, and the brain is able to regulate bodily functions.Blood sugar is produced primarily through the process of metabolizing carbohydrates - of which there are two kinds: simple and complex. Complex carbohydrates generally include foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes. Simple carbohydrates include sugar of all kinds, many products that contain sugar, candy, chocolate, gum, soft drinks and so on. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, you get the idea.When we eat food containing carbohydrates, the body converts them to blood sugar. How long the conversion process depends on each person’s DNA and metabolism, but, with complex carbohydrates, the process normally takes about four hours. During that time, our brain and body are continually supplied with energy. Once the process is complete, we need more food and we start getting hungry - which is why breakfast, lunch and dinner are generally spaced four or five hours apart.However, if the carbohydrates are simple, they’re normally processed within an hour or two - we get a huge spike in energy shortly after we eat, but in an hour or two we’re looking for a pick-me-up.How does this relate to alcohol?Some alcohol contains sugar and creates the same effect as any other sugar or simple carbohydrate food. However, all alcohol, whether it contains sugar or not, converts to glycogen, a form of blood sugar. Consequently, the alcohol produces the same spike in energy as eating sugar, and the same crash follows a short time later.The remedy to that crash is good food - complex carbohydrates - but the body is sending a strong message that it needs energy now and if the body has been relying on alcohol for that energy, it often craves alcohol.If an alcohol detox program does not educate their clients on this process and the client experiences cravings after they leave the detox program, they are likely interpret the cravings as “needing a drink.â€A person trying to overcome alcohol dependency or addiction needs all the help and support they can get. If you or someone you care about needs help, get them into an alcohol detox program that includes education about why the body craves alcohol and what they can do about it. This knowledge could help prevent relapse, and may allow them to focus on other aspects of their full recovery.
: Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
Drug Rehab Needs Not Being Met By “Presidential Initiative†Grants : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
Drug Rehab Needs Not Being Met By “Presidential Initiative†Grants : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
by Rod MacTaggart
While President Bush was extolling the success of the government’s war on drugs to an international audience in Washington this week - including the drug war’s provision to provide Americans with needed drug addiction treatment - the director of Iowa’s Department of Health, Tom Newton, was telling local news reporters that less than 10% of addicts in Iowa actually get the drug rehab they ask for and need.Newton was speaking to the media after receiving a $9.4 million federal grant to help addicts, over the next three years, pay for alcohol and drug rehab, and the support services such as baby sitters, taxis and other incidental expenses they’ll need while in treatment.Terry Cline, administrator of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, was in Iowa to present the check to Mr. Newton. Cline told the media that nearly 24 million people across the country sought help for alcohol and drugs in 2006, but only two-and-a-half million were able to get it.At the state level, Cline said, more than a quarter of a million Iowans were unable to receive the alcohol and drug rehab services they were seeking during 2006. Some 52,000 people who needed rehab for illicit drugs couldn't get treatment, and 209,000 sought treatment for alcohol and couldn't get it - a total of 261,000 Iowans needing couldn’t get treatment because they couldn’t afford it, and the state had no way to deliver it.Mr. Cline said the federal grant to Iowa to help fund rehab services is a “Presidential initiativeâ€, and it is innovative. He said the goal of any treatment is to see that people recover, so the program being funded by the grant should measure indications of recovery. These would include affordable and stable housing, staying in school as a student, decreased contact with the criminal justice system, and support for those in rehab so they don't feel isolated from society. A feeling of isolation makes people more vulnerable to relapse, Cline added.Newton said Iowa anticipates offering drug rehab services to 800 people in the first year as the grant program gets underway, and 1,700 people in each of the next two years. In other words, 4,200 Iowans will be helped by the “Presidential initiative†policy in Iowa over the next three years. This is a far cry from helping the 52,000 illicit drug users and 209,000 alcoholics who needed it just last year alone. Let’s do the math: $9.4 million for 4,200 people to do drug rehab comes out to about $2,238.10 each.No - it’s not even close to what’s needed in Iowa. To get everyone into drug rehab would require - at the per-person grant rate - about $584,118,000, or more than half a billion dollars just for drug rehab for everyone who needs it. And that’s just for Iowa - not a very big state. The other 49 states have much the same story to tell as Iowa - only a fraction of addicts are getting the alcohol and drug rehab they need.So what’s needed to handle addiction in this country? It may be an impossible dream, but what if the government declared a war on drugs of the same scale as the war in Iraq? According to the government’s records, the Iraq war is costing Americans $275 million a day. Just two days of that kind of funding would handle Iowa’s alcohol and drug rehab problems!Some states are bigger, some are smaller, so at $275 million a day we’re looking at maybe four or five months - six months max - to get everyone who needs alcohol and drug rehab paid for, enrolled and rolling.What a concept! What a win-win situation!If we had Iraq war kind of money to spend on rehab, we could accomplish what isn’t happening in Iraq - a victory! And 24 million Americans battling their own war on substance abuse and addiction could recover their lives, their jobs, their families, their hopes and their dreams. Alcohol and drug rehab programs could win this war without anyone firing a shot or dropping a single bomb.
: Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
by Rod MacTaggart
While President Bush was extolling the success of the government’s war on drugs to an international audience in Washington this week - including the drug war’s provision to provide Americans with needed drug addiction treatment - the director of Iowa’s Department of Health, Tom Newton, was telling local news reporters that less than 10% of addicts in Iowa actually get the drug rehab they ask for and need.Newton was speaking to the media after receiving a $9.4 million federal grant to help addicts, over the next three years, pay for alcohol and drug rehab, and the support services such as baby sitters, taxis and other incidental expenses they’ll need while in treatment.Terry Cline, administrator of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, was in Iowa to present the check to Mr. Newton. Cline told the media that nearly 24 million people across the country sought help for alcohol and drugs in 2006, but only two-and-a-half million were able to get it.At the state level, Cline said, more than a quarter of a million Iowans were unable to receive the alcohol and drug rehab services they were seeking during 2006. Some 52,000 people who needed rehab for illicit drugs couldn't get treatment, and 209,000 sought treatment for alcohol and couldn't get it - a total of 261,000 Iowans needing couldn’t get treatment because they couldn’t afford it, and the state had no way to deliver it.Mr. Cline said the federal grant to Iowa to help fund rehab services is a “Presidential initiativeâ€, and it is innovative. He said the goal of any treatment is to see that people recover, so the program being funded by the grant should measure indications of recovery. These would include affordable and stable housing, staying in school as a student, decreased contact with the criminal justice system, and support for those in rehab so they don't feel isolated from society. A feeling of isolation makes people more vulnerable to relapse, Cline added.Newton said Iowa anticipates offering drug rehab services to 800 people in the first year as the grant program gets underway, and 1,700 people in each of the next two years. In other words, 4,200 Iowans will be helped by the “Presidential initiative†policy in Iowa over the next three years. This is a far cry from helping the 52,000 illicit drug users and 209,000 alcoholics who needed it just last year alone. Let’s do the math: $9.4 million for 4,200 people to do drug rehab comes out to about $2,238.10 each.No - it’s not even close to what’s needed in Iowa. To get everyone into drug rehab would require - at the per-person grant rate - about $584,118,000, or more than half a billion dollars just for drug rehab for everyone who needs it. And that’s just for Iowa - not a very big state. The other 49 states have much the same story to tell as Iowa - only a fraction of addicts are getting the alcohol and drug rehab they need.So what’s needed to handle addiction in this country? It may be an impossible dream, but what if the government declared a war on drugs of the same scale as the war in Iraq? According to the government’s records, the Iraq war is costing Americans $275 million a day. Just two days of that kind of funding would handle Iowa’s alcohol and drug rehab problems!Some states are bigger, some are smaller, so at $275 million a day we’re looking at maybe four or five months - six months max - to get everyone who needs alcohol and drug rehab paid for, enrolled and rolling.What a concept! What a win-win situation!If we had Iraq war kind of money to spend on rehab, we could accomplish what isn’t happening in Iraq - a victory! And 24 million Americans battling their own war on substance abuse and addiction could recover their lives, their jobs, their families, their hopes and their dreams. Alcohol and drug rehab programs could win this war without anyone firing a shot or dropping a single bomb.
: Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
วันอังคารที่ 4 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Drug and Alcohol Abuse - A Symptom of Something Deeper : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
Drug and Alcohol Abuse - A Symptom of Something Deeper
Sara Mendez
There are many forms of drug and alcohol abuse. Some people binge drink while others drink just to get though the day or to cure their hang over from the previous night. Same with drugs, some abuse street drugs while others take excessive amounts of prescription pills but yet feel it is ok to take the prescription pills since they were prescribed. Whatever your choice of addiction is, they have one thing in common, low self esteem.Drugs and alcohol are usually just a mask to hide the real problem, low self esteem. According to Selfesteeminternational.org, recovering addicts and alcoholics indicate that low self esteem is the biggest problem in their lives. They feel alcohol is only a symptom to the alcoholic's real disease. Low self esteem causes and contributes to anxiety, neurosis, defensiveness and ultimately drug and alcohol abuse according to Selfesteeminternational.org.Selfesteeminternational.org surveyed some 18 year olds who reported using drugs or alcohol heavily. They reported using when they were as young as seven. They indicated feeling alienated by their families, not good enough, anxious, unhappy and overly impulsive. 66% of high school seniors surveyed reported using drugs or alcohol heavily in order to fit in and fill a personal void.Sometimes the pain of low self esteem is so difficult to deal with that people turn to destructive behaviors such as drugs and alcohol. They self medicate in hopes that the pain will go away. Addicts use their addictions to help them work through to pain of self hate, or so they think. By drinking or using drugs a vicious cycle of more self hatred starts and before you know it, your life is completely out of control. One drink turns into two, two turns in to three and before you know it your life is all about drinking. You family doesn't want you around, you have spent all your money and lost your job. Your actions only lead to more self hate and disappointment in yourself.It is difficult to estimate how many people are experiencing low self esteem, but it is safe to say many people suffer from at least one of the symptoms. Maybe you are happy to see someone fail, overly aggressive, do not recognize your own good qualities, or try to please others because you do not know how to say no. There are many reasons why people have low self esteem however, it is not just one isolated incident that causes it. Typically low self esteem is brought on by many years of unpleasant memories and criticism. The criticism can come from anyone, a parent, teacher or society.One of the most important factors in recovery is acceptance of the disease and being able to identify why you choose to be an addict in the first place. Often it is difficult to address years of low self esteem in a twelve week program. That is why follow up counseling and treatment is recommended. One new treatment that is being recommended is hypnosis. Hypnosis works with the subconscious mind to identify painful memories causing the low self esteem and help the patient work through the memory and develop new self confidence. Hypnosis is done in a safe environment and is chemical free which appeals to many recovering addicts.Some people feel therapy and counseling is the best and only treatment needed to help recovering addicts. Unfortunately, if this were true all rehab facilities would offer a 100% cure rate. Most can not even offer a 70% cure rate. It is important to have a treatment plan that will help to identify why you started abusing drugs or alcohol in the first place, and this is difficult to do with a counselor. Often addicts have little trust in counselors and are more censored when talking until they get to know the counselor. Since hypnosis works with the subconscious mind, it allows the addict to think and speak openly about low self esteem issues.Drug and alcohol abuse is a very serious problem, but what is more concerning is the underlying behavior of self hate. Until that issue is dealt with, the thought of alcohol and drug abuse is always there for the addict. There are many ways to help improve self esteem but why not do it in a safe environment and start dealing with the real problem today.
Alcohol and Drug Rehab Can End Addiction, But First the Addict Has to Realize They Need Help : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
Alcohol and Drug Rehab Can End Addiction, But First the Addict Has to Realize They Need Help
by Karen Morris
A 2006 national study revealed some disconcerting facts about drug and alcohol abuse - Four million people across the United States sought help for alcohol and drug use. While this may seem like a large number, consider that another 18 million people who need alcohol or drug rehab don't realize they need help.According to the survey, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 18 million or so who did not make their way into a drug or alcohol rehab center, only one million felt that they actually needed help. This leaves the vast majority not realizing that they have a problem. This isn't surprising really when you look at the life of someone who has an alcohol or drug problem - their impaired judgment often makes them the last to know. In fact, it often it takes the help of friends and family members staging an intervention to help the addict see the reality of the situation. Other times, it takes a trip to the emergency room from an overdose, to jail for driving while intoxicated, or being arrested for possession. Details aside, realize that those 18 million people have an addiction that is ruining their lives and, often the lives of those around them. And it will continue to do so until they get into an effective alcohol or drug rehab program.A majority of the 22.6 million who were categorized as addicts were alcohol abusers (15.6 million). As alcohol is a legal drug, easier to come by, and socially acceptable, it's often overlooked as a source of addiction and it's more difficult for people to realize they have a problem. However, talk to the many loved ones whose lives are affected by the addiction and it is plain to see the signs.Probably the most shocking statistics in the survey were the comparison with earlier years: The 2006 statistics show no significant change from 2005, or from as far back as 2002. Seven years of no improvement despite the billions being spent on the war on drugs and the initiatives on educating people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.An addiction problem won't improve on its own. Unless the addicts are guided into an effective alcohol or drug rehab programs, the chances of them getting off drugs or alcohol and turning their lives around are slim. Don't let someone you care about go without getting the help they need. Get yourself educated about drugs and alcohol, know the signs to look for, and contact a drug rehab program counselor to help you find the treatment model and facility that's best for your situation.
Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
by Karen Morris
A 2006 national study revealed some disconcerting facts about drug and alcohol abuse - Four million people across the United States sought help for alcohol and drug use. While this may seem like a large number, consider that another 18 million people who need alcohol or drug rehab don't realize they need help.According to the survey, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 18 million or so who did not make their way into a drug or alcohol rehab center, only one million felt that they actually needed help. This leaves the vast majority not realizing that they have a problem. This isn't surprising really when you look at the life of someone who has an alcohol or drug problem - their impaired judgment often makes them the last to know. In fact, it often it takes the help of friends and family members staging an intervention to help the addict see the reality of the situation. Other times, it takes a trip to the emergency room from an overdose, to jail for driving while intoxicated, or being arrested for possession. Details aside, realize that those 18 million people have an addiction that is ruining their lives and, often the lives of those around them. And it will continue to do so until they get into an effective alcohol or drug rehab program.A majority of the 22.6 million who were categorized as addicts were alcohol abusers (15.6 million). As alcohol is a legal drug, easier to come by, and socially acceptable, it's often overlooked as a source of addiction and it's more difficult for people to realize they have a problem. However, talk to the many loved ones whose lives are affected by the addiction and it is plain to see the signs.Probably the most shocking statistics in the survey were the comparison with earlier years: The 2006 statistics show no significant change from 2005, or from as far back as 2002. Seven years of no improvement despite the billions being spent on the war on drugs and the initiatives on educating people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.An addiction problem won't improve on its own. Unless the addicts are guided into an effective alcohol or drug rehab programs, the chances of them getting off drugs or alcohol and turning their lives around are slim. Don't let someone you care about go without getting the help they need. Get yourself educated about drugs and alcohol, know the signs to look for, and contact a drug rehab program counselor to help you find the treatment model and facility that's best for your situation.
Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment Alcohol rehab center Drug rehab centre
Could Drug Rehab Be Avoided By Standardizing College Athletics Testing? : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008
Could Drug Rehab Be Avoided By Standardizing College Athletics Testing?
by Rod MacTaggart
Are college athletes “falling through the cracks†of the imperfect random drug testing programs in America’s colleges and universities? And if they are, could this be contributing to the soaring drug abuse scandals among pro athletes, most of whom came up through college sports? No one really knows, and meanwhile the parade of athletes into drug rehab continues unabated.
College drug testing is intended to deter the use of drugs to help level the playing field and keep athletes healthy. But there’s no standards - college tests vary widely from school to school, including the number of athletes tested, the substances they are tested for, the quality of testing and penalties for failing. Colleges spend anywhere from $3,000 to as much as $160,000 a year on testing. And most tests are for street drugs like marijuana, heroin and Ecstasy, not performance enhancing drugs like steroids, which cost far more than street drugs to test for. Testing for street drugs is probably a positive aspect, however, because almost all athletes reaching drug rehab are in trouble with street drugs, not steroids.
Random testing is also performed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which tests for a more comprehensive list of banned substances. But only 4 percent of athletes are ever tested, according to a series of articles in The Salt Lake Tribune. In the long run, including both college and NCAA tests, most college athletes will never be tested for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Most importantly, because of different policies and methods, thousands of athletes are never tested at all. The consensus is that because of the low risk of getting caught, many athletes are slipping through the cracks and could be headed for drug rehab in the future.
Pro sports has been widely tainted by drug abuse scandals, and most pros come up through college. Could poor college testing standards be contributing to the rash of professionals requiring drug rehab these days? No one knows, and the scandals continue. Many high schools also test randomly, but again, there are no standards. Drug abuse is common in high schools - the recent heroin death of a high school football star is a case in point, a tragic death that could have been prevented by a timely drug rehab - and high school athletes become tomorrow’s college stars.
In the final analysis, we are left with drug problems at all levels of sports and a lot of unanswered questions. No one knows if drug abuse is a big, undetected problem in college sports, or whether imperfect high school and college-level testing contributes to the numbers of pros who have drug problems and eventually enter drug rehab.
In an era when pro sports and even Olympic sports are routinely embarrassed by drug abuse scandals, we are left with no obvious or easy solutions. But media scandals, dozens of athletes heading for drug rehab, fines and suspensions, and the escalating cynicism and growing loss of confidence among fans can’t be good for sports.
Drug abuse among school and pro athletes is not going to go away as long as we rely on the hit-or-miss random testing system. After all is said and done, though, the problem is best solved by increased parental responsibility, better drug education, and greater vigilance on the part of families, friends, team-mates and school officials to spot drug problems early, and get young drug abusers into a drug rehab program sooner rather than later.
by Rod MacTaggart
Are college athletes “falling through the cracks†of the imperfect random drug testing programs in America’s colleges and universities? And if they are, could this be contributing to the soaring drug abuse scandals among pro athletes, most of whom came up through college sports? No one really knows, and meanwhile the parade of athletes into drug rehab continues unabated.
College drug testing is intended to deter the use of drugs to help level the playing field and keep athletes healthy. But there’s no standards - college tests vary widely from school to school, including the number of athletes tested, the substances they are tested for, the quality of testing and penalties for failing. Colleges spend anywhere from $3,000 to as much as $160,000 a year on testing. And most tests are for street drugs like marijuana, heroin and Ecstasy, not performance enhancing drugs like steroids, which cost far more than street drugs to test for. Testing for street drugs is probably a positive aspect, however, because almost all athletes reaching drug rehab are in trouble with street drugs, not steroids.
Random testing is also performed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which tests for a more comprehensive list of banned substances. But only 4 percent of athletes are ever tested, according to a series of articles in The Salt Lake Tribune. In the long run, including both college and NCAA tests, most college athletes will never be tested for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Most importantly, because of different policies and methods, thousands of athletes are never tested at all. The consensus is that because of the low risk of getting caught, many athletes are slipping through the cracks and could be headed for drug rehab in the future.
Pro sports has been widely tainted by drug abuse scandals, and most pros come up through college. Could poor college testing standards be contributing to the rash of professionals requiring drug rehab these days? No one knows, and the scandals continue. Many high schools also test randomly, but again, there are no standards. Drug abuse is common in high schools - the recent heroin death of a high school football star is a case in point, a tragic death that could have been prevented by a timely drug rehab - and high school athletes become tomorrow’s college stars.
In the final analysis, we are left with drug problems at all levels of sports and a lot of unanswered questions. No one knows if drug abuse is a big, undetected problem in college sports, or whether imperfect high school and college-level testing contributes to the numbers of pros who have drug problems and eventually enter drug rehab.
In an era when pro sports and even Olympic sports are routinely embarrassed by drug abuse scandals, we are left with no obvious or easy solutions. But media scandals, dozens of athletes heading for drug rehab, fines and suspensions, and the escalating cynicism and growing loss of confidence among fans can’t be good for sports.
Drug abuse among school and pro athletes is not going to go away as long as we rely on the hit-or-miss random testing system. After all is said and done, though, the problem is best solved by increased parental responsibility, better drug education, and greater vigilance on the part of families, friends, team-mates and school officials to spot drug problems early, and get young drug abusers into a drug rehab program sooner rather than later.
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